Latest news with #TayeDiggs
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Taye Diggs Is Helping His Son See That 'Everyone's Journey Is Different' in Mental Health
Taye Diggs is on a mission: to break the stigmas surrounding schizophrenia, for both his generation and the next. For the actor, it's a cause with personal meaning. Diggs' younger sister, Christian, was diagnosed with schizophrenia in her late 20s, and today, the siblings work with Bristol Myers Squibb on the 'Live Your PosSCZible' campaign to not only raise awareness about schizophrenia but also help create possibilities for those living with it. More from SheKnows Exclusive: Leah Van Dale on Why 'Nobody Talks About' This Part of Being a Mom to a Baby & Stepmom to Teens The pair co-hosted an LA talent event featuring the schizophrenia community, and Diggs says to SheKnows that he's excited for people to see how 'well-rounded, artistic, and multi-layered folks are who are diagnosed with schizophrenia.' Per NIMH, schizophrenia is a serious mental condition that affects 2.4 million adults in the US alone. It can come with hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking that could heavily affect daily functioning. It can be impairing, but it doesn't have to define you — and that's what this sibling duo wants to remind everyone. 'It was a wonderful example of just how these folks are not letting the diagnosis define them. I saw these people on stage, and they were brilliant artists as opposed to people struggling and dealing with schizophrenia. I saw that side of them, that facet, and it was really eye-opening,' Diggs says. 'I'm grateful. I'm continuing to learn and my eyes continue to be open wider and wider as far as what life with these differences has in store.' Is it any surprise to fans that during his chat with SheKnows, he answered each question so thoughtfully, pondering every word he uttered to make sure people truly felt what he was saying. Whether it was talking about what he learned through his sister's experiences, his own journey with mental health, or even talking about the lessons he's teaching his teen son, Diggs spoke about everything with such care. His words are a reminder that we all need to be gentle with people, including ourselves. Diggs spoke with SheKnows about mental health, parenting his biracial son, and what he wants people to know about the schizophrenia community. When asked what he wished people knew more about the schizophrenia community, Diggs responds that he wants people to know 'that there is a community.' He says, 'Because I know when my sister was diagnosed, both my sister and I found ourselves feeling alone. It's very easy to fall back and kind of go inwards as opposed to being made aware that there are others out there who have similar struggles. I can see my sister just kind of relaxing, realizing, and being reminded that there are others out there who have similar situations. That's something that really counts.' As you can imagine, Diggs and his sister also experienced the racial disparity in the schizophrenia community, and the mental health community at large. Per RTOR, Black American adults are 20 percent more likely to experience serious mental health problems, and more than 80 percent of Black Americans are very concerned about the stigma, discouraging them from seeking treatment. When it comes to breaking the stigmas, Diggs' advice is simple: 'Just do the research!' He says, 'For me, it was just being exposed, having the courage to ignore my initial thoughts of pulling away.' But he also wants people to know that it isn't easy. But luckily, 'it takes work, and it's another thing that people need to realize,' he says. 'It's not gonna be easy. I think that's part of life and I feel proud of my sister and myself because my whole family knows that we're in it… No matter how we or other people may think it should end, we're in there [and] that's what feels really good.' Diggs himself has tough days when it comes to maintaining his mental health. 'That's an ongoing experience as well because a lot of times, I will convince myself that I am okay but then my body will just shut down. So it's something that I'm still kind of learning. Meditating helps, breathing helps. Creating boundaries and setting yourself up to succeed, whatever that is. It's kind of forcing yourself to check in, but then also being patient with yourself.' While he's teaching himself better practices every day, he's doing the same with his teen son, Walker Nathaniel, whom Diggs shares with ex Idina Menzel. Being a teen in 2025 isn't easy, but Diggs is helping his son along the way, including explaining schizophrenia and other mental health conditions. 'I'm here, just exposing him,' he says. 'I tell him what's going on and how it goes down, how everything goes down, what my sister is feeling, and how she felt. Just giving him the blow-by-blow as I experience it, just so I can dispel any images that he may have seen on television or whatnot. And also making sure that he knows that everybody's situation is different. I think it can be easy to be exposed to one kind of specific idea and then think that everything else following that is the same, and that's not the case.' The Private Practice alum added, 'He's a teen, so I can only I can only say so much to him before I get my cool card revoked. Just letting him know that everybody's different and to not make assumptions, just listen to people, and try to be as supportive as possible before passing judgment.' Along with helping him navigate mental health, Diggs is also working hard to make sure Walker feels seen, protected, and empowered. Diggs reflected that with most things in parenting, it's 'an everyday experience.' 'This is one thing that I'm sure about: the moment I think I have it figured out, I know I don't. So I do my best to kind of be in the moment and trust my experiences. I just gotta live with what happens afterwards where we're all doing the best we can. The way I was raised and the situation and the issues that that I had to deal with are completely different for him,' he explains. 'He's biracial. So already, he's coming into the game with different kind of different rules. But he's also a different person than I am, he's built differently.' What does he mean by differently? Well, Digg explains, 'He's far more confident. I went through a nerdy awkward stage, and he's just mister cool dude. I'm dealing with him as he did and doing the best to kind of long listen as opposed to teach and listen. But if there are moments when I can kind of use my experiences to help, I try and I think most importantly, it's just the support, love, and attention.' To fellow parents of teens, Diggs recommends being 'patient with themselves and to be patient with your kid.' Say it louder for the people in the back! When it comes down to it, kids need love, support, attention, and, as Diggs says, both parents and teens need another attribute for a happy home. He says to fellow parents of teens that they need to be 'patient with themselves and to be patient with your kid.' 'There are times when you try to be in the moment and every situation is different, but make sure that the child knows you're there… There are certain times when teens need to be kind of coaxed and then other times when you say, 'Okay. When you wanna say something, I'm here,'' he says. 'I think it's important that they know that you're there to support them, no matter what.' 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Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Surprising restaurant chain claims the title as America's margarita king
Chili's holds the title of America's margarita king after pulling off ' the best comeback of all time.' Margaritas are the top-selling cocktail in the US, and Chili's sells more than any other restaurant brand nationwide. Last year alone, it sold more than 25 million margaritas. Chief marketing officer (CMO) George Felix revealed its iconic margaritas are an important part of the restaurant chain while speaking with Marketing Dive. The beverages also inspired Chili's to walk on the creative side and create a rom-com short film with Lifetime titled 'I'll Be Home for National Margarita Day.' The movie, starring Taye Diggs and Maria Menounos, premiered less than a week before National Margarita Day in February. Chili's also celebrated its fan-favorite Presidente Margarita by releasing a music video as part of its 'Ride the Dente' campaign with Spire Motorsports. The chain is a frequent Talladega Superspeedway sponsor, and it brought a margarita shaker-shaped mechanical bull to a NASCAR event last month. 'It's fun to see the NASCAR audience really get to experience the true meaning of Ride the 'Dente,' Felix said. 'We think that reaching the NASCAR audience with the country music approach seemed like a great fit.' The CMO hinted the brand is currently thinking of ideas for next year's National Margarita Day, and hopes the Lifetime partnership 'spurs more celebrations of a really important holiday.' Until then, Chili's is busy advertising its Radical 'Rita, a limited-time beverage, and May's margarita of the month. The brand recruited 90s icon Tiffani Thiessen to help promote the newest margarita, available for $6 at participating locations until Saturday. Thiessen rose to fame for her role as Kelly Kapowski on Saved by the Bell. 'Everyone knows me from my days on America's favorite '90s sitcom, but what they might not know is that I also love a great margarita — and some of my favorite early memories with my husband were made at Chili's,' she said. 'Chili's really knows how to tap into the spirit of such an iconic decade — one I'm especially fond of — with their Radical 'Rita.' Chili's named its new Radical 'Rita this month's margarita of the month. The drink will be available for $6 until May 31 With May wrapping up, Chili's is expected to name its newest margarita of the month shortly. Chili's margarita boom comes after its stunning earnings hike. The restaurant chain has seen a surge in customers since last year and not followed in the footsteps of competition that's filed for bankruptcy. Chili's is also one of many companies that offer music and free Wi-Fi in restaurants, two things experts claim are fueling the chain's comeback. Its competitors have not been so lucky. Applebee's shuttered nearly 100 locations between 2023 and 2024, with 35 being closed last year. TGI Fridays has been getting slaughtered financially and now has less than 100 US restaurants after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November. These restaurants, along with recent filers Hooters and On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, are known for offering fan-favorite drink deals year-round similar to Chili's.
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Sarah Jessica Parker, Taye Diggs warn against threats to free speech, libraries
Sarah Jessica Parker, Taye Diggs warn against threats to free speech, libraries NEW YORK – The book world's most creative minds gathered under a giant whale. It sounds like the start of a joke, but the evening's tone was anything but. At a PEN America's star-studded literary gala, hosted by comedian Amber Ruffin in the Natural History Museum's ocean room, the evening's unofficial theme was freedom of expression, or rather, the threatened state of it. The night's biggest speeches came from actors Sarah Jessica Parker and Taye Diggs, Wesleyan University President Michael S. Roth, author Jodi Picoult and PEN America President and author Jennifer Finney Boylan. All spoke about the Trump administration's recent actions targeting free speech, diversity, equity and inclusion and public libraries. 'As writers, we also know that the most important part of our work is not the first draft, but the revisions. So I can tell you plainly, Donald Trump will not be the author of the final draft of this country,' Boylan said. Sarah Jessica Parker 'enraged' about threat to public libraries Parker was honored with a PEN/Audible Literary Service Honoree for her work as a lifelong reader, stewardess of literature and now publisher with her SJP imprint. She's also an executive producer of the 2025 documentary 'The Librarians,' which follows librarians across the country fighting back against targeted efforts to ban and challenge library books. In her acceptance speech, Parker said she was 'enraged' at rising book bans but 'incredibly moved by the librarians and advocates pushing back, like the freedom fighters who are standing up to the right to read, often at great personal risk." She continued, 'To censor books is to limit imagination, curiosity, connection, empathy and inspiration. Libraries aren't just buildings with shelves, they are a beacon. They are warm in the winter and cool in summer, and they are sanctuaries of possibility. They are the heartbeat of a neighborhood.' Jodi Picoult, Taye Diggs speak about their banned books Broadway and film actor Diggs, in introducing honoree and Macmillan CEO Jon Yaged, talked about his own experience with censorship as a children's book author. Diggs is the author of five picture books, including 'Chocolate Me!', 'Mixed Me!' and 'Why? A Conversation about Race,' which focus on 'being proud of your identity, what it means to be a true friend and having empathy for others," he said. 'Not too controversial right? Unfortunately, that's not the case. Several of my books have been banned or challenged in districts around the country for the crime of being too multicultural,' Diggs said. Picoult, the evening's gala cochair, is the author of dozens of bestselling novels, including 'Nineteen Minutes.' The novel follows the aftermath of a school shooting and currently stands as the most frequently banned book in the country, according to PEN America's 2023-2024 report. 'Margaret Atwood notwithstanding, I don't think many writers could dream up an America as dystopian and dysfunctional as it is right now,' Picoult said. 'I also know that many of us in this room who are authors, stand at a crossroads, where we understand that in a climate such as this, it is the artists who will lead the opposition, powerful stories and films and plays and translations that will spark readers to resist authoritarianism and to prevent history from repeating itself. We need our publishers and our booksellers to stand with us, and most of all, we need an organization like PEN to unify and protect us on the front lines of this ideological battle.' Picoult praised the nonprofit organization for standing behind marginalized authors. PEN America has a history of legal action against attempted censorship, including a 2018 case against Trump to prevent censorship of the press and the more recent federal lawsuit challenging book restrictions and removals in Florida. More recently, PEN America compiled a list of more than 350 words that have been limited or removed from government websites and documents, including 'abortion,' 'women,' 'disability,' 'climate' and 'race.' PEN also honored imprisoned poet Galal El-Behairy with the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write award. The Egyptian poet and activist was detained in 2018 on charges of terrorism, 'spreading false news' and 'insulting the Egyptian army' with his song 'Balaha' and poetry book 'The Finest Women on Earth.' 'In a time when many progressive organizations are buckling under the bullying of administration that uses threats and funding cuts to ensure obedience, PEN has done the opposite,' Picoult said. 'It's gotten louder, stronger, fiercer.' New books to read this summer: Most anticipated releases for 2025's hottest months Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
It's National Margarita Day! See where you can get a deal on drinks in Texas
National Margarita Day lands on a Saturday this year for those who want to sip their favorite signature tequila-based cocktail. Chili's and Lifetime have even collaborated on a short film starring Taye Diggs and Maria Menounos called "I'll Be Home for National Margarita Day," which gives the make-believe holiday treatment on par with Christmas. "They really brought the spirit of the holiday – a celebration spent with your favorite margarita and favorite people – to life," Diggs said in a press release. You can watch the 15-minute short on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET or stream it on in the Lifetime app, YouTube and other social platforms for a limited time. Chili's is also selling Margarita Merch seen in the Lifetime television event on its website. Want to know where in Texas you can get your sip on a refreshing margarita? Here is what you need to know. The restaurant chain has several specials for National Margarita Day, celebrated every year on Feb. 22, including $5 Tequila Trifecta Margaritas, made with el Jimador Silver Tequila, 1800 Reposado, and Jose Cuervo Gold. Also on the menu is the StrawEddy Margarita of the Month ($6), made with Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka, Lunazul Blanco Tequila, strawberry puree and house-made sour. You can also opt for the cocktail Taye Diggs mixes in "I'll be Home for National Margarita Day,' the Presidente Margarita, made with Lunazul Reposado Tequila, Citrónge Extra Fine Orange Liqueur and E&J Brandy, available in classic, mango, strawberry and watermelon. All day Saturday for National Margarita Day, get $7.95 Margaritas, including the El Jefe Margarita, Skinny Margarita, Platinum Hand-Shaken Margarita, Raspberry Hibiscus Margarita and Berry Paloma. The Austin, Texas-founded Tex-Mex chain has drink specials all day on National Margarita Day. Regular House Rocks 'Ritas and regular House Frozen 'Ritas (Lime, Strawberry, Swirl or Dot) can be upgraded to a Grande for just $2 more. You can also add an extra pour of tequila or orange liqueur to your margarita for $1. There's also $5 Top-Shelf tequila shots all day for dine-in customers. The fast-casual restaurant has two National Margarita Day specials for dine-in customers on Saturday – $5 Sangria 'Rita Swirl and $5 House Margaritas. Get the restaurant chain's Legendary Margarita for $5 all day on Saturday. During Happy Hour on Saturday (2 p.m. - 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. - close) get the Kona Margarita for $6 or choose from the Skinny Margarita or Watermelon Margarita ($9 each). You can get $6.50 Native Ritas all day on Saturday. : On Saturday, the restaurant chain in North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas is serving up $4 Margaritas on the rocks and Frozen MardiRitas all day long. Red Robin: The House Margarita is $7.99 on Saturday (on the rocks or frozen); flavors including lime, strawberry, desert pear, jalapeño, mango or passionfruit (flavors vary by location). With a Red Beaker, you can add a shot of Patron Silver or Casamigos to any margarita. Other cocktail options include the Casamigos Cadillac Margarita or Ocean Blue Patron Margarita. The fast-casual chain has half-off all house margaritas all day on Saturday. The modern steakhouse and lounge chain, has locations in Texas. Their Margaritas is priced at $9 all day on Saturday. Celebrate National Margarita Day at Twin Peaks with refreshing margarita specials, where pricing starts at just $5. Sip on the $5 House Margarita (existing Cheap Shots pricing featured), indulge in the $6 Peaks Margarita, enjoy the $12 Spicy Strawberry Margarita, or treat yourself to the $9 Twin Peaks Barrel Select Margarita. At participating locations, so please check with your local Twin Peaks for availability. -USA TODAY Network reporter Mike Snider contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: It's National Margarita Day! Find deals at these Texas restaurants
USA Today
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
National Margarita Day 2025: Deals at Chili's, Chuy's, Hooters and more
National Margarita Day 2025: Deals at Chili's, Chuy's, Hooters and more Show Caption Hide Caption Cinco de Mayo: How to make margarita mix Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with this delicious homemade margarita mix. Problem Solved National Margarita Day lands on a Saturday this year, giving you all the more reason to celebrate with the signature tequila-based cocktail. Chili's and Lifetime have even collaborated on a short film starring Taye Diggs and Maria Menounos called "I'll Be Home for National Margarita Day," which gives the make-believe holiday treatment on par with Christmas. "They really brought the spirit of the holiday – a celebration spent with your favorite margarita and favorite people – to life," Diggs said in a press release. You can watch the 15-minute short on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET or stream it on in the Lifetime app, YouTube and other social platforms for a limited time. Chili's is also selling Margarita Merch seen in the Lifetime television event on its website. Chili's National Margarita Day deals and merch The restaurant chain has several specials for National Margarita Day, celebrated every year on Feb. 22, including $5 Tequila Trifecta Margaritas, made with el Jimador Silver Tequila, 1800 Reposado, and Jose Cuervo Gold. Also on the menu is the StrawEddy Margarita of the Month ($6), made with Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka, Lunazul Blanco Tequila, strawberry puree and house-made sour. You can also opt for the cocktail Taye Diggs mixes in "I'll be Home for National Margarita Day,' the Presidente Margarita, made with Lunazul Reposado Tequila, Citrónge Extra Fine Orange Liqueur and E&J Brandy, available in classic, mango, strawberry and watermelon. That recipe adds brandy to the margarita, a cocktail that began emerging at bars in the '40s with the basic ingredients of tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur, such as triple sec. National Margarita Day: Recipes to make skinny, spicy and even avocado cocktails Here are some other National Margarita Day deals and promotions available Saturday. And make sure to check your local restaurants for other deals, too. You can find many #NationalMargaritaDay deals on social media including on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Threads. More 2025 National Margarita Day deals Abuelo's: All day Saturday for National Margarita Day, get $7.95 Margaritas including the El Jefe Margarita, Skinny Margarita, Platinum Hand-Shaken Margarita, Raspberry Hibiscus Margarita and Berry Paloma. We're adding our Berry Paloma Margarita to the lineup for #nationalmargaritaday! Join us for $7.95 Premium Margaritas all day on Saturday, 2/22. Choose from our signature El Jefe, Raspberry Hibiscus, Skinny Margarita, Platinum Margarita, or Berry Paloma Margarita! — Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant (@EatAbuelos) February 17, 2025 Bad Daddy's Burger Bar: You can have a strawberry or lime LocoRita at Bad Daddy's for $2 on Saturday. Bahama Breeze Island Grille: Dine-in customers can get $2.22 Classic Margaritas on the rocks all day on Saturday. Chevy's Fresh Mex: The restaurant chain has $10 Margarita Flights all day on Saturday. The countdown is ON 🍹 #NationalMargaritaDay is February 22nd, and we're bringing the party with $10 Margarita Flights ALL-DAY. Don't miss your shot! *Available 2/22/25-2/27/25 Posted by Chevys Fresh Mex on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 Chuy's: The Austin, Texas-founded Tex-Mex chain has drink specials all day on National Margarita Day. Regular House Rocks 'Ritas and regular House Frozen 'Ritas (Lime, Strawberry, Swirl or Dot) can be upgraded to a Grande for just $2 more. You can also add an extra pour of tequila or orange liqueur to your margarita for $1. There's also $5 Top-Shelf tequila shots all day for dine-in customers. Fuzzy's Taco Shop: The fast-casual restaurant has two National Margarita Day specials for dine-in customers on Saturday – $5 Sangria 'Rita Swirl and $5 House Margaritas. The fast-casual restaurant has two National Margarita Day specials for dine-in customers on Saturday – $5 Sangria 'Rita Swirl and $5 House Margaritas. Hooters: Get the restaurant chain's Legendary Margarita for $5 all day on Saturday. Kona Grill: During Happy Hour on Saturday (2 p.m. - 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. - close) get the Kona Margarita for $6 or choose from the Skinny Margarita or Watermelon Margarita ($9 each). Native Grill & Wings: You can get $6.50 Native Ritas all day on Saturday. Razzoo's Cajun Cafe: On Saturday, the restaurant chain in North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas is serving up $4 Margaritas on the rocks and Frozen MardiRitas all day long. Red Robin: The House Margarita is $7.99 on Saturday (on the rocks or frozen); flavors including lime, strawberry, desert pear, jalapeño, mango or passionfruit (flavors vary by location). With a Red Beaker, you can add a shot of Patron Silver or Casamigos to any margarita. Other cocktail options include the Casamigos Cadillac Margarita or Ocean Blue Patron Margarita. Rusty Taco: The fast-casual chain has half-off all house margaritas all day on Saturday. The fast-casual chain has half-off all house margaritas all day on Saturday. STK Steakhouse: The modern steakhouse and lounge chain, with locations in Georgia, Illinois, California, New York and other parts of the U.S., has its Perfect Margarita priced at $9 all day on Saturday. Tanteo Tequila: Through Saturday, Tanteo is offering tequila lovers 20% off on their website with code CHEERS20. Through Saturday, Tanteo is offering tequila lovers 20% off on their website with code CHEERS20. Twin Peaks: Celebrate National Margarita Day at Twin Peaks with refreshing margarita specials, where pricing starts at just $5. Sip on the $5 House Margarita (existing Cheap Shots pricing featured), indulge in the $6 Peaks Margarita, enjoy the $12 Spicy Strawberry Margarita, or treat yourself to the $9 Twin Peaks Barrel Select Margarita. At participating locations, so please check with your local Twin Peaks for availability. Celebrate National Margarita Day at Twin Peaks with refreshing margarita specials, where pricing starts at just $5. Sip on the $5 House Margarita (existing Cheap Shots pricing featured), indulge in the $6 Peaks Margarita, enjoy the $12 Spicy Strawberry Margarita, or treat yourself to the $9 Twin Peaks Barrel Select Margarita. At participating locations, so please check with your local Twin Peaks for availability. 818 Tequila: If you are making your own margaritas at home, Kendall Jenner's brand has a $4-$5 coupon at Albertsons, Kroger and Total Wine retailers (find it on the store websites, depending on the state; deal good through Cinco de Mayo). You can sip on one while you peruse 818's Cocktail Attire Collection lounge wear, which launches Thursday, Feb. 27, at 3 p.m. ET on Follow Mike Snider on Threads, Bluesky and X: mikegsnider & @ & @mikesnider. What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day
