Amsterdam celebrates 25 years since the world's first same-sex weddings

AMSTERDAM (AP) — The Dutch capital marked the 25th anniversary of the world'sfirst gay marriageswith three same-sex couples tying the knot at City Hall early Wednesday.

Netherlands-Same-Sex Marriage

The celebration, conducted by Mayor Femke Halsema just after midnight, came a quarter of a century after one of her predecessors, Job Cohen, married four couples in a landmark ceremony for LGBTQ+ rights that paved the way for similar legislation innearly 40 countries around the world.

Same-sex weddings are commonplace now in the Netherlands. Since 2001, more than 36,000 same-sex couples have married, according to the country's official statistics office.

Prime MinisterRob Jetten, the country's first openly gay leader, is planning to soon marry his partner Nicolás Keenan, an Argentine field hockey star who won a bronze medal with his country's team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"As a prime minister, I'm very proud that we celebrate 25 years of universal marriage here in the Netherlands,'' Jetten told The Associated Press at the overnight ceremony.

''Also for me personally, I can still remember when I was 14 years old watching TV, seeing the first couples getting married here in Amsterdam. That was also very inspiring and emancipating for me, personally, as it has been for so many others,'' he said.

TheU.S. Supreme Courtrecognized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015, after many states had already done so. One study last year estimated that there are more than 800,000 same-sex married couples in the U.S.

Amy Quinn and her wife, Heather Jensen, were among the first to bemarried in New Jerseywhen it became recognized there in 2013.

Quinn said it was important because they were considering having a child and their lawyer told them it would help if they were married because that would mean both women could have their names on the birth certificate, sign school records and have hospital visitation rights.

"It's shocking to me in terms of really how recently we got it," said Quinn, the deputy mayor of Asbury Park, New Jersey.

The U.S.-based LGBTQ+ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign has identified legislation in at least nine U.S. states for current or recent sessions seeking to undo legal recognition of same-sex marriages. Most would call on the U.S. Supreme Court to undo its 2015 decision recognizing the unions. The measures have not advanced, and even if they did, they couldn't force the court to change course.

"I don't think it's a time for people to be afraid," said Kelley Robinson, president of the U.S.-based LGBTQ+ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign. "It's a time to be aware, to protect our families, to protect our kids and to protect our lives."

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Large parts of the world — particularly in Asia and Africa — have not legalized same-sex marriage and some countries are becoming more repressive.

Senegal's presidentsigned a lawMonday that toughens punishment for homosexuality in the latest African country to impose harsh penalties against the LGBTQ+ community.

Conservatives in the U.S. have also challenged laws banning "conversion therapy" for LGBTQ+ children.The Supreme Courton Tuesday sided with the objectors, saying that a ban in Colorado raises free-speech concerns and should be weighed by a lower court.

Philip Tijsma, spokesperson for the main Dutch LGBTQ+ advocacy group COC, said that while the silver anniversary was a moment to reflect and celebrate, the Netherlands has slipped behind other nations in its support for the LGBTQ+ community.

"We have become a little bit lazy," he said, adding that other European nations now have stronger transgender legislation. He said that in the Netherlands LGBTQ people are still bullied in schools and harassed on the street for holding hands.

There's been a strong backlash in the U.S. in recent years against rights of transgender people especially. Most states have banned transgender women and girls from at least some women's and girls'sports competitionsand barred somegender-affirming health carefor children and youth. Restrictions on puberty-blocking drugs, hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries have alsoexpanded elsewhere.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration havepushed for restrictionson transgender people.

Despite challenges, the mood at Amsterdam's ceremony was giddy.

Gert Kasteel and Dolf Pasker were among those taking part. They married that landmark day of April 1, 2001.

''We're very happy!″ Kasteel said.

''It's unbelievable, 25 years,'' Pasker said. ''It's so beautiful that there's so much attention for it.''

Corder reported from The Hague, Netherlands, and Mulvihill from Haddonfield, New Jersey.

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March 31, 2026

Amsterdam celebrates 25 years since the world's first same-sex weddings

AMSTERDAM (AP) — The Dutch capital marked the 25th anniversary of the world'sfirst gay marriageswith three same-sex c...

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Want to renew healthy eating habits? Greek monks have a spring playbook

TRIKORFO, Greece (AP) — Can a centuries-old ritual of spiritual renewal rekindle a New Year's resolution to build healthy eating habits before it fades in the spring?

For six weeks every year, millions ofOrthodox Christiansaround the world adopt a largely vegan diet, abstaining from meat, dairy products, eggs, and fish with backbones. Oil and wine also are prohibited on weekdays during the 40-day Lenten period before Orthodox Easter, which often falls later than its Catholic and Anglican counterpart.

The annual adherence to a plant-based,Mediterranean-stylemeal plan drives a communal rediscovery of vegetables and oil-free cooking methods in majority-Orthodox countries.

In Greece, even McDonald's franchises get into the lean Lent spirit by adding seasonal menu items that meet most of the proscriptions of the Greek Orthodox Church. The menu includes shrimp wraps, shrimp salad, vegetable spring rolls and plant-based McVeggie burgers but is not oil-free.

Although following Eastern Orthodox dietary guidelines before Easter is often referred toas fasting, the focus is on going without certain foods, not refraining from eating altogether. The rules are not rigid but can be adapted to account for personal needs.

Here's a look at the annual alimentary tradition, along with reasons to consider sticking with a similar diet and cautionary advice from nutritionists.

Different dates, different traditions

Christian traditions divergebetween East and Westahead of Easter, and not just intheir methodsfor determining the most important date on their calendars. Catholics are encouraged to give up one or more personal indulgences during Lent but get to decide whether to deny themselves dessert, alcohol,video games, swearing or something else. Members of the Orthodox Church forgo animal products except for shellfish.

Gone are Greeks' beloved dishes like mousaka and souvlakia — grilled meat wrapped with toppings. So are dairy products like milk and cheese. Vertebrate fish like anchovies, mullet and hake are no-nos too, although shrimp, oysters and calamari are permitted.

On a lush coastal hillside in centralGreece, 40 monks closely follow these rules at the Monastery of St. Augustine and Seraphim. The monks, who wear black robes and full beards, grow and harvest most of their own produce in the monastery's gardens, including an abudance of zucchini and tomatoes.

Their meals during Lent are basic butnot bland. The monks have mastered methods to replicate familiar tastes and textures. Oven-roasted potatoes are coated with tahini instead of oil to preserve the crunch factor. Vegetable stock prepared from scratch gives lentil dishes a hearty flavor.

The monks listen to prayers read aloud as they eat.

Mind over meals

Father Nektarios Moulatsiotis, the monastery's affable abbot, says the practice of fasting and following a restricted diet is essential for deep reflection and focus required for the spiritual preparation for Easter. He compares it to endurance training.

"In the same way someone goes to the gym to shape their body," Nektarios said, "the church is a gym for the soul."

Occasional hunger pangs aren't something to resist; they are part of the plan. The idea is simple: less indulgence, more clarity.

"You cannot really pray, study, chant or do any spiritual exercise with a full stomach," he said with a chuckle.

Nektarios argues that a nutritious yet disciplined diet can produce benefits that apply outside of a religious setting as much as inside of one, such as a sense of greater self-control and enhanced awareness.

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The science of a 6-week reset

Orthodox monks observe several fasting periods that limit what, when and how much they eat for most of the year. Researchers have studied their health and food intake for decades to determine if their customs hold any clues to preventing heart disease, type 2 diabetes and strokes.

However, the advantages of eatinga balanced dietthat includes whole grains, vegetables, fruits and legumes are well-established. Reduce consumption of meat, saturated fats and processed foods long enough, and the body typically responds.

"Fasting certainly has benefits, provided it's done correctly," Eirini Babaroutsi, a sports nutritionist at the Hellenic Athletics Federation, said. For example, Orthodox Christians tend to eat more fiber during Lent, which helps the digestive system function better, she said.

"It also matters what we do eat, not simply what we avoid," Babaroutsi said. "With the right combinations, we can get all the nutrients we need."

Meals that meet the guidelines aren't confined to the ingredients found in Orthodox-majority countries in Southern and Eastern Europe. Babaroutsi suggests porridge with oat milk, vegetable wraps with olive paste, and high-quality peanut butter as helpful international additions.

Luckily, one size doesn't fit all

There are a few considerations.

A six-week fasting cycle is not advisable for older adults and young children, Babaroutsi said. The Eastern Orthodox church also exempts people with serious health conditions, special dietary requirements, and pregnant or nursing women from strict obedience.

Engaging in a post-Lent binge as a reward also is best avoided because loading up after a period of abstinence can strain the body, Babaroutsi said.

For those wary of making a full commitment, know that you're not alone. Orthodox Lent started on Feb. 23, but many Greeks participate only during Holy Week, which starts on April 5, Palm Sunday, and goes until April 11, the day before Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter this year.

Supermarkets and bakeries in Greece make it easier to abide by stocking fast, family-friendly meals and an assortment of seasonal goods.

These include jars of pickles and olives, bags of chickpeas and other pulses, squid sliced into rings in freezer cases, the creamy pink fish roe known as taramosalata, and slabs of unleavened bread shaped like small surfboards.

In central Athens, at the slippery-floored central fish market, vendors call out over piles of Lent-compliant clams, octopus and mussels, shoveling seafood into paper cones.

Gerasimos Mantalvanos, the market's general manager, said many customers tend to overindulge when Easter Sunday's traditional lamb dishes and sweets arrive. For most, a spirit of moderation eventually returns, he said.

"It is good for eating habits to change from time to time during the year," Mantalvanos said. "So a period of fasting, a little fish and some abstinence from meat, I think these are good for the body. It is a kind of small detox, a little break."

AP photographer Thanassis Stavrakis and videojournalist Srdjan Nedeljkovic contributed.

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March 31, 2026

Want to renew healthy eating habits? Greek monks have a spring playbook

TRIKORFO, Greece (AP) — Can a centuries-old ritual of spiritual renewal rekindle a New Year's resolution to build hea...

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Megachurch pastor Robert Morris free after 6 months in jail for child sex abuse

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at 800.656.HOPE (4673) andHotline.RAINN.organd en EspañolRAINN.org/es.

OKLAHOMA CITY — The founder of a Texas megachurch who pleaded guilty last year to sexually abusing a young girl in the 1980s wasreleased from an Oklahoma jailon Tuesday, March 31, after completing his six-month sentence, court records show.

Robert Preston Morris, 64, completed 180 days of a jail sentence in Osage County, where the crimes occurred more than 40 years ago, according to court records. Following his release from jail, Morris will remain on probation for 9 1/2 years and must register as a sex offender.

As part of his sentencing, Morris also agreed to pay $270,000 in restitution to the victim, Cindy Clemishire, who in court called him "a pedophile, disguised as a preacher." In October 2025, Morrispleaded guilty to five felony countsof lewd or indecent acts to a child as part of a plea agreement.

The abuse began in December 1982 when the victim was 12 years old and Morris, then in his 20s, was a traveling evangelist who was staying at her family's home in Oklahoma, according to prosecutors. Clemishire said the abuse continued in Oklahoma and Texas until 1987.

At the time of his conviction, Morris did not apologize in court. Through his attorney, Morris later released a statement accepting that what he did was wrong.

"There is no other word for it, and there is no excuse for it. I am deeply sorry," he wrote, addressing his comments to the victim and her family.

A timeline of the events:What led to pastor Robert Morris' indictment?

Report: Robert Morris plans to serve probation at his home in Texas

Before his crimes came to light, Morris was a spiritual adviser to PresidentDonald Trump. He laterresigned as senior pastorof Gateway Church.

Morris founded the church in Southlake, Texas, a suburb of Dallas and Fort Worth, in 2000. Under his leadership, it expanded to multiple locations.

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Hisdeparture from the churchcame after Clemishire went public with her story toThe Wartburg Watch, a blog about sexual abuse within the church. In October 2025, Osage County Special Judge Cindy Pickerill accepted the plea deal after Clemshire acknowledged she had been consulted about it and agreed with the punishment.

The probation is considered a suspended sentence under the plea agreement, which means Morris is now a convicted felon. He could go to prison if he violates the conditions of his probation.

CBS News reported that Morris plans toserve out his probation in Texasat his lakefront home west of Dallas.

"I intend to live quietly and with integrity, and to be the kind of husband, father, grandfather, and man who reflects that mercy in how he treats others," Morris wrote in his statement.

'Grave concern':Pope Leo XIV draws criticism, praise for record on clergy sexual abuse

Victim continues to seek 'full accountability' through civil courts

Clemishirepreviously told USA TODAYthat she decided to come forward publicly to encourage others who may be victims to tell their stories. In her victim impact statement during the October 2025 proceedings, Clemishire said Morris sexually abused her for more than four years.

"While you built a megachurch, authored books, and gained fame, I dropped out of college, endured divorces, (and) struggled with self-worth," she told Morris in a voice choked with emotion, later adding that his crimes "wounded faith itself" and that she hopes he genuinely repents.

An attorney for Clemishire, Jeff Leach, said in a statement that Clemishire plans to continue to seek accountability and justice through civil courts.

"While the criminal justice system continues to hold Robert accountable for his heinous crimes and seeks to protect potential future victims through close monitoring and probation limitations, Cindy will continue to fully pursue justice via the civil justice system," Leach said. "She rightfully seeks full accountability not only for Robert and the crimes he committed against her as a young child, but also for the other individuals who harbored him, covered for him, lied for him and even in some cases attacked Cindy on his behalf."

Contributing: Nolan Clay, The Oklahoman; Jonathan Limehouse and James Powel, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman:Robert Morris, megachurch founder, released from Oklahoma jail

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Megachurch pastor Robert Morris free after 6 months in jail for child sex abuse

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, conf...

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Oilers’ Ingram celebrates birthday with 27-save shutout, 3-0 win against Kraken

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Connor Ingram celebrated his 29th birthday Tuesday by making 27 saves for his second shutout of the season as the Edmonton Oilers extended their winning streak to four games by beating the Seattle Kraken 3-0.

Kraken Oilers Hockey

Max Jones, Kasperi Kapanen and Connor McDavid scored for the Oilers who have won six of their last eight.

Edmonton moved two points back of Pacific Division-leading Anaheim and three points up on third place Vegas. The Oilers are now 28-5-5 when scoring first this season.

The Kraken have lost six of their last seven and remain two points out of a wild-card playoff position.

Philipp Grubauer made 21 stops for Seattle.

Bobby McMann, who leads Seattle in goals and points since coming over in a deadline trade with Toronto — seven goals, four assists in eight games — had his goal scoring streak stopped at three games. He had a chance to match the second-longest goal streak in franchise history.

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McDavid extended his goal streak to five games. He leads the NHL in goals since Dec. 1 with 32. The Oilers captain in now one point back of Dale Hawerchuk for the third-most points by a player before age 30. Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux are first and second on that lofty list.

Edmonton has been a regular pest for Seattle, as no team has recorded more victories over the Kraken than the Oilers. Edmonton came into the contest with a 14-4-0 record all-time against Seattle including going 7-1-0 at home and had outscored them 76-50.

Up next

Kraken: Host the Utah Mammoth on Thursday.

Oilers: Host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.

AP NHL:https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

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Oilers’ Ingram celebrates birthday with 27-save shutout, 3-0 win against Kraken

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Connor Ingram celebrated his 29th birthday Tuesday by making 27 saves for his second shutout of ...

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Dan Hurley downplays headbutting ref after UConn's win vs. Duke: 'Thought he was coming over to chest-bump me'

On the court, UConn coach Dan Hurley is an emotional and animated guy. But some fans thought Hurley took things too far followingUConn's last-second winover Duke in the Elite Eight.

Following Braylon Mullins' buzzer-beat toput UConn up 73-72with just 0.3 seconds left, cameras captured a weird exchange between Hurley and official Roger Ayers. In the clip, Hurley appeared to get in Ayers' face, with both men butting heads on the sideline.

After seeing the exchange, some wondered why Hurley was not charged with a technical foul, as making contact with an official can lead to both a penalty and ejection for coaches. Hurley, who wasejected from a loss vs. Marquette earlier in the seasonafter making contact with an official, was certainly aware that was the case.

But Hurley said everyone who has seen the clip has it all wrong. As the coach explained during an appearance on "The Triple Option" podcast, he believed Ayers was going in for a chest-bump, which resulted in the strange interaction.

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Hurley's full comments read:

"Really, at that point in the game we had it won, and he's such an easy guy to work with during the game, I thought he was coming over to chest-bump me and celebrate the shot. It's not like that for me with him. My experience with him has been, we haven't won every game. I haven't agreed with every call. So that was in no way me going at a ref like I've been at their throat the whole game. There were other points in the game where I had my arm around him walking out of a timeout. We were cracking jokes and laughing."

At that point, Hurley said it wasn't like the situation at Marquette, where he implied he deserved to be penalized for his actions. He then turned the conversation back to the Duke game, saying he was being carried by the "emotion of the shot" during his moment with Ayers. When asked if they were sharing that moment, Hurley clarified that Ayers was coming up to inform Hurley that there was still some time left on the clock.

Given the narrow margin of victory, a technical foul on Hurley in that moment could have been catastrophic for UConn. That, obviously, didn't happen and UConn advanced to the Final Four, where it will take on Illinois on Saturday.

While Hurley will move on to the Final Four, Ayers won't be able to say the same. Despite being a veteran official with multiple years of Final Four experience under his belt, Ayers wasnot chosen to workthe Final Four. It's unclear whether his interaction with Hurley played a role in that decision.

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March 31, 2026

Dan Hurley downplays headbutting ref after UConn's win vs. Duke: 'Thought he was coming over to chest-bump me'

On the court, UConn coach Dan Hurley is an emotional and animated guy. But some fans thought Hurley took things too far f...

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Men's NCAA tournament averaging 10.3 million viewers, its most-watched since 1993

NEW YORK (AP) — The men's NCAA tournament is averaging 10.3 million viewers through the Elite Eight, according to Nielsen. That is the tournament's best audience since 1993 and a 9% increase over last year.

UConn's last-second 73-72 victory over Dukein the East Region final averaged 13.4 million on CBS. The audience peaked at 18.9 million when Braylon Mullinssank a desperation 3-pointerwith 0.4 seconds left.

Friday's early window with Duke-St.John's on CBS and Michigan-Alabama on TBS/truTV averaged 14.2 million, the most-watched Friday regional early window since 1992.

The Final Four and title game will be on TBS, TNT and truTV.

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The women's NCAA tournament on ESPN's networks and ABC is averaging 789,000 viewers through Saturday's Sweet 16 games. That is a 1% decrease from last year.

Ratings for Sunday and Monday's regional finals are expected to be available on Wednesday.

AP March Madness bracket:https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracketand coverage:https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

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Men's NCAA tournament averaging 10.3 million viewers, its most-watched since 1993

NEW YORK (AP) — The men's NCAA tournament is averaging 10.3 million viewers through the Elite Eight, according to Nie...

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23 PR Disasters That Became Absolute Nightmares For Everyone Involved

When you become well-known, whether as a company or a celebrity, sooner or later you're going to end upin the public eye. And with that comes opinions, both good and bad. Naturally, nobody wants the bad ones, because adamaged reputationcan cost money, opportunities, and sometimes even everything you've worked for.

Redditorsacross different threads asked people to share what they think are theworst PR disastersof all time, and there wasno shortage of answers. We've rounded up some of the most interesting ones below, so scroll down to read them, and if you think any other cases deserve a mention, drop them in the comments.

The Segway. They played it coy, dropped hints about this revolutionary new technology and how blown away we'd be, and how future cities would be redesigned from the ground up around this incredible breakthrough - an innovation touched by god.It was a scooter. We could all see it was a scooter. It doesn't hover, or make your teeth whiter while you sleep. Just a scooter.

© Photo:I_throw_socks_at_cat

The one that irritated me the most was when Bank of America had one of their customers arrested for inquiring about a questionable check. The guy had made a transaction with someone on craigslist and was a little suspicious about the check he got, so he took it into his local branch to ask if it was legit. The teller held it for a bit, then said, "yeah, go ahead and sign it." Once he signed it they told him he was guilty of passing a bad check and arrested him.

© Photo:WenonaCurtin

Sarah Palin being named as the Republican Vice Presidential Nominee for the year 2008. I said this last time this came up and I posted.For those who were to young to be in tune to the political situation of the day. Senator's John McCain and Barak Obama were the nominee's, Obama picked BIden as his running mate and McCain decided to pick the (then unknown) Former Governor of Alaska, Mrs Palin. The News cycle tried to get to know her, tried to introduce her to the people who would be voting her, but it was just constant "wait, wut?" reactions as her "Foreign Policy Experiance" came off sounding like "I can see Russia from my house (Thank you Tina Fey/SNL).Then there was a rather lengthy interview (or series) with Katie Couric, where Palin said "I love to read! It's Great!" and got stumped by the question "So what's the last thing you've read?"And things just kept spiraling out of control until the Election day feed from McCain HQ looked like eight guys in suits quietly hiding from reality while Ted Nugent tried to get some energy in the room.

© Photo:Acc248

VWs emissions scandal. CEO resignation, huge drop in market value and sales, court cases, compensation claims....

© Photo:dboc

Anybody else remember the olean/olestra "Wow" potato chips back in the 90s? The idea was that the olean in the chips would prevent your body from absorbing some of the fat and calories, so you could eat the chips and not put on weight as fast. They eventually had to put a little disclaimer on the bag that mentioned they could cause "oily discharge". They gave a lot of people diarrhea and ruined a lot underwear.

© Photo:anon

Jesy Nelson's solo debut.was so disasterous all the goodwill she had from Little Mix and her mental health work disappeared in basically 3 days.GrumpyPancake:I'm still so upset about her and how her whole solo thing started and immediately derailed. Especially bc I enjoyed the debut single, despite all the criticisms of it, and was looking forward to new music in that direction. The black girl cosplay tho, the blackfishing, girl why

© Photo:visionaryredditor

The disaster recovery official that spend a huge amount of time and emails worrying about what to wear on camera while hoards of people were losing their lives, trapped or living in squalor immediately after Hurricane Katrina.

© Photo:MrMattyMatt

2006, then Senator George Allen referred to one of his assistants a certain name. He tried to play it off that he really didn't know what that name meant, or that it wasn't really meant to be racist, but no one bought it, and he lost reelection.

© Photo:llcucf80

The Chevy Nova. For some reason it just didn't sell well in Latin America. ("No va" means "doesn't go" in Spanish).

© Photo:GooberMcNutly

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DaBaby randomly being homophobic at the peak of his carreer, then having the worst response ever to a controversy like this where he said something like "my gay fans arent like that"and then on top of the controversy his carreer was already kinda imploding because he was releasing the worst singles ever i think its pretty much impossible for him to recover he lost the opportunity to be the new ludacris the pop-rap feature guy.

© Photo:anon

Ashlee Simpson's SNL debacle. She was not well and couldn't sing, as was depicted in her reality show. Nevertheless, she chose to show up and lip sync, the wrong track played, and humiliation ensued.She kept going though. Her next album debuted at #1. She returned to SNL to sing for real, and did well, but people didn't talk about it much because it went well. She phased out of her commercial peak for unrelated reasons...I think she was just never poised to be a very big star for long. People still remember the incident and it does come up in interviews sometimes. Things turned out fine for her because she didn't blow the money she made and she's busy being a mom.

© Photo:anon

Adele cancelling her Vegas residency a day before. So like all these fans flew in from wherever and were literally staying at the hotel when the announcement was made. And then there were all the people who had made accomodations for the next three months afterward.

© Photo:Kotaac

ARTPOP was pretty wack to live through. If she wasn't screaming at Perez Hilton to stop stalking her outside her apartment, she was melting down on Twitter about Katy and Madonna to promote a song with R Kelly.

© Photo:hennny

Hilaria Baldwin being exposed for faking she is Spanish and from Spain. Neither true.

© Photo:socceriife

New Balance announcing support of the Trump administration for its pro domestic manufacturing policies.The left started to boycott them and burn their shoes.Meanwhile, the far right attempted to coopt them as the "official shoes of the alt right.".

© Photo:t_a_6847646847646476

Barcelona's stupid hashtag when Messi got busted avoiding taxes. Even their own fans weren't defending him. #WeAreAllMessi

Paramore, when the Farro brothers left the band after the third album, Josh posted a rant online that personally attacked Hayley Williams as a diva, and more detrimentally, said the band was a fraud since Hayley was the only one signed to a label, and the rest of the group were just her employees.While the initial damage control was pretty effective, especially an hour long MTV interview where Hayley and the remaining members explained the intricacies of the situation, the image of the band, especially among those who already saw them as "the ones with the Twilight song", was pretty bad.Over time this has lessened, both albums released after the departure were met with great reviews, and Zach Farro rejoining the band indicated that maybe Josh' claims weren't as substantial as he claimed.

Story time, this is a blast from that past. Guns N' Roses, biggest band in the world dissappears around 1993. Axl Rose returns having fired the entire old band, Slash etc, after being in hiding for 8 years. Has a guy looking like the Alien from Alien on rhythm and a dude with a KFC bucket on his head playing lead guitar. Same guy does a numchuck dance before his guitar solo slot. First North American show in 8 years, band no shows in Vancouver, riot, Axl's private jet still parked on the tarmac at LAX. show cancelled, police have to tear gas the downtown.Tour goes on a few weeks, disaster VMA slot, Axl refuses to elaborate on whether a long awaited album will come out all, looks terrible and sounds out of breath. Axl then refused entry to nightclub in NYC because he was wearing animal fur. Sulks in his hotel room, no shows at Philly, second massive riot, millions in damages. Tour cancelled by Live Nation, Axl doesn't emerge for another 4 years.

Lee Ryan from the British boy band Blue ruining their US debut by saying that 9/11 terrorist attacks were "blown out of proportion" and asking people to be more concerned about the animals.

The Slap has turned out to be much bigger than I thought it would when it happened.xandrenia:This is truly one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen on live TV. Here we have a grown man getting up and slapping someone over an arguably offensive joke, screaming and cursing in his face, and nobody knew for a couple minutes whether it was real or not. It's still so shocking to watch.

Ariana Granda licking doughnuts and saying she hates America…..

Katy Perry's lead up and promo for WitnessJust the entire thing, the music videos, the 24 hour live stream, the performance at SNL, dressing up as Hilary Clinton for Halloween, hosting the VMAsAll of those had multiple people working on it and going yasss this is a great idea.

Taylor Swift and her private jet usage. She says she rents it out to others. As if that makes it better.

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March 31, 2026

23 PR Disasters That Became Absolute Nightmares For Everyone Involved

When you become well-known, whether as a company or a celebrity, sooner or later you're going to end upin the public ...

Read More