Police consider whether 'King of the Hill' actor's sexual orientation played a role in his killing

Police consider whether 'King of the Hill' actor's sexual orientation played a role in his killing

HOUSTON (AP) — Investigators are looking into whether the sexual orientation of "King of the Hill" voice actorJonathan Jossplayed a role in hisshooting deathin Texas, authorities said Thursday, walking back a previous statement about the potential motive. Joss' husband has claimed the person who killed the actor yelled "violent homophobic slurs" before opening fire outside his home in San Antonio on Sunday night. A day after the shooting, San Antonio police issued a statement saying they had found "no evidence whatsoever to indicate that Mr. Joss' murder was related to his sexual orientation." But during a news conference on Thursday, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said the statement was "premature" and that whether Joss' sexual orientation played a role in the shooting "is part of the investigation." "I will own that and simply say again that we simply shouldn't have done that. It was way too early in the process for any statement of that nature to be issued," McManus said. The police chief said many in the LGBTQ+ community "are feeling anxious and concerned" after Joss' shooting and that "a lot of it has to do with that premature statement." "The loss of Jonathan Joss was tragic, most heavily felt by the LGBTQ+ community," McManus said. Texas does not have separate hate crimes charges. But if homophobia is found to have been a motive in the shooting, that could result in a harsher sentence at trial under the state's hate crimes law. "We gather the facts, and we give those facts to the district attorney's office. And then that hate crime designation is determined at sentencing," McManus said. The actor's home burned down in January. Joss' husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, has said that they were checking mail there Sunday when a man approached them, pulled out a gun and opened fire. In a statement, de Gonzales said he and Joss had previously faced harassment, much of it "openly homophobic." Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, who is a neighbor of Joss, is charged with murder in the shooting. Ceja Alvarez has been released on a $200,000 bond. Ceja Alvarez's attorney, Alfonso Otero, did not immediately return an email seeking comment Thursday. McManus said police had been called to Joss' home and his neighborhood about 70 times over the past two years related to "neighborhood type disturbances." "Sometimes (Joss) was the caller. Other times, the neighbors were calling on him," McManus said. The San Antonio Police Department's mental health unit as well as a unit known as SAFFE that works with residents to help prevent crime "had extensive engagements with Mr. Joss, making repeated efforts to mediate conflicts and connect him with services that he may have needed," McManus said. The January fire at Joss' home is still being reviewed by arson investigators, McManus said. Joss lost all his belongings in the blaze and his three dogs were killed. Actors who worked with Joss, along with friends and fans have honored Joss' memory with tributes. "His voice will be missed at King of the Hill, and we extend our deepest condolences to Jonathan's friends and family," the show's creators and producers — Mike Judge, Greg Daniels and Saladin Patterson — said in a statement on the animated series' Instagram page. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano:https://twitter.com/juanlozano70

byAlpha World

in

June 05, 2025

Police consider whether 'King of the Hill' actor's sexual orientation played a role in his killing

Police consider whether 'King of the Hill' actor's sexual orientation played a role in his killing HOUSTON (AP) — Investigators ...

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'90s Hollywood Star Makes Surprising Confession About Ben Affleck

'90s Hollywood Star Makes Surprising Confession About Ben Affleck

'90s Hollywood Star Makes Surprising Confession About Ben Affleckoriginally appeared onParade. Kevin Smithloves to tell stories about his experiences as a filmmaker, and he has many great ones from the '90s. Those stories are said to have caused a rift between Smith andBen Affleckthat lasted for years, but they've since squashed the beef, with Affleck even appearing inClerks III. Now, Smith is telling another Affleck story, this time one he won't likely get upset about, as it pertains to his thoughtfulness while on set while they were working together decades ago. The iconic '90s filmmaker has been busy hyping up the 25th anniversary ofDogma,as the film is being re-released in theaters, but the conversation shifted toMallratsand working with Affleck on the film. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 "He would come over and be like, 'Hey, I'm not shooting for three days. Can I fly back to Los Angeles to work on the script with Matt? We got a meeting with Castle Rock.' I said, 'Oh my God, absolutely man, just come back before you have to shoot,'" Smith toldPEOPLE. TheClerksproducer continued, "He didn't work every day. So otherwise he'd be sitting around Minnesota. So when he would leave, and he did this like three times over the course of the shoot, he always left me a thank-you note on my desk." Smith went on about Affleck's thank you notes, "I'd go in my office and there's an envelope that said 'Kevin,' I'd open it up. And it was from Ben, young Ben Affleck going like, 'Hey man, thanks for letting me go back to Los Angeles for our script. I just want you to know I'm having a real good time in this movie. It's fun to be around young people. You're cool and blah, blah, blah.'" That seems surprising since Affleck is always shown as such a stoic person in paparazzi shots when he's caught out and about. But, according to Smith, he's pretty thoughtful and has no problem showing appreciation. Good Will Huntingwent on to win multiple awards, including two Oscars, and catapulted Ben Affleck to superstardom. Following his role inMallrats,he also appeared in Kevin Smith filmsChasing AmyandDogma. Smith has addressed whether Affleck will appear in any of his future films, tellingDeadlinethat he is more than welcome to return forDogma 2when they begin working on the sequel. '90s Hollywood Star Makes Surprising Confession About Ben Affleckfirst appeared on Parade on Jun 5, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.

byAlpha World

in

June 05, 2025

'90s Hollywood Star Makes Surprising Confession About Ben Affleck

'90s Hollywood Star Makes Surprising Confession About Ben Affleck '90s Hollywood Star Makes Surprising Confession About Ben Afflecko...

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A Massachusetts student arrested by ICE on his way to volleyball practice has been released

A Massachusetts student arrested by ICE on his way to volleyball practice has been released

CHELMSFORD, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusettshigh school studentwho was arrested by immigration agents on his way to volleyball practice has been released from custody after a judge granted him bond Thursday. Marcelo Gomes da Silva, 18, who came to the U.S. from Brazil at age 7, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents Saturday. Authorities have said the agents were looking for the Milford High School teenager's father, who owns the car Gomes da Silva was driving at the time and had parked in a friend's driveway. Speaking with members of the media outside the detention center shortly after his release on $2,000 bond, Gomes da Silva described "humiliating" conditions and said his faith helped him through his six days of detention. On his wrist, he wore a bracelet made from the thin sheet of metallic blanket he was given to sleep on the cement floor. "I'll always remember this place," he said. "I'll always remember how it was." His lawyer, Robin Nice, told reporters after the hearing in Chelmsford that his arrest "shouldn't have happened in the first place. This is all a waste." "We disrupted a kid's life. We just disrupted a community's life," Nice said. "These kids should be celebrating graduation and prom, I assume? They should be doing kid stuff, and it is a travesty and a waste of our judicial process to have to go through this." She said Gomes da Silva was confined to a room holding 25 to 35 men, many twice his age, most of the time he was detained, with no windows, time outside, privacy to use the restroom or permission to shower. Nice said that at one point Gomes da Silva, who is active in his local church, asked for a Bible and was denied. Gomes da Silva, who said his father taught him to "put other people first," said many of the men imprisoned with him didn't speak English and didn't understand why they were there. He had to inform some of them they were being deported, and then watched them break down in tears. "I told every single inmate down there: When I'm out, if I'm the only one who was able to leave that place, I lost," he said. "I want to do whatever I can to get them as much help as possible. If they have to be deported, so be it. But in the right way, in the right conditions. Because no one down there is treated good." He said some days, he was given only crackers to eat, which he shared with cellmates. His first stop after being released was for McDonald's chicken nuggets and french fries. Not ICE's target, but detained anyway U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said earlier this week ICE officers were targeting a "known public safety threat" and Gomes da Silva's father "has a habit of reckless driving at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour through residential areas." "While ICE officers never intended to apprehend Gomes da Silva, he was found to be in the United States illegally and subject to removal proceedings, so officers made the arrest," she said in a statement. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said Monday that "like any local law enforcement officer, if you encounter someone that has a warrant or … he's here illegally, we will take action on it." Upon his release, Gomes da Silva pushed back on ICE's characterizations of his father: "Everything I got was from my dad. He's a good person. He never did anything wrong." When he was able to call his parents during his detainment, Gomes da Silva said his father sobbed and told him the family was scared to leave the house. Gomes da Silva initially entered the country on a visitor visa and was later issued a student visa that has since lapsed, Nice said. He told reporters he didn't know his immigration status until he was arrested. He said an officer asked him, "Do you know why you were arrested?" He said no. "I told her, ma'am, I was 7 years old. I don't know nothing about that stuff," he recalled. "I don't understand how it works." Nice described him as deeply rooted in his community and a dedicated member of both the school marching band and a band at his church. The immigration judge set a placeholder hearing date for a couple of weeks from Thursday, but it might take place months from that, Nice said. "We're optimistic that he'll have a future in the United States," she said. A shaken community "I love my son. We need Marcelo back home. It's no family without him," João Paulo Gomes Pereira said ina video released Wednesday. "We love America. Please, bring my son back." The video showed the family in the teen's bedroom. Gomes da Silva's sister describes enjoying watching movies with her brother and the food he cooks for her: "I miss everything about him." Students at Milford High staged a walkout Monday to protest his detainment. Other supporters packed the stands of the high school gymnasium Tuesday night, when the volleyball team dedicated a match to their missing teammate. Amani Jack, a recent Milford High graduate, said her classmate's absence loomed large over the graduation ceremony, where he was supposed to play in the band. She said if she had a chance to speak with the president, she'd ask him to "put yourself in our shoes." "He did say he was going to deport criminals," she said. "Marcelo is not a criminal. He's a student. I really want him to take a step in our shoes, witnessing this. Try and understand how we feel. We're just trying to graduate high school." Veronica Hernandez, a family advocate from Medford who said she works in a largely Hispanic community where ICE has had an active presence, said cases like Gomes da Silva's show immigration enforcement is serious about taking "anybody" without legal status, not just those accused of crimes. "I think seeing that something so simple as a child driving themselves and their friends to volleyball practice at risk struck a chord," she said. ___ Associated Press reporter Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this story.

byAlpha World

in

June 05, 2025

A Massachusetts student arrested by ICE on his way to volleyball practice has been released

A Massachusetts student arrested by ICE on his way to volleyball practice has been released CHELMSFORD, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusettshigh sch...

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Harvard files legal challenge over Trump's ban on foreign students. Overseas, admitted students wait

Harvard files legal challenge over Trump's ban on foreign students. Overseas, admitted students wait

Winning admission to Harvard University fulfilled a longtime goal for Yonas Nuguse, a student in Ethiopia who endured a war in the country'sTigray region, internet and phone shutdowns, and the COVID-19 pandemic — all of which made it impossible to finish high school on time. Now, it's unclear if he will make it this fall to the Ivy League campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He and other admitted students around the world are anxiously tracking the school'sfeud with the Trump administration, which is seeking to keep it fromenrolling international students. On Thursday, Harvard challenged President Donald Trump's latest move to bar foreign students from entering the U.S. to attend the college, calling it illegal retaliation for Harvard's rejection of White House demands. In an amended lawsuit filed Thursday, Harvard said the president was attempting an end-run around a previous court order. Last month, a federal judgeblockedthe Department of Homeland Security from revoking Harvard's certification to host foreign students. Admission to Harvard, then months of uncertainty Increasingly, the nation's oldest and best-known university has attracted some of the brightest minds fromaround the world, with international students accounting for one-quarter of its enrollment. As Harvard's fight with the administration plays out, foreign students can only wait to find out if they'll be able to attend the school at all. Some are weighing other options. For Nuguse, 21, thewarin Ethiopia forced schools to close in many parts of the province. After schooling resumed, he then took a gap year to study and save money to pay for his TOEFL English proficiency test in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital. "The war affected me a great deal and when I found out the news that I was accepted to Harvard, I was ecstatic. I knew it was a proud moment for my family, teachers, mentors and friends, who were instrumental in my achievement," he said. The following months have been filled with uncertainty. On Wednesday, Trump signed a directive seeking to block U.S. entry for Harvard's international students, which would block thousands who are scheduled to come to the campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for summer and fall terms. Harvard's court challenge a day later attacked Trump's legal justification for the action — a federal law allowing him to block a "class of aliens" deemed detrimental to the nation's interests. Targeting only those who are coming to the U.S. to study at Harvard doesn't qualify as a "class of aliens," Harvard said in its filing. "The President's actions thus are not undertaken to protect the 'interests of the United States,' but instead to pursue a government vendetta against Harvard," the university wrote. In the meantime, Harvard is making contingency plans so students and visiting scholars can continue their work at the university, President Alan Garber said in a message to the campus and alumni. "Each of us is part of a truly global university community," Garber said Thursday. "We know that the benefits of bringing talented people together from around the world are unique and irreplaceable." Crackdown on international students affects interest in the US The standoff with Harvard comes as the administration has been tightening scrutiny of student visas nationwide. Thousands of students around the countryabruptly lost permission to be in the U.S.this spring before the administration reversed itself, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced last week the U.S. would "aggressively revoke" visas forstudents from China. While many admitted students say they're waiting to find out if they can come to the U.S., prospective students still in high school are starting to look elsewhere, said Mike Henniger, CEO of Illume Student Advisory Services. "It is one blow after another," said Henniger, who works with colleges in the U.S., Canada and Europe to recruit international students. "At this point, international student interest in the U.S. has basically dropped to nil." The future of Harvard's roughly 7,000 international students has been hanging in the balance since the Department of Homeland Securityfirst movedto block its foreign enrollment on May 22. For many, the twists and turns have been exhausting. Jing, a 23-year-old master's student, is currently completing an internship in China this summer, and unsure if he can reenter the U.S. for the fall semester. "It is tiring, we all feel numb now. Trump just makes big news headlines once every few days since he got back to the White House," said Jing, who agreed to speak under his family name out of concern about retaliation from the Trump administration. Jing said he is going to watch and see what happens for now, in case the move against international students is a negotiating tactic that does not stick. The possibility that Trump could block foreign enrollment at other colleges only raises the uncertainty for students planning to pursue their education overseas, said Craig Riggs, who has been working in international education for about 30 years and is the editor of ICEF Monitor. He said he urges families to consult carefully with advisers and not to overreact to the day's headlines. "The rules under which students would make this huge decision to devote years of their lives and quite a bit of money to studying at Harvard have been shown to change quite quickly," Riggs said. An aspiring economist, Nuguse was the only student accepted to Harvard this year from Kalamino Special High School, which caters to gifted students from underprivileged backgrounds from across Tigray. After receiving acceptances also to Columbia University and Amherst College, Nuguse chose Harvard, which he had long dreamed of attending. He said he hopes it will work out to attend Harvard. Nuguse was granted a visa to study at Harvard, and he worries it might be too late to reverse his decision and attend another university anyway. He received an email from Harvard last week, telling him to proceed with his registration and highlighting a judge's order in Harvard's favor in the dispute over foreign enrollment. "I hope the situation is temporary and I can enroll on time to go on and realize my dream far from reality in Ethiopia," he said. ___ Associated Press writers Collin Binkley, Jocelyn Gecker and Cheyanne Mumphrey contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, alistof supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

byAlpha World

in

June 05, 2025

Harvard files legal challenge over Trump's ban on foreign students. Overseas, admitted students wait

Harvard files legal challenge over Trump's ban on foreign students. Overseas, admitted students wait Winning admission to Harvard Univer...

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Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin reportedly break up for good: A look back at their 8-year relationship

Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin reportedly break up for good: A look back at their 8-year relationship

Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin have reportedly called it quits after eight years of dating,multiple sources told Peoplein early June. TheMaterialistsstar and the Coldplay frontman were first linked in 2017, three years after Martin's "conscious uncoupling" from his then-wife, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, with whom he has two children. While Martin's marriage to Paltrow was in the spotlight, his relationship with Johnson was much more private. Johnson and Martin have weathered their share of breakup rumors in the past — so much so that a rep for Johnsontold Peoplein August 2024 that the pair had not gone their separate ways despite a swirling rumor mill saying otherwise. But throughout their eight years of dating, their romance appeared to have had its "ups and downs." Despite being photographed together in Malibu last month, their breakup "feels final this time," a source told People. From their early days of coupledom to reports of their split and a supposed confirmation of their past engagement, here's a look back at Johnson and Martin's relationship over the past eight years. Johnson and Martin first sparked relationship rumors in October 2017, when they were seen having dinner at Sushi Park in Los Angeles. A sourcetold Peoplethat the duo looked "cozy, laughing and affectionate" during their date. 📷 Dakota was spotted at Coldplay concert in Argentina last night! [Nadia M. Colegatti Facebook]#DakotaJohnsonpic.twitter.com/Z9nGHk1r5X — Giorgia - ANFC (@msgiorgiap)November 15, 2017 A month after their outing, theFifty Shades of Greyactress was seen in a VIP box at the Coldplay concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Johnson and Martin were seen on a handful of casual dates in Los Angeles in January 2018 as they continued to get to know each other. During this time, they were spotted at Soho House and were seen strolling along a beach in Malibu. The actress and the singer also appeared to go public with their romance later that month, when they attended Stella McCartney's fall 2018 runway show. "They walked in holding hands, and Dakota was not letting go — she was super into the PDA," one onlookertold People. "When Chris let go of her hand, she slipped her arm through his." Their relationship continued to blossom in 2018, with Johnsonspending more time with Martinat his Malibu home, and her mother, actress Melanie Griffith,opening up about her daughter's relationshipwith Martin. New Pictures of Dakota with Chris Martin in Malibu, California (Jan. 14th).#DakotaJohnsonpic.twitter.com/T6Y6n8npT7 — Dakota Johnson Fans (@DakotaJLife)January 15, 2018 Their public outings includedattending a Radiohead concertin Boston, alongsideBreaking Badstar Aaron Paul and his wife, Lauren, as well as gettingmatching infinity-sign tattoos. Johnson finally acknowledged her relationship with Martin in her November 2018 Tatler cover story. "I'm not going to talk about it," she told Tatler via E! when asked about her relationship with the Coldplay frontman. "But I am very happy." The actress also reportedly spent Thanksgiving with Martin's family, including Paltrow, her new husband Brad Falchuk, and Martin and Paltrow's two children, Apple and Moses. While neither confirmed the reported breakup themselves, a sourcetold Expressin June 2019 that "Chris made it clear he wants more kids as soon as possible, but Dakota's career has really taken off, and that's the last thing she wanted to think about right away." Martin, however, was seen at the L.A. premiere of Johnson's filmThe Peanut Butter Falconin August 2019, two months after their alleged split. A sourceconfirmed to Us Weeklythat Johnson and Martin are officially back on.E!also reported that the couple were very much together and were "planning to spend more time together later this summer." The couple's families continued to sing their praises as their relationship deepened. Griffithtold Peoplein September 2019, "I love my daughter's boyfriend. I think that they're an awesome couple," while Paltrow wished Johnson a happy birthday in an October 2019 Instagram post. "Happy 30th birthday to this absolute gem," Paltrow captioned the post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gwyneth Paltrow (@gwynethpaltrow) Two months later, in December 2019, Johnson went on a family trip to Aspen, Colo., with Martin, Paltrow and their kids. On Valentine's Day, Coldplay debuted its music video for the track "Cry Cry Cry," which was directed by Johnson. The romantic video marked the actress's directorial debut. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Johnson's close friend the actress Olivia Wilde seemed to confirm that theMadame Webactress and the Coldplay singer were quarantining together. TheDon't Worry Darlingdirector shareda clip of the couple on Instagramin March 2020, in which Johnson showed off her handwashing technique while pretending Martin's hands are her own. Johnson and Martin had reportedly been living together in Martin's $12.5 million "modern Cape Cod-style house in Point Dume, Malibu" since he purchased it in October 2020,People reported. The outlet's source also noted that while Johnson "seemed like more of a city girl" — she spent much of her adolescence in Los Angeles — she'd grown comfortable with her new life. so chris martin is dating dakota jonson for 3 years now and 'my universe' is inspired by her omggpic.twitter.com/Z0PgbP4NHh — bun 🇲🇦 (@K00PR0D)September 24, 2021 Martin, while playing a Coldplay show in London in October 2021, also madea rare shout-out to Johnsonbefore singing the song "My Universe." "This is about my universe, and she's here," he told the crowd, before pointing to Johnson on the balcony. Whilechatting with Elle U.K. in December 2021, Johnson opened up about her "private" relationship with Martin. "We've been together for quite a while, and we go out sometimes, but we both work so much that it's nice to be at home and be cosy and private," she said. "Most of the partying takes place inside my house." On a March 2023 episode ofConan O'Brien Needs A Friend, the late-night host's eponymous podcast, Martin opened up about how Johnson introduced him to a tactile audio device called SubPacs, which allows those with hearing impairments to feel the vibrations of a concert. "Dakota, my partner, gave me one as a gift because she'd seen someone online experiencing whatever they are experiencing with this — it's kind of like body armor — that you put on and plug it in, and it connects to the bass," Martin said. "[Johnson] had seen this lady use it in the hearing impaired, deaf community and she said, 'You should use this somehow.'" dakota johnson supporting chris martin at coldplay's concerts, we love to see it 🫶🏻pic.twitter.com/yNbt1SbHzq — best of dakota johnson (@bestofjohnsons)July 19, 2023 Martin then made yet another onstage tribute to Johnson, this time at Coldplay's Naples, Italy, concert in June 2023. Johnson was then spotted at a Coldplay concert in Pasadena, Calif., with her mother in October 2023. While chattingwith Bustlein March 2024, theSplitsvilleactress opened up about life with Martin, including that she calls his daughter, Apple, and son, Moses, her stepchildren. "I love those kids like my life depends on it. With all my heart," she said. Shortly after her Bustle interview, a sourcetold Peoplethat Johnson and Martin were engaged and have been engaged for a few years. "[They] got engaged years ago but were in no rush to get married," said the source. The large emerald ring that Johnson was first seen wearing on her left hand in December 2020 was reportedly her engagement ring. love dakota johnson for proudly showing her engagement ring after the 'break up rumors' chris and dakota are still going strong.pic.twitter.com/DhutPwPDe5 — 𝕤𝕠𝕡𝕙𝕚𝕒. (@sophsworld13)August 20, 2024 Johnson and Martin weathered more breakup rumors in August 2024, though the actressput those to restwhen she was photographed with the same emerald ring on her engagement finger while out in Malibu. A rep for the couple further denied that they'd parted ways, calling the rumors "not true." People reportedthat Johnson and Martin have broken up once again — only this time it feels like it's for good. "It feels final this time," an insider told the outlet. The news of Johnson and Martin's "final" split comes as the actress is doing press for her upcoming romantic comedy,Materialists. The two were last photographed together this May in Malibu, before Johnson was seen walking the red carpet alone at the Cannes Film Festival. Martin, just days before their reported breakup,urged fans to watchMaterialistsat a Coldplay concert in Stanford, Calif., on May 31. Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin recently in Malibu, California.pic.twitter.com/tGSRZkPwTK — Dakota Johnson Updates (@dakotaj_updates)May 19, 2025

byAlpha World

in

June 05, 2025

Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin reportedly break up for good: A look back at their 8-year relationship

Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin reportedly break up for good: A look back at their 8-year relationship Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin have ...

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