The foreign ministers of Germany and France have strongly criticized statements made by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, and called for her resignation.
After Albanese spoke of a “common enemy” in connection with Israel in a speech, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul condemned her statements. He stated that Albanese’s position was “untenable”, and posted on X that she had “already made numerous outbursts in the past.”
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot also called for Albanese’s resignation during a question and answer session in the Paris parliament.
“France unreservedly condemns the exaggerated and culpable statements made by Ms Francesca Albanese, which are not directed against the Israeli government, whose policies can be criticized, but against Israel as a people and as a nation, which is absolutely unacceptable,” said Barrot. “In fact, there is only one response to her provocations: her resignation.”
Barrot said Albanese’s comments “join a long list of scandalous statements” in which she speaks of a “Jewish lobby” or compares Israel to the Third Reich, among other things.
Albanese is not an independent expert, Barrot said, but rather “a political activist who makes hate speeches that harm the cause of the Palestinian people, which she claims to defend, and the United Nations.”
Albanese, who has already been widely criticized in the past, spoke of a “common enemy” at a conference organized by the Al Jazeera news channel in Qatar last Saturday – presumably with reference to Israel.
Instead of stopping Israel, she said that most of the world has armed Israel and helped the Jewish state with “political excuses,” as well as economic and financial support.
Albanese later appeared to row back on her comments. In an Instagram post she wrote that “the common enemy of humanity is THE SYSTEM that has enabled the genocide in Palestine, including the financial capital that funds it, the algorithms that obscure it and the weapons that enable it.”
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday accepted the resignation of an ailing Spanish bishop who is under church investigation for allegedly sexually abusing a young seminarian in the 1990s, the first known time the new pontiff removed a bishop accused of abuse.A one-line statement from the Vatican said Leo had accepted the resignation of Cádiz Bishop Rafael Zornoza, 76. It didn’t say why, but Zornoza submitted his resignation to the pope last year when he turned 75, the normal retirement age for bishops.It hadn’t been accepted though until the El País newspaper reported earlier this month that Zornoza had been recently placed under investigation by a church tribunal. The daily, which since 2018 has exposed decades of abuse and cover-up in the Spanish Catholic Church, said Zornoza was accused of abusing a young former seminarian while he was a young priest and directed the diocesan seminary in Getafe.The report, quoting a letter the former seminarian wrote the Vatican over the summer, said Zornoza fondled him and regularly slept with him from when he was 14-21 years old. The former seminarian’s letter said Zornoza heard his confession and persuaded him to see a psychiatrist to “cure” his homosexuality.The diocese of Cádiz denied the accusations against Zornoza but confirmed the investigation was being carried out by the church court in Madrid, known as the Rota. In a Nov. 10 statement, the diocese said Zornoza was cooperating with the investigation and had suspended his agenda temporarily “to clarify the facts and to undergo treatment for an aggressive form of cancer.”“The accusations made, referring to events that took place almost 30 years ago, are very serious and also false,” the statement said.It is believed to be the first publicly known case of a bishop being retired, and being placed under investigation for alleged abuse, since the Spanish church began reckoning in recent years with a decades-long legacy of abuse and cover-up that has rocked the once-staunchly Catholic Spain.Leo didn’t immediately name a temporary leader of the diocese.In 2023, Spain’s first official probe of abuse indicated that the number of victims could run into hundreds of thousands, based on a survey that was part of a report by the office of Spain’s ombudsman. The ombudsman conducted an 18-month independent investigation of 487 cases involving alleged victims who spoke with the ombudsman’s team.Spain’s Catholic bishops apologized but dismissed the interpretations of the ombudsman report as a “lie,” arguing that many more people had been abused outside of the church.The Spanish Catholic hierarchy then did its own report, saying in 2024 that it had found evidence of 728 sexual abusers within the church since 1945. It then launched a plan to compensate victims, after Spain’s government approved a plan to force the church to pay economic reparations.
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday accepted the resignation of an ailing Spanish bishop who is under church investigation for allegedly sexually abusing a young seminarian in the 1990s, the first known time the new pontiff removed a bishop accused of abuse.
A one-line statement from the Vatican said Leo had accepted the resignation of Cádiz Bishop Rafael Zornoza, 76. It didn’t say why, but Zornoza submitted his resignation to the pope last year when he turned 75, the normal retirement age for bishops.
It hadn’t been accepted though until the El País newspaper reported earlier this month that Zornoza had been recently placed under investigation by a church tribunal. The daily, which since 2018 has exposed decades of abuse and cover-up in the Spanish Catholic Church, said Zornoza was accused of abusing a young former seminarian while he was a young priest and directed the diocesan seminary in Getafe.
The report, quoting a letter the former seminarian wrote the Vatican over the summer, said Zornoza fondled him and regularly slept with him from when he was 14-21 years old. The former seminarian’s letter said Zornoza heard his confession and persuaded him to see a psychiatrist to “cure” his homosexuality.
The diocese of Cádiz denied the accusations against Zornoza but confirmed the investigation was being carried out by the church court in Madrid, known as the Rota. In a Nov. 10 statement, the diocese said Zornoza was cooperating with the investigation and had suspended his agenda temporarily “to clarify the facts and to undergo treatment for an aggressive form of cancer.”
“The accusations made, referring to events that took place almost 30 years ago, are very serious and also false,” the statement said.
It is believed to be the first publicly known case of a bishop being retired, and being placed under investigation for alleged abuse, since the Spanish church began reckoning in recent years with a decades-long legacy of abuse and cover-up that has rocked the once-staunchly Catholic Spain.
Leo didn’t immediately name a temporary leader of the diocese.
In 2023, Spain’s first official probe of abuse indicated that the number of victims could run into hundreds of thousands, based on a survey that was part of a report by the office of Spain’s ombudsman. The ombudsman conducted an 18-month independent investigation of 487 cases involving alleged victims who spoke with the ombudsman’s team.
Spain’s Catholic bishops apologized but dismissed the interpretations of the ombudsman report as a “lie,” arguing that many more people had been abused outside of the church.
The Spanish Catholic hierarchy then did its own report, saying in 2024 that it had found evidence of 728 sexual abusers within the church since 1945. It then launched a plan to compensate victims, after Spain’s government approved a plan to force the church to pay economic reparations.
I’ll never forget the first time one of my best team members resigned. My immediate reaction? Panic.
Who would handle their workload? How would the team respond? And, if I’m being honest, what did it say about me as a leader?
If you’ve ever had a star employee walk into your office and hand over their notice, you know the sinking feeling that comes with it. It can feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you.
But here’s what I’ve learned over the years: while a resignation might sting at first, it can also spark growth in ways you didn’t expect.
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Step 1: Don’t react emotionally
It’s natural to feel frustrated, or even blindsided. But decisions made in the heat of the moment usually aren’t the best ones. Take a step back and process the news before doing anything else.
Instead of rushing to “replace,” ask yourself: What has changed since this person was hired?
Your company has likely evolved. The role should too.
Step 2: Rethink the role, don’t just backfill it
Too many leaders panic-post the same job description, copied and pasted from years ago. That’s a missed opportunity. Before you start recruiting, consider:
What skills does the team actually need right now?
What outcomes are most critical for the next quarter, or even the next year?
Would a blend of freelance and full-time talent make more sense?
At Creative Niche, I’ve seen companies transform by taking a pause here. Instead of simply plugging the hole, they realigned roles to better fit their business strategy, and ended up stronger than before.
Step 3: Hire with intention, not urgency
The temptation is real: fill the role as fast as possible to ease the pressure. But a quick fix can lead to bigger problems. A rushed hire risks poor fit, disengagement, or turnover down the road
In fact, a bad hire, or burning out your remaining team while you scramble, can cost far more than a thoughtful recruitment process.
Instead, define what success looks like in the role. If you were sitting here a year from now, what results would make you say, “That was a great hire”? Map out clear 30, 60, and 90-day goals before you ever post the job.
Step 4: See the bigger opportunity
Yes, losing a great employee hurts. But it also forces you to reexamine your team structure, refine your priorities, and even uncover hidden talent already on your team. Sometimes the best opportunities for growth show up disguised as setbacks.
When One Door Closes, Another Opens
At the end of the day, a resignation doesn’t have to signal a crisis, but it can signal possibility. Yes, it’s natural to feel the sting when a top performer walks out the door. But I’ve seen firsthand that these moments often push leaders to think more strategically than they would have otherwise.
Maybe that means redesigning the role to better reflect where the business is headed, or uncovering untapped potential in the people who are already on your team. Maybe it means slowing down and taking the time to find someone who’s not just a replacement, but a real driver of growth. Whatever the outcome, a departure can act as a reset button, an opportunity to align your talent with your vision for the future.
So the next time you lose someone great, don’t ask, “How quickly can we fill this?” Instead, ask, “What could this open up for us?”
That simple shift in perspective can turn what feels like a setback into one of the most pivotal growth moments for your company.
The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.
Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s embattled state superintendent of public instruction, announced his resignation on Wednesday evening after a tenure defined by political theater, culture war mandates, and hostility toward marginalized students. His departure was made public not in Oklahoma City but on Fox News, where Walters declared he would become CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, a conservative nonprofit dedicated to fighting teachers’ unions nationwide.
“We’re going to destroy the teachers’ unions,” Walters said on air. “We have seen the teachers’ unions use money and power to corrupt our schools, to undermine our schools. We will build an army of teachers to defeat the teachers’ unions once and for all.”
For many in Oklahoma, the news marked both relief and exasperation. Walters leaves behind a state education system that slid further down national rankings, faced lawsuits over unconstitutional directives, and endured a steady stream of scandals. But he also carries his divisive agenda to a broader stage, raising alarms among advocates who warn his politics could further inflame national debates over public education.
“Oklahomans for Equality recognizes the resignation of State Superintendent Ryan Walters as a pivotal moment for our state,” Hailey Briggs, the group’s executive director, told The Advocate. “Under his tenure, many of Oklahoma’s most marginalized students, including 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, and the educators who support them faced harmful rhetoric and policies that threatened safe and affirming learning environments.”
GLAAD was equally blunt. “Ryan Walters’s record shows profound failure for Oklahoma’s public school students, faculty, and families, including failing to keep students safe,” a spokesperson told The Advocate. “2SLGBTQIA+ students in Oklahoma deserve leaders who will recognize them and their basic needs to be themselves and be safe, which are essential to everyone’s ability to learn and thrive. The Walters era will be defined by his failures, a permanent record that will follow him wherever he goes.”
The Human Rights Campaign echoed the criticism and cheered the extreme politician’s exit. “I’m excited for Oklahoma’s parents, who no longer have to deal with Walters’s gross politicization of their children’s education,” HRC communications director Laurel Powell told The Advocate. “I sincerely hope their next superintendent is more focused on educational outcomes than culture wars.”
Teachers’ unions respond
Walters’ new role — leading a group aimed squarely at weakening teachers’ unions — drew fierce reaction from labor leaders.
“Today is a good day for Oklahoma’s kids,” Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, told The Advocate. “It’s no surprise that Mr. Walters, after failing on the job, is leaving the state. Any educator worth their salt understands it’s impossible to educate students if you don’t support teachers. Walters didn’t do that in Oklahoma and now, at a time we need to bring the country together, he’s trying to export his divisive rhetoric nationally.”
Weingarten, a frequent target of those on the right, including Walters, dismissed his new allies, including the Freedom Foundation, which she said has “nothing to do with either education or freedom.” “Teachers are more unionized than any other profession, and the Freedom Foundation’s post-Janus campaign to convince teachers to drop their union has been a dismal failure,” she said. “Schools are about helping kids develop the passion and purpose to pave pathways to a better life — and that means working together, not going to war, a lesson Walters appears not to have learned.”
A tenure of extremes
Elected in 2022 after serving as the appointed state education secretary, Walters quickly emerged as one of the country’s most polarizing figures. He aligned himself closely with Donald Trump, lauded Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, and openly sought to use Oklahoma schools as a proving ground for his far-right vision.
In June 2024, Walters ordered that every Oklahoma public school teach the Bible and the Ten Commandments, a directive that critics said trampled constitutional limits on religion in public institutions. He later pushed social studies standards that echoed Trump’s false claims of mass voter fraud in the 2020 election, and this week, he announced that every Oklahoma high school would be required to host a Turning Point USA chapter, after Kirk’s assassination.
Walters sought to require out-of-state teachers from places like California and New York to pass ideological screening tests against “woke indoctrination.” He harassed educators who defended LGBTQ+ students, promoted book bans, and appeared with far-right anti-government extremist group Moms for Liberty at state expense.
Perhaps most controversially, Walters appointed Chaya Raichik, the Brooklyn-based creator of the Libs of TikTok social media account dedicated to harassing liberals and LGBTQ+ people, to Oklahoma’s Library Media Advisory Committee. Raichik had no educational background, no ties to Oklahoma, and no children in the state’s schools. Her online campaigns have been linked to threats against schools and libraries across the country, which experts describe as examples of stochastic terrorism. Critics said Walters had effectively invited a professional provocateur into the official policymaking process.
Walters was briefly floated as a potential second Trump term cabinet pick for secretary of education and considered running for governor, but his polarizing record earned him condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans.
Fallout from Nex Benedict’s death
Walters’ policies became especially explosive after the death of 16-year-old Nex Benedict in February 2024. Benedict, a transgender and Two Spirit teenager of Choctaw heritage, was beaten in a high school bathroom and later died by suicide. The tragedy drew national attention, with advocates linking Benedict’s vulnerability to the hostile climate Walters fostered.
In the aftermath, Walters denied the existence and history of Two Spirit people, even though they are a well-documented part of Indigenous traditions in Oklahoma. Tribal leaders and LGBTQ+ advocates viewed his denial as erasure that compounded the harm facing Native youth.
GLAAD notes that 35 percent of transgender students nationwide report being assaulted in bathrooms that do not align with their gender identity — a statistic worsened, they argued, by Walters’ rhetoric portraying transgender youth as threats rather than children needing protection.
A record of scandal
Investigations and lawsuits plagued Walters’ office. He clashed with school boards over censorship and television broadcasts, was accused of mishandling pandemic relief funds, some of which were spent on appliances and video game consoles, and presided over plummeting reading proficiency scores.
Walters was unpopular within his own party. Attorney General Gentner Drummond, a Republican now running for governor in 2026, said Walters’ tenure had been “an embarrassment to our state.” “Ever since Gov. Stitt appointed Ryan Walters to serve as Secretary of Education, we have witnessed a stream of never-ending scandal and political drama,” Drummond said in a statement. “Even worse, test scores and reading proficiency are at historic lows. It’s time for a State Superintendent of Public Instruction who will actually focus on quality instruction in our public schools.”
What comes next
Walters’ resignation spares him what was expected to be a bruising re-election campaign in 2026.
For Oklahoma, though, the immediate question is who will replace him — and whether the state can begin to recover from the tumult. “This change in leadership is an opportunity to recommit to inclusion, respect, and quality education,” Briggs said. “We urge state leaders to listen to educators, families, and young people, and to build classrooms where every child feels safe and supported and where educators are trusted and equipped to do their work.”
In May, she confirmed she was comfortable the explanation that was in the public domain at the time was complete and transparent.
Willis questioned external legal advice the Reserve Bank received
Speaking to the Herald today and yesterday, Willis explained she was constrained in her ability to comment, as she didn’t have all the facts and didn’t want to trigger a legal challenge.
While she knew Orr stepped down, as the board presented him with a letter of concerns after he had voiced frustration in a meeting with her over funding, she wasn’t party to the letter of concerns or Orr’s exit agreement.
Willis said she was also mindful of upholding the Reserve Bank’s independence.
The board is accountable to her. The Monetary Policy Committee, which sets the Official Cash Rate, is completely separate.
Willis noted she expressed her dissatisfaction over the board’s handling of the matter publicly and privately.
“I raised questions about the board’s approach to the original OIA [Official Information Act] response [in June], urging more transparency and querying omissions in their summary of events,” Willis said.
“They engaged a KC [King’s Counsel] and pushed back on my view, emphasising their operational independence in responding to OIA requests.
“I then raised this issue with the board in July and urged them to query the KC-generated legal advice they were relying on to justify their approach.
“They held fast to their view and the Ombudsman’s ruling proves they were wrong to do so.”
Willis said she also texted Quigley in July to point out a comment Victoria University law professor Dean Knight shared with the Herald.
Knight said: “Privacy or confidentiality obligations under employment law or exit agreements are not absolute reasons for withholding information.
“They’re a factor against disclosure but not a veto. They must still be weighed against the public interest in disclosure.”
Willis insisted on record being kept of meeting with Orr
Emails belatedly released by Willis’ office today under the OIA show she also wanted a key meeting that preceded Orr resigning documented.
One of her staffers emailed a Treasury staffer to say she wanted them to draft a “file note to record the actions/statements of the governor” at the meeting she attended with him, Quigley, Treasury head Iain Rennie and others on February 24.
“The minister is keen to check that this is indeed being done,” Willis’ staffer told Treasury.
On Wednesday, the public found out that Quigley ended up berating Treasury for taking minutes of the meeting and eventually releasing them under the OIA.
The minutes said Orr “expressed his frustration regarding the relationship between the RBNZ and the Treasury”. He then left the meeting early.
The “tenor of dialogue” in the meeting was one of the issues the board raised with Orr in its letter of concerns, which he disputed.
Another issue was about whether he would be able to do his job with less funding than he deemed necessary.
The third issue, which Orr didn’t dispute, was his lack of trust in the board, Willis and Treasury.
Neither Orr nor Quigley have commented since their resignations.
Jenée Tibshraeny is the Herald’s Wellington business editor, based in the parliamentary press gallery. She specialises in government and Reserve Bank policymaking, economics and banking.
NEW YORK (WABC) — First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright has resigned Tuesday, and is expected to be replaced by Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Work Force Maria Torres-Springer, who has decades of government experience.
The announcement is expected to be made by Mayor Eric Adams at his weekly briefing later Tuesday morning.
Wright could serve for the rest of the month.
“We are grateful for First Deputy Mayor Wright’s years of service to the city and all she has done to deliver for children, families, and working-class New Yorkers. She is an exceptional leader who assembled a strong team and constantly demonstrated a bold vision for this city,” Adams said in a statement.
Wright has served in the administration since January 2022 and moved into her current role in January of 2023. She worked alongside the mayor very closely on a number of initiatives.
FILE – Mayor Eric Adams, right, is flanked by deputy mayor Sheena Wright, left, during a press conference at City Hall in New York, Dec. 12, 2023.
AP Photo/Peter K. Afriyie, File
Last month, federal investigators seized her phones and searched her home — along with several other officials who have since resigned.
The announcement that Wright is stepping down comes after her brother-in-law, Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Philip Banks, announced his resignation Monday.
Joining the deputy mayor leaving Monday were Winne Greco, Rana Abbasova and Mohammed Bahi.
Greco and Bahi resigned, and Abbasova was terminated. All three served as community liaisons for the administration.
Other notable names to step down from their roles previously include former police commissioner Edward Caban, outgoing school chancellor David Banks, health commissioner Ashwin Vasan, advisor to the mayor Tim Pearson, and legal advisor Lisa Zornberg.
“This comes directly from Governor Hochul. She said to clean house. She wants to see changes and that’s what she’s seeing right now,” he said.
Meanwhile, David Birdsell, Kean University Provost, said many people are under the assumption that the corruption within the administration is being carried out by people with key roles.
“It looks like, right now, that administration is losing its most senior officials. At least many people believe because there is some corruption at the heart of the administration,” Birdsell said.
It all comes as the Mayor continues to reassure residents across New York City that he can govern while defending himself against the federal government.
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump spoke about crime and safety during a campaign event at the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 20 in Howell. Standing behind him is Livingston County Sheriff Michael Murphy.
Livingston County Sheriff Michael Murphy has stepped down from his position on a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for victims of sexual and domestic abuse in the wake of his controversial decision to host former President Donald Trump at the sheriff’s office last month.
Murphy voluntarily resigned from the Board of Directors for the LOCASA Center, which provides services for victims of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual violence.
Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal said many board members were furious and called on Murphy’s resignation.
In his resignation notice, Murphy expressed that his decision was made to avoid overshadowing the important work of LACASA. He emphasized his long-standing commitment to the organization.
“As a board member for close to 25 years, I have always been an advocate for LACASA, using my time, talents, and money to help where I could,” Murphy said in a statement after a Metro Times inquiry. “I have never intentionally or unintentionally done anything to hurt the organization, and it’s unfortunate some can’t see that.”
LACASA Board Chair Patricia Claffey reassured that the organization’s vital work continues without interruption, highlighting LACASA’s four-decade commitment to providing a safe space for victims and survivors.
“For more than 40 years, LACASA has provided a safe and supportive environment for victims and survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual violence, and a place where they are believed, trusted, and empowered,” Claffey said. “We thank Sheriff Murphy for his service to our organization, and will continue to work closely with him and his staff as our law enforcement partners.”
LACASA President & CEO Bobette Schrandt echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the organization’s strong relationship with local law enforcement, which she said will remain unchanged. Schrandt also underscored LACASA’s unwavering focus on the needs of victims and survivors.
“We are proud of our unwavering commitment to advocate for survivors,” Schrandt stated. “We thank Sheriff Murphy for the years he spent on our board, and for recognizing that there is no room for distraction from our critical mission.”
The Michigan Campaign Finance Act makes it a crime punishable by up to 93 days in jail to use public resources to support a political candidate.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Saint Augustine’s University is moving to remote classes on April 1.
The school notified staff yesterday, according to a SAU professor who has taught at the school for many years.
This comes after the Raleigh HBCU continues to work through a financial crisis and keep its accreditation. ABC11 learned exclusively on Monday that several key alumni organizations from Saint Augustine’s University officially called for the resignation of the entire Board of Trustees.
The groups sent a signed resolution titled “#SAVESAU” that asks every single member of the Board of Trustees to step down amid issues with finances and SAU losing its accreditation.
ABC11 has been covering the financial issues at Saint Augustine’s for weeks. The university owes millions of dollars to the IRS, hundreds of thousands to different organizations in unpaid bills, and a financial audit from 2021 showed roughly $10 million of its budget is unsupported.
The university’s accreditation was also revoked by the accreditation board, and the school is fighting to keep it through arbitration and potentially even litigation.
Alumni want answers about how the school got to this point, and from the resolution Monday, it’s clear they want new leadership at the helm to save the university.
ABC11 reached out to Saint Augustine’s officials about this resolution for comment but did not hear back.
ABC11 expects to learn more about the specifics of the resolution on Tuesday.
Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as “CZ,” has stepped down as Chairman of Binance.US’s Board of Directors.
The recent announcement by Binance.US regarding Changpeng Zhao, known as “CZ,” is stepping down as Chairman of its Board of Directors, marking a significant moment in the cryptocurrency sector.
The company stated, “As [Zhao] transitions to life after Binance, he has decided to step down from his role as Chairman of our Board of Directors and transferred his voting rights through a proxy arrangement.” The move comes amidst a landscape of regulatory scrutiny and market uncertainty in the crypto world.
Binance.US emphasized its operational independence from Binance.com, stating, “While we share a brand and industry-leading technology stack, we operate independently of Binance.com.”
Binance.US further clarified its regulatory status, asserting, “We are not a party to the settlements announced last week, nor do we have any outstanding enforcement matters with the DOJ, FinCEN, OFAC, or CFTC.”
Zhao’s decision to step down and change his involvement to “purely economic” raises questions about the motives and future implications for Binance.US. The announcement also highlighted the continuity of leadership at Binance.US, “Binance.US continues to be led by Norman Reed and our existing, experienced management team.”
Ashton Kutcher has stepped down as chairman of Thorn, the anti-child-sex-abuse organization he cofounded. His resignation comes days after he and his wife, Mila Kunis,publicly addressed the letters they wrote in support of their That ’70s Show castmate and convicted rapist, Danny Masterson.
“Victims of sexual abuse have been historically silenced and the character statement I submitted is yet another painful instance of questioning victims who are brave enough to share their experiences,” wrote Kutcher in a letter to Thorn’s board on September 14. “After my wife and I spent several days of listening, personal reflection, learning, and conversations with survivors and the employees and leadership at Thorn, I have determined the responsible thing for me to do is resign as Chairman of the Board, effectively immediately. I cannot allow my error in judgment to distract from our efforts and the children we serve.”
Kutcher and Kunis, along with That ’70s Show cast members Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith,wrote letters in support of Masterson, who, on May 31 was convicted of two counts of forcible rape for separate assaults of two women in 2003. Kutcher and Kunis’s letters of support, which were first published by journalist Meghann Cuniff, spoke glowingly of Masterson’s character and urged the judge to consider a lighter sentence for their former costar. Kutcher wrote that he considered Masterson “an extraordinarily honest and intentional human being” and a “role model” who was “among few people that I would trust to be alone with my son and daughter.” Kunis described Masterson’s “exceptional character” and the “tremendous positive influence” on her over the years. Despite their show of support, Masterson was sentenced to at least 30 years behind bars.
After their letters were published, Kutcher and Kunis faced swift backlash from the public, so much so that Kutcher and Kunis released an Instagram video addressing their decision to support Masterson. In the video, Kutcher said that he wrote the letter “to represent the person that we knew for 25 years,” while Kunis said that “the letters were not written to question the legitimacy of the judicial system or the validity of the jury’s ruling.”
“We support victims,” she added. “We have done this historically through our work and will continue to do so in the future.”
Kutcher and Kunis’s Instagram video incited more ire from the public, with many fans flooding the comment section of his past Instagrams to criticize the couple for what they found to be an insufficient apology. (Comments on the Instagram video were closed.) Kutcher delivered a more direct mea culpa while resigning from the Thorn board, apologizing specifically to victims of sexual assault in the letter. “The mission must always be the priority and I want to offer my heartfelt apology to all victims of sexual violence and everyone at Thorn who I hurt by what I did,” he wrote. “And to the broader advocacy community, I am deeply sorry. I remain proud of what we have accomplished in the past decade and will continue to support Thorn’s work. Thank you for your tireless advocacy and dedication to this cause.” Kunis, who was an observer on the organization’s board, has also resigned.
Kutcher founded Thorn in 2009 with his then wife Demi Moore. Thorn, initially called DNA (for Demi and Ashton), aims to combat child sexual abuse material online. In 2017, Kutcher testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the horrific abuse he had witnessed as a member of the Thorn board. In 2022, Kutcher raised over $1 million for Thorn by running in the New York City Marathon, citing one victim as his motivation for running the race. “I put that kid on the other side of the finish line,” he told People. “I know she’s out there and I want her to know that somebody’s coming for her.”
Jeff Shell is stepping down as CEO of NBCUniversal following an investigation into an “inappropriate relationship” he had with “a woman in the company.”
Shell expressed “regret” for his actions in a memo he and NBCUniversal’s parent company Comcast shared with staff on Sunday.
“Today is my last day as CEO of NBCUniversal,” Shell wrote. “I had an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the company, which I deeply regret.”
The investigation into Shell’s alleged misconduct was prompted by a complaint made by the employee who was involved in the relationship, a person familiar with the matter told CNN. Shell continued his normal responsibilities at the company throughout the three-week investigation.
“I’m truly sorry I let my Comcast and NBCUniversal colleagues down, they are the most talented people in the business and the opportunity to work with them the last 19 years has been a privilege,” Shell added in the memo.
There has been no further information released regarding the extent of the relationship or the identity of the woman involved.
Comcast has yet to announce a replacement for Shell, but since his resignation is effective immediately, Comcast president Mike Cavanagh will take over in the interlude, CNN reported.
“We are disappointed to share this news with you. We built this company on a culture of integrity. Nothing is more important than how we treat each other,” Cavanagh and Comcast chairman and CEO Brian Roberts, wrote in a separate memo to staff.
Shell is the second executive in three years to depart the company due to inappropriate conduct. In 2020 (the same year Shell stepped in as CEO), Ron Meyer stepped down as vice chairman of NBCUniversal following an extramarital affair.
ROME — Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has died at his home in the Vatican at 95, Vatican officials announced.
“With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican.Further information will be provided as soon as possible,” said the Director of the Holy See press office Matteo Bruni’s statement.
The Vatican press office has said that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s body will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican for the faithful to pay their respects.
No further details have been announced.
After his surprise resignation in February 2013 at the age of 85, he was only known to have left the tiny sovereign state briefly and was rarely seen in public.
Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, appears on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican after being elected by the conclave of cardinals, April 19, 2005, Vatican City, Vatican.
Arturo Mari/Getty Images
Election and papacy
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was named the 265th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church on April 19, 2005, at the age of 78, and chose the name of Benedict XVI. He was the first German pope in several centuries, the second consecutive non-Italian pope and the oldest pope elected since Clement XII in 1730, according to church records.
He was elected in four ballots, which is considered relatively quick for the Church.
During his nearly eight years as pope, the Catholic Church was the subject of several major scandals. A growing number of sexual abuse cases involving the clergy was perhaps the most damaging and revealed a repeat-pattern of how the church had dealt with these cases in the past; leaving the abusers and their superiors, who covered up for them, to go unpunished by law enforcement.
Some Vatican watchers considered the revelations to be the greatest crisis the church has faced since the Reformation. First as cardinal in his doctrinal post in the Vatican and later as Pope, Benedict acted to develop a unified church response to stop this increasingly public clerical sex abuse crisis.
Benedict reiterated the Church’s traditional conservative positions on important doctrinal issues like abortion, contraception, homosexuality, euthanasia and the priesthood.
He angered some Muslims with his 2006 speech in Regensberg, Germany, which was interpreted by some as anti-Islam. Afterwards, he worked to build more bridges between the two faiths.
Pope Benedict XVI listens to a speech during his welcome ceremony at the airport in Silao, Mexico, March 23, 2012.
Gregorio Borgia/AP, FILE
Many Catholics loved and respected him until his death. His successor, Pope Francis, frequently spoke fondly of him and during his trip to Malta in April 2022 described him as a “prophet” for predicting that the Catholic church of the future would become “smaller” but more “spiritual, poorer and less political.”
Benedict’s snow-white hair, soft-spoken manner and love for cats and classical music — especially piano — helped endear him to many.
Although his papacy was relatively brief, Pope Benedict XVI made 24 foreign trips visiting every habitable continent. His first visit was in August 2005 to Cologne, in his native Germany, for the Church’s 20th World Youth Day. He made a trip to the U.S. in 2008, during which he delivered a speech to the U.N. General Assembly.
A prolific writer throughout his life, he penned speeches, encyclicals, exhortations and a three-book biography, “Jesus of Nazareth,” while pope.
He beatified 322 people and canonized 45, including two Americans: Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint, and Marianne Cope, who spent the last 30 years of her life ministering to the sick on the Hawaiian island of Molokai.
Bavarian boyhood and WWII
Joseph Ratzinger was born in Marktl am Inn, part of Germany’s southern region, on April 16, 1927. His father was a policeman and his mother was a former cook. He had a brother and sister.
He followed his older brother, Georg, into the seminary in 1939 at the age of 12, per his autobiography. When he was 14, Ratzinger was enrolled in Hitler’s Nazi youth movement; at the time, membership was compulsory. In 1943 he was drafted into a Nazi anti-aircraft unit, but his unit never saw combat.
At the end of WWII, in April 1945, he deserted and returned home. He was sent to a U.S. prisoner of war camp in May 1945, as a former soldier, but was released after a few months.
Following the war, which ended when he was 18, the two brothers returned to the seminary. Joseph and Georg were ordained priests and celebrated their first mass on June 29, 1951.
Pope Benedict XVI greets the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, April 19, 2005, soon after his election.
Domenico Stinellis/AP, FILE
Before becoming pope
After being ordained, Ratzinger pursued a successful university career teaching a dogmatic and fundamental theology at a number of German universities. In 1977, Ratzinger was appointed archbishop of Munich and Freising. Three months later, he was elevated to cardinal by Pope Paul VI.
Three years after his election, Pope John Paul II called Cardinal Ratzinger to Rome to head the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican, in charge of all the Church’s doctrinal matters.
As John Paul II’s health declined, Ratzinger took on a more important role at the Vatican and in 2002, he became dean of the College of Cardinals. As dean, he had an important role in the period between the death of John Paul II and the election of the new pope, which included summoning the conclave to elect the new pope.
His long service to Pope John Paul II in the Vatican meant he was known and respected by most of the cardinals who elected him. His stature grew after he presided over John Paul’s funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Square.
Electing Benedict, the cardinals hoped he would clean up the church — which was still in the throes of the clerical sex abuse scandals — because of his deep knowledge of its workings after twenty-four years at his job at the Vatican, alongside his predecessor.
Retirement
Pope Benedict’s surprise retirement announcement was delivered in Latin to a roomful of cardinals in the Vatican on Feb. 11, 2013. With his retirement, many Vatican watchers suddenly saw him in a modern and revolutionary light, no longer a “conservative,” which is how he had been mostly labelled throughout his pontificate.
He was succeeded by Pope Francis, from Argentina, who was elected on March 13, 2013.
Only six other popes are believed to have resigned in 2,000 years of church history; the more recent was Gregory XII in 1415. Some speculated that scandals had led Benedict to resign, but he said in a 2016 interview it was his “duty” because his health was declining and he couldn’t keep up with the travel demanded in the job.
Although frail in his later years, Benedict continued to write, read, pray and take walks in the Vatican gardens, according to Vatican officials. He also had occasional visits from Pope Francis, cardinals, his brother and friends.
In 2020, at the age of 93, when already frail, Benedict returned to Bavaria, Germany for four days to visit Georg, who was seriously ill, and with whom he had been very close throughout his life. It was the first time since his resignation, more than seven years earlier, that Benedict was known to have left his residence at the Vatican — and Italy.
In 2022, the infirm, retired pope asked forgiveness in a written statement for any “grievous faults” in his past handling of sex abuse cases in the church but denied any personal or specific wrongdoing. He was responding to a German independent report on clerical sex abuse, issued in January of the same year, which had criticized how Benedict had dealt with four cases while he was archbishop of Munich, Germany from 1977 to 1982.
Victim groups and some experts said the report’s findings had tarnished the former pope’s legacy as one of the most renown Catholic theologians, while other conservative supporters, critical of the present pope’s style, defended his actions.
Giovanna Chirri, the Vatican reporter, who scored a worldwide scoop as she immediately understood the Latin of Benedict’s surprise announcement, told ABC News “he was not very understood as pope and was a victim of rather radicalized prejudices which made him disliked by many.”
However, she added, “people’s perception of him changed with his resignation and his symbolic and dramatic temporary departure by helicopter from the Vatican on Feb. 28, 2013, the day of his resignation.”
The scene was broadcast live to millions around the world.
ABC News’ Bianca Seidman and Alexandra Svokos contributed to this report.
