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David Blaine spotlights India’s ancient magic in the Disney Plus series 'Do not attempt'
The six-part series sees him travel around the world to different destinations, including East Asia, Brazil and the Arctic Circle. But it is episode three in India that is the most compelling and eye-catching.
Blaine points out that while other countries have conjurers who perform sleight of hand, India has, for centuries, been home to real extreme physical feats, inspiring him to attempt his own challenges that have captivated audiences worldwide. He reveals how he learned a lot from the Indian book Swami Mantra, which illustrates how to perform unbelievable feats of endurance, and how he applied these techniques to his act.
And the magician kisses a king cobra
In the captivating India episode, Blaine meets a rickshaw driver with a mind-blowing fire act, where he sets himself ablaze without any protective gels, using just water and incredible skill. There is also a Punjabi man with phenomenal physical strength and a remarkable individual who repeatedly jumps into a huge pile of broken glass and smashes bottles on his own head.
Blaine also encounters Indian holy men who perform extreme feats, ranging from headstands with their faces completely buried in sand to piercing themselves with sharp metal objects. Some parts are difficult to watch, but they reveal the rich history of superhumans who have existed in India for centuries. There is one particularly shocking moment when a holy man passes a sword through his own neck – even the seasoned magician, watching in astonishment, could not explain how it was done.
Away from the more severe acts, Blaine also highlights India’s street magicians, who keep the tradition of illusion alive. From rope tricks to coin illusions, the roots of many modern magic tricks lie deep within India’s centuries-old street performances.
After watching this episode, you may feel squeamish at times but will walk away with a greater appreciation of India’s rich legacy and the profound impact it has had on the world. The next time you see a magician perform a physical stunt, the root of it likely lies in India.
Beyond India, the series showcases other fascinating locations where Blaine explores the limits of human endurance and illusion. Each episode of Do Not Attempt reinforces Blaine’s philosophy that magic is not just about deception, but about the astonishing capabilities of the human body and mind.
Blaine learns from those he meets and attempts to master some of their feats, including kissing a deadly poisonous king cobra. But it is the India episode that stands out in particular, because it highlights a side of magic rarely seen on mainstream platforms – one that is raw, spiritual and deeply embedded in history.
With Do Not Attempt, Blaine ultimately reminds us that the origins of many modern stunts go far beyond contemporary showmanship. For centuries, Indian fakirs, yogis and street magicians have defied expectations, using the body’s resilience and the mind’s strength to create jaw-dropping spectacles.
David Blaine’s stunning series is a fitting tribute to that tradition, ensuring that these incredible feats receive the global recognition they deserve.
Chris Columbus says Donald Trump’s cameo in Home Alone 2 feels like a mistake that won’t go away
- YouTubeyoutu.be
Columbus has shared before that the production team wanted to shoot in the Plaza and were told the only way they could do that was if Trump got to be in the movie. They agreed, filmed the scene, and initially thought nothing more of it. But during a test screening in Chicago, the audience’s loud reaction convinced Columbus to keep it in. “They cheered. They loved it. I thought, okay, maybe it works as a moment,” he recalled.
Fast forward to today, and the director can’t shake off the regret. “I wish it wasn’t there,” he said. “It’s become something I don’t want to be associated with.”
Director Chris Columbus reflects on the lasting impact of a seven-second cameo he never wanted to keepGetty Images
Trump, on the other hand, has claimed that Columbus and his team were practically “begging” him to appear. Posting on Truth Social last year, he dismissed Columbus’s version of events and insisted the cameo helped boost the film’s success.
Columbus, not amused, denied ever asking Trump to be part of the film for artistic reasons. “There’s no version of this story where I’m begging a non-actor to be in my movie,” he said. “We just needed the hotel.”
The original poster for Home Alone 2Getty Images
While Trump’s fans still celebrate the moment, others including Culkin himself have shown support for the idea of digitally removing the scene altogether. In fact, when a fan suggested replacing Trump with an older version of Culkin, the actor replied simply: “Sold.”
For Columbus, it’s not just about politics. It’s about a brief moment that’s come to define more than it should. “I just wish it was gone.”
Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter faces fourth rape allegation in new lawsuit over alleged STD transmission
Nick Carter's career spanning decades is being overshadowed by mounting legal troublesGetty Images
What makes this case especially grave is Penly’s claim that she contracted multiple STDs, including HPV, from Carter. A few months after the alleged assaults, she says she was diagnosed with cervical cancer and has since undergone treatment, suffering both physically and emotionally. She’s now demanding a jury trial and damages exceeding £12,000 (₹12.5 lakh).
This is not the first time Carter has faced such allegations. In 2022, Shannon Ruth accused him of raping her in 2001 when she was 17. Ruth, who has cerebral palsy and is on the autism spectrum, said she was invited onto his tour bus after a concert and was given a drink before being assaulted. A year later, former girl group member Melissa Schuman alleged that Carter raped her in his Santa Monica apartment in 2003, despite her repeatedly saying no. Another woman, Ashley Repp, filed a lawsuit claiming Carter raped her in 2003 when she was just 15. Each of these women has provided detailed accounts, and all claim lasting trauma.
A new lawsuit alleges Nick Carter of sexual assault and HPV transmission dating back to 2005Getty Images
Carter has denied every accusation. His lawyers argue that these lawsuits are part of a smear campaign and that the claims are unfounded. He has filed defamation suits against some of the accusers, though one has already been dismissed in court. Two more are set to go to trial next year.
With four women now accusing Carter of sexual misconduct spanning more than two decades, the spotlight has shifted from his career milestones to the growing number of women demanding accountability.
Ellen Pompeo says leaving Grey’s Anatomy makes ‘no sense’ as show tops 1 billion streams
“It makes no sense to leave,” says Pompeo, as the show crosses a billion streamsGetty Images
Her connection isn’t just about money. Ellen knows how much the show means to people. She’s aware of its impact, and she doesn’t take it lightly. “I want to stay grateful to what the show has given me,” she added.
Though she scaled back her role in season 19, showing up in fewer episodes, she’s remained involved as the show’s narrator. Season 21 will see her in seven more episodes, showing that she’s still part of the story just on her own terms now. Ellen explained that after 20 years on set, she wanted more time with her children and space to explore other interests. “I love being around my kids. I’m lucky to work when I want and still be there for them,” she said.
“I won’t walk away from 20 years of work,” says Pompeo, on staying loyal to Grey’s AnatomyGetty Images
For years, Grey’s Anatomy was her only major acting role. Apart from a voice gig in Doc McStuffins and a cameo in Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood video, Ellen kept her focus on Meredith Grey. But now, she’s finally branching out. She recently starred in Good American Family, a limited series based on a real-life adoption case, marking her first lead role outside of Grey’s since 2005. She admitted it was scary to try something new, but also exciting.
Why should everyone else profit from my work?” says Pompeo, on keeping her stake in Grey’s AnatomyGetty Images
“After playing the same person for 20 years, I had to prove to myself and the audience that I could do something else.” Still, as long as Grey’s Anatomy lives on, Pompeo isn’t going anywhere. Not fully, at least.
Actor Aziz Ansari, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by a woman with whom he went on a date last year, has responded to the claims saying the two engaged in "sexual activity, which by all indications was completely consensual".
The 34-year-old actor's statement comes after a 23-year-old Brooklyn-based photographer recounted a date with him that she called "the worst night of my life" in an interview with Babe.net.
"In September of last year, I met a woman at a party. We exchanged numbers. We texted back and forth and eventually went on a date.
"We went out to dinner, and afterwards we ended up engaging in sexual activity, which by all indications was completely consensual," Ansari said in a statement given to People magazine.
The Master of None actor further said a text by the woman, named as 'Grace' in the article, said that she felt uneasy with how things transpired the night before and responded to her privately as he was "concerned" about her.
"The next day, I got a text from her saying that although 'it may have seemed okay,' upon further reflection, she felt uncomfortable. It was true that everything did seem okay to me, so when I heard that it was not the case for her, I was surprised and concerned. I took her words to heart and responded privately after taking the time to process what she had said," he said.
Ansari, who became the first man of Asian descent to win Golden Globe recently for his performance in the Netflix show, added he supported the movement that has given women a chance to speak up about the injustice they have been subjected to till date.
"I continue to support the movement that is happening in our culture. It is necessary and long overdue," he said.
In the interview, the woman vividly described how she exchanged numbers with Ansari at the 2017 Emmy Awards after- party and went on a date with him on a bar on the banks of the Hudson river, which escalated quickly to a sexual encounter at his apartment.
The woman said she voiced her hesitation explicitly during their encounter.
She said she "used verbal and non-verbal cues to indicate how uncomfortable and distressed she was". The woman added that her reticence to engage in the act was "ignored" by the actor.
Grace alleged Ansari called her a cab when she wanted to leave and texted her the next day.
She shared a screenshot of the alleged conversation, in which she said, "Last night might've been fun for you, but it wasn't for me. You ignored clear non-verbal cues; you kept going with advances."
To this the actor allegedly replied, "I'm so sad to hear this. All I can say is, it would never be my intention to make you or anyone feel the way you described. Clearly, I misread things in the moment and I'm truly sorry."
Grace said she decided to come forward with the incident after she saw Ansari wearing a Time's Up pin at the Golden Globe Awards last week, where he won best comedy actor in a TV series.
"It took a really long time for me to validate this as sexual assault. I was debating if this was an awkward sexual experience or sexual assault. And that's why I confronted so many of my friends and listened to what they had to say, because I wanted validation that it was actually bad," she said in the interview.