Category: BUSINESS

Kid Cudi, Lauren London, Dawn Richard: Their Diddy trial connections

The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is underway, in what is expected to be a closely watched and scandal-ridden celebrity trial.

Combs is on trial for an array of federal charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

At the start of trial, potential jurors were given a list of people and places related to one of the biggest names in music, in hopes of excluding individuals with too-close ties to the mogul’s massive web of connections – a unique challenge.

The names included Michael B. Jordan, Kid Cudi, Cassie Ventura Fine, singer Michelle Williams, Mike Myers, Dallas Austin, Lauren London and Dawn Richard.

The list, a who’s who of Hollywood and music elite, paints a picture of Combs’ far-reaching influence in the entertainment industry. Now with a jury set and witness testimony revealing new details about Combs’ alleged dealings, the public is learning more about just how embedded he truly is.

Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges.

Cassie is star witness in Diddy trial

Known for the hit track “Me & U,” the lead single off her self-titled (and only) studio album, Ventura Fine is the prosecution’s star witness after alleging in a bombshell lawsuit in 2023 that Combs had trafficked, sexually assaulted and physically abused her during their decadelong relationship. The two “amicably” settled the lawsuit a day after her filing.

The former Bad Boy Records artist, who’d been dating the hip-mogul since she was 19, was on the stand for four days in Week 1, tearfully testifying about the alleged control he had over her career, the volatility of the producer’s moods and the frequent emotional, psychological and physical abuse she faced.

She has also revealed details about the drug-fueled “freak offs” they participated in, her eight-figure settlement and Diddy’s previously unknown opioid overdose in 2012.

Diddy’s connection to Kid Cudi

Kid Cudi was briefly romantically involved with Ventura Fine, Combs’ ex-girlfriend. The singer testified on May 14 that her 2011 romance with Cudi, born Scott Mescudi, angered Combs and sparked a violent outburst.

The Ohio-born rapper was first mentioned in Ventura Fine’s bombshell 2023 civil lawsuit against Combs, with Cassie citing an alleged incident in which Combs threatened to “blow up” Cudi’s vehicle, seemingly in retaliation for his relationship with Ventura Fine.

Cassie alleges Diddy assaulted and threatened her over Kid Cudi relationship

The alleged arson incident also appeared to be part of prosecutors’ case against Combs. Ventura Fine said in court that Combs discovered the relationship after going through her phone.

Per Ventura Fine’s account, Combs became angry and lunged at Cassie with a wine bottle opener between his fingers, but she said she managed to escape and went to a hotel, where she contacted Kid Cudi using a burner phone. She added that Combs threatened that he was “going to hurt Scott and I.”

USA TODAY has reached out to Kid Cudi’s rep for comment.

Diddy’s connection to Michael B. Jordan

Ventura Fine touched on a connection to actor Michael B. Jordan as Combs’ attorneys scrutinized Cassie’s other relationships in court May 15. Ventura Fine said Combs suspected that she was in a relationship with the Emmy-nominated actor after the pair broke up in 2015, per Fox News. At the time of their split, the singer-actress was filming a movie in South Africa. (Cassie starred in the musical drama “Honey 3: Dare to Dance,” which was set in South Africa and reportedly concluded filming in December 2015.)

Dawn Richard. Lauren London. What do the other celebrities on the list have to do with Combs?

Dawn Richard, a former member of the Combs-founded groups Danity Kane and Diddy – Dirty Money, is likely on the list as she filed a lawsuit last year alleging she witnessed his abuse of Ventura Fine and was also sexually assaulted, falsely imprisoned and deprived food, sleep and pay by the “Bad Boy Records” founder.

Actress Lauren London, who also appears on the list, has been open about Combs’ support for her in the wake of the death of her late partner, rapper Nipsey Hussle.

Dallas Austin, a fellow music producer, came up in the business at a similar time to Combs, and may have made the list for his close childhood relationship with late model Kim Porter, a longtime romantic partner of Diddy’s. Austin was also mentioned as one of the attendees of Ventura Fine’s 21st birthday party.

It is not immediately clear why Destiny’s Child singer Williams or actor Myers made the list, though there is a brief segment in “Austin Powers,” among Myers’ most famous movies, that pokes fun at the music mogul. USA TODAY has reached out to all of their reps for comment.

Why is Diddy on trial?

Combs is facing federal sex-crimes and trafficking charges in a sprawling suit that has eroded his status as a power player and kingmaker in the entertainment industry.

He was arrested in September 2024 and has been charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all five counts.

Where can I watch the Diddy trial?

The trial will not be televised, as cameras are typically not allowed in federal criminal trial proceedings.

USA TODAY will be reporting live from the courtroom.

Contributing: USA TODAY staff

May 16, 2025
Jin of BTS on songwriting, creating new album ‘Echo’ and solo tour

Kim Seok-jin is not only part of BTS, the bestselling musical act in South Korean history with seven members, millions of records sold and myriad awards won. Jin is also a solo artist.

When he released his first solo album, the man called “Worldwide Handsome” by fans wanted to hone in on happiness. He had just finished his mandatory military service in South Korea months prior, and the aptly named “Happy” released in November 2024, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart.

“Those were more about easy listening songs; the songs that I would love to listen to myself,” Jin tells USA TODAY.

But with his new album “Echo”, out now, the 32-year-old wanted to dive deeper into his craft, underscoring an emotional depth to his songwriting and stronger performance presence.

“The fans told me that they want to see me on stage, so this time around, I said, ‘Let’s focus more on performing,’” he says.

Jin thought about BTS’ fans, known as ARMY, while working on “Echo,” adding they were the reason he was able to release “another album so soon.”

“I’m really happy that I’m back with another album after my release last year,” he says. “It’s an honor for me. I am very grateful.”

Jin reveals how he curated the songs for ‘Echo’

Performance played a vital role in shaping the tracklist for “Echo,” Jin reveals.

“I received almost 1,000 songs for this album, and first I shortlisted about 30 of them. I picked out the 30 that I loved … then I had a second listen to them, third listen to them,” he explains. “I try to picture that image of myself in my head on stage with these songs. I thought, ‘This song can bring out a new facet of myself that ARMY would love to see,’ or ‘This would be a blast on stage.’”

The next step was to consider what his fans would like. “It’s the ARMY that listen to my music, and that’s what really means the world to me,” he adds.

From there, Jin narrowed down the final count to seven songs, each exploring themes of love and connection.

“The definition of love can be different for the different tracks in this album,” Jin explains. “I think love comes in many forms. It could be love between lovers (or) between family members … Friendship can be another form of love. So I wanted to touch on these multiple aspects of love.”

When Jin wrote lyrics for the album, he honed in on specific scenarios.

“When writing ‘Loser’, I imagined if I dated someone back in my school days, I would have felt this way about this person, and for ‘Don’t Say You Love Me’, it’s really about how lovers know that their relationship is falling apart, but because there is that lingering love left, it’s really hard to let go,” he says.

The track “Nothing Without Your Love” is another special one for Jin since it is about the love that he feels about ARMY when he’s performing.

“I think there are all these different types of love, and love is such a comprehensive term that really embodies all of these facets. So this is truly an album that is full of love,” he says.

2024 Paris Olympic Games: BTS’ Jin to join torch relay.

Finding Jin’s voice through rock

Jin has always had an affinity for rock, and that shines through on “Echo.” “This album really delves into the genre that I hold close to my heart,” he says.

“I just stayed true to the voice tone that I have, and that’s how I found myself in love with the band sound,” Jin adds.

Jin is not the only member of BTS to venture into solo work. The other six have also released their own albums, each’s discography highlights the distinct and individual talents in BTS.

“As BTS, because we’re a team, we have to have a mixture of all the different voices that we have and all the different colors that we have,” Jin explains. “But when we’re doing our solo gigs and solo albums, then we can really find the one sweet spot that hits hard for (ourselves). As a team, we have our beautiful color, but as solo artists, I think we can also unleash our creativity and our own voices.”

Jin talks about 2025 solo world tour

Jin is embarking on his first solo world tour to coincide with the album release. This includes eight US stops, including in Anaheim, California and Newark, New Jersey.

“I have limited time and places that I can go to,” Jin says. “Since J-Hope is on tour right now, I decided to go to places where he couldn’t go.

“I know that there are a lot of passionate ARMY in the US, and I love seeing that every single time they welcome us with so much love and support. So every time I go to the US, I’m so excited to see them.”

May 16, 2025
Weeknd updateMovies

Weeknd updateMovies

May 16, 2025
Aubrey O’Day of Danity Kane could testify

One of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ fiercest critics could testify in his federal sex-crimes trial.

Danity Kane singer Aubrey O’Day, once a rising star in Combs’ orbit, has been subpoenaed to testify in his trial, according to a person familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly to USA TODAY.

Combs recruited O’Day when he formed the girl group Danity Kane on MTV’s “Making the Band” in 2005.

On May 14, the 41-year-old O’Day chronicled being in New York City on her Instagram stories, writing, “Hey New York!!! Where y’all think I should head first?” with the scales of justice emoji.

Diddy trial updates: Sean Combs’ lawyers hone in on turbulent Cassie relationship

In June 2024, O’Day opened up about Combs’ legal trouble, telling People magazine that “there’s no vindication when you’re a victim of someone. … Anyone being exposed, or any truths being told, don’t change the reality of what you experienced.”

The “Celebrity Apprentice” alum added: “It’s a forever thing that you have to wake up every day and choose to evolve past. It doesn’t go away. It’s like childhood trauma. We don’t like to think it just disappears in our thirties, but really we start realizing how bad it really is in our thirties.”

Federal prosecutors are expected to call O’Day’s fellow Danity Kane alum Dawn Richard to testify next in court, following Casandra “Cassie” Ventura Fine’s harrowing testimony this week.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs on trial for alleged sex-crimes

Combs was arrested in September 2024 on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, remains in custody at the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.

He is currently on trial, and his ex-girlfriend Ventura Fine took the stand during the week of May 12. In court, she testified that Combs repeatedly threatened to release videos of her participation in his alleged drug-fueled “freak offs,” raped her after their 2018 split and was physically abusive on numerous occasions.

What kind of a physical toll does an emotionally abusive relationship take on someone?

Ventura Fine’s testimony – which comes a year after CNN released 2016 hotel surveillance video that showed Combs kicking, hitting and dragging her at a now-closed Los Angeles luxury – has lasted several days. She also detailed portions of the hotel incident in her testimony.

Aubrey O’Day publicly supported Cassie’s testimony in Diddy trial

Shortly after Ventura Fine’s May 14 testimony ended, O’Day wrote on X that “so many people have thumbs that are more active than their minds. Fear yields a heavy hand- It’s easy to say, it could never be me when you have never been handed those shoes to walk in #Cassie.”

Aubrey O’Day likens experience with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs to ‘childhood trauma’

Combs formed Danity Kane with Aundrea Fimbres, D. Woods, Shannon Bex, Richard and O’Day. The pop group disbanded and reunited several times since their formation, most notably with O’Day being removed from the group in 2008, although she later returned.

In a December 2022 episode of the hit “Call Her Daddy” podcast hosted by Alex Cooper, O’Day alleged that Combs fired her because she wouldn’t do things he requested “in other areas” besides music.

Contributing: Naledi Ushe

May 16, 2025
‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ brings The Weeknd to the movie screen

LAS VEGAS − Abel Tesfaye, the musician known as The Weeknd, is a certified smash.

Tesfaye, the movie star, is more of an unknown commodity.

Audiences get to see both at work in the psychological thriller “Hurry Up Tomorrow” (in theaters now), a metafictional tale of a pop superstar dealing with the complexities of fame and celebrity. The movie is a companion project to The Weeknd’s album of the same name (released in January), even as Tesfaye himself looks to be moving into a new phase of his creative life.

Tesfaye loves that partnering on the film – his first – with co-writer/director Trey Edward Shults (“It Comes at Night”) gave him a chance to focus his artistry. “With all my past work, the music video is when I’m always kind of micromanaging everything. And it was the first time I got to just do my job and be an actor,” Tesfaye tells USA TODAY in an interview alongside Shults and co-star Jenna Ortega.

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“Hurry Up Tomorrow” the album is the third part of the ”After Hours” trilogy for the R&B/pop singer/songwriter, who’s headlined the Super Bowl, won four Grammy Awards, nabbed a Guinness World Record and topped charts with hits like “Blinding Lights,” “Can’t Feel My Face,” “Starboy” and “Heartless.”

The concept for the movie “Hurry Up” existed well before the music. After pitching the story idea to Shults, Tesfaye sent him song demos, unfinished material and references from older songs that the director would put in the script. “It was amazing,” says Tesfaye, 35, who had a cameo in Adam Sandler’s “Uncut Gems” and starred in HBO’s short-lived “The Idol.”

Tefaye stars in the movie as a fictionalized version of The Weeknd struggling in his professional and personal lives after a painful breakup. His coke-snorting, hype-man manager Lee (Barry Keoghan) enables Abel’s toxic, self-destructive narcissism, but after Abel’s voice fails him during a sold-out concert (which happened to the real Tesfaye in 2022), he meets a mysterious young woman named Anima (Ortega). Feeling an instant connection, they enjoy a night of Santa Monica Pier rides and deep conversation, which leads to a harrowing journey of self-reflection on Abel’s part.

Like the album, the movie “Hurry Up Tomorrow” builds to the title track. A key scene where the onscreen Abel needs to be the most honest with himself “originated with a monologue in the script and then a song was also required,” Shults recalls. “So Abel wrote this song, and I was like, ‘Well, we don’t need the monologue anymore. Get that out of here!’ ”

Akin to Shults, Tesfaye found another like-minded collaborator in Ortega. He says he was “blown away” finding out the actress was a fan of Daniel Lopatin, the electronic musician also known as OPN, who co-composed the film’s score with Tesfaye. “I was like, that’s a deep cut. She has real taste. And that was an incredible sign for us.”

As a music lover, Ortega was excited to be part of a movie that blends the sonic and the emotional. (She also gets her own music moments, including singing in the shower.) Her character represents “this sensitive side” of Tesfaye “that he maybe didn’t feel like he got the opportunity to show so often, in a delicate way,” she says.

Tefaye’s music is “so much deeper and darker” than it sounds, Ortega adds. “The lyrics are always very profound or very isolating, and they resonate with a lot of people. And I love the juxtaposition of this music that you’d hear in a club but then also that feeling that you have on the car ride back.”

Tesfaye’s bold and electric presence onstage and onscreen is an intriguing counterpoint to the thoughtful and soft-spoken man who sits for a chat about his movie. (When someone pays him a compliment, he beams with politeness and humility.) Ortega points out that Tesfaye has “a cinephile’s brain,” and while music has long been a passion for the Canadian-bred son of Ethiopian immigrants, “my first love was always film,” says Telfaye, who’s currently on tour as The Weeknd. Telfaye used music to “get me closer to making movies,” and he would “implement the DNA of cinema in my music videos.”

“So The Weeknd, to me, is just one long film that was like a never-ending 15-year movie. Now I feel like I got to the end of it, and I’m starting this new journey with these incredibly talented artists.”

Wherever he goes from here, it’ll probably sound great.

May 16, 2025
‘James Bond,’ ‘Walking Tall’ star was 89

Joe Don Baker, a Hollywood veteran who first rose to fame as tough-talking Sheriff Buford Pusser in “Walking Tall,” has died, his family announced. He was 89.

The announcement of his May 7 death, published on Legacy.com by his family May 13, did not cite a cause.

A Texas native and army veteran, Baker infused a real-life sense of southern toughness into his roles. Studying at the Actor’s Studio in New York before traveling to Los Angeles to make it to the big screen, he guest spotted on a smattering of television shows before his big break came with “Walking Tall.”

The 1973 film, which chronicled the story of a Tennessee sheriff battling to save his hometown from corruption and vice, became an unexpected and overnight hit, propelling Baker to fame.

At 37, his not-yet-noticed acting prowess was suddenly gaining wide acclaim as critics across the country lauded the breakout star of the low-budget, if not thrilling, watch. Baker went on to play a host of characters on either side of the law − both detectives and cops, as well as troubled ex-cons and mafia men.

His roles were not limited to either side of the law enforcement equation, though. Across his almost 60 films, he portrayed several politicians as well as a star baseball player in Robert Redford’s “The Natural.”

Before his retirement in 2012, he made an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, famed not just for “Walking Tall” but also for “Charley Varrick,” in which he played a mafioso, and “Mitchell,” which saw him as a no-nonsense detective. Baker also starred in “Fletch” and became a “James Bond” regular, appearing in three 007 films.

Baker, who married Maria Dolores Rivero-Torres in 1969 before the pair divorced 11 years later, has no children.

“He is survived by relations in his native Groesbeck, who will forever cherish his memory. He is mourned by a small but very close circle of friends who will miss him eternally,” the obituary posted to Legacy.com reads.

“As we say goodbye to Joe Don, we hold onto the memories and the love he shared with us,” it continued. “Though he may no longer be with us in body, his spirit will always remain, a guiding light in the lives he touched. Rest in peace, Joe Don. You will be dearly missed but never forgotten.”

May 16, 2025
Beyoncé’s tour sparks spike in ‘Cowboy Carter’ playlist creation

We’ve got “Cowboy Carter” at home.

Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit Tour has the internet buzzing. and as the groundbreaking shows roll out, fans are finding ways to embrace the concert experience from their homes.

According to Spotify, there has been a 2,400% increase in the creation of “Cowboy Carter” playlistw on its platform. Furthermore, the music powerhouse noted a 2,250% increase in daily searches for the album name.

Due to these high numbers, Spotify is allowing fans to customize their playlist cover art with exclusive “Cowboy Carter” stickers.

Of course, the Grammy-winning singer is on the second stop of her “Cowboy Carter” tour. She performed her first show at Soldier Field in Chicago May 15, and she’s expected to hit the stage on the same stage for a total of three nights. The remaining shows are set for May 17 and May 18.

As fans know, Beyoncé first debuted the highly anticipated show at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 28 with 39 songs on the set list. She performed a total of five shows there, and the concerts proved to be revolutionary spectacle filled with fashion, different music genres and most notably country music and politics.

The nine-city tour will span the U.S. and Europe with the grand finale taking place in Las Vegas on July 26. Beyoncé has already made history with her scheduled tour dates, including by playing the most dates at SoFi Stadium of any artist.

Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network’s Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.

May 16, 2025
‘GMA’ meteorologist Ginger Zee’s essentials for health, well-being

In USA TODAY’s The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives, whether it’s at home, on set, or on the road.

Ginger Zee, ABC News’ chief meteorologist, is putting all of her necessities (aside from her husband, Ben Aaron, and their two sons, Adrian, 9, and Miles, 7) on your radar.

Zee, an early riser for “Good Morning America,” admits “I can’t imagine having a leisurely morning. But I take it, and I make 3:45 a.m. feel as leisurely as possible.” And on days when Zee’s not heading into the studio, she could be chasing a storm, “driving to a tornado” and “doing my makeup in the car,” she says. In either case, the 44-year-old is sharing all of her Essentials, from A to Zee.

Ginger Zee reveals her daily essentials, from yoga to an ideal morning

Ginger Zee on her daily essentials and how she spends her mornings.

Ginger Zee wears a sleep ring: ‘We don’t put enough emphasis on’ rest

“I’m a scientist. I love data,” Zee says, so she’s delighted by the information she can gather from her sleep ring, a wearable health monitor and tracking device. Zee, who has been diagnosed with narcolepsy, finds it “empowering.”

“It’s not like it’s breaking news that alcohol changes and makes your sleep worse,” Zee explains. “I knew that, but processed sugar and time of day that I have things, exercise, when I do it, when I sauna or massage or mostly hydration − honestly, that’s the big one that I can tell a huge difference in my sleep.

“My sleep is so critical. It’s the foundation of my health, my mental health, my physical health, all of (ours),” she continues. “And we don’t put enough emphasis on it.”

Her morning routine: Checking in and setting an intention

“One of my favorite moments is just my wake-up and my moment of checking in with myself,” Zee says.

“I know that sounds very kind of easy and simplistic, but a lot of people don’t do it. A lot of people rush right into whatever it is, and then they haven’t really answered, ‘How are you?’ or ‘What am I feeling?’”

Next, Zee hops into the shower and helps set the tone of her day using her steamy shower glass as a writing board.

“I make little fists that make little footprints on (the glass) and I put both my children’s names,” she says. “Then I put both my handprints for my husband and I,” signifying, “this is the core of who I am. Then I write an intention for the day, like you do in yoga at the beginning of a practice.” Zee identifies a goal for the day and writes that on the shower as well.

Meditation: It ‘should be used more and more every day’

Zee does a guided meditation on her way into work. She likes the Calm app and recommends the meditations offered by Dan Harris, a former anchor for ABC News, and acknowledges the free options available as well. Know “you don’t have to commit (to) 20 minutes,” Zee says. “It can be a one-minute, a five-minute, a 10-minute” meditation, she says. “Meditation is just a moment of reflection, and a moment of groundedness and preparedness, and I think should be used more and more every day.”

Her on-the-road essentials: Reusable utensils and eye patches

When Zee is reporting on the road, she brings reusable water bottles and utensils, which she washes after using. While she likes to avoid waste when she can, she relies on single-use eye patches.

“Those are pretty necessary because a lot of times we’ve been up, we’ve been doing the other shows late and then we’re waking up three hours, four hours later,” Zee says. “So getting the de-puff is a pretty crucial essential for me.”

She adds with a laugh, “I’m not perfect.” But she nixed face wipes eight years ago, she says, opting for coconut oil on a washcloth instead. Earth “has cared for us for so long,” she says. “Something as simple as just looking around you and (asking), ‘Where could I reduce waste?’ That’s something that is essential to me.”

The attitude required dealing with critics: ‘Great empathy for these people’

Years of criticism has taught Zee not to absorb the negativity of online trolls. In March, someone left a critical comment on an Instagram video. “You’re not aging well,” they wrote. Zee responded to the user that it is “a privilege to be aging in any manner – thanks for your opinion though.”

Derisive comments “usually says a lot about who they are and what’s wrong with them,” she says, adding she has “empathy for these people who are so sad or they need to get that out. And I take it that way and it’s much easier to take when you start seeing that.

“My first reaction (to the comment) was, ‘Thank God I get to get older,’” she adds. “There (were) a lot of years in my 20s and teens where I was like − like a lot of other people – ‘I don’t even know if I’m worth it.’ I’m so lucky to be alive, let alone aging. Good! Your opinion is that I’m not aging well, but the point is I’m aging. And I really meant that. I meant that it is a privilege to be able to be aging.”

May 16, 2025
Severe weather delays Beyoncé showEntertainment

Severe weather delays Beyoncé showEntertainment

May 16, 2025
‘Deaf President Now!’ peels back curtain on Deaf culture

More than three decades ago, a week-long protest on a college campus caught the attention of the whole country and led to resignations of university officials.

But you probably don’t know about it.

That’s about to change with new documentary “Deaf President Now!” (streaming now on Apple TV+, home of Oscar-winning film “CODA”). It chronicles the students at the world’s only Deaf university, Gallaudet, in 1988, who fought back against the college’s decision to hire a hearing president. In its 124-year history, there had only been hearing presidents.

The students locked gates. Used buses to block the entrance. Went on national television to air their grievances. All in the name of their community.

It’s a story co-director Nyle DiMarco, Deaf actor and filmmaker, has wanted to tell for years. Initially, he and producer Jonathan King tried for a scripted version that didn’t pan out.

“The story of ‘Deaf President Now!’ was about so much more than just appointing a deaf president,” DiMarco says. “It’s more complex, more layered and contains much more nuance than what we would have been able to provide within a scripted format. And because it didn’t lend itself to really telling the story the way that we needed to, we brought it to (co-director Davis Guggenheim), who immediately said, ‘No, no, no, this has to be a doc.’”

And so it became one – one that everyone, from Deaf people to hearing people to today’s student protesters, ought to give a watch.

‘They were able to overcome those internal conflict’

Guggenheim, who is a hearing person, felt like he was pretty informed about the Deaf community when he signed on to the project. “Now, two years later, I feel even more ignorant than when I started,” he says, “meaning it’s a beautiful, complex world that I’m just a visitor in, and Nyle has been so generous to sort of invite me in.” That collaboration will mean a unique viewing experience for the audience; for hearing people, that means they will appreciate sound like a deaf person might. By vibration, for example.

“Growing up Deaf, a lot of people have this assumption that we have no relationship or interaction with sound whatsoever,” DiMarco explains, “but that’s not true. It’s not entirely lacking in our world. We just experience it in a different way.”

Appreciating differences is a key throughline in the documentary. Watching the film, one can’t help but compare it to other college campus protests, stretching from the Vietnam War to the current war between Israel and Gaza.

“When we were editing the movie, on one screen would be our characters in 1988 and then on the TV over here was, protests at Columbia and UCLA and and it was a striking, striking contrast,” Guggenheim says. The students profiled in the film, for example – Jerry Covell, Greg Hlibok, Bridgetta Bourne-Firl and Tim Rarus – didn’t all get along. But they still managed to fight for a common goal.

“They were able to overcome those internal conflicts and those differences of opinions and work together every day until they got what they wanted,” DiMarco says.

‘I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be’: Nyle DiMarco talks Deaf, queer culture in ‘Deaf Utopia’ memoir

‘I don’t think there’s any one right way to be Deaf’

Not only did the protests lead to the resignation of the appointed president, Elisabeth Zinser, but also the stepping down of Jane Bassett Spilman, chair of the board of trustees of the university.

Ultimately, the students do see their Deaf president in I. King Jordan, then a dean. But not before they grew angry at him for switching back and forth between siding with students, then the university. Jordan became deaf as a 21-year-old in an automobile accident.

“He’s sort of bordering between these two worlds. And there’s a moment where, he says, ‘I never really felt, you know, completely home in one place or the other.’ And as I always say, I don’t think there’s any one right way to be Deaf,” DiMarco says.

‘I am not ashamed’: Disability advocates, experts implore you to stop saying ‘special needs’

You’re ‘not powerless’

What should people take away from the film? Well, a lot. The significance, for starters.

“This protest alone gave rise to the passage of the ADA, major American federal legislation which serves to protect and provide rights to over 80% of the American population,” DiMarco says. “So we are very big contributors to our history, you know, and I would hope that they would see that we’re no longer second last class citizens.” Gallaudet has had a Deaf president ever since.

Guggenheim hopes people consider it in the context of today’s divisive politics: “I think there are a lot of people right now who are seeing big, big changes to our political landscape, and they’re feeling powerless. And I hope people watch this movie and realize that they’re not powerless.”

And don’t forget, there’s strength in numbers. DiMarco adds, “I think you’ll be surprised when you do start speaking up, just how many people you’ll find in your corner behind you.”

May 16, 2025