Category: BUSINESS

Diddy lawsuit dismissed after accuser refuses to reveal identity

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ is counting a small win in civil court after a woman’s anonymously filed sexual assault lawsuit was dismissed due to her decision not to reveal her identity.

On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Lewis J. Liman issued an order closing Jane Doe’s case, according to a filing reviewed by USA TODAY. Liman noted that on March 6, he ruled that Doe could not proceed with her case anonymously and ordered for her to re-file her initial complaint using her real name.

“As of today, March 31, 2025, (Doe) has not filed a complaint in her own name, nor has she sought an extension of time to do so,” Liman wrote.

According to her legal team, Doe decided not to come forward due to fear of public scrutiny.

“In this particular case, Jane Doe opted not to proceed. There is a lot of fear amongst these plaintiffs. I thus can’t blame her,” Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee said in a statement to USA TODAY.

He continued, “These are tough cases and they are many times re-traumatizing for those who pursue them. Each case stands on its own merit. This woman chose not to proceed and subject herself to the media circus and the perceived danger she felt. We have to respect that.”

In her Oct. 14 lawsuit, Doe claimed that Combs had raped her at a 1995 party in New York for a Biggie Smalls music video.

Combs’ legal team responded to Monday’s ruling by denouncing anonymous complaints against the hip-hop mogul.

“Today a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed against Mr. Combs by Texas attorney Anthony Buzbee and his local counsel Antigone Curis on behalf of an anonymized plaintiff. This is now the second case brought by these attorneys against Mr. Combs that has been dismissed in its entirety,” Combs’ attorneys said in a statement. “It will not be the last.”

The statement continued, “For months, we have seen case after case filed by individuals hiding behind anonymity, pushed forward by attorneys more focused on media headlines than legal merit. The other claims, like the one dismissed today, also will not hold up in a court of law.”

Combs’ attorneys have maintained his innocence as he faces dozens of sexual assault lawsuits that date back to the 1990s, as well as his criminal sex crimes charges. Combs is currently in jail after being denied bond multiple times and is scheduled to head to trial for his sex trafficking and racketeering charges on May 5.

Several of Diddy’s anonymous accusers have been ordered to identify themselves

Combs’ team has made efforts in various cases, including his upcoming criminal trial, to unmask his accusers. In response, some judges have cast doubt on some of Combs’ anonymous accusers’ arguments for proceeding with their cases without disclosing their identities. A few cases have been dismissed, while some accusers have publicly identified themselves to see their cases move forward.

Last November, a John Doe — who, like the aforementioned Jane Doe, was represented by Buzbee, local New York counsel Curis Law, PLLC, and the San Diego-based AVA Law Group — saw his case dismissed by a federal judge a day after his lawsuit was filed because the man did not obtain authorization from the court to file the lawsuit anonymously.

In October, U.S. District Court Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil said a woman suing Combs over an alleged 2004 rape could not remain anonymous. Vyskocil cited Combs’ interest in investigating the woman’s credibility and the public interest in open court proceedings. The woman then re-filed the suit with her real name, Candice McCrary.

Another woman, Anna Kane, also identified herself as one of Combs’ accusers last year after a federal judge said Kane “failed to demonstrate particularized harm or current vulnerabilities” that would occur if she were to name herself. Meanwhile, in December, another judge, Analisa Torres, allowed another Buzbee client to remain unnamed in her lawsuit against Combs and Jay-Z due to the sensitivity of the circumstances.

That same Jane Doe voluntarily dismissed her case in February; weeks later, Jay-Z sued Jane Doe, Buzbee and another attorney for malicious prosecution, abuse of process, civil conspiracy and defamation.

Buzbee, who announced in a press conference last year that he is purportedly representing more than 100 alleged victims of Combs, has faced other roadblocks in court, including on the issue of whether he is allowed to represent clients in the Southern District of New York.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.

April 1, 2025
Internet reacts to Chappell Roan saying she doesn’t know happy parents

The Grammy-winning ‘Pink Pony Club’ singer’s comments came during an episode of the comedy podcast ‘Call Her Daddy.’ Some parents are upset while others are coming to the 27-year-old’s defense.

Chappell Roan isn’t one to stray from speaking her mind, and this time, she’s talking about parenthood.

During a recent interview on the comedy podcast “Call Her Daddy,” Roan said that all of her friends with children under the age of 5 “are in hell.”

“I actually don’t know anyone who’s like, happy and has children at this age,” said the 27-year-old singer of “Pink Pony Club” and “Good Luck, Babe.” “I literally have not met anyone who’s happy, anyone who has like, light in their eyes, anyone who has slept.”

With a chuckle, podcast host Alex Cooper responded: “This is not looking too good.”

What are fans, moms saying?

Per usual, the internet is divided on Roan’s comments.

“Yikes. Gross take on parenthood … because you’re sadly so misinformed,” TikTok user Jade Byrd said in response to Roan. The video depicts Byrd and her two daughters. “It’s OK if you your anyone else doesn’t want kids, but being a parent is the most fun, exciting adventure of our lives. Parenthood is the best and we are thriving.”

TikTok user Kenzie Reinhart said, “You don’t know until you know” about being a parent.

“It’s always frustrating to hear someone talk negatively on becoming a parent when they aren’t a parent themselves,” Reinhart said in a TikTok video. “I think they instill fear in the listeners, the viewers. Chappell and Alex have yet to experience the most incredible, unique form of love that you feel when you become a mother.”

While some mothers don’t appreciate Roan’s take, others are coming to the pop star’s defense.

TikTok user Marissa said that Roan is like everyone she knows in their mid- to late-20s without children.

“While I do agree that moms are absolutely under attack in the U.S. right now, they are not under attack by Chappell Roan. Chappell Roan is not your enemy in this cause, my fellow mothers,” she said in a TikTok video.

On Sunday, the trio of women that host Australia’s top-streamed podcast, “Mamamia Out Loud,” generally supported Roan’s comments but clarified that there’s more nuance than just being “happy” or “not happy” as a parent.

“I think one of the things that this whole, ‘Who’s happier?’ thing just points out what a ridiculous question it is to ask,” co-host Holly Wainwright said. “Are you happy when you have literally had two hours of sleep because your child is sick and you’re overwrought with worry about what might be wrong with them and you’ve still got to go to work and pretend you’re a functioning human being? Of course you’re not happy, but that’s not the point. It’s a much more complicated experience than that.”

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].

April 1, 2025
John Boyega talks ‘Star Wars’ racism, says series was ‘elite space’

A decade after entering the galaxy far, far away, John Boyega reflects on racism in the “Star Wars” fandom.

In the new Apple TV+ documentary “Number One on the Call Sheet,” which focuses on Black leading men and women in Hollywood, the “They Cloned Tyrone” star, 33, looked back on facing racist backlash while playing Finn in the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy from 2015 to 2019.

“‘Star Wars’ always had the vibe of being in the most whitest, elite space,” Boyega said.

“This is a franchise that’s so white that a Black person existing in that was something. You can always tell it’s something when some ‘Star Wars’ fans try to say, ‘Well, we had Lando Calrissian and had Samuel L. Jackson.’ That’s like telling me how many cookie chips are on the cookie dough. I’m like, ‘They just scattered that in there, bro!’”

Boyega went on to speak about the racist backlash his “Star Wars” casting sparked, saying, “They’re OK with us playing the best friend, but once we touch their heroes, once we lead, once we trailblaze, it’s like, ‘Oh my God, it’s just a bit too much. They’re pandering!’”

‘The Acolyte’ star Amandla Stenberg slams ‘targeted attack’ by ‘the alt-right’ on ‘Star Wars’ show

Boyega made his debut as Finn, a Stormtrooper who defects from the evil First Order to become a hero, in 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” He reprised the role in the two sequels, 2017’s “The Last Jedi” and 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker.”

His character was the first image to appear in the initial teaser trailer for “The Force Awakens,” prompting an immediate wave of racist backlash.

Boyega previously spoke about this backlash in a 2020 interview with Esquire, saying he is the “only cast member who had their own unique experience of that franchise based on their race.”

In that interview, he also expressed dissatisfaction with how his character was handled. He took issue with the marketing for “The Force Awakens,” heavily implying that Finn would be the main Jedi hero of the movie when this role was ultimately filled by Rey, a white character played by Daisy Ridley.

Ewan McGregor addresses racist comments to ‘Obi-Wan’ star Moses Ingram: ‘You’re no Star Wars fan in my mind’

“What I would say to Disney is do not bring out a Black character, market them to be much more important in the franchise than they are and then have them pushed to the side,” Boyega said. “It’s not good. I’ll say it straight up.”

Before “The Force Awakens,” the most prominent Black characters in “Star Wars” were Billy Dee Williams’ Lando Calrissian from the original trilogy and Samuel L. Jackson’s Mace Windu, a Jedi, in the sequel trilogy. Over the past decade, the series has become more diverse with the addition of numerous new characters played by people of color, including Moses Ingram and Amandla Stenberg.

But several of these actors have spoken out about receiving racist backlash after joining the franchise. In August, Stenberg said her Disney+ “Star Wars” show “The Acolyte” was subject to “hyper-conservative bigotry and vitriol, prejudiced hatred and hateful language” before its cancellation.

April 1, 2025
Judge blocks release of photos of Gene Hackman, wife Betsy Arakawa

Photos from the death investigation of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been partially blocked from release, a New Mexico judge ruled on Monday.

During a hearing in Santa Fe court, District Judge Matthew J. Wilson placed investigation records depicting Hackman and Arakawa’s bodies under seal from public view. The couple, who resided in Santa Fe, were found deceased in their home on Feb. 26.

Hackman was 95, while Arakawa was 64.

Such records include investigative photos, lapel footage gathered from police bodycams and photos from autopsy reports.

However, Judge Wilson denied a previous preliminary injunction’s ban on the release of other media records from the death investigation, such as audio, autopsy records and videos that do not depict Hackman and Arakawa’s bodies.

“Injunctions are a harsh and drastic remedy, which should issue only in extreme cases of pressing necessity,” Wilson said. “It is not enough that the party seeking injunctive relief merely claim irreparable harm.”

The ruling comes after the First Judicial District Court in New Mexico issued a temporary restraining order against the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of the Medical Investigator on March 17.

The order temporarily barred the disclosure of photographs or videos showing Hackman or Arakawa’s bodies, the interior of their home and any lapel footage that includes their bodies or images of their deceased animals. Additionally, the order temporarily prevented the disclosure of autopsy reports or death investigation reports for Hackman and Arakawa.

Julia Peters, a representative for the estate of Hackman and Arakawa, filed the petition for the order. Hackman and Arakawa’s children Christopher Hackman, Elizabeth Hackman and Leslie Allen were listed as intervenors in the case, according to a Friday motion, allowing them to file a complaint for declaratory judgment.

Read more: Photos of Gene Hackman, wife’s deaths to be restricted with temporary restraining order

Gene Hackman’s publicist talks potential impact of investigation photos, videos

During Monday’s hearing, Hackman’s longtime publicist testified on the late actor’s reclusive public life.

Susan Madore, co-CEO of Guttman Associates, reflected on Hackman and Arakawa’s reluctance to appear extensively in the media. Madore said the couple objected earlier this year to a proposed feature from “CBS News Sunday Morning,” which would have included commentary from individuals familiar with Hackman and Arakawa. CBS scrapped the piece after learning of Hackman and Arakawa’s opposition.

“When I told Gene and Betsy about it, they were horrified,” Madore said. “They decided not to do the piece. They didn’t want to upset Gene and Betsy.”

When asked about the possible release of death investigation records depicting Hackman and Arakawa, Madore said Hackman would have been against such exposure.

“For anything like that to be out in the public, any entity can use it however they want in perpetuity,” Madore said. “He would have never agreed in his life for that to happen, so why would we think he would agree to it in his death?”

Bodycam footage from Gene Hackman death investigation released

Despite the restraining order, police bodycam footage from the death investigation was released earlier this month, according to records obtained by USA TODAY on March 25.

Clips from the footage, which consists of over 20 videos, showed police speaking with witnesses about the state of Hackman and Arakawa’s home, as well as the account of a contractor who entered the couple’s residence and discovered Arakawa’s body.

According to a search warrant affidavit, authorities found Hackman in a mudroom near his cane, appearing to have fallen, while his wife was found in an open bathroom near a space heater, with an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on the nearby countertop. A deputy observed Arakawa with “body decomposition, bloating in her face” and mummification of her hands and feet.

Gene Hackman death: Bodycam footage shows emotional maintenance worker after actor was found

A week after Hackman and Arakawa were found dead, the couple’s causes of death were revealed during a press conference held by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office. New Mexico’s chief medical examiner, Dr. Heather Jarrell, said the office’s investigation found that Hackman died of natural causes. The Oscar-winning actor also had heart disease and complications caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

Meanwhile, Arakawa, 64, died from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease that is contracted by contact with mouse droppings.

(This story has been updated to include additional information.)

Contributing: Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY

April 1, 2025
Marvin Sapp receives threats after ‘close the doors’ clip resurfaces

Bishop Marvin Sapp says he has received death threats as a result of the resurfaced viral clip where he ordered ushers to close the doors at an international church convention while rallying for the congregation to donate $40,000.

During an interview on “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show” on Monday, the Grammy-nominated gospel artist called the situation a “misunderstanding,” but said he was “little more assertive than I should have been” while raising funds for the convention. He added that the reaction to the video has led to safety concerns.

“People have called my church and cussed me out. My staff are afraid because I’ve received death threats,” he said. “People have come to our campus. They have come to my church to try to cause problems, issues, (and) challenges.”

Sapp serves as the Senior Pastor of The Chosen Vessel Church, which is based in Fort Worth, Texas. He explained that the threats have been a burden on his children.

“I’m their only parent. I’m a widower. They’re afraid for my safety, so now we have to update and increase security,” he continued.

Previously: Gospel star Marvin Sapp responds to criticism over donation request, order to close doors

‘Close the doors’: A resurfaced clip from 2024 sparked social media discourse

The controversy stems from a viral video in which Sapp speaks in front of the congregation at the 109th Pentecostal Assemblies for the World Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, last July.

In the video, Sapp called on churchgoers in the building − and those watching online − to help raise $40,000 by giving $20 each.

“Ushers close the doors,” the “Praise Him In Advance” singer said repeatedly. “There’s 1,000 of you tonight, and … it’s 1,000 watching online. This is a small seed.”

Additionally, he asked preachers standing beside him to give a $100 contribution: “Giving is worship,” he said.

It sparked plenty of interest online, with memes, parodies, and criticism abounding on social media. Some people argued that he held the congregation hostage.

In a statement on his Facebook page last Wednesday, Sapp provided additional context behind his request for money. He said that as a minister, fundraising was part of his job at the international convention, calling it “stewardship” rather than “manipulation.”

“Some have taken issue with a particular moment when I instructed the ushers, rather firmly, to close the doors during the offering,” Sapp wrote. “To those unfamiliar with the church context or who may not regularly attend worship gatherings this has been misinterpreted as holding people hostage as well as offensive. That was never my intent.”

On “The Rickey Smiley Show,” Sapp shared his perspective on the now-viral request he made to ushers.

“I never said lock the doors. I said shut the doors,” Sapp emphasized. “Shutting doors mean that people still have the ability to go in and out. They’ve taken issue with my tone and I can honestly say looking at the video maybe I was a little more assertive than I should have been. I can apologize for that. “

Sapp said he didn’t receive ‘a dime’ of the money raised

Sapp doubled down on his stance that the whole dilemma was a “misunderstanding” and clarified that although it is unclear how much money was raised for the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., he didn’t receive any of it: “Not a dime of that money came to me,” he said.

Sapp added, “This organization is a church organization I grew up in. These people gave me a platform, and the reason I’m known today is because of the opportunities that this organization gave me.”

The Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. issued a statement Saturday apologizing “to those who may have been offended by the manner of receiving donations.”

“It is never our intent for our proceedings to be an offense or hinderance for anyone,” the statement reads. “Fundraising is a critical component to the success of our non-profit organization, and the funds raised are utilized to support not just this event, but our extensive international missions work, auxiliary programming, educational endeavors and more.”

The “Best In Me” singer called the ongoing discourse a “church hurting situation” and urged people to do more research.

“I did something for the church, but I’m taking abuse because of it,” Sapp continued. “I just want people to understand that this is something that we shouldn’t do. Make sure you do your due diligence. Make sure you check out everything first. Make sure that you examine the information with clarity and context before you begin to share it.”

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].

April 1, 2025
Taylor Swift may be able to shield flights under new FAA legislation
- The FAA will now withhold private aircraft owners’ information from public view upon request, citing security concerns.
- This decision comes after celebrities like Taylor Swift faced scrutiny for their private jet usage, tracked via publicly available FAA data.
- The agency is considering making the withholding of personal information the default for private aircraft owners in the public registry.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented legislation Friday making it harder to track private airplanes belonging to stars such as Taylor Swift.

On May 16, 2024, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 was signed into law by then-President Joe Biden. The 410-page document contains Section 803, which outlines data privacy.

Private aircraft owners may submit an electronic request to the FAA asking to withhold registration numbers for non-commercial flights. The administration will also withhold personal information including names, addresses, phone numbers and emails from public view.

Under the law, aircraft owners — who demonstrate a security need — can apply for a new aircraft identification code. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) assigns a 24-bit code used for identifying aircraft in global air traffic systems. The code is part of the automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) system, which tracks aircraft in real-time.

The FAA stated it will request feedback, including whether removing private information could impact stakeholders’ ability to carry out essential tasks like maintenance, safety inspections and ensuring regulatory compliance.

The agency mentioned it is considering making the withholding of personally identifiable information for private aircraft owners and operators the default for the public aircraft registry, while also providing a way for owners to access and download their data when needed.

Taylor Swift catches a lot of heat over jet travel. Here’s her actual impact

Social media accounts have used the FAA registry to track private planes and fuel usage for well-known politicians and entertainers including Swift, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Michael Bloomberg, Harrison Ford, Kim Kardashian and Oprah Winfrey.

Fly like a jet stream

Swift became a lightning rod in the debate over carbon dioxide emissions in 2022 after a study published by the Yard, a content and public relations firm, put the Eras Tour singer at the top of a wasteful list.

The Yard has since added a disclaimer that reads: “Following the release of our data, Rolling Stone contacted each of the celebrities’ representatives for comment. Taylor Swift’s representative said the following: ‘Taylor’s jet is loaned out regularly to other individuals. To attribute most or all of these trips to her is blatantly incorrect.’”

A University of Central Florida student, Jack Sweeney, has tracked Swift’s jet for years. His account took off in 2023 when publications wanted to know whether the billionaire would attend NFL games. Swift’s legal team sent cease and desist letters to Sweeney, and Meta pulled the plug on his Instagram account. Swifties have fired back at Sweeney saying the tracking endangers her privacy.

Sweeney hired a lawyer in response and released a public letter. He still tracks on X, Bluesky and Reddit.

“Other people have done a similar type of thing where they’re posting about her planes,” Sweeney told USA TODAY in May 2024. “When she flew to Brazil, the news was livestreaming at the airport. If my tracking goes away, there’s still going to be stuff like that, and she travels with a security team. The airport is one of the most secure places.”

A representative for Swift didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

Contributing: Reuters

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Follow Bryan West, the USA TODAY Network’s Taylor Swift reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV.
April 1, 2025
How to watch ‘The Chosen’ Season 5, everything we know about Season 6

“The Chosen” has been blessed with a box-office miracle.

The first multi-season drama centering on the life of Jesus released Part 1 of “The Chosen: Last Supper” in theaters Friday, earning more than $11 million at the domestic box office. The turnout makes this the top-grossing theatrical installment for the series, which stars Jonathan Roumie as Jesus. Part 1, comprised of the first two of the season’s eight episodes, landed behind Jason Statham’s latest action flick “A Working Man” and Week 2 of Disney’s live-action “Snow White.”

“The Chosen: Last Supper” resumes where Season 4 left off, with a crowd celebrating the arrival in Jerusalem of Jesus at the start of the week (known as Palm Sunday) and ending before Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane.

New trailer for ‘The Chosen’ shows events of Holy Week

Season five of “The Chosen” will depict the events of Holy Week, including the last supper.

Jesus “never gets a moment to rejoice and enjoy too much of what’s happening in the week, even when people are worshipping him, because it’s bittersweet,” says series creator Dallas Jenkins. He’s “teaching his Apostles, he’s pouring into them, he’s giving them a ton of truth bombs, all the while knowing what’s coming, and it’s very devastating. How do we portray that? How do we portray their reaction to what he’s telling them is going to happen when they don’t understand it? It’s a key theme throughout the season.”

Jenkins says he’ll start filming Season 6 in early April. The next chapter covers a 24-hour period during which Jesus was nailed to the cross, and the series is slated to end with Season 7, depicting the resurrection.

When is “The Chosen” Season 5 in theaters, and when will it be available for streaming?

Like Season 4, the new season is divided into three waves for its theatrical release: Part 1 arrived March 28, Part 2 is due April 4 and Part 3 on April 11. The entire season will be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video in June.

“The Chosen” Season 6 covers Jesus’ crucifixion

Roumie, 50, lost a bit of weight for the upcoming installment. Due to his promotional schedule for Season 5, he’s had to alter his mental preparation, which begins with prayer.

“I wouldn’t be doing any interviews right now because I like to typically have at least a month ahead of time to do nothing else but just drop in and read the scripts and reread the scripts and that kind of thing,” he says. “I have to relate it to the fact that God prepares me in a certain way every season for whatever the season is asking. And this season, it’s maybe a little less prep than I would normally have.”

Roumie says in his prayers, he’s often asking for “wisdom and discernment and knowing how to approach certain scenes.”

“If I read a certain scene, and I’m not quite sure how to play it or what is really being asked of me in the subtext of a scene, I’ll pray about that,” he says. “For my career in general, I try to surrender to every obstacle and challenge that appears in the process of the production, in trying to figure out the doing of it all.”

April 1, 2025
'The Chosen' trailer shows last supper scenesTV

‘The Chosen’ trailer shows last supper scenesTV

March 31, 2025
Kim Soo-hyun denies Kim Sae-ron underage dating allegations

South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun on Monday denied allegations that he dated the actress Kim Sae-ron when she was underage, breaking down in tears as he said he could not “admit what is not true.”

Brands including Prada have cut ties with the actor amid the controversy over his relationship with Kim Sae-ron, who was found dead in February in a suspected suicide. She was 24.

The 37-year-old Kim said he dated Kim Sae-ron five years ago for about a year, but not when she was underage. He said a YouTube expose released earlier this month cited testimonies and evidence that were false, including screenshots of messages that could not be from the actress.

Kim Sae-ron was born in July 2000. The age of consent in South Korea is 16.

“I did not date the deceased when she was a minor. And it is also not true that the deceased made a tragic choice because of me turning a blind eye,” Kim told a press conference on Monday, alluding to claims that their relationship led to her suicide.

South Korean actress, Netflix star Kim Sae-ron’s cause of death released: Reports

Lawyers representing Kim Soo-hyun and his agency said on Monday they had sued people involved in the YouTube expose for a total of 12 billion won ($8.15 million) in damages, and reported them to the authorities for defamation and violation of the information protection act.

A lawyer representing the relatives of Kim Sae-ron could not immediately be reached for comment.

Kim Sae-ron was one of South Korea’s most promising actresses. She began her acting career at the age of 9, debuting in the 2009 movie “A Brand New Life.” The following year, Kim starred in “The Man from Nowhere.” The action-thriller became South Korea’s highest-grossing film of 2010, outperforming “Inception” and “Iron Man 2” in the country, according to Box Office Mojo.

Kim was also known for movies like “I Am a Dad” and “A Girl at My Door,” the latter of which screened at Cannes Film Festival in 2014. On the television side, Kim starred in shows like “Hi! School: Love On” and “Secret Healer,” also known as “Mirror of the Witch,” and appeared in the Netflix series “Bloodhounds.”

In 2022, her acting career took a hit after she was involved in a drunk driving incident. In a statement on Instagram at the time, Kim apologized for making a “big mistake in a drunken state,” according to a translation from the Korean entertainment website Soompi.

Kim Soo-hyun rose to fame in South Korea and China over his role in hit South Korean drama series “My Love from the Star” and “Queen of Tears.”

Suicide Lifeline: If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 any time, day or night, or chat online.

Contributing: Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY; Ju-min Park, Reuters

March 31, 2025
Laurie may have had a trans child, Carrie Coon says

Turns out there’s more to Laurie’s character in “The White Lotus” than what meets the eye.

Carrie Coon, who plays the New York-based corporate lawyer on the hit HBO series, said in a recent interview that the show’s creators decided to drop some details on her backstory following President Donald Trump’s re-election last December.

According to Coon, Laurie had a nonbinary, or possibly transgender child and the scene which featured her mentioning them was not included in the final cut.

“There was a bit more context to her home life,” Coon said in a Harper’s Bazaar interview published Friday. “You originally found out that her daughter was actually non-binary, maybe trans, and going by they/them.”

“You see Laurie struggling to explain it to her friends, struggling to use they/them pronouns, struggling with the language, which was all interesting,” she continued. “It was only a short scene, but for me, it did make the question (in Episode 3) of whether Kate voted for Trump so much more provocative and personally offensive to Laurie, considering who her child is in the world.”

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What it means: Inside the wild ‘White Lotus’ Full Moon naked pool romp

‘White Lotus’ creator thought topic was too big for a ‘scene so small’

Coon added the season was written prior to the election and the show’s creator, Mike White (also of “Survivor” fame), felt the scene was too “small” to handle a “topic so big” following Trump’s win and his administration’s attacks against the transgender community, which explains why it might have been cut from the episode that aired.

“The season was written before the election,” Coon said in the interview. “And considering the way the Trump administration has weaponized the cultural war against transgender people even more since then, when the time came to cut the episode down, Mike felt that the scene was so small and the topic so big that it wasn’t the right way to engage in that conversation.”

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‘Fun to watch Mike’s characters’

Season 3 of “The White Lotus” is set in Thailand, where Laurie, a recent divorcée, is vacationing with her longtime girlfriends Kate (Leslie Bibb) and Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan) with tensions brewing between the three from the minute they arrived at the all-inclusive resort. In Episode 3, Leslie, a Texas housewife, reveals that she goes to church and married a Republican who voted for Trump (the show was written in 2022 and filmed last year) setting the stage for an awkward dinner.

Elaborating further on the buzzy scene, Coon praised White for not shying away from “challenging cultural conversations.”

“That’s why it’s fun to watch Mike’s characters,” Coon told Harper’s Bazaar. “They’re not just one thing.”

Coon credited “The White Lotus’” creator’s upbringing and childhood for his complex characters.

“Mike White grew up in the evangelical church,” Coon said. “He grew up in some pretty specific communities, some of which were maybe not as welcoming to him, ultimately. His father wrote a very influential book about what it was like to come out as a gay man himself in the evangelical church as an adult, which a lot of young men have read and was a very meaningful text for them in their own journeys. So Mike doesn’t shy away from challenging cultural conversations, and I really appreciate that about his work.”

‘White Lotus’ Season 3 ending is ‘very unexpected’

Reflecting on the now-infamous scene and the relationship between their characters, Monaghan, in an interview with USA TODAY, said “people are having these very valid conversations and we’re constantly learning about one another,” in real time.

“What’s unique about this relationship, and I think (what) so many of us understand, it’s like we can be lifelong friends and we have shared history,” Monaghan said. “Just because we have that shared history doesn’t mean that we don’t go on to have different life experiences and be impacted in different ways that might change our values. And how all of those things impact conversations and political views is very relevant.”

In her interview with USA TODAY, Monaghan also teased the season’s ending “is very unexpected.”

“There’s drama all the way to the end, so I think you’re not going to be disappointed in terms of the way that is resolved or if it will be resolved,” Monaghan said. “True to Mike White fashion, the ending is very unexpected and it’s deeply emotional. It’ll be a very satisfying ending.”

Interview: ‘White Lotus’ star Michelle Monaghan unpacks Jaclyn’s intentions and that brotherly kiss

How to watch ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 finale

“The White Lotus” Season 3 finale, titled “Amor Fati,” is scheduled to air on HBO on Sunday, April 6 and will be available to stream on Max at 9 p.m. EST/PST.

Watch The White Lotus Season 3 with Sling + Max

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Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge, Julia Gomez, USA TODAY

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

March 31, 2025