Thursday, 21 April 2022

Johnny Depp testifies, Netflix takes aim at password sharing, and 6 fitness trends that are a waste of money. Here's the latest.

April 21, 2022 | VIEW IN BROWSER

Your day starts here. The latest in news, pop culture, wellness and more.

The Justice Department has appealed to reinstate masks on planes and trains, and Netflix may be coming for password-sharers. Plus, tips you need to know to keep your money safe when using Venmo, PayPal and other payment apps.

THE LATEST

Johnny Depp testified that Amber Heard has 'a need for conflict' and 'a need for violence.'

The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star took the stand for two days at his trial involving ex-wife Amber Heard and said he has never hit a woman and that Heard has "a need for violence." Depp, who will be cross-examined by Heard's lawyers today, testified that Heard was often hostile, picking fights and striking out at him. The 58-year-old actor sued Heard over a 2018 essay in The Washington Post in which she wrote she had become a "public figure representing domestic abuse."

😷Justice Department appeals ruling that ended mask mandate on planes and trains.

The mask confusion continues, as the Justice Department has appealed a ruling by a federal judge that struck down the federal mask mandate on planes, trains and other public transit. The CDC requested the appeal, saying the mask mandate "remains necessary for the public health" at this time. For now, though, check out our a helpful guide on where you should mask up, from airlines to Uber.

🤑 How to avoid getting scammed when using Venmo, PayPal and other payment apps.

You're not alone if you feel a little twinge of anxiety whenever you hit that pay button on apps like Venmo, PayPal or Zelle. There's always the fear you sent your money to the wrong place or, worse, some scammer's digital pocket. So we're sharing the best ways to protect your money, the red flags that scream "scam," and tips to follow if you're the one accepting payment.

🏋️ These 6 fitness trends are a waste of your time and money.

Social media and TV are flooded with fitness plans and workout regimens promising results. We had our own certified personal trainer sniff out which ones don't work and which ones feel overly gimmicky. Our expert threw her back out using one popular home product, while the TV ads for another made her want to scream. In the end, fitness is what works best for you but, trust us, these 6 trends should be left on the shelf.

📺 Netflix warns of a crackdown on password sharing. Here's what it means for viewers.

The days of sharing your Netflix password or using a friend's password to catch up on "Bridgerton" might soon be over. The company said it may start charging users a fee for sharing passwords after reporting that it lost subscribers for the first time in a decade. Netflix said there are more than 100 million households that use the streaming service and don't pay for it, and it has started testing ways to charge people for sharing their account.

WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

Allow us to do the meal-planning for you.

Today, we're all about Southern cooking, as chef and "New Soul Kitchen" host Jernard Wells stopped by with some mouth-watering barbecue shrimp and smoked gouda grits. Now, we know Southern cooking is usually all about the low and slow, but Jernard has a few tips to get this smoky, savory dish ready in just 30 minutes — plus, a helpful tip on how to know when your shrimp are finished cooking. (Hint: It's faster than you think!)

DAILY DELIGHT

A little pick-me-up before you go.

The cast of "This Is Us" not only can pull at your heartstrings and empty your tear ducts, they also have some moves on the dance floor. Sterling K. Brown shared a video on Instagram of the cast busting out the "Wobble" dance in the wedding outfits they wore in Tuesday night's episode. TODAY's Sheinelle Jones spoke for all of us when she commented, "I. Love. This. 😂❤️"