Latest news with #Broken
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Epstein Expert Slams ‘Absurd' MAGA Effort to Make Ghislaine Maxwell a Victim: ‘She Was a Pedophile'
"Broken" podcast host Tara Palmeri additionally tells MSNBC that Trump's timeline of his falling out with the financier doesn't add up Independent journalist and Jeffrey Epstein expert Tara Palmeri told MSNBC's Nicole Wallace that Trump supporters let Epstein's partner-in-crime Ghislaine Maxwell off too easily. 'Any sort of idea that Ghislaine was some sort of victim as they are saying on NewsMax and other places is absurd,' Palmeri said on MSNBC's Deadline White House. 'She was a pedophile. She did the exact same thing.' More from TheWrap Epstein Expert Slams 'Absurd' MAGA Effort to Make Ghislaine Maxwell a Victim: 'She Was a Pedophile' | Video Shohei Ohtani Gambling Scandal Drama Nears Series Order at Starz 'Destination X' Boss Shares Just How Hard It Was to Keep Those Contestants in the Dark Disney Sued for Defamation by 'Say Nothing' Subject Marian Price Maxwell is currently serving currently a 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse minors. She was convicted in 2021 and sentenced in June 2022. Palmeri said that she was responsible for luring young girls to Epstein. She referenced several examples from victims she has spoken to on her podcast 'BROKEN: Jeffrey Epstein.' The podcaster said Maxwell called one victim Annie Farmer's mother to convince her it was okay for her daughter to join the couple at Zorro ranch because they would pay for her tuition. 'They preyed on children,' she said. She added that the houseman Juan Alessi, who worked for Epstein since the 1990s, told her that the couple's 'ritual' was to drive around south Florida to look for three girls per day to 'satisfy his needs.' Maxwell did not just groom the young girls and send them to Epstein to be sexually abused. Palmeri said that she participated in sexual acts with them, and that Trump supporters are ignoring that fact. 'Once she got them in the door, she was involved in the sexual acts,' she added. 'I don't think they want to hear this. They want to create the impression that she is somehow absolved from all of this.' Watch the exchange here: Virgina Giuffre, who was pursued by Maxwell and Epstein at Mar-a-Lago, told the podcaster that she met Trump through Epstein. Giuffre was a 'sex slave' to Epstein and his friends from the age of 16 to 18. The woman was only with Epstein from 2000 to 2002, Palmeri said, but Trump and Epstein remained friends at that time. The pair have several pictures together from after the president claims they had a friendship falling out. Tuesday the president said he and Epstein ended their friendship because Epstein 'stole people that worked for me' – including after he had warned Epstein not to do it again. He also acknowledged that one of those employees may have been Giuffre, one of Epstein's most outspoken accusers, who died by suicide earlier this year, but Trump did not specify that the employees were young women. However last week the White House said Trump barred Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club 'for being a creep.' 'This whole idea that President Trump was upset about it at the time is absurd,' Palmeri said. Those slightly different stories of the pair's falling out also differ from a 2019 Washington Post report that claimed the two men's friendship ended over a 2004 property dispute over a bankrupted oceanfront property called Maison de l'Amitié. Palmeri agreed with that timeline. The Wall Street Journal published a series of articles alleging Trump appeared in the Epstein files 'multiple times,' and that his Attorney General Pam Bondi warned him of this. The president sued the Wall Street Journal for $10 billion for defamation for publishing a suggestive birthday note that Trump wrote for Epstein's 50th. The post Epstein Expert Slams 'Absurd' MAGA Effort to Make Ghislaine Maxwell a Victim: 'She Was a Pedophile' | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
The Guardian
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Unforgivable review – Jimmy McGovern's mesmeric new drama is even better than Adolescence
f'We pray for it every day, but it's man's will that gets done, not God's.' Thus speaks a former nun, pretty much an emblematic character of a Jimmy McGovern drama, delivering an emblematic line. McGovern has always been a chronicler of pressing social issues, from police incompetence and corruption (Hillsborough) to government failures and cover-ups (Sunday, Reg), class struggle (Dockers), disability (Go Now), religious hypocrisy (Priest, Broken), violence (Anthony, Time) and the brokenness of systems supposedly set up to help our most vulnerable (Care). But whatever the issue under examination and – usually – excoriation, there is the profounder concern of how far from grace we have fallen. From there, McGovern asks: what would it take for us to rise again? His latest creation, Unforgivable, takes child sexual abuse as its subject. McGovern has brought together trusted members of, in effect, the repertory company he has gathered over the years – including Annas Friel and Maxwell Martin – to tell the story of an ordinary family trying to cope with the aftermath of a terrible act; the abuse of a young teenager, Tom (Austin Haynes), by his uncle Joe (Bobby Schofield, playing the character as unmonstrously as he is written, making his actions and the ramifications all the more awful for it). Tom is now getting into trouble at school and is virtually mute, answering only yes or no to direct questions, and Joe is about to be released from his short spell in prison. Tom's mother – Joe's sister – Anna (Friel, in an absolutely wonderful performance) is a mass of rage, despair and shock, with no time to process any of it as she fights to keep her job, her inevitably neglected other son out of trouble and Tom from descending further into mental ill health. Anna and Joe's mother dies soon after the story begins and the first moral quandary arises – should he be allowed to attend her funeral? Would she – the only family member to visit him in prison – have wanted it? Their father, Brian (David Threlfall), forbids Joe to come. When Anna later bumps into Joe in the cemetery, in breach of his licence, she reports him to his parole officer, who redraws the boundaries of the exclusion zone rather than recall him to prison. What would you have done? Small questions pave the way for larger ones. Where do you stand on the fact that, as Anna points out in fury, Joe has had access to copious amounts of therapy in prison and now lives in a special halfway-house-cum-rehab-facility, run by a former nun, Katherine (Maxwell Martin), while Tom has had nothing? McGovern's work is always grounded in detail, especially that relating to systemic inadequacies; we sit with Anna through the GP's explanation that there is a 21-week waiting list for even 'the worst' children to be seen. It takes a suicide attempt to get Tom even that far. Eventually, we move to the question inherent in the title: can Joe be forgiven? How much weight do we give his assertions of self-loathing? Should we feel touched by his apparent remorse? Should Anna? How much should Brian let love for his son govern his actions when the rest of his family has been devastated? When it emerges that Joe was abused at the same age as Tom, it is not a plot twist to sway our sympathies – McGovern is an unsentimental and unmanipulative writer – but to force us to think more deeply. Does it make him less culpable for his actions? Or more damnable, because he knew the effect one act can have on a life? His abuser also harmed others who did not perpetuate the cycle, so what do we do with that knowledge? Space is left for any conclusion. None of us knows God's will, whether you believe in him or not. Unforgivable has none of the agitprop that can creep into McGovern's always impassioned work and there are faultless performances throughout, including from Mark Womack, a sleeper agent of an actor who delivers invariably to mesmeric effect. It is an altogether richer, more subtle and more sophisticated creation than, say, Adolescence, to which it is likely to be compared; as such, it is unlikely to be adopted as a pseudo policy document by the government. More's the pity. It has an immeasurable sorrow at its heart and offers no answers. It leaves you feeling that this is exactly as it should be; exactly as it must be. Unforgivable aired on BBC Two and is available on BBC iPlayer now
Cosmopolitan
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Is the BBC's Unforgivable based on a true story? Events that inspired "shocking" drama explained
Unforgivable is the BBC's latest drama looking at the devastating effect of child abuse within a family. Starting on Thursday 24th July, the one of show follows Joe (played by Bobby Schofield), who having served his prison sentence arrives at St Maura's, an institution for rehabilitation. Here, he meets an ex nun named Katherine (Anna Maxwell Martin) who supports him as he goes through therapy, with the hope of understanding what led him to abuse his nephew. Meanwhile, his sister, Anna (Anna Friel), is dealing with the enormous impact that Joe's crime has had on her family - her sons, Tom (Austin Haynes) and Peter (Fin McParland), and her father, Brian (David Threlfall). The events are truly shocking, and has led many to question whether it's is based on a true story. Here's everything you need to know. While Unforgivable isn't based on one particular true story, the show was inspired by real events. Ahead of the new drama, screenwriter Jimmy McGovern revealed how he received a letter from a woman who works with people who've committed sexual crimes and felt "compelled" to tell this story. He said: "I received a letter from a woman who works with sex offenders and wanted to speak to me. She spoke no holds barred about her job and working with sex abusers. She told me certain facts and figures that are quite unbelievable, so I want people to watch the film and learn things about child abuse. I felt compelled to write about it." McGovern previously explored this topic in TV shows Priest and Broken. On why he decided to explore this further in Unforgivable, the writer continued: "I've always been quick to condemn child abusers, as we all are and as we all should be. This is not a film that goes easy on child abusers at all. I wanted the audience to hear a few of the things I'd learned. I think we should be ultra cautious whenever we're dealing with abusers. I'm a father and a grandfather, I would find it very hard to forgive somebody who had done that to me or my family." On what he hopes viewers will take away from Unforgivable, McGovern added: "If they watch it, they will learn things. Even though we're talking about child abusers, I think I still think there's a need for compassion. Caution, yes, punishment, yes, justice, yes. These are enormous crimes, they must be punished, you must go to prison. But alongside all that, an element of compassion. To understand a bit more and equally condemn." Unforgivable starts on BBC Two on Thursday 24th July at 9pm.
Daily Mirror
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Inspiration behind harrowing new drama Unforgivable as it lands on BBC
Unforgivable official trailer for BBC drama Unforgivable, the new BBC2 drama, has already proved to be a talking point due to its very sensitive narrative, with the whole feature drama centring around grooming and sexual abuse. For esteemed screenwriter Jimmy McGovern, tackling the taboo subject through the harrowing drama is something he feels needed to be done. He is hoping viewers will walk away from the production with a new sense of education and perspective, that they otherwise may not have had before. Jimmy is a firm believer that child abusers "should be held to account and also punished for their crimes", stating that to the BBC that he would personally find it "very hard to forgive" if the same harm came to his own family. Jimmy McGovern opens up on the "truth" behind Unforgivable (Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC) The new 90-minute series which is set in Liverpool, follows the Mitchell family whose lives have been shattered by the devastating consequences of sexual abuse. As a family, they are now living with the aftermath and the reality that the perpetrator, Joe, played by Bobby Schofield, is now being freed from jail with rehabilitation after serving just a two year prison sentence. Bobby Schofield plays perpetrator Joe (Image: BBC / LA Productions / Kerry Spicer) Anna Friel plays Anna Mitchell, the sister of Joe but also the desperate mother who will stop at nothing in protecting her two children, with her eldest son played by Adolescence actor Austin Hayes. The pain spirals through the entire family with David Threlfall playing a key role of Anna's father, who is angry after realising she'd reached out to her abuser brother Joe. Unforgivable creator, Jimmy, had one main aim to ensure that every character within the family had a voice at the table to further highlight the toll and emotional hold such an awful crime can have on everyone involved. With the adaption being so raw and close to the bone, it really is no wonder that thoughts are turning to whether there is a deeper truth hidden within Jimmy's compelling drama. Anna is desperate to protect her two children but is conflicted as her brother Joe is the person who committed the crimes (Image: BBC) The Cracker and Time writer opened up on what had inspired him to pen something so dark-routed, revealing there was an element of truth within his creation. Speaking about his thought process and how the idea blossomed, he confessed: "I received a letter from a woman who works with sex offenders and wanted to speak to me. "She spoke no holds barred about her job and working with sex abusers. She told me certain facts and figures that are quite unbelievable, so I want people to watch the film and learn things about child abuse. I felt compelled to write about it." Jimmy has never shied away from discussing the topic of abuse and had even written past productions such as Priest and Broken, that follow in similar vein. Addressing the link in his writing style, he explained to BBC: "I've always been quick to condemn child abusers, as we all are and as we all should be. "This is not a film that goes easy on child abusers at all. I wanted the audience to hear a few of the things I'd learned. I think we should be ultra cautious whenever we're dealing with abusers. I'm a father and a grandfather, I would find it very hard to forgive somebody who had done that to me or my family." The drama has landed on BBC's streaming platform this morning at 6am and will air tonight, from 9pm on BBC2, with the compelling story already proving to be a drama not to be missed.
News18
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Asees Kaur Drops Soulful EP Broken With 4 Songs On Love And Letting Go
While Asees has lent her voice in Broken, the music and lyrics are by Goldie Sohel. Asees Kaur has been the voice behind several hit tracks in Bollywood, but despite being a successful playback singer, she recently launched her first EP (Extended Play) called Broken. The musician's new collection has four songs, which are a blend of love, heartbreak and healing. Each song, including Toot Gaya, Bhool Jaungi, Phir Na Milenge and Kaindiyaan, shows different feelings. While Asees has lent her voice, the music and lyrics are created by Goldie Sohel, known for composing hits like Aaj Sajeya and Bairiya. As per Filmibeat, the singer said, 'Broken is the most personal I've ever been with my music. The audience has given so much love to my film songs, and now, in parallel, I want to keep putting out my independent music as well. Both kinds of music are equally special to me. Goldie and I began working on these songs after the birth of our son, Harfateh, last year. They were born out of late-night conversations, voice notes, and moments only the two of us shared." Asees Kaur once tried to start her singing career through Indian Idol, but she was not selected. Still, she didn't lose hope. With time and effort, she became a well-known playback singer. In an earlier interview with The Hindu, she spoke about her early days and said that she began her journey on her own. She learned by listening to cassette tapes. In the beginning, preparing for a song used to take her around a month. But with experience, that time has reduced, and now she can get ready in just a day. She believes that if someone wants to become a singer, getting proper training really helps. It teaches you how to control your voice and gives you the confidence to perform. According to Asees, a good teacher can guide you with ragas, voice control and other important skills that make the path easier. Throughout her time in the music industry, Asees Kaur has given a number of hit songs like Raatan Lambiyan, Ve Kamleya, Dum Dum, Ikk Kudi, Chogada, Aankh Lad Jaavee and Ve Maahi, among others. First Published: July 22, 2025, 17:19 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
