Who was Victoria Jones? What to know about Tommy Lee Jones' daughter

Victoria Jones, the daughter of Academy Award-winning actorTommy Lee Jones, was found dead in a San Francisco hotel in the early hours of New Year's Day.

Paramedics responding to a call for a medical emergency pronounced her dead in the hallway of the Fairmont Hotel just before 3 a.m. local time, according to the San Francisco Fire Department.

A cause of death has not been disclosed. The San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed her identity to USA TODAY on Friday, Jan. 2.

Despite being raised by an A-lister, Jones lived a largely private life after initially pursuing acting as a child and young adult.

What were Victoria Jones' acting roles?

Her first movie credit came in her dad's 2002 sequel "Men in Black II," in which she played a child whose memory was wiped.

She returned to the big screen in another small non-speaking role in 2005's Western "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada," which Tommy Lee Jones directed and starred in. Other credits include an episode of teen drama "One Tree Hill" and a 2005 thriller titled "Sorry, Haters."

Jones later opted for a life outside of Hollywood and no longer pursued acting gigs. Living away from the public eye, she did not participate in media interviews or maintain a public social media presence.

Academy Award winning actor Tommy Lee Jones is honored on Nov. 30, 1994, in the Walk of Fame in front of the Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tommy Lee Jones and actress Connie Nielsen attend the premiere of Paramount Pictures' "The Hunted" at the Mann Village Theatre on March 11, 2003, in Westwood, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tommy Lee Jones salutes as he leaves the screening of his film "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada," May 20, 2005, during the 58th edition of the Cannes International Film Festival in France.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tommy Lee Jones looks at his best actor award for the film "The Three Burials of Melquides Estrada" at the photocall for "des Laureats" at the Palais during the 58th International Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2005, in Cannes, France.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kathy Bates and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Sid Ganis announce the nominations for the best performance by an actor in a leading role, including George Clooney for "Michael Clayton," Daniel Day-Lewis for "There Will Be Blood," Johnny Depp for "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," Tommy Lee Jones for "In the Valley of Elah" and Viggo Mortensenat for "Eastern Promises," at the 80th Academy Awards nominations at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Jan. 22, 2008, in Beverly Hills, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Garret Dillahunt, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Tess Harper, Javier Bardem and Tommy Lee Jones pose for "No Country For Old Men" in the pressroom during the 14th annual Screen Actors Guild awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 27, 2008, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tommy Lee Jones and his wife Dawn Jones arrive at the 80th annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on Feb. 24, 2008, in Hollywood.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Samuel L. Jackson, writer Cormac McCarthy, HBO Films president Len Amato and director/actor Tommy Lee Jones attend the HBO Films & The Cinema Society screening of "Sunset Limited" at Porter House on Feb. 1, 2011, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Will Smith, director Barry Sonnenfeld, actors Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones pose with a time capsule at a photocall for Columbia Pictures' "Men In Black 3" at the Four Seasons Hotel on May 3, 2012, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tommy Lee Jones receives the "Donosti" lifetime achievement award at the Kursaal Palace during the 60th San Sebastian International Film Festival on Sept. 28, 2012, in San Sebastian, Spain.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tommy Lee Jones and wife Dawn Laurel-Jones arrive at the Oscars at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 24, 2013, in Hollywood.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Hilary Swank and filmmaker Tommy Lee Jones attend the screening of "The Homesman" during AFI Fest 2014, presented by Audi, at Dolby Theatre on Nov. 11, 2014, in Hollywood.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tommy Lee Jones attends "The Homesman" photocall during the 67th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2014, in Cannes, France.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tommy Lee Jones and his daughter Victoria Jones, left; actress Hilary Swank, center; Danish actress Sonja Richter, second from right; and Australian actress Miranda Otto arrive for the screening of the film "The Homesman" at the 67th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, on May 18, 2014.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Dawn Laurel-Jones and Tommy Lee Jones attend the premiere of "Jason Bourne" at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on July 18, 2016, in Las Vegas.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tommy Lee Jones and his daughter Victoria Jones attend the red carpet of the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival at Roppongi Hills on Oct. 25, 2017, in Tokyo.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tommy Lee Jones, Rene Rousso, Ron Shelton and actor Morgan Freeman attend the premiere of "Just Getting Started" on Dec. 7, 2017, in Hollywood.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tommy Lee Jones and Jenna Ortega attend the "Finestkind" Los Angeles premiere on Dec. 12, 2023, in West Hollywood, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tommy Lee Jones attends the Los Angeles premiere of Paramount+'s "Finestkind" at Pacific Design Center on Dec. 12, 2023, in West Hollywood, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See 'No Country For Old Men' star Tommy Lee Jones' career, iconic roles

Academy Award winning actor Tommy Lee Jones is honored on Nov. 30, 1994, in the Walk of Fame in front of the Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

Last year, she faced legal issues in California.

On April 26, she was arrested and charged with three misdemeanors, including obstructing a peace officer, possession of a narcotic controlled substance and being under the influence of a controlled substance, according to court records.

She was arrested again on June 13 and charged with another misdemeanor of domestic battery, court records show.

Jones' attorney, Cate Beekman, declined comment to USA TODAY.

Who is Victoria Jones' mother?

Her mother is Kimberlea Cloughley, to whom Tommy Lee Jones was married for 15 years, from 1981 to 1996.

Tommy Lee Jones married his current wife, Dawn Laurel, in 2001.

Who are Tommy Lee Jones' children?

The actor has two children with Cloughley, including Victoria Jones and her older brother, Austin Leonard Jones, 42.

Austin Leonard Jones briefly pursued a career in Hollywood as an actor and composer.

Contributing: Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Who was Victoria Jones, Tommy Lee Jones' daughter?

byDaniel Coleman

in

January 02, 2026

Who was Victoria Jones? What to know about Tommy Lee Jones' daughter

Victoria Jones, the daughter of Academy Award-winning actorTommy Lee Jones, was found dead in a San Francisco hotel in...

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Violinist sues Will Smith and management company, claiming wrongful termination and sexual harassment

A violinist who performed on tour with Will Smith has filed a lawsuit against the actor-musician and a management company, accusing them of retaliation, sexual harassment and wrongful termination.

According to a complaint filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County court, violinist Brian King Joseph was fired shortly after reporting to police an alleged intrusion into his hotel room, in which materials and a note addressed to him were left in his room while he was away.

CNN has reached out to Smith's representatives and to a contact affiliated with Treyball Studios Management for comment.

Smith's attorney has denied the allegations, according to a statement given toPEOPLEon Thursday.

"Mr. Joseph's allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless," attorney Allen B. Grodsky said, according to PEOPLE. "They are categorically denied, and we will use all legal means available to address these claims and to ensure that the truth is brought to light."

According to the suit, Joseph was hired in late 2024 for Smith's "Based on a True Story: 2025 Tour" and other performances.

Joseph and Smith developed a close relationship leading up to and during the tour, the suit claims, with Smith telling Joseph at one point, "You and I have such a special connection, that I don't have with anyone else."

The lawsuit centers on an incident in March 2025 in Las Vegas. The suit alleges someone had "unlawfully" entered Joseph's hotel room and left wipes, a beer bottle, a backpack, a bottle of HIV medication and hospital discharge paperwork with another person's name unknown to him, and a note that read: "Brian, I'll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F."

Fearing the unknown individual would return to "engage in sexual acts," Joseph says he notified hotel security and Smith's representatives, took photos of the items and requested a room change, according to the complaint. He also called a local police nonemergency line to report the incident.

Hotel security found no signs of forced entry into the room, according to the suit, and said the only individuals with access to his room would have been with the management team who booked the room.

According to the suit, instead of investigating, tour management later accused Joseph of fabricating the claims and terminated his employment. The lawsuit states he was told the tour was "moving in a different direction," but another violinist was soon hired to fill his role.

Joseph believes Smith was involved in the decision to fire him, according to the suit, and claims Joseph was being "deliberately" groomed and primed "for further sexual exploitation."

At the time of his termination, the suit claims the incident resulted in severe emotional distress, PTSD and economic loss.

Joseph shares video message hinting at legal case

Last week, the violinist posted avideoon Instagram alluding to the incident on tour and the legal dispute.

"Earlier this year, I was hired to be a performer on a major, major tour with somebody who is huge in the industry. So I was excited, you know, proud of myself for getting the opportunity," Joseph said. "Unfortunately, some things happened, and I can't get into the details of exactly what that was, because it's already a legal issue right now, but the reason why I'm speaking out about this is because getting fired or getting blamed or shamed or threatened or anything like that – simply for reporting sexual misconduct or safety threats at work – is not OK."

Joseph captioned the video as an "Important PSA" and encouraged his followers to "stay safe out there and always stand up for your beliefs and what is right no matter what."

"I know that there's a lot of other people out there who have been afraid to speak up, and I understand, and if that's you, I see you," the violinist added in his video message.

"More updates to come soon."

CNN's Dan Heching contributed to this report.

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byDaniel Coleman

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January 02, 2026

Violinist sues Will Smith and management company, claiming wrongful termination and sexual harassment

A violinist who performed on tour with Will Smith has filed a lawsuit against the actor-musician and a management company, accusing them of...

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Brad Pitt didn't believe Leonardo DiCaprio when he pointed out his parents on film set: 'That's really them!'

Andrew Cooper/Sony Pictures; Sony Pictures

Leonardo DiCapriois looking back on the time he brought his parents to work andBrad Pittmistook them for extras.

In a recent interview, DiCaprio recalled inviting his father and stepmother to the set of Quentin Tarantino's period dramaOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood, where they blended right in with the onscreen talent — to the point where Pitt refused to believe they were his costar's folks and not paid actors.

"I remember that moment, we were turning a corner out of Musso & Frank's onto Hollywood Boulevard and I said to Brad, 'That's my dad and that's my stepmom there,'" DiCapriotoldTimemagazine. "And he goes, 'Ha, ha. Yeah, right.'"

Andrew Cooper/Columbia

The Oscar-winning actor said he tried to convince his costar that it really was his parents they were driving past, but Pitt wouldn't budge.

"I'm like, 'I know they look like they're extras in this movie, but that's really them,'" DiCaprio said as he began to laugh. "That's how they dress every day!'"

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He added, "It was an amazing moment. I'll never forget that moment."

DiCaprio explained earlier that his stepmother is a Sikh and his father is from the "hippie counterculture" and "hung out with a lot the underground art movement in Los Angeles in the '70s," hence why their wardrobe was such a perfect fit for the 1969-set film.

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

Written and directed by Tarantino,Once Upon a Time in Hollywoodfollows fading movie star Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) and his charismatic stunt double Cliff Booth (Pitt) as they struggle to navigate the changing film industry of the late '60s. The movie also stars Margot Robbie, Austin Butler, Margaret Qualley, and Timothy Olyphant.

Watch DiCaprio discuss his parents' memorable set visit in the clip above.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byDaniel Coleman

in

January 02, 2026

Brad Pitt didn't believe Leonardo DiCaprio when he pointed out his parents on film set: 'That's really them!'

Andrew Cooper/Sony Pictures; Sony Pictures Leonardo DiCapriois looking back on the time he brought his parents...

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Japan says Trump has invited its leader to the US. It comes as ties with China are strained

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump invited Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during a phone call Friday to visit the United States this year, the Japanese foreign ministry said, in what would be the ultraconservative leader's first trip to the U.S.since taking office in October.

The White House is yet to confirm the call and the invitation. It comes asties between Japan and China have been strained, ramping up tensions in the region. The U.S., a close ally of Japan, is seeking to strengthen its ties with Tokyo but alsostabilize its relationship with Beijingahead of alikely trip by Trump to China in April.

Beijing staged two-daymilitary exercisesin the waters off Taiwan this week. Takaichi, Japan's first female prime minister, infuriated China late last year when she said Chinese military action against Taiwan could begrounds for a Japanese military response, breaking away from former Japanese leaders' strategic ambiguity on the highly sensitive matter.

In a statement Friday, the Japanese foreign ministry said Takaichi and Trump agreed to coordinate for the visit to happen this spring. Kyodo News, Japan's news agency, suggested that Takaichi's trip could coincide with the annual cherry blossom festival in Washington.

The foreign ministry said the two leaders affirmed that they would "carve out a new chapter in the history of the Japan-U.S. alliance" in a year when the U.S. celebrates the250th anniversary of its foundingand that they would "further deepen the friendly relations" between the two nations, including economic and security cooperation.

Takaichi and Trump also agreed on their commitment to promoting cooperation among like-minded partners, including the Japan-U.S.-South Korea partnership, and to a free and open Indo-Pacific, the foreign ministry statement said.

The two exchanged views "mainly on the Indo-Pacific region," the ministry said, but it did not provide details, including whether the two discussed recent actions by Beijing in the region.

China's military drills off Taiwanalso came after the Trump administrationannounced a package of arms sales to Taiwanvalued at more than $11 billion. If approved by Congress, it would represent the largest such aid to the island ever — a move criticized sharply by China.

Beijing claims sovereignty over the self-governed island and vows to seize it — by force if necessary. The U.S. is obligated by a domestic law to provide Taiwan with sufficient hardware to deter any attack from the mainland.

Trump on Monday said he was not informed of the exercises in advance but still touted his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump met Takaichi in Tokyo in October, shortly after she took office. The two exchanged warm words, andTrump took her with himwhen he spoke to U.S. troops aboard an aircraft carrier in Japan.

After Takaichi's Taiwan comments angered Beijing, Trump called her andsaid they were "extremely good friends"and that she should call him any time, according to the Japanese leader, without disclosing if the two talked about her remarks.

byDaniel Coleman

in

January 02, 2026

Japan says Trump has invited its leader to the US. It comes as ties with China are strained

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump invited Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during a phone call Friday to vis...

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California ban on openly carrying guns is unconstitutional, court rules

By Nate Raymond

Jan 2 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Friday ruled that California's ban on openly carrying firearms in most parts of the state was unconstitutional.

A panel of the ​San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided 2-1 with a gun owner in ‌ruling that the state's prohibition against open carry in counties with more than 200,000 people violated U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment right ‌to keep and bear arms.

About 95% of the population in California, which has had some of the nation's strictest gun-control laws, live in counties of that size.

U.S. Circuit Judge Lawrence VanDyke, who was appointed by Republican President Donald Trump, said the Democratic-led state's law could not stand under the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 landmark gun ⁠rights ruling.

That decision, New York State Rifle & ‌Pistol Association v Bruen, was issued by the court's 6-3 conservative super-majority and established a new legal test for firearms restrictions. The test said they must be "consistent ‍with this nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation."

VanDyke, whose opinion on Friday was joined by another Trump appointee, said the latest case "unquestionably involves a historical practice — open carry — that predates ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1791."

He noted ​that more than 30 states generally allow open carry. California itself allowed citizens to carry handguns openly ‌and holstered for self-defense without penalty until 2012, he said.

"The historical record makes unmistakably plain that open carry is part of this Nation's history and tradition," VanDyke said.

The ruling partially reversed a 2023 decision by a lower-court judge who had rejected a 2019 challenge to the law by gun owner Mark Baird.

While the appeals court largely sided with Baird, it rejected his related challenge to California's licensing requirements in counties ⁠with fewer than 200,000 residents, which may issue open-carry permits.

Senior ​U.S. Circuit Judge N. Randy Smith, who was appointed by ​Republican former President George W. Bush, dissented, saying his colleagues "got this case half right" as all of California's restrictions complied with the Supreme Court's ruling.

Baird's lawyer had no immediate ‍comment. Spokespeople for California Attorney ⁠General Rob Bonta, whose office defended the state's ban, did not respond to a request for comment.

The 2022 Supreme Court ruling has prompted court cases nationwide challenging modern firearm restrictions, including in ⁠California.

A 9th Circuit panel in September 2024 upheld a California law that prohibits people with concealed-carry permits from carrying firearms ‌at several categories of "sensitive places" like bars, parks, zoos, stadiums and museums.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond ‌in Boston, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Cynthia Osterman)

byDaniel Coleman

in

January 02, 2026

California ban on openly carrying guns is unconstitutional, court rules

By Nate Raymond Jan 2 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Friday ruled that California's ban on openly carry...

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Who is Christian Sturdivant, the teen accused of plotting terror attack on New Year's Eve?

A North Carolina teenager who the FBI says planned to carry out aNew Year's Eveattack inspired by theIslamic Statewas on an agency watchlist for years before his arrest on Dec. 31.

Christian Sturdivant, an 18-year-old Burger King worker, was arrested and charged with plotting a "potential terrorist attack" on a grocery store and fast food restaurant in his suburban Charlotte hometown of Mint Hill, authoritiesannouncedon Jan. 2.

Sturdivant "pledged his loyalty to ISIS" and intended to become a martyr "to support the murder, torture andextreme violencethat ISIS represents," according to FBI Special Agent in Charge James Barnacle.

Barnacle said that the North Carolina teen's affiliation with the extremist group represents "the very real threat posed by people who self-radicalize online."

It wasn't immediately clear if Sturdivant had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

Here's what we know about Sturdivant.

More:FBI says it foiled 'potential terrorist attack' on New Year's Eve

What charges is Christian Sturdivant facing?

Sturdivant is charged with attempting to provide material support for a foreign terrorist organization. The charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, officials said.

"He was preparing for jihad and innocent people were going to die, and we are very, very fortunate they did not," said Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Was Christian Sturdivant known to authorities?

Sturdivant's arrest comes about three years after another alleged plot first landed him on an FBI watchlist.

In January 2022, Sturdivant first made online contact with a member of ISIS based in Europe, according to federal court filings in the Western District of North Carolina.

The ISIS member told Sturdivant to "dress all in black, knock on people's doors, and attack them with a hammer," a criminal complaint says. The teen left his house dressed in black to "kill his neighbor with a hammer and knife," but his grandfather restrained him and brought him home, court filings say.

Sturdivant underwent psychiatric care and had his social media access restricted, Barnacle said. Sturdivant's grandfather also secured knives that were in the home, he said.

Before the attempted attack, Sturdivant pledged "Bayat," or oath of allegiance, to ISIS, according to the FBI.

The United States launched airstrikes in Nigeria against Islamic State militants on Christmas Day after President Donald Trump threatened in November to go into the country "guns-a-blazing" over what he called a "mass slaughter" of Christians.
See the impact on residents, who inspect the damage in Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See the impact of Trump's Christmas Day airstrikes in Nigeria

The United Stateslaunched airstrikes in Nigeriaagainst Islamic State militants on Christmas Day after PresidentDonald Trumpthreatened in November to go into the country "guns-a-blazing" over what he called a"mass slaughter" of Christians.See the impact on residents, who inspect the damage in Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria.

How did alleged New Year's Eve plot come about?

Sturdivant had been planning the alleged New Year's Eve plot for about a year and was planning to attack people with knives and hammers, Ferguson said.

Authorities say they became aware of the threat after Sturdivant − a "prolific poster" on social media − shared his plans online with FBI agents posing as ISIS supporters.

Among the evidence found by authorities under Sturdivant's bed: knives, hammers and notes detailing his plans, Ferguson said.

Social media account inspired by ISIS chief leader

FBI investigators tracking Sturdivant's online activities linked him to a social media account with the display name "Abu-Bakr-Al-Amriki," court filings say. The account published multiple posts showing support for ISIS.

The display name is an apparent homage to ISIS' leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who became infamous worldwide after he proclaimed himself caliph in 2014, led ISIS to capture large swathes of Iraq and Syria and imposed in the region a fundamentalist interpretation of Islamic Shari'a law to carry out mass killings.

Al-Amriki is Arabic for "the American" or "of America." The display name, FBI investigators say, signalled Sturdivant's aspirations to be an American al-Baghdadi.

Al-Baghdadi died by suicide in October 2019 during a U.S. military operation.

What did Sturdivant say online?

The North Carolina teen repeatedly posted online in favor of ISIS and jihad, court filings show. Among his posts was a photo showing military-style gloves with a reference to a chapter of the Quran that refers to war with enemies of Islam, the records say.

Another post showed a ballistic vest with a caption reading: "Islam is on the rise. May Allah curse the crusade coalition." And in December, one of his posts showed two Jesus figurines and the caption: "May Allah curse the cross worshipers."

FBI agents became more directly involved after they say Sturdivant posted a photo that authorities interpreted as a signal that he would stage an attack around Christmas. The post was on Dec. 11.

"I will do jihad soon," the FBI says Sturdivant told undercover agents on Dec. 13. In other exchanges, the 18-year-old told agents that for a year he had been planning an attack in a public place on "Christian pagans and lgbtq."

There have been a few notable terrorist attacks during the holiday season, including a 2016 attack in Berlin that left 12 dead and dozens injured after a man drove a truck through a Christmas market. The driver, Anis Amri, hadpledged allegianceto ISIS.

Contributing by Jeanine Santucci

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Who is Christian Sturdivant, teen terror suspect accused of NYE plot?

byDaniel Coleman

in

January 02, 2026

Who is Christian Sturdivant, the teen accused of plotting terror attack on New Year's Eve?

A North Carolina teenager who the FBI says planned to carry out aNew Year's Eveattack inspired by theIslamic Statewas...

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Nikki Glaser Reveals Which Jokes She's Avoiding While Hosting the 2026 Golden Globes (Exclusive)

Amy Sussman/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Nikki Glaser returns as host of the Golden Globes for the 2026 show on Jan. 11

• The comedian, 41, tells PEOPLE how she's feeling ahead of her return and what jokes — and people — are off-limits this year

• "I kind of have to keep wrapping my head around the kind of people that are going to be present in this room," she says

Nikki Glaserhas a general idea about how hosting the 2026Golden Globe Awardswill go — it's not her first rodeo.

The comedian, 41,returns to host for the second year in a rowon Jan. 11, and she tells PEOPLE how she's preparing for her second time in the nerve-wracking role.

"There's lots to joke about this year — and the star power in the room is going to be bigger than ever. I mean, it's bigger than last year," she says. "I kind of have to keep wrapping my head around the kind of people that are going to be present in this room."

She quips ofLeonardo DiCaprio, whose latest film,One Battle After Another, led the nominations among movies this year, "I mean, Leo's vape pen is going to be there. So excited to see that."

"There's going to be some big, big hitters in the room, and there's podcasts this year, which is also going to be a hilarious thing to joke about," Glaser says atThe Hollywood Reporter's Annual Women in Entertainment Gala.

Speaking of DiCaprio, 51, Glaser says he's at the top of her list of what to avoid.

"I don't think I'm going to go with the Leo jokes we've heard 25 times," she reveals. "I think we've all heard that — that's been done enough."

Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

"My goal is always to try to not do what's expected or try to challenge myself to not say the thing that people are going to expect and try something else," she explains.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The actor will still be on her target list, of course, but she says, "That's going to be the challenge this year, is just finding anything else about him that is right for mockery, but not mockery."

"Also, he's a legend and was incredible inOne Battle [After Another]," she adds. "So that's also the other thing — as long as I really like these people and respect what they do, I can get away with saying something negative."

Rich Polk/GG2025/Penske Media via Getty

In her experience, Glaser says people can "tell" if she's "lying and being like, 'I'm such a fan!' And then I say something a little bit critical."

"But when I'm really a fan, which I am of so many of these people, that's when I can go a bit harder, because it really does come from a place of love and knowing that I'm nothing compared to you."

The news that she would return as host was announced in March. She said in a statement at the time that hosting 2025's show was "without a doubt the most fun I have ever had in my career."

"I can't wait to do it again, and this time in front of the team fromThe White Lotuswho will finally recognize my talent and cast me in season 4 as a Scandinavian pilates instructor with a shadowy past."

The 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards will take place at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. EST, airing on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

Read the original article onPeople

byDaniel Coleman

in

January 02, 2026

Nikki Glaser Reveals Which Jokes She's Avoiding While Hosting the 2026 Golden Globes (Exclusive)

Amy Sussman/Getty NEED TO KNOW Nikki Glaser returns as host of the Golden Globes for the 2026 show on Jan. 11 The comedian, 41, tells PEO...

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