Author: GoneTrending

David Rossler, 84, and his mother were taken in by Georges Bourlet and his four young adult children in 1944 and allowed to hide in their home in Brussels in the waning months of World War II. Rossler and his mother were Jewish, and Belgium was occupied by Nazi Germany. If caught, they’d be taken to a concentration camp.

Rossler had already lost his uncle and grandfather after they were taken to Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland and he would lose his father, hiding elsewhere, to an illness.

Bourlet and his family were also in danger if they were caught hiding the mother and child from the Nazis. “People who protected Jews were simply risking their lives. You wouldn’t end up in jail, but in Auschwitz—and Auschwitz, you didn’t end up anywhere but in the crematoria,” Rossler said in a video produced by MyHeritage.com.

After Allied forces liberated Belgium in 1945, Rossler, who was born Daniel Langa and later took the name of his stepfather, moved to Austria and lost touch with the Bourlets.

As Rossler entered his 80s and was in declining health, his final wish was to thank Bourlet’s family for the incredible bravery and humanity he showed him and his mother during the war.

For years, Lionel Rossler, David’s son, did everything he could to find the family, including putting ads in the paper and posting on social media. After one such post, he received a message from Marie Cappart, country manager for MyHeritage in Belgium, who wanted to help.

MyHeritage is an online genealogy platform with 90 million family trees. Rossler’s story hit close to home with Cappart.

“My husband lost his grandfather during the war. He died at the concentration camp in Auschwitz-Birkenau,” Cappart told Newsweek. “My own great-grandmother also died in the camp at Ravensbrück. She was British and was in Belgium as part of the resistance. Sadly she was caught by the Nazis and deported. She never came back.”

u201cDavid Rossler, center, with members of the Bourlet family. A Belgian genealogist recently helped the 83-year-old man reunite with the family that saved him and his mother during World War II.nnhttps://t.co/CVWQ3SLbH0u201d

— Stephen Uzzell (@Stephen Uzzell)
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“After browsing records and cross-referencing data, Cappart found an Anne-Marie Bourlet, born in Auderghem in 1929,” Lionel said, according to SWNS. “She discovered that Anne-Marie married someone with the surname Dedoncker and had five children—all of them possibly still alive.”

“After a bit more research, Cappart found Xavier, one of Georges Bourlet’s grandsons, and managed to contact him,” he continued.

Finally, after 75 years, David Rossler returned to the place where he hid in 1944 and 1945 and thanked Bourlet’s five grandchildren.

u201cA man has returned to the home he and his mother hid in from the Nazis nearly 80 years ago – while his uncle and grandad died in Auschwitz. David Rossler, 85, was just five years old when he and his mother, Haja Sura Zoltak, were hidden by the Bourletnnhttps://t.co/jmFZsupNaJu201d

— Times of Bristol (@Times of Bristol)
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“It was an incredibly emotional day for us,” Lionel explained. “I was able to see, with my own eyes, the place where my father was kept safe from the Germans all those years ago.”

“If I had Mr. Bourlet in front of me, I would want to kiss him,” said David. “To say thank you with all my body, with all my life, I am alive, I have a family of which I am very, very, very proud. To tell him that my life is thanks to him.”

Bourlet didn’t know it then, but his bravery saved the lives of nine people.

“Because of his heroic action, Georges was able to save the lives of my father and grandmother,” Lionel said. “Nine people were saved thanks to what he did; my brother, myself and our children would not be here today if not for his courage and kindness.”

As a final “thank you” to Bourlet and his family, the Rosslers want him to be recognized as Righteous Among The Nations at Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. This honor is for non-Jews who risked everything during the Holocaust to save Jewish people.

The medal given to honorees has an inscription with the Hebrew saying: “Whosoever saves a single life, saves an entire universe.”

Many parents dream of becoming grandparents. Oftentimes, people think about grandkids before they even become a parent as a “when I’m old” daydream about what life will be like at a later stage. It shouldn’t be surprising that some parents of adult children may feel a little bummed when their child decides not to have children or can’t have them. Or in some cases, parents assume their child’s membership in the LGBTQ community would prevent them from having babies.

The majority of parents simply want their children to be happy, so they readjust their dream and support their children. But in the case of one mom of an adult child, her assumption was simply wrong.

TikTok creator Aurelia uploaded a video to reveal a birthday surprise for her mother wrapped in a large box. She explains to her mom why she’s recording but doesn’t give away what’s inside the box.

Shortly after unwrapping it, Aurelia’s mom pulls a teddy bear dressed in a t-shirt and little pants out of the box. Through excited confusion, she yells, “What is this?!” before Aurelia instructs her to press the paw on the bear.

The unmistakable sound of a baby’s heartbeat can be heard and that’s when more screaming occurs as the clues click into place. “When your only child is a lesbian so you give up on having grandchildren,” reads the writing across the screen. Currently, the video has 16.2 million views and over 2.5 million likes.

It had to be difficult for Aurelia to keep it a secret that she was pregnant, knowing how badly her mother wanted grandchildren.

Nowadays, being part of the LGBTQ community doesn’t automatically exclude you from having your own biological children should you want them. As for Aurelia, she kept her IVF treatments a secret in an effort to surprise her mom, writing on the screen, “studs can do this my IVF journey twins.”

Stud is a label used among Black people within the LGBTQ community when a Black lesbian presents in a more masculine manner. And Aurelia not only proved that masculine-presenting people can and do carry children, she just gave her mom the best birthday present she’ll ever get.

Congratulations Aurelia and grandma-to-be. Wishing the new mom a smooth, healthy pregnancy and delivery.

See the new grandma’s reaction below:

@do_it_yo_damn_self

Don’t ever give up on the ones you love because you never know when they’ll surprise you🙈🧸🥰#fyp #ivfjourney #studtiktok

You can see the rest of her reaction here:

@do_it_yo_damn_self

Here’s another part of me giving my mom the gift of a lifetime! #fyp #ivfjourney #studtiktok #twins #GetCrackin

As we head into the rivalry-packed weekend leading up to the Super Bowl, a story of friendship and shared passion—and now, internal organs—between two opposing fans seems all too apropos.

Billy Welsh is a hardcore fan of the Philadelphia Eagles. John Gladwell, on the other hand, is avidly rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs. Welsh and Gladwell first met nearly 20 years ago while serving in the Marines.

They didn’t immediately hit it off. Gladwell, with years of experience under his belt and ready to come home, came across as “mean” to Welsh. Similarly, Gladwell wasn’t fond of the incoming recruit’s high energy.

Still, there was no bad blood between them. Though they didn’t actually speak to one another after going their separate ways, they did keep in touch through Facebook from time to time, as people are wont to do these days.

Then, in 2019, their friendship went beyond the occasional like or comment when Welsh wrote on Facebook, “Anyone got a spare kidney? Mine are junk.”

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Welsh was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, a genetic disorder that often requires a transplant to prevent eventual kidney failure.

Without hesitation, Gladwell responded.

“John Gladwell is my hero,” Philadelphia Eagles fan Billy Welsh told TODAY about Gladwell, a Kansas City Chiefs fan and an old military friend who donated the kidney that saved his life. https://t.co/slydOwwrZi

— NBC 7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) February 10, 2023

“I’m like, ‘What’s your blood type, I’ll check and verify mine,’” Gladwell told the Inquirer. “Two hours of looking through medical records, I finally found it. I’m like, ‘Hey, I’m a match…let’s do what we have to do to get this started.’”

Two decades apart were followed by a 1,000-mile plane ride and a 10-hour transplant surgery. For Gladwell, it was all a no-brainer. “You never leave your brother behind,” he told Hoda Kotb on TODAY. “Marines are a band of brothers. You don’t…don’t leave someone behind.”

He added: “I wasn’t going to let his son grow up without his dad being there for everything.” Welsh is a father to a son not much older than Gladwell’s grandson.

Gladwell and Welsh’s story eventually made its way to Eagles president Don Smolenski, who was so moved that he instantly reached out to Chiefs president Mark Donovan to arrange an expenses-paid trip for both men to Arizona so that they could sit side by side and watch their favorite teams play in the Super Bowl on Feb 12. Both Smolenksi and Donovan gave the guys a surprise video call to deliver the good news.

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“The opportunity to bring these two guys together, their two teams playing on the biggest stage in sports, it’s very, very humbling and gratifying,” Smolenski told the Inquirer.

And though the two have formed an unbreakable bond, they are still frenemies when it comes to football. Welsh has even joked about being at odds with his life-saving kidney, saying, “Now there’s a battle going on in my body like, ‘Does my kidney not want to work, because if the Eagles win, it’s just going to go on strike?'”

Sounds like whichever team takes home the trophy this year, these two have already won something priceless. Sometimes, total opposites end up being a perfect match.

It’s a godsend for parents when they can take their kids who have specific needs somewhere they won’t be judged. Parenting a child with disabilities or neurodivergence is hard enough without dealing with the stares, judgment and misunderstandings that can happen in public places.

Haircuts can be especially stressful for children with sensory issues and their parents.

Vernon Jackson, barber and owner of Noble Barber and Beauty salon in Cincinnati, Ohio, understands these families’ unique needs. So he opens up his shop one day a month for what he calls “The Gifted Event,” where he welcomes them for a free haircut.

The most common medical conditions he sees are autism, Down syndrome and spina bifida.

Jackson told Today there are a few things that these children worry about in the barber’s chair. Specifically, many don’t like the sound of the clippers and the feeling of hair falling on their skin. “One child told me it feels like needles,” he told Today.

The barber’s sweet approach while giving a haircut to Ellison, a child with Down syndrome, went viral on TikTok, earning over 3 million views. It’s touching because Ellison is all smiles and loves having some control over the stressful situation by telling Jackson when to “stop” and “start” with the clippers.

@thebest1period

Everyone here’s the video without the music! Idk what tik tok did🤦🏾‍♂️ but please consider donating! All of my cuts for my gifted clients are paid for by donations 🙏🏽

The viral video shows what can happen when a barber has the time to focus on the child as an individual and create an atmosphere where they are comfortable.

“Every child is different and I need to be present with them and meet them in the moment,” Jackson told Today. For Julie Eubanks, Ellison’s mother, who took the heartwarming video, being able to have Jackson cut his hair is a huge relief.

“I’m always in the state of anticipating the worst because you never know with these types of situations with Ellison, or with any kid with special needs, they can turn with a blink of the eye,” Eubanks told WLWT. “I was trying to enjoy it and record and peaking my head out of the side of my phone to be like, ‘Is this really going on?'”

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The commenters on TikTok thought the video was adorable.

“Thank you for having such a kind soul with these precious children that just need a little extra attention in a different way! This is awesome,” Jackie Griggs wrote. “Hard to tell who had more fun here. This is great!” Carrie Deal added.

Jackson has set up a GoFundMe where people can donate free haircuts to children with disabilities and he’s received over $17,000 in donations.

“As a barber, I saw the need for a place where children with disabilities are supported during a haircut and an environment where parents or caregivers don’t have to explain their child’s behavior or apologize for something they may do or say,” Jackson wrote on the GoFundMe page.

It’s incredible that Jackson sets aside time every month so that his business can focus on those who need a little extra love and attention. It’s a beautiful gift to these children and their parents and a wonderful example to share with the rest of the business community.

Justin Bieber and Kodak Black are among those that have been named in a lawsuit stemming from an incident last year— following a Super Bowl party in West Hollywood— that left two people shot. The entertainers, along with the city of LA, have been accused of negligence, Deadline reports. The shooting allegedly took place after a private concert Bieber held for a few A-listers at The Nice Guy, a restaurant and event venue in LA.

According to reports, two men claim they were shot and severely injured during a February 2022 shooting incident outside The Nice Guy following the party. The suit primarily places the blame on Kodak, who reportedly instigated the shooting while he was exiting the venue. Notable attorney Gloria Allred is representing the alleged victims.

The lawsuit also named several others, including The Nice Guy restaurant, where the party was held; hospitality company The Hwood Group; the Revolve Group, an online fashion and lifestyle company; as well as the City of Los Angeles, the City of West Hollywood, and Los Angeles County.

Footage recently caught by TMZ shows the events leading up to the shooting. The “Tunnel Vision” rapper was spotted exiting the venue with an entourage, along with Lil Baby and Gunna. The trio met with fans outside to sign autographs and take photos before a fistfight broke out nearby, spilling out into the street. At least 10 Gunshots could be heard moments later, causing a flurry of madness among the attendees and fans.

The avalanche of George Santos revelations and accusations has long been fodder for late night TV. A few weeks ago, multiple chat shows did the same thing: having some comic actor portray the noted fabulist, who last month was sworn in as a GOP representative after deceiving voters about, well, pretty much everything. Now, mere days after Santos got into a spat with Republican Mitt Romney, even Fox News is getting in on the action.

On his own late night ratings powerhouse Gutfeld!, Greg Gutfeld included a segment with multiple Santos jokes, although at least one was the expense of Democrats. He started by saying Santos “would definitely steal your mail and poop in your garden.” He added, “But compared to this current woke insanity, he looks like Mr. Rogers.”

Gutfeld then brought on comic Joe Machi, who did his own take on the guy accused of multiple dog-related scams. He asked about claims that he defrauded dog breeders.

“Consider the source, Greg,” Machi’s Santos said, with a gravelly voice that made him sound like Harvey Fierstein. “They make money off of dogs having sex. They’re the real golden retrievers.”

As for fellow lawmakers trying to get him removed from office, Fake Santos said, “They’re trying to get me fired? That’s like Tucker Carlson telling to stop sunning my testicles, Greg! The American people don’t care about me lying. They’re focused on the Super Bowl. Go Eagles.”

Okay, it’s not funny that even Fake George Santos is rooting for the birds. But even allowing a Fox News guest to drag Tucker’s weird testicle-sunning obsession is pretty ballsy for the network.

Yep, Gutfeld included a dig at the libs, but at least he’s acknowledging that Santos is not to be trusted. Baby steps! Also Gutfeld, the Fox News host with the best taste in music, was wearing a Cramps shirt. Welcome to the resistance, sort of.

(Via Mediaite)

After a series of incredibly fire singles, Skrillex has finally revealed the release date for his long-awaited album. Set to arrive next week, Quest For Fire, boasts an incredible set of collaborators, as well as Skrillex experimenting with a variety of sounds.

This album comes after a brief hiatus, as Skrillex revealed on Twitter last month that he took some time off from releasing music and performing festival sets in order to work on himself. Now, it appears he is in a better place, and all the more ready to share his new sounds with the world.

“For the first time in 4-5 years I’ve found a new sense of peace,” he said in a Tweet last month on his 35th birthday. “It took so much work and sacrifice to get here.”

He continued, saying, “There’s my bday tweet to you all.. Turing 35 for me was realizing the are certain f*cks you should not give , you’ll be more free for that”

Quest For Fire marks Skrillex’s first album in nine years, his last being 2014’s Recess. Over the past month, Skrillex has released several singles ahead of Quest For Fire, including “Way Back” with Trippie Redd and PinkPantheress, “Rumble” with Fred Again.. and Flowdan, “Leave Me Like This” with Bobby Raps, and “Xena” with Nai Barghouti.

Quest For Fire is out 2/17 via OWSLA/Atlantic. You can pre-save it here.

Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The trial for the murder of XXXTentacion is underway. The trial has garnered a wide following, especially as artists like Offset, Quavo, and Drake have been ordered to deposition. In a new development, another suspect in the murder of XXXTentacion has reportedly denied Drake’s alleged involvement in the murder.

According to footage shared by Akademiks, Robert Allen told the court on Friday (December 10) that he had never met Drake. He denied receiving money from Drake and/or any of his associates and also said he did not know who XXXTentacion was at the time of his death.

In the clip above, we see that Allen is delivering his testimony by way of “yes” or “no” responses to questions asked by defendant Dedrick Williams’ attorney Mauricio Padilla. Padilla asks several questions, including “Your testimony to this court and to this jury is that you were never on the set of [Drake’s] ‘God’s Plan’ video, filmed in Miami in 2018? Is that what you’re saying?”

Padilla continued, asking, “But actually, in 2018 when this crime occurred, you didn’t know who X was? In 2018, you’re from Broward County, correct? You listen to rap music, correct? And you’re telling this jury that you didn’t know who literally probably the most famous rapper to ever come out of Broward County was in June of 2018? That’s your testimony?”

Back in January, Padilla reportedly subpoenaed Drake to sit down and offer a deposition in the case of the murder of XXXTentacion. The deposition is reportedly scheduled to take place on Friday, February 24.

If Drake does not make the deposition, then he will be required to appear in court on Monday, February 27.

Last week, the latest trailer for Fast X dropped, and it was as over-the-top and delightful as was expected. One of the biggest parts of it was its villain: a gentleman known as Dante Reyes, played by Jason Momoa. It’s a bit of against-character casting, as Momoa tends to play badass good guys. But there’s something else shocking about the character, namely his connection to one of the previous entries.

As per ScreenRant, it’s been revealed that Momoa’s Dante Reyes isn’t just some anonymous hater of Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto and “family.” Dante is the son of Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), the ruthless drug lord who at the end was executed by Dwayne Johnson’s Luke Hobbs.

Johnson, of course, is not in Fast X (nor its follow-up), as his real life beef with Diesel never got resolved. Still, clearly Dante is still mad at the whole gang, some of whom made off with a bank vault in the thrilling/ridiculous conclusion to Fast Five. The trailer even includes footage from that 12-year-old film, tying everything together.

So congrats, Jason Momoa! You join a tradition in Fast and Furious villains, some of whom have been blood relations of other characters. There’s Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw coming after the gang after they battled his brother, Luke Evans’ Owen Shaw, the villain of Fast & Furious 6. Then there’s F9, who turned out to be the brother of Dom and Jordana Brewster’s Mia.

Fast X hits theaters on May 19. You can watch the new trailer below.

Janelle Monáe seems ready for NBA All-Star weekend and has already compared herself to legends like Allen Iverson. The singer will be appearing alongside a bevy of celebrities and entertainers like 21 Savage and Cordae. The annual sporting event weekend will take place in Salt Lake City this year from February 17-19. Ahead of her upcoming game, Monáe posted a hilarious meme of her face photoshopped over Allen Iverson.

Before that, the singer and Glass Onion star shared her shooting skills on Instagram while sporting the infamous and now-viral MSCHF boots.

Monáe will be a part of former NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade’s team, alongside 21 Savage and Nicky James, while Utah Jazz governor Ryan Smith will coach the other team. Smith’s roster includes several stars as well, like Cordae, country star Kane Brown, and Latin trap singer Ozuna.

Other notable celebrities and professional athletes such as Albert Pujols, Calvin Johnson, DK Metcalf, the Miz, and WNBA stars like Arike Ogunbowale and Diamond DeShields are expected to participate in the celebrity sporting affair.

The All-Star Celebrity Game is scheduled for Friday, February 17, at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT (5 Mountain Time).

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.