NPR’s Adrian Ma Shares Heartbreaking Loss
NPR host Adrian Ma shared a heartrending account of losing his girlfriend, Kiah Duggins, a civil rights lawyer who died in the tragic plane crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Wash
The Rebel Yellow #35
Deported Sikh immigrants say their religious turbans were confiscated and discarded by U.S. officials, fueling outrage over religious freedom violations. Meanwhile, an Asian American porn star is breaking stereotypes in the adult industry, Vietnam’s latest viral rapper is taking over TikTok with over 1 billion views, and a former SpaceX engineer is accused of murdering his wife. Also in this issue: a new Avatar series, a landmark win for Asian American cinema, and Melania Trump’s unexpected celebrity status in China.
Sikh deportees allege their turbans were thrown away during their detention
Multiple Sikh immigrants recently deported from the U.S. have reported that their religious articles of faith — including turbans — were confiscated and discarded during detention, raising concerns about religious freedom violations amid the Trump administration’s intensified immigration crackdown.
What they’re saying
Davinder Singh, 21, who was among 117 illegal Indian immigrants deported on Feb. 15, described witnessing U.S. officials throwing away turbans inside a detention center. “It was very painful watching turbans being thrown into a dustbin,” Davinder told PTI.
Another deportee, Jaswinder Singh, 21, shared similar experiences. “As soon as I was detained on Jan. 27 and taken to the detention center, they asked me to remove all my clothes, including my turban,” he told the Indian Express. When he and others requested their turbans be returned, officials allegedly refused, saying, “Who will be responsible if any of you hangs self [sic] to death?”
Both deportees described harsh conditions during their detention. Davinder reported being given limited food and “wafer-thin” blankets while air conditioners ran at low temperatures. “I didn’t comb my hair for 18 days. We were wearing the same clothes, which got dirty during the travel, for 18 days,” he added.
Jaswinder alleged “mental torture” during transport, describing being chained by hands and feet on the flight back to India. “If anyone stood up even for a minute to stretch, the U.S. authorities on board would reprimand us and order us to sit down,” he said.
Advocacy response
In a statement shared with The Rebel Yellow, the Sikh Coalition, a New York-based nonprofit defending Sikh civil rights, expressed alarm at the reports.
“While we have not been in touch with any of the impacted individuals, we are alarmed by such reports,” the organization stated. “For years, we have worked to address U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents seizing and destroying the dastaars of asylum-seekers at our nation’s southern border.”
“To be clear — it is unacceptable for anyone to have their religious articles of faith discarded and disrespected,” the organization added.
Meanwhile, American Sikh Caucus Committee founder Pritpal Singh, along with leaders of other Sikh groups, sent a joint letter to Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem, urging her department to “review and amend current deportation procedures to fully honor the religious rights of Sikh individuals.”
The big picture
The alleged incidents come amid an intensified crackdown on illegal immigration by President Donald Trump. Since Feb. 5, the U.S. has deported at least 345 Indian nationals in three major batches via military aircraft to Amritsar, with a more recent smaller group of 12 arriving via commercial flights through Panama on Monday.
Beyond policy debates are personal stories of financial ruin. Jaswinder’s family reportedly sold 1.5 killa (1.5 acres) of land, mortgaged their two-room house and even sold their buffaloes to raise 44 lakh ($53,000) for his immigration journey. Similarly, Davinder reported spending nearly 40 lakh ($47,000) on his unsuccessful endeavor.
NPR host’s emotional recalling of his girlfriend’s death in D.C. plane crash
NPR host Adrian Ma shared a heartrending account of losing his girlfriend, Kiah Duggins, a civil rights lawyer who died in the tragic plane crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington D.C. on Jan. 30. Duggins was returning to Washington from a family visit when the American Airlines flight she was aboard collided with a military helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River, resulting in the death of all 67 people aboard both aircraft
An agonizing wait
Ma arrived at the airport around 9 p.m., expecting a text or call from Duggins upon landing. Instead, he noticed an unusual number of emergency vehicles rushing by. When her flight number 5342 wasn’t listed on the arrival board, Ma approached an American Airlines counter. “The person at the counter just sort of gives me, like, a blank expression,” Ma recalled. His anxiety intensified when a friend of Duggins called him after seeing reports of a crash online.
“My stomach drops,” Ma recounted. Searching frantically through news reports and social media updates, he clung to the faint hope that Duggins might be among potential survivors. But as officials led families of passengers into a waiting area, the gravity of the tragedy began to set in.
“Breaking down”
“There’s somebody standing there with a passenger manifest … I say, ‘Kiah Duggins,’ and they start tracing the list of names on this piece of paper, and they flip the paper, and they trace their finger down the page one more time, and they flip the paper again,” Ma shared. “And that's when I realize there's a lot more people than just four people on this flight."
Hours later, an official from D.C.’s homicide unit confirmed that bodies were being recovered from the river, with no survivors found. The room of waiting families broke down in anguish. “They’re breaking down. I’m breaking down,” Ma shared.
Her legacy
For Ma, the days following the crash have been filled with “emotional hell.” Reminders of Duggins are everywhere — her glasses on the nightstand, her clothes in the closet and echoes of her voice lingering in moments when Ma instinctively turns to share something with her.
But amid the grief, Ma has chosen to speak publicly about Duggins, not just to cope with his own loss but to ensure that her memory lives on. “The more that I can plant just a little sense of who this person was in people's minds, the more that she can live on, in a sense,” he said.
Life dedicated to justice and joy
Duggins was not only a devoted civil rights lawyer but also an incoming professor at Howard University School of Law, where she aspired to inspire the next generation of Black civil rights attorneys. Her career was rooted in fighting systemic injustices and advocating for vulnerable communities.
Ma knew Duggins for her infectious energy, thoughtful handwritten notes and a love for all things Disney — particularly Brandy’s “Cinderella.” “She loved to ask you, ‘What was a magical moment from your day?’” Ma recalled, noting how Duggins would tell him: “There’s no good time to schedule fun, so you just got to commit to it.”
A former SpaceX engineer is accused of killing his wife at his parents’ home
A former SpaceX engineer has been charged with murder after allegedly killing his wife of just five months during what turned into a violent visit to his parents’ home in rural Maine.
What happened
Samuel Whittemore, 34, is being held without bail at the Kennebec County Jail following the death of his wife, Margaux Nguyen Whittemore, 32, on Feb. 19 at his parents’ residence in Readfield. Officers responded to a 911 call at approximately 10:02 a.m. reporting an incident at the Giles Road home.
Margaux was discovered deceased outside the house. Meanwhile, the suspect’s mother, Dorothy “Darcy” Whittemore, 67, was found inside the residence suffering from injuries. She was transported to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, where her condition has since improved. It remains to be seen whether Samuel will face additional charges related to the injuries sustained by his mother.
In a tragic irony, Dorothy had previously advocated for stricter gun safety measures. Writing as Darcy Whittemore in an April 7 letter to the Kennebec Journal, she urged state officials to enact a “red flag” law that would allow family members and law enforcement to petition courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who pose a risk of harming themselves or others.
About the couple
Samuel and Margaux’s Instagram profiles suggest they shared an idyllic life. The couple, who lived in Belfast, met in 2021 and married last September. Margaux captioned their wedding photos, “Am I dreaming?”
Samuel graduated from MIT in 2014 and worked as a senior avionics systems engineer at SpaceX until July 2021, as per his LinkedIn profile. He described himself as a “passionate engineer and sailor” who is “honest, analytical and even-keeled under stress.”
After leaving SpaceX, Samuel became an engineer designing equipment to monitor coral reef restoration. He also captained the Havili, a 50-foot sailboat which he sailed across the Pacific “with stops in Mexico, French Polynesia, Tonga, New Zealand, [and] Hawaii.”
Margaux, on the other hand, held a master’s degree in international marketing from SKEMA Business School in Lille, France. She worked as a marketing consultant and communication manager with several French companies since 2019.
What’s next
Investigation into the case continues. An autopsy performed on Thursday ruled Margaux’s death a homicide, though authorities have not disclosed the specific cause of death or a motive for the killing.
Maine State Police said Samuel fled the scene after the attack but was apprehended shortly after. He was initially taken to Maine General Hospital in Augusta for evaluation before being transported to jail and charged with murder.
Samuel was scheduled to make an initial court appearance on Friday, but the proceeding was postponed after his attorney, Walter McKee, reported that his client was not competent enough to appear in court. Superior Court Justice Daniel Mitchell ordered a mental health evaluation to determine Samuel’s competency before proceeding with the case.
Vietnamese rapper achieves 1 billion views with viral hit “Khong Sao Ca”
Vietnamese rapper 7dnight has taken the internet by storm with his breakout hit “Khong Sao Ca” (“No Problem”). A 30-second snippet featuring the infectious refrain “gwenchana ding ding ding dinh ding” has ignited a worldwide dance craze, amassing over 1 billion views on TikTok in just a month and inspiring over 1.4 million videos across the platform. Celebrities and K-pop stars such as Aespa and Enhypen have helped fuel the craze, with Seventeen even performing the dance during a Jakarta concert before 40,000 fans. The viral wave has also propelled “Khong Sao Ca” to No. 5 on TikTok Billboard’s global top 50 chart from Jan. 27 to Feb. 2, making it the only Vietnamese track to break into the top rankings.
Rising from struggles: Behind the viral phenomenon is 27-year-old Ngo Tuan Dat from Nghe An Province. His 7dnight stage name holds deep personal significance, representing the seven fingers he was born with — a congenital condition linked to his grandfathers’ exposure to Agent Orange during military service. “I used to get teased, so I often tucked my left hand into my pocket to hide it,” 7dnight shared with Vietnam News. His journey took him to South Korea, where early struggles with job rejections fueled intense self-doubt. Working up to 14 hours a day in various jobs, music became his refuge. “I’d sneak into the bathroom to write [lyrics] down before I forgot,” he recalled. His breakthrough came after encouragement from rapper BigDaddy, leading him back to Vietnam to compete in ”Rap Viet” season 4, where “Khong Sao Ca” first debuted.
Message of resilience: The track’s global appeal lies not just in its catchy melody but also in its message of resilience. The Korean phrase “gwenchana,” meaning “It’s OK” or “I’m fine,” resonated deeply with 7dnight during his toughest moments. This simple mantra helped him overcome insecurities tied to his physical differences and past hardships. Now, with viral success cementing his place on the international stage, 7dnight embraces his mission with newfound confidence: “From the start of my career, I’ve wanted to spread positive energy. That’s my mission.”
“Dìdi” wins big at Independent Spirit Awards: Fremont, California-born filmmaker Sean Wang’s debut feature, “Dìdi,” secured two major wins at the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards. The coming-of-age drama, deeply rooted in Wang’s Taiwanese American upbringing, took home best first feature and best first screenplay during the ceremony in Santa Monica.
Breaking barriers: In his acceptance speech for best first feature, Wang reflected on the long journey to bring his story to life. “I want to thank my childhood friends who had to deal with seven years of sending them Facebook memories and MySpace photos from 2007—cringe,” the 31-year-old director quipped, standing alongside his cast and crew, including actors Izaac Wang and Joan Chen. “When I started writing this movie, I remember Googling coming-of-age movies, and there wasn’t a single movie that had someone who looked like me or looked like Izaac on the poster.”
On Asian motherhood: While Wang’s win was a professional triumph, it was also a deeply personal one. “My mom’s watching, so I really just want to dedicate this to my mom — and all the other immigrant moms out there who gave up so much. And parents — my dad too. Shoutout, Dad,” he said in his speech for best first screenplay. “We really tried with this movie to showcase a different side of Asian motherhood — one that is the opposite of the ‘tiger mom’ that we’ve seen so many times in media. One that is honoring the sensitive, artistic, tender side of Asian motherhood — one that is often invisible.”
A Bay Area story with global resonance: Set and shot in Fremont, “Dìdi” has resonated with audiences through its authentic portrayal of adolescence and cultural identity. Cast member Joan Chen, a longtime San Francisco resident, was also nominated for best supporting performance. Developed at the Sundance Institute with backing from SFFilm, “Dìdi” premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the U.S. Dramatic Audience and Special Jury Ensemble awards. The film is now streaming on Prime Video.
New “Avatar” series set after “Legend of Korra” announced
Nickelodeon and Avatar Studios are set to continue the legacy of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” with “Avatar: Seven Havens,” a new animated series expanding the beloved franchise. The series will span 26 episodes across two seasons — structured in the franchise’s signature “book” format.
A new chapter: Set after the events of “The Legend of Korra,” “Seven Havens” introduces audiences to a darker era in the Avatar universe. According to the official synopsis, the series follows a young Earthbender who learns she is the new Avatar after Korra. However, rather than being hailed as a savior, she is feared as a potential destroyer in a world devastated by a catastrophic event.
All-new characters: The announcement comes just as “Avatar: The Last Airbender” marks its 20th anniversary, having first premiered on Feb. 21, 2005. Co-creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko also serve as executive producers on the project. While no other details about the project have been disclosed, the duo claimed that the upcoming show will be “full of fantasy, mystery and a whole new cast of amazing characters.”
Expanding the franchise: “Seven Havens” marks the third installment in the Avatar animated saga and the first full-length series from Avatar Studios since its establishment. An animated film featuring Aang and the original “Last Airbender” characters is also set for theatrical release in January next year and features a voice cast that includes Dave Bautista, Dionne Quan and Eric Nam.
“Woman of the Year” Anna Sawai and the new era of Asian representation in Hollywood
New Zealand-born Japanese actress Anna Sawai was recently named one of Time magazine's “Women of the Year” for 2025, on the heels of her string of personal triumphs. The 32-year-old star took top acting honors at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes and most recently the Screen Actors Guild Awards for her nuanced portrayal of Lady Mariko in the FX historical drama “Shogun.”
Sawai's journey was described to be marked by a conscious effort to challenge stereotypes, actively working to dismantle the long-standing objectification and sexualization of Asian women in Hollywood. "We have so much more inside of us," Sawai told Time. “I want to make sure that the roles that I choose are not going to perpetuate those images that I feel are incorrect, and I want to make sure that they’re very human.”
She shared with NextShark last year how she immersed herself deeply in the role of Lady Mariko, learning period-specific skills such as wearing a kimono, horseback riding, calligraphy, and tea-making. "It was really important to me that if we were telling a Japanese story that as a Japanese person, I could proudly say that we were doing it authentically and accurately.”
Looking ahead, Sawai is eager to diversify her portfolio, expressing interest in genres like romantic comedies and action adventure. “I want the next role that I find to be something that challenges me, because I haven’t done it in the past,” she added. “I don’t want to keep repeating what I’ve done.”
Margaret Cho’s support of Luigi Mangione upsets Piers Morgan
Comedian Margaret Cho, known for her sharp wit and unfiltered commentary, is doubling down on her support for Luigi Mangione, the alleged assassin of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Unapologetic Cho: Cho first sparked backlash in December when she joked about "holding space" for Mangione, praising his physique and abs. British broadcaster Piers Morgan called her remarks "sickening," but the comic dismissed the criticism in a Feb. 20 interview with Pride Today with a quip: “I live and die to be called sickening! That’s a high compliment.”
Recurring joke: Cho’s admiration for Mangione has become a recurring bit in her stand-up routine and public interviews. She also reminisced about his transformation since his arrest, lamenting that she hasn’t seen him in a while. “What is he doing? I want to see what his hair is like,” she mused. She even playfully suggested that Mangione’s supporters should demand his acquittal: “They have to acquit!”
Comedy as defiance: Cho’s latest tour, “Live & Livid,” leans into the absurdities of modern life, taking aim at figures like Elon Musk — whom she mockingly calls “president” — and, of course, Mangione. “He puts the rizz in terrorist! He’s so fine,” she joked. While critics like Morgan find her remarks inflammatory, Cho sees them as part of a larger cultural conversation — one that amplifies marginalized voices and reclaims laughter as a form of protest. “The way that we can make sense of it is to come together and be grateful that we have each other,” she said.
An Asian male porn star talks representation in adult entertainment
Leo Vice, a rising star in adult entertainment, is carving out a unique path as one of the industry’s most promising male performers. In a recent interview with podcaster Papi Chulo, the Taiwan-born content creator offered his perspective on authenticity and breaking stereotypes in an industry where Asian male performers have historically been underrepresented.
From corporate designer to adult performer
Leo, who immigrated to the U.S. with his family at age 5, spent six and a half years as a graphic designer for a major video game company before transitioning to adult work.
“I was doing easily 12-plus hour days, five, six days a week just to keep up with the workload,” Leo, 39, explained. “I was reaching burnout. I was losing my creativity.”
His diverse background in graphic design, business development, marketing and even skateboarding provided him with the perfect skillset for self-producing content. What sets him apart, however, is his commitment to authenticity and focus on his partner’s pleasure.
“I have a largely vocal female fan base for a reason because my performance is always focused on my partner’s pleasure,” he shared. “If the girl looks like she’s having a good time, then girls can relate when they’re watching my content.”
Championing representation
As a first-generation immigrant who experienced anti-Asian bullying growing up, Leo recognized the importance of representation early in life. “I wanted to see more positive masculine representation of Asian men in Western media, so I did it,” he said.
According to Leo, this mindset drives his work as he aims to challenge stereotypes and provide authentic representation for Asian men in adult content. His presence is also particularly significant given the historical underrepresentation of Asian men in the industry.
“In the past it’s always sort of been like one Asian guy at a time,” he noted, referencing predecessors like Kenny Styles and Jeremy Long before discussing the current generation that includes himself, David Lee, James Bang and Donatello Devine. “We’re at 400%, 500% more representation than we’ve ever had... but that’s still like we got five guys now instead of one,” he said.
Leo points to cultural pressures as reasons for limited Asian male participation in straight adult content. “For Asian men, because all the Asian cultures don’t really have a negativity towards the Asian male — you’re kind of honored and revered as being an Asian male in the family — it creates this barrier for a lot of Asian men who may think about wanting to do porn … but don’t want to upset their parents.”
Breaking barriers
Leo entered the industry at a conducive time. “Coming in after 2020, after the Black Lives Matter protests, after OnlyFans put so much power back in the hands of the performers ... studios that were playing a lot more of the racist tropes, especially anti-Asian tropes, they sort of went away,” he recalled.
Today, Leo believes he’s the first Asian male performer on the straight side of the industry to have a molded replica of his genitals produced and sold commercially.
“I’m very honored to be the first Asian male on the straight side of the industry to get one,” he shared. “I hope I’m not the last one. I hope a lot more Asian men get the opportunity to do that as well and that it's just a normalized thing in the future.”