Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

The Man Who Had Cops Called On Him In Central Park Actually Made Some Powerful 'Star Trek' History

The Man Who Had Cops Called On Him In Central Park Actually Made Some Powerful 'Star Trek' History
@melodyMcooper/Twitter; Christian Cooper/Facebook

On May 25, while Christian Cooper was birdwatching in New York City's Central Park, a woman erupted and called the police on him.

He had asked her to put a leash on her dog.


Cooper's recording of the incident, which he posted on his Facebook page, quickly went viral and placed him at the center of a national outcry across the internet and mainstream media. However, Cooper's recent claim to fame is not his only one.

While working as an editor for Marvel Comics in the 1990s, he co-created the first openly gay character in the Star Trek universe, them.reports.

Cooper, a black man, spent the early part of May 25 in Central Park's "The Ramble" area, a nearly 40-acre oasis within an oasis when he came across Amy Cooper (no relation), a white woman walking her dog without the leash attached.

As the video captured, Christian Cooper remained on the footpath as he asked Amy Cooper to leash the dog. She then approached him and demanded he stopped recording, before she called the police to claim that "an African-American man" was "recording and threatening" her.

Since the video went viral, Amy Cooper was placed on administrative leave and then fired by her employer, Franklin Templeton, according to a Twitter announcement made by the firm.

The incident presented yet another installment to a series of recent racist incidents across the U.S. which has forced a national reckoning—largely occurring online—about the country's evidently ongoing race problem.

Christian Cooper's place in the minds of Americans, albeit for unfortunate reasons, did lead to some more positive discoveries about the man, however.

In 1996, Marvel Comics released a short-lived series called Star Trek: Star Fleet Academy. During the project, Cooper helped to create Cadet Yoshi Mishimi, the first homosexual character in the Star Trek universe.

In the comics, Yoshi was a character "portrayed as a smart, brave, caring young man who was a capable leader, a skilled officer, and an effective fighter," according to the LGBT comics blog Gay League.

Yoshi faced discrimination when another character discovered his homosexual relationship with his boyfriend. Eventually, after some initial prejudice, the characters were able to accept their differences and work together toward their common goals.

The discovery had the internet clearly excited to discuss a more positive, virtuous aspect of Christian Cooper's story.




@MadyGComics/Twitter

Now decades removed from his historic creation, we wish Mr. Cooper only the most peaceful birdwatching in the future.

More from Trending

Karoline Leavitt and Scott Bessent
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Karoline Leavitt Dragged After Making Mind-Numbing Claim About Trump's Tariffs Reversal

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is getting called out after she attempted to justify President Donald Trump's sudden reversal on his proposed tariffs, telling reporters that his actions make sense because he has a master plan to make the world bend the knee.

Trump declared a full 90-day suspension of all the “reciprocal” tariffs that took effect at midnight April 10—except for those on China—in a dramatic about-face from a president who had long championed his historically high tariff rates as permanent.

Keep ReadingShow less
religion signs
Noah Holm on Unsplash

People Explain What Stopped Them From Going To Church Anymore

There's been a perception of a bit of an exodus from religion for the last several decades. But humanity has gone from no organized religions to oppressive religious regimes to rebellion and back again over the last several millennia.

But is the 21st century when religion finally fails to bounce back?

Keep ReadingShow less
Jojo Siwa; Mickey Rourke
ITV

Mickey Rourke Reprimanded After Indirectly Aiming Anti-Gay Slur At JoJo Siwa On 'Celebrity Big Brother'

Dance Moms dancer, Nickelodeon child star, singer, and reality TV staple Jojo Siwa had a rough few months in 2024 over some problematic comments and behavior.

But 2025 is looking brighter as the public rallies to her defense.

Keep ReadingShow less
Barack and Michelle Obama
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Michelle Obama Expertly Shuts Down Baseless Rumors That She And Barack Are Divorcing

Speaking on Sophia Bush's Work in Progress podcast, former First Lady Michelle Obama addressed rumors that she and her husband, former President Barack Obama, were getting a divorce.

Obama addressed the recent divorce rumors for the first time, while also reflecting on the personal choices she’s made since departing the White House in 2017.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kristi Noem
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Kristi Noem Ripped Over Her Lack Of Gun-Handling Skills While Cosplaying As ICE Agent

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was criticized after she had an ICE officer seemingly dodging her aim after she pointed a gun towards his head while filming a video.

In a 20-second video posted to X on Tuesday, Kristi Noem stands flanked by two Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, brandishing a gun. Wearing a vest marked "ICE," along with dark cargo pants and a cap, Noem addresses the camera while the two agents remain silent beside her—though some X users expressed concern for the safety of one of them.

Keep ReadingShow less