Boxing Star Arrested For Vandalism, Compares Himself To Trump and Britney Spears

Boxing star Ryan Garcia was arrested for felony vandalism after allegedly causing thousands of dollars worth of damage to a Beverly Hills hotel — and he later compared himself to Britney Spears and former President Donald Trump.

The Beverly Hills Police Department confirmed that Garcia was arrested on Saturday for causing $15,000 in damage to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Southern California, ABC 7 in Los Angeles reported.

Following the boxer’s arrest, he was taken to the hospital after complaining of medical issues. Later, he was released on bail.

After his arrest, Garcia went on several rants on social media asking for prayers and comparing his treatment to that of Trump, who was recently convicted by a New York jury in the hush-money trial.

“Prayer warriors. Please I need prayers,” the boxer’s post on X read. “A lot of prayers. Prayers can move mountains. LORD JESUS SAVE ME.”

BREAKING: RYAN GARCIA ARRESTED IN LOS ANGELES FOR FELONY VANDALISM

He apparently appeared to be under the influence but cooperated with the police. pic.twitter.com/AptpVJvp0C

— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) June 9, 2024

Kinda funny both Trump and I are in jail,” he added in a second post. “I don’t know if he is in jail but I know he got convicted. This sucks, But I love Jesus I will be okay.”

I feel like I’m Ryan Spears Aka Britney Spears,” Garcia continued in a third post. “This sucks 🙁 I never hurt anyone. I’ve only ever loved everyone prayed for people. And try to make a change in this cruel world. I love you Christ Jesus Amen.”

Attorney Darin T. Chavez, representing Garcia, released a statement after the arrest and said the boxer was dealing with some “extraordinarily challenging” issues, “as he has been grappling with devastating news regarding his mother’s health.”

“First and foremost, we urge everyone to respect Ryan’s privacy during this difficult period,” the statement read. “Ryan has been open about his struggles with mental health over the years and at this time he is dealing with an immense emotional burden.”

“The support and understanding from fans and the public are crucial as he navigates these personal challenges,” the statement added. “We are working diligently to provide Ryan with the resources he needs. Our team is committed to ensuring that he receives the appropriate help and care to address both his immediate and long-term well-being. We ask for continued support and compassion as Ryan focuses on his family and his health at this time.”

The boxer is also facing a possible suspension from the New York Athletic Commission after testing positive for banned substances the day before and the day of his last fight in April. A decision is forthcoming, ABC noted.

House Panel Invites Scarlett Johansson To Testify About Deepfakes After OpenAI Voice Controversy

Congress is seeking testimony from Scarlett Johansson after the Hollywood star accused OpenAI of using a ChatGPT voice that sounded “eerily similar” to her own despite no deal between them.

A letter sent last week invited Johansson to appear for a Capitol Hill hearing before a House Technology Subcommittee chaired by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC).

“You recently expressed concerns via social media about the resemblance between your own voice and that of the ‘Sky’ chatbot, recently released as part of OpenAl’s GPT- 40 update,” Mace wrote.

“This hearing would provide a platform for you to share those concerns with House Members, and to inform the broader public debate concerning deepfakes,” she added.

Mace’s office told Axios, which first reported the letter on Monday, that Johansson is unable to make the proposed date of July 9 and would likely be available sometime in October.

Johansson, who voiced an AI chat system in the 2013 film “Her,” said in May she was “shocked, angered and in disbelief” upon the reveal of a ChatGPT voice that sounded “eerily similar” to hers.

The actress said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had asked her to provide a voice for the feature, but she declined and so she hired lawyers to reach out to OpenAI when a similar voice feature came out.

OpenAI denied its “Sky” voice was an imitation of Johansson’s voice, insisting it was instead developed with a different professional actress using her “own natural speaking voice.”

Separately, Altman apologized to Johansson “that we didn’t communicate better. He also said, “Out of respect for Ms. Johansson, we have paused using Sky’s voice in our products.”

In ending her statement about the voice controversy, Johansson also called for more work to be done to address issues associated with advancing technologies beyond just artificial intelligence.

“In a time when we are all grappling with deepfakes and the protection of our own likeness, our own work, our own identities, I believe these are questions that deserve absolute clarity,” she said.

“I look forward to resolution in the form of transparency and the passage of appropriate legislation to help ensure that individual rights are protected,” Johansson concluded.

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