Entertainment
UNLV Football Player Ben Christman, 21, Found Dead
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Ben Christman, a student and football player at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has died. He was 21.
According to a news release shared on the UNLV athletics’ website, Christman was found dead in his off-campus apartment on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 11.
The news release notes that his family has been notified and that the athletic department informed the team.
While the program said that mental health and related support services were being offered to those in need, they advised that they don’t have further details about his death at this time and that the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner would later release his cause of death.
The Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner shared with PEOPLE on Wednesday, Feb. 12 that a cause and manner of death for Ben Christman is still pending and “will likely take up to a few months.”
University president Keith E. Whitfield shared in a statement that he was “incredibly saddened” to learn about Christman’s death.
“There is little that can be said to lessen the pain of suddenly losing a member of our university family at such a young age, and my heart breaks for all who knew and loved him,” his statement read. “On behalf of UNLV, our sincere condolences are with Ben’s family, friends, loved ones and teammates during this very difficult time.”
Christman was an offensive lineman who began his college career at Ohio State in 2021. While he redshirted that season, he played one game in 2022 before transferring to the University of Kentucky, the Associated Press reported.
According to Kentucky’s website, Christman was forced to miss the 2023 season due to a knee injury but played all 12 games on special teams in 2024.
Ohio State Football expressed their condolences on X, as did Kentucky head football coach Mark Stoops.
“He was a player who came in every day and went to work. He was tough as nails on the field but off the field he was a gentle and kind soul. He was loved by all of us and our prayers go out to his family and friends during this difficult time,” Stoops said on X.
According to Yahoo Sports, Christman had chosen to transfer to UNLV in December.
“Since the day Ben set foot on our campus a month ago, he made the Rebels a better program. Ben was an easy choice for our Leadership Committee as he had earned the immediate respect, admiration and friendship of all his teammates,” said UNLV head coach Dan Mullen.
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UNLV Director of Athletics Erick Harper echoed the sentiments, sharing in a statement that Christman “had already made a meaningful impact on his teammates and coaches.”
Entertainment
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s private life as newlyweds

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are finding that married life is “Actually Romantic.”
“They’re both just so excited that they’re husband and wife now,” a source told People of the couple, who married at New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden on July 3. “Their relationship feels even more special.”
The insider continued, “They’re both always working, creating or thinking about what comes next. And they love living like this. They both feel really grateful for everything they have. They’re very happy.”
The A-list power couple are officially in their married era after last month’s lavish Madison Square Garden ceremony.
The star-studded affair, which was attended by a who’s who of A-list guests, including Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Lopez, was officiated by Adam Sandler.
The wedding also featured decor including a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS with a custom license plate reading “JST&T MRD” and monogrammed pieces, a food menu featuring lobster, chicken and french fries, and more.
The Kansas City Chief proposed to the “Opalite” singer last year with a stunning ring, valued at approximately $1 million.
The newly hitched pair first started dating in 2023 after Swift’s relationship with Matty Healy ended.
The All-Pro tight end has previously dated model Kayla Nicole.
Kelce recently broke his silence on the “crazy” nuptials at training camp for the Kansas City Chiefs.
“It was a fun offseason, man,” the athlete said, referring to the wedding as the “best night of [his] life.”
He added, “I appreciate everyone who came out and celebrated and had fun with us. That’s about all I really got from that night. It was a crazy night. It was full of a lot of celebration.”
The future Hall of Famer is set to begin his 14th, and potentially final NFL season against the Denver Broncos on September 14th.
The superstar singer, who also just became a Hall of Famer, was recently spotted in London at a a private members-only club.
Entertainment
Christy Knowings’ ‘All That’ castmates ‘hit hard’ over her death at 46 as Kenan Thompson leads tributes

Kenan Thompson was “hit hard” by the death of his former “All That” co-star Christy Knowings, who died Tuesday at 46 following an asthma attack.
Thompson, who appeared on the Nickelodeon sketch show with Knowings from 1997 to 1999, paid an emotional tribute hours after news of her death broke Thursday.
“Man this one hit hard!!! Rest well Christy!!! Never could have imagined this day!! Sending so much love to her family!! She was a real one and one of the funniest people out here!!! Gonna miss you buddy!!!” the “Saturday Night Live” star wrote on Instagram.
Thompson’s “Kenan & Kel” co-star Kel Mitchell, 47, also remembered their former Nickelodeon castmate as “so naturally funny, incredibly talented, and fearless.”
“Christy was truly one of a kind. So naturally funny, incredibly talented, and fearless when it came to comedy. She had a gift for creating characters that were big, memorable, and completely her own,” he posted alongside clips of them starring together.
“I’ll always be grateful for the laughs, the memories, and the time we shared as part of the All That family,” he continued.
“Christy, thank you for sharing your incredible gift with all of us. Your talent, your characters, and the joy you brought to so many will never be forgotten.”
“Sending my love and deepest condolences to Christy’s family and loved ones. Rest in Heaven, @christyknowings,” he added.
Knowings was hospitalized Aug. 7 after suffering an asthma attack that left her with brain damage and was placed on life support, according to TMZ.
She remained on life support until Tuesday, when her family decided to take her off it.
The Bronx-born actress was a regular on Nickelodeon’s “All That” for three seasons from 1997 to 2000, appearing alongside Thompson, Mitchell, Amanda Bynes, Nick Cannon and others.
The sketch comedy series went on to spawn several spinoffs, including “Kenan & Kel,” “The Amanda Show” and “The Nick Cannon Show.”
Knowings once spoke fondly of working with Thompson in particular, saying they both brought cultural details to the sketches that the writers may not have otherwise captured.
“The diversity in the cast made a huge difference because there were things that the writers just couldn’t write in … little nuances that they were not aware of, especially from myself and Kenan,” she told Bustle in 2019. “We would bring cultural nuances and it was celebrated.”
“With ‘Inconvenience Store,’ there was a cultural aspect that people are more familiar with now, but back then they really weren’t,” she added. “But it’s cool that it was celebrated in that way, it was a lot of fun.”
Knowings also recalled that Thompson and Mitchell made her feel welcome when she joined the cast.
“Kenan, Kel, Lori Beth [Denberg], and all the producers and writers made me feel really welcome,” she told Complex in 2014.
One of Knowings’ best-known “All That” moments was also her recurring “Whatever” catchphrase with Bynes.
After “All That,” she appeared in the 2009 film “Mother and Child,” for which she also received a writing credit.
She later appeared as herself on “Sesame Street” in three episodes between 2008 and 2011 alongside her twin brother, Chris.
Knowings also released the 2020 song “To the World.”
She is the second “All That” cast member to die in the past year.
Kianna Underwood, who appeared on the Nickelodeon series as a child, died in January at 33 after being struck in a hit-and-run while walking in Brooklyn.
Entertainment
Perez Hilton’s sister gives update on celeb blogger’s injuries, details his ‘long road’ of recovery

Warning: The content below contains graphic details.
Perez Hilton (real name: Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr.) remains hospitalized after his devastating suicide attempt on Aug. 4 — and his physical and mental road to recovery is expected to be a long one.
In an exclusive interview with Page Six, Hilton’s sister, Barbara Lavandeira, gave an emotional update on her beloved brother’s health following his alarming TikTok livestream.
“Mario remains hospitalized and continues to receive medical treatment for his injuries. His physical and mental recovery is going to take a lot of time, but we remain hopeful,” Barbara told Page Six Wednesday in her first and only interview since the heartbreaking incident. “He has no access to a cell phone, social media or the internet. Everyone’s focus is on helping him recover physically and making sure he receives the mental and emotional care and support he needs.”
While Barbara refrained from providing specific details on Hilton’s injuries or treatment — as they are “private medical matters” — she did give an update on the wounds he sustained from self-harming while live on TikTok.
“He did sustain cuts to his face and other areas, but it’s still far too early to know the extent of any lasting damage or scarring,” she shared. “What I can say is that he has a long road ahead of him, both physically and mentally.”
When asked if Hilton, 48, remembers the harrowing incident, Barbara said their “visits and conversations with him” have been “limited.”
“I don’t want to speak for Mario about what he does or doesn’t remember,” she said. “He’s with medical professionals, and right now the focus needs to remain on his treatment and recovery. There’ll be time for those conversations when his doctors believe he’s ready.”
As for when Hilton will be able to return home to his family?
“We honestly don’t know. His physical and mental recovery is going to take time, and we’re following the guidance of his doctors,” Barbara told Page Six. “I don’t want to offer a timeline or make promises about when he might come home. Right now, the most important thing is that he receives the treatment he needs and isn’t rushed through any part of his recovery.”
While the focus has been on helping Hilton recover, Barbara and their mother, Teresita Lavandeira, are also taking care of the blogger’s three children — Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, 8 — who were at their father’s Miami home before the incident.
“Our main priority is making sure they are safe, supported, and surrounded by people who love them. They’re trying to process something no child should ever have to experience,” Barbara explained.
“They love their father, and the goal is for Mario to get well and be able to care for his children again when he is healthy and able to do so safely. In the meantime, our mother is caring for them, and our entire family is helping provide the love, stability, privacy and professional support they need.”
As Page Six exclusively reported, Teresita filed for temporary custody of the children on Aug. 7, with Hilton “voluntarily” consenting to the custody request.
“Mario’s children have never been taken away from him in the past. Neither my mother nor I are trying to take them away from him permanently now,” Barbara told Page Six, in response to the “false information circulating” regarding custody.
“We are seeking a temporary legal arrangement so our mother can make the necessary decisions for them while Mario receives treatment and recovers.”
During the interview, Barbara continued to address how Teresita has been navigating her son’s recovery and caring for her grandchildren.
“She’s experiencing the heartbreak of watching her son go through something no mother should ever have to witness, while also trying to remain strong and provide stability for his children. She loves Mario, and she loves her grandchildren,” she shared. “Right now, she’s doing everything she can to support all of them while processing her own pain and fear. We’re all trying to support her, too, but this has been incredibly difficult for her.”
As for Barbara herself, she is “still trying to process everything” from that devastating night.
“I keep going over that day in my head and wondering whether there were warning signs I missed or something more I could have done. I’m also trying to help my mother, my nephew and my nieces adjust to this new normal, if we can even call it that,” she explained. “We’ve been having open conversations, spending time together, praying and connecting with cousins and friends. We’re taking things one day at a time because that’s all we can do right now.”
“Something like this would ordinarily be an intensely private family crisis. It should have been a time for us to process what happened, focus on getting Mario the help he needs, support the children, and begin trying to heal,” she continued.
“Instead, we’re trying to do all of that while navigating the public attention and scrutiny surrounding one of the most painful experiences our family has ever been through.”
Hilton’s family has been updating caring fans on his condition through his blog, Perezhilton.com, and his social media accounts.
Barbara admits that while Hilton is focused on his recovery, he’s “left big shoes to fill” regarding his website.
“His absence will definitely affect how much news we’re able to publish, but we’re focused on continuing operations and covering as many of the biggest entertainment stories as we can while he’s unable to participate in creating content,” she told Page Six. “For now, we’ll continue sharing our content across the website’s social media accounts, including links to that content on Perez’s personal accounts.”
“Mario created his website alone and has dedicated much of his life to it,” she continued. “It’s his passion, so once he’s healthy and ready to return, any long-term decisions about the website, his social media platforms, and their future direction should come from him.”
Barbara is grateful to Hilton’s fans who have supported her brother during this difficult time.
“What I can say on behalf of our family is that we’re deeply grateful for every kind message, prayer, and expression of genuine concern. The support has meant more to us than I can properly express,” she said, adding, “When Mario is ready and his doctors believe it’s appropriate, anything he wants to say should come directly from him.”
Elsewhere in Barbara’s first interview since her brother’s suicide attempt, she detailed the gut-wrenching moment she discovered Hilton harming himself.
“August 4th will forever be one of the darkest days my family and I have ever experienced,” Barbara said of the evening Hilton livestreamed acts of self-harm on TikTok, resulting in his hospitalization for life-saving treatment.
“That afternoon, Mario was in his bedroom with the door closed and locked, which wasn’t like him. His door was almost always open,” Barbara explained. “When I knocked, he said he was fine, but I could barely hear him. After I knocked a few more times and asked him to open the door, he stopped responding. I tried calling his cell phone in case he couldn’t hear me, but he wouldn’t answer. Something just felt wrong.”
When Barbara managed to enter the bedroom, she discovered he was locked in the bathroom and unlocked the door, coming face-to-face with her injured brother.
“When I opened the door, my nightmare became a reality. Mario was standing in front of the shower, naked, cut up, covered in blood, with a box cutter in his hand,” Barbara courageously shared.
“What I can say with certainty is that I didn’t recognize my brother when I looked at him. I saw it in his eyes. They didn’t look the same. Then, a split second later, he smiled at me. It felt like I was staring at someone else.”
Barbara fled the home with Hilton’s three children and contacted authorities.
“Eventually, I was able to go back into the house while I waited for the ambulance and place towels over Mario to help stop the bleeding. He had already lost a significant amount of blood, yet he was somehow still able to speak, although his voice was very faint,” she recalled to Page Six. “The ambulance took him to the hospital, and I stayed behind to speak with the crisis team that arrived.”
Also in the interview, Barbara detailed the weeks leading up to Hilton’s suicide attempt — including his hospitalization for “severe depression.”
Two weeks before the self-harm incident at his Miami home, he approached his mother and sister, who was visiting from California, to discuss receiving help for his mental health issues.
“He told us that a few days earlier, he had felt empty, hopeless and like he was a burden on everyone,” she said. “He then admitted that one night, when he couldn’t sleep, he had taken the remaining painkillers from his surgery in March. He said he just wanted to sleep.”
Barbara was referring to when Hilton was hospitalized in March for taking flu medicine on an empty stomach. He developed an ulcer, perforation and sepsis. He spent three weeks in the hospital.
One month later, he underwent emergency surgery for a blood clot.
Barbara agreed to take him to the hospital that same day, as he “went voluntarily.” He was discharged after several days of evaluation and treatment.
“That weekend, Mario seemed so much better,” Barbara recalled. “He looked better, too. We spent time together as a family, and he started looking up coping mechanisms and grounding techniques he had learned during his short stay [in the hospital].”
Hilton “returned to his regular therapy sessions” on Aug. 3. The following day, the day of his suicide attempt, he “completed an intake call for an intensive outpatient program and was supposed to begin outpatient group therapy the following week.”
Sadly, their “lives changed forever” later that afternoon.
Barbara acknowledged “there could have been so many things involved, including severe depression, the lingering effects of his hospitalization and sepsis, not sleeping, possible medication reactions and the combination of prescription and over-the-counter medications he took that day.”
As for why Barbara spoke to Page Six, she explained, “Mario has always been an open book. He’s a public personality and someone who has shared so much of his life online.”
“I’m talking now for everyone who cares about him and has been sending their best wishes, but also because of all the rumors, false reporting, fake exclusives and made-up quotes going around,” she continued. “I can only share what I personally witnessed and experienced, but I want people to hear directly from someone who was actually there.”
For further updates about Perez Hilton from his family, please go to perezhilton.com.
This is the third article in a four-part series. Click here for part one and part two.
If you or someone you know needs help in the US, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
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