Latest news with #TheRealHousewivesofSaltLakeCity
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Young white men do have problems, but they need to man up
Last weekend I was on a panel at the Oxford Literary Festival (sponsored by The Telegraph, if you please) and the topic was the Southport riots. In considering the subject, the excellent Tony Sewell, aka the Lord Sewell of Sanderstead, aired the view that one big cause of social unrest in Britain is that white working class boys are left behind. They're bottom of the barrel, whether in school, higher education prospects, health, happiness, or projected income. Sewell, the chair of the 2021 Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities report, knows the stats well. His report found that 'systemic racism' is not what lies behind disparities in outcome in Britain: it's class, and poor white youth, mostly boys, do by far the worst. This wasn't the first time the topic of struggling working class white boys hit the headlines. There has long been a panic about the effect that feminism, and more recently MeToo, and the discourse of 'toxic' masculinity have had on their psyches, leaving them no choice but to turn to that barbarian Andrew Tate in droves. The topic has once more caught fire since Netflix's Adolescence came out, the miniseries about an English teenage (white, working class) boy accused of the murder of a female classmate. So revered is Adolescence as a – perhaps the – document for our times that Keir Starmer has on multiple occasions intoned reference to it in Parliament, mistakenly and hilariously calling it a documentary. It has provoked anti-woke fury among those who believe that a white boy is the fall guy in a story of violence by another ethnic group; it is always safe, they point out, to blame a white cisgendered heterosexual male. And it has provoked that whiny mixture of faux indignation and performative sentimentalism among those who feel, as their sons turn to Tate (or know boys who do), that they must hold their nose and take seriously the idea that perhaps this squashed, left-out, derided demographic – once the backbone of the Empire – has been given a raw deal since in the decades since wokeness began its institutional creep. Despite its zeitgeistiness, I have refused to watch Adolescence. I may be among the last few, at least in the chattering classes, who have not tuned in. There are several reasons for my refusal. One is that the miniseries is obviously far too depressing. When I turn on a streaming platform these days, I want something jollier, something more along the lines of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City or The White Lotus. The second is that, while I recognise that this group is suffering, I simply don't feel inclined to indulge in either the huge pity party, or the jamboree of toxic-masculinity-awareness-raising, that Adolescence has inspired. Yes, masculinity is in crisis, but the truth is that masculinity has always been in crisis – ask any social historian. And as with all moments of media-friendly crises of masculinity, we find ourselves talking about men like they are helpless little flowers. It is odd. Working-class white boys are found to be treated badly, and therefore to do badly and act badly. One of the big issues cited is that they don't know their worth or purpose anymore in a society constantly calling them 'toxic'. Very sad, but it is possible to get over such slights and thrive anyway. Women faced derision for almost all of history for simply being women – they were seen as neurotic, nervous, intellectually inferior, limited to backbreaking domestic labour and breeding. Any who tried to go beyond this were stymied, ridiculed and often simply barred. Of course there was no educational encouragement or even guaranteed access, unlike that enjoyed by every single child in Britain today. And it was completely acceptable for husbands to beat or rape wives seen as intransigent, or just irritatingly alive. And still women by and large obeyed the law and tried to get on. Some sniping about 'toxic masculinity' is hardly a life sentence. And if boys are small men, and men are meant to be tough (which is why so many are frustrated now, we are told, in this 'feminised' society) can't they hold strong even in the face of adversity? The idea that if we don't give them all a big cultural and social hug they'll commit violence and become arsonists and misogynists isn't good enough. Why can't we expect them to be decent, hardworking people … even in tough circumstances? It might be good for them, even though we'd immediately be told we are crushing them with 'unrealistic expectations'. Yes, young white men need help and encouragement and resources and schemes and mentorships and to not be told they are worthless. But they are not entirely victims either. They do have a bit of agency; they do have their own will. I don't wish the draft on anybody's son but it does occur to one that in days gone by, the majority of these rootless boys without obvious or easy prospects, held back by socioeconomic class (in far more rigid, brutal times) would have donned a uniform and gone off to war. Many would have died, which is a tragedy that is every parent's worst nightmare. For many, though, it was the making of them: they were scalded into men, they tasted valour, heroism and – for the more thuggish – the satisfaction of the appetite for brute force and combat, sanctioned by the state. Let Britain be saved from a war like those that our 20th-century forefathers and mothers experienced. May conscription never be necessary again. But let us find some way to get our ne'er-do-wells, stragglers and miserable young men into something bigger than themselves, to stop them gravitating to all that is lower, nastier and meaner. 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.
Telegraph
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Young white men do have problems, but they need to man up
Last weekend I was on a panel at the Oxford Literary Festival (sponsored by The Telegraph, if you please) and the topic was the Southport riots. In considering the subject, the excellent Tony Sewell, aka the Lord Sewell of Sanderstead, aired the view that one big cause of social unrest in Britain is that white working class boys are left behind. They're bottom of the barrel, whether in school, higher education prospects, health, happiness, or projected income. Sewell, the chair of the 2021 Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities report, knows the stats well. His report found that 'systemic racism' is not what lies behind disparities in outcome in Britain: it's class, and poor white youth, mostly boys, do by far the worst. This wasn't the first time the topic of struggling working class white boys hit the headlines. There has long been a panic about the effect that feminism, and more recently MeToo, and the discourse of 'toxic' masculinity have had on their psyches, leaving them no choice but to turn to that barbarian Andrew Tate in droves. The topic has once more caught fire since Netflix's Adolescence came out, the miniseries about an English teenage (white, working class) boy accused of the murder of a female classmate. So revered is Adolescence as a – perhaps the – document for our times that Keir Starmer has on multiple occasions intoned reference to it in Parliament, mistakenly and hilariously calling it a documentary. It has provoked anti-woke fury among those who believe that a white boy is the fall guy in a story of violence by another ethnic group; it is always safe, they point out, to blame a white cisgendered heterosexual male. And it has provoked that whiny mixture of faux indignation and performative sentimentalism among those who feel, as their sons turn to Tate (or know boys who do), that they must hold their nose and take seriously the idea that perhaps this squashed, left-out, derided demographic – once the backbone of the Empire – has been given a raw deal since in the decades since wokeness began its institutional creep. Despite its zeitgeistiness, I have refused to watch Adolescence. I may be among the last few, at least in the chattering classes, who have not tuned in. There are several reasons for my refusal. One is that the miniseries is obviously far too depressing. When I turn on a streaming platform these days, I want something jollier, something more along the lines of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City or The White Lotus. The second is that, while I recognise that this group is suffering, I simply don't feel inclined to indulge in either the huge pity party, or the jamboree of toxic-masculinity-awareness-raising, that Adolescence has inspired. Yes, masculinity is in crisis, but the truth is that masculinity has always been in crisis – ask any social historian. And as with all moments of media-friendly crises of masculinity, we find ourselves talking about men like they are helpless little flowers. It is odd. Working-class white boys are found to be treated badly, and therefore to do badly and act badly. One of the big issues cited is that they don't know their worth or purpose anymore in a society constantly calling them 'toxic'. Very sad, but it is possible to get over such slights and thrive anyway. Women faced derision for almost all of history for simply being women – they were seen as neurotic, nervous, intellectually inferior, limited to backbreaking domestic labour and breeding. Any who tried to go beyond this were stymied, ridiculed and often simply barred. Of course there was no educational encouragement or even guaranteed access, unlike that enjoyed by every single child in Britain today. And it was completely acceptable for husbands to beat or rape wives seen as intransigent, or just irritatingly alive. And still women by and large obeyed the law and tried to get on. Some sniping about ' toxic masculinity ' is hardly a life sentence. And if boys are small men, and men are meant to be tough (which is why so many are frustrated now, we are told, in this 'feminised' society) can't they hold strong even in the face of adversity? The idea that if we don't give them all a big cultural and social hug they'll commit violence and become arsonists and misogynists isn't good enough. Why can't we expect them to be decent, hardworking people … even in tough circumstances? It might be good for them, even though we'd immediately be told we are crushing them with 'unrealistic expectations'. Yes, young white men need help and encouragement and resources and schemes and mentorships and to not be told they are worthless. But they are not entirely victims either. They do have a bit of agency; they do have their own will. I don't wish the draft on anybody's son but it does occur to one that in days gone by, the majority of these rootless boys without obvious or easy prospects, held back by socioeconomic class (in far more rigid, brutal times) would have donned a uniform and gone off to war. Many would have died, which is a tragedy that is every parent's worst nightmare. For many, though, it was the making of them: they were scalded into men, they tasted valour, heroism and – for the more thuggish – the satisfaction of the appetite for brute force and combat, sanctioned by the state. Let Britain be saved from a war like those that our 20th-century forefathers and mothers experienced. May conscription never be necessary again. But let us find some way to get our ne'er-do-wells, stragglers and miserable young men into something bigger than themselves, to stop them gravitating to all that is lower, nastier and meaner.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Google says a scam network made thousands of fake businesses on Google Maps to collect and sell user data
Google is suing a man it says was part of a scam network creating fake businesses on Google Maps. The network allegedly collected and sold the personal data of users who contacted those businesses. It's an example of a 'lead generation" scam, according to the lawsuit. Google is suing a Maryland man it says made fake business listings on Google Maps. The lawsuit alleges that Yaniv Asayag, working with up to 20 co-conspirators, then sold the personal information of users who contacted those phony businesses. Google's complaint, filed this week in California federal court, says the group "engaged in an ongoing pattern of fraudulent conduct" by creating and modifying business listings on Google Maps and Google Search. Google General Counsel Halimah DeLaine Prado told Business Insider that Google does not allow fake business listings on Google Maps and uses a "range of tools to protect businesses and users." "Today's litigation builds on our efforts and sends a clear message that impersonation schemes will not be tolerated," Prado told BI. The lawsuit says that Asayag and his associates created listings for service-oriented businesses that provide an immediate need, like HVAC cleaners, towing companies, or locksmiths. They would then "lure in unsuspecting consumers" to the fake business pages, which they bolstered with fake reviews, Google alleged. They collected the personal information from consumers who contacted the fake businesses and sold it to marketers at real companies, the lawsuit says. That strategy is sometimes known as "lead generation," which can also be a legitimate marketing tactic when those leads are based on real data. In one high-profile example, a judge sentenced Jen Shah, a former star of "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City," to more than six years in prison in 2023 after police charged her with wire fraud in connection to a telemarketing scheme where she generated and sold "lead lists" of innocent people to other scammers. In the Google lawsuit, one fake business listing the company identified was named "ByDennis Cleaner," which was changed to "MS Locksmith" one month after it was created. Google said that over the course of about a year, the network edited listings for almost 150 businesses more than 1,000 times. The alleged scammers sometimes sold users' personal information to real businesses that had a history of predatory behavior, like overcharging or extortion, according to Google's complaint. The lawsuit says that "abuse" among locksmith businesses due to lead generation scams is "well documented." The FTC says the best way to avoid becoming a victim is to check the URL for a business you want to contact. The agency recommends searching the URL, as well as the business name, with "reviews" or "complaints" to see if anyone has warned about the listing. There is no attorney listed yet for Asayag on the public court docket. Asayag declined to comment when reached by Business Insider on Friday. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former ‘Below Deck' Crew Members Sue Bravo, NBC for Allegedly Covering Up Star's Sexual Misconduct
Former Below Deck crew members Samantha Suarez and Grey Duddleston are suing Bravo Media, NBCUniversal Media, the show's production company 51 Minds Entertainment, and Gary King, among others, claiming the network and production company behind the hit reality series covered up cast member King's alleged sexual misconduct. In the complaint filed on Tuesday and exclusively obtained by Rolling Stone, Suarez and Duddleston accuse King of 'savaging' their reputations. '51 Minds and NBC have supported King every step of the way. But they know—just as he knows—that he is guilty as sin,' the complaint alleges. More from Rolling Stone How to Watch 'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' Season 5 Reunion Online Free 'Vanderpump Rules' Season 12 to Feature All-New Cast in Apparent Fallout of Scandoval Tom Sandoval, Tom Schwartz Are Closing Their Bar Schwartz and Sandy's In the summer of 2022 while filming Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season Four, Suarez was employed as a hair and makeup artist and Duddleston was a camera operator. According to the complaint, when Suarez went to King's hotel room to drop off a case of water and snacks, he opened the door in his underwear and refused to take the water. Suarez claims she walked past King to put the water inside the room and on her way out, King allegedly lunged toward her and physically restrained her. 'Suarez managed to break free, ran towards the door and started to pull the door open when King, who was chasing her, got both his hands on the door and slammed it shut keeping her trapped, menacingly laughing and staring at her with evil dilated eyes,' the complaint alleges. 'Suarez was sure she would be raped.' Per the filing, another crew member called Suarez's cell phone as the incident was unfolding, and she was able to tap 'accept' to answer the call. King then allegedly released Suarez from his grip, and she was able to escape into the hallway. King, still clad only in his underwear, followed Suarez, grabbed her again from behind, and kept asking her what was wrong while he rubbed her back, the complaint claims. Bravo, NBC, 51 Minds Entertainment, and King did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone's requests for comment. According to the suit, Suarez immediately reported the incident to 51 Minds Entertainment, which then opened an investigation. The complaint alleges that King 'admitted what he had done' but was not fired. Instead, the complaint claims King was warned that he would be fired 'if something like that were to happen again.' Duddleston, who was Suarez's boyfriend at the time, claims in the suit that following the incident between King and Suarez, he witnessed King untie two female cast members' bikini tops, 'make lewd remarks to a female audio technician,' and grab two male camera operators' genitals, all during the filming of Season Four. After reporting these incidents over the crew walkie-talkie system, Duddleston alleges 51 Minds and NBC opened an investigation into him 'for inappropriate use of the walkie-talkie system.' King, meanwhile, was asked back to film Season Five of Below Deck Sailing Yacht, which finished airing on Bravo in January. Despite working for different iterations of the Below Deck franchise, Suarez for two seasons and Duddleston for 11, neither crew member was asked to return to the show after NBC's investigation. 'On information and belief, they are now on a 'do not hire' list and remain virtually unemployable in their field,' the lawsuit alleges. In addition to alleging sexual battery, assault, hostile work environment harassment, and false imprisonment as causes of action, Suarez and Duddleston — who are requesting a jury trial — are also suing over wrongful termination, retaliation, gender violence, discrimination, failure to prevent discrimination and harassment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The suit seeks compensatory, punitive or exemplary damages, attorneys' fees, and other relief. Suarez and Duddleston are represented by attorneys Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos, who have been working closely with Bethenny Frankel in a public campaign questioning the working conditions on reality shows. (In August of 2023, Freedman and Geragos sent a legal letter to NBC, the parent company of Bravo, accusing the network of covering up instances of sexual violence and using manipulative tactics, among other claims.) 'It looks like the business model [of Below Deck] is: Select talent that will do whatever they want, ply them with alcohol, trap them in an environment that is just desperate for drunk and outrageous behavior, and then bring on the ratings,' Geragos tells Rolling Stone. While many of the highly publicized 'reality reckoning' lawsuits filed against Bravo have highlighted alleged mistreatment of cast members, Geragos claims Suarez and Duddleston's lawsuit 'focuses on what originally was the theme of these things, which was the exacerbating of the bad behavior in front of the camera and how this permeates the entire production.' Rolling Stone first reported on the alleged incident between King and Suarez in August 2023, speaking with two other Below Deck crew members who worked with Suarez at the time. They claimed Suarez told them about the alleged encounter during filming. One of the crew members, who requested to remain anonymous at the time because they still worked on the series and feared repercussions, also alleged that they 'constantly' witnessed King making other women on set uncomfortable with his aggressive pursuit of them. 'He's next-level scary with women,' they said at the time. Three other people who did not work for Below Deck spoke to Rolling Stone and claimed Suarez told them about the alleged incident with King at the time. Rolling Stone also reviewed emails between Suarez and Zach Klein, the chief operating officer of 51 Minds Entertainment, as well as between Suarez and an HR representative for Banijay America, the parent company of 51 Minds Entertainment, in which they discussed the incident. At the time, a spokesperson for Bravo told Rolling Stone in a statement, 'Bravo is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew on our reality shows. We require our third-party production companies to have appropriate workplace policies and trainings in place and a clear process on how to report concerns. The concerns Ms. Suarez raised in July 2022 were investigated at that time and action was taken based on the findings.' A spokesperson for Below Deck's production company 51 Minds Entertainment also said in a statement, '51 Minds is committed to providing an environment in which every member of the casts and crews on our productions feel respected and, most importantly, safe. 51 Minds provides mandatory harassment and sensitivity training for every series it produces at the outset of each new season and lays out a clear process on how and to whom to report any questionable activity.' The statement continued, 'With any complaint filed, a timely investigation is launched and, based on the findings, appropriate actions are implemented to ensure the safety of our cast and crew, up to and including termination. With regard to the incident reported by Ms. Suarez involving Mr. King, the case was investigated and reviewed as soon as it was submitted, and production acted accordingly based on the results.' King filmed the fifth season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht in the summer of 2023, one year after Suarez reported King's alleged behavior. After Rolling Stone's story was published in August of 2023, King was removed from marketing materials and promotions for that year's BravoCon, Bravo's annual convention for fans and stars. The premiere of Season Five was also in limbo; while the show typically airs every spring, with the first four seasons starting in either February, March, or April, Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season Five eventually premiered on Bravo in October of 2024. According to Suarez's complaint, Bravo received backlash online for airing the season featuring King, and King then 'went on a rampage,' allegedly 'lambasting Suarez and Duddleston as liars, accusing them of having sought 15 minutes of fame.' Geragos calls Bravo's decision to ultimately air Season Five and stand behind King 'inexplicable.' 'It's a brazen doubling down of not just bad but abhorrent behavior,' Geragos says. 'It's Bravo conferring immunity on whoever garners them the ratings. It seems to be, if you get enough clicks and enough eyeballs it doesn't matter what your behavior is.' Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Best 'Saturday Night Live' Characters of All Time Denzel Washington's Movies Ranked, From Worst to Best 70 Greatest Comedies of the 21st Century
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Christian Siriano takes his New York Fashion Week show attendees for a glamorous ride
NEW YORK (AP) — In glistening gowns with sleek constructed lines, designer Christian Siriano pulled inspiration from his shared love of cars with his father for his latest New York Fashion Week collection Thursday. Models strutted past rose beds and a bright red and black Toyota parked on the runway as fashion industry onlookers documented everything on their phones and a group of Siriano's starry celebrity friends clapped and cheered for his latest looks. Breaking away from the masculinity associated with cars, Siriano said he crafted a collection of feminine and glamorous looks. 'The lines of a car to me look like the lines of a corset,' Siriano said. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Sexy red car or sexy red dress? For his latest collection, Siriano playfully shaped fabrics to resemble elements of car design. Models walked to pulsing techno beats in jersey fabric made to look like oil slicks, embroidery designed like tire tracks and bell bottoms lined with a pattern similar to the leather of a tire. 'I was like, who doesn't love that iconic, sexy red car?' he said. "But who doesn't love that iconic, sexy red dress? And how do they kind of go together?' Feminine or masculine In a contrast between masculine and feminine, longtime Siriano model Coco Rocha posed in a black tuxedo blazer mini dress draped with a red silky fabric down one of her legs. The dress colors perfectly matched the Toyota parked inside. In true Siriano fashion, models of all sizes and genders walked the catwalk. Male models walked the runway baring their abs under glossy cropped jackets and wide leg pants. Singer Adam Lambert arrived just before the show began wearing Siriano's dark brown long line blazer coat. Starry guestlist In the front row, actors and celebrities cheered for their favorite looks throughout the show. Actor Katie Holmes sat between Julianne Hough and Whoopi Goldberg. Actress Tiffany Haddish said she feels beautiful in all of Siriano's clothes. Bravo celebrity Bronwyn Newport posed for pictures in her baby pink tulle dress from Siriano's last runway show. 'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' star said as Siriano's close friend she thought it was his best show yet. 'I wanted every look,' she said. Red carpet red Siriano transformed the Chelsea industrial space for his New York Fashion Week show — filling the room with red from red draped walls, red gift bags and a red carpet. Siriano is no stranger to the red carpet. The designer has made a name for himself transforming red carpet looks by embracing body positivity and inclusivity. 'Over the years, as my body has changed, Christian has always been supportive and had something fabulous for me to wear," Laverne Cox told The Associated Press. "Like he has such a diverse range as a designer.' Siriano famously dressed actor Billy Porter in a velvety tuxedo ball gown for the 2019 Oscars. He even published a recent book on the topic titled 'Christian Siriano: The New Red Carpet.' Bringing the drama to his runway red carpet, a change of music to violin and melodies closed out the show with models posing in evening dresses. In see-through abstract corseted gowns, four models stopped in front of the Toyota to pose before confidently walking down the runway. Giving back to Los Angeles Wanting to do his part to help those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, Siriano said he raised money by selling his own paintings and donating money from ticket sales to his New York Fashion Week show to the cause. 'We had people buy tickets that aren't even attending, which was so wonderful,' he said. 'Nobody needs me to donate clothes.' ___ Associated Press Writer Brooke Lefferts contributed to this report.
