Federal authorities have nabbed a suspect for the rash of explosive devices sent this week to President Trump’s political foes … TMZ has confirmed. The man was arrested in Plantation, Florida. Cops had been zeroing in on a postal facility in…
Friday, October 26, 2018
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Ariana Grande Breaks Down Crying Talking About Manchester Bombing
Ariana Grande broke down crying as she opened up about the impact the Manchester Arena bombing has had on her life … and TMZ has the emotional interview. Ariana was on Ebro’s show on Beats 1 Radio Friday when he asked about her track “Get Well…
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Josh Flagg Wears Turban During Charades and Makes Airplane Bombing Joke
“Million Dollar Listing L.A.” star Josh Flagg made a terrible joke at a hotel in the South of France, but he says there were Muslims, Jews, Arabs and others at the table … all playing what he says was an innocent game of charades. Josh says he…
Josh Flagg Wears Turban During Charades and Makes Airplane Bombing Joke
“Million Dollar Listing L.A.” star Josh Flagg made a terrible joke at a hotel in the South of France, but he says there were Muslims, Jews, Arabs and others at the table … all playing what he says was an innocent game of charades. Josh says he…
Friday, July 6, 2018
Ariana Grande Speaks Out About Pete Davidson"s Manchester Bombing Joke: It Wasn"t Funny ...
Recently, the world was reminded that, many months before dating Ariana Grande, Pete Davidson made an unfortunate joke about the Manchester Bombing.
Ariana’s fans, understandably sensitive to the issue, reacted with shock.
Now, after giving it some thought, Ariana is speaking out.
In the autumn of 2017, Pete Davidson put his gallows humor on full display when speaking about Ariana Grande in stand-up.
At the time, he and Ariana were not even dating, let alone engaged.
He joked that the horrible Manchester bombing of Ariana’s concert in 2017 had been a measure of the level of Ariana’s fame.
“Britney Spears,” Pete noted for contrast. “Didn’t have a terrorist attack at her concert.”
It wasn’t terribly funny as a joke and, since Britney was doing her Vegas residency at the time, the comparison doesn’t really work, either.
But more or less everyone forgot about it … until a few days ago, when people dredged it up again now that Pete and Ariana are engaged.
A number of fans, who took the Manchester bombing very personally, were shocked.
(Keep in mind that, not only is a terrorist attack that kills multiple children serious, but a number of Ariana’s fans are too young to remember 9/11 and this may have been their first brush with non-shooting terrorism that touched them, personally)
It was one tweet by an Arianator that prompted Ariana to speak her mind on Pete’s joke.
The fan wrote: “I respect Ariana and I want her to be happy and everything, but she was just broken after the Manchester bombing.”
The fan’s tweet continues: “so I don’t know why she is still with Pete, like yeah he made that joke a while ago, but like it’s not funny, it’s just rude. This is my opinion.”
Ariana clearly gave this some thought before replying.
Ariana replied with a tweet of her own.
“This has been very tough & conflicting on my heart,” Ariana admits.
Referring to Pete, she writes that “he uses comedy to help people feel better about how f-ed up things in this world are.”
He sure does.
“We all deal w trauma differently,” Ariana admits.
She’s right. Different coping mechanisms for different folks.
“I of course didn’t find it funny,” she admits.
“it was months ago & his intention wasn’t/ is never malicious,” Ariana says. “But it was unfortunate.”
There are a few things that we should all remember.
One, Pete Davidson’s father died on 9/11. He absolutely does not think that terrorism is funny, but he uses dark humor to cope.
Two, though this was a bad joke (honestly, barely a joke), there are lines that Pete is not crossing. He’s not wishing a terrorist attack on someone else, for example. He’s not hurling slurs.
Three, somebody making a crappy joke before you ever dated is really not breakup material. Sure, you can break up for any reason, but that would be … odd.
Four, and this can be the hardest to grasp, but the way that Pete spoke before dating Ariana was directed at a more adult audience.
Now that he and Ariana are engaged, he will probably be more conscious that there are impressionable and emotional teens hanging onto his every word.
Ariana and Pete’s whirlwind romance has still caught a number of fans by surprise.
In fact, it was at Ariana’s tribute to the Manchester bombing victims that she and Pete were first spotted cozying up to each other.
Now the two are engaged, and it is understandable that some fans are still scratching their heads and trying to figure out what’s going on.
Some may even have misgivings about Ariana accepting the proposal of this man whom they barely know.
But they should remember that, though Ariana loves her Arianators, they are not literally her family. She does not actually need their permission to date or marry.
Fans should be happy to Ariana is happy.
Monday, July 2, 2018
Pete Davidson: The Manchester Bombing Was Peak of Ariana Grande"s Career!
There are many upsides to dating a comic, the most obvious of which is that even if he’s pretty much guaranteed to at least occasionally say something funny.
The downside is that if he’s a shock value-peddling, habitual line-stepping type, he might just as often say something that offends your sensibilities and/or jeopardizes your reputation.
That’s the lesson Ariana Grande is learning the hard way this week, as comments made by her new fiance, Pete Davidson, have put her in a very awkward position.
Ayo may recall, an Ariana concert in Manchester, England was the scene of a horrific tragedy when a terrorist bombing killed 23 and injured 139 others.
During a standup performance that took place just days after the bombing, Davidson joked that the incident must have led Ariana to realize just how famous she is, as “Britney Spears didn’t have a terrorist attack at her concert”.
Yep, it’s one of those jokes that’s not nearly funny enough to justify its own existence.
Clearly, Pete’s one of those comics who thinks edginess can serve as a substitute for wit.
(After all, this is a guy who named his poorly-received debut standup special SMD, an acronym for “suck my d-ck.”)
Unfortunately for Davidson, it’s harder than ever to pull that off that particular schtick these days.
Not only have modern conceptions about political correctness placed new restrictions (some necessary, some inane) on the sort of subject matter that comics can joke about, the internet has made it very difficult to
Certain masters of the form like Dave Chappelle can still leave an audience in stitches (and even spark important conversations) with material that would fall well outside of what most would consider the limits of good taste.
But Pete Davidson is no master of the form, and not surprisingly, his comments have provoked outrage and disgust from those who were personally affected by the bombing.
While the offending routine is over a year old (talk about “too soon”), Pete’s remarks resurfaced this week thanks to his high-profile romance with Ariana.
Charlotte Hodgson, whose 15-year-old daughter Olivia Campbell-Hardy was killed in the bombing — granted an interview with The Mirror this week, in which she described Davidson’s comments as “heartbreaking and outrageous” and added that the other families “will find it equally as disgusting.”
“For anyone to joke about this situation is disgusting and I think he should publicly apologize for it,” Hodgson remarked.
Astonishingly, Davidson has yet to do so.
Defenders of the comic have noted that his father was a 9/11 first responder who was died during rescue efforts.
This may have left Davidson with the idea that he’s uniquely able to joke about similar tragedies with greater sensitivity than other comics — but clearly, not everyone agrees with that self-assessment.
In somewhat related news, Ariana recently got a new tattoo honoring Pete’s fallen father.
Obviously, we’d never joke about someone honoring a fallen 9/11 hero in such a personal way — but couples with multiple relationship tattoos?
We’ll make fun of that sh-t all day.
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Ariana Grande Pens Beautiful Tribute on Manchester Bombing Anniversary
Tuesday was the one year anniversary of the May 22 Manchester Arena bombing that left twenty-three people dead and hundreds wounded.
Ariana Grande had already performed a powerful trubute to the victims and her fellow survivors just two days earlier.
To mark the anniversary, she sent out a much more direct message.
Ariana tweeted from the heart, writing:
“Thinking of you all today and every day.”
Here she included a bee emoji, or beemoji. The bee is the symbol of Manchester.
“I love you with all of me.”
She is so good and so pure.
“And am sending you all of the light and warmth I have to offer on this challenging day”
There is no easy or perfect way to address a tragic terrorist bombing that left dozens of children injured or dead.
Some would just put up an image in memory of the fallen and of the shattered lives.
After all, there are situations for which words fail.
Others would pen a miniature essay, hoping that if they say enough, they can somehow live up to the gravity of the anniversary that they are mourning.
But Ariana kept her tweet short and simple. She said what she needed to say.
Besides, she had already said so much in a recent interview.
Last week, Ariana spoke to Time.
“There are so many people who have suffered such loss and pain. The processing part is going to take forever.”
Trauma can last a lifetime.
“Music is supposed to be the safest thing in the world.”
She is so sweet.
“I think that’s why it’s still so heavy on my heart every single day.”
Remember, she’s a fellow survivor of that terrible suicide bomber’s attack.
“I wish there was more that I could fix. You think with time it’ll become easier to talk about. Or you’ll make peace with it.”
We know that it might sound fake, but recovery from trauma is possible. But it takes time.
“But every day I wait for that peace to come and it’s still very painful.”
Earlier this month, Ariana and Mac Miller broke up.
That is not in any way comparable to the trauma of surviving a terrorist attack, but that has to be on her mind, too.
However … she may have a distraction from her last relationship. In the form of her new relationship.
According to People’s report, they have been able to confirm that Ariana is casually dating Pete Davidson.
Pete is part of the cast of Saturday Night Live. In fact, when he joined, he was the youngest person ever cast on SNL.
He is also frequently brought up in internet arguments about which person on SNL is the most attractive, though he, like everyone else, generally loses to Kate McKinnon.
According to the reports, Ariana and Pete’s relationship has “just started.”
And it is said that “it’s very casual.”
The two were even spotted togther at the Billboard Music Awards.
“After Ariana’s performance, they were backstage and he had his arm around her.”
Awww!
“They seemed very lovey-dovey. He was hanging out with her and her friends with his arm around her. She seemed quite smitten.”
This sounds so cute. Ariana Grande deserves good things.
We hope that she’s finding comfort on this very grim anniversary.
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Austin Bombing Suspect Blows Himself Up After Being Caught on Surveillance Video
This is the suspect in the series of Austin bombings … shot on surveillance video Sunday at a FedEx office … 2 days before he blew himself up as cops closed in. The man dropped off 2 packages at the South Austin FedEx store, this according to…
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Richard Pryor"s Son Mason Says Bombing at The Apollo is a Learning Experience
Mason Pryor says he knew pretty quickly his first major stand-up gig was not going to end well , but he’s chalking it up as a lesson in comedy. Richard Pryor’s youngest son told us Thursday about totally bombing his set on “Showtime at the Apollo,”…
Friday, March 2, 2018
Ariana Grande Finishes New Very Personal Album, First Since Manchester Arena Bombing
Ariana Grande is taking a big step forward … moving on from the terrorist attack at her Manchester concert last year by completing her 4th album, which we’re told is a “personal” masterpiece. Sources close to the singer tell TMZ … she just…
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Ariana Grande Concert: Manchester Terrorist Bombing Victims" Families Each Getting $324k
The “We Love Manchester Emergency Fund” will distribute $ 324k to each of the families of the 22 people killed in a terrorist attack at Ariana Grande’s concert. Approximately $ 24.5 million was raised following the horrific attack on May 22 at…
Friday, May 26, 2017
WWE Canceling Manchester NXT Event In Wake of Bombing
The WWE is pulling the plug on a big event scheduled to go down in Manchester next month “out of respect for all those affected by the Manchester tragedy.”
Manchester Bombing: A Tribute to the Victims
In the days following a suicide bomber taking the lives of 22 people inside Manchester Arena at an Ariana Grande concert, the names of many of these victims have been made public.
While the world continues to deal with the aftermath of this awful attack, we"d like to pay tribute to those who were killed.
We"ve shared some of their photos below. May they rest in peace.
1. John Atkinson
2. Courtney Boyle
3. Kelly Brewster
4. Georgina Callander
5. Olivia Campbell
6. Liam Curry and Chloe Rutherford
Thursday, May 25, 2017
David Leavitt: Journalist Jokes About Manchester Bombing, Gets Roasted Alive on Twitter
David Leavitt is a "journalist" with a surprisingly large Twitter following.
We put the word in quotes because the guy seems to make most of his money live-streaming while he plays video games, and we refuse to live in a world where that"s considered journalism.
Anyway, we mention Mr. Leavitt not to make fun of his corny ass career, but to point out the abhorrent comments he made in response to the recent bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England.
The terrorist attack left 22 dead and at lead more gravely injured.
Leavitt thought the tragedy offered a good opportunity to crack a few jokes at Grande"s expense.
Twitter disagreed. Strongly. Check out some of the best responses to David"s douchery in the slideshow below:
1. The "Joke"
2. Are We Having Fun Yet?
3. Anthony Bourdain Cuts to the Chase
4. The Ratio
5. The Rule of Threes
6. Sincere Advice …
Queen Elizabeth Visits Manchester Bombing Victims in Hospital (PHOTO GALLERY)
Queen Elizabeth trekked across England to visit some victims of the Manchester Arena face-to-face … and she looked spiffy doing it. The Queen showed up Thursday to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital dressed in a blue suit — and a…
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Manchester Bombing, Screws, Backpack and Battery Photos Surface (PHOTO GALLERY)
Pics of what appear to be the remnants of the backpack bomb that exploded in the foyer of Manchester Arena have surfaced … and they show the nuts, screws and trigger used to kill 22 people and injure 59. You see pieces of the blue Karrimor…
Katy Perry, Lorde, Chainsmokers Say The Show Will Go On After Manchester Bombing
Katy Perry, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, Imagine Dragons, Shawn Mendes and The Chainsmokers are not bowing to the terrorists, because they’re fully committed to performing in England this weekend … with an asterisk. They’re all performing…
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Manchester Bombing Tribute Flag on Social Media Was Stolen, But Artist Is Cool with It (PHOTO)
The Manchester tribute flag you’re seeing all over the Internet was created by an artist who never signed off on his work being used by millions of people … for free, mind you — and yet he’s not pissed. Mark E. Tisdale, who’s American, tells TMZ…
Katy Perry Ditches Security to Spread Love to Fans After Manchester Bombing (VIDEO)
Katy Perry did something extraordinary for her fans in wake of the attack at Ariana Grande’s Manchester concert, and her point was clear … make love, not war. Katy was leaving a NYC radio station Tuesday morning, and naturally there were a…
Katy Perry Ditches Security to Spread Love to Fans After Manchester Bombing (VIDEO)
Katy Perry did something extraordinary for her fans in wake of the attack at Ariana Grande’s Manchester concert, and her point was clear … make love, not war. Katy was leaving a NYC radio station Tuesday morning, and naturally there were a…