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Kylian Mbappé's embarrassing, groveling apology to China comes down to money: Dan Dakich
It hasn't been the best few months for Kylian Mbappé.
The French superstar striker entered the 2026 World Cup with his team as clear favorites to win the tournament, only to come up well short, losing 2-0 to Spain in the semifinals. Then, on Monday night, he lost the Ballon d'Or, the award given out to the best player in international soccer, to Harry Kane.
Though Mbappé was brilliant in the "El Classico" against Barcelona, scoring a brace in the rivalry match, through the first 10 matches of the La Liga season, Real Madrid's goal differential of +15 pales in comparison to Barca's +29. He also refused to fully wear a shirt worn by the rest of his teammates, to reaffirm Cueta's status as a part of Spain after an unprecedented surge of illegal immigration from Morocco.
But on Tuesday, his season somehow got even worse.
Mbappé bent the knee to China and the Chinese Communist Party, after an appearance on "The Bridge," a French talk show hosted by a teammate, Aurelien Tchouameni. His big offense? Laughing at a meme.
The one "that makes me laugh the most," he said, is "the one where there's a video of a guy, I think it's a Chinese dictator, they put my [face over it]. The show then cut to an example of the meme, his face covering an image of what looks to be Mao Zedong.
Mao was, by any reasonable definition, a dictator. And a brutal, malicious, and violent one. Most historians blame Mao's policies for tens of millions of deaths through famine and politically motivated persecution. It's not a stretch to describe him as evil, and one of history's greatest villains.
But in the modern world of professional sports, there are a few protected groups that must be protected at all costs, and the Chinese Communist Party is one of them. Why? Because there's money to be made for La Liga and Real Madrid in China, and telling the truth about the CCP's abuses is apparently forbidden.
"My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world," Mbappé wrote in a humiliating statement on Tuesday. "I apologize to everyone my words have upset. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry."
If that wasn't enough, the entire Spanish soccer league added their own groveling, ridiculous apology.
"La Liga deeply regrets the offense caused by Kylian Mbappé’s recent comments among Chinese fans. These comments were made in a personal capacity and do not represent LALIGA. To the extent of our institutional responsibility, we apologize on behalf of LALIGA and all its clubs," the league said.
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He's just the latest in a long list of athletes and personalities whose concern for human rights and social justice ends at the Chinese border. And OutKick's Dan Dakich took him to task for how he handled it.
"I don't think people fully understand soccer is, and how big soccer players like Mbappé are, all across the world. Mbappé, if you remember, one of the stars of the World Cup when he came to the USA," Dakich said.
"Mbappé has all kinds of commercials, all kinds of billboards, all kinds of business interests all over China, including anything from cheese to soft drinks ... you name it, he's got a huge, huge presence in China. Well, that's all being threatened to go away, because as you know based on what happened with Daryl Morey and others, China doesn't take kindly to any kind of slur."
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Sure enough, the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, of course, immediately criticized Mbappé's remarks.
"If you're going to get in bed with Communist China, if you're going to get in bed with somebody that isn't as open and free thinking as we are and Europeans are, then you better shut your damn mouth. You know, you better just sit back, take your money, and quit screwing around."
The freedoms that many athletes take for granted here are not present everywhere. And Dakich brought up that there's no awareness of how lucky they are to play where they do.
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"You can be political here in the United States because we enjoy freedoms that others don't," he said. "But when you come at China, they react. This is going to cost Mbappé a ton of money. A ton. I mean, this is going to be something that he cannot recover from now. Does he care? Don't know. Should he care, don't know? I don't even a little bit.
"But I got to tell you, they always back down. Hell, you think LeBron James would practice his golf swing if he was in China listening to the Chinese anthem? Hell no. No, they're always back because it's big money."
That's the reality, that Mbappé and James and all the rest of them will do anything to avoid taking a hit to their wallet, no matter how embarrassing and humiliating it is. They're the first to speak out on social issues when it's free, and the first to back down when it matters.
Valkyries stars tells fans to ‘call in sick’ for Game 6 as early WNBA Finals tipoff sparks fan reaction
Game 6 of the WNBA Finals between the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries has been moved up to 12:30 p.m. ET on Thursday to give State Farm Arena enough time to get the building ready for an NBA game that evening.
The early tipoff could create a challenge for fans in California, where the game will begin at 9:30 a.m. PT. The Valkyries defeated the Dream in Monday’s Game 5 in San Francisco to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, meaning Game 6 could determine the WNBA champion.
While championship series games, especially potential championship-clinching contests, are routinely played in prime time, Thursday’s less-than-ideal scheduling doesn’t appear likely to stop Valkyries fans from tuning in to watch their favorite team.
WNBA FINALS GAME 6, A POTENTIAL TITLE-CLINCHER, WILL BE HELD IN THE AFTERNOON ON THURSDAY
Warriors coach Steve Kerr is among those who plan to tune in, even if he’s having breakfast when the game is starting. "We’ll have a day off that day, so, yeah, I’ll be watching," he said.
Several of the WNBA Finals games have drawn record ratings, showing how much interest there is in the league, this series and its athletes. The Valkyries have sold out every game since they began as an expansion franchise last year.
Shaunice Christmas-Miller and her wife, Kendall, have attended every home playoff game this season at Chase Center. Their jobs allow them to be flexible and work from home Thursday. Nevertheless, the couple believes the fan base will still show up Thursday.
"Absolutely, they will definitely find a way," Shaunice said.
Valkyries co-owner Peter Guber was largely unconcerned that the franchise’s devoted home crowd would come together when it matters most, despite morning challenges such as commuter traffic heading into San Francisco for a watch party.
Supporters have been invited to gather outside Chase Center’s Thrive City viewing area beneath the big screen.
Shaunice added that she wishes everybody involved had considered the various options well in advance to avoid such last-minute scrambling.
"They should have thought ahead for the whole seven-game series," Shaunice noted. "The women deserve primetime slots."
Others expressed their feelings on social media.
Rapper Flavor Flav posted Tuesday: "Thursday is a paid holiday. Because Flavor Flav said so." Included in his post was a photo of a note directed to bosses everywhere as a permission slip of sorts requesting excused absences for employees, signed by Flavor Flav with dual titles beneath his name — "The World’s Greatest Hype Man" and "Official Supporter of Women’s Sports."
Ole Miss women’s coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin sounded off.
"I’d rather play anywhere else than have a 12:30 tip for a WNBA FINALS game man! Not a good look! For fans and for the players," she posted on X. "Just my 2cents that no one asked for."
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Golden State coach Natalie Nakase and her players have focused all along on what they can control, and this certainly isn’t one of those things.
But there were some clever postgame offerings:
"Call in sick, I recommend it," point guard Veronica Burton cracked.
"Yeah, right? Y’all know how to fake a cough, didn’t we all do that?" teammate Kiah Stokes added.
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Golden State guard Kaila Charles has no doubt the Valkyries will adjust for the early tipoff.
"I think it’s a good thing that we’re able to play in a bigger arena so that they can have more people come and support women’s basketball," Charles said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Taylor Swift’s hitmaker scolds Ed Sheeran, ‘stand the f--- up’ after Macklemore fallout
Grammy-winning producer Jack Antonoff said Ed Sheeran missed a "massive" opportunity to "stand the f--- up" to billionaire interests, criticizing the English singer for removing Macklemore from his tour over the rapper’s remarks on Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Antonoff, lead singer for the band Bleachers and producer behind some of Taylor Swift’s biggest hits, made the scathing rebuke in a recent interview with The Guardian, more than a month after Sheeran faced backlash over Macklemore’s removal from the Loop Tour following the rapper’s calls for "Free Palestine" during his opening act.
"If you think it is [controversial] you’re lost in some other sauce that is so crazy. They’re going to let some f---ing promoter tell me what I can say? Don’t book me. I’ll play for free outside," Antonoff told the outlet.
COLIN KAEPERNICK ACCUSES NFL OF 'COLLUDING' AGAINST MACKLEMORE AMID 'FREE PALESTINE' CONTROVERSY
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was among a group of NFL team owners who reportedly threatened to bar Sheeran’s stadium performances if Macklemore was included in the lineup.
Antonoff argued that Sheeran should have canceled the tour and staged free concerts outside the venues rather than give in to pressure from billionaires.
"[Ed Sheeran] missed a massive, beautiful opportunity there: just cancel the whole f---ing tour, then play for free outside each venue, raise a bunch of money, rather than let a f---ing billionaire tell you what to do," Antonoff said. "The reason it’s not an anomaly or niche issue is because we all live in a world where billionaires are constantly telling us what to do. So stand the f--- up."
KATHY GRIFFIN SAYS ED SHEERAN SHOULD HAVE TOLD ROBERT KRAFT TO 'GO F--- YOURSELF' OVER MACKLEMORE
Sheeran addressed the controversy during his Philadelphia tour stop, saying in part: "What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate."
Several other artists scheduled to open for Sheeran, including Finneas, Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham, dropped out of the tour in solidarity with Macklemore, who has doubled down on his message with a "Free Palestine Tour."
Antonoff, who has also voiced support for a "free Palestine," praised Macklemore for speaking out. The Jewish artist said he has "felt way more emboldened to say it now."
"It’s not in any way a strange, uncomfortable or controversial thing to say, it’s a deeply human thing to say," said the producer.
ED SHEERAN APOLOGIZES FOR MACKLEMORE BACKLASH, ENCOURAGES UNITY AT FIRST CONCERT SINCE FALLOUT
Film critic and Hollywood in Toto founder and editor Christian Toto told Fox News Digital that Antonoff does not care about free speech, arguing that his comments are an attempt to gain approval within his industry.
"Jack doesn't sound well-informed, either about Middle East politics or his own business," Toto said in a statement. "If Sheeran scrapped his tour, how many workers would lose their jobs? And, if he did an alternative tour, how would they get paid?"
"He knows it's acceptable within his industry to blanketly bash billionaires, a lazy, thoughtless attack and do a variation of ‘Free Palestine,'" Toto continued. "He's trying to curry favor within his industry. Sadly, it might just work."
Fox News Digital has reached out to Sheeran and Macklemore for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Macklemore called 'out of touch' over speech at Free Palestine Tour kickoff
Macklemore took his political message to a new stage.
The rapper doubled down on his pro-Palestinian activism during the launch of his Free Palestine Tour, weeks after his controversial remarks prompted his removal from Ed Sheeran's lineup.
"I am proud to stand here on stage in solidarity with the Palestinian people. We will continue to fight for collective liberation until our last breath," Macklemore told the crowd during his concert in Dublin, according to Reuters.
"Six weeks ago, two words is all that it took," he said, referring to the fallout after he declared "Free Palestine" while opening for Ed Sheeran.
PINK HITS BACK AMID BACKLASH FOR CRITICIZING MACKLEMORE'S PRO-PALESTINIAN CONCERT REMARKS
"Those two words are so threatening to some people that we'd rather silence those two words than confront what they actually mean. ... Somehow those words have become more controversial than the suffering that made them necessary," Macklemore added.
Macklemore's defiant remarks drew mixed reactions online, with some social media users applauding his outspoken activism while others questioned his motives and accused him of being out of touch. Critics also took aim at the rapper's priorities, suggesting he should focus his attention on problems closer to home rather than delivering political speeches onstage.
One user called Macklemore "so performative and bored."
"Imagine going to this and getting lectured by a person who is literally out of touch," one user wrote on X in response to a video shared.
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"Macklemore should care as much about Americans on Skid Row," another user said. "He could go down there or on any street in LA at this point, give some of his personal fortune away & save people."
"It's one way to stay relevant I guess," another user wrote.
Others praised Macklemore, calling the rapper "stunning and brave."
"Thank goodness for the humanity and courage of artists like this," one user said. "Free Palestine."
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The rapper launched his Free Palestine Tour Monday after being removed as an opening act for Ed Sheeran.
Macklemore, who's full name is Ben Haggerty, was kicked off Sheeran's Loop Tour following criticism from his "Free Palestine" messaging during his opening act at MetLife Stadium in early September.
Sheeran later addressed Macklemore’s removal from his U.S. tour, saying the rapper’s departure was ultimately a decision made by the concert promoter and venues, not by Sheeran.
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The "Shape of You" singer said he was "appalled" by the conflict between Israel and Palestine and described the suffering on both sides as "a human tragedy," according to a lengthy statement shared on Instagram after Macklemore accused Sheeran and tour organizers of sidelining him over his pro-Palestinian remarks.
Macklemore claimed that Sheeran told him Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, had rallied other stadium owners to oppose allowing the rapper to perform.
Macklemore's Free Palestine Tour will continue in Paris and London. U.S. dates and locations are expected to be announced at a later date.
Fox News Digital's Tracy Wright contributed to this report.
Micah Parsons moves closer to highly-anticipated return as coach Matt LaFleur gives encouraging update
The Green Bay Packers may be getting a massive boost soon.
Micah Parsons tore his ACL last December, delivering a crushing blow to the Packers' playoff hopes last season and dampening their pass rush this season, as he has begun the year on the reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Head coach Matt LaFleur indicated the star pass rusher could return to practice as early as next week.
"I'm saying there's a chance," LaFleur said when asked whether Parsons could begin practicing next week.
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The Packers acquired the 27-year-old from the Dallas Cowboys before last season in exchange for star defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks, and Parsons appeared to justify the steep price. In 14 games last season, Parsons recorded 12.5 sacks and 41 tackles.
Despite appearing in only 14 games, he finished third in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting and was named to the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro first team.
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The Packers are eager to get Parsons back on the field. Despite their 4-3 record, Green Bay sits last in the uber-competitive NFC North, with every team in the division above .500. The Minnesota Vikings lead the division at 6-0, followed by the Chicago Bears at 5-2 and the Detroit Lions at 4-2.
Parsons has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his five NFL seasons, and his return could significantly bolster Green Bay's playoff hopes.
The Packers will remain without Parsons when they face the Carolina Panthers (3-3) Thursday night.
Timberwolves lose Anthony Edwards for 2 months after arthroscopic procedure on right knee: report
The Minnesota Timberwolves took a big injury hit on Tuesday, as All-Star guard Anthony Edwards will undergo an arthroscopic procedure to repair his right knee.
As a result, he will need to be sidelined two months, according to ESPN.
Edwards was deemed questionable for the Timberwolves’ Monday night contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which was the second half of a back-to-back.
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However, he played a full 41 minutes, dropping 47 points, though Minnesota fell to Cleveland, 127-125, in overtime.
The initial injury presumably came during the Timberwolves’ win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, as he was seen grabbing at that right knee. Head coach Chris Finch called Edwards’ injury a "daily situation" after the injury designation.
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The main thing was Finch didn’t seem too worried this would be more serious than a day-to-day ailment. Instead, Edwards will need to miss significant time.
Edwards dealt with runner’s knee on the same leg last season, which forced him to miss time at the back end of the regular season. He also suffered a hyperextended left knee during the first round of the playoffs, where they defeated the Denver Nuggets in six games.
Edwards missed a total 21 games last year, which was the most in his career. Hoping for better health this season, Edwards said he took time during the summer to let his knees rest. During training camp, there were no issues.
The two-time All-NBA selection was playing very well across four games. He became just the fourth player in NBA history with 45-or-more-point performances through his team’s first four games, with his opening night 47-point contest against the Miami Heat.
Finch will need to lean on his depth now, with Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland perhaps filling the gap Edwards leaves as he recovers from surgery.
The Timberwolves will be looking toward others on the starting five, including LaMelo Ball in his first season in Minnesota, to lead the way as well.
Federal officials identify 400 noncitizens registered to vote in Washington state: 'Tip of the iceberg'
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Monday that investigators have identified more than 400 noncitizens illegally registered to vote in Washington state, some of whom have cast ballots in multiple elections dating back decades.
Many on the list are green card holders with legal immigration status and permanent residency, according to the U.S. attorney’s offices for the Eastern and Western districts of Washington.
"We have identified over 400 noncitizens who are registered to vote and have voted in multiple elections. This is only the tip of the iceberg," Neil Floyd, acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington, said in a statement.
"We will continue to investigate and identify those who are committing crimes by voting illegally."
DOJ HAS VERIFIED 20,000 NONCITIZENS ON CALIFORNIA VOTER ROLLS, FEDERAL PROSECUTOR SAYS
The move builds on the DOJ's legal action against Los Angeles County, where it has sought to set aside roughly 20,000 mail-in ballots sent to individuals whose citizenship status is in question.
Immigration officials told Fox News Digital Tuesday that dozens of noncitizens have also been arrested nationwide in a major voter fraud crackdown.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Floyd said investigators identified hundreds of noncitizen voters by reviewing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) records, which showed that some people who applied for certain benefits had also voted.
While some individuals voted only once or three times in past elections, Floyd said others voted as many as 27 times. In total, his office counted approximately 1,500 instances of noncitizens casting ballots.
He emphasized that some noncitizens had been voting for decades, predating Washington’s transition to a vote-by-mail system.
"I think the earliest moment we have is 1984," Floyd said. "It's early ‘90s, late ’80s, I believe."
However, Floyd said he had not checked whether any of the individuals voted in the upcoming midterms, explaining that he did not want to "interfere with the current election."
The number of potential noncitizen voters could represent only a fraction of the broader population, Floyd said, because the list includes only individuals who sought certain benefits in Washington state.
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"If you take that population, and you expand it out to include all the people that are here illegally that we haven't had contact with, just my estimation is that it's going to be in the thousands," Floyd said.
Federal officials said many green card holders were registered to vote without their knowledge through Washington’s Motor Voter program, which integrates voter registration into the state’s Department of Licensing.
"We have heard from green card holders who were registered against their knowledge via the Washington Motor Voter program. Then they receive a ballot in the mail and assume they are legally registered — that simply is not the case," the notice said.
According to the Washington secretary of state’s website, eligible residents are automatically registered to vote only if they provide proof of U.S. citizenship during a driver’s license or ID card registration process.
The findings have prompted federal officials to identify patterns in how the voter registration process has failed, Floyd said.
According to the DOJ notice, federal officials are asking Washington state to set aside ballots cast by the identified individuals until their citizenship status can otherwise be confirmed.
"Washington is now on notice that noncitizens are voting. It is up to the state to take action to make sure that they are not allowing these noncitizens to vote illegally," the notice said.
Officials warned that voting as a noncitizen can have serious consequences for those seeking to become U.S. citizens. Potential criminal charges include making false statements in a naturalization application, and some individuals could also face charges for fraudulent voter registration.
On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Fox News Digital numerous illegal aliens had also admitted to unlawfully registering to vote or casting ballots in U.S. elections.
Of the dozens of suspects arrested, at least 18 had voted in a federal election.
The individuals were from a range of countries, including Mexico, Somalia, Honduras, Guyana, Cuba, Germany, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Vietnam, El Salvador, Cambodia, Guatemala, Portugal and Italy.
Many also faced charges for numerous alleged crimes, including counterfeiting, fraud, kidnapping, DUI, sexual offenses, assault with a dangerous weapon, drug possession and burglary.
Cassidy Hutchinson avoids indictment after DOJ effort to charge her over Jan 6 testimony fails: sources
A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., declined to indict former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson after the Justice Department sought criminal charges over statements she made to Congress in 2022, two sources confirmed to Fox News Digital.
The Justice Department had sought to indict Hutchinson over allegations she lied to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, but the effort failed Tuesday, according to the sources.
It remains unclear whether federal prosecutors will make another attempt to secure an indictment.
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Hutchinson, a former top aide to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, emerged as one of the most prominent witnesses before the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and President Donald Trump's efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 election.
During a nationally televised hearing in June 2022, Hutchinson testified about Trump's actions on Jan. 6, including an account she said she heard from another White House official about the president's reaction after being told he could not travel to the Capitol.
Her account of an alleged confrontation inside the presidential vehicle was subsequently disputed by other individuals familiar with the events.
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Fox News Digital previously reported that a federal grand jury in Washington had heard evidence concerning possible false statements Hutchinson made to the congressional committee.
At the time, a source familiar with the matter said additional evidence could be presented to the grand jury as soon as the following week and that no final decisions had been made about whether the investigation would result in criminal charges.
The New York Post also reported that the Justice Department was investigating Hutchinson over possible false statements to Congress.
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The grand jury's decision not to indict Hutchinson does not establish whether her congressional testimony was truthful or false. Hutchinson has previously maintained that she stands by her testimony.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Justice Department, Rep. Barry Loudermilk's office and Rep. Bennie Thompson's office for comment.
Man accused of threatening to hijack United flight says it was a drunken joke
A New Jersey man accused of sending a text threatening to hijack a United Airlines flight over the weekend told investigators he had been drinking and described the message as poorly worded banter with a coworker, according to an arrest report.
Dante Milne, 25, allegedly sent the threatening message Saturday while aboard United Airlines Flight 1681, a Boeing 737 carrying 150 passengers and six crew members from Las Vegas to Newark, New Jersey.
"I’m gonna hijack this b---- and crash ur row only," Milne allegedly wrote, according to an arrest report cited by FOX5 Vegas.
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The message was allegedly spotted by a flight attendant shortly after departure, and the crew alerted the captain, who secured the cockpit and diverted the aircraft back to Harry Reid International Airport, where it landed at approximately 11:05 p.m.
The flight was delayed overnight after the crew reached its permitted working hours and departed for Newark the following morning, United Airlines previously told Fox News Digital.
Authorities later charged Milne with one count of making threats or conveying false information concerning an act of terrorism.
According to an arrest report, Milne told investigators he had consumed a beer and several shots at an airport bar before boarding.
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He said he then fell asleep aboard the plane and woke up to discover the aircraft was returning to Las Vegas.
Milne initially acknowledged texting someone aboard the flight but said he could not remember the messages. When investigators specifically asked about the alleged hijacking threat, he described it as poorly worded "banter between coworkers," according to the arrest report.
Milne reportedly said he never intended to take control of the aircraft and apologized for what happened.
He told detectives he was returning home after spending three days in Las Vegas for an apprenticeship training program involving underwater welding, according to the report.
Air traffic control audio previously obtained by ATC.com and reported by Fox News captured the pilot explaining the situation as the flight returned to Las Vegas, including that the passenger suspected of making the threat apparently did not realize the aircraft had turned around because of him.
"The passenger does not know anything is going on," the pilot told air traffic controllers. "The flight attendant saw him texting that he was going to hijack the aircraft and called me and we went lockdown. … No restraint, passenger is compliant because he’s unaware."
Milne was later released on $10,000 bail, and his attorney told a judge Tuesday that he intended to plead not guilty, according to KLAS-TV.
Milne is due back in court on Jan. 5.
After the incident, United Airlines said the flight had returned to Las Vegas to address a "potential security concern."
"United Flight 1681 from Las Vegas to Newark on Saturday, Oct. 24, safely returned to Las Vegas to address a potential security concern," United Airlines previously told Fox News Digital.
"The flight was delayed overnight due to crew timeout, and departed for Newark this morning."
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also confirmed that the flight's crew reported a "passenger disturbance" and that the incident remained under investigation.
Fox News Digital's Jessica Mekles and Sophia Compton contributed to this report.
Dream vs Valkyries Game 6 bumped from prime time to Thursday afternoon but WNBA stays silent on why
The WNBA moved a potential championship-clinching game from Primetime to Thursday afternoon. It has yet to answer OutKick’s questions about why it chose a weekday afternoon over other options.
Game 6 between the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries will tip off at 12:30 p.m. ET Thursday at State Farm Arena, rather than its originally scheduled 8 p.m. start. For Golden State fans watching back home, that’s 9:30 a.m. PT.
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The game will still air on the USA Network and stream on Peacock.
The Valkyries lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 and can win their first championship Thursday. Atlanta needs a victory to force Game 7, which will be played Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Chase Center in San Francisco. Unless the WNBA runs into yet another scheduling issue, of course.
OutKick asked Versant, USA Network’s parent company, what role it had in choosing or approving the new start time and whether it supported the move. A source at the company said the scheduling change was the WNBA’s decision, but did not say whether USA Network approved the new start time or supported the move.
Why did the WNBA decide that a weekday afternoon was the best time for one of its biggest games?
The league has not responded to OutKick’s questions about the decision, the alternatives considered or concerns about the potential impact on viewership.
The immediate scheduling problem was another basketball game. The NBA’s Atlanta Hawks host the Cleveland Cavaliers at State Farm Arena that night. The Hawks agreed to move their start time to 8 p.m. to accommodate the WNBA game and the arena turnaround.
The teams used a similar arrangement for Game 4 on Saturday, with the WNBA game starting at 1 p.m. and the Hawks tipping off at 8:30 p.m.
Keeping Game 6 at State Farm Arena allows the Dream to accommodate substantially more fans than their roughly 3,500-seat regular home, Gateway Center Arena.
And give Atlanta credit: Fans filled the larger building for Games 3 and 4. I previously questioned whether the Dream could fill State Farm Arena for the Finals, but they answered that with sellout crowds and a loud atmosphere.
Of course, neither Game 3 nor Game 4 was played at a time when most adults are at work and most kids are in school.
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, another option under strong consideration was playing Game 6 on Friday at State Farm Arena and moving a potential Game 7 to Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Instead, the league kept Game 6 on Thursday and preserved the potential Halloween Game 7. Moving Game 6 to Friday and a potential Game 7 to Tuesday would have extended the series that began Oct. 17 into November if a seventh game were needed.
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Shelburne initially reported on ESPN’s "NBA Today" that a potential championship celebration could be moved to a practice court because of the arena turnaround. She later clarified that there was "a resolve" to ensure any championship won Thursday would be celebrated on the court.
Winning a championship, then having to move the celebration to a practice court because the NBA needs the floor, would be a terrible look for the WNBA.
In its announcement, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert emphasized the opportunity to keep the game in the larger arena.
"The sellout crowds and extraordinary atmosphere at State Farm Arena for Games 3 and 4 were a tremendous success, and we’re excited to give thousands more fans the opportunity to experience Game 6 with a championship on the line," Engelbert said.
She also thanked the NBA, both teams, the Hawks, State Farm Arena and USA Network for their collaboration and flexibility.
But thousands more available seats don’t necessarily mean thousands more people can attend. Fans who made Wednesday night and Saturday afternoon work now have to figure out a Thursday lunchtime tipoff.
The same problem applies to the television audience. Golden State fans who want to watch their team play for a championship will have to tune in at 9:30 on a Thursday morning.
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The league announced the change Monday, three days before the game, with tickets going on sale that afternoon.
The WNBA said it would work with the NBA and its broadcast partners on a coordinated marketing campaign across television, digital and social platforms to promote the new start time.
More promotion might help people find the game, but it won’t change when they have to work.
Perhaps Thursday afternoon was the best available compromise. But the league has been asked to explain why a potential championship clincher had to leave prime time.
With fans being asked to rearrange their schedules, the WNBA should at least explain how it arrived at this one.