3/27/2023: Customer Service Death Spiral From Hell
PLUS: Trump Does Waco; More “Weekends With Adele”; and Nepo-baby North
Today is Monday, March 27, 2023.
It is the 86th day of the year.
279 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Cyclone Freddy smashes global storm records and ELON MUSK revalues Twitter. More in HIT LIST.
Former President DONALD TRUMP kicked off his 2024 stump schedule in Waco on Saturday, to mixed results. More in THE SWAMP.
TOM BRADY is the new co-owner of the Las Vegas Aces and someone hacked RAY LIOTTA’s Facebook page. More in SHOWBIZ.
“Grey’s Anatomy” gets a Season 20 and Netflix gives “You” a fifth and final season. More in CASTING CALL.
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HIT LIST
A few months into his ownership of Twitter, ELON MUSK has offered stock grants to some of the remaining employees that value the company around $20 billion.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Musk bought the company for around $44 billion.
BUT WAIT: In a memo to staff, Musk said that he sees a “clear, but difficult, path” that leads the company to a $250 billion valuation – suggesting those stock grants would be worth ten times their current value in the coming years. [via WSJ]
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The auctioneer overseeing the sale of items belonging to convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh’s estate says it was the largest auction he’d ever seen.
The event lasted for over six hours, with buyers shelling out well over-market prices to own a piece of spooky history. A Yeti thermos sold for $400, a beer koozie for $500, and a set of mounted antlers went for $10,000. [via CNN]
Proceeds from the sale of the items are getting lumped in with the now-notorious Moselle estate, which sold for nearly $4 million last week. After paying legal fees and settling small claims against the estate, more than $2.6 million will go to victims of the February 2019 boat crash, in which Murdaugh’s son Paul crashed a boat and killed one person and injured others. [via Greenville News]
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A massive cyclone that began in early February is finally dissipating, after wreaking havoc across the southern Indian Ocean and southeast Africa ever since.
Dubbed “Cyclone Freddy,” it has made landfall three times, pummeling countries like Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe with torrential rain that has caused mudslides, flooding, and has killed at least 600 people. Tens of thousands of people remain displaced from their homes.
Freddy is believed to be the longest cyclone ever recorded and has shattered records for cyclone energy, as measured by the overall strength over time. [via NPR, Reuters]
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Last week, news broke that a Florida principal was fired after some parents complained that their 11-and-12-year-old kids had seen photos of the “David” sculpture – in all his naked glory.
Now, the mayor of Florence, Italy, where the actual sculpture is on display, has invited the dismissed principal to see it in person. The principal told the Associated Press on Sunday that she’s considering taking the mayor up on his offer. [via Associated Press]
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Imagine the excitement of buying a $68,000 Maserati SUV – only to find out weeks later that it’s a stolen vehicle.
A North Carolina man says he bought his wife exactly such a vehicle from online shop Carvana last November. When they took it in for service, the technicians found a mismatch between the VIN and the purchase paperwork – he thought he bought a 2021 model for a deal, but really got a vehicle from 2017.
Then began an all-too-familiar customer service death spiral from hell.
Since it was a stolen vehicle, the police took possession of it. But to get his money back, Carvana needed to take the car back. But the man couldn’t surrender the car because the police had it. Because it was stolen.
Carvana says the person they bought it from went through “sophisticated criminal steps” to pull off the con. Now, the ripped-off buyer is seeking $1 million in damages. [via ABC 11]
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CHARTS
Weekend Box Office
10. Avatar: The Way of Water: $1.4 million (down from 9)
9. Champions: $1.5 million (down from 8)
8. Jesus Revolution: $2 million (down from 7)
7. Cocaine Bear: $2.1 million (down from 6)
6. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania: $2.4 million (down from 5)
5. 65: $3.2 million (down from 4)
4. Scream VI: $8.4 million (down from 2)
3. Shazam! Fury of the Gods: $9.7 million (down from 1)
2. Creed III: $10.4 million (up from 3)
1. John Wick: Chapter 4: $73.5 million (new)
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DEATHS
Comedian XAVIER LOPEZ aka “Chabelo” has died.
He passed away Saturday, according to a Twitter post from Mexico’s President ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR. A post from his family stated that he had been suffering from “abdominal complications” shortly before his passing.
Chabelo was well-known for his work on children’s programs, both in Mexico and the United States.
He was 88.
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BABY NEWS
“Harry Potter” alum DANIEL RADCLIFFE, 33, is expecting his first child with girlfriend, actress ERIN DARKE, 38.
The pair have been together for 10 years. They met on the set of “Kill Your Darlings” in 2013.
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BREAKUPS
REESE WITHERSPOON, 47, and her husband JIM TOTH, 52, are calling it quits after 12 years of marriage.
The actress announced the split on social media Friday, writing that going forward their “biggest priority” is their 10-year-old son Tennessee.
The divorce will be Witherspoon’s second. She was previously married to actor RYAN PHILLIPE, with whom she shares two kids.
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THE SWAMP
Former President DONALD TRUMP held his first 2024 election rally on Saturday, in Waco, Texas, where he turned his sights on likely primary opponent, America’s Governor RON DESANTIS.
Trump mocked DeSantis for asking for Trump’s endorsement when he first ran for governor of Florida in 2018, then accused DeSantis of adhering to pandemic lockdowns longer than necessary. Later, he brought up DeSantis’ vote as a Congressman to cut Social Security benefits.
WORTH NOTING: Trump initially, and reluctantly, called for lockdowns in March 2020 – remember, “15 days to flatten the curve” – and left the decisions to the states.
DeSantis first issued a stay-at-home order on April 1, 2020. He was the third governor in the nation to lift the order, which he did on April 30. By June 3, 2020 bars and restaurants were open at 50% capacity in most of the state. On September 25, he issued an order that local authorities could not impose further shutdowns or blanket mitigation efforts. To accuse DeSantis of not moving quickly enough is stupid and unfair.
ALSO WORTH NOTING: At some point, Congress must authorize changes to the structure of entitlement like Medicare and Social Security. The president who manages the looming insolvency crisis will notch an historic, legacy-making victory – whoever that president may be. But apparently it will never be Trump.
ARRESTWATCH: Who knows what fresh Hell today might bring?
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Rep. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ has launched her own TikTok channel over the weekend, just days after the app’s CEO testified to Congress last week over privacy and spying concerns. In the video, AOC stands with the app and says it should not be banned.
WORTH NOTING: TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, gave $150,000 to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Foundation last year. AOC is on that foundation’s advisory board.
WORTH ASKING: Why do Congressional causes need their own foundations? How is this not an obvious way to skirt FEC laws? And what possible benefit is there to American constituents from a foreign company funneling money into such organizations?
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 132 points (0.41%) on Friday to close at 32,237. The S&P added 22 points (0.56%) to close at 3,970 and the NASDAQ added 35 points (0.31%) to close at 11,823.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $69 on Friday; BRENT CRUDE at $74
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.43 on Sunday.
₿ BITCOIN improved on Sunday, adding 1.3% and trading over $27,800.
🛩 There were more than 5,740 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 327 such cancellations.
💰Tuesday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $332 million jackpot or a $174.3 million cash payout. Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $122 million jackpot or a $66 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
JAY-Z is now worth $2.5 BILLION -- making him the 1,203rd richest person in the world.
The milestone comes after the music mogul sold his 50% stake in D’USSE cognac to parent company Bacardi for $750 million last month.
WORTH NOTING: The richest person in the world is BERNARD ARNAULT, CEO of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. [via TMZ]
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ADELE is adding 34 shows to her Las Vegas residency.
During Saturday’s performance at the Colosseum at Casesar’s Palace, she told the crowd there would be “many more weekends” of “Weekends With Adele.”
For those unable to attend the added shows, Adele says she will film and release concert footage for fans to enjoy at home.
“Weekends With Adele” will now run through November. [via People]
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RAY LIOTTA’s Facebook page has been hacked.
Followers of the late actor’s account became concerned when death hoaxes, weird links and bizarre stories about ELLEN DEGENERES, BRUCE WILLIS and ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER started popping up on his page.
His team was alerted to the odd activity and quickly got it taken care of…or so they thought. Just hours later more random posts showed up, including one promoting a porn video.
As of Sunday afternoon all of the random posts had been deleted from his page, but a rep says they still don’t know who hacked it. [via TMZ]
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During a recent appearance on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” JANE FONDA spoke about the infamous slap scene oppositie JENNIFER LOPEZ in their 2005 flick “Monster-in-Law.”
“I slap her, she slaps me…Well Jennifer, as per Jennifer, she had this enormous diamond ring and so when she slapped me one of the times it cut open across my eye -- my eyebrow,” Fonda revealed.
“And she never apologized,” she continued.
For those unfamiliar with the film, Lopez plays a woman named Charlie who goes toe-to-toe with her future mother-in-law, played by Fonda, hence all the slapping. [via Deadline]
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TOM BRADY is now part owner of WNBA team the Las Vegas Aces.
The news was announced by Aces owner MARK DAVIS, who called the former QB a “win not only for the Aces, and the WNBA, but for women’s professional sports as a whole.”
No word on how much Brady’s partial ownership is worth, but the team is valued at an estimated $13.7 million. [via TMZ]
WORTH REMEMBERING: Brady also owns a Major League Pickleball team.
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SYLVESTER STALLONE wants to start painting again.
The 76-year-old, who has previously showed off his artistic ability on social media, told his Instagram followers on Saturday that he is ready to get his brushes back in action.
“What’s wonderful about painting, it’s similar to writing a short screenplay, but instead of words, you use strokes and colors to tell your story,” he wrote.
Stallone is no stranger to the art world. In 2021, he opened the largest look at his works in Germany in an exhibit called “Sylvester Stallone: The Magic of Being.” [via People]
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SAM ASGHARI wants to star in a movie alongside his wife BRITNEY SPEARS.
Speaking to TMZ, he said that Brit is a “great actress” and the two would be a perfect fit for an action comedy flick. He added that because they are both super athletic they could even do their own stunts.
Asghari is currently working on a mystery film in Los Angeles. [via TMZ]
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AMANDA BYNES’ psychiatric hold has been extended another week as she continues to get the help and support she needs.
A source told TMZ that the actress is “seriously focusing on getting better” and will remain hospitalized until that happens.
Bynes was placed on a psych hold last weekend after she was found walking around downtown Los Angeles with no clothes on. Those close to her said she had been living on the streets for several days prior to the incident. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
“Grey’s Anatomy” is extending its streak as the longest-running primetime medical drama after landing a 20th season at ABC.
With the renewal news, fans are wondering if ELLEN POMPEO’s Meredith Grey will return. After her big midseason sendoff, it was revealed that she will appear in the Season 19 finale on May 18, but beyond that is still up in the air, insiders told Deadline.
Pompeo will continue to serve as executive producer and her voiceover will still open and close future episodes. [via Deadline]
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“You” has been renewed for a fifth and final season at Netflix.
PENN BADGLEY will return as serial killer Joe Goldberg.
Season 4 hit the streamer earlier this month. [via Deadline]
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CELEBRITY CELLBLOCK
Actor JONATHAN MAJORS was arrested over the weekend after a woman, who sources say is his girlfriend, claims he assaulted her.
The alleged assault reportedly occurred while the two were in a taxi on their way home from a bar in Brooklyn. The victim claims Majors grabbed her and slapped her after she asked to see who he was texting. She also says he put his hands around her throat.
Majors was arrested and booked on charges of strangulation, assault and harassment. He was later released without bail.
The “Creed” star denies the accusations and his attorney told TMZ that they have proof they are ready to present in his defense. [via TMZ]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
YE returned to Instagram over the weekend with another post about his feelings toward Jewish people.
“Watching Jonah Hill in 21 Jump street made me like Jewish people again. No one should take anger against one or two individuals and transform that into hatred towards millions of innocent people,” he wrote alongside a poster for the film.
“No Christian can be labeled antisemite knowing Jesus is Jew. Thank you Jonah Hill I love you,” he continued.
There has been no comment from JONAH HILL regarding the post. [via Page Six]
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NORTH WEST is following her famous mom’s footsteps, launching her own skincare and toy line.
According to The Sun, KIM KARDASHIAN recently applied for four new trademarks for her daughter. The first is for non-medicated skincare products, such as lotions, creams and cleansers. The trademark can also cover serums, facial oils, body oils, bath and shower gels.
The second trademark covers toy figures, doll accessories, dolls, drawing toys, infant toys, mechanical action toys, play sets for action figures and bath and soffit sculpture toys.
The other two trademarks focus on advertising and entertainment services. [via The Sun]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
RON DESANTIS appeared on “Piers Morgan Uncensored” to promote his new book “The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival,” but all Morgan wanted to discuss was PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE.
When Morgan brought up his exit from “Good Morning Britain” over questioning Markle’s racism claims, DeSantis pivoted back to the reason he was there saying, “I was higher than Prince Harry,” referring to when his memoir was released.
Later in the interview Morgan asked DeSantis what he thinks of the Sussexes, to which he replied, “I don’t.”
Not willing to move on without an answer, Morgan asked “Are they annoying?” DeSantis, who really couldn't care less, said, “I think, for some, they are. I mean look, I’m not involved in that…But I think for some Americans they can be.” [via Yahoo News]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
World Theatre Day
National Spanish Paella Day
International Whisk(e)y Day
Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day
International Scribble Day
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ON THIS DATE
1513 - Explorer Juan Ponce de León spots land that he would call “La Florida” for the first time — marking the first time a European explorer set eyes on the peninsula.
The voyage took off from Puerto Rico, sailing northwest. Upon first sighting, he thought it was just another Caribbean island.
The crew made landfall near modern-day St. Augustine on Florida’s east coast, before setting out and following the coast south, around the tip, and up toward modern-day Tampa.
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1794 - President George Washington signs the Naval Act of 1794, which authorized the construction of six frigates with a $700,000 budget.
At the time, the new country had no standing army, let alone a naval fleet. Opponents to the measure believed a navy would be far too expensive to operate, especially as the United States was burdened with debt from the Revolutionary War.
Ultimately the measure passed, in particular to defend American merchant ships under attack in European waters by pirates. By law, four of the ships had to carry 44 guns and two ships had to have 36 on board.
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1912 – First Lady Helen Taft and the wife of the Japanese Ambassador ceremoniously plant two Yoshina cherry trees on the Potomac River.
Their trees accompanied the planting of another 3,020, gifted by the Japanese government.
The annual blossoming of the cherry trees is an event to behold in Washington each year. The fallen white petals from the cherry blossoms can make it look like it snowed a couple of inches even in warm spring temperatures.
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1939 – In the first NCAA men's basketball tournament, the University of Oregon beats Ohio State University 46-33.
In its first 12 years, only 8 teams competed in the entire tournament. In 2001, the NCAA instituted the contemporary 65-team tournament.
Since its unceremonious start, the men's basketball tournament has become a nationwide carnival of partying and gambling -- it's almost the most popular event to bet on, second only to the Super Bowl.
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1945 – The Nazis launch their last barrage of V-2 missiles from the last functioning launch base in the Netherlands.
More than 200 died in that final attack across England and Belgium.
After the US and Soviets rolled through formerly German-occupied territory, they stole much of the rocket technology, which led to their own development of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
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1973 – Marlon Brando wins the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his role as Vito Corleone in “The Godfather” — but he did not accept the award.
Instead, a young Native American woman took the stage in his place. She said that Brando would not accept the award as long as Native Americans were depicted unfavorably in films.
The only other actor to turn down an award was George C. Scott, for his roles in “Patton” and "The Hustler." He famously quipped, "I don't want any part of it."
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1980 - Mount St. Helens becomes active after 123 years.
A series of volcanic explosions began, and would later escalate into a major explosive eruption in May. That eruption would have a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 5, which is the most significant to occur in the contiguous United States.
It has been declared the most disastrous volcanic eruption in US history.
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2005 - “Grey’s Anatomy” premieres on ABC.
The show would become one of the longest-running medical drama series ever.
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2022 - The Slap Heard ‘Round Hollywood.
Will Smith storms the stage and slaps Oscars host Chris Rock after the comedian makes a joke about Smith’s wife.
Smith would later apologize for his actions and resign his Academy membership. He also gets banned from attending Academy events for 10 years.
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BIRTHDAYS
Halle Bailey - R&B singer - 23
Brenda Song - actress, “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” & “Secret Obsession” - 35
Jessie J - pop singer - 35
Buster Posey - baseball player - 36
Manuel Neuer - soccer player - 37
Fergie - pop singer - 48
Nathan Fillion - actor, “Castle” & “The Rookie” - 52
Elizabeth Mitchell - actress, “Lost” & “Dead of Summer” - 53
Mariah Carey - R&B singer - 54
Kevin Corrigan - actor, “Grounded for Life” - 54
Quentin Tarantino - director - 60
Cale Yarborough - race car driver - 84
Born On This Date
Henry Royce - industrialist & founder of Rolls-Royce - 1863 (d. 1933)
Wilhelm Rontgen - physicist, discovered X-rays - 1845 (d. 1923)
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