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A'zion was set to portray Zoe Gutierrez, a Mexican and Jewish character, in Sean Durkin's film adaptation of Holly Brickley's 2025 novel of the same name. A'zion, who is Jewish but not Mexican, received widespread backlash for agreeing to portray a Mexican character.

TheI Love LAactress was met withaccusations of whitewashingand capitalizing on her alleged racial ambiguity, withone person on Xwriting, "Some of y'all defending odessa and i don't like that that is a white woman PERIOD. Stop arguing about technicality of ethnicity and race, she is NOT mexican."

A'zion addressed the backlash viaan Instagram storyon Wednesday, where she shared a series of text posts. Apparently, A'zion wasn't aware of Zoe's identity and agreed with the criticisms upon finding out.

"Guys!! I am with ALL of you and I am NOT doing this movie," she wrote. "F*** that. I'm OUT."

The 25-year-old actress went on to thank her fans for bringing the casting discrepancy to her attention, then clarified how she became involved in the project in the first place — saying she had accepted the role without reading the source material.

"I went in for Percy, but was offered Zoe instead and instantly said yes! I'm so pissed y'all, I hadn't read the book and should have paid more attention to all aspects of Zoe before accepting," she wrote. "I'd never take a role from someone else that's meant to do it. That SHOULD do it! That's not me. There are a plentitude of people more than capable of playing this role and I am NOT one of them. I can't wait to see who it ends up being."

A'zion added, "Still haven't read the book but the story in the script is focused on Percy and Joe, so of course on my initial read that was my main focus as well. I was happy to be involved as a different role, but I just can not do it knowing more about Zoe now."

Her decision to step away from the film has garnered mixed reactions online. A'zion's fans are proud of the actress for clearing the air and "doing the right thing," though other social media users are skeptical of her claim that she didn't know Zoe was Mexican.

"You all ridiculed odessa immediately when THEY offered the role to her and she hadn't read the book yet and had gone in for a completely different character. She immediately took accountability and LEFT. Something a few other actors yall still praise have never done," anX user wrote.

Anothersaid, "I'm glad odessa isn't doing the movie anymore, but we all know that if she didn't get the amount of backlash she did, she would've done it."

Other X users are calling out what they see as a double standard, noting that A'zion has been accused of whitewashing, but notWuthering Heightsstar Jacob Elordi. In Emerald Fennell's film adaptation of the literary classic, Elordi stars as Heathcliff, who some scholars interpret in the source material as being a person of color. Elordi, a white man, hasn't received widespread backlash for accepting the role.

"I wish we made the same noise (which we rightfully made when odessa took that woc role) when jacob elordi took heathcliff, men have it so easy sometimes," oneX user wrote. Anotheradded, "Cancelling odessa but not jacob is sooooo peak misogyny."

During a performance at Japan's Tokyo Dome on Thursday, Jan. 29, the Grammy-winning pop icon delivered an emotional speech on the federal agency, which has been assisting the Trump administration in its crackdown on illegal immigration.

"In a couple of days, I'm going to be heading home, and my heart is aching thinking about the people, the children, the families all over America who are being mercilessly targeted by ICE," Gaga, 39, said, according toconcert footageshared byLady Gaga Now, a fan website. "I'm thinking about all of their pain and how their lives are being destroyed right in front of us."

Since returning to office,President Trumpand his administration have embarked on amass deportation campaign, which seeks to remove millions of undocumented immigrants with the help of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Lady Gaga condemned ICE in a speech during her show in Japan: "I wanna take a second to talk about something that it's extremely important to me, something important to people all over the world, and especially in America right now. In a couple of days I'm gonna be heading home…pic.twitter.com/Bv3MVuUQmi

— LⱯDY GⱯGⱯ NOW🪞 (@ladygaganownet)January 29, 2026

Lady GagaMayhem Ball review:Pop icon thrills at theatrical tour kickoff

The president's immigration reform operation, which has largely centered on sweeping enforcement raids across major U.S. cities, has drawn intense public scrutiny and sparked protests against federal immigration agents.

In Minneapolis, clashes have erupted between federal agents and demonstrators following the shooting deaths of American citizensRenee Nicole GoodandAlex Pretti.

Good, 37, wasfatally shot by an ICE officerduring a Jan. 7 confrontation, while Pretti, also 37, waskilled by a Border Patrol agenton Jan. 24.

"I'm also thinking about Minnesota and everyone back at home who [are] living in so much fear and searching for answers of what we all should do," Gaga continued. "When entire communities lose their sense of safety and belonging, it breaks something in all of us."

USA TODAY has reached out to Lady Gaga's representatives for additional comment.

Celebrities speak out against ICE:Jane Fonda slams Trump administration 'authoritarianism' amid ICE raids

On Tuesday,President Trumprevealed during an interview with Fox News that his administration will"deescalate" immigration enforcement operationsin Minnesota after facing backlash over the killing of Pretti.

Additionally, White House Border CzarTom Homansaid on Thursday that there are going to be "massive changes" in Minneapolis, adding there will be "less agents in the streets" as federal authorities gain more access to local jails and target undocumented immigrants with criminal records.

"We need to get back to a place of safety and peace and accountability," Gaga concluded. "Good people shouldn't have to fight so hard and risk their lives for well-being and respect. And I hope our leaders are listening. I hope you are listening to us asking you to change the course of action swiftly and have mercy on everyone in our country."

Gaga is set to return to the U.S. this weekend for the2026 Grammy Awards, where she is scheduled to perform at the ceremony. The singer's Mayhem Ball tour will resume in North America on Feb. 14 and 15 with a pair of concerts in Glendale, Arizona.

Contributing: USA TODAY staff

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Lady Gaga criticizes ICE raids in emotional concert speech

NEED TO KNOW

• In 2017, Brooke Nevils reported Matt Lauer to NBC, accusing him of raping her while they were at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia

• After Lauer was fired from the Today show due to her complaint, Nevils, too, left NBC after working at the company for a decade

• In a new memoir, Nevils is opening up about what happened after the alleged rape
  

Brooke Nevilsis opening up about her experiences with formerTodayshow anchorMatt Lauerin new memoir, but admits she's worried about sharing her story.

The former NBC employee, who accused Lauer of rape that allegedly took place in his hotel room during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, has written a book titled,Unspeakable Things: Silence, Shame, and the Stories We Choose to Believe.The memoir, out Feb. 3, explores the aftermath of her headline-making ordeal. After she reported Lauer, now 68, to NBC in 2017,he was firedwithin 24 hours.

In a new interview withNPR'sFresh Airpodcast, Nevils shared that she has reservations over the release of her book. She told the outlet she's worried that her kids might one day be "tortured" by what she's written. (Nevils is now married with two children.)

"It's my job to prepare them for the hard things in life, and part of that is giving them the opportunity to learn from my mistakes, to be honest with them and say I wasn't perfect — but I still didn't deserve what happened to me," she said, according to NPR.

Beowulf Sheehan

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Nevils released an excerpt of the memoir withThe Cuton Jan. 28, In it, she wrote that she's now happily married with "two beautiful children." After leaving NBC where she worked as a prime-time news producer, she said she "painstakingly rebuilt my life."

"Every moment with my family is a precious piece of the life that I once believed I no longer deserved to live," she wrote in the excerpt.

Another revelation in the excerpt was thatNevils spent time in a psych wardafter the alleged 2014 rape.

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She recalled that she "barely recognized the train wreck I'd become" in the time after she reported Lauer. "I was compulsive, paranoid, and drinking all the time. I felt I'd ruined everything, hurt and embarrassed everyone I loved. Soon I would find myself in a psych ward, believing myself so worthless and damaged that the world would be better off without me."

Noam Galai/WireImage

When the rape allegations previously surfaced, NBC said in a statement: "Matt Lauer's conduct was appalling, horrific and reprehensible, as we said at the time. That's why he was fired within 24 hours of us first learning of the complaint. Our hearts break again for our colleague."

In 2019, Lauerdenied raping Nevilsin a lengthy letter toVariety, after she shared further details about the alleged assaults in Ronan Farrow'sCatch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators.

In the statement, the former news anchor said he had an "extramarital affair" with Nevils butmaintained that everything was "completely consensual," denying her allegations of rape.

Several other women came forward with allegations against Lauer after Nevils did, and his wife of 19 years, Annette Roque — with whomhe shares his three kids—filed for divorce.

Lauer initially broke his silence on the allegations in a statement that was read by his former colleagues on air. "Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized, but there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed," the statement said.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.

Read the original article onPeople

NEED TO KNOW

• Following an extensive search operation, his body was found the next day

• The dog was safely pulled from the water and into a canoe

A 23-year-old hunter died while trying to save his dog from an icy pond in southern Illinois, authorities said.

On Monday, Jan. 26, the man fell through the ice at a pond in Clinton County, but his body wasn't located until the next day, following an extensive search operation, NBC affiliateKSDK, theBelleville-News Democratand Fox affiliateKTVIreported. The victim has since been identified as 23-year-old Luke Kitterman, St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye confirms to PEOPLE.

That Monday afternoon, Kitterman was goose hunting in the area with five friends, KSDK reported. After a successful shot, tragedy struck.

"The dog that retrieves the geese had gone out onto the ice and had fallen through," Peyton Matthews, who works with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police, told the outlet.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Kitterman, the owner of the dog, immediately went to help save his beloved pet.

The young man belly-crawled on the ice to reach the panicked dog and pulled the animal out of the water, according to the outlet. Unfortunately, the dog went in again.

"He was able to pull the dog back onto the ice, but the dog went in again after his owner," Matthews told KSDK. "And then after that, that is when the owner of the dog went underwater."

At that point, Kitterman's friends tried to retrieve them both.

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"His friends did try to get out there to help him out," the official told the outlet. "They were able to pull the dog out of the water and into a canoe, just unfortunately lost sight of their friend."

On Monday, around 3:15 p.m. local time, first responders rushed to the area near Clinton County Line Road and Renth Road in New Baden following a report of a man who fell through ice on a pond and didn't resurface, the New Baden Fire Department said in astatement.

KSDK News/YouTube

"After several hours of search operations, due to extreme cold temperatures, the incident was transitioned from a rescue to a recovery," officials said.

On the first day of the search, 75 first responders were at the pond to help search for the 23-year-old man, but the situation became treacherous because of the cold temperatures, KSDK reported. There was a danger that the hole the divers went through would start to freeze over.

By around 8:40 p.m., the search was suspended and began again on Tuesday, Jan. 27, officials said. That day, 30 search and rescue crew members searched for Kitterman with the help of sonar equipment, while his friends remained at the scene, according to KSDK.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

First responders and loved ones were determined to find Kitterman — and were eventually successful after hours of search efforts.

"We're all out here to make sure that he is returned home," Matthews told the outlet.

Read the original article onPeople

The manarrested for Tuesday's attack, Anthony Kazmierczak, faces a charge of forcibly assaulting, opposing, impeding and intimidating Omar, according to a complaint filed in federal court.

Authorities determined that the substance was water and apple cider vinegar, according to an affidavit. After Kazmierczak sprayed Omar with the liquid, he appeared to say, "She's not resigning. You're splitting Minnesotans apart," the affidavit says. Authorities also say that Kazmierczak told a close associate several years ago that "somebody should kill" Omar, court documents say.

Kazmierczak appeared briefly in federal court Thursday afternoon. His attorney, Jean Brandl, told the judge her client was unmedicated at the time of the incident and has not had access to the medications he needs to treat Parkinson's disease and other serious conditions he suffers from.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Dulce Foster ordered that Kazmierczak remain in custody and told officials he needs to see a nurse when he is transferred to the Sherburne County Jail.

Kazmierczak also faces state charges in Hennepin County for terroristic threats and fifth-degree assault, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Thursday.

"This was a disturbing assault on Rep. Omar, who is frequently the target of vilifying language by fellow elected officials and members of the public," Moriarty said. "The trust of our community in the federal government keeping politics out of public safety has been eroded by their actions. A state-level conviction is not subject to a presidential pardon now or in the future."

The attack came during a perilous political moment in Minneapolis, wheretwo people have been fatally shotby federal agents during the White House's aggressive immigration crackdown.

Kazmierczak has a criminal history and has made online posts supportive of President Donald Trump, a Republican.

Omar,a refugee from Somalia, has long been a fixture of Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric. After she was elected seven years ago, Trump said she should"go back" to her country. He recentlydescribed her as "garbage"and said she should be investigated. During a speech in Iowa earlier this week, shortly before Omar was attacked, he said immigrants need to be proud of the United States — "not like Ilhan Omar."

Omar blamed Trump on Wednesday for threats to her safety.

"Every time the president of the United States has chosen to use hateful rhetoric to talk about me and the community that I represent, my death threats skyrocket," Omar told reporters.

Trump accused Omar of staging the attack, telling ABC News, "She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a leading Muslim civil rights group, praised federal prosecutors' decision to file charges against Kazmierczak.

"We welcome these federal charges for the attack on Representative Ilhan Omar as an important step toward accountability and justice," CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said in a statement. "The dangerous climate of dehumanization that inevitably leads to such violent acts puts public servants and entire communities at risk."

Kazmierczak was convicted of felony auto theft in 1989, has been arrested multiple times for driving under the influence and has had numerous traffic citations, Minnesota court records show. There are also indications he has had significant financial problems, including two bankruptcy filings.

In social media posts, Kazmierczak criticized former President Joe Biden and referred to Democrats as "angry and liars." Trump "wants the US is stronger and more prosperous," he wrote. "Stop other countries from stealing from us."

In another post, Kazmierczak asked, "When will descendants of slaves pay restitution to Union soldiers' families for freeing them/dying for them, and not sending them back to Africa?"

Threats against members of Congress have increased in recent years, peaking in 2021 following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol bya mob of Trump supportersbefore dipping slightly, only to climb again, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Capitol Police.

Officials said they investigated nearly 15,000 "concerning statements, behaviors, and communications directed against Members of Congress, their families, staff, and the Capitol Complex" in 2025.

Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter R.J. Rico in Atlanta contributed.

Follow the AP's coverage of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar athttps://apnews.com/hub/ilhan-omar.

A 17-year-old boy in Benton, Arkansas died on Jan. 24 after he collided with a tree while being pulled on a sled by an all-terrain vehicle, according to a Saline County Sheriff's Office news release obtained by USA TODAY.

The next day, two 16-year-old girls died in Frisco, Texas, a Dallas suburb, after their sled, pulled by a Jeep Wrangler, also struck a tree, according to Facebook posts made by the Frisco Police Department.

And on Jan. 27, an 11-year-old boy was reported dead after a sledding incident in Staunton, Virginia,The News Leader, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.

As of Jan. 29, at least 81 deaths have been reported that are thought to be related to the winter storm or successive freezing temperatures, according to research by USA TODAY and the USA TODAY Network.

Snow, ice and freezing rain plummeted much of the country between Jan. 23 and Jan. 26. Now, meteorologists are forecastinganother winter stormto strike the East Coast on Saturday, Jan. 31, moving across the Mid-Atlantic on Sunday, Feb. 1, the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center said on Jan. 27. Meteorologists, however, do not expect the upcoming storm to be near the size of last week's.

Winter weather:US cities face dangerous temps, prolonged outages

Drivers navigate icy conditions on Briley Parkway in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. A winter storm brought snow and ice to Middle Tennessee starting on Saturday.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> A major winter storm is forecast to spread heavy snow, sleet and dangerous ice to tens of millions of Americans across two dozen states starting on Friday and continuing into the weekend.
See here, Keith Wilson, of Milwaukee, walks with frozen eyelashes down East State Street in Milwaukee on Jan. 23, 2026. The National Weather Service issued an extreme cold watch across Wisconsin with windchills between 30 and 40 below zero.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Joe Gegelbach loads his trunk with ice melt at the Home Depot as he potential winter storm Evansville, Ind., Jan. 23, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Orangetown Highway Department crews load salt on snow plows in preparation for the snow storm at their facility in Orangeburg, N.Y., Jan. 23, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Massive winter storm blankets nation. See photos

Drivers navigate icy conditions on Briley Parkway in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. Awinter stormbrought snow and ice to Middle Tennessee starting on Saturday.

Two similar sledding incidents in one weekend

On Saturday, Jan. 24, Saline County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a serious injury involving a 17-year-old boy who had struck a tree while being pulled on a sled by an ATV, the news release states. Emergency responders provided immediate medical assistance, however the boy succumbed to his injuries on site. The incident remains under investigation by the Saline County Sheriff's Office.

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A similar incident happened a day later in Texas.

At around 2:26 p.m. local time on Jan. 25, the Frisco Police Department responded to a call involving a sledding crash. The 16-year-old girls were transported to local hospitals following the incident, and both succumbed to their injuries, the department shared in a series of Facebook posts.

In aFacebook postmade on Jan. 28, the Frisco Police Department clarified that there has been no indication of alcohol involvement by the involved teens.

The incident remains an open investigation with assistance from the Denton County District Attorney's Office. The Frisco Police Department cannot share the girls' names because they are minors.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Frisco Police Department at 972-292-6010. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by texting FRISCOPD to 847411 or via the Frisco PD mobile app.

How to stay safe while sledding this winter

TheNational Safety CouncilandNationwide Children's Hospitaloffer the following advice for staying safe while sledding this winter:

• Make sure all sledding equipment is in good condition, without sharp edges and cracks.

• Ideally, sleds with steering and hand brake features are best, as they allow for more control than flat sheets, snow discs or innertubes.

• For extra protection, wear a snow sports, multi-sport or bicycle helmet.

• Sled on spacious, gently-slopped hills with a level run-off so the sled can easily stop.

• Check slopes for bare spots, holes and obstructions, like rocks, fences or poles.

• Do not sled on or around frozen lakes, streams or ponds.

• Sit on top of the sled with feet pointing downhill. Never sled head first.

Contributing: Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her atgcross@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Sledding accidents lead to 4 children dying, authorities say

His final opportunity to see players together in person will come the last week of March for heavyweight friendlies againstBelgium and Portugal in Atlanta.

Then comes his much-anticipated World Cup announcement in late May. Certainly, the March roster will tell a lot — but not everything, he cautioned — about what to expect.

"It's true that now we are close to the World Cup," Pochettino said Thursday on a video call with reporters. "It's true it's going to be difficult to bring some new players, because I think we don't have time. But already we had time to assess all the players in a year and a half. I think we have a very good idea. Now it's about [wishing] our players will be fit and in very good form for us to select the right players."

Pochettino plans to name his roster for the next camp on March 17, six days before workouts begin in suburban Atlanta. Though most selections seem obvious, Pochettino has left high-profile players out of camps at times the past year.

Then there is the matter of injuries. Most of his regulars are healthy, but some are recuperating from setbacks. Most notably,Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams is sidelined with a knee ailmentand in a race against time to be ready for the March camp. Even if absent, though, he would remain high on the list for a World Cup slot.

With more to prove than Adams,striker Ricardo Pepi hopes to return soon from a broken forearm this monththat interrupted a fantastic run of success with PSV Eindhoven. Pepi is also reportedly a transfer target in England.

"We'll see how he's going to come back and start to play and to perform," Pochettino said of Pepi, who is among several strikers vying for probably three World Cup slots. "Of course, he's a player that is [on] our radar. Hope he can be fit."

No matter who is in camp in March, Pochettino wants his team to begin pivoting toward the World Cup.

"It's a great opportunity in March," he said. "The idea is that the World Cup will start in March, when we [are] all together, because it's time to show like we were showing in the last camp [in the fall] — our identity, our way to play in the way we want to perform in the World Cup."

The Americans hit their stride late in the year, defeating four World Cup-bound teams (Japan, Australia, Paraguay and Uruguay) and tying another (Ecuador). The final match of 2025 was its best under Pochettino,a 5-1 rout of Uruguay in Tampa.

The four-month pause until the next international window fell at an inopportune time.

"How we finished 2025, you want to play the next week again to take advantage of the form and the belief and the energy from the group," Pochettino said. "It's really tough to spend all this time watching football, assessing players, having meetings, doing different things but no coaching. That is the most tough situation because we love to coach. We love to be on the grass."

Without any camps, Pochettino and his staff have closely monitored players in the thick of European club seasons. His Major League Soccer candidates, however, are just getting back up to speed in preseason.

Such players are not necessarily at a disadvantage for the March call-up, Pochettino said. "Maybe without games, you compensate with energy," he said. "They came from a period that they rest, they recover, and now they are charging the batteries to be full."

The MLS regular season won't begin until Feb. 21, though some teams will get started earlier as part of the Concacaf Champions Cup.

One key MLS-based player is reportedly leaving for the European circuit soon: right back Alex Freeman, who is expected to join Villarreal in Spain's La Liga from Orlando City. Such a move so close to the World Cup comes with some risk, because without regular playing time with a new club in midseason, Freeman could lose his grip on a U.S. roster slot.

Pochettino said Freeman called him to ask his opinion about the impending move.

"I am not concerned if some players are going to move in that transfer window," Pochettino said. "It's important the player feels happy, feels comfortable. … They want to improve. They want to grow. It's an amazing challenge we need to support, and help [him] into adapting the best possible way and to not lose focus."