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Daily Record
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Inbred family who communicate by barking started after two cousins had 15 children together
The Whittaker family grunt and bark to communicate with others, but can understand what people say. A family said to be the "most inbred in America" consists of several generations who grunt and bark to communicate, starting when the children of two identical twins married and had several kids of their own together. The Whittaker family, from the village of Odd, West Virginia, live in a cramped mobile home 75 miles from the city of Charleston. They grabbed the headlines after featuring in filmmaker Mark Laita's 2020 documentary, which revealed their difficult background, living with complex needs. They had previously endured visitors making nasty comments, resulting in their protective neighbours guarding them armed with shotguns. It took Mark over 16 years to establish a relationship with them, due to their reluctance to let outsiders in or mix with new people. When he first met them in 2004, he was greeted with a chaotic scene of multiple members running, screaming and barking at him, which he described as the "craziest thing". It was also compared to 1972 film Deliverance, in which a group of friends are hunted and terrorised by locals in the woods, the Mirror reports. Speaking on the Koncrete KLIPS podcast, Mark said: "We came around to this road, which turns into a country road, which turns into a dirt road, and we come to this trailer and then a little shack on the other side of the road. And there's these people walking around and their eyes are going in different directions and they are barking at us. "And then one guy, you would look at him in the eye or say anything and he would just scream and go running away, and his pants would fall around his ankles, and he would go running off and go and kick a garbage can. And this would happen over and over. It was out of control - the craziest thing I have ever seen." The inbreeding began with identical twins Henry and John Whittaker, whose children married each other and had over a dozen of their own together. Henry and his wife Sally had seven children, including John Emory Whittaker, born in 1913. John and his wife Ada, also his first cousin, had nine kids, including Gracie Irene Whittaker in 1920. John and Gracie were double cousins, sharing both sets of grandparents. They married in 1935 and had 15 kids of their own. Several of them suffered from a number of serious physical and mental illnesses, believed to be a result of their inbreeding. Their oldest child Aileen died in June 1997 following a heart attack, while son Emery passed away just a month after his birth in 1938 due to pneumonia. Betty, born in 1952, took on the role of matriarch and promised her mum she would not get married so she could care for her 14 siblings. Ray and Lorene, who have a son called Timmy, born 1979, are both said to be unable to speak and only communicate via grunting and barking. Timmy is the only family member who has graduated from high school. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Speaking about their communication, a relative said: "They understand what you talking about. If they don't like it, they start yelling — let you know they don't like that idea." The family even make their own customised concrete headstones, with only mum Gracie having a professionally-made one. However, they sometimes require help from the public. Mark returned in 2022 for a follow-up visit after creating a GoFundMe page for them to improve their home, which waised $55,000 (£44,000). They spent it all on a new truck, roof, updated kitchen and a coal heater. However, they are now back in a small home across the road after a fire destroyed their original one last year. Another fundraiser was set up to cover clearing the debris and delivering, situating and furnishing a new trailer, stating that 100% of the money would directly benefit the family. This divided social media users, with one commenting on YouTube: "All that Go Fund Me money better not even go to any family member! Give it directly to a clean up crew and you purchase a new trailer for them!!!! No money should ever be given to them again."
Edinburgh Live
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
How Inbred family who can only communicate by grunting 'started'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A family known as "America's most inbred family" began with identical twin brothers, whose children went on to produce several generations of descendants who could only communicate through grunts and barks. The Whittaker family resides in the village of Odd, West Virginia, in a small, cluttered home located 75 miles from Charleston. Their story gained widespread attention after filmmaker Mark Laita released a documentary in 2020, exposing their complicated history and struggles with complex needs. The family had previously faced cruel comments and unwelcome visitors, prompting their protective neighbours to guard them with shotguns. They rarely allow outsiders to enter their home or interact with new people, which is why Mark spent over 16 years building a relationship with them after first visiting their mobile home in 2004. READ MORE - Kate Middleton's brilliant response after being mistaken for William's assistant READ MORE -Kate Middleton's 'very strict' rule for her children 'just as important as maths' Mark was initially met with a chaotic scene when he first encountered the family, with several members running, screaming, and barking in his direction. He described the encounter as the "craziest thing" he had ever witnessed, likening it to a scene from the 1972 thriller Deliverance, where a group of friends are stalked and terrorised by locals in the woods. On the Koncrete KLIPS podcast, he described a surreal scene: "We came around to this road, which turns into a country road, which turns into a dirt road, and we come to this trailer and then a little shack on the other side of the road. And there's these people walking around and their eyes are going in different directions and they are barking at us.", reports the Mirror. (Image: Youtube/, Soft White Underbelly) (Image: YouTube/Soft White Undderbelly) (Image: YouTube/Soft White Underbelly) "And then one guy, you would look at him in the eye or say anything and he would just scream and go running away, and his pants would fall around his ankles, and he would go running off and go and kick a garbage can. And this would happen over and over. It was out of control - the craziest thing I have ever seen." Inbreeding within the family began with identical twins Henry and John Whittaker marrying their own children off to each other, producing over a dozen grandchildren. Henry wed Sally and together they had seven kids, including a son named John Emory Whittaker in 1913. His brother John tied the knot with Ada Riggs, who was also his first cousin, and together they had nine children, among them Gracie Irene Whittaker born in 1920. John and Gracie, double first cousins sharing both sets of grandparents, decided to marry in 1935, eventually having 15 children of their own. Many of the offspring suffered from pronounced physical and mental disabilities, believed to be the result of their deeply entwined family tree. The family's eldest, Aileen, left this world in June 1997 following a heart attack and the firstborn son, Emery, passed shortly after birth in 1938 due to pneumonia. Betty, born in 1952, has assumed the role of family matriarch, vowing to remain unmarried so as to care for her 14 siblings, following a promise to her mother. Her commitment is part of the unique dynamic of the Whittaker clan, which includes Ray and Lorene, parents to Timmy, born in 1979, who despite their inability to communicate conventionally – resorting to grunts and barks – have raised a high school graduate. Delving into the family's unique communication, a relative was quoted saying: "They understand what you talking about. If they don't like it, they start yelling - let you know they don't like that idea." The Whittakers are also known for their distinctive tradition of crafting their own concrete headstones; an ode which exempts only their mother, Gracie, who has a professionally made one. Despite their self-sufficiency, sometimes outside help becomes necessary. Mark, a relative, came back on scene in 2022 with a follow-up GoFundMe campaign. The fundraiser racked up $55,000 (£44,000), allowing the family to invest in a new truck, roof, kitchen refit and a coal heater. Yet hardship struck once more when their home was ravaged by flames last year, forcing them to shift back across the street into a modest abode. A fresh fundraising effort was launched aimed at clearing fire debris, transferring, and setting up a new mobile home, along with furnishing it, ensuring all donations will directly aid the Whittaker family. The fundraiser sparked a mixed reaction from YouTube viewers, with one commenter saying: "All that Go Fund Me money better not even go to any family member! Give it directly to a clean up crew and you purchase a new trailer for them! ! ! ! No money should ever be given to them again."
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Squealing inbred family who speak in grunts started with two identical twins
The Whittaker family can be found living in their small West Virginian home in the US. The inbred family struggle to communicate without using body language and barking due to their genetic defects A group of relatives dubbed "America's most inbred family" first started with two identical twins whose children went on to create several generations who would grunt and bark as their only form of communication. The Whittaker family, who live in the village of Odd in West Virginia, can be found huddled in a cramped home 75 miles from Charleston. The family hit headlines after filmmaker Mark Laita released a documentary in 2020, which revealed their troubled background, living with complex needs. The family had previously been subjected to cruel comments and visitors, leading them to be guarded by their protective neighbours with shotguns. They rarely let outsiders in or mix with anyone new, which is why it took Mark over 16 years to build a relationship with them, after first visiting their mobile home in 2004. When Mark first met the family, he was initially greeted with several members running, screaming and barking in his direction. He described the chaotic scene as the "craziest thing" he had ever seen. The photographer compared the moment to the 1972 thriller Deliverance, which is about a group of pals who were hunted and terrorised by locals in the woods. Speaking on the Koncrete KLIPS podcast, he said: "We came around to this road, which turns into a country road, which turns into a dirt road, and we come to this trailer and then a little shack on the other side of the road. And there's these people walking around and their eyes are going in different directions and they are barking at us. "And then one guy, you would look at him in the eye or say anything and he would just scream and go running away, and his pants would fall around his ankles, and he would go running off and go and kick a garbage can. And this would happen over and over. It was out of control - the craziest thing I have ever seen." The inbreeding started with a set of identical twin brothers, Henry and John Whittaker, whose children got married and had over a dozen kids together. Henry and his wife Sally had seven children, including John Emory Whittaker in 1913. While John and his spouse Ada Riggs, who was his own first cousin, had nine kids, including Gracie Irene Whittaker, in 1920. John and Gracie, who were double cousins and shared both sets of grandparents, married in 1935 and went on to have 15 children. Many of their children had a number of severe physical and mental impairments, which are believed to have resulted from inbreeding. Their eldest, Aileen, passed away in June 1997 after suffering from a heart attack, while the oldest boy, Emery, died a month after being born in 1938, after suffering from pneumonia. Betty, who was born in 1952, has taken on the role of the family matriarch and promised her mother she would not marry so she could look after her 14 siblings. Ray and Lorene, who have a son named Timmy, who was born in 1979, are both seemingly unable to speak and can only communicate through grunts and barks. Timmy is the only member of the Whittaker clan who has graduated from high school. Speaking about their communication, a relative said: "They understand what you talking about. If they don't like it, they start yelling — let you know they don't like that idea." The family even craft their own concrete headstones, with only their mum, Gracie, having a professionally made one. However, the family sometimes need outsiders help. Mark returned in 2022 for another follow-up after setting up a GoFundMe page, which raised $55,000 (£44,000), so they could improve their home. They had spent the entire sum on a new truck, roof, kitchen refit and a coal heater. However, the family are back living in a small home across the road after a fire tore through their residence last year. A fundraiser was launched to cover the costs of clearing the debris, transporting and situating a new mobile home, and furnishing it, stating that every penny raised will benefit the family directly. YouTube viewers were left divided by the fundraiser, with one stating: "All that Go Fund Me money better not even go to any family member! Give it directly to a clean up crew and you purchase a new trailer for them!!!! No money should ever be given to them again."
West Australian
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Welcome to Great Southern sign on Muir Highway graffitied with vile anti-LGBTQIA hate message
A shocking piece of anti-LGBTQIA+ graffiti defacing a sign welcoming tourists into the Great Southern has been slammed as 'deeply disappointing' and 'repulsive' by the Albany mayor and Pride representatives. The welcome to the Great Southern sign, located on Muir Highway in the Shire of Plantagenet, was seen to have the words 'Deport Queers' written out in red spray paint on Friday. A crew from Main Roads WA attended to paint over the offensive graffiti later that day. City of Albany mayor Greg Stocks condemned the graffiti, saying the city, as the Great Southern's most populous local government, was proud to be an 'inclusive and welcoming community'. 'We do not condone hateful or discriminatory language in any form, and the graffiti on this sign is deeply disappointing,' he said. 'Albany is home to one of regional Western Australia's largest Pride festivals, and we are committed to celebrating diversity and standing with our LGBTIQA+ community. 'We are committed to ensuring this region is a place where everyone can live and belong without fear of discrimination.' Albany Pride spokesperson Tiger Bird labelled the message as 'awful' but also 'naive'. 'Obviously this sentiment is malicious and really repulsive but also just ridiculous and stupid,' they said. 'It just shows there's not a lot of intellect behind that sort of ideology because where are you going to deport them to? 'I don't think the person knows how deportation works or what it means.' The spokesperson said they were grateful that Mr Stocks 'succinctly' and 'forthrightly' condemned the message, noting it did not give the town a good reputation for incoming tourists. 'If (tourists) are coming down that highway cause they've been on the West Coast or from Adelaide what are they going to think?' they said. 'They're just going to say bloody hell, it's the town from (the film) Deliverance — it's just not doing anyone any favours. 'You don't want to see swastikas or swearing as you're driving, and no one should want that for our town either, even if you might agree with the sentiment.' The Shire of Plantagenet declined to comment.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's latest tariff onslaught threatens to hit Britain where it hurts
Hollywood actor Jon Voight is most familiar as the star of gruesome horror flick Deliverance, the villain in Mission: Impossible, and as Angelina Jolie's father. But the veteran star's new role threatens to have a much greater global impact than any of his turns on the silver screen. That's because in an unlikely twist, the actor has been asked by the US president to work out how to save Hollywood's ailing film industry – and in doing so appears to have moved the White House on to a new front in its trade war against services imports which threatens to imperil Britain. Services exports, which include films, are far more important for Britain's economy than the sale of tangible, manufactured products – which Trump has already targeted with his 'liberation day' tariffs. The UK sent £59.3bn of tangible goods such as cars, medicines and aircraft across the Atlantic last year. But that was dwarfed by the £137bn of services sold into America, led by business services such as consultancy, as well as finance, pensions, insurance, telecoms and travel. 'Just the notion of tariffs being extended to services has the potential to cause more economic damage simply through the uncertainty it generates,' said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global. The UK's services prowess may become a lightning rod for Trump's ongoing campaign against trade imbalances. While imports and exports of goods between Britain and the US are relatively balanced, the situation is very different for services. British sales to the US exceed trade in the other direction by a margin of £75.8bn – a gap which risks incurring Trump's wrath if he starts to view the one-sided balance of trade as a problem. Any threat to those sales would be extremely serious, especially for Britain's financial services and legal profession which helps drive the economy. Miles Celic, chief executive of industry group TheCityUK, said: 'The relationship between the UK and the US in financial services and investment is the closest of its kind anywhere in the world – we are each other's largest investors. 'British firms have huge footprints in the US in financial services ... American financial services and professional services firms are a huge engine of growth for financial services here in the UK. 'The nature of trade in services is that tariffs are less of an issue. It is not completely irrelevant, because tariffs have an impact on clients for financial services firms. 'But the concern for financial and other forms of services is always around regulatory barriers – the role of regulation in the movement of people and capital, and minimising friction between each others' markets.' Traditionally, tariffs have only been charged on goods: they need to be brought into a country via a port of entry, which makes them easy places for the authorities to police movements and levy taxes. But services are rather more complicated. In the case of a film – or a wider range of other services like an architect's blueprints, an insurance contract or a workplace training session – the transfer across borders can happen via an upload to a website or an attachment to an email, or even a phone conversation. None of those 'imports' into the US are easily observable by the taxman. Ingo Borchert, professor of economics at the University of Sussex Business School and deputy director of the UK Trade Policy Observatory, says taxing a cross-border digital transfer would pose challenges. 'It is pretty hard to see how that would even be feasible – we don't get to observe this,' he says. 'A services transaction is, for tax purposes, a business transaction, and is subject to VAT. So it is perhaps not inconceivable to imagine that the US might require its companies to reveal whether purchases have been made from abroad or not.' When it comes to a cinema, a film made abroad could incur a surcharge. But the source of a product made with input from around the world is not always obvious. 'To what extent that entails incentives for truthful reporting, obviously I would not know,' says Borchert. 'But that is the only way to do it – you do not see the service travelling across the border.' Alternatively, visas could be made more expensive for business travellers visiting the US to work, for example, as a consultant for an American business. It would be possible to impose stricter conditions on foreign businesses setting up operations in the US – though that would not match Trump's goal to drag more businesses and jobs into America. Yet the Trump administration is far from the first to consider limits on services trade. Foreign companies face a host of difficulties operating in countries including China, for instance, while the EU has powers to retaliate with its own restrictions on services. Allie Renison, from SEC Newgate, explains that any US tariffs or limits on services trade could lead to a new tit-for-tat escalation. 'The EU has its Anti-Coercion Instrument, the nuclear option for extending retaliatory measures to services. So far the EU has held off doing that, but I think if the US really went ahead with this, the EU would probably be minded to drop that into retaliation,' she says. That could cover anything from cutting American businesses out of public sector contracts, to restricting licences to operate in the EU or the mutual recognition of qualifications which allows Americans to work in regulated industries on the Continent, to taxing royalty payments earned by US intellectual property in Europe. As things stand, services exports are already in trouble anyway. New export orders fell last month more steeply than at any point since 2021, according to S&P Global's PMI survey of services businesses. While that partly reflects a slump in demand as the trade war slows the global economy, it also includes services which are embedded in goods – the insurance and trade finance which is bought as products are shipped, or the servicing contracts which go alongside the sales of jet engines. 'A lot of services are closely correlated with goods production and exports – logistics, packaging. Those will struggle. But there is a broader downturn in global business and consumer confidence, so companies are pulling back on investment and expansion plans,' says Williamson at S&P. Every building project cancelled means less work for consultants, architects and accountants, he says, while putting other plans on hold means less need for finance, even without direct tariffs on services trade. But the threat alone has echoes of an old fashioned Hollywood disaster movie. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
