Entertainment
Abercrombie & Fitch Ex-CEO Arrested On Ghastly Charges Involving Men
The long-time CEO of clothing giant Abercrombie & Fitch has been arrested on federal charges of sex trafficking men. Mike Jeffries, who served as the company’s leader from 1992 until 2014, was charged along with his life partner Matthew Smith and an alleged middleman named James Jacobson following a lengthy investigation.
Much of the details surrounding the criminal allegations against Jeffries are still under the wraps of a sealed indictment, but an upcoming press conference with the FBI and the federal prosecutor’s office is expected to shed more light on the charges.
Mike Jeffries held the CEO position at Abercrombie & Fitch until 2014 when he stepped down amid a period of sales declines.
What is known is that the FBI began an investigation into Mike Jeffries last year for funding what has been described as a sex trafficking operation that spanned two decades. The federal agency’s activities were reported by the BBC, which conducted its own investigation into the criminal and civil complaints. The media outlet was able to interview 12 men who “described attending or organizing events involving sex acts run for Mr. Jeffries between 2009 and 2015.”
Eight of the men interviewed by the BBC stated that they were recruited to attend the functions by James Jacobson. Some of the men stated that they knew that these meetings would be sexual in nature, but felt misled. Others claimed to not know that there would be any sex acts involved at all. The allegations from one man, David Bradberry, may give some insight as to the motive behind the meetings between various men and Mike Jeffries.
Bradberry, who was 23 at the time of his meeting with Jacobson, maintains that he was told that he would need to perform oral sex on the middleman if the aspiring model wished to meet then-CEO Mike Jeffries. Bradberry went on to state that afterwards, he went to Jeffries’ Long Island, New York mansion to meet him for sex.
The criminal complaints against the embattled former CEO are the latest in a series of controversies that include a litany of civil cases filed against him.
The federal investigation has included not only statements from alleged victims, but also an unknown number of former household staff that were employed by Mike Jeffries.
Mike Jeffries’ attorneys have denied any wrongdoing by any party and are committed to responding to all allegations after the details of the indictment are available. But, they added, these responses will take place in a court of law and not in media interviews.
In the United States, a federal sex trafficking violation occurs when a party arranges for an adult to cross state lines or into another country to have sex for money if it’s determined that a level of coercion, force, or fraud is involved.
The criminal complaints against the embattled former CEO are the latest in a series of controversies that include a litany of civil cases filed against him. Mike Jeffries did win one court battle, however, against the company he once represented. A U.S. court ruled that Abercrombie & Fitch must pay for Jeffries’ civil defense, as the suits against him were tied to his position as CEO.
Mike Jeffries’ attorneys have denied any wrongdoing by any party and are committed to responding to all allegations after the details of the indictment are available.
Mike Jeffries held the CEO position at Abercrombie & Fitch until 2014 when he stepped down amid a period of sales declines. His golden parachute included a retirement package worth an estimated $25 million.
But despite his high net worth and powerful position at one of the world’s most recognized clothing lines, his reputation at the company’s helm was tarnished years ago amid allegations of discriminatory practices against his staff, his extravagant spending habits, and how his romantic partner Matthew Smith seemed to be guiding Jeffries’ decisions.
Sources: BBC
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
