A former jewel thief recalls a truly disastrous heist.
This Informer was part of a syndicate of jewel thieves that hailed primarily from the Balkans. He’s been entangled in crime his whole life, including many high stake jewel heists – stealing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of uncut diamonds, jewelry and cash. Tap the link in bio to watch his story.
Father John Misty hopes people are f*cking to his music.
Tap the link in bio to watch the full epsiode of The People Vs. Father John Misty, originally published in 2012.
When rumors broke in the Welsh newspaper office that the “household name” involved in a big upcoming criminal case was Ian Watkins, singer for nu-metal band Lostprophets, the staff was nonplussed. “Most journalists I talked with were indifferent, even disappointed,” recalls Adam Christopher Smith, who worked there as a reporter at the time. “I was the only person in the office who could name a Lostprophets song.”
Growing up a teenage mosher, Smith had been a huge fan of the band and its music. So when the full, horrifying extent of the child sex abuse charges brought against Watkins were revealed, it hit him more than it did his colleagues. Especially when he had to witness the whole thing play out firsthand, as a court reporter assigned to cover the Watkins case.
“I was at a bar doing ‘research’ for a feature when I heard that Watkins was back living in a little terraced house in Pontypridd—the Valleys town where he’d grown up—working as a male escort to support his crystal meth addiction,” remembers Smith (@yungtolstoi) of a time when the noise started to swirl around the case.
Watkins died in prison on Saturday at the age of 48, reviled as a monster. Read Smith’s full reflection on what it was like watching the shocking descent of a man who had once been his idol at VICE.com now; the link is in the bio.
Bunni made her name in the world of findom, but that wasn't her goal. She just wanted to find some people to game with.
In the first episode of Naked Truths by veteran VICE filmmaker @willfairman_films, we spend an evening in @lilbratofficial's company as she opens up about the hidden rules of her trade. Tap the @VICE link in bio to watch.
A leader of the Creative Revolution, George Lois helped create the campaign "I Want My MTV," and make companies like Xerox, Jiffy Lube, and Tommy Hilfiger household names. He also designed 92 iconic covers for Esquire. Lois is often referred to as an inspiration for Don Draper, but there are stark differences between the two. Here's his story – tap the link in bio to watch.
Sometimes you just need a good Japanese breakfast to ground you back into reality.
Tap the link in bio to watch our full conversation with Michelle Zauner, originally published last year.
Leonardo DiCaprio's ex money man on the "absence of humility" in rich celebrities.
Tap the link in bio to hear more from Dana Giacchetto, a former investment banker who spent the 1990s with some of the biggest celebrities in the world.
Father John Misty sums up YouTube comments in 20 seconds.
Tap the link in bio to watch the full epsiode of The People Vs. Father John Misty, originally published in 2012.