Connect with us

Best Of

Dad refuses to leave behind son in wheelchair, both killed by LA fire

Anthony Mitchell watched helplessly as the raging Los Angeles fires burned through his neighborhood and home, unable to rescue himself or his son – both who used wheelchairs for mobility.

The father was waiting for assistance to evacuate him and Justin, who had cerebral palsy, but the help never came.

Hajime White was going down memory lane, gushing over her father’s response to a Facebook post she shared in April 2021.

“It’s a father/daughter thing you wouldn’t understand. (yes everyone this is my daddy),” she writes in the message, alongside a photo of Anthony Mitchell, 68, and herself.

Eagerly expressing his love for his girl, the devoted father of four writes in the comments section, “She is my heart my soul she is a daddy girl She is everything a father can dream and hope his daughter will be.she makes me proud of her everyday and I am so thankful and proud to be her father and dad (SIC).”

On January 14, 2024, the grieving daughter reshared the post with the new caption: “A father’s love for his daughter is truly special. Thank you, Dad. Although you frequently expressed this sentiment, you also took the time to write it in the comments section of my post for everyone to see.”

Her dad and her younger brother Justin are among the 24 people killed by the devastating California wildfires.

Last conversations

On the morning of January 8, Mitchell made heart-wrenching phone calls to two of his children, explaining that he and his youngest son, Justin, were waiting for help to evacuate.

Mitchell, an amputee with a prosthetic leg, and Justin, who had cerebral palsy, relied on wheelchairs to get around.

Mitchell lived in Altadena, a hard-hit neighbourhood next to Pasadena, with his two sons, Justin and Jordan, the older who alongside trained professionals helped as a caregiver.

But Jordan wasn’t home that week – he was in hospital with sepsis and Mitchell, who lost his leg in 2024 to diabetes, was not able to carry his bedridden son to one of the many cars parked in the driveway to make an escape.

‘Baby, I got to go’

Mitchell had called for an ambulance to assist with the evacuation and assured his only daughter, Hajime, that he and Justin would be okay.

“They’ll get me and your brother,” Arkansas’ Hajime, tells the New York Post of her last conversation with her dad, who was well known and loved in the area he lived for more than 20 years.

“Hopefully they should come soon,” he added, sharing with Hajime, 50, that from his window, he could see the fire was burning quickly through the neighborhood.

But then the conversation was cut short when according to Hajime, flames crept onto the yard of his home.

“Baby, I got to go,” he told his daughter. “The fire just got in the yard.”

That evening, the bodies of the father and son were recovered from the home scorched by the Eaton fire, which is still active more than one week since it was ignited.

‘Cost him his life’

Mitchell’s eldest son, Anthony Jr., knows why his father stayed in the burning home.

“He wasn’t going to leave my brother,” Anthony Jr., 46, told the New York Times. “He would never leave his kids. We were his legacy. We were his diamonds.”

The junior Anthony was one of the two kids he called before the fire ripped through the house that morning.

“Even though he had a missing leg, he did have a prosthetic. He could have got himself in the wheelchair and he could have rolled himself out the fire zone, but he wasn’t going to leave my brother,” Anthony Sr. told NPR. “There was no way my father was going to leave him. He wouldn’t leave any of his kids.”

He adds, “He believed in family, and I think that’s one of the reasons it cost him his life, because he wasn’t going to leave my younger brother.”

Now, Hajime and the family are trying to figure out why help never arrived to get Mitchell and Justin to safety.

“Where was the ambulance?” she said. “Where were the caregivers? Where was everyone at?”

Carlos Herrera, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, told the New York Times that by the time the Eaton fire had broken out on Tuesday, January 7, “all resources were already dedicated to the raging Palisades fire across town.”

Fatal fire

The deadly fire has killed at least 24 people, destroyed more than 12,000 structures and burned more than 60 square miles, “an area larger than Paris,” according to CNN.

As of January 14, officials said the Palisades and Eaton wildfires continue to burn. “Extremely critical fire weather” is forecasted for parts of the region with powerful winds expected to fuel new blazes, further challenging firefighters in their attempts to contain the raging flames.

“Much of Southern California — from San Luis Obispo to San Diego — is at significant risk of rapid fire spread due to life-threatening winds and dangerously low humidity. One less spark equals one less wildfire,” California Fire writes on Facebook.

Our thoughts go out to Mitchell’s family, and everyone whose lives are impacted by the fires.

Please let us know what you think of this tragic story and then share it with others so we can all send a lot of love to Anthony Mitchell’s family!

Best Of

Elon Musk’s brutal four-word response to Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift had a rough Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Not only did her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, leave the game empty-handed — but the pop icon herself was also met with boos when she appeared on the big screens.

Taylor Swift’s reaction

With a fan base in the tens of millions and a reputation free from scandal, Taylor Swift has been one of the world’s most famous women in recent years. Yet, even she isn’t immune to being met with a chorus of boos.

During last night’s Super Bowl LIX, featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, the superstar songstress seemed to be minding her own business when she became a target for the crowd. Swift – at Caesars Superdome, New Orleans to support boyfriend Travis Kelce of the Chiefs – looked to mouth “What is going on?” to friend and fellow artist Ice Spice.

Taylor Swift was born in West Reading, Pennsylvania, and a few years ago, she was spotted wearing a Philadelphia Eagles sweatshirt while strolling through New York City. However, she naturally shifted allegiance to the Kansas City Chiefs when she started dating superstar Travis Kelce.

The pro-Eagles crowd in New Orleans didn’t seem to have forgotten Swift’s past support for the Eagles before switching to the Chiefs. When the superstar singer appeared on the big screen, fans greeted her with loud boos.

Trump couldn’t resist

One person who couldn’t resist commenting on Taylor Swift’s chilly reception was Donald Trump, who was also at the game as the first sitting president in history to attend. Taking to his Truth Social platform, he couldn’t resist commenting on the situation, suggesting that his loyal MAGA supporters were less than kind.

Getty Images

“The only one who had a tougher night than the Kansas City Chiefs was Taylor Swift. She got BOOED out of the stadium. MAGA is very unforgiving!” Trump wrote.

In contrast, Trump was met with an overwhelming reception, as fans appeared thrilled to see the U.S. President attend a Super Bowl for the first time.

The popular yet controversial account End Wokeness highlighted the stark contrast between the reactions to Taylor Swift and Donald Trump at the Super Bowl.

In a tweet, they wrote: ”Taylor Swift got mercilessly booed. Trump got a hero’s welcome. Total culture shift.”

Elon’s brutal four-word response

The comment sparked a response from one of Donald Trump’s closest allies, billionaire Elon Musk, who also joined in on mocking Taylor Swift. Elon Musk couldn’t resist chiming in, replying with a simple yet impactful: ”Vibe shift is real.”

This wasn’t the first time Tesla founder Elon Musk has taken aim at the pop icon. When Taylor Swift finally made a political endorsement, supporting Kamala Harris, Musk shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Fine Taylor…you win… I will give you a child and guard your cats with my life,” in what appeared to be a jab at Swift, who had signed off her endorsement with “childless cat lady.

Continue Reading

Best Of

Fans reveal why Taylor Swift was booed at the Super Bowl

She commands a fan base numbering in the tens of millions, has been one of the most famous women on the planet over the past two years, and has a reputation unblemished by scandal or defamation. Yet even Taylor Swift can find herself the subject of an en masse booing, apparently.

During last night’s Super Bowl LIX, featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, the superstar songstress seemed to be minding her own business when she became a target for the crowd. Swift – at Caesars Superdome, New Orleans to support boyfriend Travis Kelce of the Chiefs – looked to mouth “What is going on?” to friend and fellow artist Ice Spice.

The unexpected booing began when the camera panned to Swift in her box, subsequently beaming her image on the big screen before the 75,000 strong crowd.

Needless to say, Swift was as taken aback as anyone, and the negative reaction has posed the question: just why did it happen in the first place?

Well, as is always the case these days, it wasn’t long before the incident was being debated on social media. Moreover, no sooner had the video of Swift being booed hit the internet, than did fans on X attempt to decipher exactly what was going on.

“Eagles fans are booing her. She’s originally from Philly area but obviously rooting for Travis and chiefs,” one person wrote.

Another added: “The booos are from eagles fans aka the opposite team she supports this is normal.”

It’s the Eagles fans,” a third said.

There were naturally still those who were bemused by the turn of events, with many people taking to X to share their reactions.

Why did she get booed?” one person asked. “I thought she was the sweetheart of America?

Booing taylor swift as if she’s playing on the field against ‘your’ team, even though she’s just sitting there looking pretty, is loser behavior,” said another.

“What I don’t understand is why people booed at Taylor Swift? Like she was doing literally nothing and she’s just there to show support to Travis Kelce and see the game, it’s not like they’re going to make a Gabriella-Troy scene in High School Musical 3,” a third wrote.

One person who wasn’t on the receiving end of any ire was Donald Trump, who reportedly became the first sitting president in US history to attend a Super Bowl.

When the camera panned to the POTUS – who only took his oath of office three weeks ago – cheers rang out around the stadium. “I thought it would be a good thing for the country to have the president at the game,” Trump had said in an interview.

In the game itself, the Eagles emerged triumphant over the Chiefs in a 40-22 victory, stopping the Chiefs from repeating the success they enjoyed last year.

Did you watch last night’s Super Bowl? What did you think to the crowd booing Taylor Swift? Let us know in the comments.

Continue Reading

Best Of

Princess Diana’s bodyguard says 3 mistakes killed her

Three fatal security failures led to Princess Diana’s tragic death — at least, that’s what her former bodyguard, Ken Wharfe, claims.

It’s hard to believe that nearly 30 years have passed since Princess Diana’s tragic death. The world lost an icon, a humanitarian, and two young boys lost their mother. It’s impossible not to wonder what she would be like today — how she would look, what role she would have taken on, and how she might have continued to shape the world.

First meeting with Diana

Ken Wharfe, her former bodyguard who spent six years working closely with her, remembers her fondly. Reflecting on Diana’s impact, he praised her ”wicked sense of humor” and said he felt ”incredibly privileged” to have been part of her life.

Wharfe recalled that from the very first time he met Princess Diana, she showed just how down-to-earth she truly was.

”As I walked into the room, I was introduced, and Diana said, ‘I don’t envy you, Ken, looking after my kids. They can be a bloody nuisance,’” Wharfe told The Sun.

Right on cue, young William, who had been attempting to play the piano, spun around and objected, “No, we’re not a bloody nuisance!” Just as he spoke, Harry tumbled off a table.

Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

”Diana immediately got up and said, ‘Come here, both of you!’ before chasing them out of the room. I hadn’t even said a word yet,” Wharfe recalled.

She returned moments later, shaking her head.

”You see what I mean, Ken?”, she said.

That moment, he explained, changed everything.

”Suddenly, instead of talking to a royal, you were speaking to a parent, a young mother, someone you could truly relate to.”

And that, he said, was Diana in a nutshell—full of fun, laughter, and, at times, deep sadness.

A dangerous driver behind the wheel

Having served as her personal protection officer from 1987 to 1993, Wharfe insists that the People’s Princess might still be alive today if key decisions had been made differently.

One of the most critical mistakes, according to Wharfe, was who was driving the car that fateful August night in 1997.

Diana was traveling with her boyfriend, Egyptian film producer Dodi Fayed, as well as Ritz security chief Henri Paul, who was behind the wheel, and Dodi’s bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones — the crash’s sole survivor.

Andrew Stenning/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

Sadly, Paul had been drinking before getting behind the wheel and was driving at dangerously high speeds when the car slammed into the 13th pillar of the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris. Wharfe is convinced that Diana could have survived if someone else had been driving.

”The one thing that would have saved Diana’s life that night would have been if they’d kicked out the chauffeur and for Rees-Jones to have driven,” he stated.

“But he couldn’t do that because he couldn’t speak to Dodi Fayed — he told him what to do. And that’s a shame, because had Rees-Jones taken that command, had he taken that decision to boot out Henri Paul, you and I would not be having this discussion.”

A fatal attempt to outsmart the paparazzi

Diana and Dodi’s original plan was to travel a short distance from the Ritz Hotel to an apartment near the Champs-Elysées. Another critical mistake that night was the lack of planning and coordination — or rather, the complete lack of coordination— with the local police regarding the car journey.

Wharfe believes the tragedy could have been prevented entirely if Dodi and Diana’s security team had worked with local police instead of shutting them out and viewing the press as “the enemy.”

In an effort to evade the press, they devised a plan using decoy cars. A Range Rover was positioned at the front entrance of the Ritz with Dodi’s usual driver behind the wheel, while Diana and Dodi secretly exited through the back in a black armored Mercedes.

Henri Paul — who was four times over the legal drinking limit in France — had been called in from home to drive them. The high-speed chase that followed ended in disaster, with the Mercedes crashing at over 60 mph.

The lack of a security team

Perhaps the most avoidable mistake, according to Wharfe, was Diana’s decision to dismiss her Scotland Yard security team. After separating from Prince Charles in 1992, she eventually let go of her royal protection.

Wharfe recalls urging Diana to reconsider just weeks before she cut ties with them. ”She said, ‘You’ve always been great with advice. If there’s one piece of advice you’d give me, what would it be?’”

His response was clear: “I urge you, I urge you, not to lose the Scotland Yard security because we have given you that freedom, we’ve broken rules to allow you to have the normality that you crave for, and there’s no reason why that shouldn’t continue.”

Getty Images

Despite his warning, Diana dismissed her entire security team just four weeks later. Wharfe firmly believes that had Queen Elizabeth insisted she keep them, Diana would have agreed.

”You cannot force security on somebody, they have to say ‘yes, I’ll take it’. But the fact that it wasn’t offered, this was her way of saying I want a new life.”

Diana’s death sent shockwaves across the globe, dominating headlines for weeks. While her funeral became a historic moment of mourning, the haunting images of her wrecked car remain etched in the minds of many.

More than two decades later, the debate over what could have saved Diana continues. But for Ken Wharfe, the answers are clear — three crucial decisions sealed her fate that night. Do you agree with him?

Continue Reading

Trending