Politics
Oscars 2026: 29 Memorable Moments That Defined The Academy Awards
After an especially busy awards season that’s already gifted us all kinds of memorable moments, it’s time for the mother of them all, the Oscars.
Over the last 98 years, the annual Academy Awards ceremony has been the site of countless iconic scenes – although not every instance of the Oscars making headlines has been for the reasons organisers might have hoped for.
As we gear up for the 2026 ceremony, here are just some of the highs and lows that have defined the Oscars over the last century…
Will Smith slaps Chris Rock after the comedian jokes about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair (2022)
Myung Chun via Getty Images
For those who were living under a rock in 2022, here’s what went down at that year’s Oscars.
Comedian Chris Rock presented one of the night’s big awards, during which he made an impromptu joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s buzzcut after spotting her in the audience, comparing her to “GI Jane”.
Jada had previously spoken about her experiences of living with alopecia, which inspired her to shave her head.
Unimpressed with the comic’s remarks, Jada’s husband Will Smith walked up to the comedian and slapped him in the middle of the broadcast, urging Chris to “keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth” upon returning to his seat.
What ensued was months of unescapable media furore and discourse, and although Will won his first ever Oscar just a few moments after the slap for his performance in the film King Richard, he eventually made the decision to resign from the Film Academy, and was later banned from the ceremony for a decade.
John Travolta struggles with Idina Menzel’s name (2014)
During the live broadcast in 2014, HuffPost fave John Travolta was recruited to welcome Frozen star Idina Menzel to the stage, so she could perform her character’s signature tune Let It Go.
Unfortunately, due to John’s apparent struggles reading from an autocue, he instead introduced “the wickedly talented, one and only Adele Dazeem” – a moment he’s still struggling to live down more than a decade later.
Jennifer Lawrence trips up the stairs while collecting her Oscar… (2013)
Kevin Winter via Getty Images
In a moment that saw the whole world holding its breath in unison, Jennifer Lawrence took a tumble as she went to accept her Best Actress prize, for her performance in Silver Linings Playbook.
After getting a standing ovation, she joked: “You guys are just standing up ’cos you feel bad that I fell, which is embarrassing, but thank you.”
…and then does the same thing a year later (2014)
A year later, Jennifer returned to the Oscars, where she was nominated again, this time for her role in American Hustle.
While she didn’t pull off the Oscars double, she did pull off the falling-over-at-the-Oscars double on the red carpet as she made her way into the event, which… is still something.
The legendary Joan Crawford accepts her award from bed (1946)
Silver Screen Collection via Getty Images
The story goes that Joan Crawford wasn’t feeling very well before the Oscars in 1946 and, perhaps sensing that she wasn’t going to win her category, decided to forego attending entirely.
Imagine her surprise, then, when she heard her name being read out as the Best Actress recipient on the radio for her performance in Mildred Pierce.
What followed was an impromptu press conference from the screen icon’s bed, where she was presented with her awards statuette in person (in full beat, naturally).
Sally Field gives a very passionate speech (1985)
“You like me, you really, really like me,” is an oft-quoted awards show line, but as it turns out, that’s not what Sally Field actually said.
“I want to say thank you to you,” she told the audience at the 1985 Oscars. “I haven’t had an orthodox career, and I’ve wanted more than anything to have your respect.
“The first time [I won an Oscar], I didn’t feel it. But this time I feel it. And I can’t deny the fact that you like me! Right now! You like me!”
What’s also often overlooked is the fact she did actually make the crowd laugh along with her speech, even if audiences at home were seemingly less impressed.
…and so does Gwyneth Paltrow (1999)
After appearing in around 20 films, Gwyneth finally picked up an Oscar in 1999, for her performance in Shakespeare In Love, and struggled to get her words out through her tears.
Interestingly, this would prove to be Gwyneth’s only Academy Award nomination (so far!), but at least she managed to get the Oscar on her first try.
Olivia Colman has everyone howling with her Oscars speech (2019)
It’s fair to say Olivia Colman had not been expecting to beat her peers in the Best Actress category that year, judging from that acceptance speech – which showcased all of her signature charm and a fan-girl moment over Lady Gaga.
Let’s talk about this bizarre opening number (1989)
Reed Saxon/AP/Shutterstock
The 1989 Academy Awards went down in the history books for cooking up a chaotic opening number that felt like a bit of a fever dream. The performance saw Rob Lowe duetting with Snow White, as well as featuring appearances from stars as varied as Lily Tomlin and Vincent Price.
Without a host, the routine served in place of an opening monologue, but it went down so badly it would be a full 30 years before the Oscars would go ahead without a host.
Kermit The Frog brings the house down (1980)
After Miss Piggy warmed up the crowd (seriously, what an intro), there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Kermit The Frog performed Rainbow Connection in 1980.
The Muppet Movie’s opening number had been nominated for Best Original Song, but lost out to It Goes Like It Goes from Norma Rae, a decision which was rubbished by many critics at the time.
Eventually, Kermit and co did finally win an Oscar, although it took more than 40 years, when Man Or Muppet scooped Best Original Song in 2011.
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper perform Shallow (2019)
It was the performance the world had been waiting for when Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga finally sang Shallow from the A Star Is Born soundtrack together.
The pair had actually only performed the track live together once prior to the Oscars (when Bradley was a surprise guest at one of Gaga’s Las Vegas shows), but you wouldn’t know that from the sheer chemistry between the two of them while they sang to one another.
Angelina Jolie and brother James Haven make an entrance (2000)
Mirek Towski via Getty Images
Back in 2000, Angelina won her first Oscar for her role in the film adaptation of Girl, Interrupted.
Her win was somewhat overshadowed on the night by her red carpet appearance with brother James Haven, who she kissed on the lips and declared she was “so in love with”.
Years later, she admitted she was “disappointed” with the “circus” that surrounded the incident, explaining that she and James had always relied on one another as the children of divorced parents.
Sacha Baron Cohen (as The Dictator) covers Ryan Seacrest in ‘ashes’ (2012)
Yeah, Ryan Seacrest really wasn’t loving this, was he?
Hattie McDaniel makes history with her Oscars win (1940)
Bettmann via Getty Images
Gone With The Wind star Hattie McDaniel’s Best Supporting Actress win at the 12th Academy Awards was a particularly important one, as she became the first African American performer to take home an Oscar.
While this is often referred to as a progressive moment in Oscars history, it should be noted that Hattie’s win came at a time when segregation was still in place. This meant she was not permitted to sit with her Gone With The Wind co-stars during the ceremony, with film producer David O. Selznick having to call in a favour for her to be allowed to attend at all.
Precious actor Mo’nique paid homage to Hattie McDaniel when she picked up the same award 70 years later, sporting a similar ensemble to the Gone With The Wind star.
Halle Berry becomes the first Black woman to win Best Actress (2002)
“This moment is so much bigger than me,” Halle Berry began in her acceptance speech, before listing off the names of the Black women in the acting industry who had come before her, including Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll, as well as her peers, Jada Pinkett, Angela Bassett and Vivica Fox.
She said she hoped her win might represent “a chance” for “every nameless, faceless woman of colour”.
Halle’s victory came 39 years after Sidney Poitier became the first Black winner in the Best Actor category. His successors have included Forest Whitaker, Jamie Foxx and Denzel Washington.
Sadly, the Monster’s Ball star remains in 2026 the only Black woman to have been been given the Best Actress title, lamenting 15 years later that she felt her win “meant nothing”, as so little had changed in the time that followed.
Michelle Yeoh also breaks new ground with her own Best Actress win (2023)
In 2023, Michelle Yeoh became only the second woman of colour in history to receive the Best Actress award – which was poignantly presented to her by its past recipient, Halle herself.
The Everything Everywhere All At Once star made history as the first Asian performer to win the award, and enthused during her speech: “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. It’s proof – dream big, and dreams do come true.”
“And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime,” she added. “Never give up.”
Kathryn Bigelow becomes the first woman to win Best Director (2010)
Steve Granitz via Getty Images
Kathryn’s efforts at the helm of The Hurt Locker, which also landed Best Picture that year, made her the only woman to have won in the Best Director category at that time.
In the years that have followed, only six more women – Greta Gerwig, Chloé Zhao, Emerald Fennell, Jane Campion, Justine Triet and Coralie Fargeat – have been nominated in this category.
Chloé became the second woman, and first woman of colour, to accept the accolade in 2021, while Jane became the third the following year.
Ahead of this year’s ceremony, Chloé is in the running once again for her work as the director of Hamnet.
Marlon Brando declines to turn up to collect his Oscar (1973)
Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
Marlon Brando’s win for The Godfather was, without doubt, a Big Deal, so when he refused to show up to collect his award, it raised a lot of eyebrows.
Instead, the acting legend had Native American performer Sacheen Littlefeather collect the award on his behalf, explaining that he wasn’t present in protest of Hollywood’s portrayal of Native Americans on the big screen.
An especially chatty Adrien Brody sets a new record for the longest Oscars acceptance speech ever (2025)
Who could forget him chucking his chewing gum in his partner’s direction on his way up to the stage, too?
Björk debuts the most iconic dress in Oscars history (2001)
Vinnie Zuffante via Getty Images
Well, she was never going to pass by unnoticed, was she?
Björk was nominated for an Oscar in 2001, for her contribution to the Dancer In The Dark soundtrack.
As she made her way into the event that year, the Hyper-Ballad singer made headlines for her swan-inspired dress, leaning into her attire by dropping eggs along the red carpet.
Wait, did someone say ‘iconic Oscars dress’? (2019)
Dan MacMedan via Getty Images
We love when a star really knows how to turn heads, and that’s exactly what Pose actor Billy Porter did on the red carpet in 2019.
On the subject of his much-discussed tuxedo dress, Billy told Vogue that year: “We wanted to play between the masculine and the feminine. This look was interesting because it’s not drag. I’m not a drag queen, I’m a man in a dress.
“My aunt Dorothy used to always say, ‘Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.’ That’s why I look good every time I leave the house. I want to run shit. From this [Oscars] moment, I want people to understand that you don’t have to understand or even agree with other people’s authenticity or truths, but we must all respect each other.
“People are going to be really uncomfortable with my Black ass in a ball gown—but it’s not anybody’s business but mine.”
Angelina Jolie leg-bombs for her life (2012)
Dan MacMedan via Getty Images
In hindsight, the reaction to Angelina Jolie’s so-called “leg-bomb” might have been a little OTT.
Back in 2012, though, her errant right leg really felt like a moment, inspiring countless memes in those halcyon early days of Twitter (as it was still known in those days).
Remember the Oscars selfie? (2014)
There’s Angelina again, this time in a huge selfie with a star-studded cast including Meryl Streep, Lupita Nyong’o and Bradley Cooper (alongside some somewhat more regrettable inclusions).
The photo – shared on host Ellen Degeneres’ Twitter page – quickly broke records as the most retweeted image in the site’s history, beating an image previously shared by then-President Barack Obama.
Remember, even the word “selfie” was quite a new thing back in 2014, let alone the act of taking a group shot like this, so while the furore around this photo might seem a bit silly almost a decade later, we promise it genuinely was a big deal at the time.
An actual streaker storms the stage (1974)
In 2001, this unexpected shocker was voted the “most memorable” moment in Oscars history.
We’re particularly fond of host David Niven’s quick-thinking response, as he declared: “The only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings.”
Sam Smith gets their wires a little crossed (2016)
British singer-songwriter Sam Smith made a huge blunder during their Academy Awards acceptance speech, erroneously describing themself as the “first openly gay man to win an Oscar” (they came out as non-binary a few years later).
Sam’s comments sparked a huge backlash, particularly from members of the LGBTQ+ community, including past Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black.
Many at the time called for the star to learn their LGBTQ+ history before speaking out on such a public platform – and to Sam’s credit, they’ve since proved they have done their homework on queer trailblazers.
And speaking of awkward Oscars moments… (2023)
No one could quite agree back in 2023 whether Hugh Grant was being outwardly rude or just a bit awkward when this exchange with Ashley Graham on the red carpet went viral.
Hugh did sort of make up for it during the ceremony, though, when he had the room howling by comparing his face to a “scrotum” while presenting an award with one-time co-star Andie MacDowell.
Brie Larson refuses to applaud for Best Actor winner Casey Affleck (2017)
Many picked up on the fact that when presenting Casey Affleck with his Oscar in 2017, Brie Larson did not applaud for the actor, which many took as a response to the accusations of workplace sexual harassment that he’d faced years earlier.
She later told Vanity Fair: “I think that whatever it was that I did onstage kind of spoke for itself. I’ve said all that I have to say on that topic.”
All that confusion over who won Best Picture (2017)
Spoiler alert: It wasn’t La La Land.
Ryan Gosling brings I’m Just Ken to life (2024)
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Fancy watching it again? Oh, go on then…
We’ve covered off mid, chat, chopped, choppelganger, tuff, six-seven (*takes a breath*) and dozens of other weird phrases kids come out with thanks to viral internet culture.
Now, some teachers in the US are reporting kids are saying “call your Uber” or “call yo Uber” in class. Uber is a popular ride-hailing company so it’s kind of like saying, “call yourself a taxi”. In short: you need to leave.
TikTok creator and teacher Philip Lindsay said: “‘Call your Uber’ is a phrase that I’ve heard kids starting to use in the last couple of weeks and it’s always directed at somebody who’s either being annoying or doing something unwanted.”
The phrase has likely come from a video, the educator explained, where two people are interacting and are “very obviously annoyed at each other” – then one of them tells the other to “call your Uber”.
Another teacher known online as Coach Philly noted he’s also heard the phrase and will be using it because it’s “hilarious”.
“I actually love this one and yes I’m going to use it,” he said in a TikTok video.
“So anytime you hear ‘call your Uber’ that just means: ‘please stop’, ‘shut up’, ‘you’re annoying’, ‘get out’, ‘leave’, ‘just quit’ … If you see somebody doing something you don’t like or they’re being annoying or they’re getting on your nerves or you want them to leave, you just say ‘call your Uber’.”
What else are kids saying?
Mid
When Gen Alpha uses it, “mid” means mediocre or of disappointing quality. If you’re described as “mid” by a teenager then they’re basically saying you are… average.
According to Merriam-Webster, “mid” serves to express that something falls short of expectations, or isn’t impressive.
The dictionary notes that this slang term is thought to have come from a shortening of the term mid-grade, “a designation in cannabis culture of medium quality”.
City boy
“City boy, city boy” is the call of Gen Alpha currently, with TikTok creator and teacher Philip Lindsay noting kids in his class have been saying it.
“It’s a meme from an old video clip that they’re just repeating,” explained the teacher, who is based in the US. The memes actually first did the rounds in 2022 and appear to be popular again.
From a Gen Alpha perspective, Mr Lindsay suggested the phrase doesn’t really mean anything and kids are just shouting it out at all opportunities – a bit like six-seven.
Unc
This is short for “uncle”. And, per Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, it’s “often used humorously to indicate old age” and may imply “someone is old, getting old, or acting older than their age”.
Unc status may also be awarded to someone who “exhibit[s] behaviours that are considered outdated or out of touch”.
Chopped
In Gen Z and Gen Alpha speak, it means “ugly”. In some cases, younger generations have been calling people, mainly girls, chuzz – a less-than-friendly portmanteau of “chopped” and “huzz”, which means “ugly hoes”.
If your child’s been called chopped at school, here’s some advice on handling it.
Some kids have also been using ‘chopped’ to describe anything they don’t like. (So basically, “that’s chopped” became the equivalent of “that sucks”.)
Choppelganger
Choppelganger is a portmanteau of ‘chopped’ (aka ugly), and ‘doppelganger’, which is a person who resembles someone else. In short, it’s calling someone a less-attractive lookalike of someone else.
Check out our ultimate guide to teen slang here.
The Peter Mandelson scandal has returned to haunt Keir Starmer once again after fresh details about the ex-ambassador’s security vetting were revealed.
It appears security officials advised against appointing the former Labour peer to be the UK’s attache to Washington.
But, according to the government, the Foreign Office overrode those concerns and granted Mandelson vetted status anyway.
This has caused a fresh row over how much the prime minister knew – and when. He has since fired the top Foreign Office official in a bid to get ahead of the row.
Still, his political opponents have accused him of misleading the Commons by vowing “due process” was followed in appointing Mandelson.
Critics claim this strengthens the argument for Starmer to step down – even as the May elections approach.
But first, let’s recap…
Why Is Peter Mandelson’s Appointment Such A Big Deal?
Mandelson, a former minister under New Labour and later spin doctor, was announced as Starmer’s pick to be the UK’s ambassador to the US in late 2024.
Government files have since proven Starmer was warned that his choice to fill the ambassador role with a political appointment rather than a career diplomat could make the PM himself more exposed.
A due diligence report from December 2024 also shows Starmer was warned appointing Mandelson came with “reputational risk”.
His friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein had already been well-documented at this point, particularly by the Financial Times.
Mandelson had also been forced to resign from government before over scandals and previously criticised Donald Trump.
Even so, government files show Mandelson received an email saying he would receive “high-tier” briefings from January 6, before his security vetting was completed.
The UK Security Vetting then denied Mandelson clearance at the end of January, according to the Guardian.
Even so, Mandelson officially started the role in February, flying out to Washington DC and appearing on exceptionally friendly terms with Trump.
In September 2025, the US House Oversight Committee released documents related to the Epstein probe – including messages from Mandelson calling Epstein his “best pal”, suggesting they were closer than previously thought.
He was fired two days later.
A second batch of Epstein files from the US raised more questions about how he maintained a friendship with the disgraced financier after he was sentenced for soliciting a minor in 2008.
Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party in February, while Starmer said he regretted appointing him and was lied to by the peer.
MPs then voted to force the government to release all files related to Mandelson, although some documents are being held back while the police conduct their own probe into the former ambassador.
The ex-peer was then arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in late February, after claims he was planning on emigrating.
Mandelson was soon released under investigation. He has always denied any allegations of wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
Sticky Questions Remaining For Keir Starmer
1. Did The Prime Minister Mislead MPs When He Said ‘Due Process’ Was Followed?
This question will be the most pertinent one for parliamentarians.
Starmer told MPs in “full due process” was followed during Mandelson’s appointment in September.
He also told journalists in February that independent security vetting gave Mandelson “clearance for the role”.
The UK Ministerial Code states any minister who “knowingly” misleads the Commons must correct the record as soon as possible and step down.
2. Will Parliament Get To See the Vetting Documents?
The government is still abiding by the “humble address”, where MPs voted to force the government to publicly release “all papers” linked to Mandelson’s appointment.
However, the motion did offer an exemption for details “prejudicial to UK national security or international relations” – a matter which would refer to the intelligence and security committee of MPs.
Releasing such evidence would be unprecedented, but the Downing Street statement on Thursday said the government would “include documents” linked to Mandelson’s vetting as it complies with the parliamentary motion.
3. Did Olly Robbins Give Mandelson Clearance?
While the Foreign Office chief may have taken the fall last night, questions remain over who exactly rubber-stamped Mandelson’s appointment.
Robbins had only been in the post for a handful of weeks when Mandelson’s vetting came through.
It remains unclear whether he consulted with senior politicians or officials over the decision, though the government insists ministers were not party to it.
4. Why Did Mandelson Fail Vetting?
The exact reason is unlikely to be revealed anytime soon, but there will be plenty of speculation around it.
Reasons for vetting failure have never been revealed to the public before.
5. When Did Downing Street Find Out Mandelson Failed Vetting?
Chief secretary to the prime minister Darren Jones told broadcasters Starmer only found out about this on Tuesday evening.
However, the Independent reported in September that Mandelson may have failed to clear MI6 vetting.
A Downing Street spokesperson told the newspaper at the time: “Vetting done by FCDO in normal way.”
This has raised substantial questions about the timeline around Mandelson’s appointment.
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Almost a third of us wake up in the middle of the night at least three times a weekEven though I have insomnia, my problem doesn’t actually lie in getting to sleep.
I nod off just fine, but my problem is staying in dreamland.
More often than not, I wake up at 3am and simply cannot get back to sleep.
There are things I’ve learned to do to cope with the problem. “Clock blocking”, refusing to stay in bed for more than 20 minutes, and (paradoxically) willing myself to stay awake have all been effective at getting me back to sleep.
But given that almost a third of us wake up in the middle of the night at least three times a week – and that multiple friends had cited 3am as their most common early rising hour – I thought I’d ask Dr Seeta Shah from PANDA London if there’s anything “special” about that time.
Here’s what she told us…
Why do I always wake up at 3am?
“Waking up around 3am is a surprisingly common experience,” Dr Shah confirmed.
This, she said, could be down to a mixture of biological and lifestyle factors, like your body’s natural sleep cycle.
“During a typical night’s sleep, we go through multiple 90-minute cycles that include different stages of sleep, from light to deep and REM sleep,” the doctor said.
“Around 3am, most people are transitioning between cycles, and the sleep tends to be lighter at this point. That makes us more susceptible to waking, especially if there are external disturbances such as noise, light, temperature changes or even the need to use the loo.”
Then, she said, there’s a hormonal component. “In the early hours of the morning, the body begins to increase its production of cortisol, the ‘stress hormone,’ in preparation for waking,” she explained.
“This natural rise in cortisol, combined with a dip in melatonin (the sleep hormone), can make the body more alert and prone to waking around this time.”
Cortisol usually dips to a low at around midnight and slowly rises thereafter.
“If you’re feeling anxious or have an active mind, this early-morning wakefulness can quickly turn into prolonged sleeplessness,” Dr Shah told us.
How can I stop waking up at 3am?
“Lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption, late-night screen use, inconsistent bedtimes, and even blood sugar dips can all contribute to waking at this hour,” the doctor explained.
If you suspect this may be the cause of your early morning wake-ups, consider changing your habits and seeing how it affects your kip.
But “if waking at 3am becomes a regular pattern, it’s worth examining both physical and mental health, as well as evening habits, to identify and address any underlying causes,” Dr Shah cautioned.
The NHS said that if poor sleep is affecting your day-to-day life and causing you distress, you should speak to your GP about it.
Related…
One dad’s hilarious video of him being roasted by his children during the school run is a must-watch if you need a good laugh today.
Tay Kabs, a YouTube star who lives with his family in London, was taking his kids Maliya, nine, and TJ, six, to school on the first day back after the Easter holidays, when they started to talk amongst themselves about how old their friends’ parents were.
“Dad, what age did you and mummy meet?” asked Maliya, to which the father-of-four responded: “Umm, we were about 12.”
This clearly blew his daughter’s mind, who exclaimed: “12! Oh my gosh, wait. I’m nine [she then counts up to 12]. Three years older than me?!”
Maliya then asks how long her parents have been together, to which Tay responds 23 years. And you absolutely know where this is going…
“23 years! Wait, if you and mummy did not have any phones back then, how did you communicate?”
At this point TJ chimes in: “Dad used to write letters to mum.”
The comments continued: “He probably used the fountain pen with the feather [cackling].”
“And he probably dipped it in ink [explosion of laughter].”
The floodgates had been ripped wide open.
At this point both kids are in stitches in the back of the car, while Tay looks on. But the roast didn’t stop there. It was only just heating up.
“But dad, seriously, did you and your friends sing to mum on the way to school?” asked Maliya.
“Wait, did you and mum get invited to the Queen’s coronation? And what did you wear?”
“Dad wore a durag!” adds TJ, roaring with laughter.
“Mummy and daddy went on a double date with Mary and Joseph,” continues Maliya.
“But what if they were on a date, who would be babysitting Jesus?
“Oh yeah [hysterical laughter] Morgan Freeman.”
When I contacted Tay to check in (and ask how he kept a straight face for the duration of the video), he responded: “I didn’t, honestly. I was trying my best, but they were roasting me the whole time.
“With them, you never know what’s coming next – I just let the camera roll and hoped I could hold it together.”
The video has gone viral, with 1.9 million favourites and over 61,000 comments at the time of writing.
“Them being so proper and roasting you is diabolical,” shared one commenter.
“YOOOO. These kids be out for blood because why am I hearing such eloquent children rake him over the coals,” added another.
Most people took the opportunity to praise the parent for raising such quick-witted kids.
“Okay but also proud parent moment that they were throwing all the most educational shade,” said one fan.
“Sir, you’ve clearly done an excellent job raising your kids,” added another.
Discussing the reaction, Tay told me: “It’s funny because that’s genuinely how they are with me at home. I’m their dad but I’m also their number one target. I love that people are enjoying it – their confidence and quick wit is just natural.”
It’s clear humour is an important part of their day-to-day life. Any parent knows that with young kids, life can have many twists and turns, and while there are plenty of challenges, the Kabs are finding ways to giggle and guffaw through it.
“Humour is a big part of our household,” he ends. “With kids, especially at that age, things can get chaotic — laughter keeps everything balanced. Moments like that school run are real life for us.”
A cabinet minister has confirmed that the government has planned for food shortages this summer amid economic strains caused by the Iran war.
Business and trade secretary Peter Kyle said ministers were engaging in “scenario planning” as Iran continues to block the major oil shipping waterway, the Strait of Hormuz.
It comes after The Times reported the UK could endure a shortage of chicken, pork and other supermarket goods in the coming months.
Food supplies are not expected to reach critical levels but there could be less variety on the shelves as a result, according to the newspaper.
Kyle told Times Radio: “We are doing this kind of scenario planning.
“Bearing in mind that back in Covid, Boris Johnson missed five Cobra meetings in the lead up to it.
“I can tell you because I’m in these meetings, the prime minister has been there since the very start and he is going through personally and driving deep dives into lots of areas of resilience throughout our economy.
“And you can see from the actions I’ve taken because CO2 has made its way onto the front pages today. So that’s why we’re having this conversation.
“People should be reassured that we are doing this kind of action behind the scenes to keep resilience into our economy.”
Kyle pointed to his decision to “mothball” a company called Ensus in the North East, which produces CO2 as a by-product, when it faced bankruptcy earlier this year.
“In the first couple of days of the conflict erupting in the Middle East, I unmothballed Ensus. And I can tell you that it is now back up to full operation producing CO2,” he said.
Kyle also told Sky News he would “reassure people” that shortages of CO2 is “not a concern for our economy”.
“Right now people should go on as they are, enjoying beer, enjoying their meats, enjoying all the salads,” he said.
Government officials have concluded that in a “reasonable worst-case scenario”, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a carbon dioxide shortage.
According to The Times, insiders predict CO2 levels could fall to just 18% of what they currently are if a key UK plant faces a mechanical error, and if high gas costs trigger a fall in ammonia and fertiliser production, both of which make CO2 as a by-product.
The gas is used in a variety of products, including in the process of slaughtering pigs and most chickens.
CO2 is also used to boost the shelf life of food like salad, packaged meats and baked goods.
It’s needed to make drinks fizzy, too, meaning a shortage would hit farming, hospitality, and breweries.
There could be disruption to healthcare and civil nuclear sectors as well, by hitting dry ice supplies and affecting storage for cold blood, organs and vaccines, as well as Britain’s national electricity supply.
The Times reported that officials from No.10, the Treasury and the Ministry of Defence have secretly rehearsed how to respond if there’s a CO2 shortage in an event called “Exercise Turnstone”.
They have reportedly prepared a response on the assumption Strait of Hormuz is still shut and no permanent peace deal had been agreed by June 2026.
A CO2 shortage last hit the UK in 2022 after energy price shocks caused by the Ukraine war.
The report comes as YouGov polling found seven in 10 Brits (69%) think the country is poorly prepared for a major conflict.
A No.10 spokesperson said the government is “stress testing a wide range of scenarios, however unlikely they may be, to make sure that our supply chains and the economy are always protected”.
“If there are any resilience issues, we will be upfront with the public about it,” he added.
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Keir Starmer sacked the top civil servant in the Foreign Office last night after the row over Peter Mandelson appointment returned.
Hours after it was revealed that the ex-Labour peer failed security vetting but still got the top job as the UK’s ambassador to Washington, the prime minister fired Olly Robbins.
According to the BBC and the Times, Starmer was “furious” after the Guardian reported that the Foreign Office had defied advice from the vetting process and appointed Mandelson anyway.
No.10 insists neither Starmer nor his ministers were aware of this detail until this week.
It read: “Neither the Prime Minister, nor any Government Minister, was aware that Peter Mandelson was granted Developed Vetting against the advice of UK Security Vetting until earlier this week.”
It remains unclear why Mandelson failed the vetting and if Robbins was the person who decided to override security advice.
Mandelson worked as the ambassador to Washington between February and September 2025 before he was fired as the depth of his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was revealed.
He has denied any wrongdoing in connection to the disgraced financier.
Mandelson is currently being investigated by police on suspicion passing market-sensitive information to Epstein when he was a minister under New Labour.
The Conservatives, Reform UK and the Greens have all called for the prime minister to resign.
They accuse him of misleading MPs when he told them in September that “due process had been followed” when it came to hiring the former ambassador to Washington.
According to the Ministerial Code, ministers who knowingly mislead parliament are expected to stand down.
Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
“Do you think I should consider freezing my eggs?”
I posed this question to my grandmother and aunt recently as the reality set in that I’m about to turn 30. According to medical science, the older I get, the fewer chances I have for pregnancy. But as we approach Black Maternal Health Week, I find myself returning to that question, and my age isn’t the only thing giving me pause.
Black women’s bodies have long been at the mercy of harsh surveillance, financial instability and health inequities. Because I have a Ph.D. in maternal and child health, I am well aware that maternal mortality among Black women has been a persistent inequity since the 1930s.
In 2023, for example, the maternal mortality rate among Black women was 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births and significantly higher than rates for white, Hispanic and Asian women. And though there was a slight dip in 2024 (44.8 deaths per 100,000 live births), the statistics remain frighteningly high.
The higher rates of maternal deaths aren’t attributed to one singular thing. Black birthing people are dying, regardless of income or education, because of multiple factors, including structural and systemic racism, provider bias, quality of linguistic and culturally appropriate care, and cumulative stress and weathering.
I was taught to name these as the social-structural determinants of health, focusing on how multiple levels of influence (i.e., individual, interpersonal, community and societal) can impact an individual’s health outcomes. This knowledge has heightened my awareness and consideration of, well, everything.
Such rates should be enough to alarm us, but as each year passes and more Black women die, the numbers remind me yet again that this country, along with its medical systems, doesn’t prioritise me. So, even as I wrestle with my readiness to give life, it is painfully clear that my own life may not be protected.
Because I study maternal health, I also know my autonomy is at the mercy of my geography.
Reproductive rights have been under attack in recent years in the U.S. Abortion access is largely restricted in many places across the country. Currently, 41 states have abortion restrictions in effect, with 13 of these having total bans. This means my ZIP code literally determines the level of access I would have to reproductive care should I get pregnant. And my socioeconomic position would dictate the kind of care I ultimately receive.
As I flip over all this in my head, I collide with people and family all the time who express just how much they can’t wait for me to have a baby. To see what kind of mom I’ll be. To see what kind of children I’ll raise in this world.
Photo Courtesy Of Adia R. Louden
They make their hopes for me sound so simple. As if the mere desire for motherhood will shield me from the racism, pain and dismissal that my body may endure. As if my decision is just that — a personal decision.
In a country where reproduction is coupled with risk, options increasingly cease to exist and survival is a question mark, whether or not to choose motherhood is one of the most political decisions I can make.
I hope for a baby I’ll survive to greet, meet and hold against my chest. I hope for the long nights, ordinary days with extraordinary joy and stress. I hope to mother in a way that makes life a jubilant spectacle instead of an everyday terror.
But even my hope often feels riddled with fear.
Because I study maternal health, I’ve followed the political attacks against the vaccine recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommendations meant to protect birthing people during pregnancy and children during their fragile beginnings.
Since 2025, federal officials have launched major assaults on previously established vaccine policies and public health recommendations. As a result, I’m left with diminished trust in a government that I never fully trusted anyway.
Like gospel singer Tamela Mann said, truth is … I’m tired.
Tired of incessantly dreaming and wishing in a country that never wants to see me wake up. Tired of advocating for all the things at stake. Tired of being asked, “Are you ever gonna get married and have a baby?”
To which I’m forced yet again to shrug and say, “Maybe.”
With my 30th birthday less than three months away, that is still my answer. Because I don’t yet know whether I will become a mother. When I posed the question of egg-freezing to my grandmother and aunt a few months ago, they told me not to worry. That I have plenty of time. And perhaps they’re right.
I don’t know if I’ll actually broach the topic of freezing my eggs at my next well woman exam.
But I do know one thing: Black women’s maternal autonomy and health deserve more than slogans and commemorative weeks. We deserve care. We deserve safety. We deserve support – not martyrdom.
Adia R. Louden has a Ph.D. in maternal and child health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a Public Voices Fellow of The OpEd Project in partnership with the National Black Child Development Institute.
Do you have a compelling personal story you’d like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we’re looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@huffpost.com.
We’ve covered off mid, chat, chopped, choppelganger, tuff, six-seven (*takes a breath*) and dozens of other weird phrases kids come out with thanks to viral internet culture.
Now, some teachers in the US are reporting kids are saying “call your Uber” or “call yo Uber” in class. Uber is a popular ride-hailing company so it’s kind of like saying, “call yourself a taxi”. In short: you need to leave.
TikTok creator and teacher Philip Lindsay said: “‘Call your Uber’ is a phrase that I’ve heard kids starting to use in the last couple of weeks and it’s always directed at somebody who’s either being annoying or doing something unwanted.”
The phrase has likely come from a video, the educator explained, where two people are interacting and are “very obviously annoyed at each other” – then one of them tells the other to “call your Uber”.
Another teacher known online as Coach Philly noted he’s also heard the phrase and will be using it because it’s “hilarious”.
“I actually love this one and yes I’m going to use it,” he said in a TikTok video.
“So anytime you hear ‘call your Uber’ that just means: ‘please stop’, ‘shut up’, ‘you’re annoying’, ‘get out’, ‘leave’, ‘just quit’ … If you see somebody doing something you don’t like or they’re being annoying or they’re getting on your nerves or you want them to leave, you just say ‘call your Uber’.”
What else are kids saying?
Mid
When Gen Alpha uses it, “mid” means mediocre or of disappointing quality. If you’re described as “mid” by a teenager then they’re basically saying you are… average.
According to Merriam-Webster, “mid” serves to express that something falls short of expectations, or isn’t impressive.
The dictionary notes that this slang term is thought to have come from a shortening of the term mid-grade, “a designation in cannabis culture of medium quality”.
City boy
“City boy, city boy” is the call of Gen Alpha currently, with TikTok creator and teacher Philip Lindsay noting kids in his class have been saying it.
“It’s a meme from an old video clip that they’re just repeating,” explained the teacher, who is based in the US. The memes actually first did the rounds in 2022 and appear to be popular again.
From a Gen Alpha perspective, Mr Lindsay suggested the phrase doesn’t really mean anything and kids are just shouting it out at all opportunities – a bit like six-seven.
Unc
This is short for “uncle”. And, per Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, it’s “often used humorously to indicate old age” and may imply “someone is old, getting old, or acting older than their age”.
Unc status may also be awarded to someone who “exhibit[s] behaviours that are considered outdated or out of touch”.
Chopped
In Gen Z and Gen Alpha speak, it means “ugly”. In some cases, younger generations have been calling people, mainly girls, chuzz – a less-than-friendly portmanteau of “chopped” and “huzz”, which means “ugly hoes”.
If your child’s been called chopped at school, here’s some advice on handling it.
Some kids have also been using ‘chopped’ to describe anything they don’t like. (So basically, “that’s chopped” became the equivalent of “that sucks”.)
Choppelganger
Choppelganger is a portmanteau of ‘chopped’ (aka ugly), and ‘doppelganger’, which is a person who resembles someone else. In short, it’s calling someone a less-attractive lookalike of someone else.
Check out our ultimate guide to teen slang here.
Politics
Politics Home | PM Says It Is “Staggering” And “Unforgiveable” He Wasn’t Told About Mandelson Vetting Failure
(Alamy UK)
2 min read
Keir Starmer has said he is “absolutely furious” that he wasn’t told that Lord Mandelson failed security vetting before being appointed US ambassador.
The Prime Minister said on Friday that it was “staggering” and “unforgivable”.
Starmer’s position is coming under renewed pressure after The Guardian revealed on Thursday that Mandelson had been appointed UK ambassador to the US in 2024 despite failing his security vetting.
No 10 said that the Foreign Office was responsible for the vetting process and overturned the failed security vetting without telling the Prime Minister or any other minister.
Last night, the most senior civil servant in the Foreign Office, Olly Robbins, was sacked after he was understood to have lost the confidence of both Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
While Robbins has not yet spoken publicly about the move, Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, Labour MP Emily Thornberry, has requested that the former senior official appear before the select committee on Tuesday to give evidence.
Downing Street added that Starmer had been first made aware of Mandelson’s failed vetting earlier this week.
“I was not told that he had failed security vetting, no minister was told… No 10 wasn’t told, that is completely unacceptable,” the PM said this morning.
“It is totally unacceptable that the Prime Minister making an appointment is not told that security vetting has been failed.”
Starmer said he would “set out all the relevant facts in true transparency” to Parliament on Monday when he plans to correct previous statements he made to the House of Commons about Mandelson’s appointment.
Also speaking this morning, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones, said that he had suspended the Foreign Office’s ability to overturn security advice and launched an urgent investigation into how incidents like that could have taken place across government.
Mandelson was sacked in September amid growing pressure over his links to the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The former Labour cabinet minister is currently being investigated by the police over allegations that he leaked confidential government documents to Epstein while in office.
One dad’s hilarious video of him being roasted by his children during the school run is a must-watch if you need a good laugh today.
Tay Kabs, a YouTube star who lives with his family in London, was taking his kids Maliya, nine, and TJ, six, to school on the first day back after the Easter holidays, when they started to talk amongst themselves about how old their friends’ parents were.
“Dad, what age did you and mummy meet?” asked Maliya, to which the father-of-four responded: “Umm, we were about 12.”
This clearly blew his daughter’s mind, who exclaimed: “12! Oh my gosh, wait. I’m nine [she then counts up to 12]. Three years older than me?!”
Maliya then asks how long her parents have been together, to which Tay responds 23 years. And you absolutely know where this is going…
“23 years! Wait, if you and mummy did not have any phones back then, how did you communicate?”
At this point TJ chimes in: “Dad used to write letters to mum.”
The comments continued: “He probably used the fountain pen with the feather [cackling].”
“And he probably dipped it in ink [explosion of laughter].”
The floodgates had been ripped wide open.
At this point both kids are in stitches in the back of the car, while Tay looks on. But the roast didn’t stop there. It was only just heating up.
“But dad, seriously, did you and your friends sing to mum on the way to school?” asked Maliya.
“Wait, did you and mum get invited to the Queen’s coronation? And what did you wear?”
“Dad wore a durag!” adds TJ, roaring with laughter.
“Mummy and daddy went on a double date with Mary and Joseph,” continues Maliya.
“But what if they were on a date, who would be babysitting Jesus?
“Oh yeah [hysterical laughter] Morgan Freeman.”
When I contacted Tay to check in (and ask how he kept a straight face for the duration of the video), he responded: “I didn’t, honestly. I was trying my best, but they were roasting me the whole time.
“With them, you never know what’s coming next – I just let the camera roll and hoped I could hold it together.”
The video has gone viral, with 1.9 million favourites and over 61,000 comments at the time of writing.
“Them being so proper and roasting you is diabolical,” shared one commenter.
“YOOOO. These kids be out for blood because why am I hearing such eloquent children rake him over the coals,” added another.
Most people took the opportunity to praise the parent for raising such quick-witted kids.
“Okay but also proud parent moment that they were throwing all the most educational shade,” said one fan.
“Sir, you’ve clearly done an excellent job raising your kids,” added another.
Discussing the reaction, Tay told me: “It’s funny because that’s genuinely how they are with me at home. I’m their dad but I’m also their number one target. I love that people are enjoying it – their confidence and quick wit is just natural.”
It’s clear humour is an important part of their day-to-day life. Any parent knows that with young kids, life can have many twists and turns, and while there are plenty of challenges, the Kabs are finding ways to giggle and guffaw through it.
“Humour is a big part of our household,” he ends. “With kids, especially at that age, things can get chaotic — laughter keeps everything balanced. Moments like that school run are real life for us.”
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