4/2/2024: Cry for the Taxman
PLUS: Fecal Matters; Shakira Bashes “Barbie”; and Stay or Deport?
Today is Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
It is the 93rd day of the year.
273 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
SAM BANKMAN-FRIED’s unflappable ego is on parade and a kind man honors his wife’s legacy. Details in HIT LIST.
KYLIE KELCE is a Swiftie and a “Bachelorette” alum joins OnlyFans. More in SHOWBIZ.
EWAN MCGREGOR isn’t ready to hang up his lightsaber. Details in CASTING CALL.
Once a KARDASHIAN, always a Kardashian. More on that in KARDASH.
Americans have mixed feelings about PRINCE HARRY’s potentially illegal visa application. Details in ROYALS.
###
HIT LIST
SAM BANKMAN-FRIED might have the most unflappable ego out of the dozens of characters we cover in Hit List.
Just after receiving his 25-year prison sentence on Thursday, SBF completed an interview by email with ABC News, in which he maintains that FTX customers could have been repaid in full in November 2022, when the scandal first broke.
At the same time, he acknowledged the “despair, frustration and sense of betrayal from thousands of customers,” and said they should be paid back at Bitcoin’s current price, which is nearly triple where it was at the time.
The interview response echoes the personal statement he gave in court last week, insisting again, “There are and always have been plenty of assets to repay customers, lenders, and investors in full, at current prices or price at the time.” [via ABC News]
###
Convicted killer ALEX MURDAUGH received a 40-year federal sentence on Monday after pleading guilty to a variety of financial crimes last year. The sentence will run concurrently with the 27 years he’s serving on state charges.
Both of these sentences are on top of the consecutive life sentences he received following his conviction for murdering his wife and son.
Murdaugh confessed to the financial crimes, which says were to fuel his opioid addiction. He maintains his innocence for the murders. [via CNN]
###
Those looking to scale Mount Everest will now be responsible for cleaning up their own “waste.”
According to The Himalayan Times, more than 30,000 pounds of waste was collected from the mountain during a cleanup campaign in 2023; a similar amount was also collected in 2022. To eliminate the amount of waste left behind a new rule states that climbers must bring their #2s down with them.
It is estimated that there will be about 1,200 people climbing Everest this season. Each climber will be issued two “poop bags” to take along with them. [via CNN, Himalayan Times]
SPEAKING OF FECAL MATTERS: A flight from Frankfurt, Germany, en route to San Francisco, California, had to turn back shortly after takeoff last week after a defective toilet and backed-up waste tank leaked sewage into the cabin.
Before abandoning the flight plan and returning to the ground, the flight crew tried to repair the situation while the flight circled over the Black Sea. Ultimately the flight returned to Germany and passengers were rebooked. [via The Sun]
###
An Oklahoma man is honoring the memory of his late wife by paying off unpaid school lunch bills at public schools in his area.
Sean Cummings has so far doled out $40,000 to twenty Oklahoma schools to wipe out the lunch debt owed by students. In some cases, students who owe the cafeteria money are unable to graduate.
Cummings says his wife was a chef and restaurateur and this act of generosity is “beyond anything in her wildest dreams.” He has another $25,000 to give, but a GoFundMe for the project has exceeded $70,000 in additional donations. [via KOCO]
###
About 25% of Gen Z taxpayers expect to seek out professional therapy in order to deal with the emotions of tax season.
A majority – 54% – say they’ve cried, or expect to cry, while doing their taxes.
Two-thirds of Gen Z-ers say they don’t know where to get their W2 or 1099 forms to complete their filings. [via CNBC]
###
DEATHS
Actress BARBARA RUSH has died.
She passed away Sunday evening, according to a statement from her daughter. No cause of death was shared.
Rush is best known for her roles in “It Came From Outer Space” and “All My Children.”
She was 97.
###
Football player VONTAE DAVIS has died.
He was found deceased in a Florida home, allegedly owned by his grandmother, on Monday. No foul play is suspected, though an investigation is ongoing.
Davis played 10 seasons in the NFL before retiring in 2018.
He was only 35.
###
BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 240 points (0.6%) to close at 39,566 on Monday. The S&P lost 10 points (0.2%) to close at 5,243 and the NASDAQ added 17 points (0.11%) to close at 16,396.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $83; BRENT CRUDE at $87.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.53 on Monday.
₿ BITCOIN was down over 2.5% Monday, trading around $69,400.
🛩 There were more than 2,610 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Monday and more than 40 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS will be for a $36 million jackpot or a $17.1 million cash payout.
###
SHOWBIZ NEWS
The DailyMail reports that actor ASHTON KUTCHER is bracing for a subpoena to share what he knows, if anything, about the sexual assault accusations leveled against SEAN COMBS in recent civil lawsuits.
Kutcher and Combs have been friends for years. MILA KUNIS, Kutcher’s wife, has reportedly banned any contact with Combs. The couple took flack last year for publicly supporting former “That ‘70s Show” costar DANNY MASTERSON as he awaited sentencing for rape convictions, and called on the judge to show leniency in what turned out to be a 30-year sentence.
An insider close to the couple tells the Mail, “Regardless of Ashton's long history with [Combs], he has distanced himself from [Combs] since Cassie's lawsuit” – the one filed last year and settled the next day – “and even more so in the wake of the new ones.” [via DailyMail]
###
KYLIE KELCE is on board with her brother-in-law’s relationship.
During an appearance on “Today,” Kylie was asked about TRAVIS KELCE and TAYLOR SWIFT, to which she replied, “Ultimately, if Travis is happy, we’re happy.”
As for now being in the spotlight, she, and husband JASON KELCE, are “trying to take it in stride” and make sure that people are also “talking about important things,” like the Eagles Foundation -- a nonprofit benefiting those affected by autism. [via Page Six]
###
A new hate crime law issued in Scotland has “Harry Potter” author J.K. ROWLING daring haters to “arrest” her for violating it.
In a series of tweets, she also declared the new law a threat to free speech.
The law, which aims to “criminalize threatening or abusive behavior that is intended to stir up hatred against people based on age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or transgender ideology,” sparked other criticisms for not including “women” in the verbiage.
In addition to Rowling, podcast host JOE ROGAN and ELON MUSK also spoke out against the new law. [via Daily Mail]
###
A love letter allegedly written by VINCE MCMAHON’s accuser, Janel Grant, is putting some of her assault claims into question.
In the letter, Grant declared her “love with a capital L” to McMahon, and also called him her “best friend,” her “love,” and her “everything.” That doesn’t track with the years of assault she claims to have experienced at the hands of McMahon, which she detailed in a lawsuit earlier this year.
For his part, McMahon has denied all the accusations. [via NY Post]
###
Actor MICHAEL STUHLBARG was attacked by an assailant with a rock while jogging in New York City on Sunday.
Following the attack, the “Dopesick” star allegedly chased after the guy, who has been identified as a 27-year-old homeless man named Xavier Israel. Officers were quick to respond to the incident, arresting Israel and charging him with assault.
This isn’t his first charge either, he was arrested three times in January 2022 -- twice for assault and once for robbery.
Stuhlberg has not spoken about the assault, but an insider told Page Six that he suffered an abrasion on the back of his neck. [via Page Six]
###
“Bachelorette” alum TYLER CAMERON launched an OnlyFans account on Monday -- and many are questioning whether it is real or an April Fool’s Day gag.
Posting a photo of himself naked from the waist up, Cameron told his Instagram followers they could see what's hiding below on his new OnlyFans page.
Those that checked out his new account found a full version of the NSFW photo, along with the caption that read, “Going home with me is easier than you think” -- a clear reference to his new renovation show, “Going Home with Tyler Cameron.” [via Instagram]
###
CASTING CALL
SHAKIRA and her two sons are not fans of “Barbie.”
Speaking to Allure about last summer’s box office hit, the singer said her boys -- ages 11 and 9 -- found it “emasculating,” and she agrees.
“I’m raising two boys. I want ‘em to feel powerful too [while] respecting women,” she stated. “I think that men have a purpose in society and women have another purpose as well. We compliment each other…” [via Allure]
###
Season 2 of “House Of The Dragon” will premiere on June 17.
The “Game of Thrones” prequel’s first season was released in August 2022. Each of those episodes were watched by an average of 29 million viewers.
The forthcoming season will only be eight episodes; two fewer than Season 1. [via Daily Mail]
###
EWAN MCGREGOR really likes being a Jedi Master.
After playing the titular character in the Disney+ limited series, “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” McGregor told LADBible that he hopes his time as the Jedi isn’t over, while adding that he has yet to hear from Lucasfilm or Disney saying, “Let’s do another one.” [via LADBible]
###
Rumor is…KEVIN COSTNER would like to appear in the forthcoming final season of “Yellowstone,” despite insiders saying it's unlikely.
Puck News reports that Costner, who plays patriarch John Dutton, has been telling people he plans to return for “at least a cameo [but] possibly more.”
While fans would certainly love to see more of Costner’s character, insiders told the outlet that creator TAYLOR SHERIDAN is probably not going to change “finished scripts to accommodate a send-off for John Dutton.”
Remember, Costner left the show after a rift with Sheridan over filming schedules. [via Puck News]
###
THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Many people like to bash the Kardashian-Jenner clan -- for a variety of reasons -- but one thing is for certain, once you are part of their inner circle, you will always be part of the family.
Case in point: The entire family appears to be on board with CAITLYN JENNER and LAMAR ODOM’s new sports podcast, “Keeping Up With Sports.”
Remember, Cait was married to KRIS JENNER -- back when she was BRUCE JENNER -- and Lamar was once married to KHLOE KARDASHIAN.
While the name pays homage to the family’s former reality show, there are no plans to discuss anything Kar-Jenner related on the podcast -- though having one of them as a guest would surely be good for ratings! [via TMZ]
###
WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
A DailyMail poll shows that more Americans say PRINCE HARRY should stay in the U.S. if it is revealed he lied on his visa paperwork than those who say he should be deported.
The D.C.-based think tank Heritage Foundation is suing for Harry’s original application materials. The organization began the process after the publication of “Spare” and Harry’s promo interviews for the autobiography, in which he admits to drug use. Admitting to drug use on a visa application is typically disqualifying.
In the survey, 44% overall say Harry should be allowed to stay while 33% disagree. [via DailyMail]
###
DAY OF THE YEAR
Children’s Picture Book Day
International Children’s Book Day
National Ferret Day
Don’t Walk Your Dog Day
SAAM Day of Action
World Autism Awareness Day
International Fact-Checking Day
National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
National Love Your Produce Manager Day
###
ON THIS DATE
1513 - Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon lands on the coast of Florida, and declares the territory for Spain.
He is the first explorer credited with documenting the geography of the southeastern part of the present United States. de Leon was searching for the mythical fountain of youth -- a spring or river whose water would provide special powers of healing.
The explorer's visit was short, but he returned in 1521 to try to begin a Spanish colony there.
###
1863 - A riot erupts in Richmond, Virginia as public food supplies grow smaller and smaller.
This was in the thick of the Civil War, and Richmond was in the hands of the Confederate States of America.
The confederate government had been stockpiling food in the case of emergency, though the short supplies were not enough for them to release the stockpile.
The mob took to looting and stealing. President Jefferson Davis himself finally addressed the crowd. He told them to stand down, or the militia would begin firing. With that, it ended peacefully, though 44 women and 29 men were arrested.
###
1917 - The first woman elected to Congress begins her term.
Jeannette Pickering Rankin was a representative from Montana who had been a public voice in the women's suffrage movement during the previous decade.
Though the other representatives had been working for several months, they had barred her from the floor until they decided whether it indeed was alright for Rankin to join them.
The same day she began her term, Woodrow Wilson addressed a joint session of Congress imploring its permission to go to war against Germany. Rankin was one of 50 to vote against the war.
###
1953 - The journal "Nature" publishes the first article that describes DNA as a double helix structure.
It was written by scientists Francis Crick and James Watson. Their designs were theoretical and based solely on educated guesses.
As science improved and advanced, it has turned out that Crick and Watson were absolutely correct.
###
1989 - Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev begins a series of meetings with Fidel Castro in Havana.
Castro arranged for a great deal of fanfare on Gorbachev's arrival, expecting to further his relationship with the Soviet empire. But Gorbachev was bringing bad news, that aid from the USSR to the small communist island would dwindle unless Castro enacted certain reforms.
It was all irrelevant anyway, as the Soviet Empire collapsed in the following months.
###
1992 - John Gotti is found guilty of 13 counts of murder and racketeering. The lifelong mob boss received a life prison sentence.
With Gotti off the streets the New York organized crime system was tossed into disarray.
He had survived three previous trials, each of which ended with acquittals.
Gotti would die in 2002.
###
2003 - Alex Rodriguez becomes the youngest MLB player to hit 300 home runs at 27 years, 249 days.
He was an infielder for the Texas Rangers at the time.
ARod is also the youngest American League player to reach the milestone.
###
2020 - The number of COVID-19 cases hits 1 million worldwide, with 51,485 deaths.
###
BIRTHDAYS
Emma Myers - actress, “Wednesday” - 22
Sophie Reynolds - actress, “Youth & Consequences” - 25
Austin Riley - baseball player - 27
Zach Bryan - country singer - 28
Quavo - rapper - 33
Drew Van Acker - actor, “Pretty Little Liars” - 38
Bethany Joy Lenz - actress, “One Tree Hill” - 43
Bobby Bones - radio host - 44
Michael Fassbender - actor, “ - 47
Pedro Pascal - actor, “Game of Thrones” & “The Last of Us” - 49
Roselyn Sanchez - actress, “Devious Maids” - 51
Clark Gregg - actor, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” - 62
Christopher Meloni - actor, “Law & Order: SVU” - 63
Born On This Date
Marvin Gaye - soul singer - 1939 (d. 1984)
Hans Christian Andersen - children’s author, “The Little Mermaid” - 1805 (d. 1875)
###