1 week agoNewsComments Off on Face of ‘Zosia the VAMPIRE’ revealed after her 350-year-old skeleton is unearthed with a sickle around neck
EXPERTS have revealed the face of a 350-year-old ‘vampire’ after her skeleton was unearthed with a sickle around her neck and a padlock on her foot.
The skeleton of an 18-year-old woman who has been called Zosia was unearthed in 2022 in a field outside of the village of Pien in Poland.
Miroslav Blicharski/AleksanderArchaeologists unearthed the remains while on a dig in Poland in 2022[/caption]
Miroslav Blicharski/AleksanderUsing digital scans of her skull and a 3D printer, an expert has created an impression of what the woman may have looked like[/caption]
Oscar NillsonOscar Nillson believes that Zosia may have looked like this fair-faced woman at the time of her death[/caption]
Archaeologists who made the grim discovery revealed that the sickle was placed over her neck and the padlock on her toe because, at the time of her death, some 350 years ago, locals feared that the teenager was a vampire.
It was believed that the sickle, a curved blade used for farming, and the padlock would prevent Zosia from coming back from the dead.
Zosia’s skeleton was discovered by archaeologist Professor Dariusz Polinski and his partner Magda Zagrodzka when Polinski’s trowel hit metal.
Her remains were fully discovered after the archaeologist carefully brushed away the surrounding soil.
“It can be assumed that for some reason those burying the woman were afraid that she would rise from the grave,” Professor Polinski told the Daily Mail at the time of his discovery.
“Perhaps they feared she was a vampire.
“The sickle was not laid flat but placed on the neck in such a way that if the deceased had tried to get up most likely the head would have been cut off or injured.”
Meanwhile, the padlocked big toe on the left foot further convinced experts that her killers believed her to be a vampire as it likely symbolised “the impossibility of returning”.
Now, the so-called vampire has been given a face by experts who have revealed new information about the teenager including an artist’s impression of what she may have looked like.
Scans of the skeleton have concluded that there is an abnormality of the breast bone meaning Zosia likely had a painful and physical deformity.
Dr Heather Edgar, the medical investigator at the University of New Mexico who discovered the abnormality told The Times how the deformity could have “marked this person [to others] in a negative way.”
Her skull has also revealed that she had a protruding tooth which may have contributed to fears of her being a blood-sucker.
This along with her deformity may have largely contributed to the belief that she was supernatural leading to her death and unusual burial.
Meanwhile, facial reconstruction expert Oscar Nilsson created an impression of the teenager which depicts a fair-looking woman with blue eyes and mousey-brown, cropped hair.
The illustration was created using digital scans of her skull along with a 3D printer and clay to mould the muscles of her face.
She also appears in rather fine clothes as a silk cap was found with her remains, highlighting that she likely had high social status.
Experts also believe that she may have come from Scandinavia and could have been seen as an “unwanted outsider” as her death occurred during a period of conflict between Poland and Sweden.
Zosia was just one of around 100 skeletons located in the field outside of Pien.
Such discoveries led to the area being called the “Field of Vampires.”
However, she was the only one at the burial site with a sickle around her neck, though 30 others appeared to have been restrained in some way.
Among the other remains found at the burial site were a pregnant woman, a woman who had long suffered from syphilis, and a man with a child buried at his feet.
Some were placed face-down in their graves and weighed down with stones while others had coins placed in their mouths.
All of these people were “excluded from the community,” Professor Polinski said with all of the graves being unmarked and the deaths unrecorded.
Institute of Archeology of the Nicolaus Copernicus UniversityThe 350-year-old skeleton was found with a sickle around her neck and a padlock on her toe[/caption]
Lukasz CzyzewskiAround 100 skeletons were unearthed in what is now known as the ‘Field of Vampires’[/caption]
However, with Zosia being buried with a sickle around her neck, Polinski believes that she was the most feared by locals.
The recent findings about Zosia are set to feature in a new two-part documentary on Sky History called Field of Vampires.
The remains of a 50-year-old male were found under the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Pączewo and he too had a sickle placed around his neck after death.
Archaeologists at the site say it is the first vampire tomb of its kind to have been found inside a church.
They were found in a medieval graveyard in Koszalin, with one having been decapitated and the other laid faced-down with stones on its back.
Such superstitions date back to as early as the 11th century in Eastern Europe.
NICOLAUS COPERNICUS UNIVERSITY / LUKASZ CZYZEWSKIZosia’s protruding front tooth and deformity from her breastbone may have further sparked fears about her being a vampire[/caption]
Facebook @archeo-adventureThe remains of a child found in a vampire tomb were also found in Poland with a sickle around its neck[/caption]
1 week agoNewsComments Off on ‘We are essentially in a new Gilded Age’: As workers get laid off, CEOs and shareholders gobble up hundreds of billions in profits
CEOs cite the need to downsize in a rough economy, but it seems corporations are doing better than ever.
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About the author
Katrina Vasey - Bingo Editor, The Sun
After graduating from Southampton University with a degree in English Literature, Katrina Vasey worked as a Content Editor for Law Business Research’s publication the International Law Office. Katrina joined The Sun in 2022 as the Bingo Editor, covering the four gaming platforms: Sun Bingo, Fabulous Bingo, Sun Vegas and Fabulous Vegas.
1 week agoNewsComments Off on Trial of TV model accused of making false rape claim against France star suspended after no-show by lawyer
THE TRIAL of a TV model accused of making a false rape claim against AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez was suspended today after a no-show by her lawyer.
Luisa Kremleva’s brief called in sick at the last minute, alleging a “medical emergency”, ahead of her court appearance in Malaga after public prosecutors demanded a two-year prison sentence on conviction.
The trial of TV model Luisa Kremleva was suspendedKremleva is accused of making a false rape claim against AC Milan ace Theo Hernandez
The Russian-born beauty is understood to have been made aware of her lawyer’s health problem beforehand and opted to stay away so she didn’t have to face waiting media.
It was not immediately clear this afternoon when the long-awaited trial, which well-placed sources said today had been suspended on a previous occasion when Kremleva said she was undergoing treatment in her homeland, will now go ahead.
French international Hernandez, whose club sides have included both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, was told he wouldn’t be needed to testify by video-conference from Italy after the trial suspension.
A court official said outside the courtroom, about an hour after the hearing was due to get underway: “There won’t be a trial today.
“The defence has asked for a suspension because of an emergency medical issue.”
Another insider said: “Kremleva’s lawyer called in sick at the last moment. The court only found out this morning.”
Public prosecutors allege the real estate boss’ daughter, who forged a name for herself on Spanish TV reality and dating shows between modelling assignments, made up the rape after she and Hernandez had “consensual sex” in a Porsche Cayenne outside glitzy Marbella nightclub Olivia Valere but then refused to go home with her.
They claim in a three-page indictment seen by Sun Online which forms the basis of the allegations against her that she acted out of revenge.
She was charged with perjury in relation to the “non-existent rape” following her arrest in January 2020 on a warrant after she failed to answer a court summons.
We can reveal investigators took just two days to provisionally archive her rape claim after she made her police statement in June 2017.
Full indictment report
The public protection indictment states, referring to the Milan footballer and the female model by their initials or simply the initial of their first names: “In the early hours of June 4 2017 the accused was in Olivia Valere nightclub where she had arranged to meet up with T.B.F.H.
“He was in the same venue in a VIP area with a group of friends.
“About 4am both left with the intention of having a sexual encounter and went to a vehicle parked in the car parking area which a friend of T was using and had full sex which L consented to before returning to the nightclub.
“L subsequently tried unsuccessfully to persuade T to stay with her and go home with her and ended up fighting with the women who were part of T’s group before returning to her home alone about 8am.
“From there, out of revenge and to take advantage of T being well-known, she requested the presence of police and claimed she had been the victim of a sexual assault and wanted to report it.”
Outlining how she had been taken to hospital for a routine medical examination before making a formal written statement in the afternoon. the indictment added: “She maliciously stated that after initially agreeing to having sex with T, she changed her mind and despite making it clear she didn’t want to continue, T continued and forced himself on her before injuring her by pushing her out of the car and making her fall on her knees.
Phone message
“She hid from investigators the fact that she had fallen to the ground accidentally and then again in the course of the fight with T’s female friends.”
The falls are thought to have been recorded by Olivia Valere’s CCTV cameras, which also showed her returning with Hernandez to the nightclub after the “consensual sex” she claimed was a rape.
Investigators are also believed to have obtained a phone message Kremleva sent the footballer around 6.15am, after the alleged rape, asking him repeatedly when he was going to go home with her.
Attacking left-back Hernandez, capped 35 times by France at senior level, was never arrested before a court dismissed her claim and police started preparing a case against her.
In a newspaper interview after the ‘rape’ investigators subsequently dismissed Kremleva insisted: “I have proof of the attack which are on my backside and knees.
“I would love it if Theo apologised. It’s the least I deserve.”
Her mum Mila went on Spanish TV after news of her January 13 2020 detention broke to claim: “My daughter is not under arrest. She went to pick up a court notification.
“With time the truth is going to come out.”
The model subsequently wrote on social media: “I have not been arrested. I have not been convicted of any crime. The truth will come out.”
She privatised her Instagram at the start of the month after it emerged a date had been set for her trial.
As well as a two-year prison sentence Kremleva is also facing a possible POUNDS 12,000 fine if she is eventually convicted, although two-year jail sentences are normally suspended in Spain for first-time offenders.
1 week agoNewsComments Off on Scandal-hit life of £262m BrewDog boss James Watt…fraud case, beer sold in dead squirrels & romance with Georgia Toffolo
HE is BrewDog’s colourful co-founder who has just announced his engagement to Georgia Toffolo, one of the country’s best known reality stars.
However, while the couple have found their happy ever after, James Watt‘s career has been anything but a fairytale.
Instagram/@georgiatoffoloGeorgia Toffolo has revealed that she is engaged to BrewDog co-founder James Watt[/caption]
The pair began dating in 2023 after mutual friends set them upFrom its inception, James and BrewDog co-founder Martin Dickie have found themselves in troubleRexJames’ career has been marred by scandals, controversies, and legal battles
Since launching BrewDog in 2007 with Martin Dickie, he has revolutionised the craft beer scene but his journey has been marred by scandals, controversies and legal battles.
Here, we look at some of the most shocking controversies of James’ career.
Controversies
From its inception, BrewDog struck gold with its marketing, from laddish humour that pushed the limits to disruptive tactics that shook up the industry.
The brand quickly won several awards and secured deals with some of the country’s biggest supermarkets.
But it did not take too long for James to find himself in hot water.
In 2009, a drink called Speed Ball was yanked off the shelves after being accused of promoting a cocktail of drugs that mixes cocaine and heroin. The deadly combination has killed many, including actors John Belushi and River Phoenix.
Drinks marketing watchdog, The Portman Group, upheld a complaint from Alcohol Focus Scotland, which raised concerns about the name promoting the illicit drugs.
In 2010, the brand was hit with yet another scandal when it began to serve beers inside the dead bodies of animals.
HandoutJames and Martin’s BrewDog has been accused of causing offence, bullying, and cheap marketing ploys[/caption]
AlamyThe brand has gotten into trouble with the Portman Group[/caption]
BrewDog caused controversy when it began selling beer stuffed in dead animals
The shocking stunt did not go down well with animal activists, who branded it as “cheap” and “degrading”.
At 55% ABV, and called the world’s strongest beer, only 12 bottles of the drinks were made. The drinks came in the bodies of roadkill including squirrels, weasels and a hare.
James told American news media at the time: “We were making such a tiny amount that we wanted to do something epic.
“We wanted to challenge people’s perceptions about how beer can be packaged; taxidermy helps open people’s eyes to the fact that beer doesn’t have to be made by a multi-national organisation.”
Over the next few years, the brand’s marketing ploy continued to spark fury. For Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, they created a beer that contained Viagra and horny goat weed.
They also hired a person with dwarfism to protest a 300-year-old rule about beer being served in third, half, or full-pint measures. They called it “the world’s smallest protest.”
The brand was also criticised for using strong, offensive language on its website. Foul-mouthed messaging used included “motherf****r”, “t**s”, and “bas***d.”
In 2014, the brand made a foray into the political landscape and targeted Russia‘s ban on “homosexual propaganda“. The brand created a drink called Hello My Name is Vladimir.
The drink was also said to not be “for the gays” and featured pictures of Russian president Vladimir Putin in Andy Warhol-style photos.
In 2015, James was embroiled in a huge transphobic scandal when 8,000 people signed a petition to ban BrewDog’s Don’t Make Us Do This… Equity for Punks ad campaign.
ABCBrewDog was slammed for promoting the use of Class A drugs when Speed Ball came out[/caption]
X/brewDogThey attacked Vladimir Putin’s ban on homosexual propaganda with a drink called Hello My Name is Vladimir[/caption]
It featured James and his co-founder posing as drag queens in a red-light district background. Campaigners said it was “offensive caricatures of people who already suffer discrimination”.
BrewDog was accused of bullying in 2017 when it named one of its drinks Lone Wolf. The brand threatened a pub with the same name with legal action.
The owners insisted that although they named their pub way before the drinks were launched, they decided not to fight the lawsuit due to the financial strain it could cause.
In 2020, there was further backlash when an ad campaign promoting its alcohol-free beer featured the tagline “Sober as a Motherfu” (you get the idea).
Several complaints were made to the Advertising Standards Authority, calling the advert inappropriate and offensive. Although some people saw it as dark humour, the ASA upheld the complaints.
Toxic work environment
In 2021, BrewDog faced serious allegations from former employees who accused the company of fostering a toxic work culture.
In an open letter published by the group “Punks With Purpose,” ex-staff members claimed BrewDog had created a “culture of fear” where workers were “treated like objects”.
It was also claimed that employees were often pressured to overwork without sufficient support or respect.
The letter alleged that BrewDog prioritized rapid expansion and aggressive marketing over the well-being of its employees, leading to burnout and low morale.
One statement from the letter described the BrewDog workplace as “built around a personality cult” that tolerated bullying and intimidation to meet business goals.
Georgia Toffolo's dating history
Georgia started dating James Middleton in October 2016. To make their dating life easier, he joined the cast of Made in Chelsea, but they broke up in 2017.
She then met Jack Maynard when she appeared on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here. Although they were spotted out on dates, Georgia later said they had never been official.
In April 2018, she was seen getting cosy with Gart Lineker’s son, George, in a club. However, she later told The Sun that she was happily single and too famous for love.
While Georgia and Charles Goode, who once dated Prince Harry’s ex, Chelsea Davy, never confirmed their romance, it was reported that they dated in 2018.
Toff dated convicted criminal George Cottrell on and off for four years before they split up for good last year. The pair had several breaks during their time together.
Georgia was reportedly heartbroken after he found love with the reigning Miss Montenegro, model Andjela Vukadinovic.
Cottrell was an adviser to Nigel Farage and played a key role during the Brexit campaign. But he
He spent eight months in a US jail after being arrested in Chicago in 2016 and for posing as a money launderer in a bid to rip off drug smugglers.
Former employees reported that leadership’s demands often left them feeling “exploited and psychologically unsafe,” claiming that dissenting voices were either dismissed or met with hostility.
One former manager recounted feeling “scared to speak up” and described an environment where workers were “expendable.”
In response, James apologised for some of the issues. He told the BBC: “It’s very clear, looking at the feedback, we haven’t always got things right here.
“We have to see this feedback as an opportunity to get better. We have to learn, we have to act. We have to take it on the chin.”
He added: “For me, it’s not about disputing individual claims. But 60 people were unhappy and we have to get better. That’s the only way we can get something good out of this situation.”
‘Inappropriate behaviour’ claims
BBCKatelynn Insing said she warned new female workers to dress down whenever James was in town[/caption]
BBCDylan Gray said he worked the rota so certain female staff members wouldn’t be in at the same time as James[/caption]
In January 2022, James found himself in further trouble when it emerged that several former employees had accused him of inappropriate behaviour.
Former BrewDog USA employees told the BBC‘s Disclosure program that James’ actions had left female bartenders feeling “powerless” and “uncomfortable”.
In an investigative documentary, several employees alleged that James was seen kissing an intoxicated female customer on a roof terrace bar.
It was also claimed that female workers were briefed on how to avoid unwanted attention from James. One bartender noted that she felt “powerless” to avoid his advances.
It was also alleged that managers tried to organise their rota so certain female staff members could be off when James was around.
Dylan Gray, who managed BrewDog Franklington in Ohio, said: “I would schedule more men at nights when he was there. I would sit behind the bar with female staff so they wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.”
James also allegedly made staff feel uncomfortable by taking women on late-night private brewery tours.
One employee, Katelynn Insing, said she would often advise new female workers to dress down whenever James was visiting.
She said: “We would make a point to warn new girls – like, ‘Hey, just so you know, James Watt’s coming to town.
“Just, kind of, leave after your shift, don’t really hang around [and] don’t always do your hair and makeup that day, like don’t catch his attention.'”
She also spoke about the alleged private tours. “Sometimes there would be one woman, sometimes there would be a gaggle of women,” she said.
“They were always intoxicated, they were in their twenties usually. They were very pretty and he would say he’s taking them on a private tour of the brewery.”
James’ lawyer denied the claims and told the BBC: “Mr Watt regularly takes both women and men, friends and customers on evening tours of the brewery.
“It is not true to say that those who accompany him are intoxicated. The claim that he did was made by an employee in June 2021.
“It was fully investigated – the claims were not substantiated – no further action was warranted by Brewdog USA HR.”
Lawsuit against ex
James won a civil suit against his ex-girlfriend Emeli ZiemAlthough he brought a criminal suit against her, the court said his lawyers had insufficient evidence
Last year, James brought a criminal fraud case against his ex-girlfriend, Emeli Ziem, alleging fraud and malicious communications.
It came after a civil court ruling last year that determined that she had improperly convinced him to pay her £100,000 in Bitcoin.
However, she was cleared of criminal fraud after James’ lawyers failed to provide sufficient evidence.
His legal representatives claimed that although they had an “overwhelming” case, they had decided to withdraw it as they had already won the civil case.
James claimed he wanted to move past the case and focus on his family and business.
Emeli, on the other hand, insisted that the outcome of the case was fair as James’ claims were “fictitious”. She said: “I don’t think anyone involved was surprised by the result.”
The judge in the civil case concluded that she had set up social media pages to spread lies about James online. Emeli then contacted James to claim she could unmask the trolls behind the accounts.
It was said that she made him pay £25,000 a time to uncover their identities.
According to Insider, Emeli was ordered to repay the £100,000 and £500,000 in expenses in the civil case.
Gold scandal and living wage row
GettyJames was embroiled in a living wage row as his employees slammed him and BrewDog[/caption]
James claimed that customers could find solid gold cans in beer cases
Last year, James said he paid £500,000 after misleading customers about a “solid gold” beer can promotion.
The 2021 marketing strategy encouraged people to find the special cans hidden in beer cases. But some winners began raising eyebrows when it was discovered that the cans were gold-plated.
In response, James said he “misunderstood the process of how they were made” and made a “silly mistake” by informing fans that they were solid gold.
The Advertising Standards Authority ruled that he had misled customers.
Speaking about the repercussions, James wrote on LinkedIn: “Those were 3 very expensive mistaken tweets that I sent out in my enthusiasm for our new campaign.
“The Gold Can saga was headline news. We were made to look dishonest and disingenuous and we took a real hammering online and in the press. Deservedly so. My initial tweets had been misleading and we deserved the flak.”
This year, James and BrewDog came under fire once again.
This time, he was slammed after he decided to stop paying his workers the real living wage. From April this year, new workers get £11.44 per hour.
Employees in London also get £11.95. While both are considered below the real living wage, they are above the national minimum wage.
In response to the backlash, BrewDog said it felt its vow to pay employees more than was required by UK law was no longer attainable.
Increased manufacturing costs and energy prices were blamed for the decision.
A letter to staff read: “Even with [a] strong performance over Christmas, as a wider business there is no hiding from the fact that in 2023, we made a trading loss, and despite many efforts in the past 12 months to reduce our spending, we still need to find more ways to get this business back to profitability and the financial stability that is needed.
“Inevitably, this does mean making some hard decisions.”
In March this year, many were taken aback when James announced his decision to leave BrewDog after 17 years in charge.
Despite leaving his CEO role, James clarified that he will remain a board member and director and a part-time strategic adviser to the business.
Georgia Romance
georgiatoffolo/InstagramGeorgia have shared several snaps of them on holiday and romantic dates[/caption]
Instagram/@georgiatoffoloIn a sweet post, James shared that he was ‘grateful’ they were ‘able to find each other’[/caption]
James and Georgia have been dating since last year after they were introduced by a mutual friend, according to Hello! Magazine.
Since then, they have become inseparable. Georgia has shared several snaps of them on holiday and romantic dates.
James says he proposed to her while they were on holiday in Greece for her 30th birthday.
Gushing about the joyous moment, he said: “She said yes! With an abundance of smiles, happiness, love & family, [Georgia] & I got engaged on Friday in Greece.
He added: “Georgia – I am so grateful that we managed to find each other and even more grateful to be building our lives together.”
Georgia, best known for her time as a cast member on Channel 4‘s Made In Chelsea, said the proposal was the “best moment” of her life “so far”.
She said: “The easiest, quickest yes to being your wife. Our love story is my favourite. How we managed to find each other out of billions of people out there will always be my greatest blessing.
“I love you forever and the magical life we’re building.”
In snaps, she showed off the huge engagement ring he gave her.
InstagramGeorgia showed off her huge ring in a series of snaps on social media[/caption]
The pair have often gushed about each other on social media
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Never chases their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
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Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
About the author
Katrina Vasey - Bingo Editor, The Sun
After graduating from Southampton University with a degree in English Literature, Katrina Vasey worked as a Content Editor for Law Business Research’s publication the International Law Office. Katrina joined The Sun in 2022 as the Bingo Editor, covering the four gaming platforms: Sun Bingo, Fabulous Bingo, Sun Vegas and Fabulous Vegas.
1 week agoNewsComments Off on Kanye West ‘wanted Donda Academy students to learn to shoot guns’ as teacher lifts lid on sick ‘Hitler vibes’ at school
KANYE West planned to teach kids at his failed Christian private school how to shoot guns and march after his disturbing rants about Hilter and the Nazis, a whistleblower has claimed.
Ex-teacher Cecilia Hailey, who is suing the rapper along with former colleagues for wrongful termination, has revealed new details of her time at Donda Academy.
GettyKanye West is being sued by former teachers from Donda Academy for wrongful termination[/caption]
John Chapple for The U.S. SunEx-Donda Academy teacher Cecilia Hailey is taking legal action against her former employer Kanye West[/caption]
News Enterprises Inc.Donda Academy moved to Chatsworth, a suburban neighborhood in Los Angeles, and is now a charity at the same location[/caption]
Speaking exclusively to The U.S. Sun in an on-camera interview, she laid bare what it was like behind the walls of the secretive school in Chatsworth, a suburban neighborhood in Los Angeles, in the months after Kanye’s antisemitism scandal in November 2022.
Hailey, whose case has a trial date set for April next year, described the school as being more like a “zoo” and alleged any push-back on Kanye’s wild demands fell on deaf ears.
“He did want the children to learn marching,” Hailey claimed.
“He wanted all the children to be educated in how to carry a gun, how to shoot a gun.
“I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me? I’m not having my third graders out learning how to shoot rifles, absolutely not.’
“It came up kinda early when I first got there, kinda wanting to know how I felt about the kids learning to march, and how I felt about the kids taking gun classes and rifle classes.
There were armed guards outside, but the kids were not safe inside.
Cecilia Hailey Former Donda Academy teacher
“And I’m thinking that is not gonna happen if I’m here, that’s not acceptable, it’s not necessary, and what does that have to do with education?
“Teaching these kids to march, to be honest with you I kind of got like Hitler vibes around that or real bizarre things.”
Hailey branded Kanye “delusional,” adding, “And I don’t know what he’s thinking. I don’t know where he thinks children fit in this.
“We’re not talking about adults here, we’re talking about eight-year-olds, twelve-year-olds, 15-year-olds.”
A second teacher involved in the lawsuit also alleged to The U.S. Sun that she was aware of a person Donda Academy was looking to hire who would teach tactical and military skills.
They claimed, “He was going to teach the kids how to survive in the wilderness, hunting, camping, and how to load and shoot firearms.”
There is no indication that children at the school ended up marching or completed rifle training or that families who had to sign NDAs were aware of the plans.
Hailey also alleges the school had a serious bullying issue.
She claims she witnessed students cowering under tables as physical fights broke out, and kids were not allowed to be disciplined.
“There was a lot of bullying,” she said. “Kids were getting physical; they would fight, the bigger kids would fight the little kids.
“So you might have a fourth grader hitting on a kindergarten or a first grader. We had kids hiding under tables because they were afraid. It was mayhem, really.
“There were armed guards outside, but the kids were not safe inside.”
West Coast Trial Lawyers Children at Donda Academy did not have chairs and were often forced to sit on mats[/caption]
GettyKanye West still has no legal representation and is yet to respond to Hailey’s gun claims[/caption]
Instagram/ dondarayacademyKanye West’s school has now been turned into a charity called Donda Ray Academy, with a focus on basketball, choir, and dance[/caption]
Donda Ray Academy and Kanye West did not return multiple requests for comment regarding the new claims about gun training and marching or the other claims made by Hailey.
Our outlet also requested comment from then-principal Moira Love, who did not respond.
Kanye did, however, deny the main claims in the suit when it was filed last year before his lawyer dropped out.
The latest allegations made about Donda come as a military veteran has filed a new lawsuit against Kanye, known as Ye, in which he claims the star threatened to kill him when he raised issues about alleged abuse at the school.
The veteran, identified anonymously in the filing as John Doe, is suing for infliction of emotional distress, numerous labor code violations, and retaliation.
The lawsuit alleges on or about May 14, 2024, Kaney began to let most of the Yeezy leadership team go, which has been confirmed by sources to The U.S. Sun.
Doe claims the star’s behavior became erratic during that time.
Shortly afterward, Doe got a call from a school employee telling him about the “abuse of children had occurred at Donda and that supposedly nothing was done to correct or report the problem,” per the suit.
Doe quickly told the remaining Yeezy leadership about the reports, but, according to the lawsuit, “Almost immediately thereafter, on the same day, Ye himself called Doe to yell, curse, and threaten Doe with great bodily injury, including death, if Doe repeated what Doe learned from the Donda employee.”
According to the suit, Kanye shouted at Doe, “You’re f***ing dead to me,” and also played bizarre recordings of voices that were threatening harm.
Kanye has yet to officially respond to the lawsuit, but a source close to the star slammed the suit, saying “many of the details in his complaint are simply fantastical and false.”
‘NO WINDOWS, NO PLAYGROUND & HUNGRY KIDS’
Meanwhile, former teacher Hailey also alleges children were left hungry at Donda because Kanye suddenly decided to only serve them sushi.
“Initially, the kids were being given a decent meal,” she said. “And then all of a sudden, Kanye gave them sushi every single day.
“We had kids that were hungry because they didn’t eat sushi.
“So then that means from eight o’clock in the morning to five or six o’clock at night, maybe they only had fruit in the day.
“We’d just kind of sneak out and go get food for the kids because we had to. We absolutely had to because the kids were hungry.”
Kanye founded Donda Academy around 2022 as a tribute to his late mother, Professor Donda West.
She worked for more than 30 years at Chicago State University.
After retiring in 2004, she relocated to California to work full-time for Kanye as his star rose, but he was left heartbroken when she died just three years later at the age of 58.
The school began at a ranch campus in Simi Valley, California, where teachers claim Kanye removed the windows, and kids were left cold in the winter months.
It then moved to Chatsworth, around 14 miles away, and Kanye allegedly demanded the windows be blacked out.
AlamyKanye West with his mother, Donda West, at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 8, 2006[/caption]
John Chapple for The U.S. SunU.S. Sun reporter Katy Forrester interviews attorneys Ron Zambrano (left) and Neama Rahmani (right) of West Coast Trial Lawyers[/caption]
John Chapple for The U.S. SunCecilia Hailey first joined Donda Academy in November 2022 as a substitute teacher before becoming a third-grade teacher the following January[/caption]
There was also nowhere for the children to play at lunch in the fresh air, according to Hailey, who said they simply transformed the small classroom into an entertainment area.
“The sports that they were playing inside, during recess time, they needed to be outside, they needed to have a playground, they could have been seriously injured,” she said.
The U.S. Sun also sat down with attorneys Ron Zambrano and Neama Rahmani, who are representing Hailey and other teachers in the lawsuit, which was first filed in April last year.
They also represent client Isaiah Meadows, a former assistant principal at Yeezy Christian Academy, the predecessor to Donda Academy, in a separate suit.
Meadows, who is suing for wrongful termination, also claimed he was suspended and later fired after complaining about conditions at the ranch school.
Kanye denied the claims in the lawsuit, and a jury trial is scheduled for April 2025.
Zambrano said, “Kanye had this idea at that point of no windows. So they were at the campus, and then all of a sudden, these kids were in these rooms where there were no windows at 8 am.
“Everything had to be black. No color in the classrooms for an elementary school is odd.
“He didn’t like, at that point, to have things on the second floor. The no windows, I think, is the most egregious thing.”
A FRIEND’S CONCERN
The U.S. Sun also spoke to Malik Yusef, who previously worked as an advisor at Donda Academy and has been friends with Kanye for decades, having met him through his mother.
Malik said he can’t remember a time when they didn’t talk about Kanye’s dream of running a school which took a different approach to education.
Inside those walls was a zoo, and they were not being educated at all.
Cecilia HaileyFormer Donda Academy teacher
“We can’t lock kids in at 3 years old,” he said. “At 3 years old you wanna be a doctor, at 5 you wanna be an electrician, at 6 you wanna be a superhero.
“I don’t think we should lock kids in like that, and I think Donda Academy was meant to be free in that way.
“Kanye’s not a principal, he’s not a certified teacher in that way, so obviously we got to go hire the best people, to bring them in, to do the job necessary.
“It’s not easy to get traditionally trained educators to kind of come back to a more holistic brand of teaching, even with all the skills. and their je ne sais quoi still have to train them how to deal with these babies.”
He defended many of Kanye’s wild requests for how the school should be run, saying, “I think sushi is a great meal, my children eat sushi, I know that we live in a world where everyone should be able to eat fresh foods.
“The window thing. I was not aware of that. I’ve heard rumors of it, I’ve not spoken to Ye about that.
“But I do know that we had a sensory deprivation experiment that we did, as adults, when we were working on the Donda album. We were living in a stadium. There were no windows. And I think it helped concentrate us.”
When it comes to the claims of bullying and the kids being in possible danger, he added, “Safety, what is safety, where is there safety in the world? We have school shootings, and we’re talking about kids feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
“And I’m not in any way minimizing the parent’s concern for their kids. But you’re not gonna be overconcerned at Donda Academy and send your kids to public school where we’ve had 300 mass shootings. Sorry. I’m not going for it.”
He added, “I think there was some frivolity to those lawsuits, I think people get a chance to pile in and dogpile on Ye because he has money.”
News Enterprises Inc.Donda Academy was initially called Yeezy Christian Academy and had a base in Simi Valley, California[/caption]
Toby Canham for The U.S. SunDonda Academy administrator and friend of Kanye West, Malik Yusef, has defended the star[/caption]
John Chapple for The U.S. SunAttorneys Ron Zambrano (left) and Neama Rahmani (right) of West Coast Trial Lawyers at their downtown Los Angeles office[/caption]
But he did admit they may have had some genuine concerns, and Kanye should address the lawsuits and not avoid them.
REBRANDING AS A CHARITY
The U.S. Sun can reveal the school is no longer registered with the state of California as of June 2024, but papers were filed for Donda Ray Academy to become a charity.
Insiders say children can audition, and coaches who have worked with Kanye for years still deliver sessions focusing on dance, choir, and basketball.
It still has an active Instagram account but a password-protected website, and although Kanye has little to do with the day-to-day running of the charity, he’s not fully removed.
A source told The U.S. Sun, “We are operating training for the youth. For free. Pouring into our youth and the community, which has always been one of Ye’s visions.”
They insisted the children at Donda Ray are “thriving” but confirmed they still take “certain directives” from their founder, although they did not confirm what they were.
“We are fortune enough to hold the building because Ye invested his own money into the vision,” they added.
Former teacher Hailey was unimpressed when she heard the school was now a charity.
She said, “It needs to be totally disseminated, it does not need to exist. We don’t know what they’re doing. We know kids come after school, so what? We don’t know what’s really going on.
“I worry about my kids; I wonder where my children are, how they’re doing in the schools, if they’re someplace else, how they’re progressing.
“Again, the traumas they’ve experienced in the last two years, having so much chaos in their school life.
“Are they sleeping well, are they eating better, are they stable, because they were so young, and this is the age where they’re impressionable.
Inside Kanye West's legal troubles
Katy Forrester, The U.S. Sun's Assistant Exclusives Editor, has been covering Kanye's rollercoaster life and controversies for several years. Here she gives her opinion on his legal troubles.
Kanye has never been one to have his act together, and we’ve almost lost count of the amount of lawsuits he’s now involved in.
But he doesn’t seem to be worried at all, as sources have previously told me he barely shrugs when it comes to being served legal papers.
Many of the people who have sued Kanye in the past have had to wait years for settlements as he does not prioritize legal complaints.
Despite the fact he’s been sued before, I have never known his situation to be as bad as it is today with 10 or more lawsuits.
I wouldn’t want to be Kanye’s lawyer, I don’t think anyone has that much time on their hands, and he is known to be a bad communicator.
One former lawyer even stated they did not even know of his whereabouts at one point, only stating he was “somewhere in Japan” and not responding to them. A regular theme.
His suits with former Donda Academy employees have been stuck in limbo as he’s lost yet another lawyer, and now has nobody representing him ahead of the trial dates in 2025.
I sadly think it may be a long while before we see Kanye in a courtroom.
At the moment, he’s still believed to be in Japan with his second wife, Bianca Censori.
Meanwhile, some of the most disturbing claims are from his former assistant, Lauren Pisciotta, who filed a bombshell lawsuit earlier this year.
She first sued the star for wrongful termination, sexual harassment, fraud, and breach of contract, among other reasons, in June.
Pisciotta claimed Kanye begged to sleep with her and then fired her after she turned him down.
In an amended complaint, she has since made even more worrying claims, including that he allegedly sexually assaulted her.
She claims years before she worked for the star, she went to a studio session in Santa Monica hosted by Kanye and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, the latter of which is now awaiting trial in New York on sex trafficking charges.
Pisciotta alleged everybody was told to have a drink if they wanted to stay, but after sipping hers she started to feel “disoriented” and in an “altered and heavily impaired state.”
She claimed she felt “physically ill and confused,” according to the suit, and didn’t remember anything, believing she was drugged by the assistant at the studio.
In her suit, she alleges years later Kanye referred to the night in question and told her they did “kind of hook up a little one time.”
She claims she told him she didn’t remember anything, to which he supposedly laughed and replied, “Women love to say they don’t remember.”
Kanye has not yet filed a response to the suit or commented on the allegations.
I think it’s shocking he appears to be avoiding the suit, like many others, as court records show Pisciotta’s team has still not been able to serve him legal papers.
He has been seen on multiple occasions recently in Tokyo, while reports suggest he has even considered moving to Japan full-time.
“I hope they’re getting some counseling, and I’m hoping they’re getting the services they need if they need them to get caught up.
“Because going into a school when you’re behind is not good at all.
“My concern was for those children, knowing that inside those walls was a zoo, and they were not being educated at all, and it was supposedly a private school.”
Asked what she would say to Kanye directly if she had the chance, she said, “Kanye, this was a mess, and you knew it was a mess, and you shouldn’t have gotten yourself involved.
“If you know that you can’t run something adequately, don’t put the lives of children and other people in the middle of your stuff.”
Attorney Zambrano said, “Kanye has many talents, and he’s done many things, but I don’t think running the school is where his strengths are.
“Despite all his legal problems, we still haven’t seen Kanye West in a courtroom, in a trial. So, we’ll be interested to see if that actually happens.”
FLURRY OF LAWSUITS
The embattled star is the defendant in a litany of lawsuits, but his former attorney, Brian Blumfield, has asked to be removed from those he was dealing with.
Kanye has no other legal representation that The U.S. Sun is aware of.
Brumfield previously claimed in court papers that Kanye ended their attorney-client relationship on June 21 and refused to pay him or even speak with him.
Among the many cases is one filed by Trevor Phillips,another former Donda Academy employee, who is suing for harassment, discrimination, and a hostile work environment.
“In front of the schoolchildren, Kanye continued his dangerous rhetoric. Kanye started to openly discuss how he only likes to date white women,” he claimed in the complaint.
“Then addressing the two school children, Kanye told them that he wanted them to shave their heads and that he intended to put a jail at the school — and that they could be locked in cages. The staff quickly distracted the children, and escorted them out of the room.”
West denied all of the claims in a formal response, with his counsel claiming, “each and every purported cause of action […] is uncertain, vague, and ambiguous.”
Kanye’s counsel added that Phillips’ “alleged damages, if any, were caused by circumstances and conduct other than that alleged” in the lawsuit.
Meanwhile, Hailey said she was not afraid to come forward and speak about her time at Donda.
“I felt whistleblowing was going to be the only way these things were going to change,” she said.
“I didn’t worry about who it was. I didn’t worry about the repercussions — ‘Oh it’s Kanye West and he’s gonna come after you’ — I couldn’t care less.”
Los Angeles Superior CourtLegal papers show teachers complained about the school not having a disciplinary system[/caption]
John Chapple for The U.S. SunRon Zambrano and Neama Rahmani of West Coast Trial Lawyers are now preparing for trial dates in April 2025[/caption]
GettyKanye West is still in Japan with his wife, Bianca Censori, as he faces multiple lawsuits[/caption]
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1 week agoNewsComments Off on Real Housewives legend Countess Luann eyes cameo on UK show
REAL Housewives of New York legend Countess Luann is angling for a cameo on our homegrown spin-off.
The American TV personality, real name Luann de Lesseps, has become a fan favourite on both sides of the pond after starring in thirteen series of the reality show.
Countess Luann is one of the biggest stars to come out of Real Housewives of New YorkLuann wowed crowds at the Mighty Hoopla festival last summerITVReal Housewives of Cheshire stars the likes of Lauren Simon and Rachel Lugo[/caption]
And now she’s heading to the UK to entertain her British followers.
In even better timing, Hayu this weekend announced a brand-new spin-off, Real Housewives of London.
Luann said: “The UK is a whole other level. I love my fans. They show up for me.
“I’ve not watched Cheshire but I’d love to see what it’s like -maybe I could do a cameo when I’m back next.”
Her next trip to our shores will be early next year with her brand new cabaret show.
Her Countess Cabaret tour begins in Glasgow on February 13 and comes after she wowed crowds at London’s Mighty Hoopla festival last summer.
Luann said: “UK fans put on their best sequined outfit, their best statement necklace, and they show up looking glamorous. And that’s a huge nod to my show.
“People in the UK, I must say, have a much more sensational fashion sense.
“My show is very personal, and it’s about the life you don’t get to see on the Housewives.
“It’s pop culture and cabaret and comedy and a fashion show all mixed into one. Because, you know, I will be wearing my best Jovani!
“The show is immersive. The audience is a part of the experience, and that’s what makes it so special.”
But performing at the festival in South London would’ve taken Luann, who was once married to a Count, away from her usual luxury.
She laughed: “There’s no porta potty that I love. Let’s put it that way. I mean, the porta potties at Hoopla were more elevated in the UK than they are in the US, but there’s not one porta potty that I love.”
