Latest Stories
Start your day right!
JD Vance Slammed After Warning U.S. Olympians Not To 'Pop Off About Politics' During The Olympics
Vice President JD Vance chastised U.S. Olympians who've expressed their conflicted emotions over representing the United States while disagreeing with the Trump administration's policies.
Alan is a writer and editor who lives in New York City. His work has been featured in such publications as Salon, The Advocate, Plus Magazine, George Takei Presents, The Huffington Post, Spoiled NYC, Towleroad, Distractify, Elite Daily, and 2 or 3 Things I Know About Film.
As several Olympians have made headlines in the past week for statements critical of the Trump administration's policies, particularly amid the ongoing nationwide immigration crackdown,JD Vance criticized those Olympians who, as he put it, "pop off aboutpolitics."
For instance, freeskier Chloe Kim, the daughter of South Korean immigrants, who has previously addressed howracism has impacted her career,said "it is really important for us to unite and kind of stand up for one another for all that’s going on." Figure skater Amber Glenn alsodescribed the current climate in the U.S. as especially difficult for herself and others in the LGBTQ+ community.
Similarly, Richard Ruohonen, a curler from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota—just north of Minneapolis, where protests against ICE have continued for weeks—drew from his decades of legal experience,saying, "what's happening in Minnesota is wrong" while stressing the value of freedom of speech and of the press.
When asked about criticism from Olympic athletes, Vance had this to say:
"Yes, you're going to have some Olympic athletes who pop off about politics. I think that happens every Olympics. My advice to them would be to bring the country together and when you're representing the country you're representing Democrats and Republicans."
"You're there to play a sport and represent your country and hopefully win a medal. You're not there to pop off about politics. When Olympic athletes enter the political arena they should accept some pushback."
"But most Olympic athletes are doing a great job, are certainly enjoying the support of the entire country, and I think recognize that the way to bring the country together is not to show up in a foreign country and attack the president of the United States but is to play your support and represent your country well."
You can hear what he said in the video below.
Vance's words about unifying the country ring hollow when you consider he hasrefused to apologize to the family of Alex Pretti—the ICU nurse killed by ICE agents last month—after sharing White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller's post claiming Pretti was an "assassin."
He also previouslyreferred to Renee Nicole Good, who was killed just weeks before Pretti, as a "deranged leftist" and later took toX to shift blame away from federal agents and toward local authorities and protesters.
Vance also clearly doesn't hold Trump to the same standard he expects of Olympians—and hasadvised Democrats to "tone down the rhetoric."
People were not buying his schtick.
Vance himself was booed at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan.
Boos could be heard when he and his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, appeared on a giant screen waving U.S. flags; the news appeared tosurprise Trump, who claimed—wrongly—that Vance "doesn’t get booed in this country.”
Both men might want to look in the mirror before "popping off" on politics themselves.
Discover More
As several Olympians have made headlines in the past week for statements critical of the Trump administration's policies, particularly amid the ongoing nationwide immigration crackdown,JD Vance criticized those Olympians who, as he put it, "pop off aboutpolitics."
For instance, freeskier Chloe Kim, the daughter of South Korean immigrants, who has previously addressed howracism has impacted her career,said "it is really important for us to unite and kind of stand up for one another for all that’s going on." Figure skater Amber Glenn alsodescribed the current climate in the U.S. as especially difficult for herself and others in the LGBTQ+ community.
Similarly, Richard Ruohonen, a curler from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota—just north of Minneapolis, where protests against ICE have continued for weeks—drew from his decades of legal experience,saying, "what's happening in Minnesota is wrong" while stressing the value of freedom of speech and of the press.
When asked about criticism from Olympic athletes, Vance had this to say:
"Yes, you're going to have some Olympic athletes who pop off about politics. I think that happens every Olympics. My advice to them would be to bring the country together and when you're representing the country you're representing Democrats and Republicans."
"You're there to play a sport and represent your country and hopefully win a medal. You're not there to pop off about politics. When Olympic athletes enter the political arena they should accept some pushback."
"But most Olympic athletes are doing a great job, are certainly enjoying the support of the entire country, and I think recognize that the way to bring the country together is not to show up in a foreign country and attack the president of the United States but is to play your support and represent your country well."
You can hear what he said in the video below.
Vance's words about unifying the country ring hollow when you consider he hasrefused to apologize to the family of Alex Pretti—the ICU nurse killed by ICE agents last month—after sharing White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller's post claiming Pretti was an "assassin."
He also previouslyreferred to Renee Nicole Good, who was killed just weeks before Pretti, as a "deranged leftist" and later took toX to shift blame away from federal agents and toward local authorities and protesters.
Vance also clearly doesn't hold Trump to the same standard he expects of Olympians—and hasadvised Democrats to "tone down the rhetoric."
People were not buying his schtick.
Vance himself was booed at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan.
Boos could be heard when he and his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, appeared on a giant screen waving U.S. flags; the news appeared tosurprise Trump, who claimed—wrongly—that Vance "doesn’t get booed in this country.”
Both men might want to look in the mirror before "popping off" on politics themselves.
- Olympic Figure Skater Reveals 'Scary Amount' Of Threats She Got After Her Criticism Of Trump ›
- MAGA Senator Slammed After Saying U.S. Olympians Critical Of Trump Should Be 'Stripped Of Their Olympic Uniform' ›
- Gay Olympian Gus Kenworthy Takes Aim At Trump Administration By Peeing NSFW Message In The Snow ›
- Trump Makes Bizarre Claim After Learning That Vance Got Booed During Olympics Opening Ceremony ›
- JD Vance Slammed After Baselessly Claiming Woman Killed By ICE In Minneapolis Was A 'Deranged Leftist' ›
- Amber Glenn Claps Back At 'Woke B*tches' Insult: PHOTOS - Comic Sands ›
More from News/political-news
Fans Horrified After Margot Robbie Reveals Weight-Shaming 'Gift' She Once Got From Male Costar
Margot Robbie is reflecting on a moment from early in her career that still stings.
The Australian actor and producerappeared onComplex’s GOAT Talk series on February 9, where she sat down with Charli XCX to discuss her career, romance films, and the worst gift she has ever received. What followed was a candid story about a male costar who handed her something that felt less like a present and more like a pointed message.
The 35-year-old actor described the so-called “gift” that left her stunned:
“Very, very early in my career, an actor I worked with—a male actor—gave me a book called 'Why French Women Don’t Get Fat'… It was essentially a book telling you to eat less.”
And Robbie didn’t sugarcoat her response, “I was like, ‘Whoa, f–k you, dude.’”
The story surfaced as Robbie reflected on how far she has come. She began acting in 2008 as Donna Freedman on the Australian soap operaNeighbours, before making herHollywood debut in 2013’sThe Wolf of Wall Street, which earned five Academy Award nominations. Following the successes ofI, Tonya andBarbie, Robbie was named the world’s highest-paid actress in 2023.
Which made the implication behind the book hard to miss for Robbie:
“He essentially gave me a book to let me know that I should lose weight.”
That book in question,French Women Don’t Get Fat—yes, dear reader, I googled it—was published in 2007 by French-American author Mireille Guiliano. Marketed as a “non-diet” lifestyle guide, it became a number-oneNew York Times bestseller and was translated into 40 languages.
But the synopsis reads less like liberation and more like instruction:
“French women don’t get fat, even though they enjoy bread and pastry, wine, and regular three-course meals. Unlocking the simple secrets of this ‘French paradox’—how they enjoyfood while staying slim and healthy.”
Whatever its branding, Robbie’s experience highlights how quickly “wellness” rhetoric can slip into unsolicited commentary about women’s bodies—particularly in Hollywood, where appearance is often treated as part of the job.
Charli pressed for more details, asking whether the actor was “still acting.”
But Robbie brushed off the idea that she keeps tabs on him:
“That was a very long [time ago]. I have no idea where he would even be now. Really back in the day.”
Turning to the camera, Charli cheekily quipped, “Your career's over, babe.”
You can watch the WOAT (Worst of All Time) gift portion of the interview at the 11:58 mark:
- YouTubeComplex
It’s a tale as old as Hollywood itself: bright lights, big dreams, and someone suggesting you’d look better five or 15 pounds lighter. For years, actors have spoken about body pressure packaged as “lifestyle” guidance. In 2017,Jennifer Lawrence said that early in her career, a producer asked her to lose 15 pounds in two weeks.
She described a humiliating experience on set:
"During this time, a female producer had me do a nude line-up with about five women who were much, much thinner than me. We all stood side-by-side with only tape on covering our privates.”
Chloë Grace Moretz has said she was body-shamed by a male costar when she was 15, and he was in his mid-20s. Emma Thompson revealed she nearly left the 2008 filmBrideshead Revisited after her female co-star was asked to lose weight. Melanie Lynskey has also shared that a member of the production body-shamed her on the set ofYellowjackets.
While conversations around body image have evolved, scrutiny has not disappeared—especially amid ongoing public discussion around rapid weight loss and GLP-1 medications. Robbie’s story, though delivered with humor, reflects a broader pattern actors have described for years: criticism framed as concern. And those are only the stories we’ve heard.
One can only imagine how many others remain untold.
Fans online quicklycalled out the unnamed actor’s behavior as inappropriate, with some sharing that they, too, had received the same book as an unsolicited “gift.”
You can view the reactions here:
The interview wasn’t all heavy. The duo also debated their picks for the greatest Hollywood heartthrobs of all time, with Charli choosing Jack Nicholson and Robbie naming the late Montgomery Clift
Charli even shared her own worst gift of all time:
“I received once a small jar of one of my fan's mother's ashes. It was a jar on a necklace. I just didn't quite know what to do with it ... I don't know where it is now.”
Their conversation comes as they collaborate onWuthering Heights, writer-director Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel. The romantic period drama, starring Robbie alongside Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes, and Ewan Mitchell, arrives in theaters tomorrow.
Charli provided the soundtrack, with the first single, “House,” featuring Welsh musician John Cale, described as a departure from the sound of her previous album,Brat.
If anything, the exchange underscored how far Robbie has come, from navigating unsolicited critiques about her body to leading major films on her own terms. In an industry still reckoning with body shaming, her blunt reflection felt like a healthy boundary.
Restaurant Sparks Heated Debate After Adding Mandatory 20% No-Tipping Fee To Diners' Checks
Tipping culture is an incredibly divisive topic, leading people to question if customers and restaurant guests should be made responsible for the livelihood of those who serve them their meals at these establishments.
Redditor Bulgingpants added fuel to the fire when they shared a receipt in the "End Tipping" subReddit from a restaurant calledBurdell in Oakland, California, remarking:
"What the f is this?"
There were many possible points of discussion, like two servings ofchicken being priced at $90 and a slice of carrot cake coming in at another $18.
But the jarring feature on the receipt was the mandatory tip, called a "service charge" at 20 percent. Based on this meal, it was $32.20 before tax, so the customers technically had to pay the $32.20 and another few dollars just to cover the tip.
The Burdell staff also printed a note at the bottom of the receipt, describing the service charge:
"Tipping in the US has an ugly past, allowing the continuation of underpaid labor. We don't like that history."
"Included on your check is a 20% Service Charge, which we use to pay hourly staff a consistent and livable wage, not dependent on archaic tipping customs or chance."
"No need to add anything else. Thank you!"
You can see the original receipt here:
Fellow Redditors called the restaurant out for still placing the onus on their customers.
"So, 'we don't like the tipping culture,' and YOU will need to pay our staff a livable wage.I will be honest, I would have asked for it to be removed!"- Bluestatevibes
"We don’t like tipping, it is ugly, so here is a 20% service charge instead. Thank you, and please come again. Don’t forget we charged you nine dollars for boiled peanuts, too." - jkprop
"He is still using his customers to pay his employees, while making a 400% markup on a chicken breast."
"He is still a sh*tty business owner. Don’t go there, and spam the reviews with one star." - Lovetritoons
"The business takes this money and then 'distributes' it. It’s right there in the ridiculous notation. I only tip cash and would have asked for this to be removed."- Rivercomplex1769
"We also added tax to that 20% surcharge... for your convenience.You're welcome." - MyldExcitement
Other Redditors agreed and pointed out that the restaurant should have the money to pay their staff, based on the receipt totals.
"$90 for two chickens and $16 for carrot cake! Let's be honest, with prices like these, they can more than afford to pay their employees a livable wage. The markup on the chicken alone is 600 to 800%!"- Imposter_89
"If they’re going to do this, they should just raise prices on everything a bit to even things out instead of a surprise charge later." - lycanthrope90
"This is the same as just upping the menu 20%. Problem is, I don’t think the OP knew it would happen before the bill came, which is the scummy part."- Consistent_Laziness
"If you don't like tipping, don't give your money to companies that expect you to pay for their employees. Simple as that." - ilikepastuh
"This is the problem, though... Not tipping does not end the problem of a business not paying its employees. Not eating at the bull sh*t establishment or people refusing to work there will be the only thing to cause the change." -confident_cabbage
It's commendable that this restaurant is at least bringing the issue up and attempting to address it, but their methods are questionable at best.
By driving up prices and adding mandatory fees, they're still placing the responsibility on their customers to pay their staff, simply by calling it something else, which is less than sustainable in the long run.
Viral Video Of Delivery Robot Maneuvering Around Unhoused Man In Miami Is Honestly So Dystopian
Technology is here to make our lives more convenient and successful, but it has a chilling way of calling out problems that we're experiencing.
In aTikTok video recorded by TikToker @hackedliving, an delivery robot named "Akira" was seen rolling down a sidewalk in Miami, eyes blinking as it approached its destination.
But in the middle of the sidewalk was an unhoused man, napping in a somewhat shaded area, lying in the fetal position directly on the cement with nothing underneath him.
Without stopping, the robot rolled off of the sidewalk to go around the sleeping, unhoused man, and then circled back onto the sidewalk to approach the TikToker recording the video to continue dropping off its delivery.
The delivery robot continued to drive until it reached the TikToker's feet and stopped, either ready for the TikToker to check in to receive their delivery, or confused about the new obstacle in its way.
You can watchthe TikTok video here:
@hackedliving how meta @City of Miami #billycorben
Fellow TikTokers were alarmed by what they had just watched.
Many were specifically focused on how dystopian this moment felt and how easily it could be slipped into aBlack Mirror episode.
The video footage also spread tothe X platform, whereX users were equally disturbed.
X users agreed with TikTok's sentiments about the moment feeling dystopian, though some also called it "cyberpunk" with the involvement of a literal robot.
This moment caught on camera is an interesting and chilling examination of how invisible unhoused people often are, even when they are in exceedingly exposed spaces. But seeing a robot, which had an unaffected reaction to the unhoused man and went around him like he was nothing, is an eye-opening example of how unhoused people are commonly perceived.
The alarming truth, however, is that this is how unhoused people are often interacted with by their fellow humans who have better living conditions. While they might have had a more visceral reaction to seeing the unhoused man sleeping on the middle of the sidewalk, there's a very real possibility that most people—not just robots—would also walk by him without doing anything about him being there or offering him help.
'Dawson's Creek' Stars Lead Poignant Tributes To James Van Der Beek After His Tragic Death At 48
After revealing to the public inNovember 2025 that he was battling colorectal cancer,James Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at the age of 48.
Fans became concerned last December about the severity of his condition when Van Der Beek was unable to appear at theDawson's Creekreunion at New York's Richard Rodgers Theatre, due to having multiple illnesses at once because of his weakened immune system.
At the time, Van Der Beek was honest but positive about his condition, and he was grateful that he was learning more about self-love and being vulnerable with those he loved most by allowing himself to depend on them when he needed to.
To announce his departure, Van Der Beek's wife, Kimberly, posted on his Instagram account:
"Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning."
"He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace."
"There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. Those days will come."
"For now, we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."
Fans were heartbroken at the loss ofVan Der Beek.
In the immediate aftermath of his passing, it's clear how muchVan Der Beek meant to so many people, especially his friends, family, and those he worked the most closely with, like his fellowDawson's Creek cast.
Katie Holmes, who played Van Der Beek's love interest onDawson's Creek,penned a powerful message by hand.
"James, thank you. To share space with your imagination is sacred, breathing the same air in the land of make believe and trusting that each others' hearts are safe in their expression..."
"These are some of the memories, along with laughter, conversations about life, James Taylor songs, adventures of a unique youth..."
"Bravery, compassion, selflessness, strength. An appreciation for life and the action taken to live life with the integrity that life is art, creating a beautiful marriage, six loving children, the journey of a hero."
"I mourn this loss with a heart holding the reality of his absence and deep gratitude for his imprint on it."
"To Kimberly and the children, we are here for you always. And will always be there to shower you with love and compassion."
Busy Philipps, who played Audrey onDawson's Creek, shared another touching tributeon Instagram.
"My heart is deeply hurting for all of us today… every person who knew James and loved him, anyone who loved his work or had the pleasure of meeting him, all of his dear friends and community that surrounded him as he battled this illness, especially hisparents, brother, and sister."
"But I am profoundly heartbroken for his incredible wife, Kimberly, and their six magical children."
"James Van Der Beek was one in a billion, and he will be forever missed."
"I don’t know what else to say. I am just so, so sad. He was my friend, and I loved him, and I’m so grateful for our friendship all these years."
According to his loved ones and costars, the actor was truly one in a million. His unique love for her life was apparent in his final months, when he repeatedly mentioned what he was most grateful for.
We hope his loved ones can findpeace beyond his cancer battle, and remember the good times.
Fox News Guest Slammed After Claiming U.S. Olympians Who Criticize ICE Are Committing 'Borderline Treason'
Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo was slammed after he criticized U.S. Olympians for speaking out against ICE and the Trump administration's policies, declaring during a conversation with network personality Laura Ingraham that the athletes are committing "borderline treason" in speaking out.
Multiple athletes have addressed the ongoing immigration crackdown. For instance, Richard Ruohonen, a curler from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota—just north of Minneapolis, where protests against ICE have continued for weeks—drew from his decades of legal experience,saying, "what's happening in Minnesota is wrong" while stressing the value of freedom of speech and of the press.
When Arroyo complained that the U.S. skiing team only "wants to talk about ICE," Ingraham said:
"Guess what, don't come then. If you're so, if the United States is so, don't wear and don't compete for the United States. I'm tired of this. This is ridiculous. The president responded on social media saying, U.S. Olympics skier Hunter Hess is a real loser. Went on to say he shouldn't have tried out for the team and it's too bad he's on it."
Arroyo replied:
"Right, just what you said. Well, Laura this is borderline treason."
When Ingraham noted that "the skier tried to do an about face," Arroyo engaged in a case of whataboutism:
"Well a little bit. But look, where are they talking about Jimmy Lai, who was just sentenced to 20 years in Hong Kong for doing nothing but speaking and supporting free speech? Where are they about the Iranians who are on the street getting mowed down by that regime? Nobody talks about them at the Olympics."
"If you really want to make a political statement, talk about people who are really facing death—really facing dire circumstances. But we never hear that. We never hear that. And you know, they're competing with each other to get clicks and to make political statements."
"One guy peed in the ice, Laura. He said you know, 'F ICE.' I mean, this is, look at this. This is an Olympic skier. It's ridiculous."
"And he says, 'Well, I'm just using my platform.' No, you're using the UK's platform, who you're supposed to be representing in a game and you're using it to make stupid political statements and vile ones at that."
You can hear what Arroyo said in the video below.
For some reason, Arroyo doesn't seem to think President Donald Trump's supporters attacking the U.S. Capitol was a treasonous action. And he doesn't think it odd to say athletes exercising their First Amendment rights are committing "borderline treason" when the president is threatening allies and calling to invade Greenland.
He was swiftly called out.
The Trump administration is very bothered by critics who've spoken out against its policies.
Vice PresidentJD Vance wasslammed earlier after he complained about athletes "who pop off aboutpolitics." He said they must "recognize that the way to bring the country together is not to show up in a foreign country and attack the president of the United States but is to play your support and represent your country well."
Vance was criticized considering he, among other things,refused to apologize to the family of Alex Pretti—the ICU nurse killed by ICE agents last month—after sharing White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller's post claiming Pretti was an "assassin."