. Alonso’s future, Pogba’s camels, “panic,” in Turkey, and a sour Polish season are all topics in the Euro Leagues. 42 minutes of audio
Rogers ‘talismanic’ for Villa against Man Utd – Analysis
Love Island star quits showbiz for different career after hitting ‘rock bottom’
Former rugby player Jacques O’Neill has admitted he “hated himself” and has changed the course of his career after being perceived as the villain in Love Island season 8’s villain.
Love Island star Jacques O’Neill has turned his life around and begun a new career after leaving the showbiz world behind for something more fulfilling. The former rugby lad was regarded as season 8’s villain after his ‘toxic’ behaviour towards his partner Paige Thorne, causing backlash from fans of the ITV reality dating show.
But Jacques has found himself after hitting ‘rock bottom’ following his stint on Love Island, revealing that he’s discovered his true calling. The former bad boy is now a carer, who has formed a brotherly bond with a young man with disabilities.
He described his new career and credited the young men he works with with “saving” him. The influencer shared information on social media. “Everything only started to change when this boy, Denum, my best friend and little brother, who I love so much,” said the man.
Jacques, 26, now has access to multiple disabled clients, adding, “I started caring for these lads 4 times a week, and they gave me a reason to show up again.” They made a difference for me.
The actor opened up about his journey, sharing photos with fans in which he admitted to having a drinking problem and growing weight as a result. He declared, “I’m Jacques 26 and I’m resuming my life.” You never saw this section of my story.
Rugby has always been what I’ve known since I was a child. All I ever wanted to do was do it. Other than rugby, I had little else to care about. discipline . difficult to do. Respect . That was my entire masculinity identity.
I felt like I couldn’t take a break as my career just started to take shape, and each one injured me in a way that I didn’t realize at the time. I said “yes” when Love Island called, but for all the wrong reasons: I wasn’t mentally, emotionally, or mature; I was just a lost boy, so angry with the world.
Jacques went on: “But instead of working on myself, I got caught up in everything what came after the show, what I also wasn’t ready for, on Instagram it looked like I was living the dream, the car, the apartment. The travelling… hanging out with people who I thought I’d never even be in the same room as, working with brands that I wore since a kid it was all a bit crazy.
This wasn’t the real me; in fact, I felt more lost and empty than ever. I actually ended up despising myself that much that I had to drink to get through it week by week.
On another photo, Jacques can be seen drinking and looking worse off than he did on Love Island. Rock bottom continued, “Rock bottom was looking in the mirror without realizing who I was.” How did I become a professional athlete like this.
I embarrassed myself to be someone who couldn’t even take himself seriously anymore. I was aware that I had to change and that I couldn’t continue to live this way.
He continued, “From the moment I started caring for them lads, I rebuilt my body, my mind, and my standards.” I can now never lose myself again. I can endure.
“This is who I am right now. This chapter is for you if you’re also rebuilding yourself.
Continue reading the article.
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
READ MORE: ‘I got an Apple iPad for £59 as I put Wowcher’s refurbished tech to the test’
Lily Allen explains why she got boob job after public David Harbour split
English singer Lily Allen has spoken out about how the trauma of ending her marriage to Stranger Things actor David Harbour caused drastic weight loss and gave her insecurities
Lily Allen has spoken out about why she went under the knife for her post break up ‘revenge boob job’. The singer recently split up with her Stranger Things star husband David Harbour after she reportedly discovered he’d had a three-year affair.
The couple got married in September 2020, but confirmed they had called it a day in February this year, after the revelation that Harbour had been unfaithful. Lily, 40, went on to release her most recent album West End Girl, which sees her sing about the demise of her marriage and gives a scathing insight into her personal struggle following her divorce.
Lily herself admits the lyrics are a mix of fact and fiction, with the English star naming the woman her ex allegedly cheated on her with as Madeline. The album is her first in seven years and was recorded in just 10 days in the wake of her devastating split from the star last December.
READ MORE:
READ MORE: Lily Allen puts on sultry display in Santa lingerie at star-studded Christmas party
But the toll the end of her marriage took on Lily was so intense that she checked herself into an £8, 000 a week trauma facility, where she sought help for panic attacks after the public breakdown of her relationship. While a breakup can often spur people on to hit the gym or cut their hair, Lily went one step further and decided to go under the knife to boost her confidence post-split.
In an interview with The Observer, she discussed what made her go to such drastic measures. Speaking to the publication about what inspired her, she revealed that drastic weight loss had made her feel self-conscious, especially when she thought about regaining weight when the impact of the split wore off.
Lily said: “And because I’ve always been really small up top, I was worried about becoming really bottom-heavy. And so I felt like…” The paper reports that Lily paused, adding: “This is how I talk to myself”! She continued: “I felt like if I got boobs, it would make me feel better about gaining weight. So that was my reasoning”.
Meanwhile, the real-life Madeline that Lily sung about in her new album has addressed the situation herself, slamming the singer for ‘profiting off of lies’. Natalie Tippett, who is said to be the costume designer mother that Harbour was unfaithful with, posted on Instagram to give her own account of what went on.
Natalie shared three slides where she explained she felt ‘ extremely violated ‘ by the way she has been portrayed. She wrote: “I was hoping not to speak on this, but I am tired of this false narrative being pushed and circulated. This was such a marginal part of my life, but it’s now turned into a major disruption”.
In the next slide she wrote: “I did not have a three year affair with anyone. I’m unsure why this person wants so badly to pit people against me or create this narrative that we both know is false based on the actual messages that I have saved between us. The same ones that have now been referenced in a song without my consent”.
“I don’t weaponise women against women for the behaviour of men, especially not in an open relationship. I’m wishing her all the success, money, healing and happiness and whatever else she’s seeking through this”.
Natalie went on to explain that she is aware of the ‘ repercussions ‘ that might come with speaking out but spoke about ‘ having to watch someone profit off painful lies’. She added: “I’m a human being not a character someone created”.
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.
Article continues below
READ MORE: This on-sale beauty box gets you £270 worth of festive staples like Medik8 and Benefit for under £50
Man Utd face up to ‘massive’ loss of injured Fernandes
- 72 Comments
Ruben Amorim didn’t want to talk about it, but Diogo Dalot did. Losing Bruno Fernandes is going to be a “massive” blow to Manchester United.
Portugal full-back Dalot said he did not know the extent of the injury that forced his team-mate for club and country out of the 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa at half-time.
But his assessment couldn’t have been clearer.
“It’s massive,” Dalot told Sky Sports. “We don’t know how bad it is but for him to come off, we know how tough he is.”
To put that into context, in his entire time at United, Fernandes has missed two games due to injury towards the end of 2023-24, when he was managing a knee complaint so he could play in the FA Cup final. He has also missed one match through illness.
Fernandes is United’s talisman and most creative force. Even dropping into a deeper role this season, he has five goals and seven assists. Until the game at Villa Park, there had been only four Premier League matches in which United had scored and he he had failed to be involved in at least one goal.
Little wonder Amorim didn’t want to dwell on his captain’s impending absence for too long.
“I don’t what to talk about matters you can’t control,” he said.
“It’s a soft tissue, I think he’s going to lose some games, I don’t know for sure. He is a guy who is always fit so he might recover quite well.”
However, Amorim did confirm Fernandes would miss the Boxing Day encounter with Newcastle at Old Trafford after initially pulling up towards the end of the first-half, feeling his hamstring.
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
‘We are going to struggle’ – Amorim’s squad looking thin
The problem for Amorim is two-fold.
First, how on earth does he replace Fernandes? Secondly, how long will he be sidelined?
After the Newcastle game, United have four games in a fortnight, culminating in the FA Cup third-round tie with Brighton. Beyond that are Premier League meetings with Manchester City and Arsenal.
Amorim’s squad has barely suffered an injury so far this season. Now he is losing his most important player just as Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui begin Africa Cup of Nations campaigns that might not end until the day after the home game with Manchester City on 17 January.
In addition, experienced defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire show no immediate sign of returning from injuries that have kept them out for four and six matches respectively.
If that wasn’t bad enough, Kobbie Mainoo – whose frustration at not starting a league game this season is well known – missed the Villa trip with a calf problem, which Amorim said would “probably” rule him out of the Newcastle game.
“We must find different situations,” he added.
The one bit of good news is the return of Casemiro from a one-match ban.
Manuel Ugarte should be fit, although a statistic released at the end of the game showed United had not won any of the last nine league games in which the Uruguay midfielder has started – a record at United beaten only by Brazilian Kleberson – will not fill supporters with much confidence.
Centre-back Lisandro Martinez was Fernandes’ direct replacement against Villa and did a decent enough job. However, last month Amorim said he would only use the Argentina international in midfield as an ’emergency’ which underlines the issue.
England youth international Jack Fletcher – son of former United title winner Darren – was given his debut as a substitute but, at 18, expectations have to be tempered.
The lack of bodies will heighten demands among the club’s support for United to bolster Amorim’s squad with new arrivals in the January transfer window.
On Friday the former Sporting coach said he was not prepared to panic buy and would only go after pre-existing targets.
There is interest in Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, while former Wolves skipper Ruben Neves – thought to be seeking a move back to Europe from the Saudi Pro League next month – fits the template for the type of midfield player United need.
However, even though they have only taken 10 points from their last eight games and have dropped below Liverpool to seventh in the table, and four points above 14th spot, Amorim said he will not abandon the long-standing plan.
“What we cannot do is to reach January and try to do everything in urgency, make mistakes and then [it’s] ‘here we go again’ with a lot of mistakes,” he added.
“I’m not going to get [together] with [technical director] Jason [Wilcox] and [chief executive] Omar [Berrada] and say, ‘We need a lot of players’.
“We have a plan. If we have to suffer, the club comes first.
“Of course, we are in a moment where we need points, but we need to find solutions, and we are going to continue with our plan.
Related topics
- Manchester United
- Football
James Ransone dead: The Wire star dies by suicide at 46 as tributes flood in
Actor James Ransone passed away at the age of 46. The actor’s most well-known role was Ziggy Sobotka in the television series The Wire, which ran until 2008 and was well-known worldwide.
The actor’s body was discovered in a Los Angeles residence. No foul play was suspected when officers from the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call, according to reports.
James has received numerous tributes, with one fan describing him as “the best adult performance in IT: Chapter 2.” He made the best transition between the child and adult performances out of the rest of the cast, which was impressive. A genuine talent betrayed.
When I learned that he played a key role in the new IT, I was “so excited.” A heaven-made literary match. James was such a talented actor, and he always delivered audiences a character they’d never forget. In Generation Kill, I adored Ziggy, just like I adored his in The Wire. He was definitely going to get the career boost he so desperately needed, I thought,” a second said.
“Very sad” was a third song. “Heartbreaking news,” according to one of the four who added: “46 is so young.” In both Black Phone and It Chapter Two of the Sinister movies, he did a fantastic job. Due to James’ father’s two children, his family received also special tributes.
“I’m giving the family a lot of thought. They lose their father in this manner a few days before Christmas. They will never be the same as them, and the holidays will undoubtedly be difficult, they said.
James remarked on how unhappy he was as a child when he described his childhood. I think that most children go through this difficult time, just like I do most of them. It’s very uncomfortable. I once had a very difficult time with the typical public schools.
“Then, my mother discovered this school.” She said, “Hey, they’re opening this arts school. You are free to depart. You must perform an audition. It would be very simple for me to enroll because I would be the first person to have graduated completely. I said, “Yes. I’ll do everything to avoid these people. It saved me as a child, in my opinion. I was saved by attending arts school.
“I still struggle with acting as a catharsis. I don’t end up playing many likeable characters, so I end up with a lot of unlikable skin. I don’t feel good as a result of that. I experience much more catharsis when I film, paint, or create short films. You are in some control. I believe that the true essence of art is in the creation of something that is beyond words. Good art begins where language ends.
The Samaritans have a free helpline that is available 24/7, accessible at 116 123, for those who are struggling and need to talk. You can also contact Jo at jo@samaritans.org or visit their website to find your neighborhood branch.
This story, do you like? Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTubeandThreads for more latest news and gossip.
US pursues another oil tanker near Venezuela: Reports
