Lifestyle
A 'Wild Card' game with Rachel Martin : It's Been a Minute
NPR
NPR’s Rachel Martin is the host of a new weekly podcast called Wild Card. It’s part-interview, part-existential game show. In this episode, Brittany sits down to play the game with Rachel, which brings up some surprising emotions for the both of them.
This episode was produced by Corey Antonio Rose. It was edited by Jessica Placzek. Engineering support came from Ko Takasugi-Czernowin. Our executive producer is Veralyn Williams. Our VP of programming is Yolanda Sangweni.
Lifestyle
What did the internet call 'satanic'? Find out in the news quiz
Jason Hanna/Getty Images; Vicky Barlow/@thehidephotography; Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Sunday, May 19, marks the one-year anniversary of the NPR news quiz, which opened with Victor Wembanyama and ended with a rainbow slug. Since then, the news has gifted us such fodder as ChatGPT, George Santos, British royals and Barbie. We learned that Jack Smith had a mullet; that one of the Barbies, unlike J. Robert Oppenheimer, has a Nobel Prize in Physics; and that a spotless baby giraffe is kind of creepy.
So, were you paying attention — all year? We hope so.
Lifestyle
J Lo and Ben Affleck Do Sunday Funday Together Despite Living Apart
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck seem to be saying they’re all good, maritally speaking — even though they’re not living under the same roof, they spent much of Sunday together … looking like a happy couple.
The apparently estranged couple met up Sunday in Santa Monica, where they both showed out to support J Lo’s kid, Emme, in a school event. Jen Garner also showed up with Fin, as Ben and Jen’s kid is pretty tight with Emme.
Anyway, things got more interesting when they left Santa Monica — Ben was smiling behind the wheel, and Jennifer was in his passenger seat, as they headed out … apparently to grab dinner together at BOA Steakhouse in WeHo.
Of course, they were photographed as they left dinner, too … which is not shocking. BOA is one of the L.A. restaurants where all celebs know the paps are gonna take their photo.
If Jen and Ben really wanted alone time, they could’ve stayed at BOA in Santa Monica — same menu, but way less attention.
As we’ve reported … Ben has been living in Brentwood in a home he’s renting, while Jennifer continues living in the $60 million Bev Hills mansion they bought together.
We also told you that Ben did not wear his wedding ring during a Friday outing, but he had it back on come Saturday outside his rental home.
Whatever happened before BA moved out, he and J Lo seemed to put it all on the back burner Sunday. Whether that prompts them to move back in together … 🤷🏽♂️
Lifestyle
Sean Combs apologizes for 'my actions in that video' that appeared to show an assault
Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP
Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs issued an apology on Sunday, two days after the release of a video which appeared to show him beating then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” Combs says in a video posted to Instagram. “I was f—– up — I mean, I hit rock bottom — but I make no excuses.”
The video, which was obtained and published by CNN on Friday, allegedly shows Combs grabbing, throwing, kicking and dragging Ventura in a hotel hallway, and throwing an object at her.
CNN reported that the video was recorded at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Century City on March 5, 2016. Elements of it appear to match accusations of physical and sexual assault that Ventura made in a civil lawsuit she filed against Combs last year.
While NPR has not been able to verify the authenticity of the video, in his apology, Combs appeared to do so.
“I take full responsibility for my actions in that video,” Combs said. “I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now. I went and I sought out professional help. I got into going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry. But I’m committed to be a better man each and every day. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.”
Ventura reached a settlement with Combs for an undisclosed figure in November, one day after the lawsuit was filed.
After the settlement, one of Combs’ lawyers, Ben Brafman, issued a statement declaring Combs’ innocence. He told NPR: “Just so we’re clear, a decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing. Mr. Combs’ decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best.”
NPR’s request for comment from Combs’ attorney on Sunday was not immediately returned.
In a written statement provided to NPR on Friday afternoon, Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, said: “The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs. Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”
Wigdor did not immediately reply on Sunday to a request for comment on Combs’ Instagram post.
Combs faces several lawsuits from named and unnamed plaintiffs alleging assault, rape and other misconduct. In March, federal agents raided homes associated with Combs in Los Angeles and Miami in what authorities at the time referred to as “an ongoing investigation.”
On Saturday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said it was aware of the video and while it found the images “extremely disturbing and difficult to watch,” if the incident occurred in 2016, “unfortunately we would be unable to charge as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted.”
The statement said that law enforcement has not presented a case against Combs for the attack depicted in the video, “but we encourage anyone who has been a victim or witness to a crime to report it to law enforcement or reach out to our office for support from our Bureau of Victims Services.”
NPR’s Anastasia Tsioulcas contributed to this report.
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