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High-profile bidders are continuing to show interest in buying TikTok as the social media platform stands on the verge of being banned again in the U.S. According to Reuters, the latest bidders include Amazon and OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely.

Amazon clarified its desire to buy TikTok with a letter to Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday, per Reuters. However, sources told the New York Times that U.S. officials are not taking Amazon’s bid seriously.

Amazon’s interest in TikTok

Shortly after Amazon made its bid, the company’s shares rose by 2%. Over the years, Amazon has shown interest in owning multiple social media platforms. The tech giant bought video streaming site Twitch in 2014 and book review platform Goodreads the previous year. Amazon also launched a short-form video and photo platform that resembled TikTok. However, that site closed down earlier this year.

What is the plan for OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely to buy TikTok?

Stokely is partnering with several big backers to buy TikTok, Gizmodo reported. The OnlyFans founder is including his publishing platform Zoop in the deal, and he plans to make TikTok stand out as a creator-friendly site.

Who are some of the other bidders trying to buy TikTok?

Kevin O’Leary, the entrepreneur best known for his role on Shark Tank, is working with other financial backers to buy TikTok. O’Leary has publicly said he doesn’t want TikTok’s current algorithm and wants to ensure the app doesn’t collect too much of people’s data. Other bidders include popular YouTuber MrBeast, software firm Oracle and private equity firm Blackstone.

Why may TikTok be banned again and what is Trump saying?

TikTok was banned briefly in January as lawmakers cited security issues related to the Chinese-made app. U.S. officials later announced that an American owner would have to buy the app before April 5 or it would be banned permanently in the country.

President Donald Trump, who the April 5 extension after the app was banned for a short bit of time in January, said he would “like to see TikTok remain alive,” and is reportedly planning to tie a TikTok deal to his tariff plans, per Politico.

A recent headline caught a lot of people off guard, sparking confusion and disbelief across social media. The idea? That inflation had gotten so out of hand, even The Home Depot was rolling out parking fees. Folks were questioning whether it was real — and more importantly, if they’d need to start budgeting for parking while picking up plywood and paint.

An April Fools’ joke tricked many people into believing that Home Depot now charges for parking!

Who posted the April Fools’ joke about Home Depot charging for parking?

Pro Tool Reviews posted a fake article on its website and across social media on Tuesday, telling people that Home Depot is now charging for parking due to inflation. The pranksters posted a link to what appeared to be news about the change, but the link led people to an April Fools’ Day page instead, Tip Ranks reported.

What did the April Fools’ joke say about Home Depot parking?

“In a surprising and unconventional response to rising inflation, The Home Depot has announced that it will begin charging customers for parking at its stores nationwide starting next month,” the fake article read in part, according to Snopes. “The home improvement giant claims this measure will help offset increasing operational costs and keep prices competitive for shoppers.”

The pranksters even made up a person named Tucker Lotman, calling him a Home Depot spokesperson

“Inflation has hit us hard, from supply chain costs to labor shortages,” Lotman supposedly said. “By implementing a modest parking fee, we can avoid passing these costs directly onto our customers through higher prices on lumber, tools, and gardening supplies.”

The fake article also noted that parking could cost $2 for two hours in central Florida or $5 for a full day in Los Angeles.

“Shoppers who spend over $250 in a single visit will receive an in-store credit for parking,” it read. “Also, those enrolled in The Home Depot Pro Xtra loyalty program will enjoy free parking if they spend more than $1,000 in the calendar year.”

Turns out, all that is just part of the joke. Home Depot shoppers can continue to enjoy free parking.

PBS‘ ancestry-revealing series Finding Your Roots proves time and time again that Hollywood is more related than people may think, and on the April 1 episode of the show, Sheryl Lee Ralph was shocked to learn she is a distant cousin of Samuel L. Jackson.

Read on to learn how they’re related and her response to finding out she has a new family member.

Ralph and Jackson share a long stretch of DNA

On the episode, host Henry Louis Gates Jr. told the actor that she shares a “long stretch of DNA on their 16th chromosomes” with one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

“This means that they have a common ancestor somewhere in their family trees,” Gates Jr. explained, as reported by People.

The 68-year-old erupted in laughter when she turned the page and found a picture of Jackson, her distant cousin.

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She said, “Are you kidding me?! And I like him so much!”

Ralph added that the revelation makes sense, as she’s “always” thought the actor “reminds me of my brother Timothy … for whatever reason, I don’t know why.”

Gates Jr. said the connection must be “in the DNA,” and she agreed.

“Wow,” Ralph said as she admired her new cousin.

Later in the episode, Ralph gestured that the news was making her head explode.

Jackson’s already part of a star-studded family tree

For Jackson, Ralph is just the latest celebrity to join his star-studded family tree. In August, Janet Jackson said on the BBC’s The Radio 2 Breakfast Show that Samuel L. Jackson, along with Stevie Wonder and Tracy Chapman, are her cousins, People reported.

Janet Jackson revealed her insane family tree on the Radio 2 Breakfast show this morning Listen back on BBC Sounds and I’m back tomorrow from 6.30am pic.twitter.com/lyOleo4qCv— Scott Mills (@scott_mills) August 13, 2024

“Not a lot of people know that,” she said on the morning show, adding that they’re cousins on her “mother’s side.”

Other recent celebrity familial ties discovered on Finding Your Roots

In addition to Ralph, other celebrities have appeared on the PBS show and found out they have some famous family members. In a recent episode, actors Debra Messing and Melanie Lynskey found out they were DNA cousins with Bernie Sanders and Questlove respectively.

On Monday, Sapp claimed on The Rickey Smiley Morning Show that false narratives have emerged about him and the large sum he asked congregants and viewers to help raise for the church. Some have even confronted the Grammy-winning gospel artist […]

Zelle, a popular payment service, shut down its standalone app on Tuesday and will now operate exclusively through financial institutions.

While online rumors have run rampant that the service itself would no longer but, the service will still exist…only the app has been shut down.

Dennis Rodman is debunking rumors swirling around online that he’s dead. The prank was started by a meme page as an April Fool’s Day prank, but it was quickly called out by fans.

The Hall of Famer posted a photograph of himself on Instagram, posing with two thumbs up.

Dennis Rodman debunked April Fool’s Day rumors claiming he died

“Yesss Sirr Alive and Well 👍🏾 What’s up,” he captioned his Instagram post before adding the following the hashtags #alive and #imhere.

Fans noted their initial fear after reading the rumors.

“Definitely came straight here,” one person commented under his post.

“I was about to start crying,” another person wrote.

“Damn!!! I had come to see if it were true!!!” a third person chimed in.

The death rumors about Dennis Rodman seem to have started from an AI-generated meme posted on Facebook

A Facebook post from Memerunnergpt, which shares AI-generated memes, claimed Rodman had died from an “autoerotic asphyxiation accident” and that his body was “found in his apartment.” 

“We don’t play about deaths on April Fools. That’s outta line. Keep that s**t cordial and practical jokes. I’m the main one preaching about the world being sensitive nowadays, but we never played about deaths on April fools, and never will,” one person commented in criticism of the prank.

“I wonder if these celebrities can sue for fraud cause this is ridiculous. Why wish death on someone? And then tag him is bold,” someone else added.

Dennis Rodman’s daughter Trinity recently criticized his parenting

Rodman’s daughter Trinity is an athlete in her own right. She is a professional soccer player for the Washington Spirit and won a gold medal with the U.S. team during the Paris Olympics. In December, she talked about her relationship with her father and said he contributed to an unstable environment during her childhood because of his partying lifestyle. 

“He’s not a dad,” she told Alex Cooper on the Call Her Daddy podcast, as Blavity reported. “Maybe by blood but nothing else.”

In a 2023 interview with ESPN, Trinity opened up about how her mother and brother sometimes lived out of motels and cars.

“Growing up, people always thought that me and my dad had a close relationship, and we never did,” she said. “Living in Newport Beach, my dad was a little bit around, but was still in the party, NBA phase. He wasn’t in our lives.”

Trinity rekindled with her relationship with her father as she launched her professional career and he attended one of her games.

“It was amazing to see him and hear him cheer me on on the sideline and knowing the other half of my parents was proud of me,” she said. “I’ve gotten to a place where I’ve found peace with it. I’m not looking at it negatively.”

Good news for Nintendo Switch fans — the gaming company announced on Wednesday that its latest gaming console, the Nintendo Switch 2, will be released in June. According to The Associated Press, the company shared the device’s new features and launch bundle game, Mario Kart World.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Nintendo Switch 2, Mario Kart World, and other Switch 2 games coming to the console.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will include updates to Joy-Con controllers, a “GameChat” feature, and more

The game company’s hour-long Nintendo Direct presentation revealed the Switch 2 and its new features, including a more vibrant display, larger screen, and new games that will be released alongside the console.

A key update is a revamped “C” button on its Joy-Con controller. According to Variety, the new button will include a built-in microphone. The Associated Press reported that a new “GameChat” feature will offer users a more interactive multiplayer experience. Using the new “C” button, players can “communicate with friends and family while playing a game” and share their game screens with other players. Players must subscribe to Nintendo’s Switch Online service to use the feature.

The new Joy-Con controllers are magnetically detachable and ditch the original red and blue colors for a mostly all-black color scheme. Users can also use the controllers as wireless mice while playing certain games. Nintendo showed how to use the feature in various games, including angling a golf club in a golf game.

Nintendo also revealed that, when docked, the Switch 2 will be able to sustain a 4K resolution for compatible games. The Switch 2 will also offer players 256 gigabytes of storage — eight times more than the original, Variety reported.

What new games will come with the Switch 2?

In addition to the new console and controllers, Nintendo announced an array of new games fans can play on the Switch 2. According to The Associated Press, Wednesday’s presentation began with an in-depth look at Mario Kart World. The game offers new pizazz to the beloved original, including new in-game character capabilities like tail-whips, flips, rail grinds and other tricks.

Mario Kart World will also see a first for the franchise: an off-road experience for players to navigate, Variety reported. The new game will include the most racers in franchise history (24), and players will get to drive their karts, motorcycles, boats, trucks, snowmobiles and planes through varied regions. The presentation revealed new vehicles, items and racer costumes for the racers.

The Associated Press reported that Nintendo also revealed a new James Bond game, Project 007, that’ll be a new addition to the iconic Nintendo 64 console game. Nintendo also shared that Switch Online subscribers can access a limited selection of GameCube titles, including The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and F-Zero GX.

Other games will be released following the Switch 2’s launch. According to Variety, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment was given a winter release. A new goth-inspired action game, The Duskbloods, will be released in 2026; Kirby Air Riders, a sequel to the 2003 game, is releasing this year, and Donkey Kong Bananza will drop on July 17.

When can you preorder the Nintendo Switch 2?

As The Verge reported, the Nintendo Switch 2 will be available for preorder in the United States via certain retailers beginning April 9. It will be available as just the console or a bundle with Mario Kart World. The standalone price is $449.99, and the bundle price is $499.99. The official launch date will be June 5.

Mo’Nique is once again voicing her disappointment with Tyler Perry. The veteran comedian recently sat down for an interview on the Wake Up With Red Grant show.

Mo’Nique said Perry is actually a better person when he’s playing as Madea.

“Madea is a far better human being because the principles and values that she stands on, once he goes back to Tyler Perry, he drops it off,” the comedian told Red Grant, according to Vibe.

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She reflects on letter she wrote to Tyler Perry following Angie Stone’s funeral

Reflecting on the letter she recently wrote to Perry following Angie Stone’s funeral, Mo’Nique doubled down on calling Perry a hypocrite for talking about how the mistreatment Stone faced throughout her career.

“Angie Stone was a warrior,” Mo’Nique said. “Angie Stone was a fighter, baby and to watch that man up there be hypocritical over top of my sister? No sir. You cannot do that because if it was the other way around, I know my sister would’ve done the same damn thing. It’s like what you will not do is be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I won’t allow that, Tyler Perry.”

The Oscar winner also questioned Perry’s acts of kindness.

“He does [do ‘such nice things for people’], but he gon’ make sure you damn well know about it,” Mo’Nique said. “When you do things from [your heart], that [should be] between you and the universe.”

Mo’Nique also cited Perry as the reason why she gained a reputation as an actress who’s difficult to work with.

“I’m not tryna dress it up. I’m too damn grown to be scared to say it out loud, but when that brother says ‘Oh she’s difficult to work with,’ people ran with that. It affected my career for 12 years,” she said. “What I will say is that people that have worked with me, nobody has ever said ‘Oh my God, she’s difficult to work with.’ And Tyler Perry a** ain’t never worked with me! So figure that out.”

What did Mo’Nique say in her open letter to Tyler Perry?

As Blavity reported, Mo’Nique wrote a lengthy Instagram post to address the “unsettling discrepancies in [Perry’s] actions towards” her.

“You expressed anger over Angie’s mistreatment,” she wrote. “Yet, you labeled me ‘difficult to work with,’ despite never having worked with me. How can you condemn poor treatment of others when you’ve imposed the same on me? We have audio of you admitting you were wrong.”

Mo’Nique also called out Perry for failing to give her the “public apology” he promised her circa 2016.

“In closing, I hope your words at Angie’s funeral inspire you to correct the wrongs done to my family and me,” she said. “You have the power to do so. As you’ve shared biblical teachings, please remember: ‘What will it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul” (Mark 8:36). We await your response.”

Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old Ivy League graduate who is accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, could face the death penalty if convicted. In a statement released on Tuesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi is pushing for federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Mangione, according to ABC News.

“Mangione’s murder of Brian Thompson — an innocent man and father of two young children — was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America,” Bondi’s statement began. “After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.”

Mangione’s attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, criticized Bondi’s decision, calling it politically motivated. The decision to seek the death penalty “goes against the recommendation of the local federal prosecutors, the law, and historical precedent,” Agnifilo said.

She added, “By doing this, they are defending the broken, immoral, and murderous healthcare industry that continues to terrorize the American people.”

When and why did the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting happen?

Thompson was murdered outside a Hilton hotel in Manhattan as he was on his way to a UnitedHealthcare investors conference. Bullet casings engraved with words like “deny” and “delay” were found at the scene of the crime. Less than an hour later, Thompson was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital.

On Dec. 9, 2024, Mangione was arrested in connection to the shooting at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania. As Blavity reported at the time of the murder, “Law enforcement officials said Mangione was carrying a handwritten ‘manifesto’ criticizing health insurance companies for prioritizing profits over giving care to the public.”

“To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone,” the manifesto reads in part, according to Newsweek.

“I do apologize for any strife of traumas but it had to be done,” the letter continued. “Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming. A reminder: the US has the #1 most expensive healthcare system in the world, yet we rank roughly #42 in life expectancy.”

When is Luigi Mangione due back in court?

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state charges. While he has not entered a plea for the federal charges, he is due back in federal court on April 18, 2025. He remains in custody at a federal detention center in Brooklyn, which is the same place where Diddy is being held as he awaits his sex trafficking trial.

In a February 2024 statement, Mangione expressed his gratitude for the droves of supporters who protested outside the courthouse.

“I am overwhelmed by — and grateful for — everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support,” he said in the statement, per a website his defense team created on his behalf. “Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, as mail has flooded MDC from across the country, and around the globe. While it is impossible for me to reply to most letters, please know that I read every one that I receive.”

Richard Sherman‘s home was recently burglarized by gunmen while his family was inside. The break-in happened on Sunday just after midnight on Sherman’s 37th birthday, according to ABC News. The incident took place after a series of burglaries at NFL and NBA players’ homes.

“House being robbed at gun point with my family in it isn’t what anyone wants for a birthday gift,” he wrote on social media. “Scary situation that my wife handled masterfully and kept my kids safe. If anyone has any info that can help find these people please reach out.”

Sherman shared security camera footage on social media in the hopes of it helping the investigation. The video captured three individuals coming through a window at his home.

House being robbed at gun point with my family in it isn’t what anyone wants for a birthday gift. Scary situation that my Wife handled masterfully and kept my kids safe. If anyone has any info that can help find these people please reach out. pic.twitter.com/HSHPiRHuoP— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) March 31, 2025

There are no suspects and no arrests have been made so far. Law enforcement said the investigation is currently active. It is unclear if anything was taken from Sherman’s home.

The burglary happened after several incidents at the homes of professional athletes.

As reported by USA Today, at least nine athletes have had their homes burglarized in recent months. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Joe Burrow are among those who have been targeted.

In February, prosecutors charged seven Chilean individuals with such burglaries. They allegedly stole cash and luxury items such as jewelry and watches. Previous burglaries have been conducted as it was known that the athletes would be away from home. Sherman did not share whether he was in the house at the time of the incident.