11/25/2024: That’s Bananas!
PLUS: Bee Attack!; Tyson’s Bottom Offer; and Royal Shutdown
Today is Monday, November 25, 2024.
It is the 330th day of the year.
36 days remain.
PROGRAMMING NOTE
There will be no newsletter on Thursday, November 28 or Friday, November 29 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
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WHAT’S ON TAP
ELON MUSK’s wealth soars to record heights and cops bust a retail theft crime ring. Details in HIT LIST.
KHALID gets outed and CONOR MCGREGOR loses a sexual assault case. More in SHOWBIZ.
JASON KELCE is heading to late-night and RACHAEL RAY’s podcast is struggling. Details in CASTING CALL.
Another day, another lawsuit for YE. Find out more in KARDASH.
An iconic royal landmark closes its doors for formal events for a few years. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
A Florida man is grateful to be alive after surviving what would be one of the worst days of anyone’s life.
Last week, Jon Christian rode the lift on his bucket truck to trim trees as part of post-hurricane cleanup in Citrus County. He estimates he was 30 feet above the roof of the building below when he disturbed a beehive. The insects attacked him, and in the frenzy, he accidentally flipped a switch that disabled the ability to lower the bucket.
From the ground below, his crewmembers encouraged him to jump, and in a panic, he did, landing on the roof thirty feet below, rolling down the side, and crashing to the ground, all while being relentlessly attacked and stung by bees. He miraculously survived both the stinging attack and the fall.
Christian tells local media, “I had no broken bones, no internal bleeding and whatever they treated me with at the hospital, it’s a miracle because the swelling went away.”
GET A LOAD OF THIS: Christian is allergic to bees (!!) and endured at least 120 bee stings, 50 of which were on his head. He says, "The doctor said that I either had superhuman strength or I'm the luckiest person in the world.” [via WESH]
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ELON MUSK is the richest man in history, now by a record margin.
In the last few weeks, TESLA stock value has soared, and the value of his artificial intelligence startup xAI has doubled, bringing his net worth to $347.8 BILLION. The value surpasses the previous record, also set by Musk in November 2021, of $340 BILLION.
Musk’s net worth is up $119 BILLION this year and he’s nearly $130 BILLION richer than JEFF BEZOS in the Number Two spot. [via Bloomberg]
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A couple from Connecticut have been busted for what authorities allege has been a weeks-long crime spree that stole more nearly $1 MILLION worth of product from Lululemon stores across the country.
Earlier this month, Jadion Richards and Akwele Lawes-Richards were arrested at a Lululemon location in Woodbury, Minnesota, a day after they allegedly stole $5,000 worth of items from a shop in nearby Roseville.
Review of security camera footage from other locations with stolen workout gear show them practicing a consistent con: Jadion would first enter the store and buy a few low-cost items, then re-attach the security sensors from the legally purchased items onto more expensive ones that they’d conceal under clothing. As they left, the security sensors would trigger an alarm, and Jadion would show the clerk the contents of his bag to make it look like everything was legitimate. Later, they’d return the stolen items at another store to get the cash back.
When officers searched the crooks’ nearby hotel room, they found suitcases full of some-$50,000 worth of merchandise. Both have been released on bail but require weekly check-ins as part of their release. They’ll be in court on December 16. [via NBC News]
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Apparently a steady diet of beer, cheese, brats, and cranberries is good for the pocket book: Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows grocery shoppers in Wisconsin have the lowest weekly grocery bills in the nation, at $221.
Shoppers in Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, and New Hampshire also shell out less than $240 a week on average.
The most expensive states to buy groceries are Hawaii ($334 a week) and Alaska ($329 a week). California ($298), Nevada ($295), and Mississippi ($291) round out the five most expensive states. [via New York Post]
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Remember the banana that was duct-taped to a wall and called art? It sold at auction for $6.2 million last week.
The piece, called “Comedian,” was scooped up by crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun, who beat out six others in a five-minute bidding war.
Sun gets the banana, which said he plans to eat “as part of this unique artistic experience,” a certificate of authenticity, and installation instructions to replace the fruit.
The controversial artwork first appeared at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019.
BY THE WAY: The banana that sold at auction was purchased earlier that day for 35 cents from a local fruit stand. [via Smithsonian]
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DEATHS
Legendary game show host CHUCK WOOLERY has died.
He passed away at his home in Texas on Saturday. The cause of death is not yet known.
Woolery was the first to host “Wheel of Fortune.”
He was 83.
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Actor MICHAEL VILLELLA has died.
He passed away in a hospital on Saturday after suffering multiple organ failure.
Villella is best known for his role in “The Slumber Party Massacre.”
He was 84.
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BABY NEWS
JASON and KYLIE KELCE are expecting baby #4.
He’s 37 and she’s 32.
The couple, already parents to 5-year-old Wyatt, 3-year-old Elliotte, and 1-year-old Bennett are adding another girl to their brood.
No word on when Kylie is due.
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WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
10. A Real Pain: $1.1 million (down from 9)
9. Smile 2: $1.11 million (down from 6)
8. The Wild Robot: $2 million (down from 5)
7. Heretic: $2.2 million (down from 4)
6. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: $3.5 million (down from 3)
5. Venom: The Last Dance: $4 million (down from 2)
4. Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.: $5.1 million (new)
3. Red One: $13.2 million (down from 1)
2. Gladiator II: $55.5 million (new)
1. Wicked: $114 million (new)
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW gained 426 points (0.97%) to close at 44,296 on Friday. The S&P increased 20 points (0.35%) to close at 5,969 and the NASDAQ increased 31 points (0.16%) to close at 19,003.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $71 on Friday; BRENT CRUDE at $74.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.05 on Sunday.
₿ BITCOIN was mostly flat over the weekend, trading around $97,000.
💰Tuesday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $489 million jackpot or a $225.3 million cash payout. Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $184 million jackpot or a $85.1 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
Musician KHALID addressed speculation surrounding his sexuality after fellow musician HUGO D ALMONTE appeared to out him on social media.
“I got outted [sic] and the world still continues to turn. Let’s get this straight (lmao) I am not ashamed of my sexuality! In reality it ain’t nobodies [sic] business! But I am okay with me 🖤 love yall,” he tweeted on Friday.
Followers’ comments were a mix of shock and those who weren’t, to which Khalid responded that he “was never hiding” his preferences. [via Page Six]
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CONOR MCGREGOR was found liable for assault on Friday.
The month-long case came to a head last week, with the jury siding with accuser Nikita Ni Lamhain, who claims McGregor sexually assaulted her after a Christmas party in 2018.
McGregor, who says the interaction was consensual, now owes Lamhain $250,000 in damages. He plans to appeal the ruling. [via USA Today]
BY THE WAY: McGregor has been with his now-fiance, DEE DEVLIN, for the past 15 years. They have four children together.
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PATRICK MAHOMES has been fined $14,000 for a “violent gesture” he made at the end of last weekend’s football game against the Buffalo Bills.
For those who missed it, the Chiefs QB celebrated a touchdown pass with “finger guns,” something the NFL considers “unsportsmanlike conduct.”
THAT’S IRONIC: Last season Mahomes was fined $50,000 for “verbally abusing” an official. That incident also occurred during a Chiefs-Bills game. [via CBS Sports]
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Male stripper group The Kings of Hustler in Las Vegas want to host a holiday bash featuring MIKE TYSON’s bare bottom.
The inspiration, of course, being the shot of Tyson’s bum ahead of his bout against JAKE PAUL.
According to TMZ, KOH is offering Tyson $125,000 to show up in a pair of chaps and a banana hammock for their Cowboy Christmas Party.
ANOTHER OFFER: Adult website CamSoda has offered Tyson $250,000 to show off his rear end for an hour.
BY THE WAY: Tyson raked in around $20 million from the fight. [via TMZ]
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ADELE wrapped her Las Vegas residency on Saturday after what she called “one of the worst years of my life ever.”
In a video of her final performance, she tells the crowd in part, “I am so sad that this residency is over, but I’m glad that it happened. I really, really am…”
Fans may recall, Adele first announced the residency in November 2021, with shows scheduled to run from January to April 2022. Just hours before her first show, she announced an indefinite postponement of her residency, blaming covid.
The postponement ended with her first show on November 18, 2022. Through this past weekend she performed two shows every weekend.
No word on when (or if) she will perform again. [via The Wrap]
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CELEBS, THEY’RE JUST LIKE US: Before parent-teacher conferences, CARDI B told her kids that if there were any bad reports she would be taking away all electronics.
“iPads will be broken, phones will be thrown in the garbage, TVs will be disconnected, cables will be turned off,” she joked on social media. “I am not playing. I am that type of mom.”
Cardi shares three kids with her ex, rapper OFFSET. [via The Blast]
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Here’s what R. KELLY will be eating for Thanksgiving in prison – along with all the other inmates locked up at his North Carolina prison.
Starting out the day, the musician will be served hot oatmeal, a breakfast cake or whole wheat bread with jelly, and skim milk.
For lunch, inmates will be served roasted turkey with chicken noodle soup, mashed potatoes with gravy, yams, green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and fruit. There will also be an assortment of holiday pies.
Dinner will be pb&j sandwiches, potato chips, and fruit. [via InTouch]
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CASTING CALL
JASON KELCE is joining the late-night hosting circuit.
The 37-year-old is set to host Philadelphia-based late-night talk show, “They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce.”
Debuting in January, the hour-long show will air on ESPN, ESPN+, and Kelce’s YouTube channels.
No word on whether his brother, and “New Heights” podcast host, TRAVIS KELCE will make an appearance. [via Page Six]
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RACHAEL RAY’s podcast “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” is a flop.
Despite the podcast covering a variety of topics, it didn’t even make the top 250 of all Apple podcasts.
Ray also hosts “Rachael Ray’s Meals in Minutes” and “Rachael Ray in Tuscany.” [via The Sun]
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Actor CHAD DUELL is leaving “General Hospital” after 15 years of playing Michael Corinthos.
Duell won a Daytime Emmy in 2015 for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for the role.
No word on what he plans to do next, or if his character will be replaced. [via People]
WORTH NOTING: Duell’s exit comes after KELLY MONACO’s character, Sam McCall, was killed off the soap, in what many called an act of “retaliation” from producers.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Model JENN AN is suing YE for alleged assault.
An says she was hired to appear in a music video for his song “In For the Kill,” in 2010, but describes her experience as “porn-like.”
In the suit, she claims Ye “towered” over her, “smothered” her face, and repeatedly “rammed several fingers down her throat, continuously moving them in and out [...] to emulate forced oral sex.”
The actions went on for over a minute, during which An says Ye screamed, “This is [effing] art. I am like Picasso.”
The final edit for the music video didn’t include West or An.
No word on why she is choosing to file a suit 14 years later. [via The Sun]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
After the Emir of Qatar visits Buckingham Palace during an official state visit to the United Kingdom in December, the official residence of the monarch will be closed for such future formal events while it undergoes extensive renovations.
Extensive upgrades began in 2017, beginning with updates to electrical and cable infrastructure throughout the historic building. Now, that work will continue into the more public areas of the massive compound. In preparation, KING CHARLES has even moved his office spaces to areas that have already been redone. His official offices are in the area used by his mother as her private apartment.
Work will be completed by 2027. [via DailyMail]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Brand Day
National Parfait Day
Shopping Reminder Day
Gazpacho Soup Day
Blase Day
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ON THIS DATE
1783 - The last British soldiers leave New York City, three months after the signing of the Treaty of Paris.
For a while, NYC served as the newly-liberated nation’s capital, until it was replaced by Philadelphia in 1790.
The problem of relocating bitter British loyalists remained, however. The Crown helped relocate the holdovers in Canada, shifting the demographics from French to British.
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1963 - JFK is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
A horse-drawn carriage took the casket from the Capitol Rotunda to Arlington, along a route flanked by hundreds of thousands of mourners. Representatives from nearly 100 countries arrived for the state funeral.
An eternal flame marks his final resting place.
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1975 - Robert Ledley receives a patent for the Automated Computerized Transverse Axial X-Ray machine. It’s the predecessor to the modern CAT Scan.
The technology layers a series of X-Ray images to get cross-sections of organs to help view tumors, infections or internal bleeding.
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1980 - Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard takes the welterweight title when Roberto Duran forfeits.
It was in the eighth round. Duran had been suffering severe stomach cramps since the fifth that even made standing up difficult.
It was only Duran’s second loss to date, out of 73. He had taken the title from Leonard the previous June. That loss impelled Sugar Ray to train even harder and win.
He would beat Duran again in December 1989.
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1992 - Czechoslovakia is divided into two countries, following the collapse of communism in Europe: Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
The two nations were united under communist rule in 1969.
Beginning in late 1989, overwhelming protests had assembled throughout the country calling for a democratized society. With the momentum of the fall of the iron curtain across Europe, the highly visible and public protests were enough to bring the government to its knees.
Due to its fairly peaceful nature, the transition is known as the Velvet Revolution.
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2018 - Chargers Quarterback Philip Rivers sets an NFL single-game record completing 25-straight passes in a 45-10 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
The previous record was held by Mark Brunell and David Carr at 22 passes.
Rivers also set the NFL record for best single-game completion at 96.6%.
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2019 - Louis Vuitton buys Tiffany & Co for $16.2 billion.
The acquisition landed the jeweler among the company’s 79 other brands, including Dior, Givenchy, Fendi, and Dom Perignon.
The deal was the largest ever in the luxury sector at the time.
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BIRTHDAYS
Corbyn Besson - pop singer, Why Don’t We - 26
Katie Cassidy - daughter of David Cassidy & actress, “Gossip Girl” - 38
Joey Chestnut - competitive eater - 41
Jenna Bush Hager - journalist - 43
Christina Applegate - actress, “Married…with Children” & “Dead to Me” - 53
Kenny Payne - basketball coach - 58
Kevin Chamberlin - actor, “Jessie” & “The Addams Family” - 61
Amy Grant - pop singer - 64
Bruno Tonioli - TV show judge, “DWTS” - 69
Born On This Date
John F. Kennedy Jr. - JFK’s son & magazine editor - 1960 (d. 1999)
Joe DiMaggio - baseball player - 1914 (d. 1999)
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