• Terry Crews plays Bedlam, a member of X-Force, in "Deadpool 2."
• But this version of a team of more edgy X-Men mutants doesn't last long in the movie.
• Crews explains how the X-Force sequence in "Deadpool 2" turned out to be a huge practical joke on the audience.

Warning: MAJOR spoilers below if you haven't seen "Deadpool 2."

The birth of the X-Force was in the trailers, posters, and almost all other marketing for "Deadpool 2."

But if you saw the latest Marvel hit over the weekend, you know the formation of a grittier version of the X-Men didn't happen the way the movie's marketing teased it.

Let's set the stage. In "Deadpool 2," the Merc With a Mouth finds himself up against a soldier from the future, Cable, who is driven to kill a young mutant named Russell. Deadpool, by this point in the movie, has alienated himself from the only X-Men members who would talk to him, and he decides to form his own super team to stop Cable. He calls it X-Force.

Enter the mutants Bedlam (Terry Crews), Shatterstar (Lewis Tan), Zeitgeist (Bill Skarsgård), Vanisher, Domino (Zazie Beetz), and Peter (Rob Delaney). Well, Peter isn't a mutant, but he wowed Deadpool at the audition. They team up with Deadpool and head out to take on Cable and spring Russell from prison. They all skydive from a large plane to pull off their plan.

Almost all of this is teased in the trailers. But what happens next is one of the biggest shocks of the movie.

Because of strong winds on the day Deadpool decides to do the jump, his X-Force mates veer off course, and they all suffer horrific deaths — except for Domino because her superpower is being really, really lucky. Bedlam glides facefirst into the windshield of a bus. Shatterstar is chopped up by helicopter blades. Peter dies after being covered in the acid vomit spewed by Zeitgeist just before he's sucked into a wood chipper. And Vanisher flies right into power lines — with the electrical shock revealing he's played by Brad Pitt.

The sequence is one of the most memorable from the movie and is the biggest example of the lengths Ryan Reynolds and the director David Leitch went to give audiences a very different superhero sequel.

Business Insider talked to Terry Crews about what it was like to be a part of the movie's biggest joke, why there was fight footage of Bedlam in the trailers if it wasn't going to be in the movie, and whether anyone on the set knew Brad Pitt was playing Vanisher.

Jason Guerrasio: Going into doing the movie, were they straight up with you about the fate of Bedlam?

Terry Crews: I knew everything. We were trolling the world. That was the whole point. And the big thing was to keep it a secret. That was the hardest part. I didn't even tell my wife what was going to happen. My son was like, "What happens?" and I was like, "I'm not going to tell you."

Guerrasio: So what many people, like me, are wondering after seeing the movie is what is that footage of you knocking someone out in the trailer? Did you guys shoot more X-Force footage?

Crews: [Laughs.] Yes. We shot a whole scene that we knew was never going to be in the movie. I'm telling you, it's the biggest troll of all time. I couldn't believe we were going to do this.

Guerrasio: They were just going to use that footage for the marketing knowing it wasn't going to be in the movie.

Crews: Exactly. Everything that we shot that isn't in the movie was done to fool everybody to think that me and the other members of X-Force were going to be in the movie the whole time.

Guerrasio: That's amazing.

Crews: And I felt horrible. The fans were excited. But, to me, the purpose was to give the audience something they would never expect. And it was crazy to keep all that a secret. When we were shooting in Vancouver I had to walk around with blankets over me because there were spies. I just got a few pages, sometimes even just a few lines of the script. Our goal was not to let anyone find out what we were going to do. Because the fanboy culture wants to find out everything before it happens.

Guerrasio: So you're at the world premiere of the movie, you are one of the few people in that room that knows it's coming. What was the reaction when the X-Force start dropping one by one?

Crews: When I was first on-screen the audience went crazy, and I just felt so bad because it's basically a giant practical joke. [Laughs.] So I'm just bracing for it and then we jump out of the plane and our parachutes start going wild, gradually you notice the audience can tell something is wrong. As we died one by one I could feel in the audience people realizing that this isn't the start of X-Force that they thought they were getting. There was just this audible gasp. When they show Deadpool walking by me and people were trying to revive me by the bus, people around me in the theater were just like, "What the?" It was so good.

Guerrasio: Did you guys shoot different deaths, or was that always Bedlam's fate?

Crews: That was it. He was always going to get hit by a bus.

Guerrasio: How about the reveal of who Vanisher was? Did you know it was Brad Pitt before seeing the movie?

Crews: That was a total surprise for me.

Guerrasio: So you guys on set doing the scenes didn't know?

Crews: Nope. I did not know. I had no idea.

Guerrasio: How did they shoot the Vanisher character? Was it just a guy in a head-to-toe green suit wearing a parachute sitting with you guys in the plane scene?

Crews: Not even that. In the scene where we are all sitting around they just had two indented pillows to make it look like Vanisher was sitting there. And then in the plane scene there was a harness rigged to look like a body was wearing the parachute. There wasn't anyone in a green suit. We were just acting like there was a person there the whole time.

This is what everyone has to appreciate, the level of which this whole thing was done is on another level. There were layers upon layers. This is "The Matrix"-meets-"Inception"-type level. And this is why it's so satisfying. At this point in the superhero genre everyone has seen everything. Nothing rivals what we've done here.

Guerrasio: So the future of Bedlam, are you just waiting for a phone call?

Crews: I'm waiting. There's nothing that will prevent me from being in stuff, but there's nothing that says I'm locked up for seven pictures. This is Marvel. I'm open to anything and everything. And it's funny, some folks are like this is my only shot at a franchise. But hey, Josh Brolin is now two different characters in the Marvel universe — Cable and Thanos. Michael B. Jordan did "Fantastic Four" and "Black Panther." There's no limits here, that I can see. To be honest, I love that Bedlam is a character a lot of people don't know about because hopefully we can grow it into something. I'm ready for anything. And with what is shown at the end of the movie, the way they are fooling with time—

Guerrasio: Ah, I was waiting for you to give me this tease.

Crews: [Laughs.] There's always ways to bring me back.

Guerrasio: It's really a testament to you guys keeping this under wraps. As you know, this is an industry of big egos, one of you guys could have been so upset that you all are only in a few minutes of the movie following all that marketing hype they could just leaked everything.

Crews: Oh, easy. It all could have fallen apart at any time. The other day me and Ryan hugged each other and he was just like, "Thank you." It feels good.

SEE ALSO: "Deadpool 2" director opens up about the pressures of jumping into a hit franchise and what working with Ryan Reynolds was like

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How a $9 billion startup deceived Silicon Valley

• Fortnite is a third-person shooter video game where you battle it out with 99 other players from around the world — and the last one standing wins.
• Over 45 million people play the game, as of May 1.
• I decided to give the hottest game of the year a try — here’s what it was like to play Fortnite for the first time.

In March, during a speech to a group of elementary school students, I asked a boy in the audience to name a hobby he was passionate about pursuing.

“Playing Fortnite,” he said.

His answer caught me by surprise, as I’d never heard of Fortnite before in my life. Little did I know, he was referring to the hottest multi-platform game of 2018, and I was extremely late to the party.

I played my share of video games as a kid. Growing up in the 90s, my favorite consoles were the Nintendo DS, GameCube, and the Wii (which my mother bought after standing outside of our local Best Buy store for six hours).

I was always a fan of light hearted, feel-good games, such as Nintendogs, Animal Crossing, and MySims, all of which are mild compared to the action-packed style of Fortnite.

During my first playthrough of what Mat Piscatella, an entertainment software analyst at NPD Research, called “the biggest game of the year,” I quickly learned that Fortnite boils down to one word: survival. The object of the game is to scrounge for materials in open terrain while fighting to be the last player alive.

I downloaded the free-to-play iOS version of the game, Fortnite Battle Royale, and competed in a 100-player battle for the Victory Royale prize.

I opened the Fortnite Battle Royale app and was taken to the home screen (known as the “lobby”), which displayed a fierce-looking avatar who looked armed and ready for combat. By toggling through each of the lobby’s tabs, I was able to get a better look at my avatar’s outfit and weaponry options, which were limited with my free mobile version (the app has to make money somehow).

I finished outfitting my character, and it was time for me to dive into the game. Fortnite gives you the option to compete in a “squad,” duo, solo, or 50 vs. 50 game. I joined a squad, ready to put my teamwork skills to the test.

Once my “playthrough” began, my squad and I were dropped in a grassy field. We had only a few seconds to gather as many raw materials as possible to later build our forts. I was easily able to grasp the touch screen controls, which involved basic swipes and zooms to move my avatar around and gather materials.

Immediately following the first material hunt, I was transported onto a flying bus that was suspended by a giant hot air balloon. Seconds later, my squad and I were skydiving out of the bus and onto the main battle field to fight for our lives.

I frantically maneuvered my avatar around the field and used my axe (one of the few tools I got with my free download) to break trees, houses, and cars for raw materials. Sadly, I got way too excited about the axe and forgot all about my squad members and our goal to survive. Before I knew it, my avatar was eliminated by another player’s assault rifle and my shot at victory was over.

Disappointed by my failed attempt at the squad battle, I tried my hand at the solo battle. This time around, I was able to play without feeling pressured to make a contribution to my squad. However, just like my first playthrough, I was shot down again within a matter of minutes due to my lack of skill and experience.

Don’t let the cartoonish graphics fool you — Fortnite Battle Royaleis a challenging game that requires stealth, strategy, teamwork, and patience in order to succeed.

I also thought it was cool that game updates often include nods to social trends. One of the most popular updates was the addition of Thanos, the villain from the Marvel blockbuster “Avengers: Infinity War,” who made a guest appearance on the Fortnite battlefield for a week in May.

For those unfamiliar with gaming, I definitely suggest claiming your spot on the flying bus and diving into the world of survival.

SEE ALSO: Over 45 million people are playing a bizarre shooter that pits 100 players against each other in a fight to the death — here's what's going on

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Jeff Bezos: Blue Origin is 'the most important work that I'm doing'

First lady Melania Trump's reserved public persona has been the target of a slew of conspiracy theories since her husband's 2016 election, all of which her staff have been quick to shut down.

It's hard to track which one came first, but it's sure none of them will be the last.

Here are four outlandish conspiracy theories about Trump, and the reasoning behind their spread.

SEE ALSO: Incredible facts about Melania Trump show she's unlike any other first lady

DON'T MISS: There's a conspiracy theory Melania Trump lives at a separate house in DC

Some think she's a Russian spy.

As "evidence," internet commenters point to a chat she had with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a dinner for last year's G-20 Summit.

While Trump doesn't speak Russian, she does know English, French, German, Italian, and Serbian, in addition to her native Slovenian — more languages than any previous American first lady.

Many saw her engaged in conversation at dinner with Putin, and reports described the two as friendly during the meal.

But there is no proof that Trump and Putin have had any other interaction, and no reason to think she has performed any work as a Russian spy beyond the occasional satire piece.

She has worked as a model and is a self-described "full-time mom," but hasn't mentioned Russian intelligence as a specialty.

Some think she doesn't live in the White House.

There's a "persistent" rumor that Trump lives in a separate house in DC with her parents and son, Barron Trump.

In a Washington Post story about the first lady's private life, her office denied the rumor as "1,000% false." Trump's spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, added, "We laugh at it all the time."

White House social secretary Rickie Niceta Lloyd called the rumor "an urban legend," and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said it was "ridiculous."

"Just when you think the Washington Post can't get things any more wrong, they do," Sanders said. "The first lady lives here at the White House. We see her here regularly."

Trump took longer than usual to move to the White House after her husband took office, spending the first five months of his presidency in New York City while Barron finished school in Manhattan.

In June 2017, the mother and son finally moved to the White House, and Barron started attending St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland, in the fall.

Some think she has a body double.

The theory first sprang to life when some thought Trump had been replaced by a look-alike for a public appearance, and continued when she was pictured alongside a Secret Service agent with similar hair and complexion.

This rumor has been vehemently denied by her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, but that didn't stop the internet from going ablaze.

Business Insider's Kate Taylor dug into the mystery and noticed the agent was always wearing heels in photos of her with the first lady.

The photos of the agent have Trump in them, which would make it pretty hard for her to be a "body double" for the first lady.

• MoviePass is getting in the movie distribution business with the Sundance hit, "American Animals," coming to theaters in June.
• It is teaming with The Orchard to release the movie.
• MoviePass is an equal partner in the release, paying for half the movie with The Orchard and will be splitting half of the box office, a source told Business Insider.
• "American Animals" director Bart Layton told Business Insider that the movie would be released even if MoviePass were to go out of business.

At this year’s Sundance Film Festival, MoviePass announced the launch of a distribution arm of the company, called MoviePass Ventures. The plan was for the monthly movie-ticket subscription service to start teaming with film distributors to buy titles for theatrical release.

Days later at the festival, MoviePass announced it was working with The Orchard (“Cartel Land”) to buy North American rights to one of the festival’s acclaimed selections this year, "American Animals," a narrative/documentary hybrid that follows a group of friends who attempt to pull off an elaborate heist.

At the festival, Ted Farnsworth, CEO of MovePass’ parent company Helios and Matheson Analytics, told a room full of distributors and industry players, “We aren’t here at Sundance to compete with distributors, but rather to put skin in the game alongside them and to bring great films to the big screen across the country for our subscribers.”

But a lot has happened since Farnsworth made those remarks.

In April, his company filed its 10-K to the SEC and reported a loss of $150.8 million in 2017. That was followed by a new filing revealing that the company has been losing $20 million a month on average since September. Due to all of this, the company’s stock is down more than 98% since its high in October, but Farnsworth and MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe are adamant that everything is fine, stating that MoviePass can tap $300 million that will keep it going for over a year (though the company's access to that money is far from certain). 

Now “American Animals,” which will be the first release by MoviePass Ventures, is coming to theaters on June 1. And despite all these new developments, the movie’s director, Bart Layton, told Business Insider he had no regrets about taking the deal with MoviePass back at Sundance.

“I don’t have insight or understanding of their financial strategy, that’s for people more clever than I am, but they came in, they seemed very dynamic, they seemed to have a lot of enthusiasm,” Layton said on Wednesday. “As a filmmaker, your whole intention is for people to experience your movie in the theater, that was the thing that was very appealing to me. They are all about the theatrical experience.”

Layton also said that if MoviePass were to shut down before or during the release of “American Animals,” it would not affect the movie’s theatrical release.

“The cinemas are booked, the movie will go out,” he said. “How it will affect us? I guess if it happened we would have a few less of their subscribers going to the movie. But hopefully at this stage those people are still engaged enough in the film that they want to see it badly enough that they would pay full price to see it.”

And it makes sense for distributors, especially the ones in the indie market, to be interested in teaming with MoviePass. With over 3 million subscribers, it’s not just a good tool for the movie’s promotion — it plans to plaster "American Animals" all over its app, and where it has partnerships — but the distributor its working with will have direct data from MoviePass on how the movie performed with its subscribers through the movie’s theatrical run (what day and time they went to see the movie, where they saw it, the ratio of males to females who saw the movie, and so on).

But how much skin does MoviePass really have in the game?

It turns out the answer is "a lot." For “American Animals,” specifically, according to a source familiar with the deal, the company is an equal partner with The Orchard in all costs related to the release, including prints and advertising (the physical delivery of the movie to the theaters and the advertising to promote it). In turn, it will split box office revenue with The Orchard down the middle.

If the company were to fold before or during the movie’s release, The Orchard would then have to cover the costs MoviePass was responsible for.

MoviePass has confirmed to Business Insider that it's jointly invested in the release of "American Animals" and the monetization of the movie with The Orchard.

MoviePass Ventures has also signed on to release “Gotti,” starring John Travolta, which is coming out June 15. It will team with distributor Vertical Entertainment on the release.

Have a tip about MoviePass or anything else? Email jguerrasio@businessinsider.com.

SEE ALSO: "Cobra Kai" creators explain how they turned their obsession with "The Karate Kid" into YouTube Red's first hit show, and tease season 2

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: I ate nothing but 'healthy' fast food for a week — here’s what happened

• MoviePass owner Helios and Matheson is gaining ground after Citadel Securities disclosed a 5.4% stake. 
• Shares have been battered in recent weeks amid concerns the company is burning cash. 
• Watch Helios and Matheson trade in real time here. 

MoviePass owner Helios and Matheson is doing something it haven't done in five days — gaining ground. 

Shares are up more than 6% Tuesday morning after Citadel Securities disclosed a 5.4% stake in the embattled company. Citadel Securities is a market maker, so the stake may not be the vote of confidence some may think it is.

Helios and Matheson had been reeling in recent weeks amid concerns over its survival.

In mid-April, an internal auditor said there was "substantial doubt" the company would be able to stay in business. A few weeks later, the company said it burns about $21.7 million a month, and that its shrinking cash pile is down to $15.5 million. 

MoviePass' leadership has suggested the company will climb its way out of the hole by using its $300 million "equity line of credit."

Helios and Matheson is still down 93.96% on the year. 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How a $9 billion startup deceived Silicon Valley

• "Solo: A Star Wars Story" had a bad Memorial Day weekend domestically but an even worse one in China.
• The latest "Star Wars" movie earned only $10.1 million in the world's second-largest movie market.
• This continues the consistent lackluster performance the franchise has had in the Middle Kingdom.

There aren't many instances in which Disney is on the wrong end of a box-office story, but this Memorial Day weekend, that's exactly what happened.

"Solo," the origin story of the legendary "Star Wars" character Han Solo, bombed not just domestically but also in the all-important international market.

"Solo" earned just $65 million internationally, according to weekend estimates. That's nowhere close to the Disney's Skywalker saga releases — "The Force Awakens" and "The Last Jedi," each of which did well over $200 million — or even its standalone release "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," which took in $135 million internationally its opening weekend.

"Solo" performed particularly poorly in China, the world's second-largest movie market.

The release made only $10.1 million in the Middle Kingdom, according to early estimates. That put it in third place for the weekend behind two holdovers, "Avengers: Infinity War" ($18 million) and the top earner for the weekend, the Chinese romantic comedy "How Long Will I Love U" ($25 million).

Historically, "Star Wars" has never grabbed the attention in China, but this is a new low for the franchise.

"The Force Awakens" is the only movie in the franchise's Disney era to make any noise there. It was able to muster a respectable $52.3 million opening weekend, which might have made Disney think China was ready for "Star Wars." It went on to earn $124.1 million its full run there. But it turns out you can chalk that up to the movie just being a global sensation. More recently, "The Last Jedi" had a $28.1 million opening and went on to earn only $42.5 million there. And "Rogue One," even with the casting of the Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen, pulled off just a $30 million opening ($69.4 million for its entire run).

Compare that with how Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's movies perform in China, and it's a sobering reality for Disney.

Whether it's the "Fast and Furious" movies ("The Fate of the Furious" had a $184.9 million opening and went on to make $392.8 million) or titles in which he's the driving force like "San Andreas" ($52.2 million opening, $103.1 million total) or "Rampage" ($55 million open, $154.2 million total), audiences in China can't get enough of him.

It's not all bad for Disney in China, though. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has consistently been strong there. A big reason for that is that unlike "Star Wars," the MCU films have been released in China since the franchise's inception. The original "Star Wars" trilogy wasn't released in China until "A New Hope" opened in 2015.

But "Solo" may prompt Disney to change up its "Star Wars" strategy in China. This could mean less spending on marketing or a softer release strategy. The problem with that would be that Disney never does anything small with "Star Wars," and, more important, China is only growing in the movie business.

In the coming years, China is likely to surpass the US as the world's top movie market thanks to the country's massive building of movie theaters and its own successful homegrown movie productions. Disney certainly doesn't want to be on the outside looking in, especially with one of its major pieces of intellectual property.

Most in the industry whom Business Insider has spoken with are taking a wait-and-see approach in how Disney will go forward with "Star Wars" in China.

"The Middle Kingdom treats 'Star Wars' like a second-class cinematic citizen," Jeff Bock, a senior analyst for Exhibitor Relations, told Business Insider over the weekend. "They just aren't taken with the space saga, and unless Dwayne Johnson jumps on board, these lackluster grosses will continue."

As far as we know, The Rock isn't joining the franchise anytime soon.

SEE ALSO: "Solo" bombs at the box office, taking in only $83 million over the weekend and $101 million by Memorial Day

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How to survive a snake bite

The company behind the biggest game in the world, "Fortnite," is being taken to court by the studio responsible for the second-biggest game in the world, "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds," also known as "PUBG."

Stranger still: The two companies involved share a mutual investor, the Chinese holding company Tencent.

Bluehole, the South Korean company behind "PUBG," has filed a suit claiming that the US-based Epic Games is infringing on its copyright with "Fortnite." Bluehole intends to enforce its claim by suing Epic Games in South Korea, Bloomberg reported on Monday night.

This isn't the first time Bluehole has claimed Epic's "Fortnite" is copying "PUBG." Soon after "Fortnite" added its battle-royale mode in September, the Bluehole vice president and executive producer Chang Han Kim made his company's feelings about it clear.

"We are concerned that 'Fortnite' may be replicating the experience for which 'PUBG' is known," Kim said in a press release. It's also not the first time Bluehole has taken legal action to protect its battle-royale concept.

Here's a brief history of the ongoing battle over battle royale:

SEE ALSO: Why isn't 'Fortnite,' the world's most popular game, on Nintendo's Switch?

DON'T MISS: Over 45 million people are playing a bizarre shooter that pits 100 players against one another in a fight to the death — here's what's going on

First, what is "PUBG"?

You're jammed in a crappy plane with 100 other people, flying above an abandoned ex-Soviet island. You can jump whenever you want, knowing that as you plummet to the ground, 99 other people are plotting your imminent death. Of course, you're plotting theirs as well, just as soon as you can get your hands on a weapon.

Thankfully, though the island is uninhabited aside from you and the enemy players, its abandoned buildings — houses, hospitals, gas stations, etc. — are packed with P9s, AKs, and plenty of body armor.

As you scramble to put together a small arsenal and supplies for survival, you're also contending with the other 99 people doing the same thing. Sometimes those folks want to fight. Sometimes they're unarmed and just as terrified of you as you are of them.

Every interaction with another player in "PUBG" is a gamble, which is why it's so excellent.

"PUBG," a breakout hit, was the hottest game of 2017 by far and is an ongoing moneymaker.

It's hard to know exactly how much money "PUBG" has made, but we do know it's significant. On the PC's wildly popular Steam service, where it first launched as an unfinished "Early Access" game for $30, "PUBG" is the third-highest grossing game of all time. 

The latest sales numbers put "PUBG" somewhere in the realm of 30 million lifetime sales on PC alone. That's just shy of $1 billion in gross revenue in a single year.

That doesn't take into account the mobile version of the game — "PUBG" is available on both iPhone and Android, unlike "Fortnite" — nor does it account for sales on the Xbox One (which have been similarly brisk). 

It continues to be the most played game on Steam on a regular basis. Nearly 1.5 million people were playing it at the same time on Tuesday.

So, what is "Fortnite"?

"Fortnite" is a third-person shooter that is also focused on survival gameplay. You, or you and a group of friends, take on hordes of enemies from the tentative safety of a fort you've crafted. It's available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Mac (there's also a version for iOS, which is coming to Android this summer).

There's a cartoony art style to "Fortnite," which tonally fits in alongside the game's goofy dialogue; there's a playful tone about everything in "Fortnite," which is starkly different from the dreary, dire tone of "PUBG." Moreover, the core of "Fortnite" is very different from "PUBG" — it's essentially a "tower defense" game.

In "Fortnite," like other tower-defense games, you're defending an immobile thing from waves of enemies. You have a period of time before the attack begins, when you're able to set up defenses (turrets, traps, walls, etc.). Once you trigger the battle, you must defend whatever that aforementioned thing is from being attacked. If you survive those waves, you've succeeded.

This isn't the stuff that Bluehole takes issue with.

• Roseanne Barr posted a racist tweet about Valerie Jarrett, a former adviser to President Barack Obama.
• In the tweet, Barr compares Jarrett, a black woman born in Iran, to an ape.
• Twitter users blasted Barr and pointed out that Barr herself said she was leaving Twitter 10 days ago because of anti-Semitism.
• People are also mad at ABC, the network that airs the "Roseanne" revival.

Comedian Roseanne Barr, the star of ABC's revival of the major ratings hit "Roseanne," has stoked controversy for her political views and promotion of conspiracy theories. And she's under fire again for a racist comment she made on Twitter about Valerie Jarrett, a former adviser to President Barack Obama. 

Ten days ago, Barr, who is Jewish, announced she was done with Twitter because of anti-Semitism, but said she would keep her account so she could check her direct messages. "i already deleted facebook five years ago when the anti semitism there became toxic," Barr wrote on May 19. "I am leaving all social media except instagram."

Yet on Tuesday, Barr tweeted (in response to a tweet which accused Jarrett of hiding misdeeds from the Obama administration), “muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj," characterizing Jarrett — an African-American woman born in Iran — as a child of the Muslim Brotherhood and an ape.

Twitter users immediately called out the racist imagery in Barr's comment, and the irony in her decision to stop tweeting because of anti-Semitism. Some questioned ABC's decision to keep her show on the air. 

In response to criticism, Barr first defended herself, saying, "Muslims r not a race." Later, Barr apologized, tweeting, "I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans. I am truly sorry for making a bad joke about her politics and her looks. I should have known better. Forgive me-my joke was in bad taste."

ABC was not immediately available for comment to Business Insider.

Here are a few reactions to Barr's comments:

SEE ALSO: 'Roseanne' showrunner responds to criticism of Roseanne Barr's political views: 'Nobody is making anybody watch the show'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why so many fast food logos are red

• "Solo: A Star Wars Story" brought in an estimated $103 million against the $130 million that analysts were projecting it to make over the Memorial Day weekend, Deadline reported Monday.
• The film's director, Ron Howard, responded on Twitter to the film's falling short of its three-day projection, saying: "Didn't meet projections but amounts to a new personal best."

"Solo: A Star Wars Story" fell way short of its box-office projection over the Memorial Day weekend, but the film's director, Ron Howard, is taking the shortcoming in stride.

On Monday, Deadline reported that "Solo" would not meet the $130 million analysts were projecting it to make at the box office over the extended weekend. The "Star Wars" spin-off instead brought in an estimated $103 million in the four days since its release.

On Sunday, Howard responded on Twitter to a fan question about the film's three-day projected haul.

"Didn't meet projections but amounts to a new personal best," Howard said. "Check #SoloAStarWarsStory for balanced feedback & then C it on a big screen!"

The $84.8 million that "Solo" brought in for its three-day opening did amount to a personal best opening weekend for Howard, surpassing the $77 million that "The Da Vinci Code" made over its three-day opening in 2006 (without adjusting for inflation), according to Box Office Mojo.

Howard took over the reins on "Solo" in June, after Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy ousted the previous directors, Philip Lord and Christopher Miller, citing "different creative visions."

With extended reshoots under Howard, the film's production budget exceeded $250 million, Variety reported. To break even, "Solo" would most likely have to bring in somewhere north of $500 million globally, with marketing and other costs of release taken into account.

SEE ALSO: 'Solo' has exciting thrills and lush photography, but it's the first 'Star Wars' movie to make me worried about franchise fatigue

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How a $9 billion startup deceived Silicon Valley

• After weeks of speculation, reports suggest Harry and Meghan will honeymoon in Canada.
• Sources told TMZ they are due to stay at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta.
• They will apparently stay at the six-bedroom "Outlook Cabin" which has been nicknamed "The Royal Retreat."

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are apparently planning their honeymoon in Canada.

That's according to sources who told TMZ the newlyweds are due to stay in Alberta, Canada's luxurious Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.

The hotel is situated right in the middle of Jasper National Park.

Here's another look:

While the date of their honeymoon is unknown, the couple will reportedly stay at the 6,000 square foot Outlook Cabin, which has become so popular among the royals it has been nicknamed "The Royal Retreat" — The Queen and Prince Philip stayed there in June 2005, while King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother stayed there in 1939.

Here's a look inside:

According to the hotel's website, "every inch" of the lodge "exudes elegancy and grandeur."

It boasts six bedrooms each with an ensuite bathroom, a dining room, "Great Room," conservatory and enclosed veranda, as well as a "majestic stone fireplace," and can cost up to £5,000 a night.

Here's a look at one of the bedrooms:

You can take a virtual tour of the cabin here.

The hotel is also a favourite among celebrities — it was the location of 1954 Marilyn Monroe film "River of No Return" and has hosted the likes of Anthony Hopkins, John Travolta, and Bill Gates.

Here's Bing Crosby visiting:

TMZ reported that the resort has ordered "gear and goodies" it doesn't provide for regular guests, and British and Canadian security will be involved when the couple arrives.

However, an official statement from the hotel suggested nothing has been booked.

"Though Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge has a longstanding history of serving as a royal retreat, we can confirm that the couple is not currently booked for a stay," it read.

"We are declining further comment at this time, as our top priority is always the safety and privacy of all of our guests. We appreciate your understanding."

Whether or not the couple end up staying at the Fairmont, it certainly looks like the perfect spot for celebrating.

SEE ALSO: The Victoria's Secret Angels are spending the week at a stunning private Beverly Hills mansion called 'Villa Victoria' — here's what's going down

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Jeff Bezos on breaking up and regulating Amazon

• An attorney for Morgan Freeman sent a letter to CNN president Jeff Zucker demanding the retraction of a CNN report in which eight women accused the actor of inappropriate behavior, including sexual harassment.
• In the letter, obtained by multiple outlets on Tuesday, Freeman's lawyer called the CNN report a "product of malicious intent, falsehoods, slight-of-hand [sic], an absence of editorial control, and journalistic malpractice."

A lawyer for Morgan Freeman is demanding the retraction of a CNN report published last week, in which eight women accused the actor of inappropriate behavior, including sexual harassment.

Freeman's attorney, Robert M. Schwartz, sent a 10-page letter to CNN president Jeff Zucker saying that CNN's report "defamed" and "inflicted serious injury" on Freeman and his career. The letter was obtained by multiple outlets on Tuesday, including Variety and Deadline. 

"At a minimum, CNN immediately needs to issue a retraction and apologize to Mr. Freeman through the same channels, and with the same level of attention, that it used to unjustly attack him on May 24," Schwartz wrote. 

Schwartz wrote that his law firm had begun an investigation into the report, which he called a "product of malicious intent, falsehoods, slight-of-hand [sic], an absence of editorial control, and journalistic malpractice."

The attorney wrote that CNN reporter Chloe Melas, who cowrote the report and accused Freeman of making inappropriate comments about her appearance at a press junket last year, had "no reasonable basis" to interpret what Freeman said to her as harassment.

Melas said Freeman told her during a 2017 interview when she was six months pregnant, among other comments, that "you are ripe."

"Videotape confirms that his statement had nothing to do with [Melas] and was not harassing. And an independent third party, the Warner Bros. Human Resources Department, investigated her claim and concluded that it was not supported by the facts," Schwartz wrote. 

Among the seven other accusers in the report, an unnamed production assistant who worked on the set of the 2017 movie "Going in Style" said she experienced several months of sexual harassment from Freeman on the film's set, including unwanted touching and comments. The woman said Freeman "kept trying to lift up my skirt and asking if I was wearing underwear."

"Ms. Melas baited and prodded supposed 'witnesses' to say bad things about Mr. Freeman and tried to get them to confirm her bias against him," Schwartz continued. "Thus, no reader of the article can have any confidence that any of the anonymous sources, which make up the balance of CNN's article, can be relied upon at all."

Freeman responded to the CNN report in a statement on Thursday, saying, "I apologize to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected — that was never my intent." He later followed up with another statement on Friday, adding, "I did not create unsafe work environments. I did not assault women. I did not offer employment or advancement in exchange for sex. Any suggestion that I did so is completely false."

A CNN spokesperson sent the following statement to Business Insider on Tuesday, in response to the letter from Freeman's lawyer: 

"The unfounded accusations made by Mr. Freeman’s lawyer are disappointing and are difficult to reconcile with Mr. Freeman’s own public statements in the aftermath of the story.  CNN stands by its reporting and will respond forcefully to any attempt by Mr. Freeman or his representatives to intimidate us from covering this important public issue."

Read the attorney's full letter at Deadline. 

SEE ALSO: 8 women accuse Morgan Freeman of inappropriate behavior, including sexual harassment

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What humans will look like on Mars

• The world's biggest game, "Fortnite," is about to get a major addition: vehicles!
• In true "Fortnite" style, the first vehicle is a shopping cart.
• The shopping cart arrives this week in "Fortnite," though it's not clear exactly when.

"Fortnite" is finally getting a much desired feature: vehicles.

In the update seen above, the new shopping cart item advertises the ability to "Roll into battle alone or with a buddy!"

An Epic Games representative said the shopping cart is expected to arrive this week, but declined to offer exact timing. It's not clear just yet how the item will work, or even how it will appear in the world. If the recent jetpack addition is any indication, it's likely that shopping carts will be a usable item found in the world — like shield potions or weapons or med kits. 

Vehicles have been a staple of the "Battle Royale" game genre since "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds" launched in March 2017. They've been a long-requested feature in "Fortnite," and it'll be interesting to see how they impact the game.

Given that we're talking about a shopping cart instead of, say, a car, it sounds like any riding will be a one-way trip. But we're also talking about a game with a magical floating bus and a surrealist, often Dali-esque world — it's entirely possible that these shopping carts come with propulsion. Epic wouldn't tell us anything more. 

We'll see later this week when the update arrives.

SEE ALSO: 'Fortnite' just got a huge new addition: Jetpacks!

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Jeff Bezos: Blue Origin is 'the most important work that I'm doing'

Warning: This post contains spoilers for "Solo: A Star Wars Story."

• "Solo" co-writer Lawrence Kasdan told CinemaBlend that the origin of Han's last name in the movie got the film made.
• In the movie, a military officer gives Han the last name "Solo" because he is alone and has no "people."
• Disney CEO Bob Iger loved it so much that he was on board the project immediately.

"Solo: A Star Wars Story" tells the origin story of one of the "Star Wars" saga's most popular characters, Han Solo, right down to how he got his last name. And that detail actually was what convinced Disney to make the film, according to longtime "Star Wars" screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan.

Kasdan, who co-wrote "Solo," told CinemaBlend that his pitch for the movie to Disney executives five years ago included the origin of Han's last name. In the movie, a military officer gives Han the last name "Solo" because he is alone and, as Han puts it, "has no people."

Kasdan said that Disney CEO Bob Iger loved that aspect of Han's origin so much that he decided that the film should be made then and there.

"My presentation was, [Han] comes to an immigration spot and someone asks, 'What's your name?'" Kasdan said. "It's not just that he doesn't have a name, which tells you a lot about his history. He says 'I have no people.' That to me is so forlorn and so isolating and rife, and the guy fills in his name. Bob Iger said 'Alright, I'm in.' That was it. That was the moment. He reacted to it the way I reacted to it, which was, it's very moving. This was a guy who has nothing. Someone plants a name on him. He doesn't even know the guy. It sticks for the rest of the saga."

The film didn't seem to excite audiences as much, though.

Over the weekend, "Solo" opened below expectations domestically with $83 million from Friday to Sunday, and $101 million for the four-day Memorial Day weekend. It's the lowest opening for a "Star Wars" movie since "Attack of the Clones" in 2002, not adjusted for inflation. It also bombed internationally with just $65 million.

SEE ALSO: The 30 most important 'Star Wars' movie villains, ranked from worst to best

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: I ate nothing but 'healthy' fast food for a week — here’s what happened

• ABC canceled the revival of "Roseanne" hours after its star, Roseanne Barr, sent a racist tweet comparing former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett to an ape.
• "Roseanne" has been the most popular TV show of the year, with 23.2 million average viewers, according to Nielsen.
• However, Barr's controversial tweets, which have veered from racism to support of far-right conspiracy theories, had cast a shadow over the show.

Roseanne Barr's controversial tweets have finally shown some serious consequences. ABC announced Tuesday it had canceled the "Roseanne" revival following a tweet by Barr that likened former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett to an ape.

"Roseanne's Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show," ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey said in a statement.

"There was only one thing to do here, and that was the right thing," Bob Iger, the CEO of ABC parent company Disney, added via Twitter.

The revival of "Roseanne" garnered huge ratings for ABC for its premiere in March and was picked up for another season immediately. The ratings impressed President Donald Trump so much that he called Barr to congratulate her on them personally. The strong ratings continued through the season and "Roseanne" has been the most popular show of the year so far, with 23.2 million average viewers, according to Nielsen.

But Barr's controversial statements on Twitter cast a shadow over the show. These tweets have varied from racism to supporting far-right conspiracy theories like Pizzagate, but were largely ignored publicly by the network until Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Barr tweeted in response to a comment that accused Jarrett of hiding misdeeds from the Obama administration. “Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj," Barr wrote, characterizing Jarrett, an African-American woman born in Iran, as a child of the Muslim Brotherhood and an ape.

Twitter users immediately called out the racism in Barr's comment, and many questioned ABC's decision to keep her show on the air.

In response to the criticism, Barr first defended herself, saying, "Muslims r not a race."

Later, Barr apologized, tweeting: "I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans. I am truly sorry for making a bad joke about her politics and her looks. I should have known better. Forgive me-my joke was in bad taste."

It was not enough, and as the uproar continued Tuesday, ABC made the decision to cancel the show.

SEE ALSO: Roseanne Barr is under fire after a racist tweet about former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett that compares her to an ape

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How a $9 billion startup deceived Silicon Valley

• A software engineer who helped create the payments app Venmo is currently a contestant on the new season of ABC's "The Bachelorette."
• John Graham, who spent more than four years at Venmo and now works for a startup called Fin, made it through the first elimination ceremony on Monday night's season premiere. 
• Graham also enjoys playing guitar, wine tasting, sunsets, and baking banana bread. 

A Silicon Valley software engineer who helped build Venmo is vying for love on ABC's "The Bachelorette."

The reality show kicked off its 14th season on Monday night, and features 28 "bachelors" competing to marry bachelorette Becca Kufrin. 

One of this season's contestants is John Graham, a 28-year-old from San Francisco who helped create the mobile payments app Venmo. Graham spent more than four years at Venmo and now works for Fin, a startup building a virtual assistant similar to the operating system from the movie "Her." Fin is the brainchild of former Facebook executive Sam Lessin and Venmo cofounder Andrew Kortina. 

When he's not working on Fin, Graham's "Bachelorette" bio says he enjoys "wine tasting, playing guitar or making his world-famous banana bread." He attended Columbia University and said his ideal first date includes something with a beautiful view, like a sunrise or sunset. 

"Arguably the most successful guy we've ever had on the show," host Chris Harrison said when describing Graham. "This guy's legit."

Unfortunately for Graham, he didn't get a lot of screen time during the first episode — his longest on-screen interaction with Kufrin consisted of him saying "I'm a software engineer, I made the app for Venmo" and her responding, "Oh wow."

But that must have been enough for Kufrin to keep him around a little while longer, because she did award Graham a rose at the end of the night. When Kufrin asked Graham if he would accept the rose, he responded "Of course I will."

SEE ALSO: Here are all the ways Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes has imitated Steve Jobs over the years

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How to stop robocallers

As the year flies by, the list of canceled TV shows piles up.

Networks are starting to make announcements in May, including Fox which canceled comedies "The Mick," "Brooklyn Nine Nine," and "The Last Man on Earth."

ABC also canceled the previously renewed "Roseanne" revival in late May, after Roseanne Barr posted a racist tweet about former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett.

Amazon kicked off the year with a slew of cancellations, announcing the end of three quirky comedies, including the Golden Globe nominee "I Love Dick" and the comedian Tig Notaro's semi-autobiographical show, "One Mississippi." It canceled Golden Globe nominee "Mozart in the Jungle" in April, after four seasons, and recently canceled "Transparent," which will end after the upcoming fifth season.

Also in April, Netflix canceled the 90s coming-of-age comedy, "Everything Sucks," which came to the streaming service in February. 

There are many more cancellations to come, as networks announce the fate of newer shows as well as older ones.

We'll update this list as more are announced.

Here are all the shows that have been canceled this year, including those from networks and Netflix:

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

Amazon

"Jean-Claude Van Johnson" — Amazon, one season

"I Love Dick" — Amazon, one season

• Documentary filmmaker Liz Garbus looks at how The New York Times covered President Trump in his first year in office in "The Fourth Estate."
• The four-part docuseries examines the inner workings of the paper's newsroom and the reporters getting the stories.
• Garbus told Business Insider a big reason for doing the project was to show the importance of journalism in the "fake news" era.

Like many in the country, documentary filmmaker Liz Garbus (“What Happened, Miss Simone?”) was shocked when Donald Trump became the 45th president of the United States. But what really fascinated her was how the media would be able to cover one of the most hostile presidents toward the press in modern times.

And when Trump went on a tirade on Twitter in November of 2016 about if he was going enter the building of the “failing” New York Times for an interview, the wheels began turning in Garbus' head.

“I thought, ‘What if I could be a fly on the wall at that meeting,’” she told Business Insider.

In that moment, Garbus had the idea for her next project: a look at how The New York Times, one of the most esteemed news outlets, would cover a president in the era of “fake news.”

In the four-part Showtime documentary series, “The Fourth Estate” (episode one aired Sunday), Garbus is given unprecedented access by the paper to chronicle its coverage of Trump during his first year in office. The filmmaker is there to capture some of the biggest stories about the Trump White House — from Michael Flynn’s resignation as national security adviser to James Comey’s firing as FBI director by Trump. And we are right there when breaking news happens or a reporter gets something extraordinary, like Trump calling the Times’ White House correspondent Maggie Haberman to comment on the collapse of the health care legislation in the Senate.

The docuseries is an interesting look at the reporters and editors who have been on a non-stop Trump news cycle the past year, and gives us a glimpse at how they use sources and gumshoe reporting to get the news out to the world, while still having some semblance of a personal life.

“I walked in there trying to understand the ecosystem, how it goes from a reporter having lunch with somebody to becoming a story that you then go back to the government for comment,” Garbus said. “That whole process was opaque to me and it was something that I learned along with our viewers.” 

How she got in the newsroom

Though Garbus got the "okay" from the heads of The New York Times to make the docuseries, she still had to get the permission of every single reporter and editor she wanted to film. Needless to say, not everyone was instantly receptive. But there were some that Garbus felt were pivotal to have.

“Maggie Haberman, she’s one of their star White House reporters and she’s also a really compelling character,” Garbus said. “She’s a working mom who lives in New York and is traveling down to DC and has incredible sources. She was important.”

Some of the most compelling moments throughout the series are when the camera is following Haberman. Having covered Trump since back in her days reporting at The New York Daily News, she’s in many ways the Trump decoder for the paper. She is the one they turn to in order to better understand the president and his behavior. But then Garbus also shows Haberman's personal life as a mother who is never home and has to continue on the Trump grind — even though she thought Trump would lose the election and promised her family once that happened she would be home more.

And then there’s the Times’ Washington correspondent, Michael S. Schmidt, who at first declined Garbus’ invitation to be in her project. Over time, he had second thoughts.

“You might tell he’s not in episode one, but then you see more of him in the episodes going forward,” Garbus said. “He was someone who was very wary and skeptical but then decided to play ball. I’m so happy he did because he was really one of the reporters that was getting so many scoops and advancing our knowledge of Trump and the investigations this past year.”

And Schmidt’s personal life is very different than Haberman's. He’s single and basically lives and breathes his beat. At one point in an episode, he says half jokingly that he doesn’t even have food in his refrigerator because he’s never there.

Garbus pinballs back and forth from the newsroom in New York City to the Washington, DC bureau — the latter being where a lot of the exciting breaking news takes place in “The Fourth Estate.”

She admitted the entire filming was not a comfortable experience. Often reporters would brush away her camera or run into a conference room if they were speaking to a source, but when news broke things got easier as the newsroom went into action and Garbus and her two crew members (some episodes are also directed by Jenny Carchman) would just react to what they were seeing.

It was when nothing was going on that the filmmakers stuck out like a sore thumb.

“You would be pointing your camera at someone refreshing their Twitter feed and that’s annoying,” Garbus said.

Disdain toward the press isn’t going to stop any time soon

Hanging over all the episodes in the docuseries is how the media is portrayed as a bunch of liars and fabricators by Trump.

Garbus shows this in a few different ways, from reporters interacting with Trump supporters to the eerie score throughout the series which is done by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (who have done scores for “The Social Network” and “Gone Girl”).

One of the big motivations for Garbus to do the project was to show just how much goes into a story actually making it to print.

“Every time the Times has a scoop related to, say, the FBI, they call the FBI for comment, you give them the opportunity [to comment],” Garbus said. “The sausage making in some way is very unglamorous but that’s what I really wanted to expose and demystify. I think there have been so many attacks on journalism, but the way these reporters make sure someone is on the level with them and the amount that they don’t put into the newspaper that they hear is pretty incredible.”

In one of the most chilling moments of the docuseries, Garbus’ team follows a Times reporter to one of the rallies Trump did after he became president. At one moment, Trump bashes the media in the room and Garbus’ team, inside the press section, shows the crowd around them becoming more and more volatile toward the press. It’s an instance that Garbus believes isn’t going to go away anytime soon.

“You can’t built up the emotions of people and call out the press to people without inciting violence,” Garbus said. “I think there will be more instances like that and that’s really alarming. But these journalists are not afraid.”

And Garbus wants to continue looking at the press and Trump. Though “The Fourth Estate” has been wrapped for a while, she doesn’t rule out some kind of sequel either at the Times or another outlet.

“I think looking at the press right now is important,” she said. “We don’t know where this roller coaster ride we’re on will end, but many of us agree the press is an important partner to have on that ride.”

"The Fourth Estate" airs Sundays on Showtime, or stream the entire docuseries here.

SEE ALSO: 11 villains who should be introduced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why so many fast food logos are red

On Tuesday, ABC announced it had canceled its "Roseanne" revival, hours after star Roseanne Barr tweeted a racist comment in which she compared a black former Obama adviser to an ape.

That wasn't the first time Barr had made controversial comments, and because of that, the "Roseanne" reboot was always at risk. 

But it was also ratings gold. The show returned in March after over 20 years to over 18 million viewers for its combined two-episode premiere.

As the weeks went by, viewership slightly decreased. By the beginning of this month, 10 million viewers had tuned in — a 43 percent decrease — and the show fell short of CBS' "NCIS" for the first time. But it was still the most popular scripted show of the year so far, and for ABC to cancel it so abruptly meant Barr's comments finally crossed a line.

ABC bet on Trump supporters sticking with the program: Barr is an outspoken supporter herself, and her character on the show is, as well. ABC executives even said the show was a direct result of President Trump's victory in the 2016 election, and part of the network's strategy in attracting Trump supporters.

That gamble doesn't seem to have paid off.

Barr's tweet on Tuesday may have been the straw that broke the camel's back, but there's a lot to understand about how exactly "Roseanne" came to an end.

Below is everything you need to know about the "Roseanne" cancellation:

SEE ALSO: ABC cancels 'Roseanne' hours after racist tweet by its star

Roseanne Barr, the show's star and co-creator, is a vocal supporter of President Trump.

Barr has frequently defended her support of Trump, who even called Barr after the revival's premiere to congratulate her on the ratings success. 

But while Barr's support of Trump may have been a continuous topic of conversation, it was her history of promoting far-right conspiracy theories that first landed her in hot water.

Barr's Twitter history was layered with conspiracy theories such as Pizzagate until she deleted much of her Twitter last year. "Pizzagate" was a conspiracy that claimed that Hillary Clinton's campaign was using a Washington, D.C. pizzeria as a front for a child trafficking ring, which prompted a man to open fire in a crowded pizzeria in December. Barr has also promoted the conspiracy that the death of Democratic National Convention staffer Seth Rich was a DNC cover-up.

Barr also appeared to promote a conspiracy against Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg on Twitter.

In March, just before the "Roseanne" premiere, Barr replied "NAZI SALUTE" to a tweet that tagged Hogg. The tweet was deleted shortly after, but it appeared to be in response to a far-right conspiracy that Hogg raised a Nazi salute at a March for Our Lives rally. 

• A controversial upcoming video game that allowed anyone to play as a school shooter has been removed from Steam, along with the developer and publisher of the game.
• Backlash — including comments from the parents of the victims of the Parkland high school shooting — erupted online Monday as screenshots of the game went viral.
• Over 110,000 people signed a petition to have the game removed from the Steam gaming platform a week ahead of the game's scheduled release, and the game's developers have suggested they might have removed the ability to play from the perspective of the shooter. 

A video game that puts players in the shoes of a school shooter has been removed from the mega-popular Steam PC games platform on Tuesday. The removal comes after the controversial game sparked backlash from the parents of Parkland victims, politicians, and over 110,000 online petitioners. 

A spokesperson for Valve, the proprietor of the Steam games store, confirmed to Business Insider on Tuesday that both the game and its creator, a developer going by the pseudonym ACID, had been removed from Steam. An internal investigation at Valve found that ACID had returned to the platform under a new name after being removed last year.

The spokesperson called this particular developer "a troll, with a history of customer abuse, publishing copyrighted material, and user review manipulation. His subsequent return under new business names was a fact that came to light as we investigated the controversy around his upcoming title."

"We are not going to do business with people who act like this towards our customers or Valve," says the spokesperson.

The game, called "Active Shooter," would have let anyone play from the perspective of a school shooter. The player, in that role, would be encouraged to kill as many civilians and law enforcement personnel as possible. The game also allows players to experience the same scenario from the perspective of a S.W.A.T. team member, in pursuit of the shooter, or as a civilian, simply trying to stay alive. 

"Be the good guy or the bad guy. The choice is yours!" said ACID in the game's description. "Depending on the role, your objective might be to protect and extract or hunt and destroy."

By Tuesday, several parents of victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida had spoken out against the release of the game, which was initially scheduled for June 9, according to the now-unavailable listing on Steam.

Fred Guttenberg, who lost his daughter Jaime Guttenberg in the shooting, tweeted on Sunday:

In a following tweet, Guttenberg continued, "This company should face the wrath of everyone who cares about school and public safety and it should start immediately. Do not buy this game for your kids or any other game made by this company."

Senator Bill Nelson of Florida also expressed concern on Twitter on Monday:

An online petition pleading with Valve to block the release of the game on the Steam gaming marketplace has received over 138,000 signatures at the time of publishing. The Valve spokesperson did not comment on whether the petition 

"How can anyone sleep at night knowing that they are profiting from turning deadly school shootings into entertainment?" wrote the petition creator Stephanie Robinett.

In response to the backlash earlier in the day, the now-banned game developer posted a "clarification" announcement on Steam, insisting that the game did not promote real-world violence and suggesting that the ability to play as the shooter may be removed from the game.

"After receiving such high amount of critics and hate, I will more likely remove the shooters [sic] role in this game by the release, unless if it can be kept as it is right now," the announcement read.

Many supporters of the game, including the developer, have argued that this style of first-person shooter is not unique or unprecedented, and that this game is receiving an unfair amount of criticism that other violent games have avoided.

In a forum titled "The Big Debate," developer wrote, "There are numerous of games such GTA, Postal, Carmageddon, Hatred where it's literally about mass shootings...how is 'Active Shooter' is [sic] any different from mentioned games?...You cannot simply say OK to one and NOT OK to another. "

SEE ALSO: 'The Google of Russia' just announced its own smart speaker — here's what it can do

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How to avoid having your computer hacked

• Nintendo announced three new Pokémon games for the Nintendo Switch on Tuesday evening, and one is available right now.
• "Pokémon Quest" is a "free-to-start" game that's available now on the Switch — it's a spin-off of the standard Pokémon games.
• In November, Nintendo plans to launch two new Pokémon games in "Pokémon Let's Go! Pikachu" and "Pokémon Let's Go! Eevee." 
• An entirely new entry in the "core" Pokémon series will arrive on the Switch in "late 2019."

Excited for a new entry in the Pokémon series, on a main Nintendo console for the first time ever? How does four sound to you?

That's exactly what Nintendo's doing. As of now, you can download and play the "free-to-start" game "Pokémon Quest" on the Switch. It's available as of Tuesday evening for download on the Nintendo eShop digital storefront.

"Pokémon Quest" isn't a standard Pokémon game. Instead, Nintendo describes it as a, "rambunctious action RPG." Instead of playing as a trainer, collecting Pokémon and taking on rival trainers, you play as a gaggle of pixelated Pokémon. The game is also heading to iOS and Android in "late June."

You can see a trailer for it right here:

Later this year, in November, Nintendo plans to release two other Pokémon games: "Pokémon Let's Go! Pikachu" and "Pokémon Let's Go! Eevee." They're seemingly sister games, along the sames lines of previous Pokémon games released as a pair. Perhaps one has some Pokémon that the other doesn't, but it's likely that they're very similar games.

These two are much more standard fare — as rumored, "Pokémon Let's Go! Pikachu" and "Pokémon Let's Go! Eevee" are based on the original "Pokémon Yellow" from the Nintendo Game Boy.

The pair of games clearly boasts a major graphical update over the original, and incorporates a number of features from the insanely popular "Pokémon Go."

Catching Pokémon, for instance, can be done by using one of the Nintendo Switch's controllers with a throwing motion — similar to the way you throw Pokéballs in "Pokémon Go." 

The two games are said to interoperate, with players of both able to swap Pokémon on-the-fly. Both "Pokémon Let's Go! Pikachu" and "Pokémon Let's Go! Eevee" are scheduled to launch on November 16.

Check it out in a trailer right here:

And finally, Nintendo gave a firm release window to its next major entry in the "core" Pokémon series: "Late 2019." Well! That's quite a awways off! The good news is there are three other new Pokémon games for your Switch in the meantime.

SEE ALSO: A major new 'core' Pokemon game is being made for Nintendo Switch — here's everything we know so far

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This $530 Android phone is half the price of an iPhone X and just as good