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Pioneering ballerina Michaela DePrince dies at 29
Michaela DePrince performs Giselle with the English National ballet in London on Jan. 13, 2017.
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Ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince, an inspirational and pioneering figure in the dance world, has died at age 29 of undisclosed causes.
Her death was announced via her Instagram by a spokesperson on Friday. “Her unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts, and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us,” read the caption.
Her siblings also released a statement on Facebook, noting her influence as a dancer: “Her passion and impact on the dance world, especially in inspiring young Black dancers to pursue their dreams, has been tremendous.”
DePrince, born Mabinty Bangura in Sierra Leone, lost both her parents as a toddler during the country’s civil war. Her passion for dance began early. In her memoir, Taking Flight, she writes that she danced in her “bare toes in the mud” during the rainy season.
During her time at an orphanage, she remembered being called “the devil’s child” because of vitiligo, a condition that left patches of her skin without pigmentation, the BBC reported in 2012. At age four, an American family adopted her and she moved to New Jersey, where she started taking ballet lessons.
From a young age, she captivated audiences with her appearance in the ballet documentary, First Position. DePrince’s mother, Elaine DePrince, made most of her daughter’s costumes at that time, NPR reported in 2012.
DePrince made her professional debut with the Joburg Ballet in South Africa and then became the youngest principal dancer at the Dance Theatre of Harlem. In 2021, she joined Boston Ballet as a second soloist. She appeared on the TV show Dancing With The Stars and performed in Beyoncé’s music video album, Lemonade. DePrince was also an ambassador of War Child, a nonprofit that helps children living in war-affected countries.
In an Instagram post, ballet dancer Misty Copeland remembers DePrince as “a prodigious talent” who remained determined even when told “ ‘the world wasn’t ready for Black ballerinas’ or that ‘Black ballerinas weren’t worth investing money in.’ ”
In the statement announcing her death, DePrince is described as “a beacon of hope for many, showing that no matter the obstacles, beauty and greatness can rise from the darkest of places.”
Ariana Grande arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif.
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The brightest stars in TV and film kicked off the 83rd annual Golden Globes tonight in Beverly Hills, Calif. with Ariana Grande, Noah Wyle, Teyana Taylor and George Clooney are just some the names who walked the red carpet. This year’s ceremony was hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser.
Here’s a glimpse of what some of the attendees are wearing tonight.
Michael B. Jordan
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Ryan Coogler and Zinzi Evans
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Jean Smart
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Sara Wells and Noah Wyle
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Claire Danes
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Laufey
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Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song
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Ryan Destiny
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Rose Byrne
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Kate Hudson
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Snoop Dogg
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Timothée Chalamet
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Miley Cyrus
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George Clooney and Amal Clooney
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Leonardo DiCaprio
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Michel Martin
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Steve Inskeep
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Leila Fadel
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A Martinez
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Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy
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Amanda Seyfried
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William Stanford Davis
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Emma Stone
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Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall
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Mark Ruffalo and Sunrise Coigney
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Minnie Driver
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Nikki Glaser
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Queen Latifah
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2026 Golden Globes
Nikki Glaser Shouts Out Rob Reiner …
Dons ‘Spinal Tap’ Hat at Close of Show
Published
Rob Reiner wasn’t forgotten at this year’s Golden Globe awards … because host Nikki Glaser paid tribute to him just weeks after his murder.
Here’s the deal … during the sign-off for the awards show, Nikki came onstage wearing a black and white “Spinal Tap” hat — the band which serves as the subject of Reiner’s iconic 1984 mockumentary of the same name.
Worth noting … the Golden Globes do not typically air an in memoriam — so this was the only time Reiner was mentioned at the show.
As you know … Rob and his wife Michele Singer Reiner were found dead in their Los Angeles home last month. Their son Nick Reiner has been arrested for murder in connection to the case.
TMZ.com
Nick’s arraignment was scheduled for last week … but, his lawyer Alan Jackson dropped out of the case — leaving Nick with a public defender and new arraignment date set for late February.
Jackson told a gaggle of reporters outside the courthouse that Nick’s not guilty … but, he simply can’t defend him. He did not provide a reason for his withdrawal.
Our new documentary “TMZ Investigates The Reiner Murders: What Really Happened” dives into Rob and Michele’s grisly deaths … as well as Nick’s history of mental health issues and even how his weight gain set him on a dangerous path.
“TMZ Investigates The Reiner Murders: What Really Happened” is now streaming on Hulu.
On-air challenge
Today’s puzzle is called “Pet Theory.” Every answer is a familiar two-word phrase or name in which the first word start starts PE- and the second word starts T-. (Ex. What walkways at intersections carry –> PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC)
1. Chart that lists all the chemical elements
2. Place for a partridge in “The 12 Days of Christmas”
3. Male voyeur
4. What a coach gives a team during halftime in the locker room
5. Set of questions designed to reveal your traits
6. Something combatants sign to end a war
7. Someone who works with you one-on-one with physical exercises
8. Member of the Who
9. Incisors, canines, and premolars that grow in after you’re a baby
10. Nadia Comaneci was the first gymnast to score this at the Olympics
11. What holds the fuel in a British car
Last week’s challenge
Last week’s challenge was a numerical one from Ed Pegg Jr., who runs the website mathpuzzle.com. Take the nine digits — 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. You can group some of them and add arithmetic operations to get 2011 like this: 1 + 23 ÷ 4 x 5 x 67 – 8 + 9. If you do these operations in order from left to right, you get 2011. Well, 2011 was 15 years ago. Can you group some of the digits and add arithmetic symbols in a different way to make 2026? The digits from 1 to 9 need to stay in that order. I know of two different solutions, but you need to find only one of them.
Challenge answer
12 × 34 × 5 – 6 – 7 + 8 – 9 [or] 1 + 2 + 345 × 6 – 7 × 8 + 9
Winner
Daniel Abramson of Albuquerque, N.M.
This week’s challenge
This week’s challenge comes from listener Ward Hartenstein. Think of a well-known couple whose names are often said in the order of _____ & _____. Seven letters in the names in total. Combine those two names, change an E to an S, and rearrange the result to name another famous duo who are widely known as _____ & _____.
If you know the answer to the challenge, submit it below by Thursday, January 15 at 3 p.m. ET. Listeners whose answers are selected win a chance to play the on-air puzzle.
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