Sam Pepper (Image via Getty)

Sam Pepper is once again facing severe backlash online and this time it’s because of a short clip from his livestream. On April 3, 2026, a 16-second video was shared on Reddit in which he was holding his pet squirrel, Potato, and yelling at it. The clip spread quickly and many viewers were not happy with what they saw.The video was posted by a user on the r/LivestreamFair subreddit with the title, “Sam abusing animals on paper kick.” In the clip, Sam Pepper can be heard saying, “Hey! I told you three times! Stop it, or I’ll put you in a cage! Don’t cut off my camera!” The moment has now sparked widespread discussion online, with many users questioning his behaviour.

Sam defends pepper action as Reddit users criticize treatment of pet squirrel Potato

As the clip spread, many Reddit users shared their thoughts in the comments. A large number of people felt that the way Sam Pepper handled the situation was inappropriate. Some users said that the reaction seemed too aggressive for a small animal.One user wrote, “Is Kik cursed or something? What the hell makes all their streamers a bunch of animal abusers?” Another said, “Snatching a squirrel and yelling at it like it understands you is not what I expected.” A separate comment read, “Just holding a small animal and yelling at it like that is not appropriate behavior.”The discussion grew and more people joined in. Another user shared, “If you treat animals poorly you are a bad person. This rule has always been true.” These reactions show how strongly viewers felt after watching the clip.Later the same day, Sam Pepper addressed the situation during his livestream. He hit back at the criticism and said people were misunderstanding the moment. “Someone paid this account to post hateful clips about me. They’ve gone this far,” he claimed.He also clarified his stand by saying, “It’s just discipline. He’s fine. I’m holding him securely, and I’m telling him not to do anything so he doesn’t do it again.” According to him, he takes great care of his pet. He said, “I love potatoes.” I am very sensitive.”Even after his answer the conversation did not slow down. Many viewers continued to question whether his actions were justified.This is not the first time that Sam Pepper has come into limelight. On December 13, 2025, he made headlines after asking Kik to delete his channel following an incident where a girl’s eye was injured due to a firework. That past situation is now being mentioned again as people are discussing their latest controversy.

A spectacular drone display over Belfast has attracted global attention after recreating the outline of the historic RMS Titanic in the night sky. According to reports and widely shared footage, around 950 drones were used to create the glowing silhouette of the ship above Belfast Harbour. The event took place on April 2, which coincides with the significant moment in 1912 when the Titanic left the city’s shipyard for sea trials. History and technology combine in a carefully timed tribute that serves as a stark reminder of the ship’s enduring legacy.

A Tribute Based on the History of the Titanic

The drone show was synchronized with an important date in the Titanic story. On April 2, 1912, after the ship’s construction was completed she departed from Belfast, marking the beginning of her maiden voyage. By recreating the ship in the sky on the same date, organizers aimed to symbolically “return” the Titanic to the place where it was built.It is being told that this performance is part of the BBC’s “Made of Here” campaign, which highlights the creative and cultural identity of Northern Ireland.Hundreds of synchronized drones were used in the large-scale construction to explore the Titanic’s structure in detail. Illuminated displays highlighted the ship’s long hull and its four funnels, while subtle lighting effects created the illusion of movement across the water.The precision of the drones allowed the structure to appear almost lifelike, with reflections on the harbor adding to the illusion. The result was a floating, glowing design that blended historical imagery with modern technology.

Why was the show kept hidden?

Reports suggest that the event was not widely announced in advance. Large drone displays require strict security measures, especially in busy urban or coastal areas. Limiting advance publicity likely helped organizers control crowds and ensure safe operations.The element of surprise also contributed to the viral effect of the spectacle, as many viewers unexpectedly encountered the performance and shared it online.

Reactions: Reflection mixed with astonishment

The footage quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing a variety of reactions. Many viewers praised the creativity and scale of the display, calling it a powerful tribute to one of the most famous ships in history.At the same time, some people found the imagery horrifying, given the tragic legacy of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. The contradiction between the beauty of the display and the fate of the ship added an emotional dimension to the event.

The lasting connection between Belfast and the Titanic

More than a century later, the Titanic remains deeply linked to Belfast. Attractions such as Titanic Belfast attract visitors and tell the story of the ship’s construction and legacy.The drone show demonstrates how that connection is being reimagined through modern storytelling, using technology to bring history to life in new ways.

A Canadian family living in Massachusetts has been stranded for weeks after being denied re-entry into the US following a short ski trip to Quebec.Michael Freese, his wife Cynthya and their three young children traveled to Canada in March in hopes of returning to a routine home on Martha’s Vineyard. Instead, they are stuck in Ottawa, living at a rented property in Kanata after US border officials refused to allow them back into the country.Freeze told the Daily Mail that he was twice refused by US Border Patrol officers when attempting to renew his TN visa, a permit that allows some Canadian and Mexican professionals to work in the United States under the USMCA trade agreement.The visa is typically issued for up to three years and can be renewed, but applicants must leave the US before its expiration and reapply at the border. Sanction is at the discretion of the officer reviewing the case.Freeze works as a management consultant for a company that builds luxury homes. He said officials questioned whether his job still met the eligibility criteria.Freeze said: “In the past, they were a little more lenient on those things [work] Categories eligible. Just imagine they have become less generous.”He first attempted to re-enter the US through a border crossing in Quebec, but was refused citing that his role did not qualify under the TN visa category. He tried again the next day at a checkpoint in Ontario with updated documents, but was once again denied entry.“Three years ago when I got my visa, I think they said, ‘This is a guy who is doing honest work and trying to grow the economy,'” Freeze said. He said: “Now that has changed, and although it’s disappointing to me…I don’t think CBP did anything wrong. They’re just trying to do their job.”Freese believes this decision may also be related to additional responsibilities in his role that go beyond strict management consulting. He said an official mentioned that the list of eligible businesses was recently updated.The family traveled to Canada partly because Freeze needed to take their passports with them for the renewal process. He combined this requirement with a short vacation.Freeze has lived in the United States for seven years. After graduating from Brigham Young University–Idaho, he initially went on a temporary visa before securing a three-year TN visa, which he expected to renew without difficulty.Now separated from his home and job in Edgartown, he is exploring legal options to return. Also, they have started applying for new roles that fit more clearly into the TN visa guidelines.According to US State Department data, more than 15,000 TN visas were issued to professionals from Canada and Mexico in 2024.

Matt Gaetz on The Benny Show says a military source has described an alleged alien-human breeding program / Image: Screengrab Benny Johnson

A former US congressman who was once in line to become the nation’s top law enforcement official has claimed that a serving member of the military briefed him on a secret program involving aliens and abducted humans, a claim he says was made directly to him personally while he was still in office.Matt Gaetz, who was nominated by Donald Trump to be attorney general in 2024, withdrew his name amid allegations that he had sexual relations with a 17-year-old girl, allegations he denies and for which he has not been charged, he made the comments during the March 31 Appearance on Benny ShowHosted by prominent right-wing influencer Benny Johnson.

What Gaetz says he was told

Gaetz said the conversation took place in his office in Crestview, Florida, and described it as a direct briefing from a uniformed member of the U.S. military, which he described as non-classified, but which was attended by members of his staff. He said that a “senior enlisted” service member had come to him with information about “locations of hybrid breeding programs”, describing a system in which, he said, “captured aliens were breeding with humans to create some hybrid race that could engage in space communication.” According to Gaetz, the same person told him that human participants in the alleged program were drawn from “war zones” and “even caravans of migrants” and that the activities were not limited to a single site. He said he was told there were “six to 12 locations across the country where this happened,” and that the person who briefed him wanted congressional intervention, specifically, coordinated visits by lawmakers to those locations so that any alleged actions could not be moved or concealed. That move never materialized, Gaetz said. He said, “It was a physical impossibility to have members of Congress present at multiple sites at the same time”, and as a result, no such effort was made. He also clarified that he has not verified the claims presented before him.Also read: US Congressman says he knows UFO secrets that could ‘keep Americans up at night’ and ‘shock the nation’

Political and personal background

Gaetz’s comments come against the backdrop of a political career that has included both prominence and controversy. In November 2024, he was nominated to serve as Attorney General under Trump, a role that would have put him at the head of the Justice Department. He later withdrew from consideration as the investigation into allegations involving a minor intensified. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing, and no criminal charges have been filed against him. More recently, he has also at times distanced himself from elements of the Trump administration’s foreign policy, including criticism of the conflict involving Iran. Speaking at CPAC, he warned that sending ground troops would make the US “poorer and less safe” and said he was “not sure we will kill more terrorists than we create.”

How is the claim received?

The interview quickly circulated online, drawing a largely skeptical response. On X, one user questioned whether the clip itself was authentic, writing: “@Grok is this interview AI?” Others dismissed the claim outright, with one post writing: “It’s ‘April Fools’ time now.” Many reactions focused on the lack of supporting evidence. One user wrote, “Extraordinary claim with zero credible evidence, no verified reports support it, so it should be considered unproven and highly doubtful,” while another commented: “Aliens are breeding with humans… and somehow people will take this seriously in 2026?” Some responses referenced Gaetz’s past political positions. “And to think this guy was so close to becoming Attorney General of the United States,” one user wrote, while another said: “How did you go from rising star congressman to podcaster conspiracy theorist so fast?” Others drew comparisons to famous conspiracy figures. “Is he trying to beat the Alex Jones caricature?”. one user asked, while another wrote: “This might be the stupidest conspiracy theory I’ve ever heard and I’m a conspiracy theorist.”

What is confirmed and what is not

Gaetz’s account is based primarily on what he says he was told during that meeting. He has not provided documents, names, locations, or any independent confirmation to support the existence of any such program, and acknowledged that he has not verified the information himself.No US military or government body has confirmed the existence of any programs involving alien-human hybridization or the abduction of civilians for such purposes. Publicly acknowledged investigations of unidentified aerial phenomena have documented unexplained sightings, but have not established evidence of extraterrestrial involvement.The only clear public support for Gaetz’s claims came from Dr. Steven Greer, a retired emergency physician turned UFO researcher, who responded to the comments during an appearance on the same program on April 4. “We’ve got hold of those bodies, some alive, some dead,” Greer said, adding that “there’s some horrible program being run by the military where they’re trying to mix the DNA of these creatures with humans, and they come up with these demonic-looking things that are used to abduct people.”“He further claimed that “Everybody is hearing about alien abductions, it’s not outsiders doing it. It’s a secret human program. We know it and we can prove it,” describing the issue as “the biggest scandal in the history of the United States.”Greer also alleges that a secret, untrained group possesses reverse-engineered extraterrestrial vehicles and that a vast cover-up exists surrounding such technologies. He is best known for founding the Center for the Study of Extraterrestrial Intelligence (CSETI) and The Disclosure Project, and has long advocated the disclosure of classified information on UFOs and extraterrestrial contact.His claims have received both support and significant criticism over the years, and, like Gaetz’s account, have not been independently verified or corroborated by any official evidence.At the moment, the claims are unproven and based on claims that have not been confirmed by government bodies or the broader scientific community.

A reporter for Turning Point USA said she was shocked to find a sign offering blessings for “job visas” inside a Hindu temple in North Texas.Savannah Hernandez posted on He shared a picture of a sign which read: “Ask blessings for health, job visa and any other problems.” “I’m still in shock that I went to an Indian temple in Texas and the first thing I saw was a blessing for ‘job visas,'” Hernandez wrote.In a previous post onHis TPUSA documentary shows the rapid growth of Indian and Muslim communities in cities like Frisco, Plano and Irving. The video includes interviews with local residents who are concerned about the rapidly changing culture and influx of Indian immigrants, parks converted into cricket grounds, festivals like Holi, and new religious infrastructure. Hernandez also features temples with large statues, grocery stores, streets with names of South Asian heritage, and Indian residents in traditional attire.At the temple, Hernandez performed practices typical in Hindu worship, such as removing shoes and praying to multiple deities. He described the temple as “very large” and “complex”.The video was criticized by some users, who said that Hernandez was reporting on a religious location, while MAGA supporters used his footage to express anti-Indian and anti-immigrant views. One wrote on X: “Thanks to the Texas GOP Texas has been conquered by both Muslims and Indians. Mosques exploded and now an Indian temple honoring a monkey god.”Frisco has become a center of debate about immigration and population change. City council meetings are filled with claims of “Indian takeover” and concerns about visa rules “replacing” American workers. Between 2023 and 2025, online hatred against Indians in the US is reportedly expected to more than double.

The United States has canceled the green cards of two relatives of slain Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani as tensions escalate between Washington and Tehran.Qassem Soleimani led Iran’s Quds Force and was killed in a US drone strike in 2020. It was an event that continued to shape relations between the two countries.