Latest news with #Milo
NZ Herald
11 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Great Walks with kids: A family's adventure through NZ's trails
For quality, screen-free family time, a Great Walk really delivers. You are largely off-grid and out in nature together, with several hours of walking – and potential talking time – each day. Our kids usually take turns leading and dropping back to chat with their packhorse parents. Once at the huts, it's more family bonding as you unwind from the day, share some treats and cook dinner. It's all very Brady Bunch until it inevitably isn't; for example, when someone knocks over his Milo and completely soaks his only spare set of clothes. The Kepler Track in Fiordland. Photo / Tourism NZ It's easy to get blasé about New Zealand's natural beauty and dramatic landscapes. The Great Walks will jolt you out of any such complacency. Even the kids, usually indifferent to calendar-worthy views, found plenty to delight in. Walking through the otherworldly and iron-flat South Crater on the Tongariro Circuit, surrounded by craggy, volcanic terrain and the famous cone of Ngauruhoe, was a surreal and awe-inspiring experience. To my imaginative 10-year-old, we were in dragon country. The Heaphy Hut was another highlight, overlooking the point where the Heaphy River meets the roiling Tasman Sea. As we soaked in the scene, fringed by nikau palms and resplendent in the sunset, the kids revelled on the river bank, hunting for treasures and dipping in and out of the cool, clean river current. Start small to build confidence As with any holiday with kids, adequate preparation is important. Having ticked off a few day walks in our home region of Hawke's Bay, we had already established that the kids were very capable, if not always enthusiastic, walkers. We thoroughly researched each walk before booking (the Department of Conservation has extensive information on its website – including track descriptions, potential hazards, gear lists and difficulty ratings for each walk. For pre-walk training, we put our half-full packs on and headed up our local mountain, Te Mata Peak, tramping similar distances, time-frames and elevations as we'd face on our upcoming walk. And yes, we did get some odd looks. Te Mata Peak offers a good opportunity as a trial walk. Photo / Kirsten Simcox Embrace early starts and bush toilets When on the tracks, we usually set off early – giving plenty of time to complete the day's distance. Often, there are natural stops along the way – other huts and shelters, lookouts, points of interest – and breaking the day up into chunks is a great way to keep kids motivated. You'll also be stopping when nature calls, and I'm not talking about birdsong. Realistically, and despite your repeated pleas to use available facilities, you may be dealing with an urgent bowel motion on the most remote part of the track. In this situation, you'll need a compostable bag, or a trowel and a spot well away from the track, campsites and any water. Chalk it up as a new experience for young and old. Abel Tasman National Park. Photo / Tourism NZ Lean into a little make-believe Keeping morale up on a long day of walking required a mix of games and deep-dive conversations into our children's latest interests. On the Abel Tasman, we were hard into the Harry Potter phase and every third stick we encountered was assessed for its spell-casting potential. There's a limit, of course, to how many of the 1000-plus Pokemon characters you can bear to hear about, or how much I Spy you can play in the bush. This is where outright bribes in the form of cold, hard candy come in. They work on adults too. Plan post-hiking fun Arriving at the hut after a day of walking can be a religious experience. Don't get too comfortable though, as your kids will inexplicably still have energy to burn. Once you've bagged your bunks (fellow trampers are usually very reasonable about letting families bunk in the same room), be prepared to go exploring around the huts – there is often a postcard-perfect waterfall, swimming hole or vista just a short walk away. Back at the hut, it's time to break out the snacks and diversions. Some huts have a collection of puzzles, cards and games, but it's a good idea to take your own too. The Great Walks challenge began on the Abel Tasman Coast Track. Photo / Claire Rogers Keep mealtimes simple For meals, we kept it simple. Breakfasts (porridge mix) and dinners (a freeze-dried meal) were as easy as adding boiling water to the sachets, stirring the mix and letting them sit. Lunches and snacks were salami and bier sticks, wraps, energy bars, lollies, crackers and cheese. While the thought of a freeze-dried roast chicken meal – complete with mash and stuffing – may not have you salivating, our kids gave it rave reviews. Enjoy the break from the nightly battle over fresh veggies. Make friends along the way Stepping out on day one of the Abel Tasman track, we were a tad nervous as to how our fellow hut dwellers would receive our outgoing brood, who were 6, 8 and 9 at the time. We needn't have worried. The camaraderie in the huts is one of the best things about the Great Walks, and most of our walking companions have been delighted to see children tackling the tracks with them. We loved reuniting with our newfound friends each night, sharing stories from the day. One tramper went so far as to organise an epic 'backyard' cricket match for our would-be Black Caps, constructing a bat out of driftwood and converting an avocado stone into a ball with strapping tape. On the wall in our home office, there's a Great Walk map. The kids love to look at the distances and climbs they've conquered, the huts they've lodged in, and remember the people we met along the way. When you sign up for a Great Walk with kids, you are signing up for a challenge. But the family memories made, the soul-nourishing scenery, and the immense and collective sense of achievement each time have us coming back for more.
CNA
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Changi Airport launches Jellycat-inspired plushies of local food like chicken rice and kopi
All these years there's been a never-ending battle over whether Singapore or Malaysia has better food. People also can't seem to come to an agreement on which country certain dishes belong to. Apparently this competition could extend to toys too. As part of SG60 celebrations, Changi Airport recently launched a new series of plushies shaped like Singaporean local delights. At the Mr Merlion Hawker Fest pop-up at Terminal 3, which is now open, you can find soft toys shaped like rainbow kueh lapis, curry puff, bak kwa, ice kachang, chicken rice, chilli crab, kopi, Magnolia milk and even popular childhood favourite, rainbow bread ice cream. The stuffies are all inspired by British toy brand Jellycat, and similarly have small dangling legs as well as two eyes paired with a cute smile. Yup, pretty much like the highly raved kaya toast and egg plushies Milo released in April this year. Just like how they do it in the official Jellycat stores around the world, the staff will also prepare the plushies like they are actual dishes before 'serving' them to you. We can already hear people squealing over how cute these toys are. Some netizens even gushed that they're willing to work for the store just because the job seems "so fun". However, there were skeptics too. "Isn't this Malaysian food?" questioned one netizen. Sorry but we think we can safely answer... No! These are Singaporean food, please. At least the chicken rice and Magnolia milk definitely are.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Nestle's outlook brightens with wage growth, govt support measures
PETALING JAYA: Things are starting to look up for Nestle (M) Bhd , the purveyor of Milo chocolate malt drinks and Maggi noodles, as lower commodity prices, a combination of wage growth and government support measures and the decline of boycotts drove earnings in the second quarter ended June 30, 2025 (2Q25). While analysts remain cautious of the company's outlook, CIMB Research, which has maintained a 'hold' call on the stock with a target price (TP) of RM86.20, expects gradual demand recovery as consumer sentiment normalises amid fading boycott impact as well as likely improvements in exports leveraging on its place as Nestle SA's global halal hub. It believes the share valuation of 35.9 times financial year ending Dec 31, 2025 (FY25) price-to-earnings (PE) has priced in the weak near-term outlook, driven by lower sales volume assumptions amid prevailing soft consumer sentiment and global uncertainties, noting the inelastic demand for its largely consumer staple product offerings, strong brand equity, and diversified product portfolio across key food categories. Affin Hwang Research noted that the 2Q25 financial performance signals that the worst could probably be over, with the boycott pressures easing meaningfully, and has upgraded the stock to a 'buy' call and a TP of RM95 from RM85, implying 42 times PE. A stronger ringgit together with easing commodity prices may help lift the company's margins in the coming quarters. It pointed out that the RM100 credit given through the MyKad to all Malaysians aged 18 and above would also support higher sales in the second half of the year, as many Nestle products comes under the MySara programme. RHB Research said revenue growth, which returned in 2Q25, could be sustainable premised on the company's effective marketing engagements to stimulate consumer spending and the normalising sentiment on its brands. It has upgraded the stock to a 'buy' call from 'neutral' and raised the TP to RM95 from RM77 as the research house thinks that the comeback 'is timely in view of the pick-up in investor appetite for defensive stocks amidst uncertain market conditions.' 'We also expect a margin recovery ahead, on easing commodity prices. 'Post results, we raise FY25 to FY27 earnings by 8%, 7%, 3% after imputing higher sales growth and gross profit margin assumptions,' it said. UOB Kay Hian Research, which has maintained a 'hold' recommendation but with a higher TP of RM82 from RM76, said earnings for FY25 and FY26 has been lifted by 5.6% and 5.2% respectively to factor in higher sales and margin assumptions. 'Nestle had undertaken a price exercise adjustment in July 24 for certain products by 5% to 6% that appears to have largely protected its margins against higher input cost. 'Coupled with its hedging, margins should sustain over the near term,' it added.
Sinar Daily
3 days ago
- Business
- Sinar Daily
Paying more and understanding less under the new SST - when policy starts to feel like a prank
YOU wake up, scroll the news, and there it is. The Sales and Service Tax (SST) naik lagi (increases). No warning. No explanation. Just another quiet announcement slipped under the door like a final notice you did not know was coming. What was already expensive becomes just a little harder to justify. Raising taxes is not the issue. Every country needs revenue. But when new taxes arrive without conversation, context or empathy, they stop feeling like policy and start feeling like punishment. This is not governance. It is a widening gap between those who make the rules and those who live by them. In 2024, the Prime Minister declared a war on sugar. It was a solid move. Malaysia has Southeast Asia's highest rate of diabetes. One in six adults has it. Over half the population is overweight. Our roti canai is glorious, but our blood sugar is alarming. So we understood the logic. Tax sugary drinks. Encourage healthier living. We cut down our Milo ais (iced Milo). We nodded along. Then came news that fruits were being taxed. The one food group every doctor, campaign, and mother tell you to eat more of. Suddenly, healthy eating sounded like a lifestyle upgrade. Finance Ministry later clarified that SST only applies to imported fruits, not locally grown ones. Technically, this makes sense within the luxury classification framework. But practically, it complicates everyday lives. Many of the fruits Malaysians regularly consume such as pineapples, bananas and certain melons are imported depending on season and supply. It is unrealistic to expect households to rely solely on local produce. Some fruits are simply not available locally or differ significantly in taste and quality depending on origin. What was once a routine grocery item is now framed as a luxury. That framing is what makes the policy feel out of touch. We are being told to live healthier while watching nutritious choices become more expensive. It is like telling people to exercise more, then taxing the tools to do it. Running shoes, for instance, fall under taxable goods. If wellness is truly a national priority, policies should align with the lived cost of pursuing it. When the Prime Minister joked that if avocado is taxed, then do not eat avocado, it echoed a past that still stings. A few years ago, when grocery prices soared, another Prime Minister said if you cannot afford it, eat kangkung. The backlash was swift and loud. These comments, while perhaps meant in jest, reflect a deeper disconnection. People are not just budgeting avocados. They are budgeting protein. They are rationing electricity. They are quietly dropping fruits, supplements and essentials from their shopping lists. And just like that, food became a punchline. Just Fruits staff were seen arranging local and imported fruits following the new tax on imported fruits, with apples and oranges exempted as they are not grown locally and are popular during festive seasons on July 28, 2025. (BERNAMA PHOTO) The frustration is not just about the cost of living. It is about the lack of clarity, sincerity and structure in the way these changes are communicated and implemented. There were no widespread town halls. No consultative surveys that invited the public in. Policy changes roll out like surprise quizzes, and everyone pays if they fail. And I could not help but wonder if anyone in government is listening at all. Starting this month, the new RP4 electricity tariff was implemented. The base rate is now 45.40 sen per kilowatt hour. On paper, users could save up to 19 per cent if they use electricity during off peak hours and meet technical conditions. Large scale commercial users such as data centres face rate hikes of up to 14 per cent. For most households, the impact depends on how and when they consume electricity. Time of use pricing and targeted subsidies make sense theoretically. But practically, the average consumer may not have the tools, understanding or flexibility to shift usage. Without proper guidance, the burden quietly returns to the consumer. The middle class, particularly the M40, is especially affected. They earn too much to qualify for subsidies but not enough to comfortably absorb new costs. They receive no exemptions. But every change from SST to RP4 seems to land hardest on them. It is not that they are being ignored. It is that they are being assumed resilient. Even the recent minimum wage increase left a sour note. It raised the baseline for new hires but offered no mandate to adjust wages for existing workers. Someone loyal for five years could now earn the same as someone hired yesterday. That is not wage progress. It is wage erosion. Not too long ago, RM2,000 a month could rent a modest home and support basic meals. Today, that same amount might not even secure a studio apartment, let alone cover groceries and transportation. Prices have surged. Wages have stalled. And now, more taxes. More adjustments. More announcements. The rakyat is not asking for miracles. We are asking to be heard. We are asking for transparency, logic and respect. We are asking for policies that make sense when they reach the checkout counter, the electricity bill, the pharmacy. Because this is not about rejecting taxes. It is about ensuring fairness. It is about designing systems that work with, not against, the public's reality. You cannot tell people to eat healthy and then make fruit cost more. You cannot promote wellness while keeping wages stagnant. You cannot claim affordability while shifting more burdens onto the rakyat's backs. Even healthcare reform has turned into a question mark. The new medical and health insurance/takaful (MHIT) scheme, aimed at offering affordable insurance coverage, is proposed to be voluntarily funded through our EPF (Employers Provident Fund) Account 2. That is our retirement fund. That is emergency money. The last thing most people want to touch. And I could not help but wonder how long we can keep borrowing from our future to survive the present. Malaysia does not lack talent or ideas. We lack alignment. We need policies that consider context, behavior, timing and impact. We need clearer messaging, better engagement and actual feedback loops. Not just press conferences. This is not to say the rakyat is crumbling. But the pressure is real. The resilience is not infinite. The mental load of budgeting, adapting, and adjusting is growing heavier. We understand the government needs revenue. We also know times are tough globally. But the rakyat needs dignity. We need coherence. We need to be included, not just informed. Because when people do not understand why they are being taxed, they feel punished. When announcements come without explanation, they feel disregarded. When food becomes a joke and fuels a gamble, they feel alone in the system meant to support them. At this rate, it is not just SST and TNB bills that are climbing. It is anxiety. It is frustration. It is the quiet cost of being unheard. And the most painful irony of all is that the checkup for rising blood pressure might just be paid for with our retirement savings. Muhammad Naim Muhamad Ali, PhD, also known by the moniker Naim Leigh, is a Communication and Media Studies lecturer at the University of Wollongong Malaysia. The views expressed in this article are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Sinar Daily.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Where are the Heroes cast now? From major Hollywood successes to addiction issues and racism accusations, what happened to the franchise's most notable names
Heroes was an immediate smash hit when it arrived on screens back in 2006, propelling its cast to overnight fame. The sci-fi series followed a group of ordinary people who develop superhuman abilities and use their powers to save humanity from destruction. Gaining a strong following, the show ran for four series until 2010, and was briefly rebooted for 2015's Heroes Reborn, with some of the original cast returning. Last year, it was rumoured that another reboot, titled Heroes: Eclipsed, was in the works with original creator Tim Kring attached to the project. However, little has been heard about the venture since and original star Milo Ventimiglia shared his doubts, telling Deadline they'd already tried to bring it back. Though Milo appeared to shut down returning to the franchise, it is not known if any of the other cast would be willing to return if another reboot was in the works, having all moved on to different things since Heroes ended. Hayden Panettiere After her four-season stint as Claire Bennet on Heroes, Hayden, 35, went on to nab a leading role in another major drama series. She starred as Juliette Barnes in country-music drama Nashville, which ran for six seasons from 2012 until 2018. Her love life came under interest from Heroes fans as she dated her co-star Milo for more than a year before going their separate ways in 2009. The couple, who had a 12-year age gap, first insisted they were just 'good friends' and kept their romance under wraps after becoming involved during filming. Hayden also scored other major successes throughout the 00s including n 2006's Bring It On: All or Nothing, 2009's I Love You as well as Scream 4. However, after wrapping up filming on Nashville she took an unplanned four-year break from acting amid her struggles with alcohol and drug addiction. Hayden made her acting comeback in 2023 and later said of the break: 'I had taken four years off. 'Didn't know or plan to, but that's just the way it panned out, and I desperately needed it.' She has openly discussed her addiction over the years and made her return to the spotlight appearing in Scream VI in 2023, once again playing Kirby Reed. Her past addiction struggles saw her make the difficult decision for her daughter Kaya to live with her ex, Ukrainian former boxer Wladimir Klitschko. Hayden, who is now sober, got engaged to Wladimir in October 2013 and they welcomed Kaya the following year, but went their separate ways in 2018. She later dated Brian Hickerson but over the course of their relationship, he faced multiple domestic violence charges, and in 2021 he served time for injuring her. In 2023, Hayden said they had become friends again while pursuing their sobriety, which was 'contingent on him continuing on this road of recovery'. She has reentered the spotlight in more recent years, starring in other releases including Amber Alert in 2024 and 2025 release A Breed Apart. Milo Ventimiglia Milo, 48, rose to fame as quite the teenage heartthrob in the 2000s, starring as Rory Gilmore's misunderstood love interest Jess Mariano on Gilmore Girls. His character quickly became a firm fan favourite and fans spent years hoping he and Rory would get back together - with the theories sparking up again when he returned for Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in 2016. At the same time as his Gilmore Girls fame, he soared to further stardom when he took on a leading role in 2006 sci-fi series Heroes. Starring as Peter Petrelli, Milo's talents were shown to a whole new audience when he joined the star-studded cast and he stayed for the entire four-series run. However, fans were left disappointed when Milo didn't reprise his role for the 2015 reboot, Heroes Reborn, as he instead focused on other projects. He has secured a string of high-profile roles since his 00s fame, including in The Art of Racing in the Rain, 2012's That's My Boy and Creed II. But he is arguably best-known for having starred as Jack Pearson on This Is Us from 2016 until 2022, which saw him nab three Emmy nominations. In his personal life, Milo welcomed his first child with his wife Jarah in January 2025, two years after they tied the knot. The arrival of their daughter, Ke'ala Coral, came just days after they devastatingly lost their home during the LA Pacific Palisades wildfires. Jarah was 38 weeks pregnant when they were forced to evacuate their home in the blaze, which completely destroyed an array of celebrity homes. Announcing the arrival of their daughter, the couple said they were overjoyed to simply be 'healthy and safe' following the tragedy. 'We are deeply grateful to all of the heroes who help battle fires, as well as care for everyone affected by the aftermath for years to come,' they added. Milo got choked up as he revisited the remains of their former home following the fire, telling how it had been all set up for their daughter's arrival and spoke of the memories lost. He said: 'I think there's a shock moment where you go, this is real and this is happening. Then, at some point, you just turn it off. What good is it to continue watching?' Eventually, while watching the live footage, he said: 'We kind of accepted the loss.' The arrival of their daughter, Ke'ala Coral, came just days after they devastatingly lost their home during the LA Pacific Palisades wildfires Zachary Quinto Arguably one of the best-known Heroes cast, Zachary has gone on to launch himself into mainstream Hollywood since his role as villain Sylar/Gabriel Gray. The American actor, 48, memorably took over the role of Spock from the late Leonard Nimoy in J.J. Abrams' 2009 Star Trek adaptation. He has gone on to reprise his role in two Star Trek sequels - 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness and 2016's Star Trek Beyond. There has been much interest in a fourth movie in the series and it was reportedly in development, but no official announcements have yet been made. Zachary recently brushed off concerns about a time gap before a potential fourth movie, admitting he would love the chance to reprise the role again. 'The great thing is Star Trek is a limitless universe. Look at all the television shows, look at all the stories, look at all the characters and timelines,' he said last year. 'Anything is possible. That's the joy of the franchise. That's why it's lasted for 55, 60 years. I'm open to it. I would love it. I would absolutely love it.' Away from Star Trek, Zachary has also taken on roles in big projects including 2011's Margin Call and 2024 medical drama Brilliant Minds. Zachary was previously in a long-term relationship with Miles McMillan but the couple went their separate ways in February 2019 after six years together. He is currently not known to be in another relationship but also previously dated actor Jonathan Groff, before their 2013 split. Greg Grunberg Greg starred as Matt Parkman on Heroes and has continued to pursue acting, also joining a major sci-fi franchise, much like his co-star Zachary. While Zachary joined the Star Trek franchise, Greg joined the Star Wars world, appearing in the modern sequels to the beloved original trilogy. He took on the role of Temmin 'Snap' Wexley in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Greg has also starred in other major Hollywood blockbusters including A Star Is Born, which sees Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga leading the cast. He additionally featured in 2020's Max Reload, The Nether Blaster and 2022 release The Fabelmans. Greg nearly reunited with Zachary on-screen as he was offered the part of Olson in Star Trek by J.J Abrams but was unable to accept it due to scheduling conflicts. Olson was instead played by Greg Ellis, and he instead voiced Kirk's stepfather Frank during the opening sequence of the final film in the franchise. In his personal life, Greg is married to Elizabeth Dawn Wershow and they share three children - Sam, Jake and Ben. Their son Jake, 29, has epilepsy, which has inspired Greg to pursue an active role in raising awareness for the neurological disorder. Masi Oka Masi famously took on the role of Hiro Nakamura on Heroes and went on to have another high-profile role on CBS' Hawaii Five-0 remake. The Japanese actor, 50, starred as Doctor Max Bergman on the long-running crime drama until 2017, when he left to pursue other interests. Despite Heroes coming to an end, he never let his love for the franchise behind him and he returned for the Heroes Reborn sequel in 2015. He was nominated for an Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his work in Heroes in a huge achievement. As well as his TV fame, he has also nabbed film roles including in Friends With Benefits, 2013 release Jobs, 2018's The Meg and Bullet Train, which also starred Brad Pitt and Joey King. He is still working as an actor and will be starring in an adaptation of dark fantasy manga series Claymore, Deadline reported earlier this year. He will serve as executive producer on the live-action CBS show, which is based on the series by Norihiro Yagi. Masi has also explored other business ventures away from the screen and is also the co-founder of tech company Mobius Digital. Kristen Bell Though arguably one of the most famous Heroes alumni, it is often forgotten that she got one of her early jobs on Heroes. Kristen, 45, joined the cast for the franchise's second and third series in 2007 and 2008, playing Elle Bishop after wrapping up on Veronica Mars. She appeared in 12 episodes before she was killed by villain Sylar (Zachary) and she has gone in to become a Hollywood staple. Kristen starred in a string of smash hit rom coms including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Couples Retreat, while she is also the famous Gossip Girl narrator. In more recent years, she showed off her vocal talents as Anna in Frozen and took on the leading role in quirky comedy The Good Place. Most recently, Kristen won over legions of fans starring as the leading lady in Nobody Wants This alongside Adam Brody, with their on-screen love story winning over fans. They will both be returning for a second series of the heartwarming comedy, which is based on creator Erin Foster and her husband, music executive Simon Tikhman. Kristen also has a high-profile marriage to Dax Shepard and the couple have two daughters - Lincoln and Delta, who they keep out of the public eye. Their 11-year marriage is going as strong as ever and they have become one of Hollywood's strongest couples. Most recently, Kristen won over legions of fans starring as the leading lady in Nobody Wants This alongside Adam Brody, with their on-screen love story winning over fans Cristine Rose Cristine starred as tightly-wound mother Angela Petrelli on Heroes, first appearing as a recurring character for two series before becoming a regular feature. She reprised her role once again for the 2015 miniseries Reborn and it is arguably of her her most high-profiles role to date. However, she also took on a notable role as leading character Ted Mosby's mother Virginia Mosby in smash hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother. She has stepped away from the spotlight in recent years, not racking up any further acting credits since starring in Sharp Objects for one episode in 2018. Cristine has also worked as a playwright away from the spotlight with her play Sanctuary having a successful run in London last year. Jack Coleman Heroes certainly wasn't Jack's first foray into the spotlight as he spent six years starring on Dynasty in the 1980s. He then took on the role of Claire Bennet's father Noah on the supernatural series and returned for the 2015 reboot. A fan of the supernatural genre, he also starred as Caroline Forbes' father Bill on The Vampire Diaries, taking on a recurring role in the show's early series. His other acting credits include starring in 2009's Polar Storm, 2006 release Cow Belles and Rattlesnakes in 2019. Jack has been married to his wife Beth Toussaint since 1996 and the couple share a daughter called Tess. Leonard Roberts/Ali Larter Leonard portrayed DL Hawkins on Heroes while Ali starred as his on-screen wife Nicole Sanders. Leonard only appeared in one series of Heroes and he has since accused Ali of having him written off the NBC programme. In 2020, Leonard said systemic racism ruined his role on Heroes in an essay for Variety, in which he recounted how he was hired and then fired from his role. Leonard wrote: 'I've been a Black actor for 25 years but I've been a Black man in America my whole life. 'Those are never separate journeys, nor do I believe they ever should be. The Black Lives Matter protests clearly were bringing up feelings of anger, fear and shame connected to a time in my professional past I now believe are deserving of reflection.' He went on to describe his contentious working relationship with Ali and said art was imitating life in the script's suggestion of their 'volatile relationship'. Responding to his allegations, Ali said she was 'deeply saddened' to hear of his experience and insisted it did not line up with her own memories of the show. 'I am deeply saddened to hear about Leonard Roberts' experience on Heroes and I am heartbroken reading his perception of our relationship, which absolutely doesn't match my memory nor experience on the show,' she said in a statement to TVLine. 'I respect Leonard as an artist and I applaud him or anyone using their voice and platform. I am truly sorry for any role I may have played in his painful experience during that time and I wish him and his family the very best.' Since then, Leonard has continued to work in the entertainment industry and starred in 2023's Goosebumps as Happy Sam Sawyer. He has also taken on roles in the rebooted Charmed series, Hawaii Five-0, Bosch: Legacy and The Upshaws, among many others. Meanwhile, Ali has most recently starred in TV series Landman alongside the likes of Billy Bob Thornton, Michelle Randolph and Demi Moore. She portrays Angela Norris in the show, sex-crazed ex-wife of Billy Bob's Tommy Norris, and often films scantily-clad scenes for the role. 'I get to work with an incredible cast and the entire crew is so gifted and talented that I just feel like I'm playing at the top of the game and so that's really exciting,' she recently gushed. 'And now to see the fans really love these characters and love the story that's unfolding is very exciting, because you never know when you're making something if it's gonna connect with an audience and this show obviously has.' Ali has been married to actor Hayes MacArthur since 2009 and the couple tend to keep their relationship relatively private. Adrian Pasdar Adrian appeared as Nathan Petrelli on Heroes from 2006 until 2009, before he was killed off by Skylar in a shock twist. He has secured roles in other major TV series since including The Lying Game, Avengers Assemble and Supergirl. Adrian was also married to Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines for 17 years but she filed for divorce back in 2017. They tied the knot in 2000 and went on to welcome two sons - Jackson Slade and Beckett Finn. They were locked in a divorce settlement following their split but finalised the arrangement in December 2019 after a two-year legal battle. In the years since, he has continued to rack up acting credits in the likes of The Exorcism in 2024, Sabre: A Fencer's Story and East New York. Adrian was also married to Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines for 17 years but she filed for divorce back in 2017
