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Angel Reese dangerously peddles racist conspiracy theory after WNBA coach calls her two words
On a night where Caitlin Clark went off on the court, Angel Reese went off ... off the court.
Is the WNBA a content machine, or what?! Credit where it's due, this league just won't quit. The summertime is their time, and they're not letting it go to waste.
Let's dive in.
Reese and the Atlanta Dream defeated the Toronto Tempo, 111-92, Friday night. Reese finished with 23 points on 7 of 11 shooting, adding 12 rebounds. She was dominant. I'm not here to disparage Reese's play on the floor, because it was excellent.
The stats don't lie. As they say, the numbers are the numbers. Well done, Angel.
Now, it didn't come without controversy. You always need controversy in the WNBA, and it usually has to do with racism. That's the buzz word right now.
Reese and Tempo forward Nyara Sabally collided late in the game, with Sabally suffering a rib injury but ultimately being called for a shooting foul. She eventually had to be helped off the court.
While she was still down, Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello came over to plead her case to the officials, and a hot mic picked up part of the conversation.
That's when Brondello called Reese a "protected species," thus sending the WNBA world into a frenzy because, of course, it was deemed racial.
Take a listen:
"Calling a black woman a species ..." one fan posted on X, to which Reese replied, "ARE WE SURPRISED?!" while also tagging Brondello in the post.
Right on cue! A tale as old as time.
Here's the thing: This wasn't a racist comment. Come on. Context, as always, is important when it comes to these things. Usually, that's when common sense prevails.
Sandy Brondello is Australian. A quick Google search would've shown that the term "protected species" is slang over there for someone who gets preferential treatment. Fans were quick to point that out on social media, by the way. But it fell on deaf ears.
Frankly, it shouldn't have even taken a Google search to figure that out.
"Protected species" is a sports term that's been around forever. It's used all the time in the NFL, specifically with quarterbacks.
Patrick Mahomes is a protected species. It's a running joke during NFL season because defenders seemingly get flagged if they breathe on him.
Tom Brady was a protected species.
LeBron James has spent decades getting calls with his Hall of Fame flopping. He's a protected species.
In baseball, veteran hitters and pitchers routinely get calls other players don't. Veteran players can be considered a protected species. There's a reason Justin Verlander gets a call on the corner when some rookie doesn't.
In college football, you could argue the entire state of Alabama was a protected species during the Nick Saban years.
Again, this isn't a new term. It's not a racist term. It's a sports term that has been around forever.
The problem? Angel Reese is black, and the internet has selective hearing. So, someone posts that she was called a "species," and then Reese peddles the narrative by reposting it with a sarcastic comment and a clown emoji.
That's silly. That's disingenuous. Frankly, it's dangerous.
Earlier this week, a fan got fired from his job because he allegedly sent WNBA player Chelsea Gray a racial slur after a game. She shared it on the internet, it went viral, and the man's job ultimately fired him.
That's fair. If you're going to play stupid games, you're going to win stupid prizes. The proof was in the pudding on that one.
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But this? This is a non-story that Angel Reese chose to breathe life into by pushing the narrative to her 740,000 followers.
Now, nobody is talking about her great game on the floor. Instead, they're only screaming "RACISM!"
Par for the course for the WNBA.
California man admits targeting 3 Subway restaurants for robberies in less than a week, FBI says
A California man admitted Friday to carrying out a string of armed robberies and attempted robberies at three Subway restaurants in the Orange County area.
Freddie Alexander Lopez, 24, of Santa Ana, pleaded guilty to a federal robbery charge after admitting he threatened cashiers with weapons at three Subway restaurants and a donut shop, all over an approximately six-day period.
At each business he targeted, Lopez entered late at night wearing a dark hoodie and a mask, according to the FBI. He would approach the counter, order a bag of chips or another item and wait for the cashier to open the register before brandishing a weapon and demanding money.
Surveillance footage from the businesses, along with cellphone location data placing Lopez near the establishments at the time of the robberies, helped prosecutors link him to the crimes.
CALIFORNIA MEN ACCUSED OF $100K BURGLARY ALLEGEDLY TOOK SELFIES WHILE COMMITTING CRIME
Lopez's spree of robberies began on Jan. 27, 2026, when he walked into a Subway in Santa Ana at 11:57 p.m., according to court records.
After pulling a knife on the cashier, Lopez was able to get away with $300, per the criminal complaint.
During the early morning hours of Jan. 30, Lopez entered a Subway in Fountain Valley and once again demanded money while threatening the cashier with a knife, according to the plea agreement.
"Give me all the money, or I'll hurt you," Lopez said, according to witnesses who spoke with law enforcement.
This time, the cashier refused and shut the cash register, prompting Lopez to flee on foot, according to the criminal complaint.
STRING OF BURGLARIES ROCKING LA RESIDENTIAL AREA COMMITTED BY SOUTH AMERICAN GANGS, DA SAYS
Less than 30 minutes later, Lopez robbed a Yum Yum Donuts store about 5-and-a-half miles from the Subway he had just targeted, investigators said.
Two days later, on Feb. 1, Lopez walked into a third Subway restaurant in Anaheim, per the criminal complaint.
Surveillance footage reviewed by the FBI showed Lopez was armed with what appeared to be a black pistol. When the female cashier refused to give him money, the footage showed him jumping over the counter and trying to wrestle the key to the register out of her hand.
After Lopez failed to get the key and could not open the register with the touch screen, he left the restaurant, according to the criminal complaint.
On Feb. 6, the Santa Ana Police Department arrested Lopez during a traffic stop, believing his vehicle was the one that was driven by the suspect in the robberies, according to the FBI.
Officers found what appeared to be "the same handgun, knife, mask, and glasses used during the robberies," the FBI said. Investigators noted that they found a replica gun in his car that appeared to match the one used in the Feb. 1 attempted robbery.
After his arrest, Lopez was released ahead of his trial but was re-arrested on April 30 on the federal robbery charge.
Following his guilty plea, Lopez is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 2. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Kristin Cavallari gets rave reviews for her first pitch at Cubs game, 7'6 15-year-old basketball player & MEAT
The sun is out for now, the Canadian wildfire smoke isn't supposed to be back until tomorrow and it's time for a dog days of summer edition of Saturday Screencaps where we scrape for content during these quiet times.
Let's start by going to Chicago where Kristin Cavallari's first pitch had the Cubs mascot a total mess. I have to give Cavs credit. She has been a complete drama queen over the years, but I'd be lying if I said she hasn't provided us with millions of pageviews. She's an absolute content hall of famer and last night was just another notch on the belt.
Remember, this woman turns 40 in January. She's in rarified air. Typically, at this age, the B and C-listers typically turn into self-help gurus who suddenly start praying to some butterfly goddess while on a retreat in Costa Rica. I've seen it way too often where celebs will waste about a decade from 35-45 b----ing about the government, Trump, etc.
Not Cavs. Just this week, she made headlines where she said her kids can sit in coach while she's in first class on planes. Now she's throwing out a first pitch in shredded jorts. THIS IS CONTENT 101. Keep the content flame burning. Thank you, Cavs.
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â Michael V. says: Hello Joe, hope all is well. Yes I have been to a bowling alley that has pins held up by plastic cords. It was a lucky strike (not sure if that counts as a real bowling alley) close to my house. I prefer bowling on a regular lane because I find the plastic cords get tangled and cause delays in play. AMF offers a great summer deal (#notsponsored) where you pay $50 per person and can play up to 2 games a day everyday until labor day. The pass pays for itself after 3 visits. My daughter and I have done it the past few summers and some of her friends join us now as well. Topgolf has a similar deal that is a bargain as long as you dont buy a lot of food and drinks when you go.
â Chris from California writes: Reading today's column and Justin in Sherwood Park name checked my state and brought up how he feels our state government's mismanaging of things has lead to more wildfires. Sadly, he couldn't be more right.
I've lived in Southern California my entire life and year after year the wildfires seem to be getting worse and worse, yes some of it is environmental and based on the way a bunch of areas have been developed but a huge factor is the way our idiot government does things. I feel like there's three major factors at play, one; there's less controlled burns, clearing of brush, etc. all in the name of helping the environment (that then burns to the ground), two; a lack of oversight and holding utility companies accountable for faulty powerlines, infrastructure and that sort of thing and finally the way we handle water. The most cursory of Google searches will lead you to countless articles about the truly moronic way our state handles water, not routing it where it's truly needed and can actually help the parts of my state that tend to be really dry. At this point, like with most things California does I'm not sure I can even logically explain to use the reasoning behind why any of this is done. I'd like to think I'm a relatively smart, educated person but most of the policies and laws enacted by this state and the reasoning behind it bounce off my brain because they simply don't make any sense. It's like a toddler throwing a box of crayons at a wall and then saying they painted a Picasso.
The only solace I can take is that my state seems to be slowly waking up to just how poorly we are run. There is an honest to God shot at a Republican being elected Governor and with each passing day, as Gavin Newsom gets closer to announcing his run at the Presidency, Republicans are frothing at the mouth and Democrats are trying to gird themselves because they all know if he runs he will get utterly destroyed. All anyone running against him has to do is bring up where California was 8 years ago and where it is now because of his mind-numbingly terrible leadership and he'll be laughed into obscurity.
Also, to chime in on the pool thing, as well as something else that was brought up this week.
I own a pool and I have 3 boys, 14, 12 and 10 so I have a bunch of idiot teenager or almost teenagers over all the time. They all know they can act like idiot teenagers, but there's a rules and limits to make sure they are safe and no one walks away with more than a skinned knee or a wedgie. Their parents all know and support this and likewise if my kids go over to their friends' houses, they know not only do my rules apply, but whatever other rules the people that are hosting them might have as well.
This brings me to the other thing someone brought up about respect and being called, Mr., Mrs., etc. I'm not sure how I got so lucky but I've been very fortunate that all the parents that are part of my kids' friend circles have the same views and rules I do for my kids. You treat all adults with respect and call them Mr. or Mrs. unless they tell you otherwise. You shake hands when you meet them, you follow their rules, etc. It took a bit of getting to know everyone and maybe we all gravitated towards each other because we had the same expectations for our kids and the way they are supposed to interact with society and we subconsciously excluded people that don't hold those same views, but we all feel perfectly comfortable when they are over at each other's houses because we all know there's rules and a level of respect that each of them will observe. This has allowed us to create a nice "bubble" for lack of a better term where they can be moronic teenagers but within limits. It's one thing to throw each other around on the giant trampoline in the backyard, boys will be boys, but the moment someone says stop or an adult tells you to do something, you do it. You treat every house like your own, you clean up after yourself without being asked, you say "please" and "thank you" every time, it's just basic stuff that makes sure no matter the situation or the place they will be civil, respectful and responsible and that it's okay to have fun, but not be dumb about it.
Kids don't have to but when a young man comes up to me, looks me right in the eye, shakes my hand and calls me Mr., that goes a long way towards me being okay with my kids hanging out with him because I know the person that taught the kid that is gonna be pretty inline with my thinking. I'm pretty certain they think the same thing when my kid does it to them. It's a small thing, but it's those small things that add up to a complete, competent, productive, well-rounded member of society.
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â Carl was there: I was at the Blue Angels practice on Wed when the low flyover took place. It was incredible and everyone there loved it. They have two separate groups that practice. First, 4 planes practice (#1,2,3 and 5), then an hour later, they go home and #4 and #6 fly. There was another low pass over the pier that everyone thought the plane was going to hit the pier because it was so low. However, there were no people that far out on the pier because they restrict them to beginning of it. I missed the Thursday practice but people are saying the Blue Angel #3 wasn't there. That is the same plane that did the low flyover. Also, Blue Angel #6 is the loudest, absolutely deafening! The Blue Angels are absolutely amazing.
###############
That is it this morning. I have a weekend facing me down. It's time to get this published so I can close the laptop. Let's get out there and create some new storylines for next week.
Pratt takes Walz to task in scathing X post over pardoned child rapist: 'Have your hard drives checked'
Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate and reality TV star Spencer Pratt took aim at Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz in a post that was widely praised by conservatives on social media.
"If you find yourself defending a child molester, saying: âWE canât be judged by OUR worst dayâ, you probably need to have your hard drives checked," Pratt posted on X on Friday.
Pratt was responding to a clip of Walz defending the pardon of a convicted child rapist, contending that his deportation by the State Department did not make the U.S. safer.
"Did that make us any safer?" Walz questioned. "Did that make the children that are left behind any more stable? Did it improve the idea that we canât all be judged by our worst day?"
TIM WALZ OFFERS STRANGE DEFENSE FOR PARDONING CONVICTED CHILD RAPIST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DEPORTED
Prattâs post quickly spread on social media from other conservatives bashing Walz.
"I couldnât agree more, @spencerpratt," Republican House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, who represents Minnesotaâs 6th Congressional District, posted on X. "Tim Walz has ZERO morals. He is disgrace to Minnesota!"
EXPOSED DOCS REVEAL WHY TIM WALZ BOARD AWARDED REPEAT CHILD RAPIST PARDON: âNO FUTUREâ
"To think... he was almost the Vice President," Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., posted on X.
"I didnât used to understand the phrase, 'bring common sense to DC,' but it becomes more apparent every day that itâs missing at every level of government," Florida Republican congressional candidate Tim Wilkins posted on X. "This is insanity."
Fox News Digital reached out to Walzâs office for comment.
The Minnesota Board of Pardons, composed of Walz, state Attorney General Keith Ellison and state Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, granted clemency to Laotian national Tou Lue Vang, 42, on June 10. Vang was scheduled to be deported from the United States before the pardon.
Vang was convicted for repeatedly raping a 10-year-old girl between 2002 and 2004, and told authorities after he was arrested that "it is a cultural thing... to marry and have sex with girls as young as 12."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stepped in to terminate Tou Lue Vang's legal status in the U.S. and ensure that Walz's actions would not create roadblocks for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) removing him from the country before Vang was ultimately deported.
Pratt has been increasingly active in politics on social media since finishing third in the Los Angeles mayoral primary and recently met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office which increased speculation that another political run could be in his future.
"I will never stop fighting for my community," Pratt captioned the photo of the meeting on X.
Fox News Digitalâs Peter DâAbrosca contributed to this report.
US forest service workers kidnapped, ziptied for hours by father-son duo: California AG
A father-son duo in California allegedly kidnapped a pair of U.S. forest service workers, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant said in a press conference.Â
Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and his son Phoenix Henrichsen allegedly took the two federal workers hostage inside a trailer in a rural area near Mt. Shasta.
The FBI deployed a hostage negotiator from Quantico to coordinate with local authorities. The authorities negotiated the hostages' release after hours of talks with the kidnappers.
The elder Henrichsen demanded to speak with the FBI after ziptying the hostages and holding them inside a trailer near Gumboot Lake in northern California's Shasta Trinity National Forest.Â
HOFFA FAMILY URGES FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL TO KEEP INVESTIGATION OPEN AND 'NAME NAMES'
A Forest Services employee called authorities shortly before 11 a.m. local time on Thursday to notify them of the kidnapping. The FBI secured the release of one of the hostages at 1:50 a.m. on Friday and the second hostage 15 minutes later. The alleged kidnappers surrendered themselves to the FBI at 2:30 a.m.Â
"Iâm grateful beyond words that both of our Forest Service employees taken hostage on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest are home safe," Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said in a statement.
"This was a frightening experience for everyone involved. Their well-being continues to be our highest priority. Weâre staying close to them and their loved ones, making sure they have the support and the space that they need after what theyâve been through," he concluded.Â
The FBI does not yet know what the kidnappers' motivation is or why they requested to speak with the FBI.
"The United States Attorney's Office intends to charge both men by criminal complaint with kidnapping a federal employee under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1201(a)(5)," Grant said during a Friday press conference.
Fox News Digital contacted the FBI and the US Forest Service for additional comment.
Weight-loss drugs may improve job prospects and dating odds for one group
A recent study suggests GLP-1-related weight loss may improve some womenâs relationships and employment status.
Rebecca Diamond, professor of economics at Harvard University in Boston, independently published research that found an association between weight-loss medications and a change in womenâs social and economic outcomes.
Diamond used the Understanding America Study, a panel survey from the University of Southern California, to compare women who started GLP-1s for weight loss to those who wanted to start but had not yet done so.
DR OZ LINKS OBESITY TO CHRONIC DISEASE SURGE, SAYS GLP-1S CAN 'JUMPSTART' BETTER HEALTH
The comparison considered body mass, health, income, employment, partnership status and well-being before treatment.
The study focused on women because they are more likely to use GLP-1s than men. It excluded people taking GLP-1 drugs for diabetes, as their use is driven by a medical condition rather than weight-loss demand.
Women who successfully lost weight with GLP-1 medications experienced changes across several life outcomes, including employment, marriage and cohabitation, according to the study.
Marriage and cohabitation rose 29% for single women after about 18 months.
DIVORCEES AND WIDOWS SHARE CONCERNING MENTAL HEALTH TRAIT, RESEARCHERS FIND
Among women who were not employed at the start of the study, job prospects increased by 27% after the same amount of time. Those who were already employed did not display any clear upward progress in their careers, however.
Diamond argues that these findings suggest part of the "female obesity penalty" comes from how people are judged when being matched up, either in a new relationship or a new job.
Dr. Peter Balazs, MD, a hormone and weight-loss specialist from New York and New Jersey, commented on these findings.
"The effects showed up during ânew matchâ situations, such as job interviews or dating, and not within existing jobs or relationships," Balazs, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "This says more about societal bias than it does about the medication itself."
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Balazs said his patients often report feeling more confident and "visible" after weight loss, which could translate into better interview performance and networking.
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"Weight loss (commonly) improves confidence, which opens new business and relationship opportunities," he went on. "Weight loss has hormonal impacts as well, so the normalization of hormones and the profound metabolic and psychological relief that comes with it can be a factor, too."
Dr. Krishna Vyas, a plastic surgeon at Blechman Plastic Surgery in New York, told Fox News Digital in a separate interview that many patients seek breast lifts or body contouring after significant GLP-1 weight loss, after which they find themselves "re-engaging with life."
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"That confidence effect is real in the exam room," said the surgeon, who also was not involved in the research. "This study, however, showed no clear improvement in depression, loneliness or life satisfaction, even as marriage and employment rates climbed dramatically."
"The opportunities opened, yet the women didn't report feeling better, which suggests it was largely the gatekeepers who changed, not the women."
Because this was an observational study rather than a randomized clinical trial, it could only show an association â not cause and effect. The findings are also considered preliminary because the paper has not yet been peer-reviewed, the author acknowledged.
"Additionally, since the study only looked at women, that introduces another layer of potential bias," Balazs noted. "I'd be interested to see whether the findings would be the same if the study included men or compared them directly."
Another limitation is that the information from the individuals studied was self-reported, the expert noted.Â
The researchers were also unable to determine whether people who found new jobs were earning more money.
"Additionally, even though GLP-1 users appeared to have better outcomes on paper, they did not report greater overall life satisfaction," Balazs added. "That raises important questions about whether these external changes translate into meaningful improvements in well-being."
Fox News Digital reached out to the study researcher and multiple human resources organizations requesting comment.
Bakery owner who went viral with response to critical influencer speaks out on why she defended her business
An Arizona bakery owner went viral after calling out incorrect claims an influencer made about her pastries in October after she turned down a collaboration.
Jenna Leurquin, the owner of Jenna Leurquin Patisserie, known as JL Patisserie, spoke with Fox News Digital about why she made the viral video and the importance of transparency among the new trend of influencers reviewing small businesses, even offering financial incentives for marketing.
JL Patisserie was opened by Leurquin, an immigrant from Belgium, in 2018, and now has three locations, two in Phoenix and one in Scottsdale.
SHE DIDNâT EXIST, BUT THE MONEY DID: A REAL INFLUENCER SOUNDS THE ALARM ON AI DECEPTION
Aurora Griffo, who has reviewed restaurants on her TikTok account Glamorama, (now @glamoramaaaaa); stirred some controversy that many have called "pastry gate" after her review of JL Patisserie.
"I do not mind spending $10 on a pastry if they are really good, but you cannot use fake-a-- ingredients," she said in the now-deleted review.
Specifically criticizing the pistachio croissant, Griffo said, "That pistachio color is about as natural as my boobs, a-- and waistline."
She added, "With all of that being said, I think if you stay away from the expensive ingredients, like deez nuts, you can definitely enjoy delicious, rich pastry here." Griffo's review did not initially go viral, but it caught the eye of the bakery owner.
Leurquin expressed respect for different opinions. She felt the need to address the claims to defend her bakery, in a TikTok that now has over 73 million views.
Leurquin explained to Fox News Digital why she responded.Â
"So it felt that this video misrepresented our business, our culture and really what we are passionate about and what we really work hard to do. We really pride ourselves in the methods and like the artisanal methods of making everything that we make, all of our croissants, all our breads, our sourdough."
Leurquin hit back on the false ingredients claim in the video, sharing that most of the ingredients are imported from Europe.
"It felt the review specifically tried to hurt us because she didn't get what she wanted, she said. "And so she was stating facts that were not true about us. And so I just wanted to speak out and demonstrate really who we are and what we do."
YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR TURNS HUMBLE DESSERT SHOP INTO RAPIDLY EXPANDING EMPIRE
This comes as more stories continue to demonstrate conflicts that arise from influencers reviewing restaurants.
"Restaurant owner goes viral after calling out influencer asking for $1,800 to eat there," one story published on Yahoo Creators said.
"These L.A. Restaurants Are Speaking Out After The Influencers They Paid Ghosted Them," reads another by L.A. Taco.
"Social media influencer arrested for skipping out on nearly $400 restaurant bill after live streaming meal," another story from The Independent reports.
Although Leurquin acknowledged that influencers can be powerful, she had to turn down the offer to collaborate due to what her budget allowed at the time.
"She had originally DMed us and asked to work in a collaborative way for her to come in our restaurant or bakery and try some of the products. And I told her immediately when she reached out, âHey, unfortunately, right now I have zero budget for social media or influencer marketing.â"
After the conflict took the internet by storm, Griffo changed her username and deleted her review videos.
Griffo posted a response amid "Pastry Gate," disputing Leurquin's claims that she requested payment for a review.
Although screenshots Griffo shared on TikTok appear to show she did not request monetary compensation, they also indicate she asked for her meal and gratuity to be comped and said she would not publish a review if her experience was poor.
Leurquin's statements matched up with the screenshots regarding the request for comped food.
Griffo also claimed in her response that the bakery "punched down" because they have a larger social media presence than she did.
MILITARY HUSBAND GOES VIRAL SHARING SIMPLE LIFE HACK WITH HIS WIFE
Before agreeing to anything, Griffo showed up to her restaurant anyway to film a review.
"We realized who she was early on in the interaction," Leurquin said. "And then she asked to turn the music down because one of my team members is French and he speaks with a bit of a French accent. And she said she couldn't understand him well. So we turned down the music. And then she complained about a few things. So we offered her drinks on the house. We were trying to be nice and accommodating. Obviously, we turned the music down and all of that stuff. So then she went to sit outside and she started recording."
According to Griffo, she was provided a shot of espresso.
After Griffo accused the bakery of using fake ingredients, Leurquin took to TikTok to set the record straight. Including showing the pistachio paste made out of pure pistachios and flour imported from Europe.
As a result of the viral incident, according to Leurquin, they saw an increase in customers. The bakery owner said the support came after a "rough" 2025 summer.
"I think the community really came and supported us," she said. "It also helped us tremendously.
Leurquin said she believes this conflict may have impacted how people use influencers and the desire for authenticity.
"I do think prior to this really big moment, some people started realizing that influencers were a little bit biased," she said. "And so I think this was an opportunity for them to really see what's going on behind closed doors and how those influencers actually do engage with the restaurants."
The bakery owner acknowledged that influencers make money from content and collaborations, but shared that this expense can be difficult for small businesses trying to make ends meet.
As for Leurquin, she uses TikTok to demonstrate the behind-the-scenes of what goes into running a bakery, from interacting with customers and days spent making pastries.
"I think my approach in my social media is to showcase people what it takes to do what we do and the labor that's behind it for people to really truly appreciate it," she said.
The TikTok page has over 690K followers and nearly 24 million likes across all videos.
INTERNET INFLUENCER CLAVICULAR DITCHES 'LOOKSMAXXING' TREND FOR DIFFERENT AVENUE OF âGEOMAXXINGâ
Griffo shared an apology on social media after posting the response video, that said in part,
"First and foremost. I want to address the 'fake a-- ingredients' comment. When I tasted the pistachio pastry, I noticed a strong pistachio flavor that reminded me of extract or flavoring so I assumed that's what was used to enhance the taste. Maybe it was added, maybe it wasn't. But I want to be clear they do use real ingredients as well, and I should have been more thoughtful with my wording."
"My review was not revenge for being turned down for a collaboration I had already planned to visit and review the bakery regardless, paid or not," Griffo wrote. "But I understand with how things unfolded, it might have looked like I did it out of spite. Thatâs not who l am, and that was never my intention."
Griffo added, "When the collaboration didn't work out, I completely respected that and went in as a regular paying customer. My goal was still to give an honest review, but I see how that message, followed by a negative video, made it seem like I only wanted free food or felt entitled and that's not true. That was never my mindset, and I truly regret that it came across that way."
She apologized directly to the bakery as well:
"To the bakery, Iâm sincerely sorry for any harm my words may have caused. I respect the time, effort, and heart that goes into running a small business, and I genuinely wish you nothing but success moving forward," she wrote. "At the end of the day, weâre all human. Sometimes we mess up publicly and all we can do is take accountability, learn, and grow from it."
Kai Trump reveals new celebrity crush after ditching 'Outer Banks' star Drew Starkey
Kai Trump is pushing "Outer Banks" star Drew Starkey to the side and filling her celebrity crush spot with the one and only Theo James.
During an interview with Fox News Digital, Kai â who is President Donald Trump's granddaughter â explained that her taste has evolved since she revealed that Starkey was her celebrity crush in 2024.
"I think Theo James now, yeah, Theo James, I would say, so it's changed," Kai began. "I mean, like, I still like him [Starkey], but it's just changed a little."
TRUMP FAMILY FIRES BACK AT 'LAWFARE,' WARNS THE WORLD THEIR POLITICAL FUTURE IS WIDE OPEN
When asked why James has taken her number one spot, the 19-year-old gushed over his looks.
"He's very attractive," Kai said of James, 41.
WATCH: KAI TRUMP REVEALS WHO HER NEW CELEBRITY CRUSH IS
Two years ago, Kai took to her YouTube channel to answer questions that her fans submitted on X. In a clip titled "Get to know me betterâŚQ&A," one social media user asked, "Celebrity crush?"
Before responding, Kai asked for her phone, noting she "had to look up" her celebrity crush. Upon glancing at the screen, she said, "Oh my God, I know. Why do I need my phone? His name is Drew Starkey. Do you guys know him â âOuter Banks?â"
"All right, my celebrity crush â Drew Starkey from âOuter Banks.â I love him, so yeah, thatâs my celebrity crush."
"I'm gonna blush right now!" Kai added as her cheeks turned red, and she fanned herself with her hand.
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Kai told Fox News Digital that having her grandfather in office has made her dating life "tricky."
"It's not easy, to be honest with you, but you know, you gotta live life," she said. "You gotta just keep on doing normal stuff, you know? At the end of the day, I was in high school, lived a normal high school life, and now I'm going to college, so just kinda live as normal of a life as possible."
During her interview with Fox News Digital, Kai shared that "a lot" of celebrities have given her praise for her YouTube channel.
WATCH: KAI TRUMP SHARES ADVICE THAT A CELEBRITY GAVE HER ABOUT HER YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Kai has 1.5 million subscribers and her channel offers viewers a behind-the-scenes look at her life as a competitive golfer, college student and member of the Trump family through vlogs featuring travel, golf, family moments and major public events.
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"I met this one celebrity one time, I was hanging out with him at the Masters, and he also said that what I'm doing, just continue being yourself and just kind of block out the haters and just keep on being you," Kai said without revealing the star's identity.
"That kind of stood out to me, especially when you're with someone that's that high profile, and they say that to you," she concluded.
Federal employees can download TikTok on government devices after ByteDance's divestiture, DOJ says
Federal employees can now download TikTok onto their government devices after a yearslong ban, according to a memo from the Department of Justice.
This reversal comes after ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, transferred control of the app's U.S. user data and operations to TikTok U.S. Data Security (TikTok USDS), a majority American-owned joint venture. The deal was finalized in January.
A 2022 law banned federal workers from having TikTok on government devices due to national security concerns, but an opinion from the DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel said the restructuring eliminated the risks that prompted the ban.
The opinion, addressed to the deputy counsel to President Donald Trump, said the American-controlled version of TikTok "poses no such risk."
TRUMP, BONDI SUED OVER TIKTOK DEAL THAT ALLEGEDLY 'SUBVERTED' CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY
"We understand you have since instructed that employees of Executive Branch agencies may download TikTok onto their official devices, subject to the agencyâs discretion and consistent with all applicable workplace policies," the opinion said.
American and global investors own 80.1% of the new joint venture, while ByteDance owns 19.9%, according to the divestiture agreement.
"The fact that ByteDance Limited remains a minority shareholder in the joint venture operating TikTok USDS makes no practical difference," the DOJ said in the opinion.
UK TO BAN TIKTOK, YOUTUBE, OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA APPS FOR CHILDREN UNDER 16, STARMER SAYS
ByteDance's divestiture from TikTok was prompted by a 2024 law that passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress.
The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April of that year, required ByteDance to divest control of TikTokâs U.S. operations or risk having the app barred from U.S. app stores and internet-hosting services.
TikTok attempted to challenge the constitutionality of the law, arguing that it violated the free speech rights of its tens of millions of users.
TIKTOK AFTER THE US SALE: WHAT CHANGED AND HOW TO USE IT SAFELY
On Jan. 17, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress had the right to impose a sell-or-ban ultimatum to address the "well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok's data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary."
The law was supposed to take effect on Jan. 19, 2025, but Trump delayed its enforcement after returning to office the following day.
Trump repeatedly delayed enforcement of the law last year to allow enough time for investors to express interest in taking over TikTok, which is used by around 200 million Americans.
Oracle, Silver Lake and Emirati investment firm MGX emerged as the most prominent investors. The new venture said in January that U.S. user data would be protected in Oracleâs secure cloud and that TikTokâs recommendation algorithm would be retrained using U.S. user data.
Reuters contributed to this report.
World Series champion Mookie Betts says athletes shouldn't be seen as political figures: 'We go out and play'
Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts just wants to be a baseball player, not a political figure or a political vehicle for people to push their agendas.
Betts, 33, visited the White House after the Dodgers won the World Series in 2024, but will not be going this year. The four-time World Series champion said he just had a baby and wanted to spend time with his family, and insisted the decision was not politically motivated.
The American League MVP winner questioned why athletes are viewed as political figures in todayâs day and age.
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"I don't know why the world sees athletes as these political figures or these people that can make change or these people that can do this, that, and the other. We go out and play our sport," Betts told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.
"I'm sure there are some guys in there that that love politics and want to be in it, but I'm not sure why the world sees us that way. But it kind of is what it is."
The eight-time All-Star said athletes are in a tough position when it comes to visiting the White House because someone is guaranteed to be upset with the decision.
"Athletes, weâre in positions where, you know, especially myself, where I'm kind of damned if I do or damned if I don't," Betts told Fox News Digital in an interview on behalf of LGND, his glove company.
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Knowing that backlash will come regardless of his decision, Betts decided to do what was best for him and his family.
"So instead of trying to make other people happy, it's let me just make myself happy, you know, make myself happy and get to spend some time with my family. Like I said, I got a new baby, so get to spend some time with her," Betts continued.
"I don't really worry about it too much. Like I said, my stance is really that if I'm going to make everybody mad, make somebody mad, then at least I'm gonna make myself happy. So, that's where I'm at."
Betts is in the 13th season of his illustrious career but has struggled this year compared with previous seasons. The Nashville native is a career .288 hitter with 302 home runs and 944 RBIs, but is hitting just .235 with 11 home runs and 31 RBIs this season.
The six-time Gold Glove winner will look to get back on track in the second half and help lead the Dodgers to a third straight World Series title.
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