Tag: Potential

TikTok creators left in limbo while awaiting decision on potential platform ban

Will TikTok be banned this month?

That’s the pressing question keeping creators and small business owners in anxious limbo as they await a decision that could upend their livelihoods. The fate of the popular app will be decided by the Supreme Court, which will hear arguments on Jan. 10 over a law requiring TikTok to break ties with its Chinese-based parent company, ByteDance, or face a U.S. ban.

At the heart of the case is whether the law violates the First Amendment with TikTok and its creator allies arguing that it does. The U.S. government, which sees the platform as a national security risk, says it does not.

For creators, the TikTok doomsday scenarios are nothing new since President-elect Donald Trump first tried to ban the platform through executive order during his first term. But despite Trump’s recent statements indicating he now wants TikTok to stick around, the prospect of a ban has never been as immediate as it is now with the Supreme Court serving as the final arbiter.

If the government prevails as it did in a lower court, TikTok says it would shut down its U.S. platform by Jan. 19, leaving creators scrambling to redefine their futures.

“A lot of my other creative friends, we’re all like freaking out. But I’m staying calm,” said Gillian Johnson, who benefited financially from TikTok’s live feature and rewards program, which helped creators generate higher revenue potential by posting high-quality original content. The 22-year-old filmmaker and recent college graduate uses her TikTok earnings to help fund her equipment for projects such as camera lens and editing software for her short films “Gambit” and “Awaken! My Neighbor.”

Johnson said the idea of TikTok going away is “hard to accept.”

Many creators have taken to TikTok to voice their frustrations, grappling with the possibility that the platform they’ve invested so much in could soon disappear. Online communities risk being disrupted, and the economic fallout could especially be devastating for those who mainly depend on TikTok and have left full-time jobs to build careers and incomes around their content.

For some, the uncertainty has led them to question whether to continue creating content at all, according to Johnson, who says she knows creators who have been thinking about quitting. But Nicla Bartoli, the vice president of sales at The Influencer Marketing Factory, said the creators she has interreacted with have not been too worried since news about a potential TikTok ban has come up repeatedly over the years, and then died down.

“I believe a good chunk think it is not going to happen,” said Bartoli, whose agency works to pair influencers and brands.

It’s unclear how quickly the Supreme Court will issue a decision. But the court could act swiftly to block the law from going into effect if at least five of the nine justices deem it unconstitutional.

Trump, for his part, has already asked the justices to put a pause on the ban so he could weigh in after he takes office. In a brief — written by his pick for solicitor general — Trump called the First Amendment implications of a TikTok ban “sweeping and troubling” and said he wants a “negotiated resolution” to the issue, something the Biden administration had pursued to no avail.

While waiting for the dust to settle in Washington, some creators are exploring alternatives ways to promote themselves or their business, encouraging users to follow them on other social media platforms or are investing more time producing non-TikTok content.

Johnson says she is already strategizing her next move and exploring alternative opportunities. While she hasn’t found a place quite like TikTok, she’s begun to spend more of her time on other platforms, such as Instagram and YouTube, both of whom are expected to benefit financially if TikTok vanishes.

According to a report by Goldman Sachs, the so-called creator economy, which has been fueled in part by TikTok, could be worth $480 billion by 2027.

Because the opportunity to monetize content exists across a range of platforms, a vast amount of creators have already diversified their social media presence. However, many TikTok creators have credited the platform — and its algorithm — with giving them a type of exposure they did not receive on other platforms. Some say it has also boosted and provided opportunities for creators of color and those from other marginalized groups.

Despite fears about the fate of TikTok, industry analysts note creators are generally avoiding making any big changes, like abandoning platform, until something actually happens.

“I’m anxious but also trying to be hopeful in a weird way,” said Brandon Hurst, who credits TikTok with rescuing his business from obscurity and propelling it into rapid growth.

A year after joining TikTok, the 30-year-old Hurst, who sells plants, said his sales doubled, outpacing the traction he’d struggled to gain on Instagram. He built his clientele through the live feature on TikTok, which has helped him sell more than 77,000 plants. The business has thrived so much that he says he now employs five people, including his husband and mom.

“For me, this has been my sole way of doing business,” Hurst said.

Billion Dollar Boy, a New York-based influencer marketing agency, has advised creators to download all of their TikTok content into a personal portfolio, which is especially important for those who post primarily on the platform, said Edward East, the agency’s founder and group CEO. This can help them quickly build their audiences elsewhere. Plus it can serve as a resume for brands who might want to partner with them for product advertisements, East said.

But until the deadline of Jan. 19 comes around, East said creators should continue to post regularly on TikTok, which has 170 million monthly U.S. users and remains highly effective in reaching audiences.

If the Supreme Court does not delay the ban, as Trump is asking them to do, app stores and internet service providers would be required to stop providing service to TikTok by Jan. 19. That means anyone who doesn’t have TikTok on their phone would be unable to download it. TikTok users would continue to have access, but the prohibitions — which will prevent them from updating the app — will eventually make the app “unworkable,” the Justice Department has said.

TikTok said in court documents that it estimates a one-month shutdown would cause the platform to lose approximately a third of its daily users in the U.S. The company argues a shutdown, even if temporary, will cause it irreparable harm, a legal bar used by judges to determine whether to put the brakes on a law facing a challenge. In under three weeks, Americans will know if the Supreme Court agrees.

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January 6, 2025
Study Finds A Potential Link Between Plant-Based Meat And Depression In Vegetarians

Vegetarians consuming plant-based alternatives to meat — suggested as one of the means to lower the environmental impact of meat consumption — could have a 42 per cent increased risk of depression compared to vegetarians who refrain from them, according to a study. Published in the journal Food Frontiers, the study also found higher blood pressure and inflammation levels, along with lower levels of ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL), in vegetarians who ate plant-based meat alternatives.
Researchers at the University of Surrey, UK, analysed data from over 3,300 vegetarians in the UK Biobank-about half were consumers of plant-based meat alternatives, and half were non-consumers. Made using plant-based proteins such as soy, plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) are considered a potential solution for sustainability, as fewer natural resources such as water, land and energy are required to produce them compared to animal meat.
However, these meat alternatives are also considered ‘ultra-processed foods,’ as chemicals are often added to make them taste like meat.The researchers noted that while consuming plant-based meat alternatives was not linked with clear health benefits, more studies are needed to investigate concerns related to inflammation, which may arise from eating these products.
“In conclusion, while no clear health risks or benefits were associated with PBMA consumption in vegetarians, the higher risk of depression, elevated CRP (C-reactive proteins), and lower apolipoprotein A levels (HDL cholesterol) in consumers of PBMA suggest potential inflammatory concerns that warrant further investigation,” the authors wrote.
Co-author Anthony Whetton, a professor of translational biosystems at the University of Surrey, said, “Ultra-processed plant-based meat alternatives can be a useful way for people to transition to a vegetarian diet effectively, which helps with sustainable agricultural practices.” “Further research, including longitudinal studies and trials with more diverse populations, is necessary to confirm these findings and the relationship between vegetarian foods and mood,” Whetton added.
In the study group, the researchers found no notable differences in the intake of sodium, free sugars, total sugars, or saturated fatty acids between vegetarians who ate plant-based meat alternatives and those who did not. The team also found that consuming plant-based meat alternatives was linked to a 40% lower risk of irritable bowel syndrome.
“The overall findings are reassuring, suggesting that plant-based meat alternatives may be a safe option when they are part of an overall balanced diet. However, the potential link between these foods, inflammation, and depression warrants further investigation,” said senior author Nophar Geifman, a professor of health and biomedical informatics at the University of Surrey.

(Disclaimer: Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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December 18, 2024
Court denies TikTok’s request to halt enforcement of potential US ban until Supreme Court review

A federal appeals court on Friday left in place a mid-January deadline in a federal law requiring TikTok to be sold or face a ban in the United States, rejecting a request made by the company to halt enforcement until the Supreme Court reviews its challenge of the statute.

Attorneys for TikTok and its China-based parent company, ByteDance, are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court.

It’s unclear if the nation’s highest court will take up the case, though some legal experts have said they expect the justices to weigh in due to the types of novel questions it raises about social media, national security and the First Amendment. TikTok is also looking for a potential lifeline from President-elect Donald Trump, who promised to “save” the short-form video platform during the presidential campaign.

Attorneys for TikTok and ByteDance had requested the injunction after a panel of three judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit sided with the U.S. government and rejected their challenge to the law.

The statute, which was signed by President Joe Biden earlier this year, requires ByteDance to sell TikTok to an approved buyer due to national security concerns or face a ban in the U.S.

The U.S. has said it sees TikTok as a national security risk because ByteDance could be coerced by Chinese authorities to hand over U.S. user data or manipulate content on the platform for Beijing’s interests. TikTok has denied those claims and has argued that the government’s case rests on hypothetical future risks instead of proven facts.

In the request filed last week, attorneys for TikTok and ByteDance had asked for a “modest delay” in enforcement of the law so that the Supreme Court could review the case and the incoming Trump administration could “determine its position” on the matter.

If the law is not overturned, the two companies have said that the popular app will shut down by Jan. 19, just a day before Trump takes office again. More than 170 million American users would be affected, the companies have said.

The Justice Department had opposed TikTok’s request for a pause, saying in a court filing last week that the parties had already proposed a schedule that was “designed for the precise purpose” of allowing Supreme Court review of the law before it took effect.

The appeals court issued its Dec. 6 ruling on the matter in line with that schedule, the Justice Department filing said.

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December 14, 2024
TikTok is inching closer to a potential ban in the US. So what’s next?

TikTok’s future in the U.S. appeared uncertain on Friday after a federal appeals court rejected a legal challenge to a law that requires the social media platform to cut ties with its China-based parent company or be banned by mid-January.

A panel of three judges on The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled unanimously that the law withstood constitutional scrutiny, rebuffing arguments from the two companies that the statute violated their rights and the rights of TikTok users in the U.S.

The government has said it wants ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to divest its stakes. But if it doesn’t and the platform goes away, it would have a seismic impact on the lives of content creators who rely on the platform for income as well as users who use it for entertainment and connection.

Here are some details on the ruling and what could happen next:

In their lawsuit, TikTok and ByteDance, which is also a plaintiff in the case, had challenged the law on various fronts, arguing in part that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and was an unconstitutional bill of attainder that unfairly targeted the two companies.

But the court sided with attorneys for the Justice Department who said that the government was attempting to address national security concerns and the way in which it chose to do so did not violate the constitution.

The Justice Department has argued in court that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its connections to China. Officials say that Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok’s U.S. patrons or use the platform to spread, or suppress, information. However, the U.S. hasn’t publicly provided examples of that happening.

The appeals court ruling, written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg, said the law was “carefully crafted to deal only with control by a foreign adversary.” The judges also rejected the claim that the statute was an unlawful bill of attainder or a taking of property in violation of the Fifth Amendment. Furthermore, Ginsburg wrote the law did not violate the First Amendment because the government is not looking to “suppress content or require a certain mix of content” on TikTok.

TikTok and ByteDance are expected to appeal the case to the Supreme Court, but it’s unclear whether the court will take up the case.

TikTok indicated in a statement on Friday the two companies are preparing to take their case to high court, saying the Supreme Court has “an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech.”

“We expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue,” a company spokesperson said.

Alan Morrison, a professor at The George Washington University Law School, said he expects the Supreme Court to take up the case because of the novelty of the issues raised in the lawsuit. If that happens, attorneys for the two companies still have to convince the court to grant them an emergency stay that will prevent the government from enforcing the Jan. 19 divestiture deadline stipulated in the law, Morrison said.

Such a move could drag out the process until the Justices make a ruling.

Tiffany Cianci, a TikTok content creator who has supported the platform, said she was not shocked about the outcome of the court’s ruling on Friday because lower courts typically defer to the executive branch on these types of cases. She believes the company will have a stronger case at the Supreme Court.

“I believe that the next stages are more likely to produce a victory for TikTokers and for TikTok as a whole,” Cianci said.

Another wild card is President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term but said during the recent presidential campaign that he is now against such action.

The Trump transition team has not offered details on how Trump plans to carry out his pledge to “save TikTok.” But spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement last month that he plans to “deliver” on his campaign promises.

After Trump takes office on Jan. 20th, it would fall on his Justice Department to enforce the law and punish any potential violators. Penalties would apply to any app stores that would violate a prohibition on TikTok and to internet hosting services which would be barred from supporting it.

Some have speculated that Trump could ask his Justice Department to abstain from enforcing the law. But tech companies like Apple and Google, which offer TikTok’s app on their app stores, would then have to trust that the administration would not come after them for any violations.

Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said enforcement discretion — or executive orders — can not override existing law, leaving Trump with “limited room for unilateral action.”

There are other things Trump could potentially do. It’s possible he could invoke provisions of the law that allow the president to determine whether a sale or a similar transaction frees TikTok from “foreign adversary” control. Another option is to urge Congress to repeal the law. But that too would require support from congressional Republicans who have overwhelmingly supported the prospect of getting TikTok out of the hands of a Chinese company.

In a statement issued Friday, Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, chairman of the House Select Committee on China, said he was “optimistic that President Trump will facilitate an American takeover of TikTok” and allow its continued use in the United States.

ByteDance has said it won’t sell TikTok. And even if it wanted to, a sale of the proprietary algorithm that powers TikTok is likely to get blocked under Chinese export controls that the country issued in 2020.

That means if TikTok is sold without the algorithm, its likely that the buyer would only purchase a shell of the platform that doesn’t contain the technology that made the app a cultural powerhouse.

Still, some investors, including Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire Frank McCourt, have expressed interest in buying it.

This week, a spokesperson for McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative, which aims to protect online privacy, said participants in their bid have made informal commitments of more than $20 billion in capital. The spokesperson did not disclose the identity of the participants.

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December 7, 2024
Explosion of interest in sticker albums shows huge potential for women’s football | Women’s football

Gripped in the pocket of my Adidas joggers was a little stack of stickers with an elastic band around it. Flicking down the edge of the bundle with my finger I would glance at the huddle of boys trading the hottest commodity in the playground with a nervousness that was enough to hold me back from even trying to join in.

I could play football, sure, that was the easy part, but could I talk their talk, did I know football? Of course I did. I watched it, I played it, I read the back pages, but it never felt like I belonged. And so, my little stack of swaps remained unswapped, shinies unshared, and my pocket money was depleted week on week as I spent it desperately trying to accrue my missing targets, never completing a book.

When I wanted little gold cannon earrings? I had to spend double, buying two from the Arsenal store as they were only sold individually for boys and men. When I wanted a shirt? It was a boys’ small, boys’ medium or boys’ large shirt that fitted awkwardly on the hips as I edged towards puberty. When I wanted to play Fifa 97? I played as the Arsenal men’s team. As a girl, I was excluded from the culture of football as much as I was from playing it.

Imagine, then, what it feels like today. Last year, I held the first Women’s Super League Panini sticker album in my hands, at the age of 38, with the biggest of grins and worked on completing the album with my then 10-year-old son, trading with his mates, their parents and in press boxes up and down the country. I have built Ultimate Teams stacked with women’s players on EA FC. I have a pair of gold cannon studs sold as a pair. I attended an event to showcase the inclusion of women’s football in Football Manager for the first time. I own an Aitana Bonmatí-autographed Topps trading card.

Some of Suzanne Wrack’s collection of Topps trading cards, including the one signed by Aitana Bonmatí (bottom left).

The expansion and promotion of women’s football into football’s cultural spaces cannot be overestimated. It has the power to influence the way women’s football is viewed by men and women, and how female fans feel. It plays a vital role in normalising women’s football in the game’s ecosystem.

The second WSL Panini sticker album launches in late November and the rollout will be bigger than last year. “We knew it was going to do well because we knew there was this pent-up demand by the time it launched, but we hadn’t realised the extent of it,” says Panini’s sports head of marketing, Katie Gritt. “The shelves were being cleared every time we pushed out stock. We’re talking millions of packets, not a few.”

That demonstrates how quickly the space is growing, but also how desperate women’s football fans are to back those who back it. There is a consciousness there in the consumer, an awareness that if they buy, more products will be produced and that helps grow investment in the game.

“Women’s football supporters are a dedicated crowd, very loyal to their clubs and will definitely spend money on collecting memorabilia,” says Tara Knight, co-founder of She Scores Cards, a company dedicated to buying and selling women’s trading cards. “Whether that’s shirts, cards, scarves, anything. There’s definitely the demand there. When Topps [trading cards] release their women’s products and they’re sold out within a couple of hours, it’s recognised that there’s value in them and people do want to collect them.”

A fan holds up a tinfoil trophy featuring a Panini sticker of Alessia Russo during the Women’s League Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea in March. Photograph: Matt McNulty/Getty Images

There is also a thirst for information, which isn’t being met, Gritt says: “Having the album full of editorial and stats gives them something else to engage with. They’re desperate for that and for other brands there’s a huge opportunity to come in and cater for that demand.”

I stumbled across She Scores Cards by chance. I was at the London Card Show with my son so he could pick up some Pokémon cards. It was my second time there and I was consciously keeping an eye out for the presence of women’s cards among the sports offerings, a signed Vivianne Miedema here, a Catarina Macario there, often in the corner, surrounded by higher-priced men’s cards.

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Suddenly, every card on the next table was a women’s card and I got chatting to the two women running it. They were doing as good a trade as many around them and have been welcomed by the London Card Show and the other vendors for their unique offering. Knight and Sam Pucci started as collectors and were frustrated with how hard it was to find women’s cards. “It is a hobby,” says Knight. “We both work full time, so it is something that we are doing in our spare time.”

It’s not just people wanting to collect women’s cards that are taking an interest, it’s collectors of men’s cards too. Those who focus on collecting a particular team, for example Chelsea, now want to add a Sam Kerr or a Millie Bright to their collection.

So much of the culture around women’s football has developed naturally, as companies entering the space are finding out. “There was so much going on organically on match days and in different Facebook groups and this whole community just boomed,” says Gritt. “Groups exist on the men’s side too, but you don’t see that same level of interaction at the grounds as I think we have seen in the WSL.”

A street seller holds a Lionel Messi sticker at Qatar 2022. Panini have been selling men’s World Cup albums since 1970. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

The demographic is different too. “There’s a teen audience, which is maybe reflective of them not having it when they were younger” says Gritt. “We don’t often see that on the men’s side, six to 11 is your core age, then you lose them through secondary and then they tend to come back in as adults and collect again. Engaging boys in the WSL collection matters too. Showing them who these players are, what their stats are and what they’re capable of is hugely important, because they will grow up as advocates and supporters of the women’s game.”

Every company that starts to operate in women’s football is surprised by the commitment of the fans, but they shouldn’t be. We’ve gone without for so long, any offering is pounced on.

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November 12, 2024
Ruben Amorim drops MAJOR hint over Man United’s potential move for Viktor Gyokeres – as departing Sporting Lisbon boss reveals when the in-form striker will leave the club
- Amorim took charge of his final home game with Sporting on Tuesday evening
- He will have one final match in charge this weekend before joining Man United
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off!, available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
By James Cohen

Published: 02:17 EST, 6 November 2024 | Updated: 02:18 EST, 6 November 2024

Ruben Amorim has dropped a huge hint as to whether Man United will pursue Viktor Gyokeres after the striker put in another stunning performance for Sporting Lisbon.

The Swede continued his stunning form under Amorim as the Sporting head coach oversaw a 4-1 win over Man City in his final home match ahead of his move to Man United.

Phil Foden had given Man City the lead in the fourth minute, before Gyokeres replied with three goals – two from the penalty spot – to help inspire Sporting’s shock win.

There’s been plenty of discussion surrounding the former Brighton and Coventry striker amid his fine goalscoring form and some have suggested Amorim may look to bring him to Old Trafford.

Now, the Portuguese boss has broken his silence on the matter and revealed when he expects Gyokeres to leave Sporting.

Viktor Gyokeres continued his fine goalscoring streak in Sporting’s 4-1 win over Man City

Ruben Amorim then dropped a hint over the Swedish international’s future at the club

Speaking after the match, according to A Bola, Amorim said: ‘If I start joking about this Gyokeres situation I’ll get in trouble.

‘This is my city, this is my country, so I’ll respect it. Viktor has to stay until the end of the season and then his life will probably go somewhere else’.

Though a January move for the Sweden international appears to be off the table, Amorim appeared to hint that he could launch a summer move for Gyokeres.

Earlier in the night, United legend Rio Ferdinand tipped Gyokeres to follow Amorim to United after his stunning hat-trick against the Red Devils’ local rivals.

‘The recruitment teams in all the clubs in the Premier League must be scratching their heads about how they let him get away,’ Ferdinand said.

‘He hasn’t had a conventional route, his route to the top hasn’t been straightforward.

‘He was at Brighton as a kid, sold to Coventry, went on loan to Swansea, goes back to Coventry and does well, then goes to Sporting Lisbon.

Gyokeres’ overall tally at Sporting now standing at 63 goals in 66 games

Meanwhile, United forwards Rasmus Hojlund (left) and Joshua Zirkzee (right) have struggled

‘He has had a journey where he has had to build himself and create what he is now.

‘You think ‘How has he been allowed to get out?’, all of a sudden when are seeing what he has got, maybe he has grown into what he is, the confidence, stature he has, the physicality, he might have had to wait for that to come.

‘A few times today he blew away from players, holding people off.’

The hat-trick took Gyokeres’ tally for the season to 23 goals in 17 matches this season, with his overall tally at Sporting now standing at 63 in 66 games.

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Ruben Amorim drops MAJOR hint over Man United’s potential move for Viktor Gyokeres – as departing Sporting Lisbon boss reveals when the in-form striker will leave the club
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November 6, 2024
Week 8 Rewind: Winners begin to reveal potential who’s who in high school football | Sports

While non-league games continue to make the rounds and all schools finally played a league opener, some of the better teams in the area are just now starting to separate themselves from the pack.

In a few leagues, the big head-to-head games are either coming this week or even the final regular season contest. In other words, there’s plenty of shuffling to come, plenty of meaningful games ahead for all local high school football fans to enjoy. Week 8 of the high school season did give some teams the chance to flex their muscles at this stage of the season.

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October 13, 2024
Luke Perry’s autopsy reveals potential links between his acting career and fatal stroke

Luke Perry’s unexpected death in 2019 at the age of 52 left fans and colleagues devastated. Known for his iconic roles on Beverly Hills, 90210 and Riverdale, Perry was adored by millions. His sudden stroke came as a shock, especially given that the actor appeared to be in good health. However, new findings suggest that several underlying factors may have contributed to his untimely demise, shedding light on potential risks that were previously overlooked.

Luke Perry’s death was the result of a massive ischemic stroke-a condition that occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery leading to the brain. Despite being a seemingly healthy and active individual, this stroke took his life quickly and unexpectedly. Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter, on the show Autopsy: The Last Hours of…, explored the possible causes of Perry’s stroke, taking into consideration his lifestyle, health history, and genetic predispositions.

Luke Perry (‘Sensacin de vivir’), hospitalizado tras sufrir un derrame cerebral

One factor Dr. Hunter considered was Perry’s frequent air travel due to his busy filming schedule. Perry had flown back and forth between Los Angeles and Vancouver in the days leading up to his death while working on Riverdale. Long flights can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition where blood clots form in the legs due to prolonged inactivity. These clots can sometimes travel to the lungs or brain, causing life-threatening complications.

However, despite the increased risk of DVT, Dr. Hunter noted that it is “extremely rare” for these clots to cause strokes, especially during flights lasting less than six hours.

Genetics and lifestyle: key factors

Perry’s family history also played a critical role in his health risks. His father died of a heart attack at the age of 35, which pointed to a potential genetic predisposition for cardiovascular problems. Dr. Hunter suggested that Perry’s family history of heart disease could have made him more susceptible to strokes, especially when combined with other risk factors.

Another contributing factor was Perry’s history as a smoker. Smoking significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, and though Perry had quit years before his death, the long-term damage from smoking may have already taken its toll on his body. Dr. Hunter emphasized that smoking is one of the leading causes of stroke, making it a likely contributor to Perry’s sudden health crisis.

His health scare in 2015

In 2015, Perry had a major health scare when doctors discovered precancerous growths in his colon during a routine colonoscopy. This discovery led him to make significant lifestyle changes, including adopting a healthier diet, cutting back on red meat, and becoming an advocate for colorectal cancer screening. He used his platform to encourage others to undergo early screenings, emphasizing how this simple procedure could save lives.

Despite his efforts to lead a healthier life after this scare, the stroke that took Perry’s life shocked those who knew him. His commitment to staying fit and making better lifestyle choices appeared to make him an unlikely candidate for such a sudden and severe health event. Yet, his genetic predisposition, past smoking habits, and the cumulative impact of stress and travel likely all contributed to his fate.

Lessons from Luke Perry’s death

Luke Perry’s passing serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of understanding personal health risks. Genetics, lifestyle choices, and even something as routine as air travel can all contribute to unforeseen health problems. While Perry made efforts to live a healthier life in his later years, the combination of factors that led to his stroke serves as a sobering lesson for everyone to be proactive about their health, particularly when there are known family histories of cardiovascular disease.

His death also highlights the importance of regular check-ups and being vigilant about the warning signs of health issues. Even seemingly minor symptoms can be indicative of more serious underlying problems.

Luke Perry’s legacy will always be remembered in Hollywood and by fans around the world, but his passing underscores the need for greater awareness of health risks and preventive measures.

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October 12, 2024

10 Players with the Most Wasted Potential in Football History [Ranked]

Key Takeaways

Hard work beats natural talent – many promising stars suffered unfulfilled careers due to a lack of dedication.
Stars like Adriano and Balotelli didn’t reach the expected heights despite seeming to possess all the talent in the world.
Personal demons and lifestyle choices – from wasted potential due to attitude issues to substance abuse, various factors derailed these players’ careers.

‘Hard work will always overcome natural talent when natural talent does not work hard enough.’ Those are the words of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. And the Scot is right. You could have all the promise in the work, but if you don’t do your utmost to hone those skills, or if you get unlucky with injuries, that talent will amount to nothing.

It is always hard to predict who the next biggest star in football will be. Inevitably, there will be those who don’t quite reach the heights expected of them. Yet, for these 10 players, the fact that their careers didn’t pan out as well as they could’ve and perhaps should’ve done will remain among the biggest ‘what ifs’ in the sport.

Top 10 Players With Most Wasted Potential
Rank	Player
1.	Adriano
2.	Ravel Morrison
3.	Mario Balotelli
4.	Dele Alli
5.	Adel Taraabt
6.	Adrian Mutu
7.	Antonio Cassano
8.	Jack Wilshere
9.	Freddy Adu
10.	Royston Drenthe

10 Royston Drenthe

The Dutch winger was once at Real Madrid

If there was a story to sum up Royston Drenthe’s career, it was one that Tim Howard told after spending time with the Dutchman at Everton. The winger had come up through the ranks at Real Madrid at a time when Raul and Roberto Carlos were also around. However, a troublesome mentality ruined his career, as Howard pointed out:

“We had some wrong’uns at Everton as well and those are the ones that stood out more than anything. One was horrific, Royston Drenthe. We’re Everton, rolled sleeves up, worker bees.

“In comes Royston in Rolls-Royces to training, bowls in with his shoes untied, he has to run the perimeter of the training ground because he’s always late, his eyes were half open… you were just at Real Madrid, what are you doing here? This is weird. I guess he’d never heard of CCTV and he ended up coming to the training ground in the middle of the night with friends, and they’re in the hot tub… you’re just thinking ‘You’re at the wrong club here mate’.”

9 Freddy Adu

The American was tipped to be the next Pele

Freddy Adu about to train with D.C. United

If things had gone the way they were supposed to for Freddy Adu, he could’ve been leading the United States out at their home World Cup in 2026 as part of his career swansong at 37. In 2004, the teenager broke the record for youngest-ever MLS player, leading to the bold comparison to Pele.

After a failed trial at Manchester United, Adu would make the move to Europe when he joined Portuguese giants Benfica, but he never reached the lofty expectations. Arguably, this isn’t a case of failed potential. Perhaps the ceiling was set too high for the young American.

8 Jack Wilshere

Injuries impacted the Englishman’s career

Before Bukayo Saka was Arsenal’s starboy, there was Jack Wilshere. The midfielder made a name for himself as he dominated a prime Barcelona midfield in the Champions League at just 19 years old. While he would go on to have a respectable career for both club and country, it could’ve been even better.

As a youngster, Wilshere suffered an injury which he later revealed surgeons expected to prevent him from walking properly again, let alone play football at a high level. Setback after setback took its toll on the midfielder, who would become one of the most injury-prone players in the world. Now he works as a youth team coach at the Emirates, aged just 32.

7 Antonio Cassano

The Italian’s playboy lifestyle got the better of him

Being a professional footballer opens up a lot of possibilities that, to the average Joe, would never come about. The allure of this was too much for Italian international, Antonio Cassano. At Real Madrid, Cassano had high expectations to achieve. Competing with the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Gonzalo Higuain, there were high hopes that the former Roma youngster would be the future of the football club.

Instead, the playboy lifestyle took over. The forward was notorious for getting involved in several different relationships and struggled with his diet so much that he was handed several fines for being overweight. In the end, the 42-year-old finished his career floundering at midtable Serie A clubs.

6 Adrian Mutu

The striker was banned for drug use

Romanian striker Adrian Mutu joined Chelsea from Parma in 2003 for £17 million, bringing high expectations due to his strong form in Serie A. He made an immediate impact, scoring four goals in his first three Premier League games. However, his performance declined, managing only six more goals in 35 appearances.

Mutu’s time at Stamford Bridge ended in scandal in 2004 when he tested positive for cocaine. As a result, the club terminated his contract, marking a swift and dramatic downfall in what had been a promising career. While he would find some form back in Italy, he would eventually be hit with another doping ban.

5 Adel Taarabt

QPR unearthed a star who shone brightly for a split second

The epitome of ‘the streets will never forget‘. The unlikely combination of Neil Warnock and Adel Taarabt was one that QPR fans will forever cherish, as so rarely has a talent like the Moroccan shone at Loftus Road. Having struggled at Tottenham, the creative force was capable of just about anything with the ball at his feet, but Warnock appeared to be the only manager who had only luck in getting through to him.

Aside from his time in London, there’s not much to shout about when it comes to Taarabt. A failed spell at AC Milan was where he could’ve been an iconic figure given his skillset, but in recent years, he had to settle into a deep-lying playmaker role at Benfica. He is currently in the UAE, where he is, unsurprisingly, making it look easy. Had things gone the way they looked like they could’ve, we may have been seeing the 35-year-old in the same light as tricksters such as Ronaldinho.

4 Dele Alli

Alli has been open about his struggles

It has become apparent in recent years that Dele Alli‘s fall from grace was not all of his own doing. The midfielder was incredibly brave in opening up about his childhood and the issues that have plagued him ever since then. He may never return to the player he once was. But what a player he was.

With the attitude of a player who came up through the football league and the skill of someone who could dazzle on any stage, the fearlessness that Alli showed in making even the greatest of defenders look silly is why he was so admired in his youth. While it didn’t amount to anything in terms of silverware, it most certainly created plenty of memories that Spurs and England fans of that era will cherish.

3 Mario Balotelli

It was always him

“I could write a book of 200 pages of my two years at Inter with Mario. But the book would not be a drama, it would be a comedy.” That’s what Jose Mourinho said about Mario Balotelli in 2014. However, some of the Italian’s other coaches may feel differently. Physically and technically, very few possessed what the formidable striker did. Mentally, Balotelli was not capable of being a professional.

The former Manchester City star was more concerned about silly antics off the pitch rather than consistency on it. Rather than becoming one of the best players in the world, he instead became one of the most controversial. And yet he still managed to win the Premier League and Champions League in his career. It could’ve been so much more.

What Happened to Mario Balotelli

From his iconic ‘Why Always Me’ celebration for Manchester City to his Puskas Award-nominated goal in Turkey, Balotelli has led an amazing career.

2 Ravel Morrison

The creative midfielder was tipped to be better than Paul Pogba

Ravel Morrison was part of an FA Youth Cup-winning team that boasted the likes of Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard. But for everyone’s money, he was the star of the show. Sir Alex Ferguson once pulled Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney aside to watch the teenager train and told them that he was better than those two England internationals when they were Morrison’s age.

All signs pointed towards success. But just like with Balotelli, the Jamaican star was not able to behave like a professional. As such, he managed just three senior games for Manchester United, all in the League Cup. Now in his early thirties, Morrison turns out for a second-division team in the UAE.

1 Adriano

Adriano during his days with Inter Milan

The heir to Ronaldo Nazario’s throne. Adriano had every aspect of the great Brazilian’s game at his disposal. Skillful. Lightning fast. Strong as an ox with a shotgun for feet. Everything was pointing towards the Inter Milan striker being the very best in the world. Then, disaster struck.

The death of his father when he was just 22 years old sent him into a depressive spiral that the forward simply could not recover from. Alcohol and issues with weight management took control and as quickly as Adriano had climbed the mountain to the top, he was tumbling straight back down it.

Former Inter captain Javier Zanetti looks back on his former teammate’s decline with regret, describing it as ‘the biggest defeat of his career.’ That is how highly thought of this man was. A true enigma of a superstar, who should’ve been in the same category as the very best his country has ever had to offer.

Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 05-10-24.

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October 5, 2024