Papa Jake' dies at 102
Known to his 1.2 million followers on TikTok as "Papa Jake," he captivated both young and old with his stories.
In a statement on his social media accounts, his granddaughter McKaela Larson wrote that he died peacefully on July 17, and was "even cracking jokes 'til the very end."
Larson was known for his quick smile and how he combined humorous anecdotes with somber reminders about the horrors of war. He had been living in Lafayette, California.
A self-described Minnesota farm boy, he gained a huge following online in later life by sharing stories of WWII. He was born on December 20, 1922 in Owatonna, Minnesota. In 1938, while lying about his age, Larson enlisted in the National Guard at 15 years old.
In 1942, he was stationed in Lurgan, Northern Ireland. He became operations sergeant and assembled the planning books for the invasion of Normandy.
Larson was among the nearly 160,000 Allied Troops who stormed Normandy's beaches on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He survived machine gunfire when he landed on Omaha Beach.
"We are the lucky ones," Larson told the Associated Press at the 81st anniversary of D-Day in June, "They had no family. We are their family. We have the responsibility to honour these guys who gave us a chance to be alive."
He had been awarded the Bronze Star, and French Legion of Honour for his service.
Larson often called himself "the luckiest man in the world," and expressed awe at the attention he received. "I'm just a country boy. Now I'm a star on TikTok," he told AP in 2023. "I'm a legend! I didn't plan this, it came about."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Nicki Minaj pose challenge goes viral on TikTok with high heels and dangerous balancing acts
TikTok has revived another pop culture moment—this time, it's Nicki Minaj's unforgettable 2013 pose from her High School music video. Users are recreating the pose with a twist: balancing on increasingly bizarre and risky surfaces while wearing high heels, often in precarious places like kitchen counters, garden pots, or even atop champagne bottles. The original pose, featuring Minaj seated poolside with legs crossed and grounded in high heels, resurfaced on the platform a few weeks ago. A clip of the music video went viral, inspiring a wave of recreations. But fans have since escalated the trend. From balancing on saucepan lids to three-tier dumbbell stacks, the challenge now tests balance, poise, and bravery. Some videos show users effortlessly holding the pose, while others reveal the reality: lengthy setup times, behind-the-scenes struggles, and near-misses. One standout video features a user climbing atop a narrow porch railing, while another balances on stacked home decor. Tutorials and bloopers are now flooding TikTok, as creators share how they get into—and more importantly, down from—the pose. The trend has sparked a mix of admiration and concern. One viral compilation playfully warned, 'You all scare me with these Nicki Minaj poses,' reflecting viewers' awe at the challenge's difficulty and potential risks. As the videos evolve, fans eagerly wait for Minaj herself to join in. She's already reposting favorites, suggesting she's watching closely. While the Nicki pose is having its moment, many wonder what's next—will the Mannequin Challenge or planking make a comeback? Until then, TikTok continues proving no trend is too niche or too nostalgic to go viral again.
Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Jackie Christie and daughter Chantel clash in explosive basketball wives LA episode
A recent episode of VH1's Basketball Wives LA featured a tense altercation between longtime cast member Jackie Christie and her daughter Chantel Christie. The conflict unfolded during a sit-down conversation and quickly escalated into a physical confrontation, making it one of the most intense moments of the season. The scene began with Jackie attempting to de-escalate the situation, telling her daughter, 'You can't bully anymore… calm down.' Chantel responded defiantly with, 'I don't have to do sht.' The exchange grew more volatile when Chantel pushed her mother, prompting Jackie to yell, 'Chantie I will knock you… Btch I will knock you out.' As the situation intensified, Jackie was seen shouting to security, 'Let me go,' while attempting to respond physically. This marked a dramatic moment for Chantel, who joined the show as a full-time cast member for the current season. The near-physical altercation was captured on camera as show security intervened to separate the two. The confrontation quickly drew widespread attention online, with clips circulating across social platforms including Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. Viewers and fans reacted to the explosive exchange, highlighting the emotional depth of the mother-daughter conflict and the highly public nature of the scene. The moment has since become a trending topic within reality television circles, raising ongoing discussion about family dynamics, boundaries, and cast tensions within the series.
Express Tribune
14 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Mehwish claps back at trolls targeting Sahir Lodhi
Sahir Lodhi has recently been trending on social media, with users posting TikTok videos mimicking the actor and television host. Jumping on the bandwagon, Yasir Nawaz also shared a video of himself imitating Lodhi. The clip was received with humour and quickly went viral, sparking what's now known as "The Sahir Lodhi Trend." As the trend went viral, Mehwish Hayat took to social media to defend Lodhi, showing her disapproval of internet culture that thrives on making fun of celebrities. Hayat penned, "It's really not fair how some people make fun of him, often forgetting that he's a human being with feelings, just like the rest of us." The actor showed appreciation of Lodhi's hard work over the years by writing, "He is someone who has worked consistently, shown up with passion, and built a name in an industry that's not easy to survive in." Hayat emphasised that everyone deserves basic kindness, despite their differences. According to her, "You don't have to agree with someone's style or choices but basic respect should never go out of fashion." She had a positive message for the audience, promoting empathy, "Let's normalise kindness, especially towards those who keep showing up, no matter what the world throws at them." Lodhi has been the target of hate ever since he began his career. He has been trolled for imitating the Bollywood actor, Shahrukh Khan, for his over the top hosting style and for not appearing manly enough. His movie, Raasta released in 2017, was also met with a lot of hate for its poor quality, mocking the actor for his self-congratulary attitude. Previously, Lodhi had gracefully responded to his online trolls by stating, "When you are in this profession, you become public property. I think if you cannot take humour or taunts, then you cannot work here." While asked about negative comments, the actor remarked, "Yes, I get a lot of hate and curse words thrown my way. If writing these comments makes these people happy or they believe I am a certain way, then what can I say? Everyone has the right to express and live their life in whatever way they want."
