Antonio Brown #81 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 14, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
As anyone who has lived in the Miami area for any length of time knows, it takes a lot to shock locals. And as a celebrity reporter, especially, I’ve seen my share of eye-popping news stories barreling out of left field.
This past year was no different, with all kinds of unexpected folks showing up on 2025’s bingo card.
So, presenting my top five, in order of shock value:
1. Antonio Brown’s wild, international ride
The former NFL wide receiver probably won’t be posting too many throwback memories on New Year’s Eve. In June, a Miami-Dade judge issued an arrest warrant for Brown, a month after he was filmed getting into a scuffle outside a celebrity boxing event in Little Haiti.
The warrant charged the Liberty City baller with second‑degree attempted murder, alleging he seized a gun from a security guard and fired two shots at a man caught up in the melee, grazing his neck. The rub: Brown was nowhere to be found, having fled almost 8,000 miles away to Dubai.
After a handful of months overseas, the ex-Tampa Bay Buccaneer was brought back to Miami to stand trial, and pleaded not guilty, claiming he acted out of fear for his safety. He was released on $25,000 bond with an ankle monitor under house arrest. Brown’s attorney, Mark Eiglarsh, told the Miami Herald his client used his own weapon and wasn’t aiming at anyone.
“Our detailed motion makes it abundantly clear that my client was forced to defend himself as a direct result of the alleged victim’s violent and aggressive actions,” Eiglarsh said. “We are confident that these charges will be dismissed as a matter of law.”
2. Coach Spo’s home destroyed
While Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was flying back from a game in Denver on the team plane in November, a two-alarm blaze was beginning to whip through his Coral Gables mansion. By the time he arrived, the 5,700 square foot property was engulfed in flames, with multiple firefighters on scene. Fortunately, there was no one home at the time of the fire, whose cause is still under investigation. Viral videos from the scene show Spoelstra pacing the demolished property; at one point, he holds his head in disbelief, echoing all of us.
Perhaps the most incredible part of this tragedy? The NBA coach went to work the next day for a game against the Charlotte Hornets.
“Things in the house, those things can be replaced,” said Spoelstra, flanked by his three kids, at a news briefing. “And if they can’t be replaced, what does it really matter? This is really what matters. Family, the closest ones. … We’re just grateful.”
3. The Beckhams’ rumored family feud
Miami has its own version of royalty — David and Victoria Beckham, who maintain a luxury pied-à-terre in town. But like that other royal family across the pond, there’s drama behind the scenes. Rumors of a massive fallout with the power couple’s oldest son, Brooklyn, began churning around May, when the aspiring chef failed to show up to dad’s 50th birthday party at Cipriani.
Insiders say issues began as far back as Brooklyn’s 2022 wedding to Palm Beach heiress-actress Nicola Peltz. After the bride opted not to wear one of her mother-in-law’s designs, relations reportedly chilled, and now the situation has gotten even frostier, with Brooklyn unfollowing the InterMiami co-owner and ex pop star on social media. Let’s hope working through this unpleasant chapter tops their list of resolutions (said in the fanciest British accent we can muster).
4. The 305 ‘Real Housewives’ antics really are crazier than the other franchises
The bombshells were dropping left and right during the “Real Housewives of Miami” reunion special in October, but two castmates singlehandedly stole the show.
Former besties Julia Lemigova and Adriana de Moura’s feud took such a bizarre turn that even Bravo ringleader Andy Cohen was left speechless. The former beauty queen, who is married to Martina Navratilova, claimed there was friction with the Brazilian art dealer due to a one-night stand years ago. While de Moura didn’t exactly deny the fling, she went on a full-scale attack, labeling Lemigova a “liar” who cheated on the tennis legend with “a Haitian mortician” and gave him a coffeemaker as a gift.
Lemigova later clarified during a separate appearance that the relationship with the gentleman in question occurred in Paris before she was married, and no coffeemaker was involved.
“Adriana takes a piece of truth and wraps it up in a bunch of lies,” said the Russian native.
5. Megan Thee Stallion’s disturbing “deepfake” lawsuit
The “Hot Girl Summer” rapper is beautiful, talented and wildly successful, but inexplicably has her share of haters. If you assumed the South Florida resident would find peace after her ex, hip-hop artist Tory Lanez, was convicted of shooting her in the feet in 2020, you’d be sadly mistaken. In November, Megan ended up having to take the stand at the federal courthouse in downtown Miami in a defamation trial against blogger Milagro Gramz. The Atlanta influencer was accused of online harassment and sharing a “deepfake” AI video of Megan engaged in pornographic acts. A judge ruled in favor of Megan, who was awarded $59,000 in damages.
Honorable mention: Bethenny Frankel’s jaw-dropping reveal
Most of the time you see the “Real Housewives of NYC” alum, she’s on our feeds hunting for designer bargains at TJ Maxx or showing us her latest homemade dip on a cracker. Imagine our surprise when the new South Florida resident popped up at the Sports Illustrated show at Miami Swim Week in June, slaying the catwalk like a boss. Frankel, then 54, managed to steal the spotlight from professional (and much younger) models, from the perfectly placed thong and impeccable spray tan to the goddess-like extensions and rock hard abs. Did we mention the fierce attitude? We’ll have what she’s having next year and beyond.
Madeleine Marr
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