News

Connie Chung’s memoir unveils a legacy she never knew she had

In her memoir “Connie,” released on Tuesday, veteran broadcaster Connie Chung, 78, reflects on her trailblazing five-decade career, which includes being the second woman and the first Asian to co-anchor a network evening newscast, and the unexpected impact she had on a generation of Asian American women. 

Unexpected legacy: Chung, who often questioned the significance of her achievements, was surprised to discover from fellow journalist Connie Wang that many immigrant families had named their daughters after her, inspired by her strength and success. Wang, one of those Connies, explained how her parents chose the name after seeing Chung on TV, unknowingly creating a sisterhood of women who viewed Chung as a role model. In her memoir, Chung reflects on traditional Chinese values, such as supporting her parents and balancing family life with her demanding career. Despite her numerous accolades, Chung admits she's never fully embraced her success, though the lasting legacy she left among the "Connies" tell a different story of enduring impact.

About “Connie”: Chung’s memoir explores her rise in journalism, from working in local TV to reporting on historic events like the Nixon impeachment hearings. Despite breaking barriers, she faced persistent sexism and racism in the male-dominated industry, often emulating her male peers to be taken seriously. Her time as co-anchor alongside Dan Rather on CBS Evening News was especially difficult, marked by resistance from Rather and her eventual firing. “We’ve come a long way, but the thing that is disturbing to me is that we really haven’t come that long a way. The sexism still exists. The racism for Asians has reared its ugly head in a most depressing way. Looking back, it’s important to me that women and minorities know that things have changed, but not enough,” she wrote.

Entertainment

Did you know Emmy-winning “Shogun” star Anna Sawai started off as a J-pop idol?

Anna Sawai, the lead actress from FX’s historical drama “Shogun,” which just swept the Emmys with 18 wins on Sunday night, used to rock the stage as part of the Japanese girl group Faky. After making history as the first Asian actress to win outstanding lead actress in a drama, Sawai joked about celebrating by “drinking with her castmates” and trying to forget her problems for a while.

Digging up Sawai’s past: Before Sawai became acting royalty, she was the OG leader of Faky, a former five-person J-pop girl group known for their singles “Better Without You” and “You.” She enjoyed being part of the group but left in 2018 to chase her acting dreams, saying, “I had to quit to actually start [acting]. I loved the girls, but I was not in control of my own career.” And it paid off — she snagged a role in “F9” and hasn’t looked back. Now, you can see her on TV in shows like “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” and Emmy-winning Apple TV+ series “Pachinko,” where she plays a Harvard-educated, Japan-based businesswoman.

Where you’ve seen Hiroyuki Sanada: “Shogun” star Hiroyuki Sanada, who became the first Japanese actor to win an Emmy for best lead actor in a drama, has been killing it in Hollywood for a while. You might recognize him from the 1998 Japanese supernatural horror classic "The Ring” or in 2003’s “The Last Samurai” with Tom Cruise, but he really made his mark as Scorpion in 2021's "Mortal Kombat," a yakuza boss in Brad Pitt's 2022 action comedy "Bullet Train" and the epic assassin Koji Shimazu in last year’s “John Wick: Chapter 4.” Oh, and don’t forget outstanding supporting actor Emmy nominee Tadanobu Asano, who played the ultimate frenemy in “Shogun” — he’s also known for kicking it in the MCU as Thor’s buddy Hogun and as Raiden in “Mortal Kombat.”

News

Kate Gosselin’s lawyer denies Collin’s abuse allegations

Richard Puelo, Kate Gosselin’s lawyer, addressed Collin Gosselin’s recent abuse allegations against his estranged mother. Speaking to Fox News last week, Puelo said Kate has chosen not to comment on her son’s latest accusations, noting that “she always knows that this gets taken out of context.”

Collin’s allegations: Collin, a Korean American former child star who shared the spotlight with his family in the reality TV show “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” made his allegations in an interview with The U.S. Sun last week, claiming that Kate zip-tied him and confined him in a basement room with security cameras for hours to an entire day. The incident allegedly occurred before Kate admitted Collin to an institution, which purportedly later cost him his military training. Collin, now 20, also shared a recent medical evaluation with The U.S. Sun, which reportedly indicated that he no longer has the  “behavioral and psychiatric conditions” Kate had alleged. In an Instagram post, he thanked his father, Jon Gosselin, for fighting to gain custody of him and his sister Hannah, and for saving him “from the institution where I was wrongfully committed.”

Kate’s response: Speaking for his client, Puelo denied Collin’s allegations, telling Fox News, “The facts belie the truth. Whatever took place, the ones that are truthful are the ones that took place… She has no comment because it’s not going to change the past. And I don’t believe she intentionally harmed any of her children in any way, shape or form." Puelo added that if Kate was harassing or abusing Collin, the “authorities would have taken the time and removed him from the family and put him in special services and would have probably had [Kate] charged with abuse,” considering her public exposure through their TV show.

News

17-year-old rapper Lil Tay undergoes open-heart surgery 1 year after death hoax

Lil Tay, whose real name is Tay Tian, successfully underwent an open-heart surgery for a heart tumor days after her team posted a cryptic update on her X account. A video posted on Saturday shows the “Sucker 4 Green” singer apparently recovering in a hospital.

What happened: Lil Tay’s team first posted a cryptic message on Wednesday, urging fans to pray for her and promising to update them when “more information becomes available.” On Thursday, they said the singer had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in “serious condition.” They followed up with an update hours later, revealing that Lil Tay has been diagnosed with “a life-threatening heart tumor,” along with ultrasound findings. Lil Tay's team noted in a post on Instagram that the rapper is "in severe pain due to her chest tube and is unconscious most of the time." NextShark has reached out to her team for comments and further updates.

Death hoax hack: Lil Tay, a social media star and rapper with over 5.2 million followers on Instagram who rose to fame as “the youngest flexer of the century” by flaunting cash and luxury items at the age of 9 in 2018, raised concerns in August 2023 when a post on her Instagram account claimed that she and her brother, Jason Tian, had died. She came forward the following day to dispel the post’s claim, stating that they were safe and explaining that her Instagram account had been “compromised by a 3rd party and used to spread jarring misinformation and rumors regarding me.” Instagram owner Meta later confirmed Lil Tay’s hacking claims.

News

Digital marketer spends $1K on Facebook ad to find a girlfriend

A digital marketing entrepreneur from Queens, New York, found love after spending $1,000 on an ad to find a girlfriend. Jack Liu launched his “straight to the point” dating ad campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, describing himself in part as a 37-year-old Christian relocating to Texas, he told the New York Post.

His dating experience: Liu, now 40, used his experience in digital marketing to successfully find a partner. “I knew how these social media companies work. They have over 10,000 data points on each person, so I thought, why not leverage that data and use it to solve my own problem?” he said during his appearance on the “Tamron Hall Show.” Speaking to the Post, Liu said that he would read all the responses he received each day and contact those who interested him for a “first Zoom date” before inviting them for an in-person date. “During the pandemic, it was all online and Zoom speed dating. There was just something missing from those approaches," he said, adding, "Using the apps, I never felt I was able to convey the best parts of who I am as a person."

Finding love: His ad, which appeared on Facebook and Instagram for a year, eventually caught the attention of his now-girlfriend Bethany Landby, 36, in August 2021. Liu and Landby held their first date via Zoom while he was still in Austin, Texas, and she was in Boston. He then visited Landby in Boston a few months later for an in-person date that lasted an entire weekend. The couple was in a two-year long-distance relationship before he decided to move to Boston to be with his girlfriend. Liu, who founded ZipMatches.com, a website where people can advertise themselves to find a romantic partner, said, “I thought my ads would yield results. But couldn’t have imagined how well it would work in finding Bethany.”

Crime

Can you help identify the “Asian Doe” found near the Gilgo Beach serial killings?

The Gilgo Beach Task Force in New York’s Long Island on Monday released updated forensic sketches of “Asian Doe,” a victim whose remains were discovered near Gilgo Beach in 2011. The victim remains unidentified and officials are asking for the public’s help to bring closure to the case.

About “Asian Doe”: “Asian Doe,” described as a “biological male” of likely Southern Chinese descent, was found dead in 2011 near another victim killed in a string of murders known as the Gilgo Beach serial killings. The new sketches depict “Asian Doe” with both short and long hair. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said it is possible that the victim — who was found “wearing exclusively woman’s clothing” — identified as a woman and described them as likely between 17 and 23 years old at the time of their death from blunt force trauma, which possibly occurred in 2006. Authorities also believe they may have been a sex worker. Flyers in multiple languages have been distributed in immigrant communities and a $2,500 reward is being offered for information leading to their identification. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

Possible link: Rex Heuermann, a Long Island architect arrested in July 2023, was charged with the murders of four women in the killings — known as the “Gilgo Four” — and two additional murders. While a direct connection has not been confirmed between Heuermann and “Asian Doe” — whose remains were found some 300 feet (91.4 meters) from Megan Waterman’s, one of Heuermann’s alleged victims — investigators are examining any possible ties. Disturbing evidence, such as an internet search for “Asian twink tied up porn” found in Heuermann’s bail documents, raises questions, but Tierney emphasized that no charges have been filed in connection with “Asian Doe” and that the investigation is ongoing. Heuermann, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, is being held without bail.

Final Bites

Japan celebrates record Emmy wins for “Shogun”: Japan celebrated as FX’s “Shogun” made history at the Emmys on Sunday, winning a record 18 awards, including best drama and historic acting honors for Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai. The Japanese government praised the show's predominantly Japanese dialogue and Sanada’s production role. "We would like to further encourage Japanese creators to take on the challenges of overseas productions," Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshi Moriya told reporters, adding that a new committee was also established to support Japan's entertainment industry abroad. Tourism is also booming, with “Shogun” inspiring visitors to explore Japan’s historical roots, with many drawn to samurai culture. This achievement follows Japan's rising cultural influence, from the Oscar-winning film “Godzilla Minus One” to HBO's “Tokyo Vice,” showcasing the nation’s continued expanding impact on global entertainment.

K-pop idol apologizes to “disappointed” fans for vaping indoors: Exo member Baekhyun issued an apology through his agency INB100 after a video of him vaping indoors at a Macau restaurant went viral. The incident, which occurred after a concert in June, sparked controversy as Macau prohibits indoor smoking, including the use of e-cigarettes. In a statement, INB100 said Baekhyun is “sincerely sorry for his imprudent actions and bows his head down to the fans that he has disappointed.” The agency clarified that neither Baekhyun nor his staff were aware of Macau’s smoking laws at the time, noting that the singer “unconsciously used an electronic cigarette as the conversation deepened” during a meal. Baekhyun also vowed to act more responsibly in the future, assuring fans that such incidents will not happen again. The 32-year-old launched INB100 in January and signed fellow Exo members Chen and Xiumin for solo contracts. The three, while remaining part of the eight-member Exo under SM Entertainment, sued the label in June over a deal dispute.

BTS’ Army opposes return of Ador CEO after NewJeans’ demand: Some members of BTS’ Army — the group’s fanbase — are publicly opposing the return of Min Hee-jin as CEO of Ador, the Hybe subsidiary label behind NewJeans. So far, they have expressed disapproval in a statement circulated on X, along with the hashtag #MinHeeJinOut, which trended globally. This comes after NewJeans issued an ultimatum to Hybe on Sept. 11, demanding Min’s return to her role by Sept. 25. In their statement, ARMYs accused Min of consulting a shaman to harm BTS and attempting to manipulate public opinion against the group. “We urge former CEO Min Hee-jin to stop using the artist and the fanbase as shields to push her agenda and spread falsehoods,” they stated. Min, for her part, has denied such claims, explaining that her actions were out of concern for NewJeans and that her conversations with the shaman were intended for emotional support. Hybe, the parent company of BTS’ label Big Hit Music, and Min have been embroiled in a months-long public feud over power struggles.

fuiyohitsuncleroger

View more on Instagram

Uncle Roger sets new Guinness World Record: Nigel Ng, better known as Uncle Roger, set a new Guinness World Record over the weekend for the largest gathering of people dressed as his character, just days after opening his fried rice restaurant in Malaysia. In an Instagram post, Ng thanked nearly 500 fans who attended Saturday’s event held outside Kuala Lumpur's Pavilion Mall. “Thank you to all 388 people who help Uncle Roger set new record,” wrote Ng, who helped set the record for the largest fortune cookie in 2022. “Thank you also to those who came but never follow instruction so cannot be counted. Haiyaa! If not over 450!” Fans showed up at the venue in his iconic bright orange polo shirt, black phone belt case, long black pants and sneakers. Teased in July, Ng held the grand opening of his Fuiyoh! It's Uncle Roger fried rice restaurant at the Pavilion Mall on Sept. 11.

Singaporean father-daughter duo’s “Aladdin” dance wins the internet: A Singaporean father-daughter duo’s performance of “A Whole New World” from “Aladdin” has gone viral on TikTok. Jay Sng, 43, told Mothership that he unexpectedly became his 7-year-old daughter Jaylee’s dance partner in a competition after her dance school’s principal saw their rehearsal video. Sng said he was standing in as Aladdin to Jaylee’s Jasmine when they filmed their performance as her original partner was sick. “The rehearsal video was sent to the school principal and she was so moved, she said the ‘world’ needs to see the magic,” Sng said, adding that he became the “old uncle dancing with the best in Singapore” two months later. The video, which has amassed over 476,000 views, has touched many TikTok users, with one commenting, “Please, please recreate this when she gets married,” to which Sng replied, “But my back!”