Men's Journal's Blog, page 83
June 12, 2025
Why It Feels Like Planes Are Crashing More Often Lately
From flipped planes to fatal collisions, 2025 has felt like a turbulent year for air travel—literally. But while recent high-profile incidents have rattled public confidence, experts say there’s more to the story than social media panic.
So far, 2025 has seen two fatal commercial jet crashes, the latest being the Air India disaster.
Other unsettling events so far this year include a Delta plane flipping on a Toronto runway, an American Airlines engine fire that forced an evacuation via the wing, and a helicopter collision in D.C. that claimed all lives onboard. Plus, there are all the incidents of aging radar and air traffic control losing access to planes while they're in the air.
These headlines have people wondering: are planes actually crashing more often?
Statistically, no, The Telegraph reported. According to aviation data analysts, 2023 was one of the safest years in aviation history, with only six fatal accidents worldwide. 2024 saw a spike—16 fatal crashes with 333 deaths. However, that number is still a fraction of the thousands of fatalities per year seen decades ago. In fact, from 2006 to 2024, no single year topped 1,000 deaths. Compare that to the 1970s, when yearly fatalities often exceeded 2,000.
Experts attribute the rise in fear to visibility, not risk. With smartphones and social media capturing every minor mishap, a skewed sense of danger has taken hold. But the truth? Air travel is still among the safest forms of transportation.
That’s thanks to advances in jet engine reliability, cockpit tech, and air traffic systems. So much so, that today, pilot error—not mechanical failure—is the leading cause of accidents.
Of course, accidents will still happen. But the odds? You’d need to fly every day for over 100,000 years to face a fatal crash, according to IATA data. Flying has never been more closely monitored, regulated, and prepared for emergencies
The bottom line? Yes, the headlines have been unnerving. But the skies are still safer than they seem. If you’re boarding a flight this summer, the data says you’re in good hands.
Related: American Airlines Breaks Silence on Newark International Airport
John Stamos Pays Tribute to 'Genius' Brian Wilson
John Stamos released a statement memorializing Brian Wilson after his death was confirmed on June 11. Wilson's family confirmed his death at age 82 on Wednesday. Stamos, who has been touring with the band on their 2025 Sounds of Summer tour, posted a eulogy to Wilson on his Instagram alongside a photo of himself and the legendary singer-songwriter.
"Brian Wilson didn’t just soundtrack my life…he filled it with color, with wonder, with some of the most unforgettable, emotional, joyful moments I’ve ever known," Stamos wrote. "It’s hard to put into words what it meant to stand beside him, laugh with him, play his music with him."
Stamos continued, calling Wilson a "musical genius” and “a gentle, soulful, funny, complex, beautiful man." "He heard things no one else could hear. He felt things deeper than most of us ever will. And somehow, he turned all of that into music that wrapped itself around the world and made us all feel less alone.
"I grew up worshipping the Beach Boys, never imagining one day I’d get to play with them, let alone call Brian a friend. Brian gave the world 'Pet Sounds,' 'God Only Knows,' and 'Wouldn’t It Be Nice.' Songs that didn’t just play in the background of our lives, they shaped who we were. They shaped who I became."
Related: The Beach Boys Honor Brian Wilson in Heartfelt Statement
Stamos concluded: "Brian once said, 'Music is God’s voice.' I believe he was right, and now that voice, his voice, is part of the divine chorus. The music didn’t end. Rest easy, Brian. Thank you for the music. Thank you for the moments. I’ll carry them with me forever.”
The Beach Boys also released a statement after Wilson's death in which they praised the singer’s “timeless music” and the “joy he brought to millions.” "The melodies he dreamed up and the emotions he poured into every note changed the course of music forever,” the band wrote. “His unparalleled talent and unique spirit created the soundtrack of so many lives around the globe, including our own. Together, we gave the world the American dream of optimism, joy, and a sense of freedom—music that made people feel good, made them believe in summer and endless possibilities.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by John Stamos (@johnstamos)
June 11, 2025
The Beach Boys Honor Brian Wilson in Heartfelt Statement
The Beach Boys are memorializing Brian Jones after his death on Wednesday at 82. Following the announcement from Wilson’s family, the legendary band posted a tribute to the singer on Instagram.
"The world mourns a genius today, and we grieve for the loss of our cousin, our friend, and our partner in a great musical adventure," the band captioned a vintage photo of Wilson. "Brian Wilson wasn’t just the heart of The Beach Boys—he was the soul of our sound."
The statement continued: "The melodies he dreamed up and the emotions he poured into every note changed the course of music forever. His unparalleled talent and unique spirit created the soundtrack of so many lives around the globe, including our own. Together, we gave the world the American dream of optimism, joy, and a sense of freedom—music that made people feel good, made them believe in summer and endless possibilities.
Related: Glen Powell's Ex Blasts Star Over Sydney Sweeney Romance Rumors
"We will continue to cherish the timeless music we made together and the joy he brought to millions over the decades. And while we will miss him deeply, his legacy will live on through his songs and in our memories. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and his loved ones during this difficult time."
View this post on InstagramA post shared by The Beach Boys (@thebeachboys)
Wilson’s death comes almost exactly a year and a half after his wife, Melinda Ledbetter, passed away in January 2024. “Our five children and I are just in tears,” Wilson wrote at the time. “We are lost. Melinda was more than my wife. She was my saviour. She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career. She encouraged me to make the music that was closest to my heart. She was my anchor. She was everything for us.”
Adam Brody Calls Popular Kids’ TV Show ‘Blues Clues’ the Role He ’Fought Hardest for’
At some point in life, most people will come across a job opportunity that just feels right, like it’s the gig you’ve been waiting for. This even stands true for actors and celebrities, and considering how tough the entertainment industry is, landing their dream jobs is surely a tall task.
Longtime actor Adam Brody had no problem admitting the role he "fought hardest for," but ultimately didn't land during a recent conversation on The Hollywood Reporter's Comedy Actor Emmy Roundtable.
The group of six, which included Brody, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Ted Danson, John Mulaney and Julio Torres, sat down to chat about virtually anything for an hour.
When the question about which project the actors "fought hardest for" was posed, Brody revealed how badly he wanted the role in the popular former children's show Blue's Clues.
(L-R) Kristen Bell and Adam Brody attend Netflix's FYSEE LA "Nobody Wants This" ATAS event at Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.Michael Tullberg/Getty Images
Here's a look at the conversation from THR, including Rogen's question:
BRODY: "I really wanted Blue’s Clues early on."
ROGEN: "And you fought for it?"
BRODY: "I tried real hard, yeah. It was like 1999, I auditioned for it, I wanted it, I didn’t get it. But I would’ve loved it."
It's hard not to appreciate the honesty from Brody, especially during a conversation with a group of five other highly decorated actors. Fortunately, Brody found success around the same time as Blue's Clues, and starred in the hit television show The O.C. from 2003 to 2007.
For those who haven't seen Blue's Clues, the host (Steve) welcomes a preschool audience as he and his animated puppy, Blue, attempt to find three clues to solve a riddle or puzzle. The original show ran from September 1996 to August 2006, and a reboot was launched in 2019 called Blue's Clues & You, which ran for five seasons into 2024.
Brody currently stars in the Netflix series Nobody Wants This alongside Kristen Bell. Season 2 of the show is set to premiere on Oct. 23, 2025.
Related: Chris Evans Had a 1-Word Reaction to Learning Robert Downey Jr. Is Playing Doctor Doom
'Reacher' Season 4 Just Confirmed Location and Plot
The next adventure of Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) is coming in very soon in Season 4 of the hit Prime Video series Reacher. And, as filming begins on Reacher Season 4, Amazon has seemingly just confirmed not only the location for the next adventure, but has also revealed the plot by hinting at which very popular book will be the basis for this season.
On Wednesday night, June 11, the official Prime Video Reacher Instagram account dropped a cryptic photograph of a script sitting on the bench of a subway with the words "Reacher Season 4" printed on the cover. The caption for the post simply reads "REACHER S4..."
View this post on InstagramA post shared by REACHER (@reacherprimevideo)
What can it mean? Well, for fans of the Lee Child novels, this sneaky Instagram puzzle is actually quite simple. The photograph is meant to be a bench on the famous New York City MTA subway system. Obviously, that means Reacher Season 4 is taking place in NYC, and likely on the subway. Whether or not the show is actually filming in NYC, or simply a replica of the NYC subway, isn't clear. Season 3 took place in and around Portland, Maine, but was filmed in Ontario, Canada.
The point is, Reacher Season 4 is taking place in NYC, probably on the subway. So, which book happens in NYC on the subway? Again, for fans, this is an easy one: the book is Gone Tomorrow, the 13th Reacher book ever, first published in 2009. The plot involves Reacher dealing with a mysterious family called the Hoths, and begins with Reacher himself riding the NYC subway very early in the morning.
To be fair, the books The Hard Way (2006) and Tripwire (1999) also feature NYC, but Gone Tomorrow still seems like the best bet.
So, there you have it, Reacher is headed to the Big Apple for Season 4, and one of the most pulse-pounding, classic books in the series will almost certainly serve as the basis for the next batch of episodes. Season 1 was based on the first book, Killing Floor (1997), Season 2 was adapted from Bad Luck and Trouble (2007), and Season 3 was based on Persuader (2003).
Speaking to Men's Journal earlier this year, author Lee Child, the creator of Reacher, made it clear that the adventures were written in such a way that someone could read the books in any order. "I want them to be able to read that as equal to any other book in the series," he said. "I don't want you to feel left out." So, it doesn't matter that Gone Tomorrow wasn't the book right after Persuader. And it also probably means that Reacher Season 4 will be an utterly fresh start, full of new bad guys, new stunts, and, if we're lucky, a lot of fantastic twists.
Reacher Season 4 does not yet have a release date.Related: How to Read the Jack Reacher Books in the Correct Order (Hint: It's Not What You Think)
Ananda Lewis Had a Family Link to Will Smith Through Her Son
Ananda Lewis was a beloved host on several MTV shows.
Known as an MTV VJ, she drew a following in the 1990s. What some may not know, though, is that she had a family link to actor Will Smith.
Smith's brother, Harry Smith, shares a son with Lewis named Langston, according to People. Their son is 14, E! News reported.
Langston was born in 2011, People reported. It's not clear whether Smith ever became Lewis's husband, as there is no publicly reported evidence they were married. Whether she had a boyfriend at the time of her death is not known.
Lewis's sister Lakshmi Emory confirmed her death when she wrote on June 11 of Lewis: "She’s free, and in His heavenly arms. Lord, rest her soul." The cause of death of Lewis, 52, was not released, but she had been diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2019, and it progressed to stage four in 2023, NBC reported.
According to People, Will Smith also has an older sister Pamela. Harry and his twin Ellen are Smith's younger siblings; they share the same parents, Willard Smith Sr. and Caroline Bright, People reported.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Harry Smith (@thehman1)
According to People, Harry and Will Smith are close, and Harry also has a child from a previous relationship with a different woman. Harry hasn't posted about Lewis's death on his Instagram page.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Harry Smith (@thehman1)
In 2021, Harry Smith shared a photo of his kids on Instagram and wrote, "Love these two!!! Being father to @sydneytaylorsmith and Langston has been the single greatest joy of my life. It’s so interesting to watch your children and realize that they are crazy, just like you!"
Related: Brian Wilson's Heartbreaking Tribute to Wife Melinda When She Died First
George Kittle Puts Critical Fans in Check Over Viral Deebo Samuel Clip
Former San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver Deebo Samuel was traded to the Washington Commanders back in March in exchange for a fifth-round NFL draft pick.
Samuel had spent six seasons with the 49ers and quickly became a huge favorite among fans of the team for his physical style of play and general big play-making ability from just about anywhere head coach Kyle Shanahan lined him up on the field.
But with his immense popularity often came some pretty loud criticism too, sometimes for a subpar showing, though most of it usually centered around rumors and reports of Samuel showing up to training camp overweight and out of shape.
George Kittle (left), Travis Kelce, and Greg Olsen speak on stage during the Tight Ends & Friends Concert at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville on June 18, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee.Carly Mackler/Getty Images
So on Wednesday afternoon, after a 21-second clip of Deebo running two routes where the 29-year-old wideout appeared to be moving relatively slow, the predictable comments about his weight quickly flowed in at a steady pace.
The viral video on X and its accompanying criticism eventually made its way to former 49ers teammate and All-Pro tight end George Kittle, who was quick to slam the door shut on all the fat jokes and endless "he's cooked" comments.
It’s called group install when players jog thru plays. Knock it off
— George Kittle (@gkittle46) June 12, 2025
"It's called group install when players jog thru plays. Knock it off," Kittle said in response to the question of, "What do you notice?"
The question being posed was a pretty obvious invitation for an avalanche of jokes about Samuel and with over 1.2 million views on the post and a sea of harsh comments, we can safely consider that mission was accomplished.
While Kittle is widely known to be just about as loyal as it comes in terms of being a great teammate, both past and present, the five-time All-Pro clearly knows his football too and "group install" is very much a thing that absolutely involves jogging through plays, especially during a minicamp workout.
Kittle's notable clarification about the video was quickly supported by 13-year NFL veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner, who succinctly said, "Exactly."
And that's probably all anyone really needs to know about the clip.
Time will surely tell for Samuel when Week 1 of the NFL season rolls around and he suits up for the Commanders, officially hitting the field at whatever his top speed proves to be.
But generally speaking, it's probably a sound idea to listen to the professionals when it comes to very brief clips that often leave a lot of room for a wide range of interpretation and open season for exaggerated snark, like "Impressive route given the piano on his back."
Elon Musk Just Backed Warren Buffett's 3-Word Fix for the Deficit. Would It Work?
The U.S. deficit topped $1.8 trillion in 2024, but a bold idea from Warren Buffett is making the rounds again, and this time, Elon Musk is getting behind it.
In a 2011 CNBC interview, Buffett said he could end the deficit "in five minutes" by passing a law that disqualifies all sitting members of Congress from re-election if the deficit exceeds 3% of GDP. That clip recently resurfaced on social media, reigniting debate over government accountability—and catching the attention of Musk. He responded to Lee: "100%. This is the way."
Moneywise reported that the proposal got a push from Utah Senator Mike Lee, who’s now drafting a constitutional amendment inspired by Buffett’s logic. Lee’s version adds another twist: members of Congress would be ousted whenever inflation climbs above 3%.
Buffett’s plan might sound extreme, but based on recent numbers, it would be career-ending for nearly every lawmaker on Capitol Hill. The 2024 deficit hit 6.3% of GDP, which is double the threshold.
Of course, critics were quick to point out the obvious flaw in the setup. Congress would need to vote to fire itself, making the law politically toxic.
Even so, the idea is tapping into deep frustration with government spending. Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman once said, "Only Washington can create money," and warned that unchecked spending leads to inflation.
Musk’s endorsement, paired with Lee’s amendment effort, has amplified the conversation online. Some supporters argue that even if the proposal never passes, it forces lawmakers to confront the consequences of fiscal irresponsibility. Others see it as more political theater than policy.
While the odds of Congress passing a law that threatens its own job security are slim to none, the Buffett-Musk-Lee alignment has given the concept a second wind.
For now, the public can only vote the traditional way. But the viral resurgence of this three-word fix—“fire the incumbents”—shows Americans are still searching for accountability where it matters most.
Related: Elon Musk Changes Everything After X (Twitter) Outage
Top NFL Rookie Travis Hunter Buys $3.3 Million Jacksonville Mansion
The Jacksonville Jaguars made one of the biggest moves of the NFL Draft this year, trading up to the No. 2 spot to select Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
Hunter, a two-way player who excelled on both offense and defense in college, is seen as a player with the potential to single handedly turn a franchise around.
The Jaguars hope that Hunter can live up to that potential, and he's taken a major step to putting down roots in the Jacksonville area.
According to the Jacksonville Daily Record, Hunter bought a $3.275 million mansion in the Deerwood Country Club community. The 8,125-square foot home features two stories, five bedrooms and seven bathrooms. It also includes a four-car garage, pool and tennis court.
The gated property is also conveniently located to both the Jacksonville Jaguars' EverBank Stadium and the team's practice facility. A patio outside the home is filled with trees, bushes and a large water fountain in the center of the lawn.
The home has ties to the Jacksonville football community. It was built in 1995 (the team's inaugural season) and was owned by Pro Football Hall of Famer Leroy Butler, a Jacksonville native who starred during his career with the Green Bay Packers.
Angela Stringfellow, the home's listing agent, said that Hunter toured 16 homes with his wife Leanna and his younger brother Trayvis. The home the family eventually decided to purchase was the final one they looked at.
“It was really special,” Stringfellow said. "He took the time to appreciate the home and the family that lived there."
Hunter and his wife Leanna De La Fuente met while in high school in Georgia. They've remained together through his college football career at Jackson State and then Colorado.
They were engaged in 2024 and according to ESPN, were married late last month in Tennessee.
Hunter's contract with the Jaguars is expected to net him around $47 million over the next four years, with an additional fifth-year option should the team elect to keep him.
If Hunter's high school and college careers are any indication, he should have no problem earning a second contract.
The Survivors: The Netflix Series With Twists So Sharp You’ll Doubt Everyone
Netflix has a new hit on its hands, and this one comes with a rare badge of honor: a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating. The Survivors, a six-part thriller based on Jane Harper’s bestselling novel, isn’t just binge-worthy. It’s unforgettable.
Although many wonder if it's based on a true story. This Netflix series is not.
Set in the fictional town of Evelyn Bay, Tasmania, The Survivors follows Kieran Elliot, a man still reeling from the traumatic night 15 years earlier when his brother and best friend drowned trying to save him during a deadly storm. That same night, a local girl named Gabby vanished. Her disappearance remains an open wound in a town full of secrets.
When Kieran returns home, he’s not the only one digging into the past. A stranger named Brontë arrives, determined to find out what really happened to Gabby. But when Brontë turns up dead on the beach, it becomes terrifyingly clear—someone is willing to kill to keep the past buried.
What unfolds is a tightly wound mystery with an undercurrent of grief and guilt. The performances are raw, especially from Charlie Vickers as Kieran and Robyn Malcolm as Verity. The setting—crashing waves, cold sand, and wind-swept cliffs—feels like a character of its own.
The show doesn’t lean on cheap jump scares or overly graphic content. Instead, it builds a slow, suffocating tension that crescendos with each episode. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, The Survivors throws another curveball.
One viewer wrote, "The Survivors is not just another crime drama; it’s a profound exploration of how past traumas shape our present and the lengths to which people go to protect their secrets. With its compelling storytelling, rich character development, and atmospheric setting, this six-part series is a masterclass in emotional storytelling. Whether you’re a fan of psychological thrillers or character-driven dramas, The Survivors promises a viewing experience that will linger long after the credits roll."
Another person who binged the series also quickly started reading the source material. "Gripping, well acted, beautiful cinematography and such a good, satisfying ending! I loved the main romance between Kieran and Mia, as well as the lack of clichés. The series is nuanced and emotional and very well done. Highly recommend! (I immediately started the book after finishing, too!)"
Critics aren’t just handing out perfect scores for nothing — this show earns every bit of praise. With just six episodes, it’s a binge-worthy mystery that respects your time and rewards your attention. If you’re looking for your next thriller obsession, The Survivors might be it.
With only six episodes, it’s a quick binge, but don’t expect to feel settled when it ends. This one lingers. All six episodes are now streaming on Netflix.
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