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Crossword Blog & Answers for May 13, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further! Weather Front
Constructor: Beth Rubin

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

FOG OF LOVE (36A: Cooperative romantic comedy boardgame) In the game FOG OF LOVE, two players each create and play a character. As the players proceed through the game, the characters they have created meet and fall in LOVE and then encounter situations that may test their relationship. The original game was released in 2017, and a couple of expansion sets have been released: FOG OF LOVE: LOVE on Lockdown and FOG OF LOVE: Paranormal Romance.

NOIR (42A: “Mulholland Drive” genre) Mulholland Drive (2001) is a surreal neo-NOIR movie written and directed by David Lynch. He won an Academy Award for Best Director for the film. Naomi Watts (Betty / Diane) and Laura Harring (Rita / Camilla) star in the movie, and each portrays two characters.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

HELLO (14A: ___ Kitty (Feline character whose significant other is Dear Daniel) The character HELLO Kitty, the anthropomorphic Japanese Bobtail cat whose full name is Kitty White, made her first appearance in 1975 on a vinyl coin purse. HELLO Kitty merchandise was originally marketed at pre-teen girls, but the fandom has expanded to include all ages. As the clue informs us, HELLO Kitty’s significant other is Dear Daniel, a character first introduced in 1999. I like to say “HELLO Kitty,” to my cat, Willow. It just makes me giggle. Willow was quite helpful and agreed to pose with a HELLO Kitty fleece blanket.

CBS (16A: “Matlock” and Elsbeth” network) Both Matlock and Elsbeth are TV shows that premiered on CBS in 2024. Matlock is a legal drama that draws from a TV series of the same name that aired from 1986 TO 1992. In that series, Andy Griffith starred as Ben Matlock. In the 2024 series, Kathy Bates portrays Madeline Kingston, who creates the alias of Madeline “Matty” Matlock and sets out to seek justice for her daughter who died from an opioid overdose. Elsbeth is a spin-off of The Good Wife (2009-2016) and The Good Fight (2017-2022). Cara Preston stars as Elsbeth Tascioni, an attorney who is assigned by the Department of Justice to observe the New York Police Department.

HAIL A TAXI (19A: Wave from the curb, say) This theme answer reminded me of someone I know who used to have a dog named TAXI. He said he chose the name so he could step outside and call for the dog, shouting, “TAXI!”

TATE (41A: London art museum) There are four TATE galleries that house the United Kingdom’s national art collection: TATE Modern, TATE Britain, TATE Liverpool, and TATE St. Ives. The TATE is named after Henry TATE, one part of the food and beverage company TATE & Lyle. This clue feels timely, as the TATE Modern is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. It first opened on May 11, 2000.

SACRED (52A: Like some cows and texts) This clue intrigued me when I first read it. What connects cows and texts? Ah, SACRED cows and SACRED texts; two very different things, connected by the use of the word SACRED.

APR (53A: National Poetry Month (Abbr.)) April (APR) has been observed as National Poetry Month since 1996. The celebration is organized by the Academy of American Poets to increase appreciation of poetry. Of course, you don’t have to wait until next April to appreciate some poetry. You might check out Mary Oliver’s poem “Beans” or Joy Harjo’s poem “Without.”

WON (61A: South Korean currency) When Korea was divided into South Korea and North Korea following the end of World War II in 1945, both countries ultimately adopted (different) currencies called WON, South Korean WON and North Korean WON.

EMO (64A: My Chemical Romance genre) Although My Chemical Romance is considered an influential band in the EMO genre, they have at times rejected the EMO classification. The music of My Chemical Romance has also been described as alt rock, pop-punk, punk rock, and hard rock.

PINK (65A: “The Dark Side of the Moon” band ___ Floyd) The Dark Side of the Moon is PINK Floyd’s 1973 studio album. The songs on the album – which was envisioned as a concept album about the pressures the band faced – explore the themes of conflict, greed, time, death, and mental illness. The Dark Side of the Moon was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

ELSA (6D: “Frozen” queen) ELSA is a character in Disney’s 2013 animated movie Frozen and the 2019 sequel Frozen II. Even though I know this, I still amused myself by envisioning ELSA as a “frozen queen” (similar to Hans Solo at one point in the Star Wars saga…) instead of the queen in Frozen.

ALEX (7D: Trebek who hosted “Jeopardy!” from 1984-2020) Did anyone else really want this answer to be in the form of a question? ALEX Trebek (1940-2020) hosted Jeopardy! from 1984 until he died in 2020. He was awarded the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host eight times during his 37 seasons hosting Jeopardy!

ACLU (15D: Rights advocacy org.) Through litigation and lobbying, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) advocates for the rights of all people in the United States.

LAT (37D: Back muscle, for short) The latissimus dorsi muscles – commonly referred to as the LATs – are located in the back, and are the largest muscles in the upper body.

VITAMIN (40D: A, B, C, D or E, but not F) It’s true. There’s no VITAMIN F. After VITAMINs A, B, C, D, and E, the alphabetic list of VITAMINs skips to VITAMIN K.

RAP (58D: Genre for Megan Thee Stallion) Megan Thee Stallion is a RAP artist and songwriter. Her most recent album, Megan: Act II was released in October of last year as an expanded reissue of her album Megan, which was released in June 2024.

ALI (59D: “Beef” actress Wong) Beef is a Netflix TV miniseries about two people involved in a road rage incident that leads to them becoming enemies and getting involved in each other’s lives. ALI Wong and Steven Yeun co-star in the show, which premiered in April 2023.

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

HAIL A TAXI (19A: Wave from the curb, say)

FOG OF LOVE (36A: Cooperative romantic comedy boardgame)

RAIN CHECK (55A: Ticket that can be used at a later time)

WEATHER FRONT: A WEATHER-related word is found at the FRONT of each theme answer: HAIL, FOG, and RAIN.

The title of today’s puzzle let me know exactly what to expect theme-wise. It’s fun that the first (FRONT) answer in this puzzle is also a WEATHER-related word: ICY (1A: Slippery, like winter roads). That’s a nice bonus. Thank you, Beth, for this enjoyable puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles
May 13, 2025
‘American Idol’ reveals Top 3 contestants ahead of 2025 finale
We are officially just a few sleeps away from finding out who will be the next “American Idol.”
As the competition shed two more contestants to reveal the Top 3 on May 12, Season 23 has never had fewer contestants than this moment. That meant there was more time for the generous studio audience to cheer and applaud the final five contestants for so long the judges – Slater Nalley, Breanna Nix, John Foster, Jamal Roberts and Thunderstorm Artis – as they vied for a spot in the “Idol” finale on May 18.

On the second Disney Night in Episode 17, the singers largely stayed in their lanes and avoided delivering any surprises with the two songs they each performed, honed by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mentorship.

Thunderstorm crooned as he played the guitar while Slater ditched his instrument for the first time to try his hand at emulating Randy Newman. Breanna had a faraway look in her eyes as she stressed about getting through the lyrics in Natalie’s “This Will Be,” then redeemed herself with a romantic track from “Tarzan” that left her husband in tears.

John brought his modern cowboy to the stage once again, and Jamal put a delightful R&B spin on a beloved “Beauty and the Beast” song. Also, Iam Tongi returned to the “Idol” stage for an extra cross-promotional performance for the upcoming live action “Lilo & Stitch.”

Here are the results of Episode 17.

What happened last episode? Two singers leave after emotional Mother’s Day tributes

Who was sent home on ‘American Idol?’

The guitar-wielding duo of Slater and Thunderstorm failed to earn enough votes to make it into the Top 3.

But this won’t be the last you’ll see of them – or the Top 14. They will be coming back for one last performance in the finale.

Carrie Underwood dishes on her first date at 16: ‘It did not go well’

In an exclusive “Idol To Icon” clip, Underwood admits she never heard back from her first date. “American Idol” airs Sundays/Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

ABC

The group will also be joined by performances from the Goo Goo Dolls, Good Charlotte, Jessica Simpson, Jelly Roll, Patti LaBelle, Salt-N-Pepa, Jennifer Holliday, Josh Groban, Brandon Lake, Myles Smith and Kirk Franklin.

And in a time-honored tradition, judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie will also jump on stage for some time on the mic.

Who is in the ‘American Idol’ Top 3?

John Foster

Jamal Roberts

Breanna Nix
May 13, 2025
Photos of Tory Lanez: Rapper currently in prison for shooting Megan Thee StallionMusic

Photos of Tory Lanez: Rapper currently in prison for shooting Megan Thee StallionMusic

May 13, 2025
See John Cena's career evolve from WWE to the big screenMovies

See John Cena’s career evolve from WWE to the big screenMovies

May 13, 2025
A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute’

A new comedy special is bringing Joan Rivers back from the dead, at least for one night.

NBC is honoring the life and legacy of the late comic with “Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute,” an hour-long television special set to air May 13.

“Given that I’m dead, I assume someone will finally decide to honor me,” Rivers said in a letter she left for her daughter, Melissa Rivers. “Well, it’s about time.”

The comedy special, which features cameos from famous comics, was filmed at the Apollo Theater in Harlem on the opening night of the 2024 New York Comedy Festival, NBC said in a news release.

The group, including Chelsea Handler, will “pay homage to Rivers’ razor-sharp humor and impact on pop culture” through standup, musical bits and tributes. They will also revisit “Rivers’ legendary cabinet of jokes” but add their own personal spin to the material to make it timely and new.

“This tribute is everything my mother would have wanted — hilarious, unfiltered and filled with people she respected (and roasted). And as usual, she was still the funniest person in the room,” Melissa Rivers said in a statement. “It’s incredibly moving to see so many iconic comedians come together to celebrate her legacy, especially the women whose careers she helped make possible by breaking down so many doors.”

Here’s what to know about “Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute,” including how to tune in.

Who was Joan Rivers?

Joan Rivers was a comedian and television personality who was a regular on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and made frequent appearances on other shows, including “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

Rivers also served as host of daytime talk show “The Joan Rivers Show,” for which she earned her first and only Emmy Award. She later hosted Fox’s version of “The Tonight Show,” dubbed “The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers.”

Rivers is best known for her fashion commentary on E! Network’s “Fashion Police” and “E!’s Live from the Red Carpet” telecasts before every major award show, from the Golden Globes to the Grammys.

She discussed the dos and don’ts of celebrity fashion from 2010 up until her death in 2014. Rivers also famously coined the phrase, “Who are you wearing?”

Rivers also received various accolades in her 50-year career. She was a Grammy Award winning performer, a Tony Award-nominated actress, bestselling author, playwright, screenwriter, film director, columnist, lecturer, radio host, jewelry designer, entrepreneur and the renowned creator of the modern-day red-carpet interview show.

“An unparalleled legend in the entertainment industry, Rivers was more than just a comedian, she was a force of nature,” NBC said in a news release. “… Rivers was also the first woman to break the glass ceiling of male-hosted late-night television.”

‘Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute’ teaser

How to watch ‘Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute’

“Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute” airs May 13 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

An extended and uncensored version of the comedy special will debut on Peacock on May 14 and will feature additional comics, who will be announced later.

An encore presentation will air June 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on E!.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

May 13, 2025
Tory Lanez stabbed in prison after Megan Thee Stallion shooting

Rapper Tory Lanez, who’s behind bars for shooting fellow hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion, has been hospitalized after being attacked in prison.

Lanez, 32, was “attacked by another inmate” around 7:20 a.m. May 12, a spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed to USA TODAY. Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, is serving a 10-year prison sentence at the California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi after he was convicted of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in 2020.

“Staff immediately responded, activated 911 and began medical aid,” according to the statement. “Peterson was subsequently transported to an outside medical facility for further treatment.”

It is currently unclear what motivated the attack.

The Office of the Inspector General was notified of the incident, and an “investigation has been initiated by CCI’s Investigative Services Unit and the Kern County District Attorney’s Office.”

USA TODAY has reached out to Lanez’s representatives for comment.

Tory Lanez stabbed 14 times, suffered from collapsed lungs

Hours after reports of Lanez’s hospitalization came out, his official Instagram account released a statement on the attack.

“Tory was stabbed 14 times – including seven wounds to his back, four to his torso, two to the back of his head, and one to the left side of his face. Both of his lungs collapsed, and he was placed on a breathing apparatus,” the statement said.

“He is now breathing on his own. Despite being in pain, he is talking normally, in good spirits, and deeply thankful to God that he is pulling through. He also wants to thank everyone for their continued support.”

USA TODAY has reached out to the California Corrections Department for comment.

Lanez was found guilty in December 2022 of shooting the Grammy-winning rapper during an alleged argument in the Hollywood Hills in July 2020. The Canadian singer-songwriter, who pleaded not guilty on all counts ahead of his trial, was charged with discharging a firearm with gross negligence; assault with a semiautomatic firearm; and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle.

He was sentenced on Aug. 8, 2023, and began his sentence a month later, on Sept. 19. His team has since appealed the conviction.

Since his conviction, Megan Thee Stallion, whose real name is Megan Pete, has sought a restraining order last year against Lanez. She filed a request for a temporary restraining order against him in Los Angeles County Superior Court in December, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY at the time.

Megan claimed the singer orchestrated a “campaign of harassment” against her, including employing a network of bloggers to slander her online.

“Years after the criminal trial, Mr. Peterson, by and through his media puppets, continues to reoffend Ms. Pete by forcing her to relive this trauma,” her civil lawsuit said.

Contributing: Edward Segarra and Anika Reed, USA TODAY

May 13, 2025
Cassie, singer and ex-girlfriend, at center of testimony

Casandra “Cassie” Ventura Fine is starting another chapter of her life.

“I am better today, but I will always be recovering from my past,” she wrote in a lengthy letter to fans last year.

The Instagram note was posted days after security footage surfaced, showing her then-boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs kicking, hitting and beating her at a now-shuttered Los Angeles luxury hotel in 2016. Combs, the music producer-turned-Hollywood power player, was later charged with sex crimes after his September arrest in Manhattan.

Now, with Combs’ federal trial underway, Cassie is central to prosecutors’ case against the Billboard chart-topper turned disgraced former billionaire.

Their entangled legal saga first began in November 2023 when Ventura filed a bombshell civil lawsuit against her A-list ex-boyfriend, claiming rape and years of physical abuse. The two settled the suit one day later.

Diddy ‘stomped repeatedly’ on Cassie, prosecutors say in trial opening statements

Known for the hit track “Me & U,” the lead single off her self-titled (and only) studio album, the singer is set to testify in court as one of Combs’ alleged victims, accusing Combs of coercing her into sex and physically beating her.

In court May 12, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson described one instance in 2009 where Combs allegedly threw Cassie on the floor of an SUV and “stomped repeatedly on her face.” Cassie will testify about another instance when she said Combs forced an escort to urinate in her mouth, Johnson said.

Combs’ defense, however, argued that Cassie became jealous when she realized she would never be the music mogul’s wife. “Regret does not mean coerced,” said Combs’ lawyer Teny Geragos, attempting to poke holes in one of the prosecution’s arguments.

Diddy trial updates: Jury sees video of Sean Combs appearing to attack Cassie Ventura

How long was Cassie with Diddy? They met when she was 19 – and he was 37

At 19, Cassie met a then-37-year-old Combs in 2005 and signed to his music label Bad Boy Records the following February.

In her 2023 suit, Cassie’s legal team claims that “within two years of meeting Mr. Combs, Ms. Ventura found herself lured into the immediate circle of her boss, the owner of her record label, and one of the most powerful men in the entertainment industry.”

From there, a decadelong relationship formed by unwanted force and control allegedly began.

Though Cassie’s parents were “skeptical of (his) displays of wealth,” Combs began renting apartments for the early career entertainer around 2008 or 2009 in Manhattan near his own New York City residence, the suit claimed. Around 2010, Combs began paying for an apartment in Los Angeles near his own home in the sprawling California city.

Diddy’s trial, the ‘freak off’ parties and what the fascination says about us

Then, to maintain control and order over her life, he allegedly plied the music up-and-comer with prescription drugs. He also “violently beat” her, according to Cassie’s lawsuit, forcing her to stay in hotel rooms while bruises on her body healed.

According to her suit, Combs also forced her to participate in “freak offs,” drug-fueled parties with male sex workers conducted without Cassie’s consent.

What allegedly happened between Cassie Ventura, Diddy

In 2015, Combs’ alleged behavior intensified. During a surprise birthday dinner for Cassie’s 29th birthday, Combs forced her to participate in a “freak off,” Cassie claimed.

Combs allegedly went back to a hotel room where Cassie’s friends were and dangled fashion designer Bryana “Bana” Bongolan over the 17th floor balcony of the hotel suite. Cassie’s friend Tiffany Red posted a carousel of selfies on Instagram in November, recalling the date of the alleged 2015 assault. Red captioned the post, “seventeen stories up high on 9/7/15 with the homies.”

Diddy trial livestream: Why you won’t be able to watch inside the courtroom

And in 2016, an event central to the case against Combs took place.

A surveillance video reportedly from the since-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles on March 5, 2016, surfaced last year in reports from CNN. Diddy, clad in a bath towel, runs down a hotel hallway toward Ventura. In the footage, he strikes her, throws her to the ground and kicks her twice. Then, he grabs her and drags her down the hallway. The video also shows Diddy throwing what appears to be a vase.

The video appears to corroborate what’s alleged in Cassie’s suit. Diddy apologized in an Instagram video prior to his arrest, saying he was “disgusted” with his actions, though his legal team pushed back against the video’s inclusion during the trial. (In a pre-trial hearing April 25, lawyers for Combs entered a motion to exclude a 2016 surveillance video obtained by CNN from evidence used in the trial. But Judge Arun Subramanian denied their request, saying the video was a “fair and accurate” depiction, and that there are two witnesses who authenticated the tape.)

How these New York City laws opened the door for Cassie and more to sue Diddy

By September 2018, at a dinner at an Italian restaurant in Malibu, California, Cassie claimed she hoped to end their relationship. After dinner, Combs allegedly forced his way into her apartment and raped her. The next year, in 2019, she entered contracts to end her business relationship with Combs and married trainer Alex Fine.

On May 12, Fine was spotted at the courthouse as opening arguments got underway in Combs’ trial.

Cassie Ventura kids: Singer is pregnant with her third child

Almost two years after Cassie’s bombshell lawsuit, Combs is now standing trial on federal sex-crimes charges.

In the half-decade since walking away from Combs, Cassie “struggled with the physical and mental manifestations of her trauma,” according to her lawsuit. “The birth of her two children, however, allowed her a new lease on life and gave her purpose.”

Cassie and Fine welcomed two daughters: Frankie, 6, born in December 2019, and 4-year-old Sunny in March 2021.

Cassie Ventura pregnant, expecting baby No. 3 with husband Alex Fine

“She credits her children with saving her from the trauma that had consumed over a decade of her life,” the suit from 2023 reads.

Then, on Feb. 19, Cassie announced on Instagram that she was pregnant again with her third child.

After “Me & U” and Cassie and Diddy, there’s now the future: testifying on the witness stand and awaiting a verdict.

Contributing: Edward Segarra, Anna Kaufman, Anika Reed

If you are a victim of domestic violence, The National Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org) allows you to speak confidentially with trained advocates online or by the phone, which they recommend for those who think their online activity is being monitored by their abuser (800-799-7233). They can help survivors develop a plan to achieve safety for themselves and their children.

May 13, 2025
Todd and Julie Chrisley, other reality stars’ prison release dates

A reality television to prison pipeline? It’s more common than you might think.

From “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Jen Shah’s involvement in a telemarketing scheme to the “Chrisley Knows Best” stars charges on tax evasion and bank fraud, plenty of personalities have gone from TV screens to behind bars.

In at least one case, the plea for their release has reached the highest office in the land: Savannah Chrisley, daughter of disgraced reality stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, has appealed to President Donald Trump’s administration for their pardon. Savannah, 27, spoke at the Republican National Convention in July 2025.

As of May 12, 2025, the Chrisleys are still in their respective prisons.

Who are the other reality stars who are serving time in prison? Here’s a closer look.

From Netflix to prison. ‘Cheer’ star Jerry Harris sentenced to 12 years for sex crimes

Julie and Todd Chrisley from ‘Chrisley Knows Best’

It’s been more than two years since Julie and Todd Chrisley began their prison sentences for bank fraud. But instead of the respective seven- and 12-year sentences, each has had their prison time slightly reduced.

The Chrisleys gained fame on the USA Network reality show “Chrisley Knows Best,” which followed their tight-knit, boisterous family and lavish lifestyle in Atlanta and Nashville. The show drew in more than 2 million viewers by its eighth season and inspired the spinoffs “Growing Up Chrisley” and “According to Chrisley.”

However, their image as savvy real estate tycoons was sullied in June 2022, when the pair was found guilty of tax evasion and defrauding community banks out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans.

In January 2023, the Chrisleys traded their luxurious lifestyle for prison time. Prosecutors said the reality TV couple was driven by greed as they engaged in an extensive bank fraud scheme and then hid their wealth from tax authorities.

Julie Chrisley, 52, is serving her prison sentence at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, with an expected release date of Jan. 8, 2028.

Todd Chrisley is serving time at FPC Pensacola and is expected to be released April 7, 2032, more than two years before his original 12-year sentence was supposed to be up.

Brittish Williams of VH1’s ‘Basketball Wives’

Former “Basketball Wives” star Brittish Cierrah Williams found herself in hot legal water last year when authorities apprehended her over a series of scams.

On Oct. 24, 2023, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey sentenced Williams, 35, to four years in prison for committing $564,000 worth of frauds, including tax frauds, bank fraud, insurance fraud and three separate pandemic fraud schemes, according to a release from the US Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri.

Williams, then a radio personality in St. Louis, pleaded guilty to 15 felonies in May 2023. Williams will also be on supervised release for five years after serving time, and was ordered to pay $564,069 in restitution.

She is now serving time at FCI Waseca, “a low security federal correctional institution” in Minnesota, with a release date of Dec. 24, 2025.

Josh Duggar of TLC Network’s ’19 Kids and Counting’

Josh Duggar, who rose to fame on TLC’s hit show “19 Kids and Counting,” was sentenced in May 2022 to 12 years in prison for downloading and possessing child pornography.

The eldest child of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and a father of seven himself, Josh Duggar was found guilty in December 2021. Federal authorities said they began investigating the reality TV star after a Little Rock, Arkansas, police detective found child porn files were being shared by a computer traced to Duggar. A federal agent testified that images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including toddlers, were downloaded in 2019 onto a computer at a car dealership Duggar owned.

This is not Josh Duggar’s first fall from grace. “19 Kids and Counting,” was canceled in 2015 following revelations that Josh Duggar had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter when he was a teen. At the time, he apologized, admitting to a porn addiction and infidelity.

Duggar, 37, will be released Oct. 2, 2032. He is imprisoned at FCI Seagoville in Texas.

Jerry Harris of Netflix show ‘Cheer’

In 2020, after gaining fame on the Netflix docuseries “Cheer,” competitive cheerleading coach Jerry Harris was charged with producing child pornography.

Federal court records show Harris admitted he solicited and received explicit messages on Snapchat from at least 10 to 15 individuals he knew were minors; had sex with a 15-year-old boy at a cheerleading competition in 2019 and paid a 17-year-old money in exchange for nude photos.

Season 2 of the hit Netflix show addressed Harris’ downfall.

Harris pleaded guilty in February 2022 and in July of that same year was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.

Harris, 25, is serving time at FMC Lexington in Lexington, Kentucky and has a projected release date of Jan. 18, 2031.

Downfall of a Netflix star. How one season of ‘Cheer’ addressed child pornography charges against Jerry Harris

Jen Shah of Bravo’s ‘Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’

In January 2024, “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Jen Shah was sentenced to 6½ years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a national telemarketing scheme.

Judge Sidney H. Stein ruled the Bravo celebrity would spend 78 months behind bars, despite prosecutors’ suggested sentence of 120 months. That’s in addition to five years of supervision after her release. Shah, 50, also agreed to forfeit $6.5 million and to pay $9.5 million in restitution as part of her plea agreement.

Shah, whose arrest was partially captured by Bravo’s cameras, was ordered to begin her sentence Feb. 17, 2024.

She is currently serving time at FPC Bryan in Texas and is expected to be released Sept. 19, 2026.

Charles ‘Todd’ Hill of HGTV’s ‘Flip It to Win It’

Former HGTV star Charles “Todd” Hill turned from celebrity fixer-upper to disgraced real estate criminal, when authorities charged him with committing real estate and financial fraud.

Hill, 59, was sentenced to four years in jail and ordered to pay back close to $10 million for committing fraud against 11 victims, according to a news release from the County of Santa Clara Office of the District Attorney in California.

The “Flip It to Win It” star was convicted in 2023 of multiple fraud schemes. On the show Hill would buy dilapidated homes, fix them up and sell them for a profit. Instead, “Hill spent millions on overbudget remodels, laundered profits and pocketed millions in fraudulently obtained money,” the news release stated.

He was indicted in November 2019, then convicted by plea on Sept. 27, 2023, of grand theft against all victims. He was ordered to pay back $9,402,678 in restitution and serve 10 years on probation.

Hill is currently serving time at FCI Oakdale and will be released March 22, 2037.

Contributing: Amy Haneline, Maria Puente, Elise Brisco, Marisa Kwiatkowski and Tricia L. Nadolny, USA TODAY

May 13, 2025
A look at Sean Combs’ family tree

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ children are standing by his side as his sex-crimes trial begins.

The embattled music mogul’s kids turned out to the courthouse in New York on May 12, and were seen walking hand-in-hand, as his federal trial got underway with the completion of jury selection and start of opening arguments.

Combs’ kids Quincy Brown, Justin Combs, Christian Combs, Chance Combs, D’Lila Combs and Jessie Combs were seen arriving to court, as was his mother, Janice Combs.

The rapper’s mom and children have remained supportive as he faced charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. In a joint statement in October, his kids said their father has been judged “based on accusations, conspiracy theories, and false narratives that have spiraled into absurdity on social media,” adding, “We stand united, supporting you every step of the way.” Combs has also pleaded not guilty to all counts against him.

A few of Combs’ adult children have been implicated in his legal troubles. His son Justin Combs was named as a defendant in a sexual assault and sex trafficking lawsuit brought by music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones. According to the suit, the eldest Combs son was present during an altercation at a recording studio, in which Diddy or Justin Combs is alleged to have shot a man, referred to simply as “G.”

Justin Combs is also alleged to have been involved in Diddy’s “sex-trafficking venture.” The complaint claimed Justin Combs solicited “prostitutes, underaged girls, and sex workers” and participated in “freak offs” (a term Combs allegedly used to refer to sexual encounters with sex workers).

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyers accuse prosecution of bias against Black jurors

Combs’ youngest son, Christian “King” Combs was also named in the lawsuit. According to the complaint, Lil Rod witnessed the rapper “drugging and sexually assaulting a woman.” King was also sued in 2024 for allegedly assaulting a woman on a yacht in 2022.

Diddy trial updates: Prosecutors call first witness; allege sweeping physical and sexual abuse

How many children does Diddy have?

Diddy has seven children, six of them biological, ranging in age from 2 to 33.

How old are Diddy’s children? Sean Combs’ family tree, explained

Diddy had his first biological son, Justin Combs, 31, with fashion designer and stylist Misa Hylton.

Diddy adopted Quincy Brown, 33, the son of ex-girlfriend and model Kim Porter, who died in 2018 after a battle with pneumonia. The former couple also shared three other children: son Christian “King” Combs, 27, and twin daughters D’Lila and Jessie Combs, 18.

Diddy trial livestream: Why you won’t be able to watch inside the courtroom

Diddy has another daughter, 18-year-old Chance Combs, whom he shares with businesswoman Sarah Chapman.

His seventh and last child, daughter Love Sean Combs, was born in October 2022 with model and cybersecurity specialist Dana Tran.

Diddy raid: Rap mogul’s homes raided by law enforcement as part of investigation

What is the age order of Diddy’s kids?

Who is Justin Combs?

In 2012, Justin Combs was accepted at the University of California, Los Angeles, on a $54,000 football scholarship.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs jury selected: What to know in highly anticipated trial

According to the UCLA Bruins’ website, as a defensive back, he didn’t see any play in his first year. He made some tackles on the field in 2013 and 2014.

Following his football career, Justin Combs went into show business, executive producing a six-episode online talk show called “Respectfully Justin” through Revolt, his dad’s media company, in 2021. He was also the executive producer of “The Crew League,” a televised celebrity basketball tournament.

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Justin Combs also dabbled in acting, making appearances in the Starz series “Power Book II: Ghost.”

Who is Christian ‘King’ Combs?

Christian Combs, also known as the rapper King Combs, signed with his father’s label, Bad Boy Records, in 2016. That same year, he graduated from high school.

In 2019, he released his EP, “Cyncerely C3,” which featured collaborations with Ty Dolla $ign, Jeremih and City Girls. He followed this with singles and collaborations before releasing a four-track EP, “C3,” in 2023. In 2024, he released the track “Pick a Side,” which references the federal raids on his father Sean Combs’ homes.

In September 2023, Christian Combs joined his dad in performing onstage at the MTV VMAs, where Sean Combs was presented with the Global Icon Award.

He’s also active in fashion and signed with IMG Models in 2023. In 2018, at 19, he was named the face of Dolce & Gabbana’s spring/summer 2018 campaign. In 2020, he collaborated with Rihanna for a Savage X Fenty capsule collection.

His mom, model and actress Kim Porter, died in 2018 at age 47 of pneumonia. She and Sean Combs had an on-again, off-again relationship that ended after 13 years in 2007.

Who is Diddy’s stepson Quincy Brown?

The actor and singer Quincy Brown, who appeared in the Starz series “Power Book III: Raising Kanan,” is Sean Combs’ stepson. His parents are Kim Porter and singer/songwriter and record producer Al B. Sure.

Brown has also made appearances in TV shows, movies and music videos, including 2015’s “Dope” and “Brotherly Love,” as well as the Fox drama “Star” and Maluma’s 2021 music video for “Sobrio,” per IMDb.

Contributing: Edward Segarra, Jay Stahl and Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY

May 13, 2025
'Glee' actress puts literacy skills to the testCelebrities

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May 13, 2025