Entertainment
‘Race Across the World’ Star Sam Gardiner, 24, Dead After Car Crash
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Sam Gardiner, a former Race Across the World contestant, has died following a car crash. He was 24.
Gardiner was driving a white Volkswagen in Manchester, England, on Monday, May 26, at around 9:50 p.m. local time when the car veered off the road and “rolled before landing on its side,” the Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.
Gardiner was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to life-threatening injuries on Thursday, May 29.
He was the only passenger of the vehicle, per the police.
“His family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers,” police said in a separate statement.
Race Across the World
Gardiner’s parents, Jo and Andrew, wrote that they are “devastated” in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.
“Sam left us far too soon, and whilst words will never fully capture the light, joy and energy he brought into our lives, we hold on to the memories that made him so special,” they said. “Sam was adored by his family. As a son, brother and nephew, he was loyal, funny and fiercely protective.”
The grieving parents remembered his time on the BBC reality show, saying it “opened his eyes to the wonder of adventure and travel.”
They continued, “He was willing to go wherever the trail might lead and he touched everyone he met on the road. He found great happiness working as a landscape gardener on the west coast of Scotland.”
Jo and Andrew added: “Sam brought warmth, laughter and a smattering of chaos wherever he went. He leaves behind a huge hole in our hearts. We will miss him endlessly, but we’ll also remember him with smiles, tall tales, and a depth of love that will never fade.”
Gardiner had been working as a landscape gardener in Scotland, but was visiting his family in Manchester at the time of his death.
He starred in season 2 of Race Across the World alongside his mother.
“There will be a private funeral for family and friends in due course. The family have asked for privacy at this terrible time,” a spokesperson for Race Across the World said in a statement.
The spokesperson paid tribute to Gardiner, writing, “We are all deeply saddened to hear the tragic news about Sam. Everyone who worked with him, and indeed everyone who watched Sam, could see just how precious and transformative the trip was for both him and his mum Jo.”
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Gardiner “embraced the seven-week trip with an energy, love and a determination that saw the pair enjoy adventures across Mexico to Argentina, making audiences fall in love with them and their special bond as a result,” the spokesperson said.
The tribute continued: “Since filming, both Sam and Jo have been an integral part of the Race Across the World cast family and on behalf of us all from the BBC, production and the rest of the cast, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to his parents, Andrew and Jo; his brothers, William and Charlie; his step mum Justine; his family and friends.”
BBC/ courtesy of Race Across the World
The show featured Gardiner — who was 19 at the time — and his mother as they traveled across South America with no phones.
While previously speaking to the BBC ahead of taking part in the show, Jo said she wanted to teach her son, who had ADHD, how to travel before he embarked on adventures of his own.
“My son and I get on so well, and he is desperate to travel, but I’m nervous of him going off on his own. I want the trip to help him grow, and see how the world works,” she said. “To watch him experience this will be fantastic. He’s come such a long way, and I would love to see him achieve his dreams.”
Gardiner also shared his excitement about spending quality time with his mom. “Mum and I are very close — we often think or say the same things. She has traveled a lot in her life, so I think it would be fun to do it with her. She always seems to get things right, she can speak to people and fix things. She’s amazing,” he said at the time.
Gardiner is survived by his parents, stepmother Justine, and brothers Charlie and William.
Entertainment
Vanilla Ice defends Freedom 250 concert amid performer exodus

Vanilla Ice is standing by the Freedom 250 concert celebrating America’s milestone birthday after several performers pulled out this week, saying “music is not political.”
The rapper confirmed Friday that he’ll still perform at the President Trump-affiliated Freedom 250 Presents: The Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., as Martina McBride, Bret Michaels and other artists abruptly dropped out of the lineup.
“I’m here to party with America, man. Music is made to bring people together and that’s what we are here to do. And we’re just gonna represent the ’90s,” the “Ice Ice Baby” hitmaker told TMZ.
The 58-year-old, whose real name is Robert Van Winkle, argued that the event is about celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary rather than politics.
“I don’t even vote, so I don’t even care. If Biden called up and said, ‘My daughter is getting married, we need Vanilla Ice,’ I’d go play. It’s not a big thing,” he said.
“You play for your fans. We don’t get a chance to pick our fans, they pick us. And I’ll go play for Putin and I’ll play in Iran if you want, it don’t matter. There’s fans everywhere.”
“Music is not political, it’s universal,” he added.
Vanilla Ice also brushed off criticism surrounding the event and the artists who have decided not to participate.
“Come on, enjoy the dancing. Don’t take it so serious. We’re just entertainers, man,” he said. “I don’t think anybody should take this serious, including them.
“I think everybody should just go dance. It’s just music, what’s the big deal, man? We’re just entertainers.”
The rapper has previously performed at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, taking the stage at the Palm Beach, Fla., club during a New Year’s Eve bash at the end of last year.
Vanilla Ice echoed the sentiments in an Instagram video Thursday, saying he was “honored” to be part of the celebration.
“America is turning 250. Come on, man. Let’s go,” he said. “We’re gonna bring back the ’90s. Put your dancing shoes on.
“It’s all about enjoying the great times of 250 years, man. George Washington until now, all the presidents and everybody in between.”
He captioned the post: “Happy birthday America 250 years. It’s gonna be an epic party. This is to bring us all together.
“This is not a political platform. This is celebrating America’s birthday. Nothing too serious just enjoying some fun, dancing and great memories.”
His comments come after several acts announced they were withdrawing from the Freedom 250 concert following this week’s lineup reveal.
Country singer Martina McBride exited the event one day after being announced, calling the promotion surrounding the concert “misleading.” Bret Michaels, Young MC, Morris Day & The Time and The Commodores have also backed out.
Still on the bill are Vanilla Ice, Flo Rida, C+C Music Factory and Milli Vanilli’s Fab Morvan.
Freedom 250 was launched by Trump last year and describes itself as a “national, non-partisan organization leading the celebration of our Nation’s 250th birthday.”
The Freedom 250 concert is part of the Great American State Fair, a free festival that will take over the National Mall in Washington, D.C., from June 25 through July 10.
Entertainment
Pete Davidson praises Kim Kardashian in rare comments about his ex

The king of Staten Island has nothing but good things to say about the queen of the Kardashians.
“Isn’t it crazy Kim’s good at acting?” Pete Davidson, 32, asked Nikki Glaser about his ex-girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, on Friday’s episode of his “The Pete Davidson Show.”
“I remember when we were dating, one day she was just like, ‘I think I’m gonna be an actress.’ And I was just like, ‘F–k yeah!’ And then [she’s] just good at it and I’m like, ‘Get the f–k out of here.’ She’s so good at acting.”
Kardashian made her acting debut on Season 12 of “American Horror Story: Delicate” in 2023.
Then, in 2025, the Skims mogul landed a starring role on Hulu’s “All’s Fair.”
Kardashian is now starring in and producing the upcoming Netflix comedy “The Fifth Wheel,” which also features Glaser.
The comic went on to sing the mom of four’s praises while on Davidson’s show, calling her co-star “so smart.”
“Anything she wants to do, she will do it,” Glaser gushed, “especially if people are like, ‘You can’t do this.’ And for her to go into acting with all the public perception of her anyway, she knew … everyone’s gonna look for her to fail.”
From the Golden Globes host’s point of view, it’s impressive to take on a project where “you know people are gonna try to find your weakness.”
Davidson called the business woman “superhuman.”
The “Bodies Bodies Bodies” actor also confessed that he “learned from” Kardashian that she can do anything she puts her mind to, despite public opinion.
“Like, she don’t [sic] give a f–k. It’s unbelievable,” Davidson mused.
The exes dated for nine months from October 2021 to August 2022 after Kardashian divorced her ex-husband Kanye West.
At the time, the disgraced rapper allegedly spread unfounded rumors that Davidson was gay and had AIDS.
A source close to West, however, denied the claims, calling them “nonsense.”
An insider in Davidson’s camp told Page Six in the moment that the “King of Staten Island” star was “ignoring all of the Kanye hate out of respect for Kim.”
Despite the public drama, a source claimed that there was no bad blood when Davidson and Kardashian split.
“Kim and Pete have decided to just be friends,” a source close to Kardashian told Page Six at the time.
“They have a lot of love and respect for each other, but found that the long distance and their demanding schedules made it really difficult to maintain a relationship.”
Kardashian was then briefly linked to NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. before they split in April 2024.
In February, Kardashian’s secret romance with Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton was revealed.
The pair has been inseparable ever since.
For his part, Davidson dated Elsie Hewitt for a little over a year from March 2025 until earlier this month.
The two welcomed daughter Scottie in December before going their separate ways.
Entertainment
Martina McBride quits Freedom 250 festival meant to celebrate America’s birthday

Country star Martina McBride has dropped out of the Freedom 250 concert series one day after it was announced, claiming the event celebrating America’s 250th birthday was “misleading.”
The singer revealed Thursday that she would no longer appear at the President Trump-affiliated Freedom 250 Presents: The Great American State Fair, the free 16-day festival set to take over the National Mall in Washington, D.C., with concerts, military tributes and patriotic bashes for America’s 250th anniversary.
“I was presented with the opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event, but that turned out to be misleading,” McBride wrote on Instagram.
“I asked lots of questions and was assured this was a nonpartisan event that was meant to celebrate ALL 50 states. In my mind I thought this was a great way to celebrate the states and also bring people together in the way that only music can.”
“Yesterday things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening,” she continued.
“I’ve spent my entire career singing about real people with real issues. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to be a voice for those who have felt like they didn’t have one.”
“It greatly upsets me that any fan who has been moved by my music may now feel like I’m abandoning the meaning behind those songs. I assure you, that is not the case,” she added.
McBride had been scheduled to perform on June 25, the opening night of the festival, which is designed to celebrate America’s history, culture and music.
Her exit aligned with a handful of other cancellations after the lineup was unveiled this week, with Bret Michaels, Young MC, Morris Day & The Time and The Commodores also backing out.
Michaels echoed McBride’s comments in an Instagram post Thursday night.
“When this opportunity was originally presented to my team, it was described as a celebration of our country through music and a chance to honor our veterans, active military, first responders, teachers and hardworking Americans from all walks of life,” he said.
“Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of.”
But several acts are still enthusiastically on board — including Vanilla Ice, Flo Rida and C+C Music Factory.
There was some confusion after Milli Vanilli was announced to perform at the festival. However, singer Jodie Rocco — one of the original studio vocalists behind the group — told the Associated Press that neither she nor any other member had been asked to appear.
But surviving Milli Vanilli frontman Fab Morvan confirmed he plans to perform and embraced the event’s patriotic message.
“I am here to entertain and unite people, not divide them,” Morvan said in a statement. “Let’s celebrate life & music and take a trip down memory lane.”
Vanilla Ice is also standing by the event. A rep for the rapper told the Associated Press he is “proud to help celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary!”
“Everyone is welcome to attend and celebrate USA’s Birthday and our Freedom!” the rep added.
Freedom 250 was launched by Trump last year and describes itself as a “national, non-partisan organization leading the celebration of our Nation’s 250th birthday.” Former State Department official Keith Krach was appointed CEO.
The Great American State Fair runs June 25 through July 10 and will include concerts, state showcases and special programming including Military & Veterans Appreciation Day, Faith Values and Inspiration Day and MAHA Monday, focused on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again initiative.
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