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The UK is a malaria science ‘superpower’ – and the world needs that

The fight to endmalariais facing aperfect storm of challenges.

The Independent US

A wave of cuts to global health budgets in 2025 has impacted both our ability to ensurelifesaving tools reach those who need them– and our ability to develop new ones. Mosquitos and the malaria parasite have continued to build resistance to certain malaria interventions which we’ve relied on for years.

Climate change is shifting the habitats for some malaria transmitting mosquitoes, making them harder to track, made worse by extreme weather events. And conflict, rising across the globe, is creating enormous upheaval to public health measures designed to protect against malaria.

All this comes off the back of six years of rising malaria cases since the Covid-19 pandemic to an all-time high of 282 million in 2024, as well as rising case "incidence" [the number of cases per 1,000 people at risk]. Similarly, we’ve seen the number of people dying from malaria rise to 610,000 in 2024 – the highest since 2020. The vast majority of people dying from the disease (95 per cent) are in sub-SaharanAfricaand – utterly heartbreakingly – over 75 per cent are children under five.

While this paints a vivid picture of the scale of the challenge we face, we can and we must remain hopeful. Indeed, while progress has stalled in recent years, the decades preceding this saw historic progress in efforts to reduce and eliminate the disease. Between the years 2000 and 2019, for example, annual deaths from malaria dropped by more than 34 per cent. A healthy pipeline of tools distributed by well-funded global health bodies, working in close partnership with malaria-endemic countries, proved progress is possible.

What may surprise readers is the pivotal role theUKhas played in fighting Malaria. Indeed, new research by Impact Global Health in partnership with Malaria No More UK, shows that, as of 2025, UK science institutions were behind one in every five malaria tools in the research and development (R&D) pipeline. That ranks the country as being the third biggest contributor in the world to malaria R&D tools such as vaccines, drugs and vector control products like bed-nets. Particularly high, is the UK’s contribution to malaria vaccines and drugs with involvement in nearly a third (31 per cent) of all vaccines in the pipeline (the second highest in the world) and nearly a quarter (23.2 per cent) of all drugs. What’s more, we’ve consistently been one of the biggest financial backers of malaria R&D for nearly two decades.

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A number of factors make this possible. Essential, is working hand-in-hand with scientists in malaria-endemic countries, given the invaluable expertise of those on the frontline. The UK’s world-class universities, research institutes, and pharmaceutical and biotech companies also provide a vibrant network of expertise allowing innovation to flourish.

Years of bold commitments from consecutive British governments have helped foster stability and confidence in the malaria science ecosystem. What’s more, scientists are closer than ever to creating the "end game" tools which wouldn’t just reduce the spread or treat people who got infected with malaria – they would pave the way to wiping it out completely.

Today, we stand at a crossroads. With malaria cases rising around the world and countries stepping back on aid commitments, we hope the UK government protects investment in malaria R&D. Specifically, we need the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to maintain spending on malaria R&D within its "global research and technology development’ portfolio.

Without question, this would save the lives of children around the world and resist the looming threat of malaria. What’s more, it would contribute to positive ripple effects around the world including in the UK. For example, previous research from Malaria No More UK shows reducing malaria could see a boost of more than $80 billion (£66bn) in international trade including in the UK. We may also see health benefits too: Impact Global Health have shown how previous research into a malaria vaccine, for example, helped produce a vaccine for shingles, which is now widely used across high-income countries including the UK and is projected to prevent nearly 32 million cases globally by 2050.

Continuing to back British scientists and maintaining our reputation as a malaria science superpower is one of the best things this government can do to save lives around the world whilst bolstering the UK’s health security and economic stability. In the face of the perfect storm of malaria threats, we can and we must remain optimistic about our ability as a global health community to fight back.

Gareth Jenkins is managing director of Malaria No More UK

This article has been produced as part of The Independent’sRethinking Global Aidproject

The UK is a malaria science ‘superpower’ – and the world needs that

The fight to endmalariais facing aperfect storm of challenges. A wave of cuts to global health budgets in 2025 has impacted both ...
Kate Middleton’s Go-To Move with Kids Is on Full Display at Royal Event

Kate Middleton had a sweet moment with two young boys outside of Westminster Abbey

People Kate Middleton attending an Anzac Day service on April 25, 2026.Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage

NEED TO KNOW

  • The royal was attending an Anzac Day service honoring Australian and New Zealand soldiers

  • Kate is known for her warm interactions with children, including bending down to get to their eye level

Kate Middletonembodied her nickname of "theChildren's Princess" at a royal outing over the weekend.

On Saturday, April 25, the Princess of Wales stepped out to attend anAnzac Day servicein London, where she had an adorable run-in with two young boys. Ina videoof the sweet moment, Kate, 44, could be seen walking out of Westminster Abbey when she spotted the two kids waiting outside with their mom.

The royal made a beeline to the young boys, immediately bending down to their eye level and shaking their hands. The kids looked starstruck as she had a warm conversation with each of them. After talking to the boys, she stood up and greeted the mother, with whom she also shook hands.

Kate Middleton greeting a young boy on April 25, 2026.Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage

The Princess of Wales is well-known for her warm interactions with kids, and one of her go-to moves when greeting children is to bend down to their eye level. Princess Kate and her husband,Prince William, even inspiredAnne Hathawaytouse the practice in her own parenting.

“They get down on the child’s level and speak to them eye to eye to make their child feel empowered,” the actress once said. “I thought that was really cool. I started doing that with [son] Jonathan.”

Kate recently displayed the move duringa St. Patrick's Day eventin March.

The 3-year-old daughter of a soldier serving in the Irish Guards couldn’t contain her excitement as Kate bent down to greet her at the event. Kate also told the girl that she had “beautiful hair” and applauded as she twirled.

Kate Middleton at a St. Patrick's Day event on March 17, 2026.Credit: Richard Pohle/WPA Pool/Shutterstock

Princess Kate was leaving Westminster Abbey after attending theService of Commemoration and Thanksgiving, which included an address from the Dean of Westminster, readings from the New Zealand and Australian High Commissioners and a Māori waiata, or song, performed by Ngāti Rānana, a Māori cultural club based in London.

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Anzac Day honors members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who have lost their lives in conflict and all those who have served. Members of the royal family regularly attend events commemorating the holiday each year.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Kate Middleton leaves an Anzac Day service on April 25, 2026.Credit: Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty

Kate is mom toPrince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louis, the youngest of whom, Louis, just celebrated his 8th birthday earlier this month.

The Prince and Princess of Wales marked the special occasion by sharing anew portraitand anew videoof the birthday boy.

The picture, taken earlier this month during a family vacation to the scenic seaside region of Cornwall, shows Louis smiling, with wind-blown hair.

In January 2025, a mother of a young boy whom the princess greeted at the children’s hospice Tŷ Hafan told PEOPLE about the experience of interacting with Kate.

“It was really warming and easy,” shetold PEOPLEat the time. “You can tell she is a mom.”

Read the original article onPeople

Kate Middleton’s Go-To Move with Kids Is on Full Display at Royal Event

Kate Middleton had a sweet moment with two young boys outside of Westminster Abbey NEED TO KNOW The royal was atte...
Melania Trump and Queen Camilla match in pink for royal state dinner

DuringKing Charles III's historic four-day state visit to the United States, eyes were on the fashion ofQueen Camillaand first ladyMelania Trump, who matched colors for a second consecutive day on Tuesday, April 28.

USA TODAY

Melania Trumpembraced a Christian Dior Haute Couture look, wearing a pale pink silk strapless gown paired with off-white Dior suede gloves at the White House state dinner on Tuesday night, according to a White House pool report.

The queen opted for a darker pink shade for her Fiona Clare gown that accentuated her audacious amethyst-and-diamond necklace and matching earrings, according toGB NewsandThe Daily Mail.

The two matched in all-white looks on April 27 when the royal couple arrived for their first U.S. visit since Charles became king.

Queen Camilla and first lady Melania Trump enter the White House for a state dinner on April 28, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Melania Trump wore a two-piece Ralph Lauren set and Manolo heels, accompanied by a wide-brimmed straw hat that undoubtably became the look's centerpiece. She previously wore a similar headpiece with a polarizing black Eric Javits hat at herhusband's 2025 inauguration.

Meanwhile, Camilla also followed suit with her own wide-brimmed tilt hat over a long-sleeved gown and a Cullinan V Brooch, an historic piece courtesy of Queen Mary, according toWomen's Wear Daily.

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King Charles III, Queen Camilla to celebrate 'modern bilateral relationship' with US

Before the 8 p.m. ET dinner,King Charles IIIand Queen Camilla were scheduled to take a private tour of the White House residence, a document viewing and a receiving line. Earlier in the day, the king gave a rare address to a joint session of Congress, addressing the strained but enduring relationship between his country and the U.S.

The royals' visit withPresident Donald Trumpand the first lady marks the couple's first U.S. visit sinceKing Charles IIIascended the British throne in 2022, immediately after the death of his motherQueen Elizabeth II.

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump escort Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla upon their arrival to a State Dinner in the White House in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2026. US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump pose with Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla (hidden) upon their arrival to a State Dinner in the White House in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2026. ( US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump host Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla during a State Dinner in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2026. Britain's King Charles III listens to US President Donald Trump as they pose upon his arrival to a State Dinner in the White House in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2026. U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcomes Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla at the South Portico as they arrive for a state dinner at the White House in Washington, DC on April 28, 2026. US President Donald Trump speaks with Britain's King Charles III during a State Dinner in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2026. U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcomes Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla at the South Portico as they arrive for a state dinner at the White House in Washington,DC on April 28, 2026. U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcomes Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla at the South Portico as they arrive for a state dinner at the White House in Washington, DC on April 28, 2026. U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcomes Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla, not pictured, at the South Portico as they arrive for a state dinner at the White House in Washington,DC on April 28, 2026. U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcome Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla at the South Portico as they arrive for a state dinner at the White House in Washington, DC on April 28, 2026. Britain's King Charles arrives for a state dinner hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the White House in Washington, DC on April 28, 2026. Apple CEO Tim Cook arrives at the White House ahead of the arrival of Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla for a state dinner hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the White House in Washington, DC. on April 28, 2026. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez Bezos arrive to attend a state dinner for Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the White House in Washington DC. on April 28, 2026.

See Trump host King Charles at historic White House dinner

Trump visited Britain in September for his second state visit, years after his last one in 2019 during his first White House term.

The palace said in a statement that King Charles III will "celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States." The royal couple will stay in the United States through April 30 as they honor the 250th anniversary of America's independence from Great Britain.

Queen Elizabeth IImade four state visits to the United States during her reign: in 1957, 1976, 1991 and 2007. Charles also visited the United States 19 times as Prince of Wales, according to Buckingham Palace.

Contributing: Taijuan Moorman and Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Melania Trump and Queen Camilla match in pink for royal state dinner

Melania Trump and Queen Camilla match in pink for royal state dinner

DuringKing Charles III's historic four-day state visit to the United States, eyes were on the fashion ofQueen Camillaand first lady...
King Charles III visit live updates: Charles, Camilla welcomed at White House

KingCharles IIIandQueen Camillaare making their first-everstate visitto the U.S., visiting Washington, D.C., New York City and Virginia.The royals’ visit comes at a heightened time, following ashooting incidentoutside the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner and amid newstrainsbetween the U.K. and the U.S. over the war in Iran. It’s also happening under the shadow of Charles' brotherAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor'sconnection to the ongoingEpstein scandal.

ABC News

During the visit, Charles will deliver a rare joint address to Congress and there will be a state dinner at the White House.

Latest Developments

Apr 28, 10:55 AMKing Charles, Queen Camilla arrive for ceremonial welcome at White House

King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived at the South Portico of the White House for a formal state arrival ceremony. They are being greeted by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump.Notable officials are gathered on the White House South Lawn in rainy weather for the ceremony that will include a review of the troops, remarks by Trump and more.

Apr 28, 10:09 AMStrained US-UK alliance in spotlight amid state visit

Matt Mcclain/Reuters - PHOTO: U.S. and British flags, and pins are prepared on a chair ahead of the arrival ceremony at the White House for Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla amid their state visit to the U.S., in Washington, April 28, 2026.

President Trump is hosting King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the White House as the "special relationship" between the United States and the United Kingdom is under a microscope amid the war with Iran.While Trump has repeatedly praised King Charles as a "friend" whom he's known for years, his relationship with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been another story. The president has repeatedly assailed the U.K. and other NATO allies over the U.S. and Israeli war with Iran.Trump said the visit from the king -- the U.K.'s constitutional and ceremonial head of state -- may help restore any damaged ties between the two allies."Absolutely. He's fantastic. He's a fantastic man. Absolutely the answer is yes," Trump told the BBC in a phone interview when asked if the visit could help repair the relationship.Read morehere.-ABC News' Nicholas Kerr

Apr 28, 10:05 AMKing Charles to be welcomed at White House: What to expect

Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters - PHOTO: President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla walk on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, April 27, 2026.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will welcome Great Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the White House South Lawn later this morning.Thousands of guests are anticipated to be in attendance, including Cabinet officials, U.S. and U.K. delegations, members of Congress, students from the British International School of Washington and more.The official arrival of the king and queen will begin with a traditional military arrival ceremony by the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, a "tradition that dates back to the 18th century," the first lady’s office said. The national anthems of both countries will then be played by the U.S. Marine Band, followed by the Presidential Salute Battery rendering a 21-gun cannon salute."Following an Inspection of the Troops and a Troop in Review, facilitated by the U.S. Army Fife and Drum Corps, the President will deliver remarks from the South Lawn," the first lady's office said in a press release.-ABC News' Emily Chang

Apr 27, 6:41 PMCharles, Camilla view White House beehive

Alex Brandon/AP - PHOTO: President Donald Trump and Britain's King Charles III look at the White House garden and bee hive on the South Lawn of the White House, April 27, 2026, in Washington.

Charles and Camilla were shown the White House beehive by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump during their visit Monday.Videos sharedon social mediaby a top White House aide show the president and first lady and the king and queen inspecting a new White House-shaped beehive that is part of an expansion announced by the first lady last week.Two other beehives have been on the south grounds of the White House since 2009,according toThe Associated Press.

Apr 27, 4:45 PMRoyals arrive at the White House

King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived at the White House. The king and queen were greeted by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump on a red carpet outside the White House after landing at Joint Base Andrews earlier today.The couples posed for photos briefly.

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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet Britain's King Charles III and Britain's Queen Camilla upon arrival at the South Portico of the White House in Washington, April 27, 2026. Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters - PHOTO: President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump host Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla for afternoon tea on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, April 27, 2026.

Apr 27, 3:30 PMBritish Embassy shares behind-the-scenes garden party prep

The British Embassy shared abehind-the-scenes look onMonday at how it is preparing for a garden party welcoming Charles and Camilla to the U.S.The garden party, hosted at the embassy residence in Washington, D.C., will include 650 guests who will snack on four types of tea sandwiches as well as scones and desserts.The embassy’s head chef said the team is preparing nearly 3,000 tea sandwiches for the party.

Apr 27, 3:06 PMThe king and queen greet UK ambassador

Charles and Camilla were greeted by the U.K. ambassador and two children with posies as they deplaned on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews.

Win McNamee/Getty Images - PHOTO: Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla disembark the plane on arrival for a state visit to the United States at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, April 27, 2026.

Apr 27, 2:43 PMThe king and queen arrive in the US

Their plane landed at Joint Base Andrews moments ago.

Win McNamee/Getty Images - PHOTO: A plane carrying King Charles III and Queen Camila taxis on day one of their State Visit to the United States, April 27, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

Apr 27, 1:34 PMA look back at King Charles' trips to America

King Charles has visited the United States 19 times before but today will mark his first state visit as a monarch.Charles’ first trip to the U.S. was in 1970 when the 21-year-old Prince of Wales traveled with his sister Princess Anne and were guests of the Nixons.

Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Richard Nixon greets Prince Charles at the White House, July 18, 1970 in Washington.

Charles also traveled to Los Angeles in 1974 where he met and struck up a friendship with Barbra Streisand.

Mark Sennet/Getty Images - PHOTO: Prince Charles meets with singer Barbra Streisand at the Warner Bros. studio, March 19, 1974 in Los Angeles.

In 1985 Charles, accompanied by Princess Diana, met the Reagans at the White House. It was on this trip that Diana famously danced with John Travolta.In 2005 Charles took Camilla to see the Bushes on their first official overseas trip since their marriage, and in 2015 the couple returned to the White House as guests of the Obamas.This trip will have echoes of previous royal visits when Charles' mother, Queen Elizabeth II, visited the United States in July 1976 for the 200th anniversary of American independence. More recently, in 1991 Elizabeth became the first British monarch to address Congress.

Apr 27, 12:42 PMWill Epstein scandal linger over royals' visit?

The royals' visit to the U.S. comes amid the ongoingJeffrey Epstein scandalthat has rocked both sides of the Atlantic and directly entangled the royal family.Charles' younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor wasarrestedin February on suspicion of misconduct in public office following theemergence of documentsfrom the U.S. Department of Justice’s files detailing communication between Mountbatten-Windsor and the late Epstein, a convicted sex offender.Charles, Camilla and other members of the royal family have faced heckling at public events in the U.K. over the family’s handling of Andrew. Following his brother’s arrest,Charles saidauthorities have the palace’s “wholehearted support and cooperation,” adding, "Let me state clearly: the law must take its course."The former prince has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, and has not been charged.

Click here to read the rest of the blog.

King Charles III visit live updates: Charles, Camilla welcomed at White House

KingCharles IIIandQueen Camillaare making their first-everstate visitto the U.S., visiting Washington, D.C., New York City and Virginia...
“Should’ve Been Enough To Put Him Behind Bars”: 41 Pop Culture Moments And Trends That Aged Poorly

The entertainment industry sells more than concerts and movies. It also promotes a way of life, shaping what’s considered cool and trendy. However, what music producers and Hollywood PR managers push isn’t necessarily what should be normalized in the first place.

Bored Panda

Last month, a new subreddit was created. It’s called ‘Why Were We Ok With This?’, and the online community already has 374K members.

According to the group’s ‘About’ section, they post pictures that allow you to look back at shocking things from previous decades that we were okay with for some reason — including exploitative TV shows, tabloids, paparazzi, and random cultural moments that just make you gasp in hindsight.

From crazy diets to (casual) sexism and even potential criminal cases, think of the content as a mix of laughing at the ignorance of the past and critiquing it seriously.

At a Halloween party in 2003, Khloe Kardashian, dressed as a pimp, walked four Black women on leashes. There was no controversy over this at the time and there has only been backlash since it resurfaced in 2022.The four women are sisters Meagan and La'Myia Good and sisters Malika and Khadijah Haqq.When it started getting attention, Meagan said, “That one time on Halloween when you were young and dumb …and clearly didn't think 15 years ahead lol smh. Welp, mistakes were made.”Khloe Kardashian has not commented.

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Now that Taylor Swift has found a fiancé and the Kennedies are relevant again, let's talk about when a woman born from 1989 dates a child from 1994 in 2012. She was signing him out of school for dates, dressing early 60s, taking photos at the graveside (all this was just after his mother passed away, mind you.) She brought the house next door and showed up to a wedding uninvited.

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He was 20 when he dated Mandy Moore and she was 16.He was 24 when he dated Lindsay Lohan and she was 17.He was 29 when he dated Demi Lovato and she was 17.I think That 70s show is cursed.

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Bridalplasty was a show that followed 12 engaged or already married women competing for the wedding of their dreams and their dream plastic surgery procedure. Each woman had a plastic surgery wishlist, and the winner of each week's wedding-themed challenge would win one plastic surgery procedure from her list.The winner of the competition received the wedding of her dreams, and had her entire wishlist fulfilled. The husband-to-be did not see his fiancée until she revealed her new look on their wedding day. Shanna Moakler hosted, and Dr. Terry Dubrow performed the plastic surgery procedures.Challenges including distinguishing between Dom Pérignon and Andre Strawberry Sparkling Wine; winners were rewarded with rhinoplasties, breast augmentations, jowl lifts, and thigh tucks. Bridalplasty’s opening credits show Dubrow hammering a silver pick into a woman’s nose cartilage, pummelling thigh fat with syringes, and forcing silicon implants into torn flesh. This show massively contributed to exploiting people with body image issues and reinforcing beauty stereotypes.The winner ended up receiving a brow-lift, liposuction of the chin, jowls, cheeks, a breast reduction, breast lift, tummy tuck, laser skin resurfacing and liposuction of the inner thighs, outer thighs and arms.

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Black. White was a reality TV show from 2006, produced by none other than ICE CUBE! In which two families of 3 went under makeovers to pass as each other’s races.It won an Emmy for Outstanding Makeup for a Series!

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After, she was uninvited to the grammys, suffered major public backlash, had her songs cut by MTV, suffered record sales for her new album and was blackballed from the industry.

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Can you imagine living with that maniac? Taking a picture of his then wife Katy Perry at like 4 in the morning then posting it on the internet

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To state the obvious, we know now that Kelly’s relationship with Aaliyah was the tip of the iceberg, but this is one of the best examples of his disgusting behaviour being brushed off at the time.Aaliyah, who sadly passed away at only 22, in a plane crash, started working with Kelly when she was 13 or 14 — he was her musical mentor. It’s alleged that the grooming began at this age. They were illegally married when she was 15 and Kelly was 27, and her age was forged as 18 on the certificate.When the marriage certificate was leaked to the press, after ongoing rumours for some time, some people had ish to say — BUT, people looked riiiight past this so that they could continue enjoying Kelly and Aaliyah’s music. Some people even blamed Aaliyah, shaming her like she wasn’t a child, like the grown man wasn’t to fault.Aaliyah even released an album, under Kelly’s mentorship (i.e. control), at age 15 called ‘Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number’. Kelly wrote the titular track and you can see him looking creepy as hell in the background of the album cover. I wish she’d never had to put her beautiful name to this exploitative album.The marriage was annulled, and records expunged, in 1997 and professional ties were cut. Aaliyah continued to be asked about Kelly in interviews and could not and would not discuss him at all. She also could not discuss him in her personal life. People who were close to her believe this was trauma related — and I don’t see how it couldn’t be.It sickens me that R. Kelly was able to get away with awful, awful things for so long. This alone should’ve been enough to finish him and put him behind bars.May Aaliyah Dana Haughton rest in peace

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During her L.A.M.B era she used Asian woman as silent props. As soon as the album cycle was over she ditched the whole look an the girls in general, I just find it insanely odd they never once spoke.

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I believe Friends did this too (although I never really watched the show). I'm 22 and I remember even as a kid back in 2008 or so watching this and thinking she wasn't *that* fat? A little chubby, sure, but they acted like she was 500lbs, her whole personality was "fat" lmfaoedit: I have to agree with the people stating she's not even chubby, I just didn't know how to describe it as "slightly larger than the other girls on the show"... size medium? Average sized?

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Monica Lewinsky made a youthful mistake. She had a fling with the most powerful man on the planet. She was young, and a charming, powerful man love-bombed her and made her feel important. They had a brief affair.The affair would go on to define her in the public eye. *She* was the villain, *she* was the maniac. Late night talk shows, daytime newsbyte shows, radio hosts, EVERYONE was piling on her.While Bill Clinton did face an impeachment hearing, the public mostly gave him a pass, while crucifying this young woman.She spent the following decades with this cloud hanging over her. She couldn't get jobs. She was a constant punchline. She considered changing her name briefly at the suggestion of others, to have some semblance of a normal life, until she put her foot down, and said "Nobody suggested Bill Clinton should change *his* name.Today, Bill Clinton is embroiled in his own, new scandal. But even in the midst of THAT, nothing he's getting from the public is anywhere near the venom and bile that is still being directed at Monica, who was guilty of nothing more than being young, falling for a powerful man, and trusting a person she thought was a friend. For that, she has been America's Jezebel since the 90's.And I'm not giving myself a pass. I was part of the ridicule for a long, long time. I grew up, and am ashamed of my part in it.Since then, she has become an outspoken activist and public speaker, and she's really just an amazing human being.

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Not forgetting that Beyonce also appeared as the Hindu deity Kali in her Grammy Performance.

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A disclaimer… Yes- I know that the people featured on the show consented to being on the show. Despite this, the way the show is presented makes a mockery and spectacle of subjects of the show. A recent episode I watched spurred me to make this post. The supposed therapists or family members interviewed on the show don’t help either because they don’t seem to really understand the root of the cause or try to be compassionate. A lot of the people featured on the show either experienced trauma that they’re trying to heal from or seem to have undiagnosed neurodivergence.

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Feel like this doesn't get called out enough.

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Second- I’m rewatching the Girls Next Door and listening to the Girls Next Level Podcast that Holly and Bridget made doing their first ever rewatch of the show since it aired.I knew the show was problematic just on the surface but the underlying treatment and grooming of these women is worse than I thought. They didn’t even get credits or paid until much later- they were never even asked if they wanted to be on the show or sign contracts- it was just assumed that they would comply.If anyone needs a rabbit hole to go down- it’s good one.

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And how he frequently stalked Laura, when she put her foot down (rightfully so), and the sad “awww” music would play and we’d all feel bad for him? He’d full on kiss her, pressure her, he was the definition of obsessive. I know they ended up together in the end but … I always think about that show and get the heebie jeebies now. We really felt badly for him

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“Should’ve Been Enough To Put Him Behind Bars”: 41 Pop Culture Moments And Trends That Aged Poorly

The entertainment industry sells more than concerts and movies. It also promotes a way of life, shaping what’s considered cool and tren...

 

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