All articles tagged with #blackmail
Bella Thorne recounts the 2019 nude-photo blackmail attempt, saying the wave of victim-blaming she faced was what really broke her. She released the images herself to take control before the hacker did, and later cooperated with the FBI for over a year, with investigators ultimately identifying the suspect through his writing style aided by screenshots she provided.
Bill Gates told the House Oversight Committee in a closed-door session that Jeffrey Epstein sought to blackmail him by using knowledge of Gates’s extramarital affairs, with Epstein reportedly drafting ideas in emails but never sending anything that Gates would call blackmail. Gates stressed he was not blackmailed and described his relationship with Epstein as a mistake, while noting Epstein’s ability to raise funds for global health influenced his involvement and that he did not fully know the details of Epstein’s crimes.
Bill Gates told the House Oversight Committee that emails led him to believe Jeffrey Epstein may have contemplated blackmailing him over extramarital affairs, though Gates said Epstein never acted on it. He noted Epstein’s 2008 sexual-conviction, acknowledged meeting Epstein in 2011, admitted two affairs and called his connection with Epstein a huge mistake, while stressing he should have dug into Epstein’s conviction details.
Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Wes Edens is at the center of an alleged sextortion plot led by Changli “Sophia” Luo, who prosecutors say attempted to extort more than $1 billion by threatening to release videos and other material from a 2023 encounter, plus threats aimed at Edens’ family and investors. Luo allegedly pressed for as much as $1.25 billion, used a fake name to reach Edens’ then-girlfriend (now-wife), and was arrested in June 2025 as the FBI gathered evidence; Edens cooperated with authorities and mediation efforts were pursued amid the case.
Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Wes Edens has been identified as the victim in a federal extortion case alleging a $1 billion blackmail plot tied to a brief romantic relationship; prosecutors say Changli Luo threatened to release intimate photos and videos unless Edens paid more than $1 billion, with Edens previously agreeing to a $6.5 million settlement; the case is headed to trial later this year, Luo is free on bond, and Edens’ spokesperson says he will testify under oath.
Zelensky accused EU allies of 'blackmail' to force Kyiv to reopen the Druzhba oil pipeline delivering Russian crude to Hungary and Slovakia, arguing that restoring flow would amount to lifting Moscow's sanctions. Kyiv says the pipeline was damaged by Russian air strikes in January and remains unrepaired, while Hungary blocks new EU sanctions and a €90 billion loan until it is fixed; Zelensky says he is against reviving Russian oil transit and questioned the EU's pressure amid broader sanctions and energy policy tensions.
Isabel Rose, a 25-year-old Briton who reported being raped in Hong Kong in 2024, is facing blackmail and perverting the course of justice charges after the alleged perpetrator was released; she remains on bail, unable to work or leave Hong Kong, with a March trial date and the potential for years in prison if convicted. The case has drawn NGO and UK official concern about survivors’ access to justice in Hong Kong.
Rep. Tony Gonzales says he is being blackmailed by the husband of a former aide who died by suicide, citing an email that sought up to $300,000 in exchange for a nondisclosure agreement about an alleged affair; the story ties to ongoing coverage of Regina Santos-Aviles and Gonzales’s GOP primary, while he denies the affair and calls for the police report on her death to be released.
In Chicago P.D. Season 14, Episode 7, the episode revolves around the mystery of who is blackmailing Voight, creating suspense and intrigue for viewers.
A rental car company owner was sentenced to eight months in prison and probation for blackmailing an idol couple with footage of their physical intimacy, demanding and receiving nearly $7,000 in extorted money, despite having prior probation and showing remorse.
Howard Lutnick suggests that Jeffrey Epstein may have used blackmail videos to secure a lighter sentence and implies high-profile associates participated in his activities, contrasting with official FBI statements. The article discusses Epstein's criminal history, potential blackmail schemes, and the broader investigation into his network.
Lurker is a compelling thriller about a lonely super-fan in LA who infiltrates the life of his musical idol, exploring themes of obsession, co-dependence, and the dark side of social media culture, set against a backdrop of LA's music scene and celebrity obsession.
A Thai woman, Wilawan Emsawat, was arrested for filming and blackmailing Buddhist monks, including senior figures, leading to calls for legal reforms and the defrocking of involved monks amid a broader scandal of moral decay within Thailand's Buddhist community.
Police in Thailand arrested a woman for seducing and blackmailing Buddhist monks, leading to a major scandal involving financial misconduct and violations of monastic celibacy rules, with investigations revealing large sums of money transferred and used for gambling, prompting calls for law reforms and increased transparency in temples.
A Thai woman, known as Ms Golf, was arrested for blackmailing monks with videos and photos of sexual acts, allegedly extorting around $11.9 million over three years, prompting calls for reform within Thailand's revered Buddhist institution amid ongoing scandals.