32 Celebrity Downfalls That People Actually Feel Bad For

For acelebrity, their image is vital. If a famous person's reputation is tarnished, they're less likely to get work or be popular. At least that's what we'd think. Surprisingly, people don't really care about celebrity scandals. 50% of Americansremainindifferent to celebrity controversies; in fact, 20% would consume more of their work despite the controversy.

However, while some scandals are earned and are a result of a celebrity miscalculating their star power, others are totally undeserved. For example, we reflect differently onBritney Spears'so-called meltdown in 2007. What back then looked like entertainment today seems like gross exploitation of a young woman during a vulnerable time.

People nowadays have more perspective and compassion for famous people. So, when one netizenasked, "What celebrity downfall did you actually feel bad for?" people named many celebs whose careers got derailed for no justifiable reason.

Sinead O'Connor complained about the Catholic Church. Was boycotted by almost everyone. Ten years later the scandals she highlighted were headlines. Was still treated as a troublesome personality.

Anna Nicole Smith- always my answerShe was used and turned into a walking joke. She saw her son pass away and then she did to. Her life and how she was treated always make me sad to think about.

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I'm not sure if this counts, but Tina Turner's issues being used as a joke to the point where she moved to Europe always broke my heart.

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Princess Diana. The relentless press harassment and defamatory stories made her life a misery. She was then viirtually Deified by them post-mortem.Sadly it took until 2011 and the Leveson Enquiry before the Press were finally held to account.

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Winona Ryder but I'm glad that she's had a comeback.

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This is from Old Hollywood. I've always felt that Fatty Arbuckle got a raw deal. There was no physical evidence, he was acquitted, and still lost his career Mind you, he was the 1st Hollywood star to sign a million dollar deal. The system that promoted him spat him back out when the waters looked a bit murky.

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The hysteria of the arrest of George Michael from the bathroom incident in which he was arrested for a lewd act in '98 was awful. At a time when homosexuality was still illegal in the US, George Michael's career and personal life saw a significant decline and led to a bunch of arrests.As someone also queer, it pained me to see him forced to come out publicly. He later described how deeply painful this was for him (because of course it was).The media was just vicious, particularly in the UK. And there was a feeling with some fans of a sort of betrayal since their heartthrob was not straight.(He turned it around, maybe not entirely, but he is a queer icon forever but it was clearly just so much hell for him.)

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Elizabeth Berkley. She did everything asked of her. Directors, writers and producers - more often than not - require actresses to appear unclothed. And the public criticized only her. Yes - it is tacky, vulgar and tasteless to cash in on female body to sell tickets - but nobody is held responsible except the actress.

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I feel like what happened to Al Franken was taken a little too far.

Ellie Kemper getting backlash for participating in that weird antebellum daddy/daughter dance. It was obviously something she just did as a teenager to please her parents and her apology confirmed that for me.

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Garrison Keillor. He didn't do *all that.* The biggest grievance towards him was that he accidentally touched a woman's bare back when he was trying to comfort her when she was crying. Yeah, it was probably weird, for both of them, and keeping his hands to himself probably would have been a better move. He's a tactile and extremely socially awkward, lumbering sort of fella. He was touching my jacket when I met him and I'm a dude. I'm not saying I love it, but Joe Biden has the same mannerisms and tendencies and he was our last president. All in all, Keillor meant a lot to a lot of people over the years (and still does) and it was unbecoming of all parties to completely crucify him the way they did.

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Honestly, I can't help but feel a little bad for Rachel Zegler. She did and said some dumb things that she probably shouldn't have, but the internet destroyed her. Even I, who has absolutely doesn't care about the remake of snow white, got a little sucked into the propaganda. The same mob that cries about "cancel culture" is quick to ruin somebody's career over things that has nothing to do with them.

Philip Seymour Hoffman.He was an incredible character actor who really seemed like one of the few people in Hollywood who had their life together. He was in his late 40s and wasn't close to his peak.And then he gave up years of sobriety at a wrap party for The Master and had a *single* drink. It kicked off a spiral that eventually destroyed him.

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Lindsay LohanShe had some serious issues as a result of her upbringing (she's since made peace and understanding with her family) but the media made it out like she was this terrible human being. Like in 2007 it was between her and Britney who the tabloids were going to attack next.She's since gotten clean, sober, dealt with her legal issues and got an understanding of her past (which is what you do) and has been acting again with a Freaky Friday sequel due if it's not out already. She's going to be 40 next year (I'm around her age and it doesn't bother me) and honestly it's glad she got it together before that milestone of an age.

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Aziz Ansari. Seemed like the dude got cancelled over being awkward/bad with women and having an awful date during the peak of MeToo and everyone acted like he was a predator.

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Paris Hilton - Parents who sent her away to various "troubled teen" camps, profited off her social influence, and than turned to say "what did we do wrong"

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Macaulay CulkinBut I am delighted to see how well he is doing now.

Lara Flynn Boyle.AFAIK she was never cancelled. But it feels like for a period of time she was one of the most beautiful and famous actresses... and then one day she stopped working and started showing up in tabloids looking physically very different. I don't know what happened, if she had an illness or substance issue what.

The way Wil Wheaton was treated because of his character on Star Trek and what his parents were doing with his money. I don't want to know what would have happened to his parents had Jonathan Frakes had found out about it when there was no grey in his beard, that was a man who was barely controlling himself when he was asked about the story of Wil Wheaton and his parents.

Monica Lewinsky. She was so, so young and Clinton used her. The girl was confiding in a woman who was *pretending* to be her friend to learn more so she could spill her guts to the world AND the whole world shamed Monica. The whole world laughed at Monica. She was 22.As a young girl watching that happen to her made me mad in ways I wouldn't learn how to voice until college. Bill Clinton and to a lesser extent Linda Tripp are literally walking garbage and I take comfort in the absolute confidence they are burning in hell at some point.

Gary Busey. His future looked bright after the Buddy Holly movie until the motorcycle accident.

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Lil mama. Yes, going on stage with Jay Z was too much but not enough to cancel her.

Bam Margera. His downfall is 100% self inflicted, but it was still sad to see mental illness take its toll. So glad to see that he seems to be doing better now.

Bruce Willis from a good actor to a bunch of bad movies and then Alzheimer's.

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Here's one that UK redditors may know, Lena Zavaroni. She was a Scottish child singer in the 1970s with one of the most amazing voices ever. She was discovered singing with her family in a pub I think when she was about 10, and was snapped up by a London manager who booked her in a ton of shows. The manager said she was fat and by 13 she ended up with anorexia. She also developed horrible, debilitating depression. Because of her health issues she was essentially done as a performer by her early 20s. Because her money was mismanaged and some other reasons she was basically destitute. When she was 35 she had a 'medical procedure' to help with her depression. The rumor has always been that she was so desperate to curb the depression that she had a lobotomy. While she was in the hospital she contracted pneumonia and it was fatal. Her manager used her, drove her to anorexia and never admitted any responsibility in the situation. It's a really sad story.

I have yet to see it.Rosie O'Donnell. She spoke up against Trump back in the 90's/00's. There was time where people loved Trump and would laugh and agree when he made fun of Rosie.She spoke out against the US forces and their involvement with innocent civilians in the Middle East.Ok maybe you don't like her comedy or you find her loud and annoying. But she didn't deserve the public ridicule and hatred she deserved. .

Corey Haim. I grew up watching his movies and thought he was very talented. Hearing about everything he went through really broke my heart.

Milli Vanilli.Simluvac:I watched that bio movie about them 'Girl You Know It's True' I think 2 or 3 months ago and it was really good. I was about 10 when the lip synching was fully exposed and I fondly remember the scrutiny and backlash they got but because I was so young I never knew the logistics of the situation and didn't really know about Fab and Rob's lives. I knew they were the butts of many jokes ever since. The movie was really good and it didn't portray them as the absolute villains the public made them out to be. I felt really bad for them. If anyone is interested in checking it out it's currently streaming on Tubi. Again, it's a great watch.

Jenna marbles. She didn't deserve being cancelled. She was the realest of them all.

Ashlee Simpson. She could actually sing it's just that a backing vocal was used on SNL.

Amy Winehouse. So much talent. She fell into the wrong crowd - had horrible parents who were enablers - we all watched her slowly die and nobody did anything to help her get better. The Press we're awful ghouls too.

This is gonna sound weird, but I only feel bad for certain aspects of his downfall:Kanye West is a mentally ill person who, once the person who seemed to be his only genuine support in his life was gone, began a downward spiral in which everyone around him swooped in and are slowly eating him alive. Like I totally get and agree with the criticism he gets, but at the same time he's very obviously just mentally a walking corpse at this point. We're watching what happens when someone is so ridiculously rich that they can just perpetually live in psychosis.

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byAlex Forten

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

32 Celebrity Downfalls That People Actually Feel Bad For

For acelebrity, their image is vital. If a famous person's reputation is tarnished, they're less likely to get wo...

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Alexander Skarsgård Reveals Why He Was ‘Intimidated’ to Play a ‘Good-Hearted’ Character in the New Movie “Wicker”

Dia Dipasupil/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Alexander Skarsgård says he was "intimidated" to play a "good-hearted" character in his new movie, Wicker

• The actor plays a man weaved from wicker in the fantasy romance, which also stars Olivia Colman and Elizabeth Debicki

• Skarsgård spoke about his experience during a Q&A following the film's premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 24

Alexander Skarsgårdwas "intimidated" by his role in theWicker.

Skarsgård shared his thoughts on the romantic fantasy film — which also starsOlivia Colman,Elizabeth DebickiandPeter Dinklage— during a Q&A following theWicker's premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 24.

"I was quite intimidated when I read [the script] because I tend to be drawn toward more conflicted characters with more internal turmoil and darkness," Skarsgård, 49, explained. "And to play this good-hearted, good-natured, sweet, morally righteous character was scary to me."

He continued, "I'm not really comfortable doing that. I don't have anything to tap into when it comes to that. So it was a stretch as an actor."

Skarsgård is widely recognized for tackling dark and complex characters with nuance and authenticity, like the conflicted, abusive husband in HBO'sBig Little Liesand the power-hungry tech mogul inSuccession.

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The upcomingWicker,however, reveals a more whimsical side of the actor.

Wicker, set in a medieval-inspired village with magical elements, tells the story of a lonely woman (Colman) who asks the local basket weaver (Dinklage) to weave her a husband (Skarsgård).

Skarsgård says he was immediately drawn to the project.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"I thought it was an incredible script and I thought it was —  it is a fable — but it's also an allegory. It's a story about our society, but without being heavy handed or didactic or preachy," he said.

He added, "It was so funny and sweet, and obviously a very interesting character to play."

TheMurderbotstar went on to admit that he sometimes felt "ridiculous" on set due to the wicker prosthetics which masked most of his face, noting that it meant he had to exaggerate "everything" about his performance during filming.

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"And that kind of contradictsyour instinct as an actor… but it was just about trusting [the creatives] ... and when they came up [and were like] … 'Can you just give us a bit more eyebrow action?' I'm like, okay," he said.

"It was definitely a new, different experience for me," he added.

Read the original article onPeople

byAlex Forten

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Alexander Skarsgård Reveals Why He Was ‘Intimidated’ to Play a ‘Good-Hearted’ Character in the New Movie “Wicker”

Dia Dipasupil/Getty NEED TO KNOW Alexander Skarsgård says he was "intimidated" to play a "good-hearted" character in ...

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Want to watch the Grammys red carpet? How to see the stars arrive.

The most highly anticipated night in the music industry is around the corner.

Celebrities are expected to bring the glitz and the glam at the 2026 Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, at Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena.

Major and rising stars will have fashion lovers in a frenzy as they hit the red carpet prior to the ceremony.

Here's how to catch the 2026 Grammy Awards red carpet.

As we head into the 68th annual Grammy Awards, take a look at the artists who have earned the most Grammys in history. Beyoncé has won 35 Grammys throughout her famed career, making her the most Grammy-awarded artist of all time.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Producer and songwriter Quincy Jones has won 28 Grammy Awards.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Alison Krauss of Alison Krauss & Union Station has taken home 27 Grammys. She is the second-most awarded female artist by the Grammy Awards, following Beyoncé.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> French composer and conductor Pierre Boulez has a total of 26 Grammys earned.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Meet the artists who have taken home the most Grammys in history

As we head into the 68th annual Grammy Awards, take a look at the artists who have earned the most Grammys in history. Beyoncé has won 35 Grammys throughout her famed career, making her the most Grammy-awarded artist of all time.

How to stream the Grammys red carpet

Fans can watch the "GRAMMY Live From The Red Carpet" on live.GRAMMY.com at 6 p.m. ET, according to anews release.

The pre-show special will also be available on the Recording Academy's social media platforms, includingYouTube,Facebook, andTikTok.

E! is alsohosting its own programs. The network's "Countdown to the Grammys" starts at 4 p.m. ET. Then, "Live from E! Grammys" begins at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

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The Associated Press is also streaming a red carpet special onYouTubeand APNews.com,the outlet reported.

Grammys 2026:Our bold predictions: Who will win vs. who should win

Where to watch the Grammys

The awards ceremony will air live on CBS and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+ from 8-11:30 p.m. ET/ 5-8:30 p.m. PT on Sunday, Feb. 1.

Paramount+ subscribers with the SHOWTIME add-on can also stream the 2026 Grammys live as it airs on CBS, while Paramount+ Essential subscribers may stream it the day after it airs.

Contributing: Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Grammys 2026 red carpet: Time, livestream, how to watch

byAlex Forten

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Want to watch the Grammys red carpet? How to see the stars arrive.

The most highly anticipated night in the music industry is around the corner. Celebrities are expected to bring...

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Zelenskiy says Ukraine getting ready for new peace talks next week

Jan 31 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Ukraine was waiting for more information from the United ​States about further peace talks and expected new meetings ‌to take place next week.

Zelenskiy's statement during his nightly video address appeared to ‌suggest that a meeting scheduled for Sunday in the United Arab Emirates between representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the United States would not take place. The three sides held a round of talks ⁠a week ago.

"We are ‌in constant communication with the American side and are expecting specific details from them regarding further meetings," ‍Zelenskiy said.

"Ukraine is ready to work in all working formats. It is important that there be results and that the meetings take place. We ​are counting on meetings next week and are preparing for ‌them."

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U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff led a team of representatives in talks in Florida on Saturday with Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev and described the discussions as "productive and constructive."

The U.S. has been spearheading diplomatic efforts to end the war, launched nearly four years ago by ⁠the Kremlin's invasion of its smaller ​neighbour.

Witkoff has singled out the question ​of territory as the key to making progress in the negotiations, with Kyiv rejecting Moscow's demand that it ‍cede all of ⁠the Donbas region, including areas its army has not captured.

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said this week that land ⁠was not the sole key issue under discussion but did not identify ‌other unresolved issues.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; editing ‌by Diane Craft, Rod Nickel)

byAlex Forten

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Zelenskiy says Ukraine getting ready for new peace talks next week

Jan 31 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Ukraine was waiting for more information from the ...

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Immigrant pursued by federal agents before Alex Pretti's killing speaks out

Jose Huerta Chuma is a man in hiding — and he's also a man in distress. He's been replaying the fatal shooting of Minneapolis residentAlex Prettiover and over again in his mind, wondering if he could have done something differently and if there's something that "would have saved that life."

The 41-year-old immigrant from Ecuador, who said he has been in the U.S. for over two decades, described witnessingthe shootingafter hiding inside a local business. The Department of Homeland Security has described Huerta Chuma as a criminal living in the U.S. illegally who was the target of the Border Patrol operation that led to the encounter with Pretti on Saturday, Jan. 24.

"I think, maybe if I hadn't gone to that place, or I don't know, a little later or a little earlier, I mean, that never would have happened," Huerta Chuma told CBS News during a phone interview conducted in Spanish.

Asked if he feels some sense of guilt, he said, while crying, his voice fraught with emotion: "I do feel guilty, I do feel bad. I saw stories about the man and I saw a very good person."

DHS officials havedescribedHuerta Chuma as a "violent criminal illegal alien" on the loose. Documents reviewed by CBS News indicate Huerta Chuma's record includes traffic violations, and that he pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct misdemeanor offense in 2018. The New York Timesreported, citing Minnesota court documents, that the plea was linked to a domestic violence arrest, and that the offense was later expunged.

Huerta Chuma said the domestic violence case stemmed from an argument with his partner at the time. The Minnesota Department of Corrections said ina statementthat Huerta Chuma has never been in the state's prison system and that it did not find felony convictions in his case.

CBS News reached out to representatives for DHS seeking comment about Huerta Chuma's record and whether officials are still pursuing him.

A shooting witnessed from a hiding spot

In his first public comments, Huerta Chuma told CBS News he immigrated from Ecuador in the early 2000s, in his twenties. Before Pretti's shooting upended his life, he was raising his American-born children while working as a rideshare driver.

"I'm not a criminal. I just was working that day," he said. "I was going to pick up the delivery."

Huerta Chuma said he was on his way to pick up a delivery order around 8:18 a.m. on Jan. 24 in south Minneapolis. (He showed CBS News screenshots of the route from that morning indicating he was in the area where the shooting happened.) It was a routine delivery, similar to the almost 20,000 rides he had done over nearly six years.

As he was driving down Nicollet Avenue, Huerta Chuma said he passed a car driving in the opposite direction.

"One agent was staring at me, but I just blinked my eyes and said, 'God, they're immigration,'" Huerta Chuma recalled.

"So, when I looked in the mirror, they turned around immediately."

Huerta Chuma said the agents, who were in a red car without license plates, started to follow him.

"I didn't run or anything, I left very calm," he said. "I saw they were with ICE. I knew in my head they were ICE because they turned around so quickly when they [saw] my face."

Huerta Chuma said he parked his car, got out, and left the vehicle running. He said federal agents started to follow him, and a man at a local business let him inside, locking the door behind him. Huerta Chuma said he hid there for about 4 hours.

Huerta Chuma said he saw Pretti show up and start filming, and he saw a Border Patrol agent push a woman nearby. He said he sawthe agentstackle Pretti to the ground and take his gun.

"It all happened so fast," he said, noting he did not see Pretti trying to hurt the agents or reach for his firearm.

Then he described the rapid-fire shots: "Tac, tac, tac, tac, tac, tac."

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Huerta Chuma said he watched the ambulance arrive, but knew it was too late. He said he saw federal agents write down his license plate. Then he left.

"It felt horrible. To be watching and not being able to do anything," Huerta Chuma said. "I don't know how long I will be like this."

Initial public statements at odds with evidence, official report

Immediately after the shooting Huerta Chuma witnessed, DHS officials made sweeping statements about Pretti and his actions, some of which have since beendirectly contradictedby videos, witness accounts and a preliminary government report.

DHS initially said one Border Patrol agent fired "defensive shots" after Pretti "approached" agents with his firearm. The department suggested, without citing concrete evidence, that Pretti intended to "massacre" federal agents.

A report to Congress obtained by CBS News earlier this week found thattwo U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents fired their weaponsduring the Jan. 24 shooting. The report, based on a "preliminary review" by CBP's Office of Professional Responsibility, also did not mention Pretti reaching for his firearm.

Video analyzed by CBS Newsshows an agent had removed the gun from Pretti's waistband one second before another agent fired the first shot.

Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino, who has sincebeen reassignedfollowing the bipartisan backlash triggered by Pretti's killing, described Huerta Chuma as an "illegal alien" during a press conference hours after the deadly shooting. Pointing to a booking photo, Bovino said Huerta Chuma's record included "domestic assault," "disorderly conduct" and "driving without a license."

In a statement two days later, DHS branded Huerta Chuma a "violent criminal illegal alien" who remained "at large," asking the public to call a government hotline with any tips regarding his whereabouts.

Huerta Chuma said the government was displaying an older picture from after he was arrested in 2018 during an altercation with his wife.

Out of work and on the run

Huerta Chuma did not reveal his whereabouts to CBS News. He said he was worried about his safety, his work and what would happen to his three children born in the U.S. Huerta Chuma said he has two children, ages 11 and 15, who live with him, and another child, a 3-year-old, who lives with the mother. CBS News attempted to reach the children's mother but did not receive a response.

Information accessed through the Justice Department's immigration court system says Huerta Chuma's deportation case was administratively closed in May 2022. The immigration court records do not list a deportation order. Huerta Chuma said he has since applied for a "U visa," designed to protect immigrants who are victims of crimes and who have assisted law enforcement investigations.

It's unclear exactly when and how Huerta Chuma first entered the U.S. Huerta Chuma said he has another child living in Ecuador. Court records indicate that Huerta Chuma does not have a criminal record in his native country.

Huerta Chuma said he started working as a rideshare driver so he could have a flexible schedule and be available for his children. But since the shooting, he said, he hasn't worked, and is rarely eating or sleeping. He said he is continuing to hide.

Though he's scared about getting arrested, Huerta Chuma said the main source of his consternation is Pretti's death.

"I'm very devastated, spiritually. Why did they kill the man? He didn't do anything," he said. "I was there. I was there. I saw everything."

José Diaz contributed to this report.

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byAlex Forten

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Immigrant pursued by federal agents before Alex Pretti's killing speaks out

Jose Huerta Chuma is a man in hiding — and he's also a man in distress. He's been replaying the fatal shooting of...

Read More

Judge rejects Minnesota bid to block federal immigration agent surge

A federal judge on Saturday denied Minnesota's emergency request to halt a surge of federal immigration enforcement agents in the Twin Cities region.

U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez said her ruling does not make a final determination on the state's claim that the federal government has overstepped its authority. She also stressed the decision was not a ruling on the legality of specific actions taken by federal agents.

Menendez wrote that granting the injunction would "harm the federal government's efforts to enforce federal immigration laws."

RELATED STORY |'No way' he ran into a wall: Nurses say ICE story on injuries doesn't add up

"The Court must view plaintiffs' claims through the lens of the specific legal framework they invoke, and, having done so, finds that plaintiffs have not met their burden," she wrote.

The judge noted Minnesota officials did not explain how to draw a clear line between what is constitutionally permissible and what is not.

State officials alleged the Trump administration targeted Minnesota as "political retribution" and gave the state unequal treatment, saying other states with larger undocumented populations could see bigger surges in enforcement activity.

But Menendez ruled the state failed to show how the executive branch's discretionary decisions violate the law.

byAlex Forten

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Judge rejects Minnesota bid to block federal immigration agent surge

A federal judge on Saturday denied Minnesota's emergency request to halt a surge of federal immigration enforcement a...

Read More

Longtime Penguins defenseman Kris Letang out at least a month due to fractured foot

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang will miss at least four weeks with a fractured foot.

The club announced the extent of the injury on Saturday before the surging Penguins faced the New York Rangers. Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said Letang, who is in his 20th season, injured the foot duringa 6-2 victory over Chicagoon Thursday.

Letang's absence comes with the Penguins surging into the Olympic break. Pittsburgh is 6-0-2 in its last eight games to move into second place in the Metropolitan Division.

The 38-year-old Letang has three goals and 22 assists in 50 games this season for the Penguins. He is currently three points shy of 800 for his career.

Letang's injury comes at a potentially fortuitous time for Pittsburgh with the NHL set to take an extended break for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan Cortina, which start next week. The Penguins not participating in the Olympics will be off from Feb. 6 to Feb. 25.

AP NHL:https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

byAlex Forten

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Longtime Penguins defenseman Kris Letang out at least a month due to fractured foot

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang will miss at least four weeks with a fractured foot. ...

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Paul George admits to taking 'improper medication' for mental health issue after NBA suspends him for 25 games

The NBA suspended Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George 25 games without payfor violating the league's anti-drug program. In a statement to ESPN on Saturday,George admitted to taking "improper medication" for a mental health issue.

"Over the past few years, I've discussed the importance of mental health, and in the course of recently seeking treatment for an issue of my own, I made the mistake of taking an improper medication," George said in the statement.

"I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize to the Sixers organization, my teammates and the Philly fans for my poor decision making during this process."

George added: "I am focused on using this time to make sure that my mind and body are in the best condition to help the team when I return."

George's suspension will begin Saturday night, when the Sixers host the New Orleans Pelicans, the league announced. When he's eligible to return, the Sixers will have a mere 10 games remaining in the regular season, starting with a March 25 home matchup against the Chicago Bulls.

In his 16th NBA season, the 35-year-old George is averaging 16 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game on 42.4% shooting for a Philadelphia team that's 26-21 and sixth in the Eastern Conference.

The nine-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA selection is in his second season with the Sixers aftersigning a maximum four-year, $212 million contract with the franchise in the summer of 2024.

George's suspension could have an impact on Philadelphia's trade-deadline approach. His 25-game ban will cost him $11,742,294,according to NBA salary cap analyst Yossi Gozlan, who reported Saturday that, in turn, the Sixers will receive a luxury tax credit worth half that amount.

As a result, per Gozlan, the Sixers will be only $1.3 million above the luxury tax line. In saving more than $5 million in luxury tax payments, it will be easier for the Sixers to duck out of the tax before the deadline without disrupting a roster that has Philadelphia back in playoff contention, after last season's injury-riddled nosedive saw the team miss the postseason for the first time since 2016-17.

Paul George's 25 game suspension will cost him $11,742,294.The Philadelphia 76ers will receive a luxury tax credit worth half that amount ($5,871,147).This brings the Sixers from $7 million above the luxury tax line to just $1.3 million above it.

— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan)January 31, 2026

"Obviously, we've been ducking the tax the last couple of years, so hopefully we keep the same team," Sixers star center Joel Embiid told reporters after a 113-111 win over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday,per ESPN. "I love all the guys that are here. I think we got a shot.

"I don't know what they're going to do, but I hope that at least we got a chance to just go out and compete because we got a good group of guys in this locker room, and vibes are great."

While George is the Sixers' third-leading scorer this season, his availability in Philadelphia has been a concern since he arrived. The 6-foot-8 wing played 74 games in 2023-24, his final season with the Los Angeles Clippers, but he hadn't played more than 56 games in any of his prior four seasons.

After joining Embiid and then-reigning NBA Most Improved Player Tyrese Maxey to form a "Big 3" in Philly, George appeared in just 41 games for the Sixers last season.

Hemissed the start of the 2024-25 campaign with a bone bruise in his hyperextended left knee. Not long after he returned,he missed more time with a similar injury. Then he missed games with a finger injury in January.

By mid-March,the Sixers shut down Georgedue to both a left adductor muscle injury and a left knee injury. At that point, Embiid was already done for the season, too.

Georgedidn't make his debut this season until Nov. 17after he underwent offseason knee surgery, which sidelined him for the first 12 games.

The Sixers teamed up Embiid and Maxey with George in an attempt to finally get over the Eastern Conference semifinals hump. That trio has shared the court together this season for a total of 365 minutes over 17 games, per ESPN.

byAlex Forten

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

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Puerto Rico considers pulling out of WBC after insurance keeps stars off team

The World Baseball Classic will be without several of its top stars because they have been unable to acquire insurance coverage in case they are injured during the tournament.

No team has been hit harder than Puerto Rico, which couldn't secure insurance coverage for several of its biggest names in Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Jose Berrios and Emilio Pagan.

Puerto Rican officials are so frustrated that they have considered pulling out of the WBC, federation presidentJosé Quiles revealed.

The Major League Baseball Players Association said that Lindor is unable to play in the WBC because of an elbow procedure early in the offseason, although he will be fine to participate in spring training for theNew York Mets.

"Francisco is obviously disappointed that he was be unable to participate," the MLBPA said in a statement. "However, because of WBC insurance constraints, he is ineligible to play in WBC games. He was participate fully in all spring training activities."

Houston Astros All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve was also denied insurance and won't be able to play for Venezuela in the WBC.

"Due to the criteria for WBC insurance coverage, Jose Altuve was looking forward to participating in the WBC and representing Venezuela, but unfortunately is not eligible to do so," the MLBPA said in a statement.

Venezuela will also be without Dodgers World Series hero Miguel Rojas, who announced on his Instagram account that he was also denied insurance.

"Today I am very sad," he wrote in Spanish. "A true shame I can't represent my country and put that flag on my chest."

$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $700,000,000: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-33)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $500,000,000: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (2026-39)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $426.5 million: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (2019-2030)* includes extension

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $365 million: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers (2020-32)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $360 million: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (2023-2031)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $350 million: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres (2023-33)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $341 million: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets (2022-31)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $340 million: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres (2021-34)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $330,000,000: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies (2019-31)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $325 million: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins (2015-2027) – traded to New York Yankees in 2017

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $325 million: Corey Seager, Texas Rangers (2022-31)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $325,000,000: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-35)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $313.5 million: Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox (2024-33) - traded to San Francisco Giants in 2025

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $300 million: Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies (2023-33)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $292 million: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (2014-2023)* includes extension

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $288,777,777: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals (2024-34)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $280 million: Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres (2023-33)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $275 million: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (2008-2017)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $260 million: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies (2019-26) - traded to St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, traded to Arizona Diamondbacks in 2026

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $252,000,000: Alex Rodriguez, Texas Rangers (2001-10)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $245 million: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals (2020-26)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $245 million: Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels (2020-26)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $240,000,000: Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Dodgers (2026-29)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $240 million: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels (2012-2021)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $240 million: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners (2014-2023) – traded to New York Mets in 2019

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $225 million: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (2012-2021)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $217 million: David Price, Boston Red Sox (2016-2022) – traded to Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $215 million: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (2014-2020)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $215 million: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers (2020-28)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $214 million: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers (2012-2020) – traded to Texas Rangers in 2013

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $212 million: Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves (2023-32)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $210 million: Corbin Burnes, Arizona Diamondbacks (2025-30)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $210 million: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals (2015-2021)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $209.3 million: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners (2023-34)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $206.5 million: Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks (2016-2021) – traded to Houston Astros in 2019

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $200 million: Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins (2023-28) - traded to Houston Astros in 2025

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

MLB's $200+ million contracts

$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)

The inability to secure insurance kept three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw from participating in the WBC in 2023 because of his back issues. Now that he's retired, there's no need for insurance and he'll be on this year's USA team.

MLB requires all players on their 40-man roster to have an insurance policy that protects the team if a player sustains and injury during the WBC that requires them to miss games during the regular season. Most of the insurance issues are over a player's prior injury history.

Players like Edwin Diaz and Altuve who were injured in the 2023 WBC were covered by insurance policies, and were still paid, but not by the team.

Diaz missed the entire 2023 season when he suffered a complete patellar tendon tear in his right knee celebrating Puerto Rico's win over the Dominican Republic. Altuve suffered a broken right thumb when he was hit by a pitch from Team USA pitcher Daniel Bard. He missed the first 43 games of the 2023 season.

There have been no publicly known cases of any player this year who were prevented from joining Team USA because of an inability to acquire insurance.

Yet, perhaps no one in the tournament is taking a bigger financial risk than two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers. He's a free agent after the season and is expected to secure the largest contract by a pitcher in MLB history, perhaps exceeding $400 million.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:World Baseball Classic 2026 insurance won't let Francisco Lindor play

byAlex Forten

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Puerto Rico considers pulling out of WBC after insurance keeps stars off team

The World Baseball Classic will be without several of its top stars because they have been unable to acquire insurance co...

Read More