For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

The family of Chanel Maya Banks, the Gossip Girl actor who vanished without a trace two weeks ago, is insisting she is still missing despite authorities confirming she was found safe and sound.

Following a two-week search, the Los Angeles Police Department announced on November 12 that after receiving a tip they were led to a home in Texas, where a woman identified herself as Banks. It was reported that no foul play was suspected in her disappearance, and the case has since been closed.

However, after being informed of the LAPD’s update, Banks’s cousin Danielle-Tori Singh said it was “fake news” and vowed to continue distributing flyers describing Banks as missing, ABC 7 reported.

Hours after the police announcement, an Instagram post shared from Banks’s verified Instagram account claimed that she had not gone missing and had instead voluntarily left to “escape my cage.”

She accused her family of sexual abuse and “manipulation” – it is unclear whether Banks has made the allegations in the past or whether police have investigated them.

“I have met with the Police and verified that I am not only OK, but I’m finally free,” she continued. “They say once, you’re free in Christ Jesus, you’re free indeed, so I told my husband six days ago I was going to get baptized by one of my favorite pastors Pastor Robert Clancy.”

open image in gallery

Advertisement

According to his Instagram, Clancy, a revivalist pastor, was indeed in San Antonio, Texas, hosting a three-day Repentance Revival Movement Conference from November 8 to 10.

“So I made my Exodous and took my Freedom Ride first class (on Spirit air no less) to the Promised land,” she said, adding that she now just wants freedom not only for herself but for everyone “suffering in silence.”

Singh, who flew in from Toronto to help with the search, has called the woman found in Texas an “imposter.”

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

Advertisement

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

“I have the still from Texas PD body cam footage that was shown to us on Monday Nov 11 at the Pacific Police Station in LA,” she wrote in an Instagram Story. “This is the woman they’re telling us is Chanel. We have told them this is not Chanel. They didn’t listen to us and closed the case. That’s why @ohhheychanel won’t post a video saying she’s safe because it’s not Chanel.”

The Independent has contacted LAPD for comment.

open image in gallery

In a subsequent Story, Singh included a side-by-side picture of the “imposter” woman found in Texas and “our Chanel.”

Banks was initially reported missing by her family, who said they hadn’t seen or heard from her since October 30. Her relatives said it was very unusual for the actor to be out of touch with them for longer than a few days.

“Five days without hearing from my cousin is red flags and alarm bells,” Singh previously told KABC. “She doesn’t go more than 48 hours without speaking to me or her mom… That girl is more like a big sister to me.”

Police conducted four welfare checks at her home in the Playa Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles, two on November 7 and another two on November 8, according to a now-defunct GoFundMe page launched by Singh to aid in their search.

Banks has warned followers not to “donate to any GoFundMe that says I’m missing. I am not missing.”

During those checks at the apartment – where Banks lives with her husband of one year – authorities found her dog and her belongings, but not Banks, it was reported.

Banks “does not go anywhere without her little dog, which also has been left behind. She also does not have her vehicle because it’s parked in her garage. She would NEVER go anywhere without telling her mom or myself,” Singh wrote on the fundraising page.

Singh also accused Banks’s husband of not cooperating with law enforcement and of helping with the search.

“He’s not willing to help LAPD. He’s not willing to help me or her mom find her,” Singh told KABC. “He is removing flyers off of posts and cars.”

MARRIED At First Sight UK fans think they’ve worked out the “real reason” Adam Nightingale stayed on the show.

Adam‘s MAFS UK marriage to Polly Sellman came to a dramatic end in episodes aired this week after she branded her groom a “c***” and launched a glass of red wine at him.

3

Advertisement

3

3

Their relationship was rocky from the start after he almost immediately confessed he wasn’t attracted to Polly.

Despite this fans were left baffled when the former couple chose to stay in the experiment during each commitment ceremony.

Now they’ve insisted it’s because Adam had his eye on another bride, Amy Kenyon.

Adam and Amy were paired together during partner swap week and were seen shopping for lingerie together.

At the time fans couldn’t help but notice Adam “had never looked happier” while on the show.

This week they also appeared very close in snaps on social media, with one showing him pretending to propose to her.

And viewers think there is much more to the story. Writing on Reddit, one said: “With Adam and Amy seemingly flaunting their ‘close friendship’ all over social media, I reckon something must have happened on wife swap week other than sharing a bed – especially with all the lingerie and sex toys shopping.

“Can’t help but think Adam continued to write ‘stay’ to secretly get closer to Amy, especially as she said she was close friends with him (and Polly) and always in their apartment.

“Otherwise there was literally no need to stay to the end after constantly voicing his dislike (attraction and friendship) to Polly.”

Fans were previously left convinced Amy had feelings for Adam amid her disastrous marriage to Luke Debono.

In the penultimate episode of the series, the remaining newlyweds had gathered together for the last dinner party.

Before they sat around the table, Amy quietly told Polly that Adam had suggested she “model some underwear” during partner swap week.

One wrote on social media: “Is it just me or does it look like Amy is absolutely loving telling Polly about Adam’s comments?”

Another added: “So. Do we think Amy fancies a bit of Adam and is trying to sabotage??”

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Fellow YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI has predicted that the forthcoming fight between boxing legend Mike Tyson and Jake Paul “will not be close at all.”

KSI, real name Olajide Olayinka Williams “JJ” Olatunji, shared his thoughts on the fight, which will be live-streamed on Netflix on Friday (November 15).

The fight had originally been scheduled for July 20 but was ultimately postponed after Tyson suffered an ulcer flare-up on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles.

“Jake Paul will knock out Mike Tyson. This will not be close at all,” KSI tweeted. “Boxing is a young man’s game and Mike is 58 years old. They’re sending a lamb to the slaughter and it’s disgusting.”

KSI, 31, previously fought Paul’s older brother, Logan, to a draw in an amateur bout in 2018. The two later reunited in the ring in 2019 with KSI beating Logan, 29, via a split decision in a professional contest.

The British YouTuber had also challenged 27-year-old Jake to a fight at the time; however, KSI ended up taking a three-year hiatus from the ring. He returned to boxing in August 2022 and appeared to receive an agreement to fight Jake, but that fight still has yet to happen.

In June, KSI issued his “final offer” to fight Jake in May 2025, sharing that it would give him “all the time in the world to be ready.”

He went on to suggest that the fight be held in the U.S. “just to make you that bit more happy.”

“But that is it when it comes to giving you advantages,” KSI said in a video posted to X. “I mean, first of all, we agreed to fight at 180 lbs, but then you decided to run away and fight Nate Diaz instead.

“Jake, I’m tired of this bulls***. Get off the cycle, and let’s make this work. We’ve got weight to lose, and we’ve both have plenty of time to do it. 185 lbs is my final offer. Take it or leave it,” he added. “If you come back with some bulls*** on social media, I will sleep good knowing that deep down you never really had the balls to fight me in a fair fight. You were never actually about it. You were just trying to save face online.”

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Advertisement

Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

Jake responded to KSI last month on an episode of his B/S with Jake Paul podcast, countering that they meet in the middle at 192.5 lbs.

In a tense press conference ahead of his fight with former heavyweight champion Tyson, Jake mocked his competitor’s silence, saying: “It’s cute. I fear no man, so I want him to be that old savage Mike.”

“I’ve said everything I had to say,” Tyson responded to one of Jake’s several attempts to get him to say more. “I’m just looking forward to fighting.”

A MAFS UK groom has revealed he’s already returned to his very normal job after finding fame on the show.

Tonight will see the Married At First Sight UK gang come together for the final time in a second reunion episode.

3

Advertisement

3

3

And Nathan Campbell has wasted no time in getting back to reality working as an engineer.

He took to Instagram to give followers a tour of his workplace at Watson Gym Equipment, where he’s worked for two years.

Nathan revealed how he uses his “ADHD and passion for fitness from a young age” to help when manufacturing gym equipment at work.

He was part of the strongest couple on this year’s MAFS UK, with it looking likely his marriage to Lacey Martin would work in the real world.

But The Sun told this week how they’d split off-camera.

A source said: “Nathan and Lacey really tried to make their relationship work in the real world but it just fizzled after a while.

“The final vows were filmed in February and they were still going strong in April when the reunion was shot, but since then they have called in quits.

“They were both sad it didn’t work out, but sadly it wasn’t meant to be.

“It’s also a big blow for fans who were really invested in their relationship.

“They were widely viewed as the strongest couple of the series so the news that they are no longer an item is such a shame.”

The shock split comes after it was revealed Lacey was rushed to hospital on the E4 show – in scenes that did not make it to air.

She recently took part in a Q&A on Instagram and asked what the most “shocking” thing that happened on set.

Lacey confessed: “Not much shocking things really, but regarding myself, I fainted on set!! “But all the crew/production looked after me!”

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

The View co-host Sara Haines walked off the show after her colleague Whoopi Goldberg made a particularly raunchy joke.

The incident occurred during Wednesday’s (November 13) episode of the program, as Golberg was doing a segment to promote her favorite products. One of those things included a wheel of cheese, with Goldberg’s face on it, and Haines was quite impressed.

“I’ve always wanted my face on cheese,” Haines said. The Sister Act star responded to her co-host with a risqué gag, saying: “Yeah, I like to be eaten from time to time.”

A flabbergasted Haines then walked off the set as the audience laughed and applauded before returning back to hug her co-host.

Goldberg opened her mouth in mock surprise before pointing at the cheese and smiling.

“Never mind,” she added, before describing the wheel of authentic Parmigiano Reggiano from Italy.

“So if you’d like the chance to win a wheel just like this one,” Goldberg started to tell viewers, before Haines interrupted her and quipped: “And eat Whoopi Goldberg.”

However, Goldberg then clarified to fans that they could “eat” faces of themselves on a wheel of cheese if they entered Parmigiano Reggiano USA’s challenge to win a wheel of cheese.

Earlier this week, The Color Purple star made headlines when she said that she can’t afford to stop working on The View, which she’s been hosting since 2007. During Tuesday’s (November 12) episode of The View, the hosts discussed how New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez asked her Instagram followers about their voting tactics. From there, host Haines shared that while she voted for Kamala Harris in this year’s election, she was open to hearing why people voted for Donald Trump and why those Americans think he could help the working class.

Goldberg then stepped in to show her support for families experiencing financial hardships, before confessing that if she had more money, she wouldn’t be on the talk show. “I appreciate that people are having a hard time. Me, too. I work for a living,” she said. “If I had all the money in the world, I would not be here, okay? So, I’m a working person, you know?”

She continued:  “My kid has to feed her family. My great-granddaughter has to be fed by her family. I know it’s hard out there,” she added. “I love what she [Ocasio-Cortez] did. Yay. We talk to people all the time who say, ‘This is what’s bothering me.’ But the thing that’s bothering everybody should not be the thing that puts 85 percent of other people in danger. I think that’s what we’re saying.”

THE BBC has given viewers a peek behind the scenes of its new period drama Miss Austen, which features an all-star cast – not least a Line of Duty star.

Keeley Hawes stars as Cassandra Austen in the film – hot off the heels of Scoop.

3

Advertisement

3

3

The star-studded BBC adaptation of Gill Hornby’s much-loved novel is expected to air next year on the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth.

The new pictures show the star-studded cast for the first time and reveal an insight into what will come for excited fans.

Meanwhile, other talents include Rose Leslie from Game of Thrones as Isabella Fowle, Phyllis Logan from Downtown Abbey, Calam Lynch from Bridgerton, and Alfred Enoch from Harry Potter.

Also pictured are Synnøve Karlsen (Last Night in Soho, Clique), Patsy Ferran (Living, Hot Milk), Max Irons (Condor, The Wife), and Liv Hill (The Serpent Queen, Elizabeth Is Missing). 

Viewers can also see Jessica Hynes (Life After Life, Years and Years), Mirren Mack (The Witcher: Blood Origin, The Nest) and Kevin McNally (The Crown, Ten Percent).

The four-part drama reimagines the literary mystery of Catherine Austen notoriously burning her famous sister Jane’s letters.

BAFTA-winning writer Andrea Gibb has adapted the story for the screen.

The story starts in 1830, sometime after Jane’s death, while Cassandra (Keeley Hawes) rushes to see her friend Isabella (Rose Leslie), who is about to lose her home following her father’s death.

Although Cassandra is seemingly there to help her friend.

But her real motive is to locate a stash of private letters that could destroy Jane’s reputation if in the wrong hands.

However, Cassandra is overwhelmed as she remembers her youth upon finding them.

Flashbacks introduce viewers to Young Cassy and Jane (Patsy Ferran) while Cassandra’s reminiscing helps her realise her blindness to the real cause of Isabella’s heartache.

Bonnie Productions also produce Miss Austen for Masterpiece in the US.

The series is directed by BAFTA award-winning filmmaker Aisling Walsh (Maudie, Elizabeth is Missing) and produced by Stella Merz (Gentleman Jack, Renegade Nell).

BBC crime dramas

The BBC is reopening case files on an all-star line-up of crime dramas this summer.

Here’s a refresher on the popular programmes which span six decades.

• Campion: Aired from 1989 to 1990, this detective drama series was adapted from novels by Margery Allingham and stars Peter Davison.

• Dalziel And Pascoe: A gritty detective drama series about a mismatched pair of policemen, based on the award-winning books by Reginald Hill. Aired from 1996 to 2007.

• Death In Paradise: A misanthropic detective inspector is assigned to a Caribbean island against his will. Premiered in 2011 and is still on air to this day.

• Happy Valley: Created by Sally Wainwright, this northern noir follows Sarah Lancashire as Sgt Catherine Cawood – tough, defiant and facing her traumatic past.

• Hinterland: Welsh drama starring Richard Harrington. Brooding DCI Tom Mathias uncovers secrets – and links to his troubled past amid mountainous terrain and close-knit villages. Aired from 2013 to 2016.

• Inspector Lynley Mysteries: Based on the novels of Elizabeth George, this drama series is about upper-crust DI Thomas Lynley and working class DS Barbara Havers. Aired from 2001 to 2007.

• Jonathan Creek: Starring comedian Alan Davies, this comedy-drama series follows a inventor of magic tricks who is often called in to solve puzzling murders. Aired from 1997 to 2016.

• Law & Order: Originally broadcast in 1978, this four-part drama series is about the British judicial system. Stars include Peter Dean and Derek Martin.

• Life On Mars: Beguiling science-fiction police drama following a Manchester policeman who travels back to 1973 following a car accident. Stars John Simm and Philip Glenister. Aired from 2006 to 2007.

• Luther: Crime drama series starring Idris Elba as DCI John Luther. Aired from 2010 to 2019, with a follow-up film released in 2023.

• Shetland: Detective drama starring Douglas Henshall, Ashley Jensen and Alison O’Donnell, showcasing the dark side of one of the most beautiful places on earth. Premiered in 2013 and is still on air to this day.

• The Cops: Set in the fictional northern town of Stanton, this acclaimed, provocative police drama stars Katy Cavanagh, Rob Dixon and John Henshaw. Aired from 1998 to 2001.

• Waking The Dead: With a cast including Trevor Eve, Sue Johnston and Wil Johnson, this series follows a cold case team who unearths sleeping secrets, but sometimes the past is best left buried. Aired from 2000 to 2011.

• Wallander: Starring Sir Kenneth Branagh, Kurt Wallander is unable to unsee the dark crimes he’s tasked to investigate while Wallander’s job comes at a cost to his family and relationships. Aired from 2008 to 2016.