Cruise Line Insists Crew Dressed Up as ‘Snow Cones’ Not KKK – The Daily Beast

A cruise line apologized after staff members dressed like “upside-down snow cones” in pointed white hoods that resembled those worn by Ku Klux Klan members. Footage has emerged of housekeeping crew on the Pacific Explorer voyage from Melbourne to Hobart marching along the deck in all-white uniforms and pointed masks with cut-out eyeholes. But P&O Cruises Australia said the footage, from December, showed the staff dressed as “snow cones” as part of a Christmas-themed family event. Lynne Scrivens, the communications director of P&O Cruises Australia, said the crew were forced to improvise with their outfits due to a lack of supplies. “They are wearing their cleaning uniforms, and they’ve got something on their head that looks like an upside-down snow cone,” she told Sydney radio station 2GB on Wednesday. “No one can seriously think that [to emulate the hate group] was their intention,” she added, saying that none of the passengers complained. But one of the guests told Daily Mail Australia that a “quiet” descended on the deck when the staff emerged. “Everyone was like ‘OMG’ – they were calling it the ‘KKK cruise’,” she said. A spokesperson told the outlet that the cruise line regrets if the incident “offended any guests,” and said that the staff involved “were horrified and extremely apologetic when they learned of the distress their outfits could cause.”

Ivanka Trump has shared an Instagram post praising her father and podcaster Joe Rogan as “legends.” Donald Trump’s 43-year-old daughter, who recently confirmed that she will step back from the White House for her father’s second presidential term, posted a picture of herself between the two men, while noting that the presence of two other men would have completed the shot, from the National Building Museum on Jan. 19. “2 Legends!” she wrote, with a U.S. flag emoji. “Missing from this shot @DanaWhite & @lexfridman! Wish you two were in this one!” White, the Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO, claims he introduced Rogan and Trump after “working on” the podcaster for years to get him to convert to MAGAism. In July last year, Ivanka opened up to computer scientist and podcaster Fridman in a three-hour interview. Ivanka also hat-tipped Rogan’s wife Jessica for the shot. “So honored to be part of such a magical night. Love you my beautiful friend!” she replied.

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If you’re looking for effective anti-aging skincare formulas that don’t cost the sum of a monthly mortgage payment, take a cue from reality TV star Bethenny Frankel. Frankel, who has amassed quite the following on TikTok over the years, uses the platform to showcase her favorite products, including both luxury and drugstore formulas.

One of her favorite brands for skincare and cosmetics is No7—specifically, its Future Renew collection. Each formula in the line is affordably priced under $50 but, according to Frankel, looks, feels, and performs like higher-end counterparts.

One of her favorites is the Future Renew Damage Reversal Eye Serum. The lightweight anti-aging serum is formulated with Pepticology, the brand’s new and patent-pending peptide technology. This technology is formulated to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while aiding in the skin’s natural repair process for a firmer, brighter, and smoother complexion. Frankel also notes that the wallet-friendly serum layers well with other skincare products (she uses it under her moisturizer), and it “plays well with makeup.”

While skincare is always a worthy splurge (after all, our skin is our biggest organ), you don’t have to shell out $100+ for effective formulas that target the visible signs of aging.

Shortly after advancing to the semifinals of the Australian Open for the first time in his career, American tennis player Ben Shelton brought the spotlight back onto the “embarrassing and disrespectful” comments from interviewers throughout the tournament. “I’ve been a little bit shocked this week by how players have been treated by the broadcasters,” the 22-year-old American said in a post-match interview after triumphing over Lorenzo Sonego on Wednesday. Shelton mentioned the post-match chat with 19-year-old American phenom Learner Tien after he defeated Daniil Medvedev, where the teenager was left speechless after the interviewer told him “19-year-olds are not meant to be that good” and “I used to live in Newport Beach so I know where you live.” Shelton said he also got his share of similar comments, including an interviewer who asked: “Hey Ben, how does it feel that no matter who you play in your next match, no one is going to be cheering for you?” The American’s comments come just days after 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic called out the tournament’s official broadcaster, Channel 9, after one of its presenters filmed a segment mocking the tennis champ as “overrated” and a “has-been.” The presenter, Tony Jones, eventually apologized for the comments.

The House has approved the Laken Riley Act, signing off on the Senate’s amendments to its measures Wednesday and consequently simplifying the federal government’s ability to detain and deport undocumented migrants for an expanded list of crimes. Passed in a 263 to 156 vote (with 46 Democrats voting in favor), the GOP-led legislation will allow federal immigration officials to detain or deport undocumented migrants that have been charged, not yet convicted, with theft or burglary. The Senate also included an amendment last week which passed in a 64 to 35 vote, that expands the list of charges to include the assault of a law enforcement officer or any crime that results in bodily injury or death. The bill is now slated for President Donald Trump’s desk where it will be signed into law and mark the first major win for his administration that has repeatedly voiced its support for heightened border control and aggressive immigration policies. The bill is named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered last year by an undocumented Venezuelan migrant while out on a run.

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Few items exude elegance like a luxury watch; the right timepiece can elevate your style and transform a simple outfit into a statement of sophistication. The process of acquiring such a watch, however, is often catered exclusively to connoisseurs with deep knowledge—and even deeper pockets. Fortunately, Bezel is revolutionizing the world of watch-buying by making it easier for everyday buyers to shop for sought-after watches without needing to worry about fakes or unreasonable prices.

Bezel is the first fully-authenticated marketplace for luxury watches, offering a seamless and trustworthy experience for buyers and sellers of all backgrounds and knowledge levels. With Bezel, you can explore thousands of the world’s most desirable timepieces to find the perfect watch for you, using the app’s curated browsing to guide your search.

Once you make your selection, Bezel’s in-house team of watchmakers and authentication specialists will meticulously examine and certify the watch you buy to guarantee it is genuine and exactly as described, helping ensure peace of mind and confidence in your purchase. Plus, if you already have watches that you’re looking to sell, Bezel can also help you stand out to prospective buyers and get paid as soon as your items are bought.

With over half a billion dollars’ worth in inventory and thousands of glowing reviews, it’s easy to see why Bezel has quickly caught buzz within the watch world. There’s no need to let the clock tick any further—download the Bezel app, and start browsing today.

When asked if she’s ever had a wild interaction with a fan, comedian Amy Schumer went on to reveal a lot more than expected. During an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast Wednesday, the I Feel Pretty star told host Alex Cooper that she may or may not have once hooked up with a professional athlete who was a fan of her work. “When I was at sort of my peak, touring arenas, whatever…were they a professional athlete? Sure,” Schumer shared. “Did I text them late at night and they came over, went down on me and then I said, ‘I’m so tired, I’m so sorry,’ and they left? Yes.” She then turned to the camera to declare, “And you know who you are.” The comedian went on to reveal that this wasn’t the first time something like that had happened and that if she said anything further she was going to “get actually canceled.” Schumer stars in an upcoming Netflix comedy titled Kinda Pregnant which is slated to release on the streaming service February 5.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman just made a big promise to President Donald Trump. In Trump’s first known call with a foreign leader since returning to office, Bin Salman expressed Saudi Arabia’s intent to expand investments and trade with the U.S. by at least $600 billion over the next four years. The Saudi Press Agency said the crown prince spoke with Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him on his inauguration. The two leaders also discussed cooperation in achieving peace and stability in the Middle East, including enhancing bilateral efforts against terrorism. Bin Salman said Saudi Arabia was eager to join the U.S. in opportunities for “unprecedented economic prosperity.” During his inauguration on Monday, Trump said he would return to Saudi Arabia for his first international visit if the Middle Eastern power agreed to buy at least $450 billion in American products, as it did in 2017. “If Saudi Arabia wanted to buy another $450 or $500 [billion], we’d raise it for all the inflation. I think I probably would go there,” Trump said.

It looks like Harry and Sally are meeting again. Speculation is rife after the stars of When Harry Met Sally… Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal hinted at a reunion in a shared Instagram post on Wednesday. “It’s finally happening, we’re reuniting for something iconic,” Ryan wrote. “Can’t wait to show you all soon.” The onscreen couple posed for a photo wearing outfits reminiscent of their characters in the 1989 romcom. Crystal, 76, sported his iconic cream-colored sweater, while Ryan, 63, donned a Sally-approved shirt and blazer combo. The announcement was Crystal’s first-ever Instagram post. Fans couldn’t wait for the surprise, with one user commenting, “I’m not going to be able to handle this.” In 2023, Crystal told People, “We were thrown together by [director Rob Reiner and writer Nora Ephron], chosen to be this couple and you never know — almost 35 years later, we’re still a couple to everybody.”

The former Mob Wives cast member who was reported missing in Las Vegas has been found, according to multiple reports citing her family. Natalie DiDonato, a former star of the VH1 reality show’s fifth season, was reported missing to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, a spokesperson for law enforcement told NBC News. DiDonato’s family filed a missing person report after she missed two flights home from Las Vegas, her mother Denise Fuoco initially told TMZ on Tuesday. But now DiDonato’s mother now says her daughter is safe, after her daughter called her on Wednesday. It was not immediately clear why DiDonato disappeared, and her mother told NBC that DiDonato “didn’t really want to talk about it.” Fuoco also told TMZ that her daughter’s handbag and identification were stolen, making it difficult for her to get on a flight back home to Florida. The LVMPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Beast, and have not separately confirmed if DiDonato has been located.

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Quitting season is here again. Now that the ball has dropped and the champagne has popped, it’s time to decide if that fitness resolution is real or not. For those who aren’t ready to quit, there’s a science-based program offering support.

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World-renowned musician and businesswoman Rihanna says she is heartbroken after the shocking death of Bling Empire: New York star and accomplished jewelry designer Lynn Ban. The reality star and jeweler died on Monday at the age of 52 after a skiing accident in Aspen and subsequent emergency brain surgery. The duo had a close working relationship, which explains Rihanna’s outpouring of affection for Ban. In a comment on the post announcing Ban’s death, the world-famous music star said, “Lynn you will always be our fairy godmother! Love you forever and always! Can’t believe I’m writing this in a comment section rn! 😢💔 Thank you for all the joy you brought to us!” The stars worked together on “jewellery for her tours, appearances, music videos, and Fenty Puma collections.” Other celebrities, such as Ru Paul, and Debi Mazar also expressed their condolences in the comments section.

Tiger King star Joe Exotic is begging President Donald Trump to look into his case after a flurry of pardons on his first two days in office, including for the Jan. 6 rioters. “President Trump, you forgot me… again,” the former zookeeper posted on Instagram. He captioned the image, “If I was a crack dealer, maybe if I broke in the capital or even have been related to the Bidens. I might have gotten some relief on being in prison innocent. Hell the guy who killed 2 FBI Agents even got a pardon today.” Exotic referenced pardons doled out this week by both Joe Biden and Trump. Biden commuted the sentence of Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, who was convicted of killing two FBI agents. Peltier, 80, will remain in confinement at home. Biden also preemptively pardoned his family to stave off any planned investigations by the Trump administration. Trump pardoned dark web drug lord Ross Ulbricht and 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters. Exotic was convicted to 21 years in prison in 2020 for animal endangerment and hiring a hitman to kill rival zookeeper Carole Baskin. The pair starred in Netflix’s hit documentary Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness in 2020. Exotic has made many appeals to Trump for a pardon, and even asked for a position in his administration in November.