Much of what the media report can seem negative or downright depressing.

That's because two of the main objectives of journalists, especially those covering people in power, is to expose wrongdoing and shine a light on problems in society so they can be fixed.

But it's also important to highlight the good that happens around the world — stories of triumph and courage, community and giving back.

This year was more divided than most, but Americans still came together to lift each other up. Here are nine heartwarming news stories from 2017:

SEE ALSO: 15 of the most heartwarming pictures from the Rio Olympics

DON'T MISS: From glowing orbs to putting 'America first' with world leaders: Here are the most memorable photos from Trump's wild first year in office

Hurricane Harvey brings out the best in Americans.

Amid the destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey in parts of Texas and Louisiana in August, many people came together to support the victims most in need.

Residents loaded up rowboats, pontoons, and fishing vessels to rescue survivors stranded on their roofs because the floodwaters in the Houston area were so high.

Miguel Juarez and others from the Texas Rio Grande Valley created a make-shift aid station, where people could pick through supplies like hygiene products and cereal. Juarez also set up a free water station at his truck.

One family near the Barker Reservoir in Houston escaped flooding on an air mattress. When journalists from the local news station ABC13 found them, they pulled them to safety aboard their vessel.

And grocery chain H-E-B, which is based in San Antonio, deployed a convoy of disaster-relief vehicles, including mobile kitchens and pharmacies, to Victoria, Texas. Grateful residents poured into the parking lot for a hot meal.

A Philadelphia man giving free haircuts to the homeless gets a free barbershop of his own — from a complete stranger.

In January, 29-year-old Philadelphia native Brennon Jones started a the charity "Haircuts 4 Homeless", helping the homeless clean up so they could get jobs. His goodwill caught the attention of a Philly-area barber shop owner, who decided to donate a fully-furnished barbershop space for Jones to continue his work.

"I decided what other way to help another brother out than to donate the shop," Sean Johnson, the owner of Taper's Barber Shop, told CBS Philly. "What he was doing down there, I was very impressed."

Jones says it's more than just a haircut. Cleaning up, and talking to a barber can boost morale and confidence, too.

“My very first haircut, his name is Braden," he told CBS. "I cut his hair on 15th & Walnut [Streets]. A few days later, I went to check up on him and he wasn’t there. I was hoping nothing bad happened to him. When we did catch up weeks later, he got offered a full-time job."

A wounded Las Vegas shooting victim fights his injuries to stand when Trump comes to shake his hand.

When President Donald Trump toured a Las Vegas hospital in October after the US's deadliest mass shooting in living memory, 28-year-old Thomas Gunderson pushed through his injuries to stand up and shake his hand when he entered his hospital room.

"Hey, this guy looks tough to me," Trump said of Gunderson, who was recovering from a fresh gunshot wound to the leg.

"I will never lie down when the President of this great country comes to shake my hand!" Gunderson wrote in a video of the encounter he posted to Facebook, which has since garnered 26 million views.

As the year ends, so do some of your favorite TV shows.

We said goodbye to a lot of shows in 2017, and with this being the first year Netflix decided to start canceling shows, it may seem like more shows are falling by the wayside compared to previous years.

The networks, as usual, axed plenty of shows old and new, like the comedy "2 Broke Girls," which faltered in ratings later into its run. One of CBS's new show,"Wisdom of the Crowd," was cancelled after its star, Jeremy Piven, was accused of sexual misconduct in the wake of its premiere in September.

We've also included in this roundup the shows that knew their end was coming, like  "Orphan Black," "Girls," "The Vampire Diaries," and "Bloodline." HBO's "Vice Principals," for example, was always set to be finished after two seasons. 

Here are all the shows that were canceled this year, from broadcast to Netflix:

SEE ALSO: All 26 notable new Netflix original shows that debuted in 2017, ranked from worst to best

"Wisdom of the Crowd" — CBS, one season

"Me, Myself & I" — CBS, one season

"Me Myself, & I" hasn't been officially canceled, but it might as well be: after six episodes, it was pulled from the schedule. 

"The Blacklist: Redemption" — NBC, one season

Netflix's prolific year in original programming has produced a number of critically acclaimed new shows.

Three of the streaming service's original series that debuted in 2017 have even earned the rare designation of a 100% "Fresh" rating on the reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

The satirical comedy-drama "Dear White People," the animated, puberty-centric sitcom "Big Mouth," and a reboot of the cult 1990s show "Mystery Science Theater 3000" all earned universally positive reviews on their way to notching an unblemished critic score on the site. 

Here's why these three Netflix original shows were so critically acclaimed:

SEE ALSO: All 26 notable Netflix original shows that debuted in 2017, ranked from worst to best

"Dear White People"

Critic score: 100%; Audience score: 65%

A serial adaptation of the acclaimed 2014 film of the same name, Netflix's "Dear White People" takes a satirical and incisive look at the issues that a group of students of color deal with while attending a fictional, predominately white Ivy League college.

NPR's Eric Deggan called the series a "pop culture-savvy, sometimes explicit, always entertaining look" at the process of "young people negotiating a world where struggles over identity grow more complex every day."

Netflix renewed the series for a second season over the summer, and production for it began later this year. 

Watch the series on Netflix here.

"Big Mouth"

Critic score: 100%; Audience score: 79%

"Big Mouth," an animated sitcom from comedian Nick Kroll and writer Andrew Goldberg, follows a group of teenagers adjusting to the trials of puberty, with a surreal and explicitly hilarious narrative that also feels true-to-life.

Business Insider's Carrie Wittmer spoke to Goldberg about the series, and he described the show's writers room as "often [feeling] like you've sat in a day of therapy... where you're reliving these memories that are traumatic or embarrassing or awkward, but you're getting the feeling that other people have been through it, too."

Netflix renewed "Big Mouth" for a second season less than a month after releasing its first 10-episode season in late September. 

Watch the series on Netflix here.

"Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return"

Critic score:100%; Audience score: 92%

"Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return" reboots a Comedy Central cult classic from the 1990s, wherein a human (played by comedian Jonah Ray, in this rendition) who is imprisoned on a spacecraft builds a team of sentient robots to watch bad movies with and crack jokes over the footage.

The Los Angeles Times' Robert Lloyd described the new series as closely following the original show's formula, which has "grown legendary with time," and is "still a scrappy, silly thing, probably best experienced late at night, with friends."

Netflix renewed the reboot for a second season last month, bringing the series total to 12 seasons.

Watch the series on Netflix here.

• Netflix content chief Ted Sarandos confirmed that season 6 of "House of Cards" will air.
• It will not feature star Kevin Spacey, who was fired by the company following sexual harassment and assault allegations in October.
• It will be eight episodes and star Robin Wright.

Ted Sarandos is promising a conclusion to the "House of Cards" story.

The chief content officer for Netflix told the audience at UBS’s Global Media and Communications Conference in New York on Monday that season six of the streaming giant's landmark show will happen. 

“We were really excited we could get to an agreement … for the conclusion of the show,” Sarandos said. 

Production on the show halted in October following the sexual harassment and assault allegations against star Kevin Spacey. The season, which will mark the show's finale, will go forward without Spacey. The Oscar winner was fired by Netflix soon after the allegations became public.

Sarandos confirmed that the final season would star Robin Wright, who plays Claire, the wife of Kevin Spacey's character, Frank Underwood. It will be interesting to see how the show will address what happened to the Frank character.

Sarandos also said at the conference that the final season will be eight episodes long (all the other seasons have had 13 episodes). Production will start back up in early 2018.

SEE ALSO: A body double, CGI skull, and secret filming sessions: Inside the yearlong process to bring this beloved character to the "Blade Runner" sequel

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's how Jay-Z and Beyoncé spend their $1.16 billion

A fantastic game just arrived on the Nintendo Switch, and there's a good chance you've never heard of it. 

The game is "Battle Chef Brigade," and it's a true delight — charming, beautiful, and smart. Best of all, it's like no other game that's come out this year. 

That's great news if you're playing "Battle Chef Brigade," but it's unfortunate if you're in the position of convincing people to check it out (hi!). Explaining what it is takes some effort, but here's my best attempt.

SEE ALSO: The Nintendo Switch is the hottest game system of the year — here are its 15 best games

You play as Mina, a fledgling cook from a small village who wants to join the ranks of the world's most serious chefs: the "Battle Chef Brigade"!

Mina is upset. She's stuck in a small town, working for her mother in her family's restaurant. She feels trapped.

The only way out for Mina, she realizes, is through cooking. And this is where the bizarre mash-up of gameplay comes in. First, you must hunt for ingredients:

Just outside of Mina's kitchen is a backyard rife with creatures and plants waiting to be harvested and cooked. This section of the game is called the "hunt," and it involves hacking and slashing through various types of enemies. Upon killing one of these enemies, ingredients are left in their place. 

As the year ends, so do some of your favorite TV shows.

We said goodbye to a lot of shows in 2017, and with this being the first year Netflix decided to start canceling shows, it may seem like more shows are falling by the wayside compared to previous years.

The networks, as usual, axed plenty of shows old and new, like the comedy "2 Broke Girls," which faltered in ratings later into its run. One of CBS's new show,"Wisdom of the Crowd," was cancelled after its star, Jeremy Piven, was accused of sexual misconduct in the wake of its premiere in September.

We've also included in this roundup the shows that knew their end was coming, like  "Orphan Black," "Girls," "The Vampire Diaries," and "Bloodline." HBO's "Vice Principals," for example, was always set to be finished after two seasons. 

Here are all the shows that were canceled this year, from broadcast to Netflix:

SEE ALSO: The best TV show of every year since 2000, according to critics

"Wisdom of the Crowd" — CBS, one season

"Me, Myself & I" — CBS, one season

"Me Myself, & I" hasn't been officially canceled, but it might as well be: after six episodes, it was pulled from the schedule. 

"The Blacklist: Redemption" — NBC, one season

Beyoncé and Jay-Z are officially a billion-dollar couple after Forbes put their combined worth at $1.16 billion this week. The entertainment tycoons not only earn millions from music and tours, but they also rake in cash from numerous side companies and business ventures. Beyoncé also topped Taylor Swift as the highest-paid female artist this year, raking in $105 million in income.

Join the conversation about this story »

• NBC seems to have some blind spots regarding sexual misconduct.
• NBC has said it received the first complaint against Matt Lauer last week, but accounts from those who say they were subjects of or had witnessed Lauer's inappropriate behavior toward women suggest otherwise.
• The network also did not go forward with Ronan Farrow's article detailing allegations of sexual harassment and assault against Harvey Weinstein. The New Yorker ultimately published that report.
• In 2016, NBC held the 2005 "Access Hollywood" in which Donald Trump was caught on a hot mic making lewd comments about women. The Washington Post broke that story.

As more and more reports of sexual misconduct against powerful men spanning many industries are made public, it has become apparent that NBC has some serious questions to answer about its reporting (or lack thereof) on these stories and its holding its employees accountable for their behavior.

From holding the 2005 "Access Hollywood" tape of Donald Trump, to not going forward with Ronan Farrow's report detailing accusations against Harvey Weinstein, to prompting questions regarding Matt Lauer's treatment of women during his 20-year career at the network, NBC has shown that it may have blind spots when it comes to sexual misconduct.

As more details of the allegations of sexual misconduct against Lauer continue to surface, the spotlight will be on Andy Lack, the NBC News boss who is a close friend.

NBC did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Here are a few instances that NBC News and Lack might face some tough questions about:

SEE ALSO: Sexual harassment isn't just a Hollywood, tech, or media issue — it affects everyone

Allegations of sexual misconduct against Matt Lauer spanning years.

Last week, NBC fired Matt Lauer, who hosted its "Today" show for 20 years.

NBC News' chairman, Andy Lack, issued a statement that he "received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer."

Lack's statement said that it was "the first complaint about his behavior in the over twenty years he's been at NBC News" but that the network had "reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident."

The day after Lauer's firing, Variety published a report detailing several allegations against Lauer:

"Several women told Variety they complained to executives at the network about Lauer's behavior, which fell on deaf ears given the lucrative advertising surrounding 'Today.' NBC declined to comment. For most of Lauer's tenure at 'Today,' the morning news show was No. 1 in the ratings, and executives were eager to keep him happy."

After the Variety report, NBC released a second, slightly different statement: "We can say unequivocally that, prior to Monday night, current NBC News management was never made aware of any complaints about Matt Lauer's conduct."

Politico described a source at NBC as saying that Lauer, senior leadership, and human-resources officials were called in for questioning when the network became aware that reporters were investigating Lauer's behavior toward women. The source told Politico that everyone, including Lauer, denied any knowledge of sexual harassment.

But Lauer had behaved questionably toward women during his two-decade career at NBC.

Katie Couric, who hosted "Today" with Lauer for 15 years, told TMZ in 2012 that Lauer "pinches me on the ass a lot."

The big question: How much did NBC executives know about Lauer's behavior?

Letting Ronan Farrow walk out the door with his explosive Harvey Weinstein report.

In early October, shortly after The New York Times published a bombshell report with allegations of sexual harassment against the producer Harvey Weinstein, The New Yorker published a report by Ronan Farrow detailing more accusations, including three women who said Weinstein raped them.

Questions were raised about why Farrow, who had been a regular correspondent for NBC News since 2013, decided to publish his story in The New Yorker.

Farrow told Rachel Maddow on her MSNBC show that he worked on the story for NBC for several months but that the network ultimately decided to pass on it. HuffPost reported that NBC had concerns about Farrow's sources.

Farrow disagreed.

"I walked into the door at The New Yorker with an explosively reportable piece that should have been public," Farrow told Maddow. "In fact, there were multiple determinations at NBC that it was reportable."

Farrow had also arranged for eight interviews on camera with accusers while working on the report for NBC, The Daily Beast quoted an industry insider as saying.

Farrow's New Yorker article included multiple women — including Mira Sorvino, Rosanna Arquette, and Asia Argento — speaking on the record about their experiences with the producer.

But NBC told The Daily Beast that Farrow's story that he brought to the network was nowhere near as complete as his piece in The New Yorker, adding that Farrow didn't have accusers willing to go on the record at the time.

For weeks at NBC, The Daily Beast reported, the sources and scripts by Farrow and a producer, Rich McHugh, were fact-checked and legally reviewed — but in the end, the network was unsatisfied.

The big question: Farrow and NBC have distinctly different takes on why the network chose to pass on his Weinstein story — whose version is more accurate?

Holding the 2005 "Access Hollywood" tape.

In October 2016, a few days before the first heated presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, a tape of Trump making lewd comments about women was leaked to The Washington Post.

A hot mic captured Trump talking on a bus with Billy Bush of NBC's "Access Hollywood" in 2005.

"I moved on her, and I failed," Trump said. "I'll admit it. I did try and f--- her. She was married ... And I moved on her very heavily. In fact, I took her out furniture shopping. She wanted to get some furniture. I said, 'I'll show you where they have some nice furniture.' I moved on her like a b----, but I couldn't get there."

Trump and Bush then noticed an actress named Arianne Zucker outside.

"I've gotta use some Tic Tacs, just in case I start kissing her," Trump told Bush on the bus. "You know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything ... grab them by the p---y. You can do anything."

According to The Post, NBC was aware the tape existed days before it leaked but held it while lawyers were reviewing its material.

The Post also reported that producers at "Access Hollywood" had notified the network about the tape. The producers had combed their archives of interviews with Trump after hearing about inappropriate remarks he made about female contestants on his NBC reality show, "The Apprentice," the report said.

The big question: Did NBC hold the tape for longer than it needed to, and, if so, why?

• A Netflix executive unknowingly told one of Danny Masterson's four rape accusers that Netflix doesn't believe the allegations against him, according to a HuffPost report.
• Netflix confirmed the interaction took place in a statement, while distancing the company from the views of the executive, Andy Yeatman.
• The LAPD opened an investigation into the allegations against Masterson in March, but no charges have been filed. 
• Masterson has denied all allegations against him. 

A Netflix executive reportedly told a woman that Netflix didn't believe the rape allegations against actor Danny Masterson, not knowing the woman was one of Masterson's four accusers, according to a HuffPost report.

The anonymous alleged victim told HuffPost that she approached Andy Yeatman, a director of Netflix's kids' content, at a children's soccer game on Sunday to ask why the company hadn't taken action against Masterson, who stars and is an executive producer on the Netflix series "The Ranch" and has been accused of raping four women.

The woman told the outlet that Yeatman said, "We don’t believe them," when asked about Masterson's accusers. She said she then replied, "I'm one of them," and walked away. She said their conversation resumed an hour later, when Yeatman told her that he didn't know she was one of Masterson's accusers.

"Netflix is going to regret this, this is a mistake, they're going to see," the woman said she told Yeatman.

She said Yeatman's response was, "We'll see."

A Netflix spokesperson denied that Yeatman said, "We'll see." In a statement, the company characterized its executive's comments as "careless" and "uninformed" in a statement.

"While he was coaching a youth soccer match today, Mr. Yeatman ― a Netflix kids' programming executive ― was approached by a stranger who did not identify herself or explain her connection to Danny Masterson," Netflix said in a statement to HuffPost (and Business Insider). "Mr. Yeatman’s comments were careless, uninformed and do not represent the views of the company. Further, he would have no insights into decision making on 'The Ranch.' We are aware of the allegations against Danny Masterson and we are following the current investigation, and will respond if developments occur."

In March, the LAPD confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that it was conducting an investigation into the allegations against Masterson. At the time, the LAPD said that three women came forward and said that they had been sexually assaulted by Masterson in the early 2000s, when he was a star on "That '70s Show."

Masterson has not been charged and has denied all four of the allegations against him (a fourth was subsequently reported by HuffPost). 

SEE ALSO: 3 Netflix original shows that debuted this year earned a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Evan Spiegel's 15-year roadmap for Snapchat is so good, it convinced an early employee to ignore his family's advice and take the job

Netflix has done some house cleaning in 2017, cutting high-profile, expensive shows like "Sense8" and "The Get Down."

It's also killed flops like "Girlboss" and "Gypsy" after only one season, and old favorites like "House of Cards," which will end after its sixth season.

Over the weekend, Netflix announced the cancellation of "Haters Back Off," a scripted comedy based on YouTube star Colleen Ballinger's character, Miranda Sings. The show had two seasons.

In a tweet following the announcement, Ballinger wrote that she was "absolutely devastated" by the news.

Netflix historically has canceled very few shows — only about ten (or up to 13, depending on how you count). But if CEO Reed Hastings gets his way, expect more in the future.

"We've canceled very few shows," Hastings said at the Code Conference in May. "I'm always pushing the content team. We have to take more risk. You have to try more crazy things. Because we should have a higher cancel rate overall."

Here are the ten shows Netflix has killed, along with their critic and audience ratings from Metacritic.

Additional reporting by Jethro Nededog.

SEE ALSO: All the TV shows that have been canceled in 2017

"Longmire": Canceled after six seasons (three on Netflix)

Netflix description: "This contemporary crime thriller focuses on a Wyoming sheriff who's rebuilding his life and career following the death of his wife."

Critic rating: 75/100

Audience rating: 9.2/10

"Lilyhammer": Canceled after three seasons

Netflix description: "They killed his dog. They made him run. Now he's living a new life in a strange land ... like a boss."

Critic rating: 68/100

Audience rating: 7.6/10

"Hemlock Grove": Canceled after three seasons

Netflix description: "A quaint town links a mangled corpse to a dark outsider with a carnivorous secret. But monsters come in many forms."

Critic rating: 37/100

Audience rating: 6.7/10

• Director Bryan Singer has been fired from the Queen biopic, "Bohemian Rhapsody."
• This follows Singer being absent from set on numerous occasions, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
• The movie's star, Rami Malek, reportedly clashed with Singer over being unprofessional.

20th Century Fox has fired director Bryan Singer from its Queen biopic, "Bohemian Rhapsody," the studio confirmed to Business Insider.

The movie was in chaos, according to The Hollywood Reporter, due to Singer's clashes with the movie's star, Rami Malek, and his absences from set. Singer's absence led to production in London shutting down on December 1. In a separate story, THR wrote that Singer was absent because he had to tend to a parent who is "gravely ill."

Singer said in a statement to THR:

“I wanted nothing more than to be able to finish this project and help honor the legacy of Freddie Mercury and Queen, but Fox would not permit me to do so because I needed to temporarily put my health, and the health of my loved ones, first.”

In the film, Malek plays Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury. The movie has two more weeks of principal photography remaining. A new director will be named within the next few days, according to THR.

THR reported that Singer was absent during production on several occasions. In some instances, the movie's cinematographer, Thomas Newton Sigel, had to take the directing reins in Singer's absence. Before Thanksgiving, Malek confronted Singer about being unprofessional, however it did not get physical and according to the trade, the two settled their differences.

However, Singer did not return to set after the Thanksgiving break.

"Bryan Singer is no longer the director of 'Bohemian Rhapsody,'” a 20th Century Fox spokesperson told Business Insider Monday.

Singer is known best for directing movies like "The Usual Suspects" and numerous "X-Men" movies.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: LL COOL J: The biggest workout mistakes people make at the gym

• Meghan Markle's dad lives in a cliff-top house 25 km south of the Mexican border in California Bay.
• The 73-year-old has yet to meet his future son-in-law.
• Markle has a noticeable limp after sustaining a leg injury two years ago, according to family members.
• But this won't stop him from walking Meghan down the aisle, according to his brother.

Meghan Markle’s dad, Thomas Markle, has yet to meet his future son-in-law.

This is because the retired lighting director lives in a cliff-top house in Rosarito Beach — around a 15-minute drive from the Mexican/US border.

After retiring from Hollywood in 2011, Mr. Markle moved to the stunning resort town in California Bay where his home now overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

Meghan Markle's half-brother and Thomas Markle's son, also called Tom Markle, told the Daily Mail that his father has grown increasingly reclusive since the announcement of the engagement.

"Dad never liked the limelight, but since the news came out about Meghan and Harry he's become a total recluse," Tom Jr said.

"I haven't seen him in years. He hates the attention Meghan's romance has brought on to him. He loves her but hates the idea of being in the spotlight."

Regardless of Mr. Markle's reclusive status in northern Mexico, the father's love for his daughter is obvious. Since he divorced ex-wife and Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, in 1988 when Meghan was five years old, the father and daughter have retained a close relationship and still speak regularly.

In an Instagram post on Father's Day 2016, Meghan Markle wrote: "Happy Father's Day, daddy. I'm still your buckaroo, and to this day your hugs are still the very best in the whole wide world.

"Thanks for my work ethic, my love of Busby Berkeley films & club sandwiches, for teaching me the importance of handwritten thank you notes, and for giving me that signature Markle nose. I love you."

The 73-year-old became increasingly introverted after sustaining a leg injury two years ago, it has been widely reported. Nevertheless, Mr. Markle is reportedly set to walk his daughter down the aisle at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle come May next year, according to Markle's brother and Meghan's uncle, Michael Markle, who confirmed the news earlier this week.

"I know Thomas feels happy and excited about the engagement," the brother and uncle said.

"He and Meghan have a good relationship, and they talk weekly so she keeps him up to date."

Despite claims from Tom Jr — who admits he has not spoken to his father or his half-sister in years — that Mr. Markle "hates" the spotlight, the soon-to-be-royal's father reportedly enjoys chatting with friends and locals around Rosarito about his excitement over the engagement, as well as Meghan's career on-screen in TV drama "Suits," proving he's just like any proud dad.

Ramon Moreno, the owner of a storage complex in which Markle sublets, told DailyMailTV: "Tom is a good man and a good customer.

"He loves his daughter very, very much. He says they talk regularly.

"He was proud of her when she was on 'Suits,' even before she was with the Prince."

SEE ALSO: Why the Queen might not attend Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Sean Astin talks about the most shocking scene from ‘Stranger Things 2’

• Former NBC host Billy Bush published a New York Times op-ed condemning Donald Trump for saying the "Access Hollywood" tape that surfaced last year was inauthentic.
• Bush also expressed guilt in egging Trump on. It appears that Bush is trying to make a comeback and restore his public image.
• Here are seven other public figures who have turned their careers around in surprising and impressive ways.

Former NBC host Billy Bush published an op-ed in The New York Times in which he expressed guilt for seemingly egging on Donald Trump in the 2005 "Access Hollywood" tape that surfaced just before the 2016 presidential election.

As Business Insider's Mark Abadi reported, in the video, Trump was heard bragging about kissing and groping women without their consent. Although Trump had previously apologized for the comments, The New York Times recently reported that Trump suggested the recording was inauthentic.

Bush wrote in The New York Times op-ed: "President Trump is currently indulging in some revisionist history, reportedly telling allies, including at least one United States senator, that the voice on the tape is not his. This has hit a raw nerve in me."

It would appear that Bush is trying to restore his positive public image. If he succeeds, it wouldn't be the first time a celebrity fell from grace, only to make an impressive comeback.

Below, we've highlighted seven other public figures — from actors to politicians — who turned around their careers in surprising ways.

SEE ALSO: Billy Bush on 'Access Hollywood' tape: 'Yes, Donald Trump, you said that'

Britney Spears had a public breakdown years before Forbes named her the sixth-highest-earning female musician.

Business Insider previously published a timeline of Spears' highs and lows.

In 2007, a judge found that she engaged in "habitual, frequent, and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol," and Spears temporarily lost custody of her children. Then, in 2008, Spears was admitted for psychiatric treatment.

After keeping a low profile, Spears won back visitation rights to her kids, then released "Womanizer," which soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Since then, she's started her own lingerie line and been named the sixth-highest-earning female musician by Forbes. 

Bill Clinton was nearly impeached as US president; then he became more popular than ever.

President Clinton's relationship with then-21-year-old White House intern Monica Lewinsky almost led to his impeachment in 1998.

Yet as The Washington Post reported, Clinton went on to redeem himself in the public eye: He gave a rousing speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2012 and a New York Times/CBS News poll taken that year found that he was more popular than at any time during his presidency.

Still, it's worth noting that, as Business Insider's Eliza Relman reported, multiple women have accused Clinton of sexual harassment or assault. And recently, liberal commentators have argued that those allegations warranted more attention from Democrats.

Martha Stewart was sentenced to jail in 2004; two years later, Fortune named her one of the 50 most powerful women in business.

According to CNN, in 2001, Martha Stewart had a popular TV show and a lifestyle magazine. In 2002, she came under investigation by the Justice Department and the SEC for her sale of shares of ImClone Systems right before the price of ImClone decreased.

Stewart was indicted on nine charges and found guilty and was sentenced to five months in prison, five months home confinement, and two years' probation. After she was released from prison, her talk show "Martha," and "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" began.

In 2006, Fortune named her one of the 50 most powerful women in business. 

• Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen is stepping down from his role as CEO.
• He will be replaced by chief operating officer Erik Carlson.
• Dish shares have fallen nearly 11% this year as the company continues to lose subscribers to streaming services. 

Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen is stepping down as Chief Executive Officer in order to spend more time on the company's emerging wireless business, a company press release said. He will be replaced by chief operating officer Erik Carlson.

"With more than 20 years' experience at DISH, Erik brings a complete understanding of the business opportunities both DISH TV and Sling TV possess," Ergen in said the press release. "I have every confidence that under Erik's leadership our new organizational structure will deliver value for DISH TV and Sling TV and will aid our entry into wireless."

Ergen's resignation comes as shares of Dish have fallen more than 13% this year as the company continues to bleed pay-TV subscribers. In its third quarter earnings release, the company said its number of pay-TV subscribers fell to 13.203 million, down from 13.643 million a year ago. 

Dish Network shares are higher by 2.54% at $51.60 apiece following the news. 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This is why you should be buying gold

• Disney and 21st Century Fox are closing in on a deal that could come as soon as next week, CNBC reported on Tuesday.
• It's the latest development in a bidding war for Fox that also involves Comcast and Verizon, which have also reportedly made offers for parts of the business.

Disney and 21st Century Fox are closing in on a deal that could come as quickly as next week, according to a CNBC report citing sources familiar with the matter.

The transaction would involve Disney acquiring Fox's studio and television production assets — a portion of the business that has an enterprise value of more than $60 billion, CNBC's sources say.

The package sought by Disney reportedly includes Fox's A&E and Star TV networks, as well as its regional sports operation, movie studios, and stakes in Sky and Hulu, among other assets, according to the CNBC report. As proposed, the deal would leave Fox with its news and sports assets.

This latest development comes amid considerable interest for Fox from the likes of Comcast and Verizon. The Wall Street Journal and CNBC reported in November that both had approached Fox about buying at least part of the company — which, combined with Disney's interest, was expected to spur a bidding war.

Should Disney prevail, it will have to contend with rating declines across many large cable networks as more consumer opt for cheaper and more customizable web-based services.

Fox's stock climbed 3.9% on the report, while Disney shares dropped 1.4%.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: A senior investment officer at a $695 billion firm breaks down tax reform

• Apple has bought Pop Up Archive, a small startup focused on podcasts.
• Apple is the sleeping giant in the podcast world, and is estimated to drive over half of podcast downloads through its iPhone app. 

Apple bought Pop Up Archive, a small Oakland startup making tools for transcribing and organizing podcasts.

The company confirmed the acquisition to Hot Pod, which broke the news.

"Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," an Apple spokesperson told Hot Pod, which is the Cupertino company's customary confirmation. The price couldn't immediately be learned.

Discovery — finding new podcasts to listen to — is the biggest problem in the podcasting world, and Pop Up Archive made several tools that a company like Apple might find appealing, including Audiosear.ch, a podcast search engine. 

Apple is the sleeping giant in the podcast world, driving as much as 80% of podcast downloads through the built-in podcast app on the iPhone, according to some estimates. Apple has said it will release new tools for podcast makers to measure their audience size. 

The Audiosear.ch website now says:

"Hey there! We ended operations and support for Audiosear.ch on 11/28/17. We've loved seeing what you've built with this technology and are grateful for your support over the years."

There's lots of additional information over at Neiman Lab about how this acquisition could affect podcasters.

SEE ALSO: Google just bought a podcast app cofounded by former Netflix executives

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Hackers can gain access to your computer monitor — a cybersecurity expert shows us how easy it is

• Poppy is a YouTube star whose strange videos have become an online phenomenon.
• The artist is the subject of several rumors, including that she might be a robot, a member of the Illuminati, or a pawn subjected to mind control.

This is Poppy. A 22-year-old YouTube prima donna and pop princess, Poppy currently occupies one of the weirdest corners of the web — and, in her two-year existence online, she has already inspired her own religion.

Her YouTube channel, "Poppy," is a hallucinatory digital wormhole with hundreds of videos, many of which have garnered millions of views. 

And it seems that Poppy's hold on pop culture has only just begun. This year, Poppy released her first studio album, embarked on a nationwide tour, was featured in a Sanrio ad campaign, and teamed up with Comedy Central for a Snapchat show.

Poppy makes music, but given the scope of her output on YouTube (she produces a new video nearly every day) that's only a marginal part of what she does. She also brushes her hair, eats cotton candy, talks with plants and sinister mannequins, applies makeup, paints, crawls, jumps,  and lays on the floor. Her videos depict a chilly, robot-inflected reality that's rendered in candied pastel hues. Tell Poppy that you find her videos to be creepy, and she'll answer, sweetly, "Thank you."

Poppy's personality is a cross between a chatbot and a child. If you ask Poppy a question, she's sure to answer with demure, algorithmic precision. Where is she from? The internet. What does she like to do for fun? Listen to "the sound of rain falling" in "videos on YouTube.com." How old is she? She doesn't identify with age. "Age is just too2016," she says. 

The phenomenon known as Poppy has been the subject of protracted profiles and ponderous think-pieces. Among her ardent fan base — "Poppy Seeds," as they're called — she's a figure worthy of worship. Commenters on Reddit and YouTube profess to their undying love for Poppy and call her "the queen" and "goddess." One fan has even gone so far as to establish a religion dedicated to Poppy, called "Poppyism." 

But Poppy's pre-packaged persona isn't entirely of her own making. The character known as "Poppy" can largely be attributed to Titanic Sinclair, Poppy's director, whose bleached platinum hair makes him look as though he could be Poppy's older sibling. According to Sinclair, he met Poppy at a party in Hollywood two years earlier.

Sinclair says he was immediately struck by Poppy's originality. "I'd never met someone who is as creative as her," he tells Business Insider. "Her workflow and the way her brain works is similar to mine. It just made sense that we would work together."

According to both Poppy and Sinclair, there is no Poppy that exists prior to the internet version of Poppy. Like the Poppy video in which she repeats the words "I'm Poppy" for 10 minutes straight, we're reminded that Poppy is Poppy is Poppy: She exists in a continuously self-justifying loop, a character unfettered by the constructs of time and boundaries of logic. 

Of course, in the internet age, it's not difficult to find the identities of Poppy and Sinclair online. A quick search reveals that Poppy and Sinclair's real names are Moriah Pereira and Corey Mixter, respectively. She's from Nashville and he's from Michigan, and they have a shared interest in video-making and pop music.

But attempting to piece together the historical realities of the people, or characters, now known as Sinclair and Poppy, isn't really all that fun, nor is it very interesting. It's more fun, for instance, to be in on the illusion, or at the very least, to suspend disbelief and believe along with the rest of the internet, that Poppy might be the first real iteration of a flesh-and-blood AI manifestation.

Rumors swirl among Poppy's fans. Is Poppy real? Is she a pawn subjected to mind control? Is she a member of the Illuminati? Is she even human?

On the surface, Poppy and Sinclair have done their best to quash these stories. In their videos, they've both openly stated that Poppy isn't involved in a cult and even gone to such impish measures as to emblazon the message "I am not in a cult led by Poppy," on a T-shirt, available for purchase on Poppy's website.

But at the same time, the duo obliquely fuels the occult fantasies within their work: In one video, Poppy softly repeats, "I am not in a cult" as masked figures in white body suits leverage Illuminati iconography above her head. At a recent concert, Poppy passed out cups of Kool-Aid right after announcing that "Poppy is not responsible for any fatalities."

Poppy's intrigue is only heightened by the conspiracy theories, which orbit her persona like satellites. These rumors, in part, are one of the key reasons Poppy is entirely unique, and why she's so successful.  In an age of immediate internet access, Poppy has achieved the impossible: She's managed to maintain an aura of mystery. As more and more pop stars provide their fans with intimate access to their personal lives through documentaries and social media, Poppy is a refreshing counterpoint. 

Poppy won't ever dish up the drama of her love life. Poppy doesn't want you to wonder about her past, and she certainly isn't going to tell you about the turmoils of being an artist. She's an otherworldly, semi-Warholian product, and she's here to entertain you. 

"People are going to dig into whatever they want to," says Titanic, but this line of rhetoric "isn't interesting."  He likens people who attempt to pin down Poppy's real identity to an audience attempting to deconstruct the method in a magic trick. 

And Sinclair maintains that Poppy isn't an illusion at all. She's the real deal. A bonafide kawaii child Barbie doll who only wants "to fill the world with love."

"The world is a lot more exciting when you don’t have the curtain pulled to reveal all of the wires," says Sinclair. "It’s always a huge let down when a magic trick is revealed and you realize it’s just sleight of hand or some sort of simple illusion." If you pull aside the curtain, and attempt to crack Poppy's hyper-curated persona, in the end,  the only person you've cheated is yourself. 

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Bitcoin, its mysterious origins, and the many alleged identities of its creator

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This animation shows how terrifyingly powerful nuclear weapons have become

• Disney is close to a deal with 21st Century Fox, CNBC reported Tuesday. 
• The news sent shares of Fox higher while Disney slumped. 

Shares of the Walt Disney Co. dropped as much as 1.8% Tuesday morning after CNBC reported the company is close acquiring 21st Century Fox's studio and production assets. The stock has pared its losses and now trades down 1.24% at $108.85 a share. 

It’s not the first time reports of a potential deal between Disney and the Rupert Murdoch-controlled company have surfaced, but this time CNBC says a deal could be finalized as soon as next week, with Fox's enterprise valued at $60 billion.

The deal would add to Disney’s portfolio of move franchises and production bandwidth as it prepares to yank its content form Netflix and launch its own streaming service. Fox would be left with its news and sports assets.

Shares of 21st Century Fox jumped 3.8% on the news to near $34.45 a share. The valuation would be a slight premium to the company’s $58 billion market cap as of Tuesday morning.

This story is developing. Stay tuned for updates.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The stock market is flashing warning signs

• Netflix has fired actor Danny Masterson, who starred opposite Ashton Kutcher in "The Ranch."
• Four women have accused Masterson of sexual assault, including rape. 
• Masterson said he is "very disappointed" in Netflix's decision, and denied all of the accusations against him.
• Netflix took its time in firing Masterson compared to its quick moves to fire Kevin Spacey from "House of Cards" and cancel Louis C.K.'s stand-up special when the accusations against them surfaced.

Netflix has fired Danny Masterson from its original comedy series "The Ranch" after accusations of sexual assault, including multiple allegations of rape. Monday was his last day on the show, the company told Business Insider. 

Masterson, who stars on "The Ranch" with former "That 70s Show" co-star Ashton Kutcher, was "written out" of the Netflix show but will appear in part two of season three, which premieres on the streaming service December 15.

"As a result of ongoing discussions, Netflix and the producers have written Danny Masterson out of 'The Ranch,'" Netflix said in a statement to Business Insider. "Yesterday [Monday] was his last day on the show, and production will resume in early 2018 without him."

Masterson responded to the firing on Tuesday through his lawyer.

“I am obviously very disappointed in Netflix’s decision to write my character off of 'The Ranch,'" Masterson said in a statement provided to HuffPost. "From day one, I have denied the outrageous allegations against me. I have never been charged with a crime, let alone convicted of one."

The announcement of Masterson's firing comes a day after a report in HuffPost that said a Netflix executive unknowingly defended Masterson to one of his alleged victims at a soccer game. 

In March, the LAPD confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that it was conducting an investigation into the allegations against Masterson. At the time, the LAPD said that three women came forward and said that they had been sexually assaulted by Masterson in the early 2000s, when he was a star on "That '70s Show." Since then, a fourth woman has come forward with an accusation in The Daily Beast.

“Victims are taking back the power that was stolen from us, and things are going to change. Netflix should write that down," Chrissie Carnell Bixler, who alleged Masterson raped her, told The Daily Beast in November.

Netflix took more time to fire Masterson relative to other recent allegations against stars of its shows.

Netflix moved quickly to halt production on "House of Cards" and fire its star Kevin Spacey after allegations of sexual misconduct against him surfaced, and swiftly canceled Louis C.K.'s second Netflix stand-up special following accusations that he masturbated in front of multiple women. Unlike Louis C.K. and Spacey, Masterson has yet to admit to any wrongdoing.

SEE ALSO: A Netflix executive unknowingly defended 'The Ranch' star Danny Masterson to one of his rape accusers at a soccer game

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Megyn Kelly reveals why she left Fox News

• Through a licensing deal with the chip manufacturer Nvidia, Nintendo is bringing major Wii and GameCube games to Android.
• The games are available through only the Nvidia Shield console and will be available "soon."
• It's unclear whether the games will be available on Android or iPhone in other parts of the world.

Major entries in the "Super Mario" and "Legend of Zelda" franchises are heading to Android for the first time.

In a surprising move, the Japanese gaming powerhouse Nintendo said it would license major Wii and GameCube games to the chip manufacturer Nvidia. They aren't going to Android smartphones, though, but the Android-powered Nvidia Shield set-top box, and they'll be available only in China.

The only GameCube title announced thus far is "Super Mario Galaxy." There will be a handful of Wii games, including "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess," "New Super Mario Bros.," and "Punch-Out!!" More games are said to be "coming soon."

The games are download-only, of course — the Nvidia Shield console is similar to a Roku or Apple TV in that it's a small box unable to read physical media. Instead, you download or stream games, media, and music to the box through the internet.

In the case of the Shield, which is already available elsewhere in the world, Nvidia gave it more of a gaming bent. There's an official gamepad, for instance, in addition to the standard remote control. You can also stream games to the console from your PC using Nvidia's software.

When the Shield — which costs about $225 — arrives in China, Wii games will cost about $10. It's unclear how much GameCube games will cost.

The news isn't just a big deal for Nintendo fans in China, but for the company itself.

Game companies have a notoriously fraught relationship with the Chinese market, and the sale or distribution of many consoles in China isn't allowed because of governmental restrictions. (It's complicated.) Nintendo has in the past worked around them by partnering with a Chinese company named iQue.

Similarly, Nintendo is partnering here with both Nvidia and the Chinese streaming-video platform iQiyi to release its games in China — a smart move that enables Nintendo to push into one of the world's largest gaming markets.

Check out a video of the Shield running Nintendo games:

SEE ALSO: The 10 best Super Mario games of all time, ranked

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Amazon has an oddly efficient way of storing stuff in its warehouses