Tom Cruise’s bold portrayal of pilot Barry Seal in the 2017 film “American Made” took a tragic turn during filming. The production involved three pilots—Carlos Berl, Jimmy Lee Garland, and Andrew Purwin—flying a twin-engine Aerostar 600 in Colombia. Unfortunately, the September 2015 crash resulted in the loss of two lives and severe injuries to Garland. Subsequent lawsuits filed by the families alleged negligence and raised questions about safety measures in the filmmaking process.
Carlos Berl, although experienced, was unfamiliar with the Aerostar and had voiced safety concerns before the flight. Jimmy Lee Garland, a pilot-mechanic, also served as Tom Cruise’s double in the film. Andrew Purwin, known for his inclination towards risky stunts, had a controversial aviation record. The crash, ultimately attributed to bad weather, occurred under intense pressure to depart immediately.
The aftermath of the tragedy led to legal battles, with claims of pressured flying, compromised planes, and dishonest qualifications. The lawsuits, highlighting the film’s impact on safety, vetting, and regulatory processes in movie production, were concluded in 2019 with an undisclosed settlement.
It’s noteworthy that similar aerial risks were present during the filming of “Top Gun” in 1985. “American Made,” despite its continued popularity on streaming platforms, stands as a poignant reminder of the inherent hazards involved in cinematic feats and the critical importance of prioritizing safety measures in film production.
JD Vance is under fire as a ‘hypocrite’ after drag photos from his college days come to light
While Ohio Senator JD Vance (R) remains silent on the newly emerged drag photos, former Rep. George Santos has been vocal on the matter.
On Sunday, a photo of the Republican vice presidential nominee in a blonde wig and a long dress went viral, drawing attention due to its clash with the GOP’s frequent stance against drag and LGBTQ+ rights.
The photos that caused a stir on the social media were posted on X by Matt Bernstein with the caption, “new: i have obtained a photo of jd vance in drag while at yale law school.”
The authenticity of the photos was confirmed by Travis Whitfill, who provided them, stating, “This was taken in 2012… Photo was taken by a classmate and sent to me.”
As expected, people reacted to the photo, with one person writing, “Ladies and gentleman, a picture of JD Vance in drag while attending Yale Law School. I don’t share this to shame those who do drag, but rather to shame those who attack drag while having a history of enjoying the art form themselves.” Someone else commented: “Feelin’ cute. Might run for Vice President later.” A third added: “Don’t call JD Vance weird because he wore drag. Call him a hypocrite and a bigot for demonizing others who wear drag.”
There were also those who stood for Vance, including Republican U.S. representative from New York George Santos who said Vance’s photos were more of a goofy costume from a college house party than drag, as reported by TMZ.
“To call that drag is disingenuous and I think most dudes at some point in their lives have played around with costumes that are gender bender. Couples do that all the time. The wife will dress up as a guy, the husband will dress up as a woman. It’s definitely not drag,” Santos said.
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