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The Independent •

There was no second date after I found his MAGA Instagram: Dating and politics

There was something off about my date. A flinch at a Trump joke, a strange look when I mentioned my immigrant parent. I had a sinking feeling that he was on the opposite end of the political spectrum. When I got home, I did the natural thing and checked his Instagram. Sure enough, the accounts he followed were a veritable who’s who of MAGA pundits. Let’s just say that as a progressive woman who values her rights, he didn’t make it past the first date.As the 2024 presidential election looms, poli...
The Independent •

Woman finds homeless teen asleep in her yard – her response won people’s heart

A woman found a teenager sleeping in her yard, and her response has since gone viral on social media. In a series of TikTok videos, user Elly Pimentel shared how she helped an unhoused teenage boy who kept sleeping in her yard. Athough she initially hesitated before sharing anything about the teen online, Pimentel posted bits of their exchange on TikTok in the hopes that her community might offer some guidance.The clips, which were posted in September, have since sparked an outpouring of advice,...
The Independent •

Bridgerton Ball turns into royal flop as attendees demand refunds for $150 tickets

Dozens of Bridgerton fans in Detroit have been left outraged after they arrived at a “Bridgerton Ball experience” to find undercooked food, no dancing – and a lone violinist.Some fans had paid $250 for a “Duke and Duchess” package, including valet service, dinner and music, but the reality was quite different – and was so disastrous that the event has been compared to the ill-fated Glasgow Willy Wonka Experience that made headlines in March. Other people, including those who had paid $150 for a...
The Independent •

Tourist pleads guilty after throwing chicken Betty White into an alligator pond

An Australian park guest pled guilty to taking a chicken from its enclosure and tossing it to its death in an alligator-infested pond on January 2024 at the Oakvale Farm and Fauna World at Salt Ash in New South Wales.According to the Australian Associated Press (AAP), the guest – Peter Smith – reached over a concrete rock wall within a sanctuary at the farm to snatch a white Chinese silkie bantam chicken named Betty White. He then hid the animal inside his shirt as he went over to the alligator...
The Independent •

Brad Pitt issues warning after imposters arrested for scamming women out of $350,000

Brad Pitt representative issued a warning to fans after five imposters were arrested in Spain after defrauding two women out of $362,000 by posing as the actor. According to a statement released on September 23 by Spain’s Interior Ministry, five people have been arrested and face fraud and money laundering charges with three of the online swindlers arrested last November and two more arrested in July.The statement revealed that the imposters reached out through an online Brad Pitt fan page, exch...
The Independent •

Olympian forgot to scan food at Walmart checkout – she was arrested and lost her job

An Olympian was arrested after a debacle at a Walmart self-checkout station.On 28 March, former Olympic athlete Meaggan Pettipiece’s life was turned upside down after scanning her ham and asparagus at a Walmart self-checkout machine in Indiana. After security saw she failed to scan the items – worth $67 – they called the police, even though she paid $176 for the other groceries.During her arrest, she told officers that she wasn’t aware the machine hadn’t registered the items, but they continued...
The Independent •

What is ‘hoa hoa hoa’ season? How ‘Twilight’ soundtrack evokes cold weather nostalgia

With fall having arrived in full force, many social media users have taken to declare that “hoa hoa hoa season” has arrived. Inspired by the aesthetics of the first movie of the Twilight saga and its soundtrack, particularly “Eyes on Fire” by Blue Foundation, scoring sweeping shots of foggy pine trees and cold grey skies, vocals singing “hoa hoa hoa” at the beginning of the song have in recent years become emblematic of cold weather nostalgia. This year, social media users are saying goodbye to...
The Independent •

September 21st becomes one of the most popular wedding dates thanks to song

More couples than ever are choosing the 21st of September for their wedding date because of the popular Earth Wind & Fire song, “September.” When lead vocalist Maurice White first sang the iconic lyrics, “Do you remember the 21st night of September? Love was changin’ the minds of pretenders while chasin’ the clouds away,” he likely had no idea that these words would inspire so many to say “I do.”According to wedding platforms like The Knot and Zola, there has been a marked increase within the pa...
The Independent •

Zoo admits that their pandas are actually ‘painted dogs’

A Chinese zoo has admitted that the pandas in their exhibits were, in fact, “painted dogs.” According to the New York Post, visitors at the Shanwei Zoo realized they were being bamboozled when the so-called pandas began panting and barking. Pandas are native to China and an international symbol of the country. In one visitor’s video, one of the “pandas” was visibly panting while resting on a rock in a fence, while another clip had a panda with a long tail strolling about.“It’s a PANdog,” one vie...
The Independent •

Digital dating is on the rise — but can you find the ‘one’ with AI?

In the age of ghosting, gaslighting, and general dating app fatigue, finding “the one” (or at least someone halfway decent) has become a Herculean task. As tech advancements continue to turn the dating scene on its head, it was only a matter of time before people began test-driving the latest frontier, AI, as a new love interest.The rise in AI dating comes on the heels of a 2023 survey reporting that younger generations, particularly Gen Z, are open to the idea of exploring AI romantic companion...
The Independent •

What is a Brat summer? How Charli XCX’s album became part of presidential race

It’s a Brat Summer, and the vice president’s newly launched presidential campaign is the latest to join the fun.“Kamala IS brat,” the singer - born Charlotte Aitchison - shared with her 3.6 million followers on X, referencing her blockbuster sixth studio album, Brat. With the album sparking the “Brat summer” trend on social media, it is no surprise that the 21 July post went viral among Gen Z, garnering over 18 million views and 244,000 likes.But what does a Brat summer mean?When Charli XCX’s si...
The Independent •

Drag brunch continues to reign as a go-to Pride activity

For bartender Justine Musselman – who’s worked at Dromedary: Coming Out in Bushwick, Brooklyn, for the past four years – the bar’s weekly drag brunch is the only reason she will wake up early on a Sunday. “I have been working at drag brunch for as long as I’ve worked at Dromedary, and despite the inconvenience of that shift, I refuse to give it up,” she told The Independent.

Every Sunday afternoon, drag performers Emi Grate and Nancy Nogood put their chemistry on full display for both Bushwick
The Independent •

Star Wars fans are all grown up and have replaced Comic Con with raves

As the first notes of John Williams’ “Imperial March” resounded from Catch One nightclub’s speakers, a sea of smartphones went up to record the moment. As it was the first piece of Star Wars’ iconic score we had heard all night I couldn’t help but capture it too, my arm lifting up alongside those pumping their stuffed Baby Yodas in the air. Others waved technicolour lightsabers in the air as if they were the famed Oscar-winning conductor himself. Twin Darth Vader helmets stared each other down i
The Independent •

Gen Z and millennials are more likely to experience ‘money dysmorphia,’ study says

A new report indicates almost half of young adults experience “money dysmorphia”.

According to a report from Qualtrics commissioned by Intuit Credit Karma, 29 per cent of Americans say they often find themselves comparing their financial situation to others, sparking feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. While surveying 1,006 US adults above the age of 18 from 18 to 26 December 2023, researchers found that these feelings were found predominantly among younger adults, specifically 43 per cent o
The Independent •

Will the TikTok ban spell the death of the influencer?

Craving what we don’t have has been a compulsion long before the surge in social media marketing-fueled consumption. Once upon a time, our material desires were cultivated through in-person interactions, in-store shopping, or word-of-mouth. Not long after, face-to-face became face-to-catalog, with consumers flipping endlessly through product pages, before television ads intensified their appetite for more, using fictional characters and celebrity actors as aspirational models for who the custome
The Independent •

Met Gala 2024: Best dressed stars on the red carpet

Fashion’s biggest night is here, with famous faces showing up and showing out at the 2024 Met Gala with their best takes on this year’s theme: “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.”

On Monday evening, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City will be flooded with celebrated musicians, transformative designers, actors, and influencers to honour The Costume Institute’s spring 2024 exhibit. This year’s gala will co-chaired by stars including Zendaya, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez, and B
The Independent •

The battle against IVF isn’t protecting children. It’s devastating families

When you’re a teenager, you have a basic understanding of how you came into the world. You don’t tend to ask your parents questions about your conception. At least, I didn’t because I wasn’t inclined to die of mortification.

Growing up, I’d only heard that my parents had tried for a child for a long time, so when my 70-something-year-old grandmother made a passing comment about how I’d had a twin in the womb, I took it as another one of her jokes. Offbeat and out there, but classic grandma.

I
The Independent •

The Los Angeles edition of the Willy Wonka Experience was an absurdist fever dream

Standing outside a graffitied warehouse in Los Angeles’ Arts District, I didn’t know what to expect from a recreation of Glasgow’s disastrous Willy Wonka event. I had heard a lot about the bungled children’s experience, which included AI-generated characters, sparse and low-budget sets and costuming, and a sad Oompa Loompa who had become somewhat of a local celebrity since the event. Unlike what happened in Glasgow, this event was primarily marketed to grown adults, capitalising off of the meme
The Independent •

Researchers find that ‘superpowers’ are real - they’re just not what we expect

Researchers have found that superpowers may be real, but they may not be what we expect.

In research collected for her upcoming book Superpowered, author Erika Engelhaupt revealed that scientists have found what can be considered “superpowers” in humans. Although they may not be endowed with the ability to run faster than the speed of sound or fly high up in the sky, research indicates that some humans possess abilities far beyond the norm that may be considered “super.”

From the Sherpa people
The Independent •

Why America’s third places are making a comeback

In the past year, loneliness, isolation, and a lack of connection have all been declared as causes of a major public health crisis, with the US Surgeon General being one of many to raise the alarm that Americans are more disconnected now than ever. Some believe that this crisis - an aftershock of the Covid-19 pandemic - is symptomatic of a decline in physical community spaces where quality connections can blossom.

Sociology professor Ray Oldenburg dubbed these physical community spaces as “thir
The Independent •

Why does Gen-Z prefer soft-launching their relationships?

As summer comes to a close, be prepared to see a wave of soft launches on your social media feeds.

“Soft launch September” was dubbed by The Cut back in 2021 as the natural precursor to “cuffing season,” defined as the period between fall and winter when lonely singletons get “cuffed” or “tied down” by a serious relationship or at least a relationship long enough to last the cold weather. But unlike cuffing season, the soft launch trend is specific to social media, as summer flings take things
The Independent •

Woman named Barbie Oppenheimer encounters difficulties amid Barbenheimer craze

A woman named Barbara “Barbie” Oppenheimer is reportedly having a tough time checking into hotels.

Barbara Oppenheimer - a retired Boston University professor and grandmother of five based in Newton, Massachusetts - has had quite the summer amid this year’s “Barbenheimer” frenzy.

In an interview with Slate, Oppenheimer revealed that numerous people thought she was joking when she would say her name outloud. The retiree recalled a specifically confusing moment during a recent vacation, saying:

Recent Articles

The Independent •

Life-sized Taylor Swift cake collapses on its way to international baking competition

A life-sized Taylor Swift cake collapses on its way to an international baking competition, Cake International. According to BBC, artist and baker Elza Baldzhiyska planned on showing off the Swift cake at the competition taking place near Birmingham on November 1. The cake captured the pop star, 34, rocking her iconic pink-and-blue jeweled Versace bodysuit and those glittering knee-high boots—her go-to look for the Lover era on tour, now reimagined in frosting and fondant glory. However, as the...
The Independent •

Two women realize they were swapped at birth 50 years ago after DNA test

A DNA test led two women to discover that they were switched at birth 50 years ago. Two women in England have just learned they went home with the wrong families after being born in the same hospital in 1967—making it the first confirmed case of a baby switch by the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS).The discovery began in 2021 when Tony, after receiving a DNA home-testing kit for Christmas, learned he had a sister—but not the one he’d grown up with, the BBC reports. His test results pointed t...
The Independent •

There was no second date after I found his MAGA Instagram: Dating and politics

There was something off about my date. A flinch at a Trump joke, a strange look when I mentioned my immigrant parent. I had a sinking feeling that he was on the opposite end of the political spectrum. When I got home, I did the natural thing and checked his Instagram. Sure enough, the accounts he followed were a veritable who’s who of MAGA pundits. Let’s just say that as a progressive woman who values her rights, he didn’t make it past the first date.As the 2024 presidential election looms, poli...
The Independent •

Two police dogs found dead in handler’s car after ventilation system failed

Two police dogs tragically died in their handler’s car after a cooling pod failed when the engine was turned off.On Thursday, 31 October, a New South Wales police officer left two German shepherds, Xtra and Soldier, in his car at 10:30 am while attending a training development day just 300 meters away in southern Sydney. When he returned two hours later, at 12:30 pm, he was met with a tragic discovery – both dogs had died.Police reported on Friday (1 November) that an engine failure likely cause...
The Independent •

Woman finds homeless teen asleep in her yard – her response won people’s heart

A woman found a teenager sleeping in her yard, and her response has since gone viral on social media. In a series of TikTok videos, user Elly Pimentel shared how she helped an unhoused teenage boy who kept sleeping in her yard. Athough she initially hesitated before sharing anything about the teen online, Pimentel posted bits of their exchange on TikTok in the hopes that her community might offer some guidance.The clips, which were posted in September, have since sparked an outpouring of advice,...
The Independent •

World’s fattest cat Crumbs dies weighing 38 pounds weeks after his stint at fat camp

The world’s fattest cat, Crumbs, died a few weeks after attending a feline fat camp. After gaining viral fame as “Kroshik” — the Russian word for “Crumbs” — the cat was put on a weight-loss regimen following his rescue from the basement of a Russian hospital. Crumbs had been raised on a diet of biscuits and soup, which led him to weigh 38 pounds. Since his rescue, he’d been making notable progress at a specialized veterinary center in Perm, Russia, losing 7 pounds. Tragically, his journey was cu...
The Independent •

Mom issues warning after daughter suffers second-degree burns from gluing fake nails

A mother has issued a warning after her daughter suffered second-degree burns while gluing on fake nails. In a video shared on TikTok, a mother named Jessica Klick shared how her 11-year-old daughter Sienna was at a friend’s house when they decided to try on some fake nails that her friend had received as a gift. While applying one of the fake nails, a few drops of glue accidentally landed on Sienna’s cotton sock. “Apparently, nail glue reacts with cotton and wool and causes instantaneous heat....
The Independent •

Mother goes viral after concerned neighbor stops her during morning jog

A mother was stopped by a concerned neighbor during her morning jog and footage of it has gone viral.In a sweet clip shared on TikTok, novice runner Anna Grace Boswell was heading out for a morning jog – preparing for a half-marathon she’d signed up for three weeks prior – when her neighbor, Stanley, ran over to Boswell to make sure she wasn’t running from danger. She caught the funny moment via her front door security camera. “CACKLING,” the mother of two wrote in the caption, “Protect my neigh...
The Independent •

Bridgerton Ball turns into royal flop as attendees demand refunds for $150 tickets

Dozens of Bridgerton fans in Detroit have been left outraged after they arrived at a “Bridgerton Ball experience” to find undercooked food, no dancing – and a lone violinist.Some fans had paid $250 for a “Duke and Duchess” package, including valet service, dinner and music, but the reality was quite different – and was so disastrous that the event has been compared to the ill-fated Glasgow Willy Wonka Experience that made headlines in March. Other people, including those who had paid $150 for a...
The Independent •

Princess Theodora of Greece finally weds American fiancee after postponing twice

Princess Theodora of Greece has finally married her American fiancé, Matthew Kumar, in a royal wedding. After two previous postponements, the 41-year-old tied the knot with the Hollywood lawyer, 34, in a lavish ceremony at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, the same church where her parents, King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie, were married on 18 September 1964. According to an official statement, the couple chose the venue to honor Greek culture and the princess’s family. “The couple’s des...
The Independent •

Tourist pleads guilty after throwing chicken Betty White into an alligator pond

An Australian park guest pled guilty to taking a chicken from its enclosure and tossing it to its death in an alligator-infested pond on January 2024 at the Oakvale Farm and Fauna World at Salt Ash in New South Wales.According to the Australian Associated Press (AAP), the guest – Peter Smith – reached over a concrete rock wall within a sanctuary at the farm to snatch a white Chinese silkie bantam chicken named Betty White. He then hid the animal inside his shirt as he went over to the alligator...
The Independent •

Lana Del Rey secures marriage license to wed alligator tour guide Jeremy Dufrene

Lana Del Rey has reportedly secured a marriage license for wedding with alligator tour guide boyfriend Jeremy Dufrene. The artist has known the Louisiana boat captain for years but rumors of their relationship only recently went public.Now, People has confirmed that the 39-year-old “West Coast” singer obtained a marriage license on September 23 at the Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court Dufrene. The pair must marry within 30 days of receiving their license.According to Facebook, Del Rey has shared p...
The Independent •

Jeremy Allen White seen kissing The Bear co-star weeks after last with Rosalia

Jeremy Allen White was spotted kissing his The Bear co-star weeks after his last outing with Rosalía.White, 33, was first linked to the Spanish pop star, 32, in October 2023 – the pair were last seen in public together in July this year at a pop-up event for The Bear’s third season in Los Angeles.In paparazzi photos shared by various outlets on Thursday (September 26), White was seen kissing Molly Gordon, who plays his character Carmy Berzatto’s love interest Claire Dunlap in the FX kitchen dram...
The Independent •

Coast guard airlifts 8-year-old boy from cruise ship after falling ill on board

The U.S. Coast Guard had to airlift an 8-year-old boy from a cruise ship after he became severely ill. According to a press release, Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay watchstanders were notified of the emergency on Tuesday (24 September) at around 7 a.m. local time when the Royal Princess ship was about 20 miles west of Eureka, California. Crew members – including aviation survival technician Philip Morie and helicopter pilot Lt. Katherine McDonnell – were notified that “an 8-year-old male passeng...
The Independent •

Brad Pitt issues warning after imposters arrested for scamming women out of $350,000

Brad Pitt representative issued a warning to fans after five imposters were arrested in Spain after defrauding two women out of $362,000 by posing as the actor. According to a statement released on September 23 by Spain’s Interior Ministry, five people have been arrested and face fraud and money laundering charges with three of the online swindlers arrested last November and two more arrested in July.The statement revealed that the imposters reached out through an online Brad Pitt fan page, exch...
The Independent •

Olympian forgot to scan food at Walmart checkout – she was arrested and lost her job

An Olympian was arrested after a debacle at a Walmart self-checkout station.On 28 March, former Olympic athlete Meaggan Pettipiece’s life was turned upside down after scanning her ham and asparagus at a Walmart self-checkout machine in Indiana. After security saw she failed to scan the items – worth $67 – they called the police, even though she paid $176 for the other groceries.During her arrest, she told officers that she wasn’t aware the machine hadn’t registered the items, but they continued...
The Independent •

What is ‘hoa hoa hoa’ season? How ‘Twilight’ soundtrack evokes cold weather nostalgia

With fall having arrived in full force, many social media users have taken to declare that “hoa hoa hoa season” has arrived. Inspired by the aesthetics of the first movie of the Twilight saga and its soundtrack, particularly “Eyes on Fire” by Blue Foundation, scoring sweeping shots of foggy pine trees and cold grey skies, vocals singing “hoa hoa hoa” at the beginning of the song have in recent years become emblematic of cold weather nostalgia. This year, social media users are saying goodbye to...
The Independent •

‘Octomom’ Natalie Suleman announces arrival of first grandchild

“Octomom” Natalie (formerly Nadya) Suleman shared that she had recently become a grandmother. On Instagram, the 49-year-old media personality posted a photo showing a baby girl’s tiny foot peeking from underneath a pink blanket. Without revealing which of her 10 sons the daughter belonged to, Suleman gushed over the latest addition to her huge family.“Thank you my son and my lovely daughter in law for giving us this beautiful gift!” the mother of 14 wrote in the caption. “We are so blessed that...
The Independent •

Tana Mongeau claims she was offered millions to endorse a political candidate

Tana Mongeau recently claimed she was offered millions of dollars to endorse a political candidate. On an episode of her Cancelled podcast host, the influencer revealed she was offered “whatever you want” to promote an unnamed cryptocurrency, and continuing with the topic of endorsements, she added that she was “hypothetically” offered millions to endorse a political candidate.“I hypothetically was just offered a lot of money to endorse a political party. Like, millions,” she told her podcast co...
The Independent •

September 21st becomes one of the most popular wedding dates thanks to song

More couples than ever are choosing the 21st of September for their wedding date because of the popular Earth Wind & Fire song, “September.” When lead vocalist Maurice White first sang the iconic lyrics, “Do you remember the 21st night of September? Love was changin’ the minds of pretenders while chasin’ the clouds away,” he likely had no idea that these words would inspire so many to say “I do.”According to wedding platforms like The Knot and Zola, there has been a marked increase within the pa...
The Independent •

Who is Olivia Nuzzi? The reporter on leave for ‘personal relationship’ with RFK Jr

New York Magazine reporter Olivia Nuzzi was recently put on leave after disclosing her “personal relationship” to former Independent presidential candidate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Since joining the magazine’s staff in 2017, the 31-year-old reporter has garnered a reputation for her vivid, incisive features on political figures as well as deeply reported presidential campaign stories. At times, Nuzzi has become a part of the story, such as when she wrote about texting with Rudy Giuliani in 2019 or...
The Independent •

Zoo admits that their pandas are actually ‘painted dogs’

A Chinese zoo has admitted that the pandas in their exhibits were, in fact, “painted dogs.” According to the New York Post, visitors at the Shanwei Zoo realized they were being bamboozled when the so-called pandas began panting and barking. Pandas are native to China and an international symbol of the country. In one visitor’s video, one of the “pandas” was visibly panting while resting on a rock in a fence, while another clip had a panda with a long tail strolling about.“It’s a PANdog,” one vie...
The Independent •

‘Life is fragile and short’: Healthy mother’s shocking near-death experience

A Utah mother has issued a warning to other seemingly healthy women after suffering a heart attack on a treadmill. In May, Justine Carter’s casual treadmill workout resulted in a shocking near-death experience, with the 33-year-old experiencing a heart attack 12 minutes in. At first, she started having shortness of breath, then a pain in her back extended to her chest, and moments later she began violently vomiting. At the time, Carter assumed she had come down with some sort of flu, but things...
The Independent •

A vegan Fyre Fest? Vegandale visitors leave New York event ‘cranky and miserable’

Vegandale visitors were left ‘cranky and miserable’ after the festival struggled to keep up with tickets and resources. The popular traveling food and music event, which is expected to attract 100,000 people across North American cities this year, sparked widespread backlash from thousands of attendees who showed up at Citi Field in Queens on Saturday. Attendees had paid from $15 for general admission to $90 for V.I.P. access, eager to sample some vegan delicacies and listen to New York rapper G...
The Independent •

Utah man bought cruise ship on Craigslist – now it’s sinking after $1m restoration

A Utah man spent $1 million renovating a cruise ship he bought off Craigslist – only for it to sink. In an interview with CNN Travel, technology entrepreneur Chris Willson admitted that he and his partner Jin Li spent 15 years renovating a 293-foot vessel called the Aurora after purchasing it off Craigslist in 2008. From a swimming pool to an indoor theater, the ship boasted many amenities and tons of space for guests, with 85 cabins. After learning more about its history, like how it was origin...
The Independent •

Researchers find TikTok fitness videos cause negative body image issues

A recent study has revealed that TikTok fitness videos may have myriad negative impacts on viewers.According to a recent study by Australia’s Flinders University researchers, “Fitspo” (fitness inspiration) content on TikTok may worsen body image issues. Defined as “images and videos that aim to inspire individuals to live an active and healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise,” Fitspo has academics concerned about impressionable young minds, particularly given TikTok’s huge teenage user base....
The Independent •

Actors at 2024 Emmys repeatedly call out JD Vance’s ‘childless cat ladies’ comments

Actors at the 2024 Emmys repeatedly called out JD Vance’s “childless cat ladies” comments. Throughout the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards – which took place on Sunday, September 15 – multiple actors, including Selena Gomez and Candice Bergen, referenced the Republican vice presidential nominee’s disparaging comments against women.As Gomez presented the first award of the night alongside with her Only Murders in the Building co-stars, Steve Martin and Martin Short, she roasted the actors by adding: “A...
The Independent •

D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai’s red handprint at the 2024 Emmys has a deeper meaning

D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai has made an important message at the 2024 Emmys.The Reservation Dogs actor walked the red carpet at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, which took place on Sunday, September 15 in Los Angeles, California. For the occasion, he wore an Emporio Armani tuxedo, Thundercloud jewelry, and a red handprint over his mouth – a symbol of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement.According to Native Hope, the red handprint “stands for all the missing sisters whose voices are...
The Independent •

It was a family affair as actors bring their parents to the 2024 Emmys

It was a family affair at the 2024 Emmys, as many actors and presenters brought their parents as their date to the awards ceremony.At the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, which took place on Sunday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, many nominees, presenters, and attendees brought their parents as their plus ones. It was fitting for the ceremony, given that the event was hosted for the first time by father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy. Actors including Ayo Edebiri, Brie Larson, Lamorne Morris, and...
The Independent •

Digital dating is on the rise — but can you find the ‘one’ with AI?

In the age of ghosting, gaslighting, and general dating app fatigue, finding “the one” (or at least someone halfway decent) has become a Herculean task. As tech advancements continue to turn the dating scene on its head, it was only a matter of time before people began test-driving the latest frontier, AI, as a new love interest.The rise in AI dating comes on the heels of a 2023 survey reporting that younger generations, particularly Gen Z, are open to the idea of exploring AI romantic companion...
The Independent •

Sabrina Carpenter makes out with an alien during 2024 VMAs performance

Sabrina Carpenter surprised fans when she kissed an alien during her 2024 Video Music Awards performance. The 25-year-old pop star descended to the VMAs stage sitting atop a glittery swing as she sang the lyrics to her hit single “Please Please Please” from her blockbuster Short N Sweet album. Once she landed, she launched straight into her newest single “Taste” while she was joined by backup dancers dressed as astronauts and aliens. Before she continued into her smash hit “Espresso,” Carpenter...
The Independent •

Dave Grohl reveals he fathered child ‘outside of his marriage’

Dave Grohl has revealed he fathered a child “outside of his marriage.”In a recent Instagram statement, the 55-year-old Foo Fighters frontman admitted to fathering a child outside of his marriage and cheating on his wife Jordyn Blum. He wrote: “I’ve recently become the father of a new baby daughter, born outside of my marriage.”“I plan to be a loving and supportive parent to her,” he continued. “I love my wife and my children, and I am doing everything I can to regain their trust and earn their f...
The Independent •

Ms. Rachel reveals son Thomas is her ‘rainbow baby’ after suffering a miscarriage

Ms. Rachel reveals in a new song that her son Thomas was born after a miscarriage, calling him her “rainbow baby.”Below an Instagram video, children’s YouTube sensation Ms. Rachel - whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso - wrote in a heartfelt caption explaining the background behind her new song. “My rainbow baby is not a baby anymore but he’ll always be my rainbow baby,” she said. “So much love to anyone who understands.”“Rainbow baby” is defined as a baby who is born following a miscarriag...
The Independent •

Sleepmaxxing takes the pursuit of a good night’s sleep to the extreme

Sleep optimization - also known as “sleepmaxxing” on TikTok - has been steadily growing in popularity as people go to extreme lengths in the hope of a better night’s sleep.With the overall national sleep time increasing over the past two decades and the numbers climbing more over the past few years, according to an annual federal survey on the public’s use of time, Americans are more concerned with their sleep health than ever. And in this desire for more rest comes a burgeoning, relentless purs...
The Independent •

Maria Georgas clears air after Jenn Tran reveals ex Devin Strader’s Instagram follow

Maria Georgas defended herself after The Bachelorette’s Jenn Tran revealed her ex-fiance Devin Strader followed Georgas on Instagram. After a bombshell Bachelorette finale in which Tran – this season’s lead – revealed that her ex-fiancé not only ended their engagement over the phone but also followed the former contestant she was compared to all season, viewers flooded Georgas’ comment section in droves. With comments ranging from accusing Georgas of being a homewrecker to others defending her h...
The Independent •

More couples are signing ‘relationship contracts’ while dating

“Relationship contracts” are gaining popularity among couples, say experts.With 46.8 million posts about “relationship contracts” on TikTok, the idea that people should create a relationship contract as a means to set clear boundaries and expectations has become popular with those on the dating scene. Whether it’s to create a sense of accountability or help prevent or minimize conflict in the long term, “relationship contracts” are meant to bring everybody on the same page.Experts define a relat...
The Independent •

What is ‘slow shopping’ and how can it save you money?

The “slow shopping” trend is gaining traction on social media as an alternative way to save money. On TikTok, a new financial trend is taking over the platform, following in the footsteps of the “loud budgeting” trend, “slow shopping” encourages consumers to be more mindful about their purchases in a different way. It’s the complete opposite of impulse buying, requiring consumers to put deliberate thought into their spending habits.As consumers spend more time between looking and buying, it help...
The Independent •

From prison bars to ‘Dancing with the Stars’: Anna Delvey joins season 33 cast

Anna Delvey is swapping prison for the dance floor as she is set to join the cast of season 33 of Dancing with the Stars.Delvey was infamously jailed in 2019 after posing as a German heiress, conning businesses, banks, and friends out of more than $250,000. According to Page Six, the 33-year-old con artist turned fashion publicist will now join the reality TV competition’s cast for the next season. This isn’t Delvey’s first brush with TV stardom, with the hit Netflix drama Inventing Anna being b...
The Independent •

Ella Emhoff reveals she’s been forced to give up knitting club over security concerns

Ella Emhoff has revealed she has been forced to give up her knitting club over security concerns since her stepmother launched her presidential bid.With Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign going full steam ahead, the 25-year-old budding fashion designer’s life has been turned upside down in more ways than one. Her stepmother’s political ambitions have led Emhoff to, unfortunately, suspend Soft Hands Knitting Club meetings. In a video posted to Instagram, Emhoff explained to her...
The Independent •

Two passengers lock crying child in airplane bathroom on flight

Two strangers locked a little girl in an airplane bathroom after the child wouldn’t stop crying. According to CNN, the shocking incident occurred on a Juneyao Airlines flight from the southwestern city of Guiyang to Shanghai on 24 August. Video, which went viral on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, captured two strangers refusing to let out a little girl from the bathroom if she didn’t stop crying. Although the clip has since been deleted from the platform, one of the strangers, a woman, re...
The Independent •

More single people than ever are paying for dating apps

More single people than ever are paying for dating apps amid an increasingly contentious dating climate.The uptick in dating subscriptions comes on the heels of Match Group and Bumble — which make up the dating app industry by market share — having lost more than $40bn in market value since 2021, reports show. By incentivizing users, these companies hope to turn the tide on their dwindling revenue and repair their reputations amid the current atmosphere of disillusionment in the dating space.Pai...
The Independent •

Angelina Jolie reveals where she plans to live once twins turn 18

Angelina Jolie has shared where she plans on moving after her twins turn 18.In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 49-year-old Oscar winner spoke about her family dynamics amid her ongoing, contentious divorce from fellow Hollywood star Brad Pitt. Despite having grown up in Los Angeles, born to actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand, Jolie admitted she had only stayed in the city because of the divorce proceedings. “I have to be here from a divorce,” she revealed to the outlet...
The Independent •

Coco Gauff says TikTok comment shifted perspective as she begins US Open with victory

Coco Gauff reveals a TikTok comment shifted her perspective after she won her first game at the 2024 US Open.On 26 August, the 20-year-old US Open champion defended her title with a 6-2 6-0 win over Varvara Gracheva, taking only one hour and six minutes to move into the tournament’s second round. Ranking third globally, Gauff brought her best to the court after a few struggles in the second half of the season, with a recent loss in her first match at the Cincinnati Open.She noted that a comment...
The Independent •

‘She doesn’t live in Paris, she survives’: Influencer shocks viewers with apartment

An influencer’s tiny $530-a-month Paris apartment shocks viewers. In a viral Instagram video, Peruvian communications student Natalia Vega showed off her 97-square-foot apartment in the City of Light’s gorgeous 7th arrondissement. After moving from Peru to Paris in December 2021, she began posting content chronicling her adventures as a student in France. More than 50,000 followers later, Vega gave her followers an insight into the not-so-glamorous side of living in Paris. She took viewers on an...
The Independent •

What is TikTok’s ‘very demure, very mindful’ trend?

The “very demure, very mindful” trend has taken over TikTok. In a viral TikTok video, self-described “fierce diva” and content creator Jools Lebron shared a satirical clip on why women should present themselves conservatively in the workplace. She recommended that women rock looks that are “demure and modest and respectful at the workplace.”“You see how I do my makeup for work? Very demure. Very mindful,” Lebron said in the video. “I don’t come to work with a green-cut crease. I don’t look like...
The Independent •

Jack Schlossberg brings the fun to the DNC as he cements the ‘vibes’ election

Jack Schlossberg brought the fun to the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) stage. This week at the DNC, the 31-year-old Vogue correspondent had a ball at the Chicago political convention. Schlossberg has come a long way from reciting Lord Byron on a Rip Stick singing Rihanna while wearing Bluey sunglasses in silly TikTok videos, as an influx of fan cams of Schlossberg dressed in a suit at the DNC flooded social media feeds this week.Throughout his time at the convention, held between 19 a...
The Independent •

Gwen Walz clarifies she went through IUI fertility journey rather than IVF

Gwen Walz has clarified that she went through an intrauterine insemination (IUI) fertility journey rather than in vitro fertilization (IVF) with her husband, vice presidential candidate Tim Walz.In an interview with Glamour, Gwen came forward to clarify her husband’s comments on her difficult fertility journey. She said it took a long time for her to be able to talk about it, even to her close friends and family.“Our fertility journey was an incredibly personal and difficult experience,” she adm...
The Independent •

Influencer couple say they felt ‘vulnerable’ during their stay in a glass hotel room

An influencer couple have claimed they were left feeling “vulnerable” during their stay in a glass hotel room. In a viral video shared on the popular TikTok account A Pretty Cool Hotel Tour, Margaret Bienert and her husband Corey shared footage from their stay at the Paradiso Hotel a few years ago in Ibiza, Spain. “When I say glass box hotel room, I mean a literal glass box in the lobby of the hotel. We were super unprepared for the experience,” she explained. “All I knew going into this was tha...