My boyfriend was a CIA agent: He paid the rent for my luxury penthouse and gave me a bank account loaded with $250,000 for emergencies
Nyla Caselli, who is currently based in California, told Daily Mail Australia last Wednesday she got her 'Pretty Woman moment' with a man she called James.
In the height of their romance, her mystery man spoiled her with weekly shopping sprees, surprise bank transfers, and a $250,000 'emergency bank account'.
'I met James a week after ending things with a cheating ex. We met at the airport of all places,' she said.
'James stopped me and told me how beautiful I was, and invited me out for dinner.'
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Nyla went on to say James took her to a 'very exclusive restaurant' for their first date, and she was impressed to see everyone at the ritzy joint appeared to know him.
'At the end of the date, he ordered a car to take me home. The next morning, James picked me up to go shopping and bought me a Chanel bag,' she said.
At this point, the brunette beauty said she had no idea he was a CIA agent, believing he was just a 'rich businessman' and a 'perfect gentleman'.
'James travelled a lot for work and owned a few businesses. We would meet in different countries—LA, Morocco, Switzerland,' Nyla said.
'He would fly out to see me or, if he was abroad, would pay for me to fly out to wherever he was.
'James was always very private—no photos, no social media and no probing questions about his personal life.'
Despite the constant secrecy, Nyla said she didn't mind not knowing much about her beau because he kept her happy with all his lavish gifts.
'He loved spending money on me. He once transferred $40,000 to my bank account just because he missed me. I didn't need answers—it was a win-win,' she said.
For the year the pair dated, Nyla said she felt like she was 'living in a movie'.
James moved her into a $10,000-a-month penthouse in downtown Los Angeles and had no financial limits when it came to designer gifts and luxury getaways.
She also claimed he paid for her to have a breast augmentation.
It wasn't until three months into their relationship Nyla discovered the truth about who James was.
'He said it so casually—"I work for the CIA, that's why I can't post photos or stay in one place too long,"' she recounted, adding he broke the news over dinner one night.
'I thought he was joking at first, but what he said made sense.
'James had an encrypted phone, bodyguards, private drivers and would do security checks before we entered hotels.'
While she was stunned by the revelation, Nyla said she quickly got on board with it and felt she 'never had to worry about anything' when she was with James.
'There were always two sides to our trips—the romance and the sense that something bigger was happening. It was exciting,' she said.
'So when he told me the truth, I didn't ask questions. It didn't feel like it was any of my business. So we just kept things going as we had.'
Unfortunately, Nyla and James ended things after a year of dating when he was reassigned overseas.
But the model said she looks back on her time with her ex 'fondly' and claims their relationship had a long-lasting impact on her self-confidence.
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The Guardian
37 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘There's New Orleans before and after': revisiting Hurricane Katrina in a new docuseries
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
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Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle jeans campaign hilariously spoofed by comedian amid 'woke' controversy
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Pavano, who appeared in the 2023 short film Shatter, added a voiceover in which he made a series of pretentious nonsensical statements about genetics. Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle ad campaign has debuted to strong reactions from fans and financial markets leading comedian Michael Pavano to spoof it to plaudits from his audience In the voiceover, Pavano mocked the overt double meaning of the phrases jeans/genes in a parody of the American Eagle ad campaign. 'Jeans are passed down from parents to us, often determining traits like your hair color ... and even eye color,' Pavano said. 'My jeans are blue - so they're like, better than yours. They say people with blonde hair and blue eyes, their nature is favorite. I don't say it, but they do - but I buy it. The vapid and hypersexual monologue was a clear lampooning of the ad campaign centered around the A-list actress that had been garnering controversy in recent days over a potential double meaning of the phrase jeans. 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A second advert sees the camera pan down Sydney's chest as she models a plunging denim jumpsuit. She muses: 'My body's composition is determined by my genes...' before exclaiming: 'Hey, eyes up here' as the camera cuts back to her face. The advert has divided fans, however, with one critic calling the clip 'one of the loudest and most obvious racialized dog whistles we've seen and heard in a while.' The phrase 'great genes' is 'historically used to celebrate whiteness, thinness and attractiveness,' which it said made 'this campaign seem to be a tone-deaf marketing move,' a Salon report on the backlash read. Taking to social media, many expressed their shock at messaging - which they aligned to Nazi propaganda. Outraged fans penned: 'So Sydney (& American Eagle) somehow expect audiences to not interpret this visual as a euphemism for eugenics and white supremacy?' 'The Sydney Sweeney American Eagle ad campaign is just modern day Nazi propaganda. Like it's wild how blatant it is. Things are weird right now, man.'; 'the most nazi part of the Sydney sweeney add for me was the use of the word offspring'; ''Jeans (Genes) are past down from parent to offspring' 'My jeans (genes) are blue' 'Sydney Sweeney has great jeans (genes)' Nothing is ever a coincidence, this is eugenics'; TikTok named Angie under the handle @vital_media_marketing then reviewed the ad and pointed out what she felt were problematic elements with the underlying message. Angie said: As it's panning up her body and on her face and her features, she's literally talking about her family tree and the genetics that have been handed down to her, her blonde hair and her blue eyes, and how great they are.' Angie said that 'praising Sydney Sweeney for her great genes in the context of her white blonde hair, blue eye appearance' makes for 'one of the loudest and most obvious racialized dog whistles we've seen and heard in a while.' Many people panned the tone of the ad campaign on American Eagle's Instagram page, as one user quipped, It's giving "Subtle 1930's Germany."' Another user echoed, 'Close enough, welcome back 1930s Germany.' One person said the promotion 'is what happens when you have no [people] of color in a room ... particularly in a time like this. 'This ad campaign got so caught up in this 'clever' play on words and this stunt the ppl in the room missed what was so blatantly obvious to anyone not White. I'd expect this from Abercrombie… but not yall.' One user wrote of the promotion featuring the surging star, 'This is such a f****d up campaign' while another called it 'weird as hell.' Others vented about the message they felt the campaign inherently sent, as one said they were 'never shopping at AE again' while another asked the fashion house, 'What are you doing???' One Instagram user speculated, 'This has to be rage bait,' while another suggested the clothing retailer 'read the room…' in reference to the current campaign. Another user asked, 'Who on your marketing team said this was a good idea.' The advert has divided fans, however, with one critic calling the clip 'one of the loudest and most obvious racialized dog whistles we've seen and heard in a while.' Yet many were quick to defend Sydney, branding the backlash 'unhinged'. They shared on X/Twitter: 'I'm not sure how to say this nicely but if you think a jeans ad with a pun about Sydney Sweeney being pretty is a nazi dogwhistle you genuinely need to put the phone down for a while.'; 'everyone is seriously reading too much into this and y'all need to go take a hike or something because sydney sweeney is literally just promoting jeans, not 'nazi propaganda''; 'The claim that Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle ad is pro-eugenics because of a 'good genes/jeans' pun is genuinely unhinged. It's a denim campaign, not a manifesto. Not every blonde with blue eyes is a Nazi. Some of you need a history book — and a nap'; 'You guys don't have to like Sydney Sweeney or the ways she promotes herself but don't you think comparing those Jean commercials to nazi propaganda is a tad extreme?' Daily Mail has reached out to reps for Sweeney and American Eagle for further comment on the story. Sweeney said in a July 23 news release about the fall campaign: 'There is something so effortless about American Eagle.' She said of the clothier: 'It's the perfect balance of being put-together but still feeling like yourself.' Sweeney said in a July 23 news release about the fall campaign: 'There is something so effortless about American Eagle – it's the perfect balance of being put-together but still feeling like yourself' In terms of the charitable aspect of the ad campaign, American Eagle Outfitters is working with Crisis Text Line in an effort to provide grants for mental health support and crisis intervention The Euphoria star continued: 'Their commitment to creating pieces that make you feel confident and comfortable in your own skin is something that resonates with me. 'It's rare to find a brand that grows with you, the way American Eagle has for generations.' The Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood actress wrapped up in saying, 'They have literally been there with me through every version of myself.' American Eagle Outfitters president Jennifer Foyle opened up about the ad campaign, which is slated to raise money for domestic violence charities, in the news release. 'This fall season, American Eagle is celebrating what makes our brand iconic – trendsetting denim that leads, never follows,' Foyle said. 'Innovative fits and endless versatility reflect how our community wears their denim: mixed, matched, layered and lived in.' The fashion executive explained why Sweeney made for the perfect focal point of the promotion. 'With Sydney Sweeney front and center, she brings the allure, and we add the flawless wardrobe for the winning combo of ease, attitude and a little mischief,' Foyle said. In terms of the charitable aspect of the ad campaign, American Eagle Outfitters is working with Crisis Text Line in an effort to provide grants for mental health support and crisis intervention. Proceeds from a special edition of The Sydney Jean will be donated to the organization. Among the related grants include a $100,000 Signature Grant posted this past February 2025 in an effort to expand programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Joy Taylor breaks silence on claims she's quitting sports media after Fox Sports firing
Former Fox Sports analyst Joy Taylor has revealed whether she will continue working in sports media after being fired by the network. The host's nine-year stint at Fox came to an abrupt end after the network reportedly failed to renew her contract four months after she found herself embroiled in a bombshell sex lawsuit. The 38-year-old broke her silence on the matter last week and has now hinted at what the future will hold for her as she embarks on the next chapter of her career. In a snippet from an upcoming episode of the 'Let Her Shoot' podcast, Taylor said: 'I'll have a lot of announcements coming up. 'You know, as far as everything that happened, that's the business. Nothing is forever, as all these cliches, but that is what it is. You know, (I'm) grateful, I had nine years on a network and the next chapter will be equally as exciting. 'I'm not limiting myself. I've worked with a bunch of different people over the years, people I never thought that I would end up partnering up with. 'It might surprise people what the next move is... I'm not teasing anything, but we'll have announcements very soon.' Earlier this month, Fox Sports reportedly slashed its weekday lineup with a trio of shows axed, including 'Speak' which was hosted by Taylor. The former sports host had worked on a number of different shows in her nine-year stint with Fox, yet the company has decided not to renew her expiring contract this summer - just months after she found herself embroiled in a bombshell sex lawsuit . The network shortly announced a new deal with Barstool Sports and founder Dave Portnoy, while Kay Adams was rumored to be a leading contender to fill the void left at Fox. The decision from Fox came in the wake of lawsuit brought by former FS1 hairstylist Noushin Faraji, who listed Taylor as a defendant as well as top programming executive Charlie Dixon and Skip Bayless. Taylor was accused of using sexual relationships with colleagues, including Dixon and former co-host Emmanuel Acho, to further her career in the lawsuit filed by the ex-employee. The 38-year-old was also alleged to have told Faraji to 'get over it' when she confided in her about claims she was sexually assaulted by Dixon. Taylor has denied all allegations. The 38-year-old initially broke her silence on the matter last week, as she expressed gratitude for the opportunities she's had as a female panelist in sports media, but suggested that the events have left her feeling jaded towards the industry. 'Overall, like the saying 'it doesn't feel like work when you're doing something that you actually enjoy.' I think what happened to me this year took that away from me,' Taylor said on The Ringer's Higher Learning. 'I don't know if I'll get that back. I might — and maybe like when the callous forms over the wound and you get away from things you it doesn't feel, like the tremors go away, so we're not there yet — but right now, it doesn't feel that way. It doesn't feel exciting.
