Minnesota's 'complex Somali scam' explained: Rob Schmitt

Prominent Democrats from across the country were campaigning for Tennessee Democrat Aftyn Behn on Monday night as the party hopes to pull of a “miracle” in Tuesday’s special election. Behn, running against Republican Matt Van Epps for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional district seat, was joined on a Zoom call by some of the Left’s biggest names, including former vice president Al Gore, and far-left congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Pramila Jayapal. The virtual rally was the final event of Behn’s special election campaign and was attended by around 1,200 people, many of whom appeared to be hopping on Zoom from out of state based on their comments in the video call’s chat. Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged that it would take a “miracle” for Democrats to turn the Tennessee district blue, but added that Behn’s position in the race has shown that “miracles still happen.” The democratic socialist from New York urged Democrats in Tennessee to remain hopeful that politicians like Behn can successfully push leftist policies in deep red states as the Democratic Party looks ahead to the pivotal 2026 midterm elections. Behn is hoping to win the deep red district despite pushing leftist policies in the past, including voicing support for abolishing police departments and saying that she was “fearful” for “trans communities” after a trans-identifying shooter killed three Christian schoolchildren and three staff members in Nashville. Behn’s Republican opponent was rarely mentioned during the rally, as the Democratic speakers focused much of their attention on attacking President Donald Trump and his administration. Democrats are positioning the Tennessee special election as a referendum on Trump’s agenda, as the party is optimistic that Behn is within striking distance in a district that went for Trump by 22 points in 2024. 50% off DailyWire+ annual memberships will not return for another year, so don’t miss this deal! Join now at DailyWire.com/cyberweek. The virtual rally got off to a bumpy start when Gore was introduced by Behn’s campaign manager, with the former vice president nowhere to be seen. After a few quiet and awkward moments, Gore’s face appeared on screen and he was introduced for a second time. Gore kicked off the rally by doubling down on that focus and painting the Trump White House as one of the most evil and corrupt administration’s in U.S. history. Earlier on Monday, big name Republicans also gathered in the district to push Van Epps as the GOP and Trump emphasize the importance of the special election. At the Van Epps rally, Republicans were confident that they would win on Tuesday, but also acknowledged that the margins could be closer than what Republicans have come to expect in the district, The Daily Wire reported. Republicans and Democrats have poured millions of dollars into the special House race, with Behn’s campaign raising over $1 million between October 1 and November 12, according to campaign finance records. In that same timeframe, Van Epps raised $591,000, but the Republican candidate is also getting a big boost from Trump-aligned outside groups that have spent over a million dollars on advertisements. Over 84,000 voters cast their ballots during the early voting period, which lasted from November 12-26, according to the Tennessee Secretary of State. A large chunk of Republicans and Democrats are still expected to head to the polls on Tuesday morning. Polling results from Emerson College and The Hill released on Monday showed Van Epps with just a 2-point edge on Behn.

If there is one thing Hollywood does very well, it is stirring up the rumor mill. Even when our favorite stars do their best to keep their private lives private, information seems to leak like a faucet. Per People, Reba McEntire recently appeared on Today and chatted with Savannah Guthrie. The Fancy singer dished about The Voice, Happy’s Place, and Christmas in New York City. Reba McEntire also talked about the love of her life, Rex Linn. But when the discussion changed to romance, Savannah made a comment that caused the fiery redhead to get hot! “You also met your husband there. So Rex, good ole Rex,” Savannah Guthrie said to Reba. Reba nipped that very quickly. “Now, wait a minute. Before everybody has a conniption fit at home, we’re just engaged,“ she joked. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TODAY (@todayshow) Reba McEntire And Rex Linn Will Have One Fun Wedding Reba McEntire later told Dylan Dryer she and Rex Linn will have a “lowkey” celebration. “Our big motto is have fun,” Reba said. Fans loved hearing Reba talk about Rex and their upcoming nuptials. She didn’t give away any details, but fans didn’t seem to care. “Reba’s the best! So happy for her and Rex,” a fan shared. “I love her! So happy for her that she found love with Rex. Their wedding is going to be awesome! Can’t wait to see pics,” another person wrote. Others loved that Reba McEntire shut down rumors she and Rex Linn already married. “Love her and love she put those Today people corrected !!!” A fan wrote. “Congratulations on your coming wedding love to see you both happy and Rex thank you for being so good to her and making her happy you both deserve it,” another person agreed. We think Reba McEntire and Rex Linn make the cutest couple. We hope their wedding day is filled with all the fun they can handle. This story’s featured image is by Photo by Bruce Glikas/WireImage.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a powerful and symbolic move, Italy’s parliament passed a historic law that formally recognizes femicide as a distinct criminal offense. The law, approved on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, imposes life sentences for those who murder women because of their gender. The legislation received overwhelming bipartisan backing. The Lower Chamber approved it with 237 votes in favor, drawing support from both the ruling conservative coalition and the center-left opposition. “We have doubled funding for anti-violence centers and shelters, promoted an emergency hotline and implemented innovative education and awareness-raising activities,” said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. “These are concrete steps forward, but we won’t stop here. We must continue to do much more, every day.” A response to rising violence and public outrage Italy’s new law comes amid growing public concern over gender-based violence. According to the national statistics agency Istat, 106 women were victims of femicide in 2024 alone. Sixty-two of those cases involved current or former partners. Among the most high-profile cases was the 2023 murder of university student Giulia Cecchettin. Her death captured national attention and triggered widespread protests. It also intensified calls to address the deep-seated cultural and social issues that perpetuate violence against women. In response, the law includes tougher penalties not just for femicide, but also for crimes such as stalking and revenge porn. These updates aim to broaden protections and address patterns of abuse before they escalate to fatal outcomes. A political divide over prevention While the law passed with wide support, it has also exposed key differences in how Italian politicians view the solution to gender-based violence. Critics from the center-left argue that legal penalties alone are not enough. “Italy is one of only seven countries in Europe where sex and relationship education is not yet compulsory in schools, and we are calling for it to be compulsory in all school cycles,” said Elly Schlein, leader of the Democratic Party. “Repression is not enough without prevention, which can only start in schools.” Tensions have flared over a government-backed bill that would ban sexual and emotional education in elementary schools. Under the proposal, high school students would require explicit parental consent to attend any related classes. The ruling coalition argues that the measure protects children from ideological influence. But opposition leaders and activists have criticized it as “medieval,” warning it could undermine progress on prevention. A step forward, but work remains By defining and punishing femicide explicitly, Italy has taken a bold step forward. The law delivers a strong message: crimes rooted in misogyny will be met with the highest penalties. Still, many believe that meaningful change must go deeper. Legal reform is essential, but so is cultural transformation. Advocates argue that early education, awareness, and support services are just as crucial in stopping violence before it starts. Italy’s recognition of femicide marks a long-overdue turning point. Now, the challenge is to ensure the law is just one part of a broader, sustained effort to protect women and reshape attitudes for the future.The post Italy officially recognizes femicide as a crime punishable by life in prison first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A growing body of research suggests that a dark bedroom isn’t just nice for sleep. Getting your shut-eye in a pitch black room may actually be vital for long‑term heart health. A new study presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025 found that exposure to ambient light while sleeping was linked to increased stress in the brain, heightened arterial inflammation, and ultimately, a greater risk of heart attack and stroke. Sleeping in bright environments stimulated stress-related brain activity that can inflame arteries throughout the body. Over a ten‑year follow‑up period, 17 percent of participants developed major cardiovascular issues. The pattern was clear: more artificial light at night meant greater cardiovascular risk. The researchers found that each standard deviation increase in nighttime light exposure came with a 35 percent higher chance of heart attack over five years, and a 22 percent higher risk over 10. Those living in environments with added stressors, such as traffic noise or lower neighborhood income, were particularly vulnerable to the effects of light at night. How the study worked The research drew on PET/CT brain scans from 466 adults who visited Massachusetts General Hospital between 2005 and 2008. None of the participants had heart disease or cancer at the time. Their median age was fifty‑five, 43 percent were male, and nearly 90 percent were white. To determine how much light participants were exposed to at night, the researchers used satellite data from NASA’s Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite. Advanced modeling helped estimate ground‑level sky brightness around each home. While the findings are preliminary and not yet peer reviewed, sleep experts say they align with previous evidence. “Both animal and human intervention studies have demonstrated that LAN can disrupt multiple neurophysiological systems,” said Jonathan Cedernaes, PhD, a sleep scientist at Uppsala Universitet in Sweden. He noted that even modest bedroom lighting around one hundred lux has been shown to reduce deep sleep, raise heart rate, and impair insulin sensitivity. Other long‑term studies have also linked typical indoor light levels to increased cardiovascular risk, including a higher likelihood of myocardial infarction. Why darkness is so important for heart health We often think of blue light from phones as the enemy of restful sleep, but ambient room light plays a bigger role than you might think. A 2022 meta‑analysis found that people exposed to higher levels of artificial light at night had a 22 percent greater risk of sleep problems. Earlier research in older adults also found a link between nighttime light and atherosclerosis, which is the thickening of artery walls. Cardiologist Jayne Morgan, MD, explains why light has such a powerful effect. “Inflammation is a result of stress, and inflammation is a primary driver of atherosclerosis and therefore heart disease and stroke,” she says. Because the heart and brain are so interconnected, what affects arterial health in one part of the body affects the other. Light exposure disrupts the natural nighttime drop in blood pressure and delays the rise of morning hormones like cortisol. “Darkness signals the body to produce melatonin,” Morgan explains. Without that signal, the body’s recovery systems stay out of sync. Sleep duration matters too. Morgan notes that “less than six hours of sleep has demonstrated a higher risk of heart disease.” Tips for creating a truly dark sleep environment If you’re ready to make your bedroom a healthier, darker sleep space, here are some simple changes that go a long way: Cover your windows Close curtains or shades tightly, and if they let in streetlight, consider blackout curtains. Aluminum foil over windows can work as a budget alternative. Block door light  Even a small gap under the bedroom door can leak light. Turn off hallway lights or place a rolled towel at the base of the door. Try a sleep mask A well‑fitting eye mask can block out light completely and help your body slip into deeper sleep. Switch to motion‑sensing nightlights Instead of leaving lights on all night, use motion‑activated options that only turn on when necessary. The bottom line The science is increasingly clear: darker nights make for healthier days. Minimizing artificial light in your sleep environment supports deeper rest, calmer cardiovascular activity, and better long‑term heart health.The post Turn off the lights: the simple nighttime habit that could protect your heart health first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

How To Be A Friend (In An Unfriendly World) by Barnet Bain At The Optimist Daily, we believe that real, tangible change often begins with the simplest acts of humanity: listening deeply, showing up for one another, and choosing connection in a world that feels increasingly divided. That is why we are delighted to share an excerpt from How to Be a Friend (in an Unfriendly World), the forthcoming book by award-winning filmmaker and educator Barnet Bain. Drawing on decades of creative work and his teaching on the psychology of connection, Bain explores friendship not just as a soft skill but as a powerful, practical pathway to personal and collective wellbeing. His message that friendship is both a refuge and a catalyst for healing resonates deeply with our ethos as a solutions-focused publication. At a time when so many people are seeking belonging, clarity, and compassion, Bain’s work feels not only timely, but profoundly needed. If you’ve found yourself longing for more depth, kindness, and warmth in your relationships, then this is the book for you. Preorder a copy for yourself here (and one for a friend who could use a meaningful read this holiday season). The book is scheduled to be released soon on Tuesday, December 9th. Barnet kindly shared the introduction to his book with us. Read on for a preview! Introduction This book is for anyone who’s ever needed a friend—that is to say, everyone. Whether you’re a teenager figuring out who your people are, a young adult navigating new cities and shifting circles, or someone in midlife or beyond, wondering what happened to the closeness you once felt—this is for you. Friendship isn’t a phase we outgrow or a luxury reserved for the lucky; it’s a human need. At every age, we long to feel seen, known, and supported. This book offers tools, stories, and reminders for building and sustaining that kind of support—starting with yourself and reaching out from there. When you think about the greatest gifts of your life so far, I have no doubt that the friends you have known and loved over the years figure prominently. Friends from childhood and college days. Friends you’ve met in adulthood, through your work and other avenues. Next to my extraordinary wife, Sandi, and my daughter, Sophie, my friends are some of the other great loves of my life. For each of us, these are the people we have shared some of our most soulful moments with—laughing heartily, sharing enthusiasm for new projects we’re working on, asking for input on big decisions, sitting in silence with each other when grieving or afraid. The value of friendship is unquantifiable, and the beauty of friendship… ineffable. What you will find in these pages isn’t a typical take on friendship. We will take an inside-out approach, looking at what it takes to be the kind of friend we value in others, and we will head into new territory as well. Together, we will explore friendship as both a pathway to healing the emotional wounds of the past and a portal to awakening in the present—to experiencing life more fully and wholeheartedly than we previously thought possible. Where we find ourselves today, with our human family facing what some are calling polycrises—the intricate, overlapping issues of our time—signals a potent opportunity to lean in to friendship and look with curiosity and optimism at the solutions we may find together. Rather than settle for the deterioration of relationships of all kinds—from neighbors next door to neighboring countries—we can find out what it means to be a friend on a large scale, even to those we will never meet. I don’t know anyone who isn’t feeling the repercussions of the divisiveness, conflict, and fear that are causing untold pain inside our homes, our cities, and across the globe. In place of connection and caring, there is a lack of civility—and a growing crisis of dignity, where the innate worthiness of every human being appears to have been largely forgotten. The relationships we foster online aren’t much help. In the midst of a dizzying amount of images, video clips, marketing copy, and discount offers that expire at midnight, we find ourselves getting more and more isolated from each other. We can’t upload enough material or “like” enough posts to outrun the feeling of being cut off from the very people we’re trying to reach. The news headlines we read each day are predictably based on an “I’m right, and you’re wrong” storyline. There are winners and losers. Villains and heroes. Those being blamed and shamed, and those pointing the finger. We are ready to call each other out and tell each other off, but are we willing to listen to one another? Can we have conversations with others with whom we don’t share the same life story—the same history, cultural norms, spiritual beliefs, and lifestyle choices—without privately tallying up the differences between us and positioning ourselves against them? Can we tell a new story about who we are to each other and where we’re headed? I have been a storyteller and filmmaker all my adult life, and I’ve come to understand something that has changed not only the way I work, creatively speaking, but the way I experience life. No matter how we categorize movies, for example—comedy, action-adventure, coming-of-age, sci-fi, fantasy, and so on—every story and everything is about relationship. When we boil it all down, what are we doing in these stories? We’re either trying to find our way back to something or someone or to find a brand-new horizon to move toward (and sometimes both). We’re seeking to forgive and be forgiven—to finally be free from the hurt, blame, and regret of the past. We’re seeking healing and sometimes redemption. We’re looking for the light after a long journey through darkness. And very often we are looking for a way to reconnect—whether the reconnection is to a lover, to family, to a friend, or to ourselves. No matter how grand the scale of the story, the driving force, the thing that keeps us going, is always deeply intimate. Relationship makes all things, in every hour and every epoch, worthwhile. It is abiding friendship—with each other and with life—that is the heart of every story. And never have I been more passionate about exploring a new story of friendship than I am right now, in the middle of our shared uncertainty, chaos, and confusion. I have long sensed that it offers one of the greatest opportunities to grow and evolve that we have ever known. In the days immediately following September 11, 2001, a fellow storyteller, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, wrote a stunning essay. She began by saying “Do not lose heart. We were made for these times.” This assurance resonates powerfully today as well. Individually and collectively, we have the inner resources to meet this moment, and they are at the very heart of this book. We are being asked by life to dig deep. What is really going on here? Who are we? And who are we willing to become? The first time a book on friendship asked and answered some of the most important questions of the day was in 44 BC, when Marcus Tullius Cicero’s essay on friendship was published. In his rendition of How to Be a Friend (De Amicitia in Latin), Cicero acknowledged that there is a depth of friendship that allows two people “to find in each other another self who doesn’t seek profit or advantage from the other person.” Discovering this “other self” is, in some ways, at the heart of How to Be a Friend (in an Unfriendly World) as well—but in ways that may surprise you and possibly change the way you look at your life. More than 2,000 years have passed since Cicero’s brilliant contribution. Today, the call to collaborate, to care, to have compassion for each other has even greater urgency. That need has called me to write this book, a new book on friendship that can serve to bring us back into the fold with one another. A Map for the Exploration Ahead In Part I (Separation), we explore the stories that have shaped us and our ways of being in relationships of all kinds. We see how the walls of separation between us came to be and where the drive to judge, blame, and compete with one another took root. Eventually, the “me against you,” “them versus us” way of living loses its fascination, and we are called beyond it, leading us into the next section of the book. In Part II (Healing), we continue our compassionate investigation (not a mission of gathering evidence against ourselves), now looking more specifically at the early wounds and unresolved hurt, pain, and fear that keep fueling the story of separation. We explore how and why we get triggered and pull away from others. And we delve into how to release the emotional pain that has long been held in the body. In addition to discussing the healing nature of self-understanding, compassion, forgiveness, and other emotional states, we also begin to explore awareness itself as one of our greatest tools for transformation. The self-investigation and healing pathway offered in the first two sections of the book prepare you for the exhilarating journey that is Part III (Revelation). The first chapter of Part III, “The Nine Tools of Friending,” is where the rubber meets the road. It is both a guide for applying the central ideas discussed in the previous chapters and a bridge into the final three soul-expanding chapters. After contemplating the nine tools, you will be primed and ready to go into territory that is altogether new—a realm of active caring, giving, and loving that uplifts you and everyone you touch.   Excerpted with permission from How to be a Friend (In an Unfriendly World) by Barnet Bain, Publisher: Wiley, 2025.The post Book Excerpt: How To Be A Friend (In An Unfriendly World) by Barnet Bain first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

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Monday's Final Word

Wikimedia CommonsSinger Scott Weiland was best known as the lead vocalist for Stone Temple Pilots before his tragic death. The former frontman for the bands Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, Scott Weiland was known for his raw talent as a rock singer and his theatrical presence on stage. Whether it was through a microphone or a megaphone, he infused his lyrics with energy and emotions. Sadly, Weiland was also known for his turbulent personal life. He infamously struggled with heroin addiction during the 1990s, and while he eventually gave that up, he continued to use other substances. In addition, Weiland suffered from bipolar disorder, which led to a number of disturbing bouts of paranoia and mania during his final months alive. On Dec. 3, 2015, Scott Weiland was found dead on his tour bus in Bloomington, Minnesota. He was just 48 years old at the time, and his demise was later ruled an accident caused by a toxic mix of drugs. It was a heartbreaking end to a successful — yet chaotic — career. Scott Weiland’s Early Life And Music Career Wikimedia CommonsScott Weiland, pictured in 1994. Scott Weiland was born on Oct. 27, 1967 in San Jose, California. His birth father’s last name was Kline, but his parents divorced two years later, so his last name was changed to his stepfather’s by the time he was five. Shortly after his name change, he and his family moved to Bainbridge Township, Ohio. According to Scott Weiland’s memoir, Not Dead & Not For Sale (published just a few years before his death), he was raped by a high school senior when he was just 12 years old. He later reflected, “This was a memory I suppressed… in rehab, it came flooding back. The dude raped me. It was quick, not pleasant. I was too scared to tell anyone.” As a teenager, Weiland entered Kenston High School in Ohio, before moving back to California with his family. He then attended Edison High School in Huntington Beach before taking classes at Orange Coast College. Weiland’s rock music career began in the mid-1980s when he formed a band called Mighty Joe Young alongside bassist Robert DeLeo, guitarist Dean DeLeo, and drummer Eric Kretz. Eventually, the group changed their name after realizing they had been using the existing stage name of another singer. The name change to Stone Temple Pilots was also partly inspired by the group’s fondness for the STP motor oil logo. They wanted a band name that also had the initials “STP,” and they sometimes even used STP stickers from gas stations to help promote some of their material. Before long, they were preparing to release their debut album. A Successful And Chaotic Career With Stone Temple Pilots And Other Bands Wikimedia CommonsStone Temple Pilots on stage in 2011. Though Scott Weiland was no longer with the band at the time of his death, it’s still the group he’s most closely associated with. In 1992, Stone Temple Pilots released Core, their first album, and quickly rose to fame in the alternative rock scene. The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and the band’s single “Plush” would later earn the group a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance With Vocal. Needless to say, it was a massive success amidst the grunge era. In the aftermath of this release, the band’s fanbase and recognition began to grow. In 1994, Stone Temple Pilots released their second album Purple, which was also a success. It eventually sold more than six million copies and contained popular hits like “Big Empty,” “Vasoline,” and “Interstate Love Song.” The following year, Scott Weiland began to explore musical projects outside of Stone Temple Pilots. He formed the band Magnificent Bastards with Victor Indrizzo, Zander Schloss, and Jeff Nolan. However, they only recorded two songs, “Mockingbird Girl,” and a cover of John Lennon’s “How Do You Sleep?” Before long, Weiland rejoined Stone Temple Pilots for their third album, Tiny Music… Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop, which was released in 1996. Despite Weiland’s ongoing success with music, however, it soon became clear that he was struggling mightily with drug addiction. He had first tried heroin back in 1993, and he had become increasingly dependent on the drug as his fame rose. “It made me feel safe. It was like the womb,” he later recalled. “I felt ­completely sure of myself. It took away all the fears.” Then, in 1995, he was arrested in Pasadena for the ­possession of heroin and crack cocaine. He received a suspended sentence and probation. Shortly afterward, he holed up at the Chateau Marmont hotel in Los Angeles. His room happened to be next to Courtney Love, the founder of the band Hole and the widow of the recently deceased Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. “We shot drugs the whole time,” Weiland later remembered. “Most of the time she just walked around in panties. There was never anything that went on between us… Dope was the most important thing.” Wikimedia CommonsSinger Scott Weiland on stage with Velvet Revolver, another band he was involved with before his death. In 1999, Stone Temple Pilots released their fourth album, No. 4. Weiland’s issues with substance abuse continued, and he spent five months in jail for violating his parole, which was connected with drug possession charges. Stone Temple Pilots released another album in 2001, titled Shangri-La Dee Da. But by this point, tensions were said to be rising between the members of the band. By 2003, Stone Temple Pilots had broken up. During this time, Weiland joined the group Velvet Revolver. The band released their debut album Contraband in 2004. The album was a hit, and the band saw great success in the years that followed. However, in 2008, just one year after the release of the group’s second album, it was announced that Weiland would no longer be part of the band due to “his increasingly erratic onstage behavior and personal problems.” Weiland checked into rehab that same year, but left just a month later. Meanwhile, Weiland reconnected with his former bandmates in Stone Temple Pilots and the group soon reunited for a tour. However, tensions rose yet again in the band, and Weiland was kicked out of the group in 2013. Though Weiland was shocked and angered by his dismissal, he continued to make music. By that point, he had already done some solo work, and he also formed the band Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts, which released the album Blaster in 2015. Sadly, tragedy was just around the corner. Scott Weiland’s Tragic Death And His Troubled Final Months Wikimedia CommonsScott Weiland and the Wildabouts performing in 2013. The Wildabouts were on tour when tragedy struck. On Dec. 3, 2015, 48-year-old Scott Weiland was found dead on his tour bus in Bloomington, Minnesota. His body was discovered by the band’s tour manager, who later recalled: “I shook his leg and thought, ‘Oh, my God, he’s not moving.’ I went to his shoulders and realized he was stiff.” Scott Weiland’s death was eventually ruled an accident caused by a toxic mix of drugs, including cocaine, alcohol, and the amphetamine MDA. It was also noted that he suffered from several conditions like atherosclerosis, cardiovascular ­disease, asthma, and ­multiple-substance ­dependence, and that he was on a number of different prescription medications. It was later revealed that Weiland’s final 10 months were extremely tumultuous — including his close friend’s death, his parents both being diagnosed with cancer, and his estrangement from his teenage children. Around this same time period, Weiland also struggled with bouts of paranoia and mania that were connected to his bipolar disorder. This led to a number of shocking incidents, including Weiland cursing at his own fans during a meet-and-greet and threatening to assault a reporter. Wikimedia CommonsScott Weiland is remembered for the impact he had on rock music, but also for his tragic demise. Many people who saw him during his final months later said that he was clearly in no state to tour, but he was reportedly struggling so much financially due to his addictions, multiple attempts at rehab, and child-support payments that he didn’t feel he could pass up the income. His former wife Mary Forsberg Weiland, with whom he shared his two children, penned a poignant essay soon after Scott Weiland’s death. The essay, titled Don’t Glorify This Tragedy, read in part: “We don’t want to downplay Scott’s amazing talent, presence or his ability to light up any stage with brilliant electricity… But at some point, someone needs to step up and point out that yes, this will happen again — because as a society we almost encourage it. We read awful show reviews, watch videos of artists falling down, unable to recall their lyrics streaming on a teleprompter just a few feet away. And then we click ‘add to cart’ because what actually belongs in a hospital is now considered art.” The essay concluded, “Our hope for Scott has died, but there is still hope for others. Let’s choose to make this the first time we don’t glorify this tragedy with talk of rock and roll and the demons that, by the way, don’t have to come with it. Skip the depressing T-shirt with 1967-2015 on it — use the money to take a kid to a ballgame or out for ice cream.” After reading about the life and death of Scott Weiland, go inside the tragic stories of the 27 Club. Then, discover the wildest tales of rock star excess that went way too far. The post What Happened To Scott Weiland? Inside The Rock Singer’s Untimely Death appeared first on All That's Interesting.