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Democratic lawmakers erupt after anti-Israel journalist calls Hakeem Jeffries an ‘AIPAC monkey’ in viral rant
Anti-Israel journalist Rula Jebreal apologized "unconditionally" after calling House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., an "AIPAC monkey" during an interview earlier this week, a remark the Congressional Black Caucus and several Democratic lawmakers condemned as blatantly racist.
The comment came as Jebreal appeared on Wajahat Ali’s "The Left Hook" podcast on Wednesday, where she accused Jeffries — who is Black — of carrying out the agenda of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and blasted his support for Israel.
"His name is Hakeem. ‘Hakeem’ is an Arabic name which means ‘healer.’ He’s not a healer, he’s a divider," Jebreal said.
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"He is a bought and paid by AIPAC monkey," she added. "With all due respect — and I don’t mean it in a racist way." Jebreal continued, "He is just basically an errand boy, and we’re done and tired."
Immediately following Jebreal’s comments, host Ali sought to clarify the meaning behind her remarks.
"I know you corrected yourself, Rula, but I just want to address it," Ali said. "Using monkey to anyone Black, it has terrible racial connotations. But I think you caught yourself and said you didn’t mean it with any racial animosity."
"I didn’t," Jebreal replied. "There’s these three monkeys — one, I cannot hear, I cannot see, I cannot speak – it reminds me of these three monkeys."
However, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) rejected Jebreal’s explanation of her controversial comments, with other Democratic leaders following suit.
"To be clear, there isn’t a non-racist way to call Leader Jeffries — a Black man — a ‘monkey’ or ‘errand boy,’" the group said in a statement posted to X.
The CBC then pointed to Ali, the podcast’s host and a staunch critic of Israel, adding, "This is what happens when we hold ourselves to such low standards for what’s allowable in our discourse — people get comfortable being openly bigoted."
"We have to stop platforming and trafficking in anti-Black racism, whether it’s on the political right or the left," the group concluded.
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Her comments also drew criticism from several Democratic lawmakers, who took to X to condemn the inflammatory statement.
"Blatantly racist and offensive rhetoric — it should be condemned by everyone, across the political spectrum. Period," Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo, posted online.
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Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., echoed the same sentiment, posting, "Calling a Black man a ‘monkey’ is racist. Full stop."
"If Wajahat Ali and Rula Jebreal were on the far right, no one on the far left would have any trouble condemning them for dehumanizing a Black man in racist terms," he continued. "The silence is deafening."
After the clip circulated online, Jebreal posted an apology to X.
"I am disgusted and horrified that Hakeem Jeffries is taking money from AIPAC amidst Israel's genocide in Palestine," Jebreal wrote. "That said, a term that I used to describe him was inappropriate and offensive and should never have been used. I apologize unconditionally."
However, Jebreal's attempts at damage control drew a skeptical read from CEO of Axia Public Relations CEO Jason Mudd.
"She reasserts the accusation first and tucks the apology at the end. That's not confessing, that's a closing argument with ‘sorry’ bolted on," Mudd told Fox News Digital.
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"The podcast clarification and the written apology target two different audiences: one tried to survive the moment live, the other tried to survive the headline," he continued.
Jebreal and Jeffries did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Legendary sportscaster Jim Gray calls court ruling on NFL players returning to college 'a shame'
The battle for whether NFL players will be permitted to return to college continues, as both parties have dug their heels in on either side of the issue.
While a local judge in Baton Rouge ruled in favor of the NFL players, granting an injunction against the NCAA, the SEC fired right back, with commissioner Greg Sankey filing a lawsuit against LSU around the same time the hearing in Louisiana was taking place.
While a court ruling has allowed former college players like Dae'Quan Wright to return to school and play at LSU, not everyone is sold that this is the right move.
That includes legendary sportscaster and Fox News contributor Jim Gray, who joined Fox and Friends earlier Saturday to discuss the ruling.
"This is ridiculous," Gray stated, defiantly. "I think it's a shame, quite frankly... and it's wrong."
Gray has covered the sport for many years and has seen the game change, especially in the wake of COVID-19, NIL, and the transfer portal, but this is a new can of worms that even he can't wrap his head around.
"If you declared to play in the NFL, that means that was your intention," Gray said. "There's legal rights, and then there's right-wrong. And I just see this as wrong."
Gray then turned his sights towards Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin, who has been somewhat of a lightning rod for most of the offseason, even before this latest stunt.
"His motivations are to improve his team, and so, congratulations, this is how you want to improve your team," he quipped. "It's not skirting the rules, but it's on the edge."
"(Kiffin) has a very well-earned reputation of how people feel about him," says Gray. "Now he has to live with that, and he's very comfortable with it."
As Gray notes, this is nothing new with Kiffin, who left Ole Miss in the midst of a Playoff run to come to LSU, and even has a checkered past as a head coach dating all the way back to his days with the then-Oakland Raiders.
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Suffice to say, this legal battle won't be slowing down any time soon, and for those of you who were looking forward to the distractions being set aside now that the season has begun, think again.
The Tigers will take on Clemson at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, with many wondering if this legal back-and-forth will be a distraction for Kiffin and LSU.
If the Bayou Bengals open up with a home loss to Dabo Swiney and Clemson, the noise will become deafening.
Influencers reaching peak backlash after summer of ruined destinations and experiences for Americans
Everyday Americans are growing increasingly annoyed by social media influencer stunts and takeovers at famous landmarks, major events and vacation destinations once prized for the enjoyment, relaxation and serenity they usually bring — all for the sake of a few self-promoting photos, videos and "likes."
From locations as varied as sports stadiums and luxury resorts, influencers are now facing bans, arrests and rejection this summer.
Numerous onlookers have had enough, as Fox News Digital and other outlets have been reporting.
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Here are just a few of the hot spots where social media influencers have been wearing out their welcome — and ruining experiences for everyday Americans as well as local business owners.
OpenAI, an artificial-intelligence technology company, hosted a group of content creators in August for a "Summer Camp" trip at Wildflower Farms, a luxury retreat in Upstate New York's Hudson Valley.
The retreat sparked controversy, with many blasting the nature-focused getaway given concerns about the environmental toll of data centers needed to power AI.
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"Sending them to nature before they turn it into a data center," one X user wrote.
An OpenAI spokesperson defended the trip, telling The Hollywood Reporter that creators are an important part of the company's community and that they play a part in how people learn about products — adding that OpenAI welcomes healthy debate.
Argentinian YouTube content creators Lautaro "Beni" Mármol, 20, and Patricio "Pato" Perrotta, 26, were arrested at this year's World Cup.
They were charged with interference at a sporting event after authorities said they bypassed three layers of security.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office wrote in arrest reports that Mármol said he was a media influencer trying to get in to stream the game, and that Perrotta said he was "hired by a media company to review the event and has credentials, but they were from a previous event," as WPLG Local 10 reported.
An island about 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Nantucket is accessible only by airplane or ferry. That remote access has long made it an exclusive and much-loved summer destination for many.
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But content creators have been infuriating a number of locals.
Four Winds Craft Guild, a third-generation business approaching its 100th year, recently hung a sign saying, "No Influencers," as Fox News Digital previously reported.
Store owner John Sylvia told The New York Times that it sometimes appears his store is a stage.
"I don't have this hatred toward influencers," he clarified. "It was more of a joke. It is a problem we should look at as a society."
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Sylvia's partner, Jessica Jenkins, told the outlet she felt deluged by "people creating videos on corners of themselves sipping an iced coffee and looking over their shoulder and doing a shoe kick or whatever."
Fox News Digital previously reached out to Four Winds Craft Guild for comment.
In early August, Aman Hotels was at the center of a dispute with a YouTuber who attempted to stay at the luxury hospitality group's new Amanvari resort on the East Cape of Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Hotel reviewer Ryan Walker posted a video to YouTube alleging he paid $4,663 for a one-night stay at Amanvari — claiming the hotel canceled his reservation and called the police when he arrived.
Aman took issue with Walker's account. As The Wall Street Journal reported, Amanvari emailed Walker five days before his stay and asked him to postpone because the resort was under a month-long media blackout.
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The resort told him he was welcome — but that he could not film in public areas and would need permission to do so in private spaces, the outlet said.
YouTuber Allen Ferrell was banned for life from visiting all Six Flags parks not long ago.
He posted a viral video that appeared to show him trying to eat chicken nuggets while riding a famous roller coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, which is owned by Six Flags, as Fox News Digital previously reported.
Six Flags said food and other loose items are prohibited on rides because these items can create safety hazards.
Kelly McGreal of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.
Spencer Pratt rips George Clooney's 'woke scold lecture' after Amal's lavish Venice look
Spencer Pratt is taking aim at George Clooney.
The former reality star, who delved into politics this year with a run for mayor of Los Angeles, pulled no punches when he took to social media Friday to criticize Clooney and his wife, Amal.
"$500M net worth George Clooney could’ve permanently housed 8 homeless people for the rest of their lives with the money he spent on a single-use dress for his wife at a 4 hour event," Pratt claimed on X.
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He added, "I will never tolerate a woke scold lecture from these people. Just be an ostentatious celebrity and own it."
Along with his post, he shared a Page Six article detailing a look Amal wore to the Venice Film Festival, where the Clooneys have been spotted several times this week. According to the outlet, she wore a custom look by Haider Ackermann for Tom Ford, as well as a pair of earrings from Cartier that cost $149,000 and a Cartier diamond bracelet that runs for $225,000.
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In addition to walking red carpets in Venice, Clooney has spoken publicly multiple times at the festival, including at the opening night ceremony, when he accepted the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement award.
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During his speech, he said in part, per People, "We’re living through a moment in time where people in charge, the people with the most money, are telling us to fear one another. But we know better than that, don’t we? Because history does teach us a lesson. It teaches us something. The first people that authoritarians tried to shut down are not politicians. They’re journalists who ask questions. They’re the artists who refuse simple answers; the filmmakers, writers, actors, and musicians who insist that someone you never met is deserving of your empathy."
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He added, "Stories are always dangerous to people who peddle in fear, the people who are afraid of books and music and stories are never the heroes in history. So, yes, movies don’t stop wars, they don’t lower inflation, they don’t fix elections, but they do something remarkable. They remind us that a stranger is never a stranger, and that he might just be the hero in somebody else’s story."
Ahead of the ceremony, the actor spoke during a press conference, where he touched on the state of politics in the U.S.
"I’m always very optimistic about things," he said, per Deadline. "We’re at a moment in time that’s unfortunate… that’s an understatement. I do believe that we’re going to get through all of this. I’m old enough to have been through 1968 in the States when every city in the United States was set on fire, and we lost Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy in the same year. There was tons of violence. The capital was surrounded with tanks. We’ve had some other difficult times, but this is one of them."
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Going on about the topic, Clooney said, "There’s a great word, kakistocracy, which is a country run by the least qualified people. I think maybe we have a kakistocracy right now, but we’ll get through it, and we will have an election in November that should be a check and balance, and then in 2028, with any luck, we’ll have some restoration into some normalcy."
Fox News Digital has reached out to Clooney for comment on Pratt's criticism.
When reached for comment on Clooney's take on the current administration, a White House spokesperson responded, "Nobody cares."
United Nations votes 164-1 for Equal Earth map after US brands it 'radical ideological project'
The United Nations on Friday was one vote shy of unanimously adopting a new map of the world that shows Africa's true size, making the continent appear far larger than it does on traditional maps.
The United States was the only one of the 165 member nations to vote against the UN General Assembly resolution to accept the Equal Earth map projection, which depicts countries and continents in their true relative sizes, according to the map creator's website.
Six nations abstained, including Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine.
Yaryna Ferencevych, the deputy U.S. representative to the U.N. Economic and Social Council, said the resolution was presented as "an anodyne effort to update cartographic proportions" but was, in her view, part of a "much larger and more radical ideological project."
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"Instead of focusing on genuine problems of international peace, prosperity, or good relations, this body is debating map projects from the 16th century and their role in promoting reparations and cognitive justice," Ferencevych said Friday during the 114th Plenary meeting.
"Resolutions like this one and the ideological agenda they promote are barnacles on our work here and the reason this institution is losing its credibility," she added.
Ferencevych was referring to the Mercator projection, created in 1569 to aid maritime navigation. To this day, it is seen as the traditional world map and is used in many school textbooks and atlases.
It enlarges land masses near the poles and reduces the apparent size of those near the equator, making Africa appear far smaller relative to Greenland and Europe than it is in reality.
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Togo Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, who introduced the resolution on behalf of the African Group, said that adopting the new map would "promote projections that better preserve the true proportions of continents."
"A fair map does not change the geography of the world; it changes how we see the world," he said. "And when our perspective becomes more just, it paves the way for greater understanding, respect and peace among nations."
The measure does not require countries or companies to abandon the Mercator projection, but it establishes the U.N.'s official backing for equal-area maps as the preferred way to depict the world.
The Mercator projection largely fell out of favor among cartographers in the 20th century because of its distortions. However, it saw a resurgence after Google Maps adopted the Web Mercator projection in 2005, with virtually every major online mapping service following suit.
Web Mercator became the standard for online maps because it allowed for smooth panning and zooming across the globe, making it well suited for interactive digital maps, according to a 2014 Cartographica study.
The United States Mission to the United Nations and the ECOSOC did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.
A list of the best College Gameday signs at LSU during show's 500th episode
One of the best Saturday morning traditions during college football season is not only watching ESPN's best program on the network, College Gameday, but seeing the hilarious, savage, and unique signs fans put together each week. For the historic 500th episode of Gameday at LSU, Tigers fans did not hold back. They poked fun at former QB and Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, the legal battle of allowing NFL players to come back to play for LSU, mascots caught some shade, and more.
Here are some of the best from this morning's program:
Clemson Head Coach Dabo Sweeney was on the receiving end of some savage signs, including a brutal declaration by an LSU fan as it pertains to the Lindsay Clancy case. I wouldn't take Sweeney as someone to be dressed in pink and joining forces with left-wing feminists outside the courthouse, but this shows that almost nothing is off limits during Gameday.
The worst thing a golfer can be known for is being a constant three-putter on the green. LSU fans just hitting Sweeney where it hurts.
Former LSU transfer, Heisman Trophy winner, and current Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels also caught some friendly fire from LSU fans, including a young fan who poked fun at Daniels and his lawyer, Adam Kenner, sending a cease-and-desist letter to LSU, demanding that the school not assign the number 5 to anyone else.
Another Daniels specific sign was caught in 4K omitting the "5" from "Happy 500th Gameday" in honor of the show's historic episode and showing sarcastic respect to Daniels. Well played, young man.
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LSU Head Coach Lane Kiffin is no stranger to controversy. He left Ole Miss in rough fashion and now he's leading the #1-ranked transfer class into more controversy as local courts have opened the door for mutiple NFL players to return to college football. Two of those players were not added to the LSU roster before Saturday's game against Clemson.
In a similar vain, a fan poked fun at the NCAA's eligibility rules as it pertains to their other sign that unfortunately didn't make the cut.
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Last but not least, LSU fans humorously highlighted the ongoing controversy and legal battle about eligibility for NFL players returning to play for LSU.
Personally, this is always a fun "Where's Waldo"-type of entertainment on College Gameday, which I look forward to weekly. As for today's edition, well done, LSU.
Detransitioner takes malpractice fight to appeals court after North Carolina law change
A detransitioner’s malpractice lawsuit against doctors she says counseled her for years to undergo a double mastectomy and begin hormone therapy was initially dismissed as untimely, but a new North Carolina law has allowed her to appeal. The state Court of Appeals will hear arguments on Sept. 29.
Prisha Mosley, now 28, was first prescribed hormones at 17 and underwent a double mastectomy at 18. She later sued the doctors and other medical providers for fraud and malpractice, alleging they misled her about the treatment and its effects.
"I'm a mammal, a human, so I wasn't able to change sex. I didn't need to change sex because that's not possible and nothing was ever wrong with my body. Destroying it with hormones and surgery did not make me happy or well," she told Fox News Digital in an interview.
A trial court in North Carolina initially dismissed Mosley's lawsuit on the basis of the statute of limitations. But, as Mosley explained to Fox News Digital, a law passed in North Carolina in 2025 extended the statute of limitations for medical malpractice lawsuits specifically for people who have undergone gender transitions.
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"During the process through which my lawsuit was going through the courts, North Carolina passed HB 808, which was previously HB 805, which is something along the lines of the Protect Children and Women's Act," Mosley explained.
"[The law] extended the statute of limitations for anyone bringing forward a civil case, and even had a line which said that this includes cases that have already been brought forward or even pending in the courts now," she continued.
Legislators in North Carolina passed the bill in 2025, overriding a veto from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein.
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Though the bill was passed in July 2025, a North Carolina trial judge still dismissed Mosley's lawsuit in August 2025, denying her lawyers' motion to reinstate her medical malpractice claims during a special session and granting summary judgment to the plaintiffs.
"Despite this, my claims were dismissed with prejudice, even though they had been previously found to have merit for fraud. The malpractice was still in question due to the statute of limitations, and then after the passage of the law, the entire case was dismissed," Mosley told Fox News Digital.
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Mosley was initially encouraged by the judge's decision to deny the defendants' motion to dismiss, taking it as a signal her fraud accusations could have merit.
"The judge actually originally found that my case did have merit for fraud, and that was on the basis that I was told that I could actually change sex, which is not possible, and I was not only told that I could change sex, but that I needed to do so in order to survive and that doing so would ensure I had a good life. All of these claims are false," she told Fox News Digital.
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But after her lawsuit's final dismissal in August, her lawyers appealed, leading to the upcoming Sept. 29 appellate court oral arguments.
Mosley is arguing that the doctors who counseled her into the double mastectomy and hormone therapy misled her by telling her she could become a man and go through male puberty, which she says was a lie.
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"I consented to quote unquote top surgery, and I was under the impression that top surgery was the surgery that turned a female chest into a male chest, and that's simply not what happened to me. In fact, I had complications related to my surgery," she told Fox News Digital.
"Clearly I didn't have a male chest, and the guarantees weren't promised that way. But it's also impossible to induce puberty of the opposite sex because it's impossible to change sex. I wasn't going through male puberty. I was being put through menopause as a teenager, and while inducing all of these medical issues and problems for me, my doctors just covered it up with these fraudulent terms that made it seem like something good and medically sound was happening to me when it was not. Even when I complained about side effects and said that I was suffering from pain and acne and other issues, they told me that this was because of male puberty," she explained.
Mosley said that she realized she had been lied to when, though she was still identifying as a male at the time, her fiancé's young daughter kept referring to her as "mommy."
"Despite the fact that I still had a beard at the time and I was wearing male clothes and all of that, this little girl started calling me mommy, and that's just where everything fell into place for me," she told Fox News Digital.
Mosley said she was encouraged by a recent ruling in New York, where 22-year-old detransitioner, Fox Varians, sued the psychologist and plastic surgeon who counseled her to undergo a gender transition, winning $2 million in a judgment.
Mosley pointed out that no detransitioners suing their medical providers for malpractice have ever lost their cases in trial.
"I think it's clear to people that this type of medicalization is wrong, and it points to the fact, you know, Fox Varian's is the only detransitioner case that's ever made it to court. None of our cases, not mine, not anyone else's, have ever failed in court. We're being stopped by strange policies and statutes of limitations before we ever go before a jury. But the general public knows that what happened to us is wrong and that we deserve justice for what happened to us," she told Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital contacted Stein's office and legal representatives for each of the defendants listed in Mosley vs. Emerson for further comment.
Rick Moranis, Cameron Diaz and Lindsay Lohan among stars who left fame behind before returning to Hollywood
Rick Moranis is stepping back into the spotlight after decades away from Hollywood, joining a growing list of stars who left fame behind and later returned.
The 71-year-old actor is taking on his first live-action part in nearly 30 years after walking away from the entertainment industry at the height of his career following a family tragedy.
Now, Moranis is reprising his role as Lord Dark Helmet in "Spaceballs: The New One," the long-awaited sequel to Mel Brooks' 1987 cult classic science-fiction comedy movie "Spaceballs."
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In July, Moranis made a rare public appearance to promote the sequel at San Diego Comic-Con, where he received a standing ovation when he appeared on stage wearing his character's signature massive black helmet. Moranis participated in a panel discussion alongside co-stars Daphne Zuniga, Josh Gad, Keke Palmer and Lewis Pullman as well as director Josh Greenbaum and screenwriters Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez.
Zuniga is reprising her role as Princess Vespa while other original stars who returned for the sequel include George Wyner as Colonel Sandurz, Bill Pullman as Lone Starr and Brooks as Yogurt.
During the panel, Moranis revealed what finally brought him back in front of the camera after his decades-long hiatus.
"This came along right at the right time, and I started talking to these folks and hearing who was going to be in it," Moranis said, via People. "I spoke to Josh Greenbaum and I heard that Bill Pullman was coming back and that Lewis was going to be in it too, and it just felt like this is it. It’s time and — yes. I said yes, and it is the best decision I’ve ever made."
Moranis became one of Hollywood's most recognizable comedy stars in the 1980s and 1990s after starring in a string of hit movies including "Spaceballs," "Ghostbusters," "Little Shop of Horrors," "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," "Parenthood," "My Blue Heaven" and "The Flintstones."
However, after his wife, costume designer Ann Belsky, died in 1991 following a battle with breast cancer, Moranis stepped away from show business to focus on raising their two children, daughter Rachel and son Mitchell. He last appeared on-screen in 1997's "Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves," the third installment in the "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" movie series.
During a 2015 interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Moranis reflected on his decision to prioritize his family over his career.
"I was working with really interesting people, wonderful people," he said. "I went from that to being at home with a couple of little kids, which is a very different lifestyle. But it was important to me. I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever. My life is wonderful."
Moranis also clarified that he had not officially retired from acting, telling the outlet, "I took a break, which turned into a longer break."
"But I’m interested in anything that I would find interesting," he continued. "I still get the occasional query about a film or television role and as soon as one comes along that piques my interest, I'll probably do it."
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"I’m happy with the things I said yes to, and I’m very happy with the many things I’ve said no to," Moranis added. "Yes, I am picky, and I’ll continue to be picky. Picky has worked for me."
Though Moranis left live-action films behind for many years, he continued working occasionally as a voice actor. He first dipped his toe back into the movie business in 2001, voicing two characters in "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys." Some of his other voice-acting gigs include "Brother Bear," "The Animated Adventures of Bob & Doug McKenzie," and the voice of Dark Helmet in "The Goldbergs."
During his appearance at Comic-Con, Moranis once again set the record straight regarding the perception that he had retired as he revealed that he and Brooks had long discussed making a follow-up to "Spaceballs."
"Actually, I started talking to Mel about the sequel in 1989," he said. "We kept talking about it."
"I really wasn’t retired; I was just negotiating," Moranis joked.
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While Moranis’ return has drawn renewed attention due to his decades-long absence, other stars have also taken long breaks from Hollywood before making high-profile comebacks. Here's a look at several celebrities who stepped away from the spotlight for years before finding their way back to the screen.
Cameron Diaz was one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars when she quietly stepped away from acting in 2014.
Diaz made her breakthrough in 1994's "The Mask" and went on to star in a series of hit films including "There’s Something About Mary," "My Best Friend's Wedding," "Charlie's Angels," "My Sister's Keeper," "Shrek" and "The Other Woman," among others.
After starring in 2014's "Annie," Diaz walked away from show business to focus on building a life with husband Benji Madden.
"It felt like the right thing for me to reclaim my own life, and I just really didn't care about anything else," the actress said during a 2025 appearance at Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit, according to E! News.
"Nobody's opinion, nobody's success, no one's offer, no one's anything could change my mind about my decision of taking care of myself and building the life that I really wanted to have. I think it really comes to what are you passionate about? For me, it was to build my family."
During her break, Diaz welcomed daughter Raddix, 6, and son Cardinal, 2, with Madden and launched her Avaline wine brand. The couple's third child, son Nautus, was born in May.
After a decade away from movies, Diaz returned to the screen in Netflix’s 2025 action comedy "Back in Action," starring opposite Jamie Foxx. She has since lined up other projects including Netflix’s "Bad Day," Apple TV+’s "Outcome" and "Shrek 5," in which she will reprise her voice role as Princess Fiona.
Lindsay Lohan’s comeback followed years of intense public scrutiny and a long stretch away from major studio films.
Lohan became one of Hollywood’s biggest young stars after breaking out in "The Parent Trap" and later leading hits including "Freaky Friday," "Mean Girls" and "Herbie: Fully Loaded."
However, Lohan's promising career was derailed by multiple box-office flops and a string of highly-publicized legal problems and substance abuse issues. After years of tabloid attention and personal struggles, Lohan left the United States in 2014 and eventually relocated full-time to Dubai, spending much of the next decade outside the Hollywood spotlight. She told Emirates Woman in 2018 that moving to Dubai afforded her "a fresh start."
Lohan began rebuilding her acting career with Netflix’s 2022 holiday movie "Falling for Christmas," followed by more streaming projects and a major return to one of her signature roles in "Freakier Friday."
During a 2025 interview with The Sunday Times, Lohan said she stepped away because she had lost her excitement for making movies and wanted "a more private life, a real life," before returning once she felt "that itch again."
Lohan will next be seen in Hulu’s "Count My Lies," a limited series in which she stars opposite Shailene Woodley and Kit Harington.
Ke Huy Quan’s Hollywood disappearance ended with one of the industry’s most celebrated comeback stories.
Quan became a child star after playing Short Round opposite Harrison Ford in 1984’s "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" and Data in 1985’s "The Goonies." However, Ke only landed a few minor TV and film roles after his early fame and found himself being offered stereotypical parts geared toward Asians.
During a 2023 interview with People, Quan said that he made the "very difficult decision" to walk away from acting in the early 2000s. He then spent years working behind the camera as a stunt coordinator and assistant director.
However, he recalled that after seeing 2018’s "Crazy Rich Asians", he was inspired to revisit his first love.
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"I was happy working behind the camera, but I had serious FOMO (fear of missing out)," Ke told the outlet. "I wanted to be up there with my fellow Asian actors."
After roughly two decades away from acting, Quan returned in 2022’s "Everything Everywhere All at Once," a role that earned him the Academy Award for best supporting actor. In his emotional Oscars speech, Quan reflected on his unlikely journey, saying, "Dreams are something you have to believe in. I almost gave up on mine."
Daniel Day-Lewis has stepped away from Hollywood more than once, but his latest return marked the end of what many believed was a permanent retirement.
Known for his intensely selective approach to roles, Day-Lewis has previously taken long breaks throughout his career. After starring in 1997’s "The Boxer," Day-Lewis retreated from acting and spent several years in Italy learning shoemaking before returning in Martin Scorsese’s 2002 film "Gangs of New York."
The three-time Oscar winner announced he was retiring from acting after starring in 2017’s "Phantom Thread." At the time, his representative said, "Daniel Day-Lewis will no longer be working as an actor. He is immensely grateful to all of his collaborators and audiences over the many years. This is a private decision and neither he nor his representatives will make any further comment on this subject."
Eight years later, his son, Ronan Day-Lewis, persuaded him to co-write and star in the 2025 drama "Anemone."
Day-Lewis later pushed back on the idea that he ever meant to permanently retire.
In a 2025 Rolling Stone interview, Day-Lewis said he "never intended to retire, really," and called his earlier retirement announcement "grandiose gibberish." He explained that he still loved the work, but struggled with the lifestyle around filmmaking and felt "hollowed out" after "Phantom Thread."
He said returning for "Anemone" was largely about working with Ronan, who directed the film. Day-Lewis said that collaboration brought the spark back, saying, "working with Ro, that furnace just lit up."
Renée Zellweger stepped away from Hollywood after years of working at a relentless pace.
Zellweger became one of the most prominent actresses of the late 1990s and 2000s with roles in the hit movies "Jerry Maguire," "Bridget Jones’s Diary," "Chicago," "Cold Mountain" and "Cinderella Man." But after 2010’s "My Own Love Song," Zellweger took a six-year break from acting.
During a 2025 interview with British Vogue, Zellweger explained why she decided to pause her career.
"I was sick of the sound of my own voice. When I was working, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, listen to you. Are you sad again, Renée? Oh, is this your mad voice?’ It was a regurgitation of the same emotional experiences," she said.
Zellweger told the outlet that her hiatus from acting enabled her to pursue other projects and embrace a healthier lifestyle.
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"I wrote music and studied international law," she said. "I built a house, rescued a pair of older doggies, created a partnership that led to a production company, advocated for and fundraised with a sick friend, and spent a lot of time with family and godchildren and driving across the country with the dogs. I got healthy."
Zellweger returned in 2016 with the hit sequel "Bridget Jones’s Baby." She went on to earn some of the strongest reviews of her career for playing Judy Garland in 2019’s "Judy" and her performance earned her the Academy Award for best actress. Zellweger previously won the best supporting actress Oscar for her performance in "Cold Mountain."
Macaulay Culkin walked away from Hollywood after becoming one of the most famous child stars in the world.
Culkin shot to superstardom as Kevin McCallister in 1990’s "Home Alone" and its 1992 sequel, "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York." He went on to star in hit films including "My Girl," "The Good Son" and "Richie Rich."
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After filming "Richie Rich," Culkin stepped away from acting, later explaining that he wanted to attend school, date and spend time with people his own age.
He returned nine years later with "Party Monster" and has continued accepting occasional projects on his own terms, including roles in "Saved!," "American Horror Story: Double Feature" and "The Righteous Gemstones."
Pamela Anderson’s return to the spotlight has become one of Hollywood’s more unexpected late-career reinventions.
Anderson became a global sex symbol in the 1990s through "Baywatch," Playboy and years of tabloid attention that often overshadowed her acting ambitions. After decades of being defined by her image and personal life, she retreated to Vancouver Island, embraced a quieter lifestyle and began reassessing the public persona that had followed her for much of her career.
Her comeback began with a wave of projects that allowed her to reclaim her own story, including the 2023 Netflix documentary "Pamela, a Love Story" and her memoir, "Love, Pamela." She made her Broadway debut in "Chicago" in 2022 and earned some of the strongest reviews of her career for "The Last Showgirl," along with Golden Globe and SAG nominations.
Trump weighs in on Lindsay Clancy murder trial dubbed 'kangaroo court' by GOP leaders
President Donald Trump said Lindsay Clancy will still have to pay "the price" for the deaths of her three small children — Cora 5, Dawson 3, and Callan, 8 months — after a mistrial was ruled on Friday.
During a press gaggle in the Oval Office, a reporter asked Trump if he'd been following the murder trial of Clancy, a Massachusetts mom whose defense did not deny that she strangled her children with exercise bands in January 2023, but argued that she was not guilty by reason of insanity. Her attorneys claimed that she suffered from postpartum psychosis, a severe but rare psychiatric condition in which a person is disconnected from reality.
"It's a horrible tragedy," Trump shared with reporters. "It's a horrible tragedy. I see what's happened, and it looks like it's a hung jury."
"I assume there's going to be another trial. It's a terrible situation. Look, she did a horrible, horrible thing. Can't be worse. But you'll find out what the price to pay is. There'll be a price. It's going to be [a] mental institution or jail or something," Trump continued.
LINDSAY CLANCY MISTRIAL DECLARED AFTER JURY DEADLOCKS IN KILLINGS OF HER THREE CHILDREN
The six-week trial, which was supposed to determine whether Clancy was to be held criminally responsible, quickly evolved into a flashpoint in the internet culture war over women's postpartum mental health and spurred misinformation and conspiracy theories, including false claims accusing her ex-husband, Patrick Clancy, of being responsible for the children’s deaths.
After nearly a week of deliberations, Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial when the jury deadlocked 11 to 1: 11 jurors voted to acquit Clancy, while one holdout refused to join them. The jury consisted of 9 women and 3 men.
Clancy's defense attorney requested that the lone juror be removed because a note given to the judge by the jurors said the holdout had doubt but refused to apply it, according to People.
The mistrial invoked a strong reaction from Republican lawmakers, while Democratic lawmakers and leaders — including those from Clancy's state — have remained mum on the high-profile case.
"Out of 12 people, only ONE had the courage to hold a serial killer accountable for her actions," Rep. Michael Rulli, R-Ohio, posted on X. "That’s not just bravery. That’s a hero."
"Holdout juror’s going to need security," Sen. Mike Lee, R-Ohio, posted on X. "Sad."
Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis called the mistrial a "miscarriage of justice."
"The victims deserved far, far better than a kangaroo court," DeSantis wrote.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who has been incredibly vocal against Clancy's supporters — who have been gathered outside the courthouse and posted videos showing support online — suggesting Clancy would not have this support if she were Black.
"This case is not about the excuses for why she committed murder," Mace posted on X. "This is about justice for the three beautiful souls whose lives were taken after their mother strangled them with her bare hands and workout bands."
"12 jurors looked at this onesie," Mace continued. "Only ONE stood his ground to defend the children."
But Clancy's defense argued that she was a devoted and loving mother who was desperately seeking to get help, alleging that the cocktail of medications she was on worsened her mental state. Clancy had been prescribed 13 psychiatric medications — more than 30 prescriptions — in the four months leading up to the murders.
Patrick Clancy is suing for wrongful death and medical malpractice against Clancy's providers, Dr. Jennifer Tufts, Rebecca Jollotta, Aster Mental Health and South Shore Health System. Clancy also filed a separate lawsuit alleging negligence, medical malpractice and personal injury.
"Lindsay was struggling. We were all very concerned," Susan Clancy, Clancy's mother-in-law, told jurors. "She was very nurturing, very loving. She was a wonderful mother. Wonderful."
Clancy is due back in court Sept. 29 for a status hearing, trial assignment and a defense Rule 25 motion.
AI robot pet could know your family too well
We've covered home robots that can fold laundry and others designed to become AI companions. Now there's one that wants to remember your family. The OlloNi SS1 is an AI robot pet that can recognize family members and pets as it moves around your home. OlloBot says it can learn your routines, respond to emotional cues and save memorable family moments along the way.
Here's where it gets really interesting. OlloNi has a removable "Red Heart" memory module designed to carry those memories into a future OlloBot. So, when the robot gets replaced, years of personalization could move right along with you.
I can see the appeal of that. I also think it's important to ask yourself this: How much of your family's life are you comfortable letting a robot remember? Here's how OlloNi works, what it can remember and the privacy questions to consider before deciding whether you'd want one in your home.
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WOULD YOU PAY $8,000 FOR A ROBOT TO FOLD LAUNDRY?
The OlloNi SS1 is OlloBot's newest AI companion robot pet, developed by Hong Kong-based Ollobot Robotics Limited. Unlike a robot built mainly for chores, the SS1 is designed to interact with the people and pets living around it.
Two circular eye screens display expressions while a separate main screen handles information and direct interaction. The setup gives OlloNi a face that can react visually without relying on spoken responses every time.
A 4K camera with motion tracking helps the robot recognize individual family members and household pets. OlloBot says the SS1 gradually learns routines and preferences as it spends more time with a household. It also adapts to different communication patterns.
That puts OlloNi in a different category from a robot vacuum or a machine built mainly to handle physical work. The goal here is to make the robot feel increasingly familiar.
OlloBot is also giving the SS1 what it describes as proactive emotional interaction. The company says the robot uses several types of information to interpret what is happening around it. That includes someone's tone of voice and facial expression. It can also learn behavioral patterns over time.
For example, OlloBot says the robot may notice when someone appears to be feeling low. Instead of waiting for that person to issue a command, OlloNi could approach and initiate an interaction.
We recently covered Familiar, another emotionally aware AI robot pet. That robot is also designed to learn routines and react to the people around it. OlloNi takes the idea in another direction by connecting that personalization to a memory system that can survive beyond the original robot.
One feature I can see families using is OlloNi's 4K camera. With permission turned on, OlloBot says the SS1 can recognize moments such as laughter or celebrations and capture them automatically. Its AI-assisted Vlog feature can then edit the footage and add music to create home videos.
I like the idea behind this. When something memorable happens, someone usually reaches for a phone. That often means the person recording ends up watching part of the moment through a screen.
OlloNi could change that. Because the robot is already moving around the home, it could capture moments while everyone else stays in them.
But this is also where I would start thinking seriously about privacy. You are allowing a connected 4K camera to move around your home and decide which moments may be worth saving.
That is a lot of access to give any device, no matter how cute the robot looks.
OlloNi also supports remote viewing and two-way voice and video calls. Unlike a camera sitting on a shelf, the robot can move around the home and follow activity. OlloBot says this could make remote check-ins feel more active for family members who live apart.
The idea could appeal to someone who wants to stay connected with an older relative or other family members from a distance. OlloBot's website also says its app can let you see and interact with OlloNi while you are away. The app is designed to show daily moments and memories the robot has captured.
However, remote access raises the stakes for security. A camera that can move around your house deserves strong account protection. Owners should know exactly who can connect to it and what happens if an account gets compromised.
This may be the most unusual part of the SS1. OlloBot calls it the Red Heart. The detachable module has 16GB of RAM and 64GB of local storage. OlloBot says the module carries the robot's long-term memories and personalized information.
Now imagine replacing the robot several years from now. Instead of starting over, OlloBot says you could move the Red Heart into a future-generation OlloBot. Family memories and personalized information could then follow you to the next device. That is a clever idea. Most gadgets become disposable once their hardware gets old. OlloBot wants the relationship you developed with this one to survive the upgrade.
At the same time, think about how personal that little module could become. Years of family life could potentially be tied to it. That makes the Red Heart something I would want protected every bit as carefully as the robot itself.
This is where I would slow down and read the fine print. OlloBot says the SS1 uses local encrypted processing and includes a physical camera cover. The company also says facial recognition and automatic family-moment capture work with your permission.
Those are good things to see. Still, a robot that can move around your home, recognize faces and build memories over time deserves more than a quick glance at the privacy settings. OlloBot's current privacy policy was last updated July 6, 2026. It covers the company's store and broader Services, including device and usage information collected when people interact with those Services. The policy also says some information may be handled by outside vendors that provide services such as IT management, data analytics or cloud storage.
What I want to see next is something much more specific to the SS1 itself. If this robot can recognize your family and save moments inside your home, you should know exactly where that information goes. OlloBot should explain what stays on the Red Heart, what leaves the robot and how long anything gets stored.
I would also want a clear answer about deletion. If OlloNi spends years learning your routines and how your family interacts, you should be able to see what it knows and permanently erase that information when you want it gone.
AI WEARABLE WATCHES YOU TO PREDICT WHAT YOU NEED
There is another privacy point worth watching. OlloBot's Aug. 28 announcement lists children separated from their parents by distance among the potential users for the SS1.
Meanwhile, OlloBot's current privacy policy says its "Services are not intended to be used by children". It also says the company does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of majority in the user's jurisdiction. That does not automatically mean there is a conflict.
The current policy appears geared largely toward OlloBot's store and broader services rather than offering a detailed privacy framework specifically for the SS1. Still, OlloBot should clarify how those terms apply when a product is designed to interact with families and potentially children inside the home. Parents should not have to guess.
This is one of the first questions I would ask about the Red Heart: What happens if you lose it? If your family has used OlloNi for years, that little removable module could contain a very personal history of life inside your home.
OlloBot says the SS1 uses local encrypted processing, which is encouraging. What I want to know is what happens when the Red Heart comes out of the robot. If someone finds or steals it, does the information remain encrypted and inaccessible? I would also want a way to remotely erase the module if it disappears.
The whole appeal of the Red Heart is that families could keep it for years and move their memories into a future OlloBot. If OlloBot wants us to hold onto something that personal for that long, I want to know exactly how it will keep those memories protected.
OlloNi goes beyond watching the people around it. The robot also pays attention to what is happening inside the home. OlloBot says the SS1 includes temperature and humidity sensors along with ambient light and spatial sensors. That gives the robot more context about its surroundings. The company says those sensors can help with reminders and brief activity records tied to relevant interactions rather than continuous recording.
If all of this has you wondering what the robot costs, there is a catch. You cannot back the planned SS1 crowdfunding campaign right now.
OlloBot previously said it would launch the OlloNi SS1 globally on Kickstarter in August 2026. In July, the company narrowed that window to late August. Then the plan changed.
On Aug. 28, OlloBot announced that it had postponed the crowdfunding launch. The company pointed to recent changes in the U.S. regulatory and market-access environment for robotic devices made abroad. OlloBot says it wants a clear path to market and fulfillment before moving forward.
For now, the company has not announced a new crowdfunding date. OlloBot says it will share an updated timeline through its official channels once one is confirmed. So, consider the SS1 a robot to watch rather than one you can order today.
OlloNi SS1 shows how quickly the idea of a home robot is changing. We have spent years watching robots get better at physical work. Now companies want these machines to learn about the people living around them. That changes what you need to consider before bringing one home.
With a robot like OlloNi, start by looking beyond the cute eyes. Find out what its camera records and who can access those recordings. Next, understand the memory system.
You should know what stays locally on the robot and what gets transmitted elsewhere. Also check whether you can permanently delete information when you want it gone. Remote access deserves attention too. Look for strong account security and controls that let you shut off features you do not use.
Finally, think about the lifespan of your data. The entire point of the Red Heart is to keep personalized information after you replace the robot. That makes long-term software support especially important.
We recently saw why connected robots deserve scrutiny when a security report raised concerns about a Yarbo robot mower. The issues involved remote access, cameras and home-network exposure. Yarbo later acknowledged the core technical findings and began rolling out fixes.
OlloBot has already said it uses local encrypted processing and includes a physical camera cover. Now I want to see the deeper security details behind those promises. We reached out to OlloBot with questions about data storage, remote access and Red Heart security but did not hear back before our deadline.
MAJORITY OF YOUNG ADULTS SAY THEY ARE 'MORE CONCERNED THAN EXCITED' ABOUT AI: PEW RESEARCH
OlloNi SS1 caught my attention because OlloBot wants this robot to become more personal the longer it lives with you. The Red Heart is the feature I keep coming back to. Instead of losing years of personalization when the hardware gets old, your family's memories could move into the next robot. I can see why that might feel special. I can also see why some people will want the exact opposite. A robot that recognizes your family and captures private moments can learn a lot about what happens behind your front door. When those memories are designed to last for years, privacy becomes part of the buying decision from day one. OlloBot's physical camera cover and local encrypted processing are good places to start. Before anyone hands over money, though, I want clearer answers about recordings and remote access. The company also needs to explain exactly what happens to information stored in the Red Heart. That does not make OlloNi a robot to fear. It makes it a robot that asks for a lot of trust.
Would you want an AI pet remembering years of your family's life and carrying those memories into its next robot body, or would that feel like giving a machine too much access to your home? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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