Latest news with #LoveHurts'
The Independent
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
For Valentine's Day, you can name a cockroach, rat or feral cat after your ex
Forget chocolates and roses, this Valentine's Day some are seeking catharsis – by naming cockroaches, rats, and even feral cats after their exes. Animal shelters and zoos worldwide are capitalising on the sentiment with fundraising campaigns offering darkly humorous revenge. From naming a hissing cockroach after a former flame before it becomes another animal's dinner, to christening a soon-to-be-neutered feral cat, the options are as varied as the reasons for heartbreak. The Minnesota Zoo's 'name a bug' campaign, targeting both friends and foes, has attracted international attention – but for Teri Scott of Poulsbo, Washington, the idea of naming a notoriously resilient cockroach after her ex-husband felt a little too close to home. 'I couldn't bring myself to name a bug that's so hard to get rid of after my former husband,' she explained, fearing it might be a bad omen. Instead, Ms Scott found the perfect outlet for her post-breakup feelings through the 'Love Hurts' fundraiser at the Bird Treatment and Learning Center in Anchorage, Alaska. For a US$100 (£80) donation, she named a frozen rat after her ex, which will now be served to one of the centre's resident raptors. Ms Scott said she considered the donation a gift to herself on her first anniversary as a single woman. 'You never enter a relationship thinking it's going to end, but when it does it's just hurtful,' she said. 'I just thought, I need to do something a little bit special for myself.' She laughed out loud when she saw the "Love Hurts" posting. 'It just seemed like a beautiful way to give back,' she said. 'We do this in good fun,' said Laura Atwood, the centre's executive director. The money raised helps the facility pay salaries and care for birds – the nonprofit rehabilitated 580 of them in 2024. Just over $18,000 had been raised by the time the campaign closed Wednesday. So many rats – more than 130 – were purchased for the campaign, the centre ran out of supplies until another batch of frozen rodents arrived. ' People are sometimes hurt by a relationship, and this just gives them a little cathartic way to maybe work something out,' Ms Atwood said, adding that they don't publicise last names. The videos of raptors like Ghost, a snowy owl that swallows the rat whole, or a peregrine falcon named Breland, which keeps one talon on the rodent and pecks away at it until it's gone, will be emailed to donors. There's also a cheaper option: People can pay $10 to name a mealworm after their ex before it's fed to a crow or a magpie, and a video will be posted on social media. The Memphis Zoo in Tennessee gives you two options — one for your lover and the other for a nemesis, each for $10, in its ' Dating or Dumping' campaign. If you're happily coupled, you can get a digital card and a family-friendly video of a red panda eating a grape to share. But for those harbouring a grudge, along with your card, you'll get a video of an elephant pooping signed with the words 'Scent with Love.' After Valentine's Day, the zoo will post a recap video showing the names of people memorialised in a video and will list the names that popped up the most for both daters and those earning a stinky shout-out. 'This is the most incredible thing,' said Caleigh Johnson, who is campaigning for her ex-boyfriend to be at the top of the smelly list by encouraging her friends to give to the fundraiser. 'I'm hoping that a few people will come through.' Johnson doesn't talk to her ex anymore; instead, the video will be a treat for her friends to laugh at as they celebrate 'Galentine's Day'.
Boston Globe
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Why people are naming bugs, rats and cats after their exes this Valentine's Day
Teri Scott of Poulsbo, Washington, said she was bombarded on social media with the anti-love campaigns, including naming a hissing cockroach after an ex. Get Love Letters: The Newsletter A weekly dispatch with all the best relationship content and commentary – plus exclusive content for fans of Love Letters, Dinner With Cupid, weddings, therapy talk, and more. Enter Email Sign Up She said she couldn't bring herself to name a bug that's so hard to get rid of after her former husband, fearing that it could be an omen she'd never shake him despite the court costs she paid. Advertisement Then she ran across a promotion for the 'Love Hurts' fundraiser at the Bird Treatment and Learning Center in Anchorage, Alaska. She ponied up $100 to name a frozen dead rat after her ex, and it will now be fed to a resident raptor at the facility. Scott, who is celebrating her first anniversary as a newly single woman, views the donation as a gift to herself. 'You never enter a relationship thinking it's going to end, but when it does it's just hurtful,' she said. 'I just thought, I need to do something a little bit special for myself.' She laughed out loud when she saw the 'Love Hurts' posting. 'It just seemed like a beautiful way to give back,' she said. 'We do this in good fun,' said Laura Atwood, the center's executive director. The money raised helps the facility pay salaries and care for birds — the nonprofit rehabilitated 580 of them last year. Just over $18,000 had been raised by the time the campaign closed Wednesday. So many rats — more than 130 — were purchased for the campaign, the center ran out of supplies until another batch of frozen rodents arrived Wednesday, Advertisement 'People are sometimes hurt by a relationship, and this just gives them a little cathartic way to maybe work something out,' Atwood said, adding that they don't publicize last names. The videos of raptors like Ghost, a snowy owl that swallows the rat whole, or a There's also a cheaper option: People can pay $10 to name a mealworm after their ex before it's fed to a crow or a magpie, and a video will be posted on social media. The Memphis Zoo in Tennessee gives you two options — one for your lover and the other for a nemesis, each for $10, in its 'Dating or Dumping' campaign. If you're happily coupled, you can get a digital card and a family-friendly video of a red panda eating a grape to share. But for those harboring a grudge, along with your card, you'll get a video of an elephant pooping signed with the words 'Scent with Love.' After Valentine's Day, the zoo will post a recap video showing the names of people memorialized in a video and will list the names that popped up the most for both daters and those earning a stinky shout-out. 'This is the most incredible thing,' said Caleigh Johnson, who is campaigning for her ex-boyfriend to be at the top of the smelly list by encouraging her friends to give to the fundraiser. 'I'm hoping that a few people will come through.' Advertisement Johnson doesn't talk to her ex anymore; instead, the video will be a treat for her friends to laugh at as they celebrate " Galentine's Day. "
Boston Globe
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Why people are naming bugs, rats, and cats after their exes this Valentine's Day
Teri Scott of Poulsbo, Washington, said she was bombarded on social media with the anti-love campaigns, including naming a hissing cockroach after an ex. Get Love Letters: The Newsletter A weekly dispatch with all the best relationship content and commentary – plus exclusive content for fans of Love Letters, Dinner With Cupid, weddings, therapy talk, and more. Enter Email Sign Up She said she couldn't bring herself to name a bug that's so hard to get rid of after her former husband, fearing that it could be an omen she'd never shake him despite the court costs she paid. Advertisement Then she ran across a promotion for the 'Love Hurts' fundraiser at the Bird Treatment and Learning Center in Anchorage, Alaska. She ponied up $100 to name a frozen dead rat after her ex, and it will now be fed to a resident raptor at the facility. Scott, who is celebrating her first anniversary as a newly single woman, views the donation as a gift to herself. 'You never enter a relationship thinking it's going to end, but when it does it's just hurtful,' she said. 'I just thought, I need to do something a little bit special for myself.' She laughed out loud when she saw the 'Love Hurts' posting. 'It just seemed like a beautiful way to give back,' she said. 'We do this in good fun,' said Laura Atwood, the center's executive director. The money raised helps the facility pay salaries and care for birds — the nonprofit rehabilitated 580 of them last year. Just over $18,000 had been raised by the time the campaign closed Wednesday. So many rats — more than 130 — were purchased for the campaign, the center ran out of supplies until another batch of frozen rodents arrived Wednesday, Advertisement 'People are sometimes hurt by a relationship, and this just gives them a little cathartic way to maybe work something out,' Atwood said, adding that they don't publicize last names. The videos of raptors like Ghost, a snowy owl that swallows the rat whole, or a peregrine falcon named Breland, which keeps one talon on the rodent and pecks away at it until it's gone, will be emailed to donors. There's also a cheaper option: People can pay $10 to name a mealworm after their ex before it's fed to a crow or a magpie, and a video will be posted on social media. The Memphis Zoo in Tennessee gives you two options — one for your lover and the other for a nemesis, each for $10, in its 'Dating or Dumping' campaign. If you're happily coupled, you can get a digital card and a family-friendly video of a red panda eating a grape to share. But for those harboring a grudge, along with your card, you'll get a video of an elephant pooping signed with the words 'Scent with Love.' After Valentine's Day, the zoo will post a recap video showing the names of people memorialized in a video and will list the names that popped up the most for both daters and those earning a stinky shout-out. 'This is the most incredible thing,' said Caleigh Johnson, who is campaigning for her ex-boyfriend to be at the top of the smelly list by encouraging her friends to give to the fundraiser. 'I'm hoping that a few people will come through.' Advertisement Johnson doesn't talk to her ex anymore; instead, the video will be a treat for her friends to laugh at as they celebrate " Galentine's Day. "
Associated Press
13-02-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Why people are naming bugs, rats and cats after their exes this Valentine's Day
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Feel like dissing instead of kissing your former lover this Valentine's Day? Think your ex is more like a rat than a prince? Do you believe your former paramour should never procreate? Animal shelters and zoos around the country are encouraging little cathartic avenues for revenge this holiday — and raising money for a cause — with a slew of darkly funny fundraisers for those whose Cupid's arrow missed the mark. Options include naming a feral cat after your old flame before it's neutered — or giving rodents or cockroaches your love bug's name before feeding them to bigger animals. The Minnesota Zoo's campaign to name a bug after either a friend or a foe has attracted donors from across the world. Teri Scott of Poulsbo, Washington, said she was bombarded on social media with the anti-love campaigns, including naming a hissing cockroach after an ex. She said she couldn't bring herself to name a bug that's so hard to get rid of after her former husband, fearing that it could be an omen she'd never shake him despite the court costs she paid. Then she ran across a promotion for the 'Love Hurts' fundraiser at the Bird Treatment and Learning Center in Anchorage, Alaska. She ponied up $100 to name a frozen dead rat after her ex, and it will now be fed to a resident raptor at the facility. Scott, who is celebrating her first anniversary as a newly single woman, views the donation as a gift to herself. 'You never enter a relationship thinking it's going to end, but when it does it's just hurtful,' she said. 'I just thought, I need to do something a little bit special for myself.' She laughed out loud when she saw the 'Love Hurts' posting. 'It just seemed like a beautiful way to give back,' she said. 'We do this in good fun,' said Laura Atwood, the center's executive director. The money raised helps the facility pay salaries and care for birds — the nonprofit rehabilitated 580 of them last year. Just over $18,000 had been raised by the time the campaign closed Wednesday. So many rats — more than 130 — were purchased for the campaign, the center ran out of supplies until another batch of frozen rodents arrived Wednesday, 'People are sometimes hurt by a relationship, and this just gives them a little cathartic way to maybe work something out,' Atwood said, adding that they don't publicize last names. The videos of raptors like Ghost, a snowy owl that swallows the rat whole, or a peregrine falcon named Breland, which keeps one talon on the rodent and pecks away at it until it's gone, will be emailed to donors. There's also a cheaper option: People can pay $10 to name a mealworm after their ex before it's fed to a crow or a magpie, and a video will be posted on social media. The Memphis Zoo in Tennessee gives you two options — one for your lover and the other for a nemesis, each for $10, in its 'Dating or Dumping' campaign. If you're happily coupled, you can get a digital card and a family-friendly video of a red panda eating a grape to share. But for those harboring a grudge, along with your card, you'll get a video of an elephant pooping signed with the words 'Scent with Love.' After Valentine's Day, the zoo will post a recap video showing the names of people memorialized in a video and will list the names that popped up the most for both daters and those earning a stinky shout-out. 'This is the most incredible thing,' said Caleigh Johnson, who is campaigning for her ex-boyfriend to be at the top of the smelly list by encouraging her friends to give to the fundraiser. 'I'm hoping that a few people will come through.' Johnson doesn't talk to her ex anymore; instead, the video will be a treat for her friends to laugh at as they celebrate ' Galentine's Day. '
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A Sad Box Office? Sure, but It's 50 Percent Ahead of Super Bowl Weekend Last Year
If it makes anyone feel better, the $55 million total box office was the best for any Super Bowl weekend since 2020. It also continues year to date improvement, besting 2024 by close to 50 percent. 'Dog Man' (Universal) repeated as #1 with $13.7 million but unexpectedly dropped 62 percent in its second weekend after a surprisingly strong opening. 'Heart Eyes' (Sony) and 'Love Hurts' (Universal), two new wide releases, combined managed $15 million. More from IndieWire Demi Moore Recalls Studio Executive Who Questioned Why There Was 'No Love Scene' in 'A Few Good Men' 'Thunderbolts' Trailer: Sebastian Stan and Florence Pugh Lead a Band of Marvel Misfits The DreamWorks animated film opened about the same as 'The Wild Robot,' with a similar A Cinemascore. It was unlikely that 'Dog Man' would reach the $144 million 'The Wild Robot' attained, but based on precedent (similar films usually triple their openings), it seemed like it could become a $100 million grosser. With its steep drop, $85 million feels more likely. The year has seen nine non-franchise studio wide releases to date, most mid-sized or lower budgets, but only 'Dog Man' and 'One of Them Days' (Sony) looks to pass $50 million in U.S./Canada gross. The rest likely end up at $25 million or lower. With international grosses and non-theatrical play, some may break even. But results needed to be better to improve current box office and encourage more non-franchise production. The hope for both 'Heart Eyes' (Sony) and 'Love Hurts' (Universal) was original ideas that inventively mix genres could click. As Super Bowl counterprogramming, they might benefit from the upcoming Valentine's Day and the Presidents Day four-day weekend. However, with $8.5 million and $5.8 million respectively, and 'Captain America: Brave New World' (Disney) along with 'Paddington in Peru' (Sony) to come next weekend, neither looks likely to thrive. That's a real disappointment. Both films were risks for their studios. 'Heart Eyes' (produced by Spyglass, acquired by Sony) is a hybrid rom-com/slasher movie with positive reviews. 'Love Hurts' stars two recent supporting-actor Oscar winners with Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose. It's an action comedy that attempted to capture the feel of 'Knives Out,' but received horrendous reviews. 'Becoming Led Zeppelin' (Sony Pictures Classics) in only 369 theaters for $2.7 million, was good enough for seventh place. Among holdovers, only the long-running #4 'Mufasa: The Lion King' (Disney) dropped less than 40 percent. The second weekend of 'Companion' (Warner Bros. Discovery) fell 68 percent. Four of the top 10 are animated films and not an Oscar nominee is among them. Searchlight's 'A Complete Unknown' is best at #11 with $1.2 million. 'Parthenope' (A24) from Paolo Sorrentino ('A Great Beauty') saw a weak debut with $32,000 in four New York/Los Angeles theaters. The expanding 'I'm Still Here' (Sony Pictures Classics) is doing much better, with over $1 million in 704 theaters and $2.3 million total so far. This may be the biggest box-office winner of the awards season; it could easily have been a sub-$1 million grosser despite its excellent reviews. The self-distributed 'No Other Land' expanded in week two to 22 theaters with a decent $96,000. Norwegian Cannes Camera D'Or winner 'Armand' (IFC) grossed $23,000, opening in two theaters. A reissue of Jean-Luc Godard's 'A Woman Is a Woman' did a decent $11,000 in one New York location. 1. Dog Man (Universal) Week 2; Last weekend #1 $13,700,000 (-62%) in 3,887 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $3,525; Cumulative: $54,102,000 2. Heart Eyes (Sony) NEW – Cinemascore: B-; Metacritic: 62; Est. budget: $18 million $8,500,000 in 3,102 theaters; PTA: $2,740; Cumulative: $8,500,000 3. Love Hurts (Univeral) NEW – Cinemascore: C+; Metacritic: 35; Est. budget: $18 million $6,875,000 in 3,055 theaters; PTA: $1,899; Cumulative: $6,875,000 4. Mufasa: The Lion King (Disney) Week 8; Last weekend #3 $3,924,000 (-38%) in 2,945 (-235) theaters; PTA: $1,322; Cumulative: $235,206,000 5. Companion (WB) Week 2; Last weekend #2 $3,020,000 (-68%) in 3,285 (no change) theaters; PTA: $919; Cumulative: $15,487,000 6. One of Them Days (Sony) Week 4; Last weekend #4 $3,000,000 (-49%) in 2,051 (-255) theaters; PTA: $1,462; Cumulative: $39,372,000 7. Becoming Led Zeppelin (Sony Pictures Classics) NEW – Metacritic: 66 $2,627,000 in 369 theaters; PTA: $7,119; Cumulative: $2,627,000 8. Flight Risk (Lionsgate) Week 3; Last weekend #5 $2,600,000 (-52%) in 2,740 (-421) theaters; PTA: $949; Cumulative: $25,199,000 9. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Paramount) Week 8; Last weekend #6; also on PVOD $1,750,000 (-46%) in 2,061 (-604) theaters; PTA: $849; Cumulative: $233,094,000 10. Moana 2 (Disney) Week 11; Last weekend #7; also on PVOD $1,544,000 (-46%) in 1,785 (-415) theaters; PTA: $865; Cumulative: $456,118,000 Films (limited, expansions of limited) are listed by week in release, starting with those opened this week; after the first three weeks, only films with grosses over $5,000 are listed. Metacritic scores and initial film festivals recorded when available. After week two, per theater averages only listed for expanding films with under 100 theaters. OPENING (platform) Parthenope (A24) NEW – Metacritic: 54; Festivals include: Cannes 2024 $31,906 in 4 theaters; PTA: $7,977 Armand (IFC) NEW – Metacritic: 64; Festivals include: Cannes 2024 $23,000 in 2 theaters; PTA: $11,500 A Woman is a Woman (Rialto) REISSUE $11,000 in 1 theater; PTA: $11,000 OPENING (wide) Parasite (Neon) REISSUE $326,000 in 279 theaters; PTA: $1,689 HOLDOVERS No Other Land (no distributor) Week 2 $96,150 in 22 (+21) theaters; PTA: $4,370; Cumulative: $144,613 Presence (Neon) Week 3 $305,000 in 586 (-1,153) theaters; Cumulative: $6,662,000 I'm Still Here (Sony Pictures Classics) Week 4 $1,061,000 at 704 (+611) theaters; Cumulative: $2,316,000 The Last Showgirl (Roadside Attractions) Week 5 142 $75,590 in 83 (-59) theaters; Cumulative: $4,603,000 A Complete Unknown (Searchlight) Week 7 $1,241,000 in 1,305 (-210) theaters; Cumulative: $69,017,000 Nosferatu (Focus) Week 7; also on PVOD $300,000 in 467 (-516) theaters; Cumulative: $95,385,000 Babygirl (A24) Week 7; also on PVOD $122,595 in 152 (-156) theaters; Cumulative: $27,968,000 The Brutalist (A24) Week 8 $914,388 in 1,115 (-497) theaters; Cumulative: $13,727,000 The Room Next Door (Sony Pictures Classics) Week 8 $33,588 in 52 (-42) theaters; Cumulative: $2,321,000 September 5 (Paramount) Week 8; also on PVOD $118,000 in 202 (-196) theaters; Cumulative: $2,642,000 The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Neon) Week 10 $31,500 in 87 (-163) theaters; Cumulative: $747,807 Flow (Janus/Sideshow) Week 11; also on VOD $96,000 in 161 (no change) theaters; Cumulative: $4,068,000 A Real Pain (Searchlight) Week 15; also on VOD $21,000 in 35 (-145) theaters; Cumulative: $8,336,000 Conclave (Focus) Week 16; also on VOD and streaming $35,000 in 234 (-13) theaters; Cumulative: $32,099,000 Anora (Neon) Week 17; also on VOD $53,700 in 229 (-18) theaters; Cumulative: $15,308,000 Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
