Category: Viral

TikTok has given birth to, or at least paved the way for, several viral trends. Rap music lovers are shredding the nearest plastic bag thanks to Latto’s new song, “Put It On Da Floor.” Before that, they ferociously thrust their hips because of Lil Uzi Vert’s “Just Wanna Rock.” Now rock fans are going in for a semi-choreographed movement of their own: the Pinegrove Shuffle.

Named after the rock band Pinegrove, the interpretative dance is perfectly suited for indie listeners. So, what is the Pinegrove Shuffle? Essentially, the dance craze is the spontaneous flinging of the arms while alternating a lunge of the legs. The dance, originated by Garrett Lee, stems from the group’s 2015 song “Need 2,” from their album Everything So Far.

While most musicians eventually find a way to use virality to their benefit, don’t expect the same from Pinegrove. The band remains somewhat active, having released an album, 11:11, last year. Many former supporters haven’t shown up in the same force since frontman Evan Stephans Hall was accused of sexual coercion in 2017.

Hall issued a lengthy statement about his relationship with the accuser, writing, “The time we spent together was complicated. I believed we were mutually in love, and we said it to each other often. But she also sometimes expressed reservation—she was dating someone else, and the dissolution of that relationship would have yielded intense personal and professional consequences. We talked about it thoroughly, endlessly. it was convoluted, heavy, and emotional. this whole period felt like an impossible situation with no right answer, but we were working through it together.”

He added, “Still, I am coming to terms with the fact that I monumentally misread the situation. I am trying earnestly to follow this line as deeply as it goes to reflect on all of the things I could have done and can do better.”

In a previous Upworthy article, we shared how dad jokes aren’t just a way for fathers to embarrass their children. But a way to build them up and teach resilience is by showing that it’s ok to embarrass yourself.

When a dad tells a joke that gets more of a groan than a laugh, it demonstrates his ability to handle an uncomfortable situation. According to researchers, dad jokes appear in many cultures and are a way for fathers to teach their kids that it’s okay to put themselves out there without worrying about what other people think.

A recent viral thread on Reddit shows how some fathers have used dad jokes to show how they accept their child’s sexuality in a way that made a tense situation comfortable for everyone.

A Redditor with the username Expert_Recover3061 asked the online forum, “What’s the best response to ‘Dad, I think I’m gay’?” the question received nearly 24,000 responses. Many of the stories were first-hand accounts of people who were afraid to broach such a sensitive topic with their father and were surprised he responded with love and a side of humor.

The responses are a great way to show people the best way to support their LGBTQ children. Here are 20 of the best replies to the question: “Dad, I think I’m gay.”

1.

“Your mother owes me £10.” — PotterWhoLock01

2.

“You still have to wear a condom.” — Ginchy1971

3.

“It’s okay, your mother likes guys too, maybe I am the weird one.” — Drendari·

4.

“‘I thought you were about to give me bad news! Don’t scare me like that!’ My granny when my uncle came out in the ‘70s. She was decades ahead of her time.” — LongjumpingCake1924

5.

“One of my friends from high school was gay, and when he came out to his family his dad literally didn’t look up from his newspaper and told him his sister didn’t need to tell him she was straight so why would he need to explain that he was gay? He’s known him his whole life and already knew that. It was cute because he was so worried.” — 0Diamond0

​6.

“You still have to take out the garbage.” — Most_Original_329

7.

“When I came out to my dad when I was 16, I thought he would disown me. He said: ‘Son If anyone ever hurts you for that, I’ll f**king kill them.’ In that moment, I realized that I had the best dad in the world.” — Winterpegs

8.

“This story does not involve a dad, but it involves a very religious grandma. One of my friends was very nervous about telling his grandma that he was gay, and put it off for a long time. But when he turned 18, he decided that he had to get this done. When he told her she just looked at him calmly and answered, ‘Of course you are. I have known that since you were 10.’ At the age of 10, he didn’t even know it himself yet.” — Ashtar-the-Squid

9.

“I was getting ready to go to a sleepover with a girl I was totally crushing on and my mom was like ‘You look like you’re getting ready for a date!’ And I paused and was like ‘Would it be okay if I was….Going on a date with a girl?’ My mom just said, ‘Of course, just remember to practice safe sex. You can get STDs from girls too!'” — Psychological-Run679

10.

“Lesbian here. When I came out to my dad, he said ‘That’s okay honey, I don’t like guys either.’” — wafflemaker9093

11.

“My daughter was looking extremely nervous one night while I was cooking dinner. I could see her talking quietly with her mom but she continued to look uneasy. After a bit of time, she came into the kitchen and I asked her what was wrong. She didn’t want to tell me at first but I could tell she was uneasy so I said she could always tell me anything. She finally said that she was pansexual. I just looked at her and said ‘That just means twice as many people that can turn you down for dates now’ and she busted out laughing as I went back to cooking to finish dinner. She was apparently really nervous about telling me for some reason and was glad I wasn’t upset.” — tahquitz84

12.

“When my daughter told me she was gay, I just told her I loved her, and that none of that would change my feelings. Then I began giving her the heads up when hot ladies would walk by.” — PLoddingClot

13.

“My stepdad, who I consider my dad, was the man that raised me, and he’s a big redneck steel worker. I came out at 18 and he sat me down and said ‘Son, I’ve loved you like you were my own for the past 14 years. Why the hell would I stop now?”” — KeyboardRoller

14.

“Take a note from Olivia Coleman in Heartstopper: ‘Thank you for telling me. I’m sorry if I ever made you feel like you couldn’t tell me that.’ Honestly, that would have been the perfect thing to hear.” — Amastarism

15.

“My friend’s daughter came out to her parents when they were all over at my house. Her dad looked her dead in the eye, took a deep breath, and in his big, booming voice said ‘DUUUH!’ We all got a good laugh but he just said, ‘Sweetheart, I couldn’t care less who you love. All I care about is that they treat you with love and respect and that you’re happy. And maybe your gf will like working on cars with me.’” — ItsMRslash

16.

“Hi gay, I think I’m dad. Seriously though when my son came out I just said he was my son and it changed nothing between us other than I was happy he was discovering himself and growing up. Any man who would abandon or shun his own son for being gay is no man at all.” — Open_Action_1796

17.

“Firstly, I love you. Now, did you steal one of my beers?” — February83

18.

“When I came out my dad had the best response ever: ‘Wow! Now maybe I’ll get a son-in-law that I really like!’ and then he hugged me.” — Gracie305

19.

“A customer of mine told his gay and trans kids ‘I’d still love ya even if you were straight!'” — RoyStokes

20.

“A guy in a Walmart parking lot was on the phone and screamed, ‘I don’t care if you’re gay, as long as you marry someone rich!’ And angrily hung up the phone.” — Shecallsmeherangel

“It takes a village to raise a child” is an African proverb commonly attributed to the Igbo and Yoruba tribes of Nigeria. The phrase encapsulates the worldview that child-rearing is the responsibility of an entire community, not just a singular family unit.

The phrase became popular in Western culture after Hillary Clinton’s 1996 book, “It Takes a Village,” which argued for a societal approach to children’s welfare.

A viral TikTok video by Jessica Secrest from Grand Rapids, Michigan, has many thinking that she’s the perfect example of what “It takes a village” means. She and her friend and fellow mom, Emily, have an arrangement where they watch each other’s kids so they can have a date night with their husbands.

“It’s childcare swap night, which means that I’m at my friend Emily’s house,” she explained to the camera. “I fed her kids dinner, put them to bed, and now I’m waiting for her and her husband to get home from their date. And I told them stay out as late as possible please, because last time they didn’t. We made them reservations at a tiki bar downtown and then they’re going to the movies.”

“We do this once a month,” she continued. “So, I come over and watch her kids put them to bed and do all the bedtime routines. My husband stays home with my kids, and then in the future, she’ll do the same for me.”

@applesauceandadhd

I love that we started doing this! It is nice to go on a date and spend some one on one time with your spouse without kids on a semi regular basis! #childcare #babysitting #childcareswap #babysitforyourfriends #bestie #bestfriend #momtok #datenight #dateyourspouse #fyp #momsoftiktok #foryou

Secrest also noted that she and Emily don’t just watch each other’s kids during a childcare swap. They tidy up each other’s homes, too.

“While we do this, we try to pick up each other’s house and just leave it better than we found it,” she added. “It doesn’t feel like a break if you don’t come home to a cleaner home.”

Amen.

The simple arrangement is a beautiful way for bestie moms to support one another while giving each other more time alone with their spouses. A study from the National Marriage Project found that of couples that go on regular date nights, 3 out of 4 are “highly committed” to their relationships. Only about half of those who don’t regularly go on date nights report being “highly committed.”

“It’s so nice to reconnect with your spouse and be something other than just a mom,” Secrest admits. “Because I am a stay-at-home mom and sometimes it feels like all I am is waiting on kids, cleaning butts and wiping noses. And I never get to be with my spouse at all. Doing this once a month really helps.”

The comments on the video were overwhelmingly positive, and many of Secrest’s followers hope to set up a childcare swap of their own.

“I wish I had a friend! This would be so nice to do and be at peace knowing that someone you trust is caring for your children while u r on a date,” Alex_7238 wrote. “This is the definition of it takes a village!! Love this!!!” Kaley added.

Victoria thought that Secrest’s thoughts on coming home to a clean home hit the nail right on the head. “’It doesn’t feel like a break if you don’t come home to a clean house’ OMG. SOMEONE FINALLY GETS IT,” she wrote.

Secrest’s post shows that when people have great support from their village, it not only helps to raise a child but also creates stronger marriages and happy families, too.

Generally speaking, fast food has massively dropped the ball on plant-based and vegetarian food options. Pre-pandemic it seemed like brands were rushing to corner a new market and capture changing tastes, but most of what’s left across the fast food landscape… isn’t great. For every deliciously juicy, taste-bud tantalizing plant-based burger — looking at you, Umami Burger — there are three that are straight up not worth ordering. The Impossible Whopper, The McPlant, and the Beyond Fiery Famous Star all make that list.

Instead of making the case for why you should eat plant-based or veggie burgers by offering great flavor combinations, fast food as a whole is instead making the case why you should just chill on the whole concept and get some vegan fries or something. There are many reasons why someone would want great vegetarian options on fast food menus, maybe they’re, you know, vegetarian, maybe they’re concerned about their carbon footprint, maybe they have issues with factory farming hell, maybe they just want variety.

Some fast food brands are doing this well (shout out Taco Bell and Chipotle) but most aren’t even trying, and the ones that do don’t seem too concerned about the quality of what they put out. That’s why I was excited to hear that Shake Shack had launched a new veggie burger, the Veggie Shack, and a non-dairy version of their famous chocolate shake.

Shake Shack does everything excellently (except the fries), so we have high expectations for both new menu items. Let’s talk about them!

Non-Dairy Chocolate Shake

Thoughts and Tasting Notes:

I’m blown away by the quality of this milkshake. Shake Shack’s Non-Dairy Chocolate Shake is supremely thick and luxurious in texture, even more so than its dairy shakes. The flavor matches the OG with a rich and natural chocolate flavor that is earthy with a slightly roasted quality. The only major difference between the dairy version and this non-dairy version is the subtle plant-y aftertaste you get here.

I’m not sure that you’d immediately clock this as being non-dairy if you didn’t know what you were drinking ahead of time, but it’s clear in the way the flavor immediately dissipates that something is not quite “normal” about this milkshake. It’s not a bad thing, but it doesn’t really provide the indulgent decadent quality that a real milkshake gives off, but if all you’re after is flavor and texture and don’t want a lingering aftertaste, this exceeds expectations.

It’s without a doubt the best non-dairy chocolate shake I’ve ever had. The Shake Shack Non-Dairy Chocolate Shake is made with NotMilk brand, a sunflower oil and pea protein-based milk alternative that is soy, gluten, cholesterol, and GMO-free.

The Veggie Shack

On to the real star of the show. The Veggie Shack is not Shake Shack’s only veggie burger. The Shroom Burger, which is made with a fried portobello mushroom stuffed with cheese, is also a delicious option, but it’s fried and crispy. That burger doesn’t really mimic what an actual burger does, it’s a purposefully different experience, but the Veggie Shack manages to actually capture some of the magic of a real burger.

Instead of opting for plant-based fake meat like Impossible or Beyond, Shake Shack instead offers up a proprietary patty made from mushrooms, sweet potatoes, carrots, farro, and quinoa. The patty has savory umami elements, a hint of sweetness, a soft and tender texture, and even manages to exhibit some of that Maillard crust that makes Shake Shack’s real burgers so delicious. That sure sounds like a burger!

Most veggie and meat alternative burger patties are dense and a chore to chew through, but Shake Shack’s veggie patty melts in your mouth like real meat and is surprisingly juicy. It doesn’t try to mimic the experience of a burger one-to-one, it doesn’t taste like it’s trying to fool you, but it tastes delicious and captures some of the same sensations that a delicious burger patty offers.

But that’s just the patty, we haven’t even talked about the rest of the burger build. The Veggie Shack is topped with American Cheese, fried onions, pickles and ShackSauce, and the combination of these ingredients add even more flavor to an already delicious patty. The cheese brings in a salty component, while the fried onions add some savory crunch and a burst of sweet spice, while the pickles counterbalance that with some tang.

Altogether it comes across as a burger that isn’t making any compromises, it’s just a delicious experience that happens to be vegetarian. If you ditch the cheese and ShackSauce, now you have the best vegan burger on the market and it’ll still result in a burger bursting with flavor on each bite.

The Bottom Line:

Shake Shack’s Non-Dairy Chocolate Shake and Veggie Shack aren’t just good substitutes for the real thing, they’re delicious, full stop. The Veggie Shack might even be the best burger Shake Shack has launched all year and is an obvious choice for the best veggie burger in all of fast food.

Find your nearest Shake Shack here.

In most cases, Lewis Capaldi’s sense of humor isn’t for the uptight. Whether he’s making a parody song on TikTok, joking about another musician’s body odor, or the death of his grandmother, the “Wish You The Best” singer is an acquired taste. However, Capaldi’s uncomfortable reaction due to his medical condition interfering with his ability to perform at Glastonbury Festival 2023 was no laughing matter.

As he began “Someone You Loved,” Capaldi was only able to muster a few lines. Festivalgoers joined in, but after he remained silent too long, people noticed him trying to resist a spasm. They then cheered even louder as they encouraged him to push through it. Soon the crowd was joining in as the musician fought off his Tourette’s syndrome-caused ticks.

Capaldi has spoken candidly about his condition, saying that he nearly wanted to quit performing in April because of it. During a sit down with The Times, he said, “My tic is getting quite bad on stage now. I’m trying to get on top of that. If I can’t, I’m f*cked. It’s easier when I play guitar, but I hate playing guitar. I know, I’m a walking contradiction. It’s only making music that does this to me. Otherwise, I can be fine for months at a time. So it’s a weird situation. Right now, the trade-off is worth it.”

Aging is a weird thing. From one perspective, it’s something we should be grateful for. Few people would wish for the kind of short, uneventful life that would remove aging from the equation completely. The longer we live, the more we grow and learn and experience life, and “aging” is simply the mathematical sum of those experiences. All good, right?

On the other hand, our society does everything in its power to hide the fact that aging happens. Especially when it comes to women. According to Statista, the global anti-aging beauty market is estimated to be worth $58.8 billion. People will try all manner of creams, serums, masks, acids, lights, technologies and surgeries to try to prevent wrinkles, lines, sagginess, spots and other signs that our bodies are changing with time.

Most of us live our daily lives somewhere in the middle of these two realities, wanting to embrace our aging selves but also hoping to stave off some of the more obvious signs that we’re getting older. It’s natural to resist it in some ways, since the older we get, the closer we get to the end of our lives, which we certainly don’t want to hasten—especially if we actually love living.

It can be helpful to see people who are embracing their age, which is why it can be inspiring to see someone like former supermodel Paulina Porizkova confidently sharing photos of her 57-year-old self.

In posts on social media, Porizkova shared a photo of herself in a bikini and a screenshot of a comment made by a person who felt the need to comment on her aging body. And phew, was it something. The commenter wrote:

“You must be in so much pain to keep posting bikini pictures at your age. I’ve always thought that getting old and ugly is hardest on the pretty people. The fall from grace is so much farther when you were beautiful. Ugly people were always ugly so getting old and ugly isn’t a change. In summary, I feel your pain. I pray you can come to terms with your mortality. We all get old and ugly…you just had to fall from a greater height than the rest of us. Tears Times Infinity!”

So many things to unpack here.

Porizkova shared her thoughts on the comment on Instagram.

A thoughtful reader comment on IG need an equally thoughtful response.nThank you for feeling my pain, rickaroo777. As you can see, Iu2019m suffering indeed.pic.twitter.com/mWijP55iAS

— Paulina Porizkova (@Paulina Porizkova)
1651241361

“Here’s a good follower comment- echoing a few others,” Porizkova wrote. “A woman of 57 is ‘too old’ to pose in a bikini – no matter what she looks like. Because ‘Old’ is ‘Ugly.’ I get comments like these every time I post a photo of my body. This is the ageist shaming that sets my teeth on edge. Older men are distinguished, older women are ugly.”

“People who believe prettiness equals beauty do not understand beauty,” she continued. “Pretty is easy on the eyes, partly because it’s a little bland, inoffensive. It’s easy to take in and easy to forget. Not so beauty. Beauty can be sharp. It can wound you and leave a scar. To perceive beauty you have to be able to SEE.”

“This is why I believe we get more beautiful with age,” she added. “We have earned our beauty, we understand what it is, and we can see it so much better. There is no such thing as ugly and old. Only shortsighted and ignorant.”

On Twitter, Porizkova was a bit more sarcastic, writing, “Thank you for feeling my pain, rickaroo777. As you can see, I’m suffering indeed.”

That tongue-in-cheek response prompted others to share their aging selves in photos, sharing how their “old and ugly” phase of life is going. The thread turned into a veritable celebration of middle-to-late age, with posts about how much more comfortable people feel in their bodies as they get older and the freedom that comes along with not caring what other people think.

You suffer beautifully

You suffer beautifully

— Paulina Porizkova (@Paulina Porizkova)
1651291418

There are two big ironies with the original trolling comment. Most obviously, Porizkova obviously looks freaking amazing in a bikini, so the whole “ugly” and “fall from grace” line of thought is object and off base. The second is that if you look through Porizkova’s Instagram feed, she doesn’t pose in bikinis very often at all. It’s not like she’s plastering her bikini selfies all over social media trying to make herself feel better about herself, as the commenter implies. She just…sometimes wears a bikini. Whoop dee doo.

Do it anyway! Every body is valid. Every body is a bikini body.pic.twitter.com/slDLHLWQo7

— ud83cuddfaud83cuddf8Noel Gigerud83cuddfaud83cuddf8 (@ud83cuddfaud83cuddf8Noel Gigerud83cuddfaud83cuddf8)
1651248625

People don’t have to wear bikinis if they don’t want to. But to tell strangers what they can wear crosses a line. All bodies are bikini bodies, and if the person in the body wants their body to be in a bikini, more power to them.

Wow! Youu2019re suffering for sure!

— Paulina Porizkova (@Paulina Porizkova)
1651287653

The “suffering” and “pain” in the posts were so funny to see.

Ah, so painful. also- frickin

— Paulina Porizkova (@Paulina Porizkova)
1651288265

I’m 49 and I haven’t yet put on a bikini. Steph, thanks for showing me it’s not too late! Tho, somehow I feel like I won’t fill it as well as you & Paulina. But it’s all about attitude, right? So let’s the 3 of us hit the beach! (I’ll stay in the shade of an umbrella, tho.)

— Spark The Genius (@Spark The Genius)
1651262083

The thread brought inspiration to those who may fall prey to the idea that people shouldn’t wear certain things after a certain age or that only people with certain body sizes or shapes should wear certain things.

The hashtag #oldandugly started trending as people responded to Porizkova’s call for a celebration of aging beautifully.

“Todays thread has been my absolute favorite of all time,” Porizkova wrote on Twitter. “Thank you all you ‘old and ugly’ women (and a few men) showing the world how much we ‘suffer’ at in our old age. You’re all breathtaking!”

The love continues! 57 and proud! Keep posting your wonderful beautiful selves and tag #oldandugly so we can keep sharing the pic.twitter.com/Veg72kQOqt

— Paulina Porizkova (@Paulina Porizkova)
1651454555

May we all age beautifully and gracefully in whatever way those words are meaningful to us, and show those who think that aging means “suffering” and “pain” due to being “old and ugly” that they have no idea what they’re talking about.

(And here’s an extra shout-out to Porizkova for using her beauty and her age to make an important point—not only about celebrating getting older, but also about how propaganda works. Brava.)

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This article originally appeared on 05.03.22

Writing a book is no easy task, even for adult professional writers. Many would-be authors dream of a day when their work can be found on library shelves, unsure if it will ever come.

But for 8-year-old Dillon Helbig, that day has already arrived—in truly unconventional fashion—thanks to his own determination to make it happen.

Dillon wrote his 81-page graphic novel, “The Adventures of Dillon Helbig’s Crismis” (written by “Dillon His Self”) in a hardcover journal with colored pencils over the course of a few days. He even put a label on the back of the book that reads “Made in Idho” [sic] and put an illustrated spine label on it as well. Then, without telling anyone, he brought it to his local library in Boise, Idaho, and slipped it in among the books in the children’s section.

The library Facebook page shared that it had officially added the book to the collection at the branch, writing, “Imagine our surprise yesterday when Dillon’s mom called to tell us that her son had authored an entire book, shelved it at the Lake Hazel Branch, then announced to his family later that he had written a book and it could be checked out at the library.”

The library also announced that Dillon’s book had won the first-ever Whoodini Award for Best Young Novelist—an award created in his honor.

Dillon told local news station KTVB that the book features him, his mom, Santa, a bomb, a portal and a giant carnivorous turkey. Because of course.

“I’ve been wanting to put a book in the library since I was five,” Dillon told the station. Nearly half his life, in other words.

Dillon said there were a lot of librarians he had to sneak past with his book to surreptitiously put it on the shelf, but he did it.

“I’ll always be sneaky, like how I get chocolate,” he explained. Classic.

The adults on every front handled this kid’s creativity and determination the best possible way. His mom called the library to let them know the book was there so it wouldn’t get lost or taken. And rather than just returning the book, the librarians actually put it into circulation.

“His parents were worried we would find his book and we would get rid of it,” Lake Hazel Branch Library manager Alex Hartman told KTVB. “Which was an unfounded fear because if there’s ever a place a book would be safe, it would be here.”

The librarians loved Dillon’s book.

“It deserves a spot on our library shelves,” said Hartman. “It’s a good story.”

At the time of this local news report, the book had a handful of people in line to check it out. But The New York Times reports that as of the end of January, the waiting list has grown to a whopping 56 people. If each person kept the book for the maximum four-week checkout period it would take four years to get to the people at the bottom of the list.

The experience has made Dillon decide to become an author, his mom said, and he even has some career goals laid out.

“I’m going to stop writing when I’m 40,” Dillon said. After that, he will switch to game creation. In the meantime, he has a sequel to his first novel in the works.

“My next book is going to be called ‘The Jacket-Eating Closet,’” he said, “based on actual events.”

Amazing. Kudos to Dillon for following his dream and making it happen, kudos to his mom for encouraging him and kudos to the librarians who saw an opportunity to support a child’s creativity and ran with it.

This article originally appeared on 09.13.22

A lot of movies and shows these days are filmed in green screen warehouses or in immersive volumes, so it’s a big deal when a production builds an actual set. And there is no more eye-catching set at the movies this summer than Barbie’s mega-pink house. The manse is so pink it allegedly caused a pink paint shortage. Unreal as it may be, someone spotted a house that looks an awful lot like it.

As per Deadline, CBS Los Angeles helicopter cameraperson John Schreiber shared a video he took while flying over Malibu showing a large home decked out in eye-popping pink tones. “Is that a…real life #Barbie Malibu House?? Seems to be,” he wrote. “Pink everything… a water slide… floating “KEN” letters. Publicity stunt? Huge Barbie fans?”

Schreiber wondered if it wasn’t the real filming location. So did Deadline, who have reached out to Warner Bros. Discovery, who’s distributing the summer blockbuster, but have thus far not heard back.

What is known about the house is that it already has a Barbie connection. Back in 2019, the home was done up in relatively moderate amounts of pink and listed on Airbnb for the Barbie brand’s 60th anniversary. It was even cheap: a mere $60 a night.

Perhaps this will be a similar deal. Till then, it looks like one moneyed homeowner is really stoked for Greta Gerwig’s follow-up to Little Women.

(Via Deadline)

Over the weekend, Russia plunged into a teensy bit of chaos (or moreso). On Friday, Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of Wagner, Vladimir Putin’s private army, announced he was leading a military rebellion in response to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The coup was called off on Saturday, not long before his army was set to arrive in Moscow. On Monday, Putin finally publicly spoke about the turmoil, and, predictably, he wasn’t happy.

In an address to the nation, Putin called those who orchestrated the aborted rebellion traitors who played into the hands of those who want to see Russia “drowned in a bloody domestic strife.” He also claimed that had the rebellion entered Moscow, the Russian army would have crushed them.

“Any kind of blackmail, any attempts to create internal turmoil are doomed to failure,” Putin declared.

When calling off the rebellion, Prigozhin had cut a deal with the Kremlin, brokered by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, that vowed to drop charges against him and allow him to seek exile. Putin assured Wagner members that they could either join the Russian army or join Prigozhin in Belarus.

Still, Putin wasn’t exactly forgiving. “The organizers of this rebellion not only betrayed their country and their people, but also betrayed those whom they dragged into this mutiny,” he averred.

He did try to be diplomatic. “We know that the overwhelming majority of the Wagner company are also patriots of Russia, faithful to their people and country. They proved it with their courage defending the Donbas and Novorossiya,” he said, nodding to parts of Ukraine where Wagner fought.

“I thank those commanders and soldiers of the Wagner private company who took the only right decision,” Putin added, “and stopped at the last line to prevent bloodshed.”

Whether the famously prickly Putin will make good on his promise to forgive and forget remains to be seen.

In the meantime, the attempted rebellion has seeped into the U.S., where numerous Republicans, and one questionable Democrat, have been spouting conspiracy-laden nonsense.

(Via NBC News)

When you buy a new house you tend to find things that you missed during your walk through and initial few months there. You’re busy unpacking and settling in to notice things that may be just a little off. Sometimes the discovery is something like a forgotten train set still assembled in the attic or left behind photo albums.

Other times people discover secret doors that lead to underground caves or a prohibition era bar under the floor boards. Julia Henning, found something more similar to the latter. One day while she was cleaning, she noticed something weird on her closet floor and posted her discovery on TikTok in. 13 Second clip that has amassed over 31 million views.

“As I cleaned out the closet, my eyes kept tracing the small glass knob that stuck out in the corner of the room close to the door frame,” Henning told Newsweek.

When Henning pulled on the knob, the floor of her coat closet lifted up and revealed a small, slightly creepy winding staircase. The rickety wooden stairs lead to darkness. You can’t see the bottom of the stairs just by looking down the hatch’s opening so Henning wasn’t feeling brave enough to test her luck going into the unknown alone for the entertainment of social media.

In a second video update she gives a better look at the stairs and shows the immense darkness that awaits at the bottom.

“Can you imagine that I say hello and something literally says hello back,” Henning says. “So here’s the update. We’re going to get somebody else here by the end of the week, I’m either going to send them, (sorry to whoever that ends up being), or they will video tape me going down there. But I am not a vlogger so I am not willing on a Tuesday morning to put my life at risk for your entertainment; however, stay tuned because we’re going to crack this mystery.

@iamjuliahenning

I was cleaning the closet and decided to invesitgate. This is what I found… should I go in?! #hauntedhouses #hauntedhouse #creepytiktok #creepyhouse #crawlspace #creepycrawlspace #hiddenhorror #scarystories #homediscovery #hauntedhollywood #ghosthunters #investigation #whatliesbeneath #barbarian #oldhousetiktok #hiddengems #docuseries

Honestly, anyone with a healthy sense of self preservation probably would avoid going down those stairs as well. There really is no telling what would be awaiting. A well filled with the spirit of some girl that’s going to climb out of your television or an old box that possesses the opener. Horror movies have taught us that we really can’t be too careful!

Luckily for Henning, when she finally went down into the dark room, she didn’t find a box with a Dybbuk but she did admit to having some weird things happening in the house.

“Legit though all week weird stuff has been happening. I literally got locked in this closet the day i discovered the crawl space opened and would not have been able to get out if i was home alone. Go ahead and laugh but this is legit weird,” Henning wrote in a TikTok caption.

@iamjuliahenning

So mini update from yesterday before we dive into this crawl space mini series… #hauntedhouses #hauntedhouse #creepytiktok #creepyhouse #crawlspace #creepycrawlspace #hiddenhorror #scarystories #homediscovery #hauntedhollywood #ghosthunters #investigation #whatliesbeneath #barbarian #oldhousetiktok #hiddengems #docuseries

She originally hired a medium to explore the uncovered cellar but even the medium, one who is paid to commune with passed spirits declined. That left no one but the homeowner who was trying desperately to avoid going down the steps herself. After suiting up to avoid getting bit by spiders, Henning finally made it down the stairs.

In a very dramatic, then anticlimactic turn of events, Henning first spots faded names written on the wall, only to discover it appears to be a storage area. Wine racks, shelves and a single Miracle Whip jar that appeared to be from the 60s filled with old kids’ trinkets. The room is sealed so everything is pretty pristine, but Henning tells her followers, the discovery leaves more questions than answers.

Comments on each video in this accidental series is filled with reactions ranging from excitement and terror to skepticism. There’s no pleasing everyone, but it’s clear the internet wants to know what’s up with the house.

Watch the big reveal below (Warning: The video does contain profanity):

@iamjuliahenning

You asked for it. I want to keep it but also slightly terrfied. Its giving cursed items. But here you have it: the crawl space is a hidden room! Whats next? We need to learn the history… more questions than answers if you ask me. Hosting house events just got a lot more interesting… #hauntedhouses #hauntedhouse #creepytiktok #creepyhouse #crawlspace #creepycrawlspace #hiddenhorror #scarystories #homediscovery #hauntedhollywood #ghosthunters #investigation #whatliesbeneath #barbarian #oldhousetiktok #hiddengems #docuseries