Men's Journal's Blog, page 153
April 3, 2025
Apple Debuts 8 Brand-New Emojis with New iPhone Update
Apple is debuting eight brand-new emojis for iPhone users with its latest iOS 18.4 update. The company revealed the new emoji on Monday on social media.
Included in the new emojis drop include a purple paint splatter; a high-tech-looking blue fingerprint; a shovel; a hard; a radish; a leaf-less tree; and the flag of Sark, a self-governing region in the Channel Islands. Also included was a brand-new facial expression emoji, one displaying a very tired (and very relatable) visage.
These are the new emoji available today with iOS 18.4
— Apple Hub (@theapplehub) March 31, 2025
Which one is your favorite? pic.twitter.com/nyMy1dSxCU
“I’m still saying this will be the most-used emoji of the year,” one social media critic said of the exhausted face.
I'm still saying that this will be the most used emoji of the year... 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/VpmaoXaN0O
— Todd LeComte (@tslecomte) March 31, 2025
Apple has also updated several of its preexisting emojis. The plain bagel emoji has been, blessedly, upgraded to a bagel with cream cheese emoji. There is also a new emoji of a pregnant man in an effort to represent transgender pregnancies.
Related: Authorities Release Cause of Death for Brett Gardner's Son
The new iOS 18.4 update will also introduce cutting-edge Apple Intelligence features as well as new languages and regions. Vision Pro will allow users to proofread, rewrite, and summarize text using Writing Tools, while users can now compose text from scratch using ChatGPT in Writing Tools. There is also a new “sketch” option in Image Playground which allows you to create detailed etchings as you might on a real piece of paper.
Apple’s iOS 18.4 update is available now.
April 2, 2025
Man Charged After At-Home Plastic Surgery Goes Awry
A New York man has been arrested and charged after an at-home plastic surgery procedure went awry, People reported.
Felipe Hoyos-Foronda, 38, was arrested on March 28 after he summoned police to his home in Astoria, Queens. He has been charged with assault in the second degree and unauthorized practice of profession, a New York Police Department spokesperson told the outlet.
Hoyos-Foronda allegedly called police to the house and then fled the location. When FDNY medics arrived, they found an unidentified 31-year-old woman in the throes of cardiac arrest. After a preliminary investigation, it was discovered that the victim had been given lidocaine injections, which are often used as a local anesthetic in plastic surgery procedures. Investigators also discovered a “makeshift doctor's office” in the suspect’s home.
Related: Authorities Release Cause of Death for Brett Gardner's Son
"[The] first apartment operating as a medical office with [a] medical exam table, cosmetic injectables syringes, exam lights," states a vacate order on the building, via CBS News.
The suspect was apprehended later that day at John F. Kennedy Airport shortly after passing through security. Hoyos-Forondo allegedly claimed he was a legally accredited doctor in Colombia; he also was in possession of a plane ticket to the country, the New York Daily News reported.
Related: ‘Mission Impossible’ Star Makes Prediction About Franchise’s Future
Tragically, the victim is not expected to survive. She was transported to Mount Sinai Queens for treatment and intubated, but doctors reported that she has no brain activity. It’s believed that she is suffering from lidocaine toxicity, which is when large amounts of the anesthetic enter the bloodstream, potentially causing dizziness, agitation, and cardiovascular or respiratory failure.
Hoyos-Foronda has pleaded not guilty. He is being held without bail in Queens Criminal Court ahead of his next court appearance on April 3.
‘Mission Impossible’ Star Makes Prediction About Franchise’s Future
Mission: Impossible — Final Reckoning actor Holt McCallany made a dramatic though not altogether unsurprising prediction about the franchise’s future. McCallany, the star of The Iron Claw and Netflix’s Manhunter, appears opposite Tom Cruise as the secretary of defense in this summer’s forthcoming blockbuster.
“Well, I haven't seen Mission: Impossible [The Final Reckoning] yet, but, I've seen all of the preceding films and it's a great franchise,” McCallany told People at the premiere of his new film, The Amateur. He went on to praise director Christopher McQuarrie and Cruise, both of whom McCallany had wished to work with for some time.
Related: 'Heat' Director Michael Mann Honors Late Star Val Kilmer
“Christopher McQuarrie is a wonderful guy, a great writer, a great director, and really a great human being, you know, so it was a privilege to work for Chris McQ, we call him ‘McQ,’” McCallany said. “Tom is the biggest movie star in the world, and there's a reason for that. So I was really happy to be a part of that project, and I think it's going to be very successful, especially to be a part of what's going to be the last installment of that franchise,” he added.
Related: Chris Hemsworth Reveals Why He Will ‘Never Be Friends’ With Billie Eilish
Final Reckoning picks up where 2023’s Mission Impossible — Dead Reckoning left off, with Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his team of IMF agents pursuing a mysterious, deadly AI device known as “The Entity.” During an interview with Empire in February, Cruise confirmed that this installment would be the franchise’s last…at least for now. “It is, I hope, the satisfying conclusion to a 30-year story arc,” Cruise announced. “I’m pretty confident that people are going to feel that the title was appropriate.”
Mission Impossible — Final Reckoning hits cinemas on May 23, 2025.
Authorities Release Cause of Death for Brett Gardner's Son
Authorities in Costa Rica have released the official cause of death for New York Yankees player Brett Gardner’s 14-year-old son, Miller, the Associated Press reported.
On Wednesday, April 2, it was ruled that Gardner’s son passed away due to exposure to carbon monoxide. Miller, who died last month while the family was on vacation, tested positive for carboxyhemoglobin. Carboxyhemoglobin is "a stable complex of carbon monoxide that forms in red blood cells when carbon monoxide is inhaled,” according to Medscape.
Randall Zúñiga, director of Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department (OIJ), explained that a 50 percent or higher carboxyhemoglobin level is considered deadly. Miller’s level was reportedly at 64 percent. He also had a “layer” of carboxyhemoglobin in his organs, the autopsy revealed.
“It’s important to note that adjacent to this room is a dedicated machine room, where it’s believed there may be some type of contamination toward these rooms,” Zúñiga said of Miller’s hotel room.
Related: Brett Gardner's Entire Family Suffered 'Severe' Symptoms Before Son's Death
The announcement comes just over a week after the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort where the Gardners were staying issued a statement refuting the agency’s findings of "high levels of carbon monoxide contamination,"claiming carbon monoxide levels in each of their rooms was "non-existent and non-lethal."
The Yankees announced Miller’s death on behalf of his mother and father on March 23. “With heavy hearts we are saddened to announce the passing of our youngest son, Miller,” the statement read. “He was 14 years old and has left us far too soon after falling ill along with several other family members while on vacation. We have so many questions and so few answers at this point, but we do know that he passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Friday, March 21st.”
Ana de Armas Explains Keanu Reeves' ‘Relentless’ Side While Playing 'John Wick'
Fans of the popular movie series John Wick have a lot to be excited about in the near future. Along with the announcement of John Wick: Chapter 5 and a John Wick television show, the spin-off Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas, is set to be released on June 6, 2025.
Keanu Reeves has thrived in the starring role of each main film in the series, and will also be in Ballerina. After filming alongside Reeves for the upcoming spin-off, de Armas has had nothing but the highest praise for the 60-year-old actor.
This was the case again when she sat down to speak with Fandango about the upcoming film. After praising Reeves for his approach during training and rehearsal, de Armas couldn't say enough about his relentless approach to the role of John Wick.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Fandango (@fandango)
"On set, he's just down for anything, and he just wants to go again and again and again," de Armas explained of Wick. "... He's relentless and tireless and a perfectionist.”
Director Len Wiseman also chimed in, explaining that Reeves is "hard on himself to get it perfect, which is phenomenal."
It's no surprise to hear the dedication Reeves puts into his craft. And considering how successful the John Wick franchise has been, making over $1 billion worldwide, it's safe to assume fans won't be disappointed by the upcoming fifth film and its spin-off, Ballerina.
Related: Leonardo DiCaprio Reveals 1 Person He Wanted to Work With for 'Almost 20 Years'
Tom Cruise Remains Silent on Val Kilmer's Death
Actor Tom Cruise has yet to make a statement about the death of Val Kilmer, who famously played Iceman, initially a rival to Cruise's Maverick character in Top Gun.
Due to the enduring popularity of that franchise, Cruise is integrally tied to Kilmer's life story. Thus, the fact he has remained silent in the wake of Kilmer's death stands out.
A flurry of other tributes from major celebrities emerged on April 2, 2025, the day after Kilmer's daughter Mercedes confirmed his death to The New York Times. She said that Kilmer, 65, died of pneumonia. He had long been battling throat cancer.
Tributes flowed from everyone from Josh Brolin to Cher, who once dated Kilmer. Other Top Gun co-stars have commemorated Kilmer.
"Val Kilmer, in a life time as an artist created work that touched so many in so many mediums," Anthony Edwards told People. "Hoping he is at peace."
Jennifer Connelly, who starred in the sequel, wrote on her Instagram story, "RIP to our forever Iceman," according to People.
American actors Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise on the set of Top Gun, directed by Tony Scott.Sunset Boulevard/Getty Images
Cruise is active on social media.
However, as of the evening of April 2, 2025, a full 24 hours after news of Kilmer's death broke, Cruise's top post on X was a movie clip showing Cruise that he posted on Feb. 13. His pinned post promoted Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning.
Cruise's Instagram page had identical posts.
Some fans, though, were content with the lengths Cruise went to reunite with Kilmer's Iceman character in a touching scene in the Top Gun: Maverick sequel. In that scene, Kilmer's character struggles with terminal cancer and has trouble talking, just like Kilmer himself. He communicated with Maverick through a computer. Once competitors, Cruise turned to Kilmer for advice about dealing with Goose's son, Rooster.
"Rooster's still angry with me," Cruise as Maverick told Iceman, getting emotional in the scene.
"It's time to let go," Kilmer's character tells Cruise, through typing the words on a screen.
I still remember hearing people in the theater cry during this moment between Val Kilmer & Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick. I’m so incredibly thankful Cruise insisted on this scene because this moment is forever. RIP, Iceman. pic.twitter.com/qxoiEhz8wS
— Cinema Tweets (@CinemaTweets1) April 2, 2025
Cruise told talk show host Jimmy Kimmel that he cried making the scene.
"I just want to say that was pretty emotional. I’ve known Val for decades,” he said on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
"I was crying, I was crying. I got emotional," Cruise told Kimmel. "He's such a brilliant actor, I love his work."
Fans wrote on X that they appreciated that Cruise filmed the final scene with Kilmer.
"Thank you @TomCruise for giving us the scene with Val Kilmer in #TopGunMaverick," a fan wrote on X in the wake of Kilmer's death.
"I still remember hearing people in the theater cry during this moment between Val Kilmer & Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick. I’m so incredibly thankful Cruise insisted on this scene because this moment is forever. RIP, Iceman," wrote another X page.
Pierce Brosnan Says He's Ready to Return to James Bond — But Not in the Role You Think
For fans of James Bond, we tend to think of Pierce Brosnan as the kind of guy who will come and save the world. But in the new Guy Ritchie-produced crime drama MobLand, Brosnan's character, Conrad Harrigan, is a mob boss who would burn down the world to save his own skin. And, this new role makes one wonder: could Brosnan return to the Bond franchise not as 007 himself, but instead, as a Bond villain?
"Could be," Brosnan tells Men's Journal when asked if he would play a Bond villain. "I mean, why not? It's entertainment. People would love it."
Brosnan's co-star in MobLand, Anson Boon, who plays his grandson on the show, chimed in at the thought of Brosnan as a Bond villain. "I'd watch it!"
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 31: (L-R) Pierce Brosnan and Anson Boon attend the MobLand Premiere after party at The Twenty-Two on March 31, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Paramount+)Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Paramount+
In MobLand, Boon plays the devil-may-care Eddie Harrigan, grandson of Brosnan's Conrad Harrigan. On the show, and in real life, it does feel as though the two are actually related.
"I felt like he was my grandson," Brosnan says of Boon. "He's such a great actor, he's so believable. And when you're working with wonderful actors like Anson, like Tom Hardy, they make you real because they believe who they are, and you want to believe who you are as an actor. It's an emotional chemistry."
The younger actor says he only had one real problem with acting with both Brosnan and Helen Mirren, who plays Maeve, Eddie's grandmother. "There's a scene in episode two, where I'm getting out of a car to greet them, and I wanted to smile. Because I loved working with them so much. But Guy [Ritchie] was like 'no, don't smile. 'It's much more juvenile if you don't smile, you're trying to seem cool.'"
Related: Review: 'MobLand' Gives Tom Hardy His Best Role Yet
Before taking on the role of Eddie in MobLand, Boon had previously played Johnny Rotten in the Sex Pistols series Pistol, directed by Danny Boyle. Brosnan commented on the Boon's swagger both on and off screen, "You're just kind of, too sexy for your shirt," he said. "That was the first scene I had with you. You were so good. You were so right there. I was like get over here you cheeky bugger!"
Brosnan also notes that although the show is set in the present day, he feels that MobLand has an otherworldly, out-of-time quality, something he says impacted all aspects of the show. "It has a kind of mythology to it," Brosnan explains. "I didn't feel I was in this period in time. It's like Macbeth. There is a theatricality to it all, which prevailed over the entire set and the cast."
MobLand airs new episodes on Sundays on Paramount+.Southwest Airlines Announces Major Change After Free Bags Furor
Southwest Airlines is making another major change in the wake of the no-more-free bags furor, but this change might prove more popular with customers.
On March 27, 2025, Southwest announced that its flight schedule would now be extended through Jan. 5, 2026.
"Southwest is increasing service to many airports in California and Florida, as well as making year-over-year increases to several international destinations," the airline added in a press release. "Additionally, Southwest will welcome several new routes to its network next month with previously announced service between Nashville" and Albany, Albuquerque, Jackson, Miss., Memphis, Tulsa, and Providence, R.I., the airline announced.
Southwest "is also set to launch redeye flying from Hawaii to the Mainland in April with service from Honolulu and Maui to both Las Vegas and Phoenix; and from Kona to Las Vegas," the release adds.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 4: A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX8 departs San Diego International Airport en route to New Orleans on March 4, 2025 in San Diego, California. "In November, follow your team to the 2025 Southwest Maui Invitational with daily service between Maui and Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Oakland or connect through Hawaii’s capital on one of eight daily trips between Honolulu and Las Vegas, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Jose," it says.
On March 31, 2025, Southwest announced Southwest Groups, described in a news release as "a redefined booking and travel management tool for travel decision-makers specializing in group travel."
"Southwest Groups aims to simplify complex and time-consuming processes by empowering the travel arranger with self-service tools to shop, book, place deposits, manage reservations including name changes, and download robust reporting dashboards," the release notes.
According to The News-Press, the airline's decision to end open seating last year and free checked bags this year "blindsided" some customers.
Val Kilmer's Ex-Wife Joanna Whalley Seen for 1st Time Since His Death
Val Kilmer's ex-wife Joanne Whalley and their daughter Mercedes Kilmer were seen together for the first time in public since the actor's death.
Page Six published photos on April 2 that show Whalley, who was Kilmer's only wife, hugging their daughter. Whalley and Kilmer shared two kids together, including son Jack Kilmer.
According to Page Six, the mother and daughter were photographed outside of Mercedes Kilmer's home in West Hollywood, California. The photos show them hugging. The two were carrying large bags.
Mercedes is 33, and Jack is 29 years old.
Val Kilmer’s ex wife Joanne Whalley hugs daughter Mercedes following the actor’s death https://t.co/JCc1fHJeEd pic.twitter.com/YecT2682ef
— New York Post (@nypost) April 2, 2025
Whalley met Kilmer on the set of the movie Willow and was married to him from 1988 until they divorced in 1996, according to Page Six.
Kilmer also dated a string of famous actresses and models over the years, including Daryl Hannah, Cindy Crawford, Cher, and Angelina Jolie.
However, he said in his memoir that he had not dated for 20 years, People reported.
Mercedes Kilmer confirmed his death on April 1 to The New York Times, revealing that the cause of death was pneumonia after a years-long battle with throat cancer.
“I can’t be a responsible parent and only be there three or four months a year,” Val Kilmer told Vanity Fair, explaining his closeness to his kids.
Mercedes Kilmer acted with her dad in the movie Paydirt.
“The producer called me up and asked me if I would play this role and I said, ‘I don’t know if you’ve found anybody yet to play my daughter, but I might have someone for you. Her name is Mercedes Kilmer and perhaps you’d be interested in meeting with her,'” Val Kilmer told People. “Mercedes and the producer met and they all had a ball.”
In that interview, Mercedes Kilmer opened up about her dad's battle with throat cancer, which started in 2015.
"It’s obvious my dad’s speech is compromised and so this whole experience revealed the personal effort I had put into working with actors with a disability, which I hadn’t done before," she told People. "It revealed how much I had to gain from working with people who have different abilities. My dad’s able to very artfully circumvent the limitations of his speech, so I learned so much watching him, how he communicated physically. It taught me so much about acting that expanded what I thought acting was, which was central to speech."
Val Kilmer Relationship History: He Didn't Date for 20 Years
Actor Val Kilmer dated a string of famous celebrities throughout his life, from Daryl Hannah to Cindy Crawford. However, for decades, he was lonely.
Kilmer opened up about his dating history in his memoir, according to People.
“I haven’t had a girlfriend in 20 years. The truth is I am lonely part of every day,” Kilmer wrote in 2020.
Kilmer died on April 1 of pneumonia, his daughter told The New York Times. He was single at the time.
By that point, Kilmer had already been battling throat cancer for years, and he had suffered his share of romantic heartbreak, both through his divorce from actress Joanne Whalley and some of his relationships.
In the memoir, Kilmer expressed fondness for women, People reported.
Cher and Val Kilmer attends the "Grease II" Premiere Party at The Red Parrot on June 9, 1982 in New York City. “I’ve always found women infinitely more interesting than men,” Kilmer wrote. “Perhaps that’s why we’ve always gotten along. We are big oafy elephants … and they are butterflies.”
According to The New York Post, Kilmer described some of his former girlfriends in his book.
He described his split from Hannah as the "most painful," and said of Cindy Crawford, "I thought I could have died from her love, not because it was difficult but because its delight was simply too much to bear."
According to ET Online, Kilmer wrote that Crawford helped him get past his divorce from Whalley, which came after eight years of marriage and two kids.
Kilmer was linked to producer Jaycee Gossett through the 2000s, but he did not have any public girlfriends after that time, according to US Weekly.
Men's Journal's Blog
- Men's Journal's profile
- 1 follower
