Author: openjargon

• Netflix has announced the locations for its first two "Netflix House" venues.
• The streaming service will use spaces in two malls formerly occupied by department stores.
• It's the streaming service's latest venture into events, dining, and merchandise based on its content.

Netflix is joining the ranks of pickleball courts as it tries to make use of all that empty space in America's malls.

The streaming service said Tuesday that it's planning its first two "Netflix House" locations in shopping malls — one at the Galleria Dallas and another in the King of Prussia Mall outside Philadelphia.

Both "experiential entertainment" locations will open in 2025 and occupy spaces formerly held by department stores. That will give each over 100,000 square feet, Netflix said.

Within that space, you can expect to find a theme park-like variety of attractions, Netflix said last year. Back then, the streaming service said, patrons would be able to dine at restaurants themed around Netflix shows and buy corresponding merchandise at shops on the premises.

Netflix's latest announcement paints an even more vivid picture of what these first locations will look like.

"Imagine waltzing with your partner to an orchestral cover of a Taylor Swift song on a replica of the Bridgerton set — and then walking around the corner to compete in the Glass Bridge challenge from Squid Game," a post from Netflix said.

Netflix has already offered limited-time events for fans of its shows. It hosted a series of balls in major US cities in coordination with Season 2 of Bridgerton, for example.

The company said the Netflix House concept will offer those kinds of experiences year-round. "We've launched more than 50 experiences in 25 cities, and Netflix House represents the next generation of our distinctive offerings," its post read.

Much of America's retail space, including malls, has emptied out since the pandemic forced businesses to close. And while commercial real estate occupancy remains low in many parts of the US, retail landlords and their creditors are usually reluctant to lower rents and fill those storefronts.

• "The Boys" actor Antony Starr spoke about Homelander's return to the Vought lab that raised him in episode four.
• Starr told Business Insider that it's his favorite episode of the season.
• "It's his little therapy session, and he thinks he's nailed it," Starr said.

Homelander goes back to his roots during the latest episode of "The Boys," and the trip down memory lane turns into a horrific bloodbath.

"That's actually my favorite episode of the season," Antony Starr, who plays Homelander, told Business Insider of season four, episode four ("Wisdom of the Ages"). "I think we worked on it a bit and then went to set and kind of just let it rip."

"That's what I'm really interested in with the character, is going into the deeper, dark places and the vulnerabilities," Starr added.

Homelander's homecoming has been long coming.

Past seasons of "The Boys" have alluded to the psychological damage that resulted from Homelander, whose real name is John, being raised by scientists in a lab. In the spring of 1981, Vought scientist Dr. Jonah Vogelbaum grew him in a test tube using Soldier Boy's (Jensen Ackles) DNA.

Instead of growing up with a family in a home, he was isolated, deprived of a childhood, and ruthlessly trained to become the world's greatest, seemingly unbeatable supe. As a result, Homelander became a maniacal and vindictive supe with a desperate need for love and approval.

In season three, Homelander's insecurities are called out during an interaction with Soldier Boy, who scoffs at him for being weak and starving for attention.

Season four of "The Boys" shows Homelander grappling with his rapid aging and worrying about the legacy he'll leave behind for his son, Ryan (Cameron Crovetti).

Despite his best efforts, Homelander still falls short as a father. He arrives at the conclusion that his need for love is a weakness that's holding him back from becoming his true, most powerful self. So, he decides to confront his past during episode four and return to the Vought lab that raised him.

The reunion is far from amicable and civilized. Although Homelander enters the room with an uncharacteristically friendly demeanor, he becomes progressively more menacing as he reveals how deep his grudge against the Vought scientists goes.

Homelander vividly recalls the different ways the scientists experimented on him, harming him physically and emotionally. In retaliation, he burns one scientist to death in an oven.

Homelander also recalls another scientist, Marty, catching him masturbating in his cell as a child and giving him the nickname "Squirt." As payback, Homelander humiliates Marty by ordering him to masturbate in front of him and the other scientists. Then, he lasers Marty's penis off using his superpowers, laughs in delight, and crushes him to death.

Showrunner Eric Kripke told BI that Homelander's reactions throughout the lab scenes were the result of Starr putting his own spin on the character.

"In the draft of the script, he was written to be pretty cruel, top to bottom," Kripke said. "He came in wanting revenge on the people who did this horrible thing to him. And Ant called me and he's like, 'I think the approach is wrong. I think he needs to come in childlike at times, not totally sure how he's feeling, and experiencing it in real time and just walking through it.'"

Kripke said that Homelander's reunion with the scientists is "horrifying" and unsettling because of the supe's mercurial nature.

"It's so unpredictable because there's moments where he's just like, 'Oh wow, this is my childhood home.' And then he'll suddenly snap into feeling vengeful," Kripke said. "And it's a beautiful, beautiful performance. And we did not write to it. It was Ant coming to us and discussing it."

Later in the episode, Homelander learns from another scientist, Barbara, that his need for approval and love was specifically engineered to make him obedient. She says he'll never be able to overcome that human need because it's ingrained in him, but he thinks otherwise.

The episode concludes with Homelander grinning and covered in blood after murdering the other scientists and leaving Barbara trapped in his old cell with the bloody bodies.

"It's his little therapy session, and he thinks he's nailed it," Starr said. "That's the funny thing, is that he's coming out covered in blood and guts and going, 'I'm going to be a good dad.' That was reaching, but he's trying to do the right thing — ultimately for the most selfish of reasons, for his legacy."

The first four episodes of season four of "The Boys" are now streaming on Prime Video, followed by a new episode every Thursday, ending with the season finale on July 18.

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s long-shot campaign is struggling.
• He won't be at the presidential debate next week.
• May was also the worst month of fundraising for his campaign thus far.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s long-shot presidential campaign is struggling to raise money. His billionaire running mate Nicole Shanahan has largely stopped tapping into her fortune.

According to Kennedy's latest campaign finance filing, May was its worst month of the year thus far. As The New York Times pointed out, the struggle is largely due to Shanahan's decision not to make another major splash.

Shanahan, an attorney and philanthropist, has joked that Kennedy selected her as his running mate due to her reported $1 billion fortune, most of which she amassed in her divorce from Google cofounder Sergey Brin. She has donated over $10 million to Kennedy's campaign this cycle, not including a $4 million donation she made to a super PAC for Kennedy's controversial Super Bowl ad.

Because she's Kennedy's running mate, there are no limits to the amounts she can give his campaign. But in May, she only gave roughly $25,000, all in the form of in-kind contributions with the largest category being media production.

Kennedy is facing a critical moment in his run. CNN confirmed on Thursday that he will be left off the debate stage next week between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

No third-party challenger has made a major presidential debate since Texas businessman Ross Perot in 1992. According to NBC News, Kennedy has qualified for the ballot in just nine states. His campaign is optimistic that it will reach the requirements in far more, but it can take weeks for state election officials to verify signatures and certify his status.

Trump and his allies have also stepped up their attacks on Kennedy amid signs that the noted vaccine skeptic could actually help Biden's candidacy in some states.

Outside of Shanahan, Kennedy's biggest supporter is Timothy Mellon, a pro-Trump banking heir. Mellon, who, unlike Shanahan, faces contribution limits for direct support, has routed his donations through a pro-Kennedy super PAC. According to a May filing, Mellon donated another $5 million to the group, bringing his total to $25 million thus far.

Mellon is also a major Trump supporter. He's given a similar amount to a pro-Trump super PAC.

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• Kendrick Lamar performed his first show since his beef with Drake on Wednesday. 
• Lamar performed most of his diss tracks aimed at Drake, including "Not Like Us" five times.
• But fans say the event attended by major hip-hop figures and LA gang members was more than a victory lap from Lamar. 

Kendrick Lamar cemented his win in his rap beef with Drake at an LA show on Wednesday where he performed a diss track five times, surrounded by rap legends.

But the Juneteenth concert wasn't just a victory lap, with fans viewing it as an iconic moment in hip-hop history and an important attempt to unite the fractured West Coast.

The sold-out, one-off show, "The Pop Out: Ken & Friends" — which was streamed live on Amazon Prime Video and Twitch — was Lamar's hotly anticipated first performance since his beef with Drake unfolded earlier this year.

After the pair released a series of back-to-back diss tracks in April and May, Lamar was viewed as the winner after "Not Like Us" topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts for one week in May and has been in the top 10 ever since. Drake's response, "The Heart Part 6" wasn't enough to beat Lamar.

When both artists went quiet, fans were left wondering what would happen next.

Lamar didn't disappoint with "The Pop Out," where he performed four of his five Drake diss tracks, opening with "Euphoria." Later came his diss verses on "6:16" and "Like That," and he ended the night with "Not Like Us," featuring an intro from West Coast hip-hop legend Dr Dre, who joined him on stage.

Lamar then performed "Not Like Us" four more times alongside numerous West Coast rappers, athletes, dancers, and members from multiple Los Angeles gangs. At the end, they took a group photo together.

Fans said the concert was the equivalent of Lamar getting the West Coast to dance on Drake's grave, and proof that the hip-hop community supports him.

But they also appreciated the cultural significance of the show, with one X user describing it as "one of the most historic nights in hip-hop history."

While fans have focused a lot on the unsubstantiated allegations of sexual assault, pedophilia, and domestic abuse in the pair's diss tracks, the battle was truly about authenticity.

In "Not Like Us," Lamar calls Drake, who is Canadian, a "colonizer" of rap culture, claiming he stole his persona from artists like Future, Lil Baby, 21 Savage, Young Thug, Quavo, and 2Chainz.

In "Family Matters" and "Push Ups," Drake calls Lamar, who raps about race and societal issues, a fake activist and says his hometown, Compton, California, doesn't support him.

Lamar challenged that idea by showcasing up-and-coming West Coast rappers and performing with major Californian hip-hop stars including Tyler The Creator, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, and Dr. Dre, while the crowd was filled with stars including LeBron James.

Lamar didn't just bring all of these artists together to mock Drake, though, but to unite the West Coast.

"For all of us to be on this stage together, unity, from East side mother-fucking LA, Crips, Bloods, Pirus, this shit is special, man. We put this shit together just for ya'll," Lamar said in between the "Not Like Us" encores, referring to rival gang members onstage.

"This shit ain't got nothing to do with no song at this point, ain't got nothing to do with no back and forth records, it's got everything to do with this moment right here. That's what this shit was about, to bring all of us to-mother-fucking-gether," he added.

Lamar also paid tribute to late rapper Nipsey Hussle, former NBA star Kobe Bryant, and Californians who have lost their lives to violence.

• Trump criticized Biden's student-loan forgiveness efforts during a Wisconsin campaign rally.
• He said Biden's debt relief is illegal and an attempt to get "publicity for the election."
• Biden is still moving forward with his broader attempt at debt relief, but it'll likely face lawsuits. 

Former President Donald Trump is making sure voters know how he feels about student-loan forgiveness.

During a Tuesday campaign rally in Wisconsin, Trump delivered a more than an hourlong speech on topics ranging from immigration to national security to the economy.

He also used that time to criticize President Joe Biden, particularly Biden's efforts to enact student-loan forgiveness for millions of Americans.

"He's throwing money out the window," Trump said in his remarks.

"This student program, which is not even legal, I mean it's not even legal, and the students aren't buying it, by the way," he said. "His polls are down. I'm leading in young people by numbers that nobody's ever seen before."

A Harvard Youth Poll released in April found that among people aged 18 to 29, Biden was leading Trump at 45% compared to 37%, but still a reduction from his youth support in 2020.

Trump also referred to the Supreme Court striking down Biden's first attempt at broad student-loan forgiveness last summer, saying that "he got rebuked and then he did it again. It's going to get rebuked again even more," calling it "vile" and an attempt to get "publicity for the election."

The same day as the Supreme Court decision last June, Biden's Education Department announced it would be pursuing a new route for debt relief using the Higher Education Act of 1965. The Act requires the administration to undergo a process known as negotiated rulemaking, which entails a series of negotiation sessions with stakeholders and a period of public comment before it can be implemented.

The department recently concluded the public comment period, and it plans to start implementing the relief — expected to benefit over 30 million Americans — this fall. However, conservative groups have already voiced opposition to the plan, and it's highly likely it will once again run into lawsuits that could delay or block the relief.

The presidential election also presents uncertainty surrounding the fate of student-loan forgiveness. Should Biden win, his administration will continue carrying out its broad and targeted debt relief efforts such as one-time account adjustments for borrowers on income-driven repayment plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Given Trump's opposition toward debt cancellation, his potential second term would likely cease any of the Biden administration's work to cancel student debt.

This isn't the first time Trump has criticized student-debt relief. He previously called Biden's first attempt at broad relief an "election enhancing money grab." After the Supreme Court decision, his campaign posted a statement on his website saying that "these wins were only made possible through President Trump's strong nomination of three distinguished and courageous jurists to the Supreme Court."

Still, Biden's Education Department is moving forward with its relief efforts and has maintained that all of its actions are in accordance with the law and the Supreme Court decision. Along with its broader second attempt at relief, the Education Department began canceling student debt for borrowers on the SAVE plan who borrowed $12,000 or less originally and made as few as 10 years of qualifying payments.

While GOP state attorneys general launched two separate lawsuits seeking to block that relief, a court has yet to issue a final decision and the administration is still moving forward.

• I booked a solo trip to a mystery destination with a company that planned everything for me.
• I traveled to Lisbon and enjoyed group tours and activities — as well as some alone time.
• It was fun to step outside my comfort zone, but I would have liked more time to explore by myself.

When traveling, I prefer leaving things to chance, as many of my most memorable moments typically happen on less-crowded streets or when I'm chatting up strangers at a restaurant.

That's why when my friend suggested I check out Journee — a travel company that specializes in mystery tours and plans everything, including your destination — I couldn't resist trying it out for a solo trip.

Companies like Journee have become more popular in recent years as more travelers lean into the idea of having a trip planned for them. In fact, a survey of 27,000 travelers by Booking.com found that over half of the respondents would welcome the idea of a trip to an unknown destination.

I was excited to see what all the hype was about and book a surprise trip of my own. Here's what it was like to travel to an unknown destination with Journee.

The company asked me questions about my travel preferences and sent clues leading up to the reveal

When booking my trip, the company provided me with an in-depth travel questionnaire that asked about my interests, curiosities, risk tolerance, well-being, and overall travel philosophy. It also dug into the "why" of my trip, the safety criteria, and logistics and budget.

The company then sent me a trip proposal, which provided a few clues about the city I'd be traveling to. There was no pressure to book and the proposal itself was completely free.

Once I committed, they built up the suspense by gamifying the pre-trip content, slipping fun facts and clues into my WhatsApp DMs.

I challenged myself (and my friends) to rely on our brains (no Googling) to figure out where I might be going, which led to many meaningful conversations about travel.

The company also provided a high-level packing list, which included items like a bank card, phone, charger, passport, and comfortable walking shoes.

The destination reveal turned out to be pretty underwhelming

On the day of departure, I added some euros to my carry-on before taking an Uber to Newark Airport. In the car, I found myself daydreaming about my destination, secretly hoping it was somewhere I'd never been.

My plan to film a reveal video at the airport was quickly foiled when my driver informed me that Newark has two international terminals.

Because the tour company didn't note the terminal information on the envelope, I had no choice but to open the card in the car, which was underwhelming.

However, I was excited by the location listed on my card — Lisbon.

Along with the destination, the envelope included a detailed itinerary with daily pre-booked excursions, including an e-bike tour and a sunset cruise, with one free day to myself.

The company did a great job arranging my accommodations and activities

I arrived in Lisbon mid-morning after my basic-economy flight. I was relieved to find the company booked me a studio apartment with a sweeping balcony overlooking the street.

I liked being in a residential area, and the proximity to a metro hub and grocery stores made it feel like I had moved abroad.

My first group excursion turned out to be a one-on-one personalized e-bike tour of the city when folks bailed because of the rain.

My city guide took me on a two-hour tour along the Tagus River waterfront, and I ended up taking that same route several times throughout the week.

I also enjoyed the other trips Journee booked for me, including a drive along the countryside to a small village southeast of the city. Here, my group dodged the rain to visit a Stonehenge-like megalithic complex dating back 7,000 years.

One of the last curated events of the trip was visiting the Jerónimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Feeling utter tranquility in the cloisters was worth the 90 minutes I spent waiting in line.

As the week went on, I started veering from the pre-planned schedule

Although I enjoyed the group excursions, I worried that I wouldn't have enough time to explore the city on my own. That's why I decided to skip my third-day excursion to wander off the beaten path.

I weaved through the Alcântara district, stopping at the LXFactory, an old industrial textile complex turned food and art hall.

I also biked to explore the Mouraria and Alfama districts, filling up on bacalhau, Lisbon's salted codfish tapas. I even spent a few hours at the Fado Museum, an interactive and immersive cultural arts center where I learned about the history of Portugal's soulful music.

I loved being able to explore another side of the city, which hadn't been in my original itinerary.

I enjoyed the trip, but would make a few changes next time

Overall, it was exciting to step outside my comfort zone and hand over the travel planning to someone else. I loved the surprise of not knowing the destination and visiting historical sites off the beaten path.

Next time, I would book with a friend and have a more direct conversation with the tour company about having more time for independent exploration.

• Here are the famous people who died in 2024.
• O.J. Simpson, Glynis Johns, Carl Weathers, Chita Rivera, Dabney Coleman, Morgan Spurlock, and Louis Gossett Jr. passed away.
• So did broadcaster Charles Osgood, fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, producer Roger Corman, NBA legend Jerry West, and MLB Hall of Famer Willie Mays.

Below, we look back at those we lost in 2024.

Eric Carmen, 74

Carmen was a rock ballad king whose songs still get constant play to this day.

"All by Myself" was a hit in the mid-1970s. It became an even bigger hit when Celine Dion did her own rendition in 1996.

The Grammy-nominated "Almost Paradise" from the soundtrack to the hit 1984 movie "Footloose" became a staple at school dances and weddings.

Carmen repeated the feat when his song "Hungry Eyes" showed up on the soundtrack for the 1987 classic "Dirty Dancing."

Carmen's death was announced on his website on March 12, stating he "passed away in his sleep, over the weekend." No cause was given.

Roberto Cavalli, 83

The Italian fashion designer was known for his flamboyant designs and game-changing innovations.

Cavalli's use of leopard prints beginning in the 1970s became one of his trademarks. His revolutionary method of printing leather and patchwork denim was beloved by everyone from Madonna to Gwyneth Paltrow.

Cavalli died on April 12. No cause of death was given.

Dabney Coleman, 92

Dabney Coleman became a captivating scene stealer in the 1980s thanks to his gruff demeanor and booming voice. Whether he was playing the mean boss opposite Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin in 1980's "9 to 5," or the nasty TV producer in "Tootsie," or chasing Matthew Broderick in "WarGames," Coleman had a talent for playing the heel.

The Emmy winner most recently starred in the HBO hit series Boardwalk Empire from 2011 to 2014 and a 2019 episode of Yellowstone.

Coleman died on May 16. No cause was given.

Eleanor Coppola, 87

As the wife of Francis Ford Coppola, Eleanor had to navigate the stress and complexities of living with one of the greatest directors of all time.

She channeled that by filming her husband while he made his landmark 1979 Vietnam movie "Apocalypse Now."

Her documentary, "Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse," has gone down as one of the most honest accounts of the making of a movie.

Eleanor died on April 12. No cause of death was given.

Roger Corman, 98

To say Roger Corman was the king of B-movies is too simple of a characterization.

For decades, Corman made ultra-low-budget genre movies that featured everything from cheesy monsters to crazed bikers. Corman-produced titles almost always made a profit, and many of them became proving grounds for the directors and actors who would go on to change Hollywood.

After directing the 1967 acid-trip fantasia "The Trip" starring Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda and written by Jack Nicholson, the trio went on to make "Easy Rider," which would usher in the New Hollywood era of the 1970s.

Corman also produced titles directed by then-unknowns like Francis Ford Coppola, James Cameron, and Martin Scorsese before they went on to mainstream studio success.

Corman died on May 9 at his home in Santa Monica, Calif., surrounded by family members.

Joe Flaherty, 82

As one of the original cast members of the Canadian sketch comedy show "SCTV" in the late 1970s, Joe Flaherty — alongside the likes of John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin, Martin Short, and Rick Moranis — created a brand of comedy that was edgier and more outlandish than their competition "Saturday Night Live."

In later decades, Flaherty made scene-stealing appearances as the Western Union worker who gives Marty McFly the 70-year-old letter from Doc Brown in "Back to the Future Part II" and the heckler Donald in "Happy Gilmore."

He was also a regular on TV through the decades, with roles in "Married… with Children," "Freaks and Geeks," and "The King of Queens."

Flaherty died on April 1 following a brief illness.

Louis Gossett Jr.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Louis Gossett Jr. made his stage debut at 17. After building his craft onstage through the 1960s, Gossett Jr. made the jump to screen and in 1977 was cast in the acclaimed miniseries "Roots" opposite the likes of Ben Vereen, LeVar Burton, and John Amos. He went on to win an Emmy for his performance as Fiddler.

He was nominated for seven more Emmys after that, most recently in 2020 for playing William Reeves in the HBO limited series "Watchmen."

He made history in 1983 when he won an Oscar for best supporting actor for his portrayal of the strict drill instructor Emil Foley in "An Officer and a Gentleman." It would mark the first time a Black actor won the prize in that category.

Gossett Jr. went on to star in hit movies and TV shows like "The Principal," "Toy Soldiers," "Iron Eagle," and "Boardwalk Empire."

Gossett Jr. died on March 29. No cause was given.

Norman Jewison, 97

The legendary director was best known for his eclectic filmography that included the drama "In the Heat of the Night," the musical "Fiddler of the Roof," and the beloved comedy "Moonstruck," all of which garnered him best director nominations at the Oscars.

The Canadian filmmaker's specialty was getting top-notch performances out of A-list actors like Steve McQueen ("The Thomas Crown Affair") and Denzel Washington ("The Hurricane").

It often led to Oscar glory for his movies and their stars. Twelve actors received nominations over his 40-year career, with five of his movies earning best picture noms.

Jewison died on January 20. No cause of death was given.

Glynis Johns, 100

The English actor starred in over 60 films and 30 plays, and is known best for playing Mrs. Banks in the beloved 1964 Disney movie "Mary Poppins."

Legend has it that Johns originally thought she landed the role of Poppins. To let her down easy, Walt Disney made sure that she got to sing a big musical number in the movie. It led to the famous "Sister Suffragette" sequence.

In 1973, Johns' breathy voice caught the attention of legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, who cast her in the original Broadway production of "A Little Night Music." Sondheim wrote "Send in the Clowns," the song she performs, with her in mind. Johns would earn a Tony Award for her performance.

She was also nominated for an Oscar for her work in "The Sundowners" (1960).

Johns died on January 4. No cause of death was given.

Toby Keith, 62

Keith became prominent in the 1990s thanks to his hit single "Should've Been a Cowboy."

It would make him one of the decade's top draws in country music.

Keith released 19 studio albums, two Christmas albums, and dozens of songs that topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in his career.

Keith died on February 5 following a bout with stomach cancer.

Richard Lewis, 76

In an era in the 1970s where stand-up comedy could be a path to superstardom, Richard Lewis was one of the biggest acts.

Often dressed in black and holding his hand up to his temple, his self-deprecating and neurotic style made him a constant visitor to Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show."

By the 1980s, he hit it big on TV, starring opposite Jamie Lee Curtis on the series "Anything but Love," which ran for four seasons.

His movie credits include the Mel Brooks comedy "Robin Hood: Men in Tights," "Leaving Las Vegas," and John Candy's final role before his death, 1994's "Wagons East." Lewis has said Candy's death was one of the things that finally got him sober.

Lewis introduced himself to a new generation when Larry David's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" premiered on HBO in 2000. For 11 seasons, Lewis played a fictional version of himself as one of David's friends. Though he didn't return as a series regular for the series' final season, season 12, he popped up in a cameo in an episode that aired on February 18.

Back in April, Lewis revealed via a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and would be retiring from stand-up comedy after undergoing four surgeries.

Lewis died on February 27 of a heart attack in his Los Angeles home.

Willie Mays, 93

Regarded as one of the greatest baseball players who ever lived, Willie Mays was astounding to watch.

He could hit and catch, had speed, and pulled off amazing feats that are still remarkable to this day.

One of his most memorable plays happened in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series, which is simply known as "The Catch."

Mays' New York Giants were facing the Cleveland Indians at the Polo Grounds in New York. With the score tied 2-2 in the eighth inning and runners on base, Indians player Vic Wertz hit a towering 420-foot blast to dead center that in today's baseball would be deep in the seats for a homerun. But due to the Polo Grounds' massive outfield, it was in play, and Mays used practically all of it to track down the ball on the run with an incredible over-the-shoulder catch and then threw it into the infield quickly so no runner could score. The Giants went on to win the game in extra innings 5-2, and would go on to win the World Series. Many still regard Mays' catch as one of the greatest moments in baseball history.

Mays would go on to play 21 seasons with the Giants before being traded to the New York Mets for the 1972-73 season, which would be his last. He finished his career with 3,293 hits and 660 home runs.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

Mays died on June 18, no cause was given.

Cindy Morgan, 69

A 1980s icon, Morgan found instant stardom in her film debut playing the stunning Lacey opposite Chevy Chase in the classic 1980 comedy "Caddyshack."

Two years later, she found herself in another iconic work, Disney's "Tron." As Dr. Lora Baines in the real world and Yori, who helps Jeff Bridges after he's sucked into the game world, Morgan once again showed she can shine opposite Hollywood's biggest leading men.

Though Morgan worked steadily the rest of her career, including a multi-episode run on the soap opera "Falcon Crest," she'll be forever known for her performances in two of the biggest movies of the '80s.

Morgan's death was first reported on January 6, though she died on December 30, 2023. No cause of death was given.

Charles Osgood, 91

The face of "CBS Sunday Morning" for over two decades, Osgood became a fixture in Americans' homes at the end of every weekend thanks to his wit, calming demeanor, and that bow tie.

Osgood had been at CBS since the early 1970s, first as a reporter, then the anchor of the "CBS Sunday Night News" from 1981 to 1987. From 1987 to 1992, he was often on "CBS This Morning."

In 1994, he became the face of "Sunday Morning," replacing Charles Kuralt. He would go on to earn two Daytime Emmys and a Peabody for his work on the show. He ended his run 2016, passing the reins to Jane Pauley.

Osgood died on January 23 after suffering from dementia.

Chance Perdomo, 27

Perdomo was a rising star in Hollywood, having starred in Netflix's reboot "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" and "The Boys" spinoff "Gen V."

The British-American actor died on March 30 as a result of a motorcycle accident, his publicist confirmed.

Chita Rivera, 91

Rivera was a Broadway legend who originated some of the stage's most memorable characters, including Anita in "West Side Story," Velma Kelly in "Chicago," and Rose in "Bye Bye Birdie." She would go on to be nominated for 10 Tony Awards and win twice.

With Broadway credits spanning seven decades, Rivera's singing and dancing shaped generations of performers.

Rivera died on January 30 following a brief illness.

Marian Robinson, 86

Former First Lady Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, was often described as the matriarch of the White House during the Obama administration, but the Chicago-born daughter of seven never felt quite at home on Pennsylvania Avenue, according to her family.

"The trappings and glamour of the White House were never a great fit for Marian Robinson," a statement from former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and other family members said. "'Just show me how to work the washing machine and I'm good,' she'd say."

Robinson's death was announced on May 31.

A cause and place of death was not revealed.

O.J. Simpson, 76

O.J. Simpson had a life of high highs and low lows.

Finding fame initially on the football field, he became one of the greatest running backs ever to play in the NFL in the 1970s. He had an MVP season in 1973 when he set a single-season rushing record and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1985 after his retirement.

He was set to live out his days as a hero and grow even more famous thanks to endorsements, movie roles, and broadcasting.

But all of that changed in June of 1994 after his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman were found stabbed to death outside her condo. Days later, Simpson, who was a person of interest in the murders, led Los Angeles police on a slow-speed chase in his Ford Bronco, finally giving up when he got back to his home.

Simpson's televised trial for the deaths of Nicole and Goldman a year later became one of the biggest spectacles in modern-day American history.

Simpson was acquitted of the murders, was found guilty in civil court in 1997.

The story of Simpson's incredible rise and fall still fascinates people to this day. The 2016 ESPN docuseries "O.J.: Made in America" won an Oscar and Emmy, and Ryan Murphy's 2016 scripted series "The People vs. O.J.: American Crime Story" won eight Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes.

Simpson died on April 10. He had been diagnosed with cancer, his family said.

David Soul, 80

Soul found instant fame in the mid-1970s playing Detective Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson, one half of the hip crime solvers in "Starsky & Hutch."

Before hitting it big on the show, Soul was a folk singer through the 1960s, opening for the likes of Frank Zappa and The Byrds. At one time he even sang while his face was covered with a mask, calling himself "The Covered Man."

After "Starsky & Hutch," Soul went back to music and scored the No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Don't Give Up on Us."

Soul also made appearances on shows like "Star Trek," "Gunsmoke," the Clint Eastwood movie "Magnum Force," and a miniseries adaptation of the Stephen King novel, "Salem's Lot."

Soul died on January 4. No cause of death was given.

Morgan Spurlock, 53

In 2004, an unknown documentary filmmaker arrived in Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival. Overnight, his life was changed — because he made a movie about eating McDonald's.

If there's one thing Morgan Spurlock knew how to do, it was get people's attention. With a big personality and an unusual idea, Spurlock changed the way we look at fast food when he made "Super Size Me," a documentary in which he ate nothing but McDonald's for a full month, to stomach-churning effect.

The documentary earned an Oscar nomination and became a box-office sensation. Weeks after its release in theaters, McDonald's discontinued its supersize portions.

Spurlock used that success to become one of the stars in the documentary medium, which was growing in popularity in the early 2000s. He would go on to direct and produce dozens of documentaries for the big screen and TV, focused on everything from Osama bin Laden to One Direction.

His legacy would be tarnished in late 2017, at the height of the #MeToo movement, when Spurlock confessed to multiple acts of sexual misconduct in his past.

Spurlock died on May 23 due to complications related to cancer.

Johnny Wactor, 37

Wactor was best known for his role as Brando Corbin on the soap "General Hospital." He appeared in more than 160 episodes during his two seasons on the series before leaving in 2022.

His résumé included guest roles on "Westworld," "The OA," "Station 19," "Siberia," "Agent X," "Vantastic," "Animal Kingdom," "Hollywood Girl," "Training Day," "Criminal Minds," "Struggling Servers," "Age Appropriate," "NCIS," "The Passenger" and "Barbee Rehab."

He also starred in the 2016 Mario Van Peebles-directed movie "USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage" alongside Nicolas Cage, Tom Sizemore, and Thomas Jane.

His family confirmed that Wactor was shot and killed on May 25 in Los Angeles during a robbery.

M. Emmet Walsh, 88

You may not know the name, but you definitely know this face.

Character actor M. Emmet Walsh showed up in more than 150 movies over his career, many of which have gone on to become classics: "Blade Runner," "Blood Simple," "Slap Shot," "Fletch," "The Jerk," "Back to School," "My Best Friend's Wedding," and "Knives Out."

He also has appeared in many popular TV shows over the decades, including "Home Improvement," "The X-Files," and "Frasier."

Walsh died on March 19. No cause was given.

Carl Weathers, 76

Thanks to his bravado and astounding physique, Weathers found fame when he was cast as heavyweight champion Apollo Creed in 1976's "Rocky."

The following years and decades brought more memorable roles, whether he was sizing up biceps with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987's "Predator," or trying to teach Adam Sandler how to play golf in 1996's "Happy Gilmore."

Most recently, he played Greef Karga in the "Star Wars" series "The Mandalorian." Along with appearing in front of the camera, he also showcased his talents behind it, directing multiple episodes.

Jerry West, 86

You can give several examples to show just how great a basketball player Jerry West was. He won an NBA title, an Olympic gold medal, and is the only player on the losing team of an NBA Finals to be named MVP.

But there's one that overshadows all of these accomplishments: he was the logo.

That's right. The actual NBA logo is a silhouette of Jerry West dribbling a basketball.

Known for his tenacious play and ability to score in the clutch, West was one of the stars in the NBA before its enormous popularity in the 1970s, when players like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and later, Michael Jordan, became household names.

After his retirement, West became an executive of the Los Angeles Lakers and was instrumental in the "Showtime" Lakers' championship dynasty through the 1980s. He made the key signings to get Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant to the Lakers, creating another dynasty in the early 2000s.

West died on June 12. No cause was given.

• The US plans to stop open orders for Patriot interceptor missiles, the Financial Times reported.
• It aims to send them to Ukraine instead, leaving other countries to wait, per the FT.
• Ukraine has repeatedly asked for more Patriot systems, but has only received a handful from its allies.

The US plans to halt open orders for the delivery of Patriot interceptor missiles and send them to Ukraine instead, the Financial Times reported, citing people with knowledge of the discussions.

According to the FT, President Joe Biden said countries expecting deliveries will have to wait because "everything we have is going to go to Ukraine until their needs are met."

The move is expected to be announced on Thursday, officials told the FT.

The US will be "re-sequencing deliveries" of air defense systems, including Patriots, "so interceptors rolling off the production line now are provided to Ukraine," an unnamed senior White House official told the outlet.

The official said the move shows the US' "commitment" to supporting partners when they're in "existential danger" but is also a message to Russia that "if they think they can outlast Ukraine in this war, they are mistaken," per the outlet.

Washington has briefed all affected countries privately, the FT reported.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has received only a handful of Patriot missile systems from its allies.

The Netherlands, Germany, and the US have provided Ukraine with at least three, possibly five, Patriots systems — however, their precise number and deployment have not been disclosed.

Some Ukrainian allies have refused to send their own systems, like Greece, which says it needs them to protect its airspace.

According to unnamed senior military and administration officials who spoke to The New York Times last week, Biden approved the transfer of a second battery from the US earlier this month.

In April, Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, told The Washington Post that his team had identified more than 100 Patriot air-defense systems that its allies could spare.

The Patriot had a questionable reputation going into the conflict, but has performed extremely well in Ukraine, experts told BI in March, citing upgrades and operators' training.

Ukraine used one to down a prized Russian A-50 spy plane earlier this year, and it likely deployed several to take out two Russian planes in January, two analysts told BI at the time.

• Kyra Kennedy is one of the youngest members of the Kennedy dynasty.
• She is the daughter of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nephew of John F. Kennedy.
• Kyra Kennedy, a New York City socialite, has been involved in controversy over the years, however.

Kyra Kennedy is one of the many young members of the Kennedy family making a name for herself.

The 28-year-old model and socialite is the youngest daughter of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., well known for his misleading claims about vaccine safety. She's also a mainstay at fashion shows and fashion-brand popups, making her one to watch from "America's royal family."

Here's everything you need to know about Kyra Kennedy.

Kyra Kennedy is the youngest daughter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Kyra Kennedy was born on August 22, 1995. She is the second child of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his second wife, Mary Richardson.

People reported that Kennedy and Richardson started dating before the politician's divorce from his first wife, Emily Ruth Black, was finalized in 1994. Kennedy married Richardson that same year, and they were married until Richardson's death by suicide on May 16, 2012. The couple were estranged at the time of her death, The Guardian reported.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has two children with Black: Robert "Bobby" Kennedy III, 39, and Kathleen Alexandra "Kick" Kennedy, 36, according to People.

Kennedy had four children with Richardson: Conor Richardson Kennedy, 29; Kyra LeMoyne Kennedy, 28; William "Finn" Kennedy, 27; and Aidan Caohman Vieques Kennedy, 23.

Kennedy married his third wife, actor Cheryl Hines, in 2014. They have no children together, though she has a daughter from a previous marriage.

Kennedy made her debut in society at a Paris debutante ball.

Harper's Bazaar reported that then-21-year-old Kyra was "the latest Kennedy making headlines" after she made her formal debut in society at a 2013 debutante ball in Paris.

The event, known as "Le Bal," was held at the Automobile Club de France in Paris, and all attendees wore haute couture. As reported by Harper's Bazaar, Kennedy wore Dior, whom she had already interned with when she made her debut.

Vanity Fair reported that other debutantes that year included Larry David's daughter Romy and Lady Amelia Windsor, a member of the British royal family.

She attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.

Kennedy has been a longtime fashion enthusiast.

In addition to earning her degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, she also held internships at Kenneth Cole and Dior, Harper's Bazaar reported.

Kennedy was a member of the "Snap Pack," which also included the likes of Tiffany Trump.

The New York Times coined the term "Snap Pack" in 2016. The group was made up of uber-rich young people who lived and partied in Manhattan, and who documented their lives for their many devoted Snapchat and Instagram followers.

Kennedy's high-profile social circle also included people like Gaia Matisse, the great-granddaughter of artist Henri Matisse, Donald Trump's daughter Tiffany Trump, and up-and-coming fashion designer Andrew Warren.

Her father reportedly barred her from using social media after an online incident with a reporter.

In 2016, Page Six reported that Kennedy's dad, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., had barred her from using social media after her reported involvement in a "cyberbullying" scandal.

According to the tabloid, Kyra Kennedy, then 20, had used her Instagram page to write mean comments on an Instagram page owned by Allie Jones, a New York writer who had written a post about The New York Times' "Snap Pack" article for The Cut, a subsidiary of New York Magazine. She later deleted the comments, per Page Six.

Jones recounted the experience in another article for The Cut, titled, "I'm Being Cyberbullied on Instagram by a Kennedy."

"Mr. Kennedy has spoken to Kyra and informed his daughter that their family does not bully people. He has instructed her to shut down all of her social media accounts immediately," a representative for the politician told Page Six.

The ban didn't last forever, however, as the Daily Mail reported in September 2019 that Kennedy had resumed using her social media pages.

Kennedy has dabbled in modeling over the years.

In May 2016, she made her modeling debut posing for her friend and fellow Snap Pack member Andrew Warren's clothing line during New York Fashion Week, Harper's Bazaar reported.

According to her Instagram, she frequently attends brand pop-ups, fashion shows, and Fashion Week events held by major brands, from Gucci to Tod's and Louis Vuitton.

As a member of one of America's most famous families, she's certainly one to watch.

Kennedy now has nearly 30,000 followers on Instagram, where she documents her outfits, glamorous lifestyle, and travels.

Judging by her page, she still has many celebrity friends, including comedian Larry David's daughter Cazzie.