66 h. ago Famous men’s toxic fandoms have become a tool for punishing women | Tayo Bero

From DDG to Tory Lanez, a male celebrity is accused of abuse – and his supporters reverse the roles of victim and offenderThere’s a new formula for punishing women who speak out about abuse by high-profile figures, and it usually goes like this: woman alleges abuse, woman seeks recourse through the justice system, woman’s accusation is made public – and then a tidal wave of fans of her abuser come together to help deny the abuse, attack her credibility and reverse the roles of victim and offender.If this sounds familiar it’s because Darvo – the “deny, attack, reversevictim and offender” method of manipulating abuse victims – has existed for forever. But social media has given it a whole new dimension, and powerful people now have an army of rabid fans ready to do that work for them. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Film festival to premiere clergy sex abuse documentary partly based on Guardian reporting

God As My Witness details priest’s relationship with teen who later killed himself and other abuse allegationsA new documentary examining the Catholic clergy molestation scandal in New Orleans – based in part on journalism by the Guardian and its local reporting partner WWL Louisiana – is making its world premiere at London’s Raindance film festival in June.God As My Witness is also nominated for best feature-length documentary at the major film festival’s 33rd edition, according to the movie’s director, Lindsay Quinn Pitre. Continue reading...

Culture

4 d. ago Outrage as Kevin Spacey receives Lifetime Achievement Award in Cannes just months after fresh sexual abuse allegations

Kevin Spacey will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award today at Cannes for his 'impact on cinema in the arts', two years after he was cleared of sexual assault on four men.

Events

4 d. ago Gran Canaria centre for unaccompanied migrant children closed over abuse allegations

Court asks police to raid centre on outskirts of Las Palmas after ‘extensive evidence and testimony’ of alleged crimesA court in the Canary Islands has ordered the closure of a centre for unaccompanied migrant children, citing allegations that include physical abuse, hate crimes and threats.Police vehicles pulled up to the centre on the outskirts of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria on Monday, entering the facility where 43 children were being housed. A court on the island – the first in Spain to specialise in violence against children and adolescents – said it had asked police to carry out the raid “in light of the extensive evidence and testimony” of alleged crimes taking place in the centre. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Gran Canaria migrant centre closed after allegations of child abuse

Court asks police to raid centre on outskirts of Las Palmas after ‘extensive evidence and testimony’ of alleged crimesA court in the Canary Islands has ordered the closure of a centre for unaccompanied migrant children, citing allegations that include physical abuse, hate crimes and threats.Police entered the centre on the outskirts of Las Palmas on Monday where 43 children were being housed. A court on the island – the first in Spain to specialise in violence against children and adolescents – said it had asked police to carry out the raid “in light of the extensive evidence and testimony” of alleged crimes taking place in the centre. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago First week of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: huge media attention and disturbing details of alleged abuse

Journalists, fans of Combs, podcasters and others lined up to get into court, where Cassie testified about alleged rape The high-profile federal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs began this week in New York, where the 55-year-old music mogul faces charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution.Combs, who was arrested in September 2024, has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Cassie's husband Alex Fine breaks silence on Diddy trial as he shares emotional statement in support of wife

Cassie Ventura's testimony during the trial painted a harrowing picture of her years with Diddy, describing the emotional and physical abuse she allegedly endured.

Politics

8 d. ago Couple accused of sexually abusing teenager, forcing her to take drugs and feeding her ‘one Pop Tart a week’

Daniel and Annie Caler were arrested on May 9 after the victim came forward to confide in her school counselor after years of alleged abuse

Events

8 d. ago Justin Bieber finally breaks silence on Diddy abuse allegations to deny he is a victim as rapper stands trial for sex trafficking

Justin Bieber has broken his silence on explosive rumors connecting him to Sean 'Diddy' Combs just days after the disgraced music mogul's sex trafficking trial began.

Events

9 d. ago ‘Sexually abused’ woman, 18, escapes house of horrors after couple held her captive for seven years, prosecutors say

A New Jersey couple was arrested for allegedly putting a now 18-year-old woman through years of abuse in captivity

Events

9 d. ago Cassie Ventura to return to stand after testifying Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs raped her

Former girlfriend of music mogul, key witness in sex-trafficking trial, details violence, abuse and blackmailSinger Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and a key witness in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of the music mogul, is returning to the stand Thursday for cross-examination.During Ventura’s second day of testimony on Wednesday, she provided more details about the physical and psychological abuse she alleged she experienced from Combs during their on-and-off again relationship that lasted about 11 years, and accused the music mogul of rape and blackmail.In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Cassie namedrops other celebrities, including Drake and French Montana, during testimony in Diddy case

Cassie Ventura's testimony in the P. Diddy case mentioned a couple of other celebs, including Drake and French Montana, while she levied abuse allegations against the rapper

Politics

1 week ago California couple and adult daughter arrested over ‘severe’ and ‘prolonged’ torture of six foster children

The alleged abuse may have began a decade ago when the children were first placed in the family’s care

Events

1 week ago Weinstein accuser rips defense lawyer: 'You should be ashamed of yourself'

A former model has reproached one of Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers for suggesting that her sexual abuse allegations against the ex-studio boss are lies

Events

1 week ago King meets social influencer teacher dubbed the ‘pied piper’ at garden party

The Buckingham Palace garden party had the theme of education and skills.

Society

1 week ago After 35 years, the Menendez brothers have a chance for parole. Was that the Netflix effect? | Zoe Williams

It is hard to prove the judicial impact of two shows inspired by the notorious double murder case. But undoubtedly, they heightened public scrutinyWhen the true-crime documentary Menendez Brothers: Misjudged? aired in 2022 on Discovery+, its impact was not immediate, except on TikTok, where – chicken and egg-style – it was hard to determine whether people were talking about the case because of the show or because a general cultural osmosis had brought the topic to the fore.Erik and Lyle killed their parents in 1989, when they were 18 and 21. They alleged a childhood of sexual, psychological and physical abuse by their father, which their mother knew about but didn’t act on. The judge disallowed what was called the “abuse excuse” at the time, and the prosecution successfully landed the argument that they had murdered their parents for their inheritance, resulting in whole-life sentences without the possibility of parole. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Cassie Ventura describes alleged abuse during day three of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: ‘I felt trapped’

Music mogul’s former girlfriend describes physical abuse, control and violence at trial in New York CitySinger Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and a key witness in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of the music mogul, returned to the witness stand in New York City on Wednesday morning, as the high-profile trial enters its third day.Ventura, who is eight and a half months pregnant, began her second day of testimony by revisiting the hotel surveillance footage of her 2016 assault by Combs. She said Combs was yelling at her and then threw a vase at her in the elevator lobby.In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Cassie Ventura describes a decade of alleged abuse in testimony at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial

Music mogul’s former girlfriend describes physical abuse, control and violence at trial in New York CitySinger Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and a key witness in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of the music mogul, returned to the witness stand in New York City on Wednesday morning, as the high-profile trial enters its third day.Ventura, who is eight and a half months pregnant, began her second day of testimony by revisiting the hotel surveillance footage of her 2016 assault by Combs. She said Combs threw a vase at her.In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago France’s premier faces questions from an inquiry on a Catholic school abuse scandal

French Prime Minister François Bayrou is facing questions from a parliamentary inquiry into alleged abuse at a Catholic school amid accusations he has hidden what he knows about the scandal

Politics

1 week ago The Liver King story chillingly shows how bad role models are manufactured

Netflix’s new fitness influencer documentary lifts the lid on how we end up looking up to such strange and unhealthy figures, writes Ben Bryant. Let it serve as a cautionary tale

Culture