After NXIVM, what's next?

Women in NXIVM 'cult' detail life after 'The Vow' — and it's not what you think

Angelica Hinojos was prepared and ready to have her flesh branded with the initials of a man she hardly knew, and she was excited about it.

To Angelica, though, the brand wasn't about the man. It was about the personal development she felt she'd undergone during her eight years at a company called Executive Success Program — a program that would go on to be more commonly known to the world by its umbrella company's name: NXIVM. The flesh-scalding brand wasn't necessarily part of ESP but rather a symbol of a secret invite-only women's society within the organization called DOS, or Dominus Obsequious Sororium, which loosely translates to "Master Over the Slave Women."

"I was scheduled to get a brand and I was excited," she says, adding that her husband was "supportive" of her plans to be branded. "The brand to me signified a commitment to my growth, and the commitment that I also was making with the other women to help them grow."

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However, before the Mexico City native was able to get branded, NXIVM and ESP were shuttered after the program's founder, Keith Raniere, was arrested in 2018 on federal sex trafficking and forced labor charges. He has since been sentenced to 120 years in prison for his crimes. Former "Smallville" actress Allison Mack was also sentenced to three years in prison on racketeering charges for her role within the organization.

Via shows like HBO's "The Vow" and Starz's "Seduced," Keith's case soon took on a life of its own, as the word "cult" was thrown around leisurely, and viewers heard salacious stories about DOS, which some former members deemed nothing more than a secret sex club created to fulfill Keith's desires and boost his ego by branding women with his initials.

However, five years after NXIVM — and by default, DOS — disbanded, several women within the secret society spoke to Wonderwall.com about life within the invite-only group, and they maintain that it was about female empowerment, solidarity and love.

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In addition, they all insist that they are not Keith's victims but rather victims of the response to NXIVM.

Nicki Clyne, who gained fame as Cally Henderson on "Battlestar Galactica" in the mid-2000s, has lost friends and jobs due to her involvement in ESP and loyalty to Keith. She and several NXIVM loyalists are also named as defendants in a civil lawsuit brought on by former group members who claim the whole thing was essentially a pyramid scheme.

James Oliver Cavendish

"I'm a victim of tremendous prejudice because at the end of the day," the former actress says, "I've done nothing wrong and yet I get attacked regularly. I've lost friends, I've lost career opportunities, I'm being sued because I won't adhere to this narrative that, you know, NXIVM was all bad, Keith is a monster and I'm a victim." 

In a legal response to the lawsuit, she argued that her name was only listed for "window dressing."

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Linda Chung, a highly educated former lawyer who was involved in ESP for more than four years, says her reputation was tarnished due to the narrative that she was in a "cult."

"There was a time where people were kicking me out of organizations and trying to get me fired," she says. "I am a victim of that in the sense that people were trying to do bad stuff to me and making up stuff about me that was just simply not true. That had real-life consequences for me."

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The truth about DOS, they claim, is far less sensational than what is being told. And although women were referred to as "slaves" and "masters," this shouldn't gin up visions commonly associated with those words, the women assert. 

"DOS was a network of women who were working together to build more discipline, more personal accountability, self-reliance and mindfulness," Nicki insists. "It was a series of relationships where it would be one-on-one type mentorships where you could have total trust, total accountability. The person who invited you is called your master. You're called a slave. I know that those words are very provocative, and they were meant to be, but only in the sense that it brought up questions of freedom and choice."

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Angelica says the women in DOS were all friends and were free to come and go.

"I lived in Los Angeles at the time and my mentor lived in a completely different city. She had no way of monitoring me. She could tell me whatever, but I had choices. I had freedom to come and go as I pleased," she explains. "I think people thought we were living in a commune and not being able to leave, and we were doing some things that were very kind of dark. That just wasn't the case."

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Linda maintains that DOS was "built on a foundation of true friendship."

Nicki adds, "I understand that DOS is not for everyone because it's difficult. I think that we may have been overly enthusiastic too quickly, and I think we may have invited people who thought they wanted it but didn't. Maybe [some of the women] didn't understand the commitment because they hadn't committed to something to that level until that point in their lives. I also think that some people joined more just because they wanted to be part of something that they thought was cool, which wasn't a good reason. So I think that those factors played into why, when things got hard, we didn't stick together."

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Since the group's disbandment, it's become common for former NXIVM or DOS members to speak out against the organization. The thing about DOS that's rather ironic is that it was supposed to be highly secretive. The women all gave "collateral" to ensure that they wouldn't discuss the group outside of the group  — "collateral" was essentially described as something you wouldn't want out in the public sphere, including but not limited to salacious pictures, financial records or family secrets. 

"The point was never for someone to feel coerced to do anything because of their collateral," Nicki says. There's currently no indication that anyone's "collateral" was ever released to the public.

James Oliver Cavendish

While Nicki admits that sex was involved in DOS, it was far from a "sex cult" to satisfy Keith. In fact, Angelina and Linda — neither of whom were branded — say they hardly knew or saw the man and viewed him more as the CEO of a corporation. The vow they took wasn't even about the NXIVM leader.

"The vow that I took for life was to commit to my growth and for the growth of others. I still uphold it," Angelica says. "This was something that I really thought about and evaluated. I thought about how it would impact my life. So when I took [the vow] it was serious. It was the same way when I decided to marry my husband, you know, it had the same weight."

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The women — all of whom are highly educated — are unmoved by the negative TV shows about NXIVM and DOS, which Nicki calls "entertaining works of fiction." She even cites a part of "The Vow" in which several DOS members are outside a jail "looking crazy" and trying to get in contact with Keith. The reality, she says, was actually far less about Keith and more about humanity, something she says didn't fit the HBO show's narrative.

"We actually started a movement where we put on parties in the parking lot outside the jail," she explains, adding that weekly gatherings occurred for six months during COVID lockdowns. During this time, she says, Keith's cell window only briefly looked down on the revelry. Still, after a response from inmates, she remembers thinking, "'Wow, this is probably one of the first novel expressions of humanity they witnessed in a long time.' They've been locked essentially in a bathroom 24/7 with another grown-up. So we did it for six months and it was amazing."

To this day, she gets Instagram messages from former inmates. "They thank us and said we made their time more bearable," Nicki says. 

Empathy, the women say, was a component of their ESP lessons. Linda insists that the teachings she received within the organization were more beneficial than those she got at Dartmouth College, Cornell Law School and Columbia Business School.

"I attribute a lot of my success now because of the traits that I really learned in ESP," she says. "For that I am forever grateful, and the [return on investment] on these trainings was far better than all of my formal education before, hands down." 

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No longer in the legal world, Linda now owns a successful financial services business. But the negative perception of NXIVM — largely attributed to the TV shows, documentaries and news articles — has stayed with her.

"I've lost lifelong friends who really thought that I was either so brainwashed or so stupid or something. They thought I didn't know what I was doing," she says. "I know my intent. I know that I was really trying to help people because I believe ESP was very helpful for me."

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Angelica, who has a degree in psychology and a master's in work and organizational psychology, will never completely move on from NXIVM, nor does she want to.

"It's part of me, the learnings are with me," she says. "I do have a beautiful life and a rich life, and I think a lot of it is because of the learnings in ESP, not just the courses but because of the way I learned to think in those years."

James Oliver Cavendish

For Nicki, her post-NXIVM life and mentality has shifted in a way she never could have imagined when she was walking red carpets and promoting mainstream network TV shows. 

"There's nothing like having everything destroyed and facing some of your biggest fears to find out who you really are, and as strange as it may sound, I wouldn't trade any of these experiences because I've grown so much," she says. "I've found out who my friends are. I've learned that I'm willing to stand up for what I believe in. I've also found such a strength and a kind of a peace within myself because I'm not so concerned with what other people think, which is hard to overcome as an actor. Your whole idea of who you are and also your value in the world is determined by what's being said, how audiences react, how much people like you."

James Oliver Cavendish

Along with five other former DOS members, Nicki, Linda and Angelica are now working with the Dossier Project (the "DOS" in Dossier is no coincidence). The purpose is to share their perspective on what they personally experienced in DOS and with Keith. Suffice to say they had different experiences than former DOS members whose stories are more prominently featured in the news.

"We talk about what DOS really was and what we experienced," Nicki says, "but we also talk about what's going on in our culture and how we view women and how we view women's empowerment and whether some of those ideas are really as empowering as we think."

Adds Linda, "The truth really is that ESP and DOS were really good trainings and really a group of people who all shared the value of personal development. I know that doesn't sound as sexy as sex slave, but that's the truth."

TV drama

Singer abruptly walked off 'Today' gig over dressing room

A House mess

Congressman sinks impeachment bid after casting vote from wheelchair, plus more reactions

Selena's day out

The best pictures of a popular singer-actress dressed down in Beverly Hills

Music and TV star Selena Gomez stepped out in Beverly Hills with a good friend on Dec. 19, 2023, treating herself to jewelry and sushi. Keep reading to see the best photos from their outing, which came days after after the Rare Beauty founder made headlines for a dinner appearance with pal Taylor Swift in New York City after confirming she's been in a relationship with songwriter and music producer Benny Blanco…

Girls' day out

Music and TV star Selena Gomez and pal Anna Collins, a model and artist, spent a day out in Beverly Hills on Dec. 19, 2023. The dressed-down friends went shopping at XIV Karats, a jewelry store, then grabbed lunch at Kiyono Sushi Bar.

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Keeping it casual

Music star and "Only Murders in the Building" actress Selena Gomez and friend Anna Collins, a model and artist, spent a day out in Beverly Hills on Dec. 19, 2023. The buddies went shopping at XIV Karats, a jewelry store, then grabbed lunch at Kiyono Sushi Bar.

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Bundled up

Music and TV star Selena Gomez enjoyed a green drink as she and pal Anna Collins, a model and artist, spent a day out in Beverly Hills on Dec. 19, 2023. The dressed-down friends went shopping at XIV Karats, a jewelry store, then grabbed lunch at Kiyono Sushi Bar.

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Keeping it loose

Selena Gomez spent a day out in Beverly Hills on Dec. 19, 2023. She and pal Anna Collins went shopping at XIV Karats, a jewelry store, then grabbed lunch at Kiyono Sushi Bar.

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Sipping while shopping

Selena Gomez sipped a green drink while out and about in Beverly Hills on Dec. 19, 2023. The music and TV star went shopping at XIV Karats, a jewelry store, then grabbed lunch at Kiyono Sushi Bar with pal Anna Collins.

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Casual Tuesday

Music and TV star Selena Gomez and pal Anna Collins, a model and artist, spent a day out in Beverly Hills on Dec. 19, 2023. The dressed-down friends went shopping at XIV Karats, a jewelry store, then grabbed lunch at Kiyono Sushi Bar.

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Pointing the way

Music and TV star Selena Gomez and pal Anna Collins, a model and artist, spent a day out in Beverly Hills on Dec. 19, 2023. The dressed-down friends went shopping at XIV Karats, a jewelry store, then grabbed lunch at Kiyono Sushi Bar.

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Walking around town

Music and TV star Selena Gomez and pal Anna Collins, a model and artist, spent a day out in Beverly Hills on Dec. 19, 2023. The dressed-down friends went shopping at XIV Karats, a jewelry store, then grabbed lunch at Kiyono Sushi Bar.

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Unofficially married

Oscar winner and long-term partner 'exchanged vows' for their three kids before he died following a secret years-long battle with ALS: Report

Sandra Bullock and longtime partner Bryan Randall were every bit a husband-wife team despite not being legally married. In fact, they were so committed that they reportedly "exchanged vows" in 2017.

On Aug. 8, DailyMail.com published a video of the couple dancing on the beach in the Bahamas allegedly following an intimate ceremony during which they exchanged vows.

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"They really did this for the children, to kind of seal the deal and show them this was a forever thing. After the ceremony [Sandra's kids] Louis and Laila started calling Bryan dad," a source shared. 

The Academy Award-winning actress and began dating the model-turned-photographer in 2015 after they met when he photographed her son's birthday party. Although Sandra has spoken publicly about never wanting to marry again, she called Bryan "the love of my life" on a 2021 episode of "Red Table Talk."

"We share two beautiful children — three children, [including Bryan's] older daughter. It's the best thing ever," she said. At the time, she didn't reference his health issues. 

Bryan passed away on Aug. 5 following a secret three-year battle with ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. He was 57.

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While Sandra's sister said the actress was there until the end, an insider told DailyMail.com that Bryan's illness did strain their relationship. But they were "more together than ever" at the time of his death, the insider added. Sandra also arranged and paid for his around-the-clock care. 

Interestingly, split rumors had surrounded the couple for the better part of a year, largely due to the fact they hadn't been seen together in public for a while. That speculation actually helped them keep his health battle private. 

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"Sandra kept Bryan hidden away in the back of the house. It's so big that you could conceal what was going on with him but towards the end she really didn't let people into the home beyond the doctors and nurses who were looking after him," the insider said. "It was quite convenient for them to have these rumors that they'd broken up because it helped conceal what was really going on. It was easier to let people assume they hadn't seen him because they were no longer together."

A separate source noted, "The relationship was absolutely strained by it, and it was really hard for the children. He had been living in one of her Malibu properties for a while just because it was nicer for him to be there, by the ocean, and I think some people assumed they had split because it looked like they were living separately, but there weren't. She'd have the house stocked up with everything he needed, and his nurses would go there."

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According to a statement from Bryan's family released after his death, "Bryan chose early to keep his journey with ALS private and those of us who cared for him did our best to honor his request." The statement continued, "We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors who navigated the landscape of this illness with us and to the astounding nurses who became our roommates, often sacrificing their own families to be with ours. At this time we ask for privacy to grieve and to come to terms with the impossibility of saying goodbye to Bryan." The statement was signed by, "His Loving Family."

Bizarre, terrible incident

Singer's nanny killed in freak accident after elderly driver crashed SUV into reception area at car dealership

Yadira Calito — who nannied Katharine McPhee and David Foster's son — died in a freak accident after she was run over by an SUV at a car dealership in the Los Angeles area.

According to reports, an unnamed 84-year-old woman went to a San Fernando Valley car dealership on Aug. 11 to get her Toyota RAV4 serviced. She then somehow hit the gas pedal rather than the brakes, launching her vehicle from the service bay driveway into the customer reception area.

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Yadira, who was at the dealership, suddenly found herself pinned under the car and was dragged for about 20 feet, TMZ reported. Kat and David's nanny was eventually freed from under the car and, according to DailyMail.com, an off-duty nurse started performing CPR on her before emergency services arrived. 

The nanny to Kat and David's 2-year-old son, Rennie, was eventually transported to a hospital in critical condition but later died. 

Two men working at the dealership were also injured in the shocking incident, but their injuries were not life-threatening. The driver of the car stayed on site to answer authorities' questions and declined to be taken to the hospital. She was not arrested.

Images from the crash — which occurred around 9 a.m. — show the white SUV parked among shattered glass. 

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Upon learning about Yadira's injuries and death Katharine — who found fame as a runner-up on "American Idol" in 2006 — canceled two shows in Asia, where she was touring with her Grammy-winning husband. 

"Dearest Jakarta fans, it's with heavy heart I announce I have to miss our final two shows of our Asia run," she wrote on Instagram on Aug. 11 without providing further details. "David and I have had a horrible tragedy in our family and at least one of us need to get back home to our family." 

She added, "Please know how sorry I am and how much I wish to return one day and perform for you all. Love Katharine." 

The songstress flew back to Los Angeles the same day. TMZ reported that the superstar couple considered Yadira "family." After several celebrity friends, including David's ex-wife Linda Thompson, commented with well wishes, Kat disabled the comments section of her Instagram.

On Aug. 17, the car dealership, Hamer Toyota, issued a statement about what happened. "We extend our deepest condolences to Yadira's family, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. The loss of such a vibrant life in such tragic circumstances is a heavy burden to bear, and we share in their grief," the dealership's director of communications told Us Weekly. 

"At Hamer Toyota, we take the safety of our customers and our community very seriously. We are fully cooperating with the Los Angeles Police Department as they conduct their investigation into this unfortunate event," the spokesperson added. "Our commitment is to ensure transparency, assist the LAPD in every possible way, and to learn from this incident so we can prevent such tragedies in the future. In these moments of profound sadness, we ask our community to join us in remembering Yadira and extending our collective support to her loved ones."

Running for office

Viral tanning salon mom reveals why she's running for a U.S. Senate seat in Florida as a Republican

Remember "Tan Mom"? In 2012, she went viral after she took her 5-year-old daughter to a New Jersey tanning salon. Now the pop culture personality — whose real name is Patricia Krentcil — is running for office.

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On Jan. 15, 2023, Patricia filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run for a U.S. Senate seat in Florida, TMZ confirmed. She's challenging incumbent GOP senator Rick Scott in the 2024 election — and she's running as a Republican despite not exactly following the party line on multiple issues, especially amid a controversy-filled political climate in Florida, where she now calls Boca Raton home.

Patricia spoke to "TMZ Live" to explain why she's running, explaining that she's not a fan of some of Republican governor Ron DeSantis's controversial policies and thinks others in her party feel the same way.

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"I was blessed and was able to be a part of raising money for the Sunshine Cathedral in Florida. I saw the amazing work they had done and it really impressed me," Patricia told TMZ, referring to the Ft. Lauderdale church with a ministry based in progressive Christianity that has a constituency of same-gender and gender non-conforming people and prides itself on being a safe and open community for LGBTQ+ people to worship.

Patricia also said she's concerned about the banning of books in her new home state. "I was horrified about the book banning [in schools] in Florida … just a lot of the episodes that are going on here," she told TMZ. "And nobody is addressing them."

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She also said Medicaid was an issue for her, as she believes it's "just being abominably banished for the elderly especially. That's three reasons I started doing this," she added of what sparked her interest in going to Washington.

During their chat, TMZ founder Harvey Levin pointed out that Patricia's positions make her sound more like a Democrat than a Republican. But according to her, she's running as  Republican because "I've always been a Republican and my feeling and my issues may sound more Democratic but I am a Republican through and through," she insisted.

"I'm trying to embrace it for people who realize the situation at hand, more today than it ever was, and maybe if I sound more like a Republican, Republicans need to take this not for granted," she continued.

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She's hoping people will see her in a new light. "I don't want to be known as what I was as 'Tan Mom.' I've grown and I'm here to help and want to help people that are struggling," she said. "And maybe more Republicans should have a different taste in their mouth when they're trying to help people in the world today."

Patricia further told TMZ, "I know that I am different. And I have suffered for it. But us all being different is what makes this country so amazing and unique."

According to the New York Post, her candidacy comes as she's starring in the TV docuseries "Tan to 10," which chronicles her efforts to stop tanning and change her life. Patricia – who went to rehab for alcohol addiction in 2013 – named her producers Gregg Maliff and Adam Barta as her campaign managers.

Done deal?

Princess of Pop and actor-trainer husband of 14 months are divorcing

Britney Spears and her husband of 14 months, Sam Asghari, are divorcing.

TMZ reported on Aug. 16 that the duo separated the previous week after a "nuclear argument" during which Sam confronted her over unconfirmed rumors that she'd been unfaithful

"It's only a matter of time before Sam files for divorce," a source shared.

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Sam filed for divorce later the same day, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the split and listing July 28 as their date of separation. In court documents, he's asking for spousal support and attorneys fees.

The writing was seemingly on the wall, as reports of blowout fights and arguments between the two have been floating around for several months. In May, a TMZ documentary claimed their marriage was in "deep trouble" and that Sam was rarely staying in their home. Britney even ditched her wedding ring during a spring vacation in Puerto Rico.

Sam was simply at his "wits' end" with Britney's often erratic behavior, the webloid reported. 

Publicly, though, Sam has backed his wife, recently defending her following a physical incident with an NBA player in Las Vegas in July.

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Britney and Sam met in 2016 when he starred in one of her music videos. They quickly began dating and became rather inseparable. The couple got engaged in the midst of her conservatorship battle, and they eventually tied the knot in June 2022.

Prior to their 2022 wedding, the "Toxic" singer's lawyers set up an "ironclad prenup" to ensure the finances and assets Britney had going into the marriage would remain hers should she and Sam ever call it quits. Britney has an estimated net worth of $60 million. Regardless, it's believed that she will likely settle things with Sam financially. Divorce docs hint at a potential prenup challenge, TMZ reported, with Sam's attorney noting the actor-trainer "has yet to determine the full nature and extent of the separate property assets and obligations of each party" and that "There are various items of community and quasi-community assets and debts, the full nature and extent of which are unknown to [Sam] at this time."

Her crumbling marriage is just one piece of the troubling puzzle involving the Princess of Pop. According to a February TMZ report, those close to Britney felt an intervention was direly needed because people around her had become deeply alarmed by what TMZ described as "her erratic, volatile behavior." A source told the webloid that the singer was taking medications that "hype her up" — but not taking the medications that stabilize her — and that she'd been "flying off the handle" with increasing regularity. But an intervention was suddenly scrapped, TMZ reported, after Britney caught wind of it. "I'm afraid she's gonna die," one source in regular contact with Britney told TMZ at the time. 

Home Depot lawsuit

'Fast & Furious' star sues The Home Depot for $450M for discriminating against him

Singer-actor Tyrese Gibson is accusing The Home Depot of discrimination and racial profiling after an incident in February that occurred at one of the brand's California stores.

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On Aug. 9, the "Fast & Furious" franchise star and two other plaintiffs — Eric Mora and Manuel Hernandez, craftsmen who've provided construction services to the singer-actor — filed a lawsuit claiming "outrageous discriminatory mistreatment and consumer racial profiling" at a Home Depot in West Hills, California, on Feb. 11, 2023.

NBC News reported that in the complaint, Tyrese says he, Eric and Manuel went to The Home Depot together to buy some materials for a project they were doing at his home. A cashier allegedly took 20 minutes to ring up the items. Meanwhile, other shoppers began recognizing and approaching the actor, prompting him to wait in his vehicle to prevent a disturbance. Before he went outside, Tyrese told the cashier that the craftsmen with him would complete the sale on his behalf. The suit claims Eric and Manuel were not allowed to do so, which led Tyrese to come back inside to show ID so they could finish the transaction. He asked to speak to a manager, who allegedly refused.

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"The actions of the cashier and manager were discriminatory based on race and origin," the complaint states. "There is no other plausible explanation for the mistreatment of Plaintiffs. The transaction was refused, despite Gibson's repeated authorizations, because of Plaintiffs' skin color and, in the case of Mora and Hernandez, also because of their national origin."

The suit calls the "humiliating and demeaning" interaction "a clear and deplorable instance of discriminatory mistreatment and consumer racial profiling" and further alleges that The Home Depot has "doubled down, lawyered-up" instead of holding itself accountable for what transpired. In short, The Home Depot "invited this civil rights lawsuit," the complaint further alleges. "This is the absolute height of hypocrisy for a company that disingenuously promotes itself to the world as 'an environment of mutual respect that is free of harassment and discrimination.'"

According to court documents, the three plaintiffs are seeking more than $1 million in damages, which Entertainment Weekly reported is how much Tyrese estimates he's spent at The Home Depot over the years, plus statutory damages, attorney's fees, punitive damages, a declaratory judgment confirming that The Home Depot's actions violated California's Unruh Civil Rights Act, pre-judgment and post-judgment interest and also "such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper."

Kristina Bumphrey/Starpix/Shutterstock

The actor's team released a statement on his Instagram page on Aug. 11 alongside a video of Tyrese speaking to The Home Depot staff inquiring about their policies. According to the social media post, they're seeking a total of $450 million in damages.

"Craftsmen Eric Mora and Manuel Hernandez are an integral part of my team and have made significant contributions to my visions for over a decade. Together, we ardently uphold our commitments to civil rights, promoting empathy, and understanding," the statement began. It continued, "The Home Depot, we envision a world free from discriminatory practices and consumer racial profiling. Just as I have done for the past 20-plus years, I pledge to continue to utilize my platform to empower the voiceless, fostering a spirit of unity and hope, while illuminating our shared path forward."

The Home Depot claims they've tried to address what happened: "Diversity and respect for all people are core to who we are, and we do not tolerate discrimination in any form," a company spokesperson told Today.com in a statement on Aug. 11. "We value Mr. Gibson as a customer, and in the months since this happened, we've reached out to him and his attorneys several times to try to resolve his concerns. We will continue to do so."

She's done

TV star leaves ESPN after settling lawsuit over Obama race and COVID vaccine comments

After 16 years, Sage Steele has left ESPN so that she can exercise her First Amendment rights "more freely," the broadcaster said. The ex-"SportsCenter" host and her former company both confirmed the news on Aug. 15.

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"Life update. Having successfully settled my case with ESPN/Disney, I have decided to leave so I can exercise my first amendment rights more freely. I am grateful for so many wonderful experiences over the past 16 years and am excited for my next chapter!" she shared on social media.

In a statement, ESPN said the company and Sage "mutually agreed to part ways," adding, "We thank her for her many contributions over the years."

The announcement comes after Sage settled a lawsuit with the company that she filed in 2022. In that suit, she claimed ESPN violated her First Amendment rights as well as Connecticut free-speech laws when she was suspended over public comments she made about the network's COVID vaccine policy and former President Barack Obama's racial identity.

It all began when Sage was a guest on a September 2021 episode of the "Uncut With Jay Cutler" podcast. She said she'd just been vaccinated against the coronavirus but called ESPN and parent company The Walt Disney Co.'s corporate vaccine mandate "sick" and "scary to me in many ways."

She also shared on the podcast that she felt late TV journalist Barbara Walters had belittled her for identifying as biracial. (Sage's father is Gary Steele, the first Black football player at U.S. Military Academy West Point, and mother is Mona Steele, who is white.)

Sage said that after the founder of "The View" asked her what race she'd choose on the census and she responded, "well, both," Barbara made a comment about Barack choosing Black. "And I'm like, well, congratulations to the president," Sage said on the podcast. "That's his thing. I think that's fascinating considering his Black dad was nowhere to be found but his white mom and grandma raised him. But hey, you do you. I'm going to do me."

Logan Riely/Getty Images

In the wake of her podcast comments, ESPN took her off the air for 10 days and pulled her from several big assignments at the network. "At ESPN, we embrace different points of view — dialogue and discussion makes this place great," the company said in a statement. "That said, we expect that those points of view be expressed respectfully, in a manner consistent with our values, and in line with our internal policies."

Sage issued an apology, saying in a statement, "I know my recent comments created controversy for the company, and I apologize. We are in the midst of an extremely challenging time that impacts all of us, and it's more critical than ever that we communicate constructively and thoughtfully."

In her lawsuit, which was filed in 2022, her lawyers accused ESPN of relying "on the misleading characterizations of her comments" and said her employer "forced her to apologize, allowed media to destroy her, and let media reports that she had been suspended go unchallenged, and allowed Steele's colleagues to defame her in violation of company policy without so much as a reprimand."

The Associated Press reported that in June 2023, court documents showed that ESPN offered to settle Sage's claims for $501,000.00 plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Details on their settlement terms, however, were not made public when Sage and the company announced they'd parted ways in August.