Joi AI is hiring 10 “masturbation consultants” at $2,000 for a month to test an AI-guided masturbation feature and document its effects on stress, sleep, mood, and confidence.
The feature uses mood-matched AI voice sessions, and consultants would submit written feedback and questionnaires directly to the company.
Joi AI says the campaign is intended to collect product feedback while drawing attention to AI’s growing role in sexual wellness and digital intimacy.
Joi AI says it will pay people $2,000 a month to masturbate. Yes, you read that right.
The AI companion startup is hiring 10 “masturbation consultants” to test a feature called Daily Guided Masturbation, which uses mood-matched AI voice sessions to guide users through the experience. Participants would document how regular use affects stress, sleep quality, mood, and confidence. The four-week role is open to adults 18 and older in the U.S. and the U.K.
“The role is real, and we’ve had great responses since the posting went live,” Joi AI Head of Brand and Communication Julie Levin told Decrypt.
we’re hiring 10 Masturbation Consultants
$2,000/month to test our new Daily Guided Masturbation feature and document the effects on stress, sleep and mood
yes it’s real yes you get paid
— Joi AI (@joi___ai) May 18, 2026
The listing describes ideal candidates as “articulate, observant, and impossible to blush”—people who can describe sensations “better than a sommelier describes a wine.” The posting also promises flexible scheduling, and “the most interesting ‘What do you do for a living?’ answer at any party.”
Joi AI is an online platform that includes AI-generated avatars, voice interactions, and personalized chat experiences built around companionship and intimacy. Joi AI describes the new consultant role as structured product testing tied directly to its new feature.
“The role involves testing and giving feedback on the mood-matched AI voice-guided sessions, and providing feedback on the overall user experience,” Levin told Decrypt.
According to Levin, participants complete guided sessions and submit written questionnaires directly to the Joi AI team. Sample prompts ask whether the voice matched the selected mood, how immersive the session felt, and whether lags or pauses disrupted the experience.
The listing comes as platforms including Replika and Character.AI have built large user bases around AI-driven relationships and conversational experiences. Joi AI operates primarily through its website rather than major app stores. Levin said the company has more than 1 million monthly active users worldwide and millions of interactions each month, but declined to disclose total download figures.
Unlike AI assistants like Alexa or Siri, designed to help with everyday tasks, Joi AI operates in a smaller corner of that market focused on sexual exploration, fantasy, and digital intimacy. The company rebranded from EVA AI in April 2025, during what it described as its first Dating Stress Awareness Day campaign.
“Joi AI is focused on making AI companionship more immersive, personalized, and emotionally responsive,” Levin said. “We’re innovating features like Daily Guided Masturbation to make AI a more intuitive part of people’s everyday wellness routines, not just a novelty experience.”
The hiring push also comes as studies suggest AI companion use is becoming more common among people already in relationships, often without their partner’s knowledge. A new report from the Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University and the Institute for Family Studies found that among dating, engaged, and married young adults who regularly used AI romantic companions, nearly 3 in 10 said their real-life partner did not know about it.
AI companion platforms are also facing growing legal scrutiny, including lawsuits alleging psychological harm to minors and deceptive chatbot behavior. Examples include a settled case against Character.AI over a Florida teen’s suicide and a separate lawsuit from Pennsylvania accusing the company of allowing a chatbot to pose as a licensed psychiatrist.
Levin said the hiring campaign was intended to generate discussion as well as recruit testers.
“It was both,” Levin said. “We are genuinely looking for people who can provide thoughtful feedback in this category, but the campaign was also designed to spark conversation around how people are increasingly using AI for masturbation as a healthy, relaxing habit.”
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Michelle Keegan has delighted fans after sharing a rare look at baby daughter Palma.
Actress Michelle became a mum for the first time last year, when she welcomed Palma with husband Mark Wright. Since then, she has been keeping fans updated on life as a new mum.
And recently, the family enjoyed a family cruise and trip to Disney World. And it’s fair to say Michelle had her fans gushing when she uploaded photos from their holiday.
Michelle and Mark are proud parents to Palma (Credit: SplashNews.com)
Michelle Keegan shares adorable baby Palma snaps
While Michelle and Mark seem to want to keep Palma’s face out of the public eye, Michelle has been gradually showing more and more of her baby girl.
On Saturday (May 23) the Corrie star took to her Instagram and uploaded several photos from her family trip to Disney World.
In the snaps, Palma could be seen looking adorable in several dresses and bows as she explored the theme park with her famous mum and dad.
In one photo, curly-haired Palma was snapped in Mark’s arms as she gazed up at Cinderella’s Castle. At the same time, another snap showed the toddler sitting on the sand in a pink swimsuit and hat.
‘What a beautiful little baby!’
Michelle captioned the post: “Pure magic,” and fans quickly flooded the comments section to gush over the snaps.
One person said: “Beautiful Palma.” Another penned: “Such lovely pictures.” A third chimed in: “Little princess P living her best life.”
Another penned: “She’s getting so big enjoy every minute hun.” A fifth also wrote: “Aw what a beautiful little baby! She’s a sweetheart Mark & Michelle.”
It comes after Michelle launched her latest collection with online retailer Very, and it includes a very sweet nod to Palma.
Earlier this month, she headed back to Majorca – the place that inspired Palma’s name – to shoot her latest Very collection. And, launching it, she’s said that the island holds a very ‘special place in her heart’.
Baby Palma was named after the island’s capital, and Michelle decided to announce that she was pregnant with the tot with a photoshoot on a soft, sandy Majorcan beach.
Read more: Michelle Keegan celebrates famous friend’s wholesome pregnancy announcement
What do you think of this story? You can leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know
Happy Pentecost Sunday, to those who celebrate. Today is the day when many Christian denominations celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the 12 apostles, following the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and his ascension into heaven 40 days later. Many Christians mark this as the birth of the universal Christian church, the day when the apostles began to go out and preach the word of God to the world and gather likeminded individuals together in a faith community.
In honor of that day, let’s consider what Pokémon partners each of the apostles likely had with them on this solemn occasion.
Simon Peter
The leader of the 12 apostles and first head of the church.
Peter, being in charge, merits two Pokémon partners. His team consists of a Geodude:
“Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18, all quotes from King James Bible)
And a Cramorant:
“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)
Andrew
As mentioned above, Peter’s brother and traditionally referred to as the first of Jesus’ disciples to be called to follow him. Andrew gets Bulbasaur, the first and most dependable of the starter Pokémon.
“Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.” (John 1:40-42)
James the Greater
There are two Jameses amongst the twelve apostles, so traditionally the one that’s known as the son of some guy named Zebedee and the brother of fellow apostle John is referred to as James the Greater (no shade to the Lesser, who we’ll get to momentarily). James the Greater was the first of the apostles to die if you don’t count Judas Iscariot, and the first martyr.
James the Greater gets Aegislash thanks to his vague yet grim manner of death:
“Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.” (Acts 12:1-2)
John
John’s a rather popular apostle, not only as the most poetic of the four gospel writers, but also due to being Jesus’ “beloved” disciple, and having a bunch of wild visions about the end of the world on the isle of Patmos before he died at a ripe old age. As a writer, visionary, and Jesus’ best bud, there’s a lot of material here which one can use to consider which Pokémon John would have partnered with, but we’ll give him Gothitelle, who “shows opponents dreams of the universe’s end. These dreams are apparently ethereal and beautiful.” (Pokémon Scarlet)
“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, ‘Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.’” (Revelation 4:1)
Philip
Philip doesn’t get a lot of airtime in the gospels, but he does show up prominently in one spot, meriting him an adorable Fidough as his partner.
“When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he said unto Philip, ‘Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?’ And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, ‘Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said unto him, ‘There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?’ And Jesus said, ‘Make the men sit down.’ Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.” (John 6:5-11)
Bartholomew
Also called Nathanael for some reason, Bartholomew is another one who doesn’t crop up much in the gospels except in generic lists of apostles. He does, however, have the great displeasure of having been flayed to death, and is typically depicted carrying his skin around with him. He’s the patron saint of tanners and butchers. I’m sure he’s thrilled that his entire life has been summed up as “the guy who got all his skin pulled off.”
Anyway, in the spirit of continuing to mortify his memory, Bartholomew can have two Pokémon: Ninjask and Shedinja, the latter of which being effectively the reanimated skin of the former shed as it evolves.
“Shedinja is a peculiar Pokémon. It seems to appear unsought in a Poké Ball after a Nincada evolves. This bizarre Pokémon is entirely immobile—it doesn’t even breathe.” (Pokémon Alpha Sapphire)
Thomas
Best known as “doubting Thomas,” Thomas is the guy who demanded to literally stick his hand into the spear wound in Jesus’ side before he’d believe the guy had really risen from the dead. The few other times he speaks in the Gospels are not much more flattering, as he’s usually saying something that exasperates Jesus and everyone else around him.
Thomas has a Kecleon, a Pokémon that causes a major hold-up in Ruby and Sapphire by being invisible and blocking a road.
“Jesus said unto him, ‘Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.’” (John 20:29)
Matthew
Matthew was a tax collector, and is typically regarded as an example of how Jesus calls everyone, even people who society absolutely freakin’ hates. Jesus literally calls him to be a disciple while he’s actively sitting around taking people’s money. While Matthew seems to have gotten his act together over the course of the gospels, his Pokémon is Murkrow:
“It searches for shiny things for its boss. Murkrow’s presence is said to be unlucky, so many people detest it.” (Pokémon Ultra Moon)
James the Lesser
The other James is apparently referred to as “the lesser” just because he was younger. While mentioned very infrequently in the Bible, there’s a lot of fun apocryphal debate over whether he was related to Jesus, and if so, how. Cousin? Brother? This is because apart from James the Greater, there were several other guys named James running around at this period of time, and it’s sometimes hard to tell which James is being discussed in what account. Apparently no one thought that people hundreds of years later would be curious about it.
James the Lesser gets Minun, who has the biggest little sibling energy in the entire Pokedex.
“It cheers on friends. If its friends are losing, its body lets off more and more sparks.” (Pokémon Y)
Jude, or Judas, aka Thaddeus, aka NOT Judas Iscariot
Man, I’d hate to be this guy. Also named Judas, but definitely not the jerk who betrayed everyone and got your leader killed. No wonder he preferred Thaddeus.
Despite having very little going on like some of these other bottom-of-the-roster apostles, Jude is beloved among Catholics as the patron saint of lost and hopeless causes. He’s the guy you ask to intercede for you when you literally have nowhere else to turn, which is either very flattering or very insulting if you’re Jude.
In researching Pokémon related to hopeless causes, I learned a new fact about one of my personal faves, and am thus giving Jude a Bagon:
“Bagon has a dream of one day soaring in the sky. In doomed efforts to fly, this Pokémon hurls itself off cliffs. As a result of its dives, its head has grown tough and as hard as tempered steel.” (Pokémon Ruby)
Simon
If I were getting together a group of just 12 followers, I would probably try to make sure that a bunch of them didn’t have the same names as one another, just to avoid confusion. But here we have Simon, not Simon Peter, but Simon the Zealot, a word used for him that could mean he was a member of a controversial political movement, or also maybe that he was just a really passionate fellow. In honor of both of those traditions, Simon earns a Galarian Zigzagoon, which will eventually evolve into an Obstagoon that will likely cause no end of trouble.
“Its restlessness has it constantly running around. If it sees another Pokémon, it will purposely run into them in order to start a fight.” (Pokémon Sword)
Judas Iscariot
Ah yes. The guy everyone knows. The traitor. The guy who turned Jesus in to the freakin’ cops. This guy was not at Pentecost, he was disgraced and dead, but he is one of the 12, so I guess he can go on the list. People are going to hate me for this, but Judas gets a Mimikyu for obvious reasons. Look, I know you all think that little thing is just cute and sad and misunderstood, but you gotta read the Pokedex: “A gust of wind revealed what hides under this Pokémon’s rag to a passing Trainer, who went home and died painfully that very night.” (Pokémon Ultra Moon) “There was a scientist who peeked under Mimikyu’s old rag in the name of research. The scientist died of a mysterious disease.” (Pokémon Shield) This thing killed multiple people! Look, both Pokémon and the Bible have deeply grim lore.
Mimikyu can even learn Draining Kiss via TM: “And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, ‘Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.’ And as soon as he was come, he went straightway to him, and said, ‘Master, master,’ and kissed him.” (Mark 14:44-45)
Matthias
Aha, you thought we were done! Alas, no. For some reason, the apostles couldn’t stand to just have 11 guys, so they had to appoint a replacement for Judas. Of course, they managed to find another guy with a name similar to a guy they already had, and picked him by the silliest possible method: gambling. Which is also something you can do in the Pokémon games, and if you do it a lot and well enough, you too can win a prize: a Dratini.
“And they prayed, and said, ‘Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.’ And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”
A Dratini is arguably the best prize one can get at the original Celadon Game Corner. Though given that tradition says Matthias was either crucified or stoned to death, I’m not sure him winning this lottery was exactly a triumph.
The White House shooting suspect allegedly claimed he was Jesus Christ in a police run-in months before he was killed in a skirmish with the Secret Service.
CNN identified the suspected shooter as 21-year-old Nasire Best, reporting that he had a series of documented mental health issues. Best was allegedly once arrested while claiming “he was Jesus Christ” and was involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital on another occasion for obstructing a vehicle entry near the White House in July 2025.
“I’m actually the son of God,” he allegedly wrote in one social media post.
The outlet reported that Best previously threatened the life of President Donald Trump and allegedly had multiple encounters with police near the White House in the past.
Related: New WHCD Shooting Video Shows Moment Shots Were Fired With Trump Nearby
Shocking new video footage shows the moment shots rang out at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner last weekend. Jeanine Pirro, the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, posted what appears to be security camera footage of the shooting incident via X on Thursday, April 30. Shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen can allegedly be […]
An affidavit from 2025 indicated that Best was “known to the Secret Service” for “walking around the White House complex inquiring how to gain access at various entry points,” per CNN.
Us Weekly reached out to the Secret Service for comment.
Gunfire erupted near a Secret Service checkpoint outside the White House at around 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, with a bystander being struck in the crossfire and hospitalized in critical condition. No Secret Service agents were injured in the crossfire.
“Shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday, an individual in the area of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing,” Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi told Us on Saturday. “Secret Service Police returned fire, striking the suspect who was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased. During the shooting, one bystander was also struck by gunfire.”
Emergency and police vehicles are seen near the White House after a shooting.Getty Images/Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP
His statement went on, “No injuries were sustained by officers. The President was in the White House during the incident, however no protectees or operations were impacted. The incident remains under investigation and additional information will be released as it becomes available.”
Several reporters were on the premises of the White House when shots broke out. They were rushed from the Pebble Beach media location into the White House briefing room and instructed to shelter in place for around 40 minutes.
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“I was in the middle of taping on my iPhone for a social video from the White House North Lawn when we heard the shots,” ABC News White House correspondent Selina Wang tweeted at the time. “It sounded like dozens of gunshots. We were told to sprint to the press briefing room where we are holding now.”
Related: Oz Pearlman Details Moment He Locked Eyes With POTUS During WHCD Shooting
Mentalist Oz Pearlman was performing for President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and press secretary Karoline Leavitt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, April 24, when he realized something was very wrong. “I was performing right then for the president, the press secretary and the first lady,” the magician said during a […]
This latest Washington D.C. shooting incident occurred less than one month after gunshots rang out in the lobby of the Washington Hilton at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, as President Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance were in attendance. The Trumps and other officials were evacuated from the Hilton as the violence unfolded.
A Secret Service agent was struck in his protective vest and hospitalized. Shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen was arrested and later charged with attempting to assassinate the president, interstate transportation of weapons and discharge of a firearm during a violent crime, to which he pleaded not guilty earlier this month.
I’m sitting here watching a thunderstorm roll in, and honestly, it’s driving me crazy. Why am I watching tens of thousands of gigawatts of free energy just vanish into the sky?
I was digging into this topic recently for you, my Spartans, and I was absolutely mind-blown by what I found. We live in an era where we are landing reusable rockets on drone ships and building artificial intelligence that can write code, yet capturing the raw power of the sky feels entirely impossible right now.
I find this incredibly frustrating. Imagine lighting up an entire city with just one strike! But instead, I can only watch the storm and wonder if this ultimate energy will ever be tamed. Let’s break down exactly why catching lightning is the ultimate boss fight for modern science.
The Raw, Terrifying Power of a Single Bolt
Before we talk about why we can’t catch it, I need you to understand exactly what we are missing out on. When you look up and see a flash of lightning, you aren’t just seeing light; you are witnessing one of the most violent energy transfers in nature.
Mind-Blowing Heat: A lightning bolt can heat the air around it to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit (27,760 degrees Celsius). That is literally five times hotter than the surface of the Sun.Massive Voltage: We are talking about anywhere from 100 million to 1 billion volts per strike.Pure Energy: A single average bolt contains roughly 5 billion joules of energy.
To put that into perspective, if we could harvest a single lightning bolt with 100% efficiency, it could power an average home for over a month. Multiply that by the estimated 44 lightning strikes that happen every single second around the globe, and you are looking at an endless, free, atmospheric power grid.
So, why aren’t we plugging our cities into the clouds? Because of two massive, currently unbeatable roadblocks.
Roadblock 1: Playing the Ultimate Guessing Game
The first problem I hit while researching this is logistics. I just can’t predict exactly where or when lightning will strike.
Sure, meteorologists know when a storm is coming. We know that tall, conductive structures like the Empire State Building get hit frequently. But setting up a massive, multi-billion-dollar energy harvesting facility based on “it might strike here” is a terrible business model.
Lightning is chaotic. It follows the path of least resistance through the air, and that path changes microsecond by microsecond depending on temperature, humidity, and atmospheric dust. To catch it, we would need to build a massive net of conductive towers across thousands of miles, and even then, most of them would sit idle 99% of the time.
Roadblock 2: The Great Battery Melting Point
But let’s say a miracle happens. Let’s say I invent a predictive algorithm that tells me exactly where the next bolt will hit. This is where we run into the true wall of physics: there is literally no battery technology on Earth that can absorb that explosive power.
Think about how you charge your phone. You plug it into a wall, and a steady, tiny trickle of electricity flows into the lithium-ion battery over an hour or two. If you try to push too much power into it too fast, it overheats, expands, and catches fire.
Now, imagine taking 1 billion volts and trying to shove it into a battery in 30 milliseconds (the average duration of a strike).
Current Batteries: They are designed for slow, chemical energy storage. A lightning strike would simply bypass the battery’s internal chemistry, arc across the terminals, and instantly vaporize the entire system.Capacitors: Now, capacitors can absorb and release energy instantly. But here’s the catch—they have terrible storage capacity. A capacitor big enough to hold a single lightning bolt would need to be the size of a skyscraper.
This is the ultimate bottleneck. The energy delivery is just too fast and too violent. We don’t need a new way to catch it; we need a fundamental revolution in how we store kinetic and electrical energy.
Will We Ever Tame the Storm?
I constantly wonder if this ultimate energy will ever be tamed, or if it will forever remain out of our reach. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned covering next-gen tech here on Metaverse Planet, it’s that “impossible” usually just means “we haven’t figured it out yet.”
There are actually some crazy concepts being tested right now. Have you heard of the Laser Lightning Rod? Scientists in Switzerland recently fired a massive, terawatt-class laser into the sky during a storm. The laser creates a temporary “plasma channel” in the air—basically a super-conductive wire made of light—that actually guides the lightning down to a specific point.
If we can master guiding the lightning, the next step is building the ultimate supercapacitor. Researchers are looking heavily into graphene-based supercapacitors and quantum batteries that might—just might—be able to handle the microsecond surge of a thunderbolt without turning into a puddle of molten metal.
My Final Take
Watching tens of thousands of gigawatts vanish into the sky hurts my tech-loving soul. It is the ultimate tease from Mother Nature. But every time I see a storm now, I don’t just see wasted energy; I see the ultimate final boss for human engineering. If we can solve the battery bottleneck, we could unlock an era of unlimited, atmospheric energy.
I’m going to keep tracking these breakthrough battery and laser technologies for you all. If you want to stay ahead of the curve on insane future tech like this, come on, subscribe now and support me please! I need my Spartans with me as we figure out the future.
What do you guys think? Will we see a city powered entirely by captured lightning in our lifetimes, or is this just science fiction that physics will never allow? Let me know in the comments!
Spencer Pratt’s putting more distance between himself and the Republican Party — telling his followers he’s not running for either major political party because he’s not a fan of politicians.
The former reality star turned mayoral candidate took to X to clarify his party affiliation — or lack thereof — Saturday … sharing a photo of his name on the ballot.
Pratt notes his name doesn’t have a “D” for Democrat or “R” for Republican on it … he’s not part of either tribe, as he calls them.
Pratt says he’s not part of a political party because he hates politicians … he’s a concerned Angeleno asking for more out of his local government.
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This may surprise some who heard him explain to Elex Michaelson the other day why he became a Republican.
ICYMI, Pratt says he became more aligned with the GOP during his early reality show days … when people started threatening him and Heidi Montag — and they were told by law enforcement to get guns as added protection.
Dems were too anti-gun, Pratt says … so he embraced the Republican party. While he might personally be a Republican, his message is quite clear … he’s running as a candidate for all Angelenos — regardless of party affiliation.
Pratt’s distance from the Republican party comes after a couple prominent conservatives — President Donald Trump and Erika Kirk — threw their support behind him.
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After the prez showed his support, Spencer told us … “Everybody wants me to succeed because L.A. is the most important city in the country” — not turning down Trump’s endorsement but not embracing it either.
Worth noting … all L.A. mayoral candidates run without a political party on the ballot — even longtime politicians like Karen Bass, who served as a Democrat in Congress for more than decade, run without a party affiliation.
We have tragic news to report from the world of music.
Rob Base — the rapper best known for the iconic party anthem “It Takes Two” — has died following a battle with cancer.
He was 59 years old.
Rob Base performs onstage at the Tailgate Party during IEBA 2017 Conference on October 15, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for IEBA)
News of Base’s death was confirmed by a statement shared to his official Instagram page.
“Today, we share the heartbreaking news that hip hop legend Rob Base passed away peacefully on May 22, 2026, surrounded by family after a private battle with cancer,” the statement read.
“Rob’s music, energy, and legacy helped shape a generation and brought joy to millions around the world. Beyond the stage, he was a loving father, family man, friend, and creative force whose impact will never be forgotten,” the post continued.
“Thank you for the music, the memories, and the moments that became the soundtrack to our lives.
Base, born Robert Ginyard, rose to fame as one-half of the groundbreaking duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, helping bring hip hop into the mainstream with the release of their legendary 1988 hit “It Takes Two.”
The track became an instant cultural phenomenon, and it remains a radio staple nearly four decades later.
Just days before his death, Base had celebrated his 59th birthday.
His biggest hit, released in 1988, “It Takes Two,” blended hip hop and dance music in wildly innovative fashion.
The single climbed the charts and eventually became one of the most sampled tracks of its era.
Base’s longtime musical partner, DJ E-Z Rock, died in 2014 from complications related to diabetes.
The pair had met as children growing up in Harlem and built a friendship that eventually turned into one of rap’s most memorable collaborations.
Rob never fully stepped away from the spotlight, continuing to perform on nostalgia tours and make appearances for longtime fans.
Our thoughts go out to Rob Base’s loved ones during this enormously difficult time.
Britain’s Got Talent viewers shared concerns for judge KSI during tonight’s (May 23) live semi-final, with many questioning his behaviour throughout the episode.
The rapper and YouTuber joined the ITV talent show as a permanent judge this year, replacing former Strictly star Bruno Tonioli.
At the time of his exit, Bruno explained: “After three incredible series, I’ve sadly had to walk away from a job which has opened my eyes to so much incredible talent and step down as a judge on BGT.”
“And whilst I look forward to filming a new series of Dancing with the Stars in the US, I will miss the chaos and joy that BGT brings, as well as all the wonderful people I’ve had the privilege of working with,” he added.
Bruno also admitted: “There is no animosity, it was a mutual decision. I just couldn’t do the flying anymore. I don’t know how I survived that schedule. To be honest, it’s a miracle.”
Since joining the judging panel for series 19, KSI has continued to divide opinion among viewers. But following tonight’s episode, some fans took to social media to question whether something was wrong with the star.
KSI joined BGT as a permanent judge this year (Credit: ITV)
Concerns for Britain’s Got Talent judge KSI
“Is KSI on something?” one viewer asked on X, formerly Twitter.
Another wrote: “Has KSI banged his head? Might be worth getting an MRI scan after the show.”
“What the hell is KSI on??” a third viewer questioned.
“Why is KSI being weird?” another person asked.
A fifth added: “Why tf is KSI shouting?”
Meanwhile, someone else echoed the same concern, writing: “Why is KSI shouting?”
Viewers were concerned over KSI’s behaviour (Credit: ITV)
‘They need to lose him as a judge’
Elsewhere, some viewers insisted KSI should not return to the panel next year.
“KSI talking about Disney’s Elsa ‘Dutty wining’ to a white 12 year old as critique after his performance on BGT is one of the many reasons why this dude is not cut out to be a judge on Britain’s Got Talent,” one person insisted.
Another wrote: “What does KSI bring to @BGT? The only person laughing is himself. Loudly. Bring back David Walliams please. Whatever he did, I forgive him.”
A third viewer added: “Think they need to lose KSI as a judge.”
Read more: Britain’s Got Talent viewers divided as Matilda the Musical cast open show
A reported family fallout is making headlines for “Riverdale” actress Hayley Law, and the details are turning heads. According to new reports, the actress is allegedly at odds with her father after he married someone much younger, who also happens to be Hayley’s former best friend and one-time co-star. The alleged feud has reportedly left deep fractures within the family, with insiders claiming the “Riverdale” actress has distanced herself from both her father and the woman she once considered a close friend.
River / MEGA
Hayley is best known for playing Valerie Brown on “Riverdale,” but off-screen, sources claim she has been navigating painful family drama. According to the Daily Mail, Hayley’s father, casting director Blair Law, recently married actress Caitlin Mitchell-Markovitch, who is not only significantly younger than him, but also reportedly once shared a close friendship with Hayley.
Caitlin appeared on “Riverdale” in a minor role as Ginger Lopez and reportedly attended school with Hayley years earlier. Last month, Caitlin shared photos from her bridal shower on Instagram, though Hayley was noticeably absent from the celebration.
Insider Claims Hayley Felt ‘Ultimate Betrayal’
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA
According to an insider, Hayley and Caitlin were once extremely close. The source claimed the pair “were very close” and had previously been photographed together in multiple family social media posts.
However, Blair’s reported relationship with Hayley’s former friend allegedly caused a major rift. “This felt like the ultimate betrayal from both of them,” the insider claimed. “They’ve been together for a while now.”
According to the source, Hayley “cannot get behind this union or the relationship” and “hasn’t spoken to her dad in quite some time.” The insider also alleged that Blair is in his sixties and is a well-known casting director in Vancouver.
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA
Fans also reportedly noticed signs of tension online. According to reports, Hayley has unfollowed both her father and Caitlin on social media. Meanwhile, her sister Brittany, who reportedly attended the wedding, still follows both.
Blair has also reportedly continued sharing photos celebrating Hayley’s career achievements online, though there are allegedly no photos of him featured on Hayley’s Instagram page. In contrast, insiders say Hayley has remained especially close with her mother following her parents’ separation years ago.
Hayley Law Has Reportedly Stayed Close With Her Mother
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
The source also claimed Hayley’s bond with her mother remained strong throughout childhood. “Hayley was always very close with her mom growing up,” the insider alleged. “She was always present, and she basically raised her kids as a single mom. Blair wasn’t a consistent presence and wasn’t as involved in their lives as she was.”
The insider further claimed Hayley’s mother played a major role in encouraging her acting ambitions. “Their mom really loved being a stage mom almost. She really wanted Hayley, especially, to get into acting,” they said. “The split from their mom was quite messy.”
Blair Law And Caitlin Mitchell-Markovitch Went Public In 2025
Instagram | Caitlin Law
Blair and Caitlin officially debuted their relationship publicly in October 2025 when they announced their engagement on Instagram. “Hard launch!” the caption read alongside a diamond ring emoji. The couple later celebrated their engagement in Las Vegas before Caitlin shared bridal shower photos in April.
According to old social media posts, Caitlin and Hayley once appeared especially close, with Blair previously sharing photos of the pair celebrating birthdays and spending time together, including a Disneyland trip in 2020.
Now, insiders claim what was once a tight-knit friendship has reportedly become a painful family divide.
Who Is Hayley Law?
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
While Hayley is now making headlines for reported family drama, many fans first came to know the actress through her breakout role on “Riverdale.” The Canadian actress starred as Valerie Brown on the hit CW series, appearing in the show’s first season as a member of Josie and the Pussycats alongside Ashleigh Murray and Asha Bromfield.
Outside of Riverdale, Hayley has continued building her acting and music career. She appeared in Netflix’s “Altered Carbon,” Freeform’s “The New Romantic,” and the horror film “Mark, Mary & Some Other People.” She also landed a lead role in the supernatural drama “The Good Doctor” spinoff-adjacent series “Moonshine” and appeared in several independent film projects in recent years.
Beyond acting, Hayley has pursued music under the name “Hayleau,” releasing multiple tracks and leaning into an R&B-inspired sound.
Mozilla’s Project Nova redesign adds a single Settings control to disable all AI features in Firefox.
Brave launched Brave Origin in April, a $60 one-time purchase (free on Linux) that compiles out AI, Wallet, Rewards, and telemetry entirely.
Chrome recently removed its disclosure promising to keep Gemini Nano data off Google’s servers, adding fuel to the AI-in-browsers backlash.
The browser wars just got a twist: Instead of cramming more AI down your throat, Firefox is adding a switch to turn it all off.
Mozilla unveiled Project Nova on May 21—a full visual overhaul of Firefox rolling out later this year. The redesign is cleaner, warmer, and faster, featuring rounded tabs, a refreshed color palette inspired by fire, and compact mode finally making a comeback. But the headline feature for a growing slice of users isn’t the aesthetics.
It’s an anti-AI switch.
Mozilla is redesigning its settings with plain-language controls that make privacy choices easier to act on—including, per the official announcement, “controls for turning off AI features entirely.” No buried menus. No dark patterns. Just an off button.
It also comes with a graphic update, meant to make the new generation of Firefox browsers look a lot better.
Image: Mozilla
The timing couldn’t be better. Chrome has been quietly installing an undeletable 4GB Gemini Nano model on its users’ PCs. Meanwhile, browsers like Dia, Opera Neon, and Comet have been racing to build AI-first experiences that automate browsing and chat with your tabs.
Turns out not everyone wants that.
Brave noticed the same backlash. In April, the company launched Brave Origin—a paid browser build (one-time $60, free on Linux) that strips out everything: Leo (its AI assistant), Rewards, Wallet, VPN, Tor windows, and telemetry. Gone. The browser uses Privacy Pass blind token technology so the $60 purchase isn’t even tied to your device identity.
The idea came from real demand: tutorials on manually “debloating” Brave had been going viral for years. Brave just packaged the process and charged for it.
The fact that “no AI, no bloat” is now a paid product category says something.
Firefox’s approach is subtler. Mozilla isn’t abandoning AI features—its free built-in VPN and summarization tools remain options. Project Nova simply bets that giving users visible, honest control is a differentiator in 2026. “Firefox is still the only browser built for people, not platforms,” Mozilla said in its announcement.
That might read to some as a calculated jab at Chrome, which holds roughly 66% of global browser market share while running AI models in the background—with or without explicit consent from users. Firefox has been losing market share for years, sitting at around 4.44% as far back as 2020 with no major reversal since.
Making “off by default” a feature might be a gamble—but it also might be the most honest pitch in the browser market.
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