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How Paul Teutul Sr. Built a Motorcycle Empire, but Lost His Family Along the Way

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Paul Teutul Sr. was one of the most recognized faces in the motorcycle-building industry, and this was made possible through the popularity of his reality television series “American Chopper.” The crowd cheered for him and his son Paulie or Paul Jr., in every bike convention that they participated in, and some of the most high-profile motorcycle enthusiasts around the world ordered a chopper from his New York shop, Orange County Choppers. The business empire that he created from the ground up reached the pinnacle of success, and should have made his family closer and unified than ever, as most of them contributed to the family’s hard-earned triumph, but sad to say, it went the opposite way. Paul Sr. mentioned during the early years of the Teutuls’ success that he would often wonder as to what would be the ultimate cost of that fame.

All about Paul Teutul Sr. and his volatile upbringing

Aside from his amazing bike-building skills, Paul Sr. gained worldwide recognition due to his turbulent relationship with his son, which was witnessed by millions of viewers in their reality TV show. While some insisted that it stemmed from the TV show’s writer’s imagination, those who personally knew Paul Sr. would say otherwise. Some of them weren’t shocked at the level of intensity and ferocity of the fights.

His childhood in a chaotic home

Paul Sr. was born with a middle name, John, which made him an official junior as his father was named Paul John Teutul, but he only found out about it when he applied for a passport. His parents never told him about it, so that they could easily distinguish between father and son; it was quite confusing but he said that was how it had always been with their family. His father was German-Austrian, while his mother was pure Italian, and his grandparents from both sides were European immigrants who lived in New York City before settling down in Yonkers.

Corporal punishment was the norm back then, and his parents took it to the extreme as they used a cat o’ nine tails to beat him and his sisters each time they made a mistake that angered them. He recalled that his stay-at-home mother certainly knew what buttons to push when his father came home from work, and so they ended up receiving more beating. It was always a case of a ‘damn if you do and damn if you don’t’ situation – if he was hit without doing anything wrong that day, his father would just tell him to consider it as punishment for a future mistake.

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They invented the word dysfunctional

Paul Sr.’s grandfather was successful, and owned houses in the neighborhood that he’d built with his own hands. His mantra was work, work, and more work, and this was his legacy to his clan. While Paul Sr.’s father was a hard worker too, he wasn’t good in business, and failed twice with his investments. As a result, his father was highly dependent on his grandfather, and that made his mom angry; she hated the control that her father-in-law had over her husband. It created a rift in the family, and his mom forbade them to go near their grandparents, which they often disobeyed, and were caught sneaking to eat with their grandmother who lived a block away.

Their house was a battlefield, a picture of chaos, as he grew up listening to so much yelling and screaming. He and his siblings weren’t close, and didn’t look out for each other because they were all afraid to make a mistake. To make matters worse, his mother was a closet alcoholic, while his father would also drink, although he never once saw him drunk. The vicious cycle in their home was that his mother would drink all night and then fight with his father when he returned from work. When it was daytime, she would be asleep and his father would leave to work only to return home to more fighting with his mother. In 1978, his mother died of cirrhosis of the liver.

Meet the Teutuls

Growing up in such a violent environment, Paul Sr. made a vow that his family life would be different. Despite the miserable marriage that his parents had, he still believed in marriage, and wasn’t deterred at all to build a family when he found the right woman for him.

Paul met Paula

After his nine-month stint in military service with a merchant marine ship called Enid Victory, he reconnected with an Italian high school classmate, Paula Leonardo, and they were married in 1972. While he wanted to settle down and start a family, he continued to mess around for a few years, and did odd jobs. His drinking escalated, and Paul Sr. sported a whiskey buzz while working diligently for Metropolitan Tobacco.

It was also during that time when he learned to ride a motorcycle and was hooked. Paula said that when she met Paul Sr. in high school, he wasn’t as angry then. However, she described him as someone ‘between a lost puppy and the kind of guy you wouldn’t want your daughter to date,’ but he charmed her. They went through many hardships in life, but he never gave up. Back then, she already knew something was wrong with their marriage but couldn’t figure out what it was exactly. She was determined to make it work, however, and took it as her responsibility to fix it.

The Teutul children: Paulie, Danny, Mikey, and Cristin

While Paul was determined to keep his habits from his wife, Paula eventually realized that he was addicted to drugs and alcohol. Her motivation to stay together as a family was their children, and she knew she had to be strong for everyone. At that time they already had three sons, six-year-old Paul Jr, four-year-old Daniel, and two-year-old Michael. Their only daughter, Cristin, arrived in 1982 when Paul was already in his sophomore year in recovery. Amidst the pain and the confusion that she underwent during the early years, she relied on the eldest son, Paulie, and this somehow took away his childhood, even if he was known to have been the mischievous child who could get away with everything. He was popular in school, the captain of the football team, and the creative one in the family who loved tinkering and experimenting, like his old man.

Of the four Teutul children, it was Danny who was the most responsible, and the one who did great in school. Just like Paulie, he was also into football and became a quarterback for the varsity team. Mikey was the laid-back son who was contented to be just a part of whatever his brothers were doing. Cristin was the daughter and sister they all prayed for. The boys complained that she was such a spoiled girl, but in reality, they were the ones who really showered her with time and attention. She was a social butterfly in high school, but studied hard in college and was rewarded with a nursing degree.

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How Paul Sr. built his bike-building empire

Looking back, Paul Teutul Sr. never thought that it would have been possible for a dysfunctional family of bike builders to end up as popular TV stars.

Started with a welding shop where he customized his first chopper

With all the booze and drugs, most people in their neighborhood including former teachers voted that Paul Sr. would end up as a loser, if not for the welding skills he developed after the elective course he took up in high school. He initially worked at his brother-in-law’s welding shop, but it went bankrupt. He then worked for a few local shops, but realized that he was the type of person who needed to be his own boss, because he couldn’t take orders. He took a risk by investing in welding equipment, and offered his services around the community from his truck. Eventually he expanded, and opened up a shop that flourished, as he kept receiving work until he met a smart guy named Fred who became his partner – the name of the shop was P&F Welding. Aside from being an expert in steel fabrication, Fred was also into motorcycles, so Paul learned so much from him, working with steel frames and building just about every part of a motorcycle. It was then that he customized his own Harley, and felt great about it.

From a small welding shop into a 10,000-square-foot Orange County Ironworks

Paul and Fred had a falling out after their shop burned down due to an accident. When Fred opted out, Paul picked up the pieces and opened up his own shop, Paul’s Welding. Soon, his sons worked in the shop as well, and it was then that he realized that Paulie had a gift for steel fabrication, after he’d finished a vocational course in welding, but all the Teutul children started at the bottom of the company doing odd jobs. The company was renamed Orange County Iron in 1986, after Paul Sr. bought a 7,000-square-foot shop in Montgomery, New York. There was a huge demand for iron-related products, so he expanded again, and relocated to a 10,000-square-foot warehouse to accommodate all the orders that they received. In 2004, the company had another rebranding and restructuring made by his second son, Danny, Orange County Ironworks.

The hobby turned into Orange County Choppers

Paul Sr. and Paulie shared a common interest in motorcycles. When Paul Sr. was caught by the bike-building bug, he took his eldest son with him. At that time, he was already divorced and was living alone in an apartment. When he started building a bike, he would call on Paulie to help him out. Eventually, in 1999, they co-founded Orange County Choppers in Newburgh. Initially, they had a hard time promoting their brand, but through hard work and amazing craftsmanship, their choppers were eventually noticed through word of mouth. While they were slowly becoming recognized in the bike-building industry, it hadn’t translated to profit. They needed a boost, as had happened to Jesse James who paved the way for chopper builders to attract global recognition through “Monster Garage.”

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“American Chopper”

The Teutul’s time to shine came when Discovery Channel offered them a reality TV show of their own, “American Chopper.” After they watched the pilot episode, they couldn’t help but blame each other for doing something that they believed would ruin their reputation and eventually their business – they were annoyed that the producers hadn’t editing out all the fights and intense yelling between father and son in the episode that aired. Paul Sr. threatened the producer that he would go to Los Angeles just to beat him up – the producer said to wait for the result. The next day, they were shocked at the high TV ratings the pilot episode achieved; even the servers of their website broke down, because they couldn’t handle the influx of messages they received because of the TV show. From then on, each Monday night millions of viewers would tune in to Discovery Channel to see their work on building beautiful customized choppers, and at the same time be fascinated with the family drama that rivaled popular daytime soaps.

What had been the ultimate cost of the Teutul fame?

Paul Sr. already knew back then that the kind of popularity and success that his family achieved would surely cost him something valuable. It was just too late when he realized that fame would break his family apart.

The very public termination of his eldest son’s services

Discovery Channel executives salivated in their offices when Paul Sr. and Paulie unleashed their infamous tempers in one of the episodes in the sixth season of “American Choppers”, as they imagined the kind of boost it would gain them in the ratings; other members of the Teutul family were worried that it would be the last time they would see the two together.

Many viewers thought that it was scripted, because they found it unthinkable that Paul Sr. would fire his only son, who co-founded the customization shop business that put the Teutul family on the bike-building map. Father and son argued about work attitude and habits. They yelled at each other at the top of their lungs. Paulie Sr insisted that his son Paulie follow his way of doing things such as being early coming to the shop. The son justified his tardiness, as he said that it didn’t matter if he came in late because, at the end of the day, he didn’t go home without finishing his work. The moment that led to his firing was after he uttered the line, ‘the shop would have been burned to the ground without me,’ and then he threw a chair in his father’s office out of frustration. He also reminded his father that he technically didn’t work for him since he co-founded the shop, and so was a business partner.

Lawyers made some modifications to the Teutuls’ contract, so Paulie could still appear in the TV show after he was fired by his father. It allowed father and son to continue working and filming, but never together, so avoiding more problems. However, after that season, Paulie left the show.

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Paul Sr. and Paulie filed lawsuits

When the Teutuls’ contract was modified and made Paulie an independent contractor, it also affected the 20% shares that the father gave his son when they co-founded Orange County Choppers; Paul Sr. was given the option to buy him out. In May 2009, he had the shares appraised at zero percent value, and tried to have them returned by his son, but Paulie ignored his demands, which led him to file a lawsuit against his son. Paulie countersued, and to his delight, the lower court ruled in his favor. The case was elevated to the Court of Appeals, and his son won the appeal too – the appellate judge declared that the buyout was invalid.

Mikey tried to fix the rift in the family

After joining the business as the assistant general manager, Mikey witnessed the deterioration of the relationship between his father and eldest brother. He tried his best to fix the problem by mediating between them, but it was futile. He had enough problems of his own to deal with, because he’d checked into a rehabilitation facility to work on his alcohol addiction – apparently, he’d inherited this Teutul problem. Sometime before “American Chopper” ended, Mikey was forced out of the business by Paul Sr., stating that he had been given many options to be successful, but he never did. He later on joined Paulie’s company.

The lawsuits that were filed affected the family in many ways. Paul Sr. didn’t attend the wedding of his son Paulie, even though invited. Everyone thought that the drama between the Teutul family wouldn’t end, but time heals all wounds, and eventually they all moved on. Father and son even worked together in a spin-off series called “American Chopper: Sr. vs Jr.” but never on any bike-build project, to avoid confrontations. It lasted for four seasons, and when they did a reboot called “American Chopper: The Last Ride” in 2020, everyone had mellowed down. Paulie just wanted to enjoy quality time with his father for one last time, so he agreed to everything that Paul Sr. wanted, just as when they’d created their first bike together.

As the Managing Editor at The Legit, I direct a dynamic team dedicated to creating rich content that profiles the lives and accomplishments of influential figures. My commitment to detail and storytelling drives the production of biographies that truly engage our audience. I manage all aspects of the editorial process, from conducting thorough research to crafting vivid narratives, all while ensuring the accuracy and quality of our work. At The Legit, our goal is to offer our readers comprehensive profiles that provide deep insights into the realms of business, entertainment, and more. Through diligent research and engaging storytelling, we highlight the exceptional journeys and achievements of those who both inspire and intrigue us.

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Amy Slaton & Michael’s Custody Agreement Explained

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Reality TV star and YouTuber Michael Halterman, had the misfortune of getting to know the notorious Amy Slaton while still in high school, around 2001. He had no idea the kind of person she really was back then, and he wouldn’t find out until 2014 and subsequent years, when Amy’s popularity would hit all-time highs on YouTube.

The false sense of comfort and security brought about by Amy’s new income would allow for all manner of irresponsibility to be showcased, and admitted to later down the line. In all those instances, it was the people (or animals) around Amy suffering the brunt of her refusal to step up and behave in a way becoming of her age and status.

Many believed that giving birth to a child would cause Amy to finally think long and hard about her choices, and change for the better, but it seems that Gage Deon coming into the world on 10 November 2020 had no positive effect on his mother overall.

The couple tried again after that, and Glenn Allen Halterman was born on 26 July 2022. In spite of the joy that two new innocent lives tend to bring while roaming around the household, Amy and Michael only seemed to grow more distant as time went by.

This buildup of animosity culminated on 13 March 2023, when Michael filed for divorce. Amy didn’t stay silent either, pushing for divorce as well, and alleging to the authorities that Michael has certain anger issues. While still not proven in a court of law, it’s reported by Amy that her soon-to-be ex-husband tends to throw things around the house whenever tension spikes up.

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She also said that he’s quite controlling, forbidding her from taking the children to see family members if that inconveniences him on that particular day. However, it can’t be known for certain whether any of this is true until a proper investigation is conducted. That said, knowing Amy’s history of telling falsehoods, it’s very likely that violent and/or irresponsible behavior between the two isn’t simply one-sided.

All of these factors, and many more, have been brought up in the court case of their divorce, especially in order to resolve the matter of who will have primary custody over their two innocent boys. As of late April 2023, the result of the ongoing proceedings is anyone’s guess, and the only respite that the curious crowd can get from sheer ignorance is the hindsight of Amy and Michael as separate individuals and a married couple.

The beginning of the end

As the already battered reputation of the Slaton sisters proceeded to deteriorate at an even faster pace following the second half of the 2010s, one could argue that it became increasingly difficult to remain loving and understanding towards Amy, especially considering her many transgressions against others.

While the details on this matter are still not clear, it’s evident that Michael became quite unhappy with their marriage in 2021, approximately two years into its existence. Although not logically surprising in the slightest, this shift of emotions came as a shock to the many fans who kept up with the couple over the years. Their dedicated subscribers are familiar with the fact that the two had been dating since high school, and had even ‘eloped’ in June 2017.

Their recent marriage fiasco thus confused many, and had some wondering; since Michael already seemed at ease with most of the things Amy had admitted to, which could’ve been so unforgivable as to even force him to abandon ship, in spite of the ever-higher ratings and substantial profits that they were raking in from the TLC reality TV series made for Amy and Tammy – “1000-lb Sisters.”

While it’s too early to make any conclusions about whose fault it really is, though most believe the guilt to be two-sided, what can be said for certain is that both Amy and Michael have had a past filled with unlawful behavior. The main theme of Amy’s wrongdoings seems to be negligence, deceit, and irresponsibility, while Michael is mostly known for having been violent.

The Slaton-Halterman skeletons

Due to her controversial past as a content creator, Amy is very easy to blame for any bumps in the road in a given relationship. Her bad habits notwithstanding, it seems that Michael hasn’t been a law-abiding citizen either, with a less-than-stellar streak of undesirable behavior. It’s believed that the couple are now using each other’s past to justify their own claims, which could, in theory, make them equally guilty in the entire matter.

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It’s definitely easier to start with Michael, as his past is nowhere near as despicable as Amy’s. He noteworthily went on record on 7 November 2015, having his mugshot uploaded to the national offender database at the Henderson police department in Kentucky, charged with fourth-degree domestic violence for causing a minor injury. The details regarding this event are still unknown  in mid-2023, but the severity can be assumed from the charge itself.

In the state of Kentucky, fourth-degree assault is a Class A misdemeanor, and it can also be charged as domestic violence if the victim is a family member or one of an unmarried couple. According to Kentucky laws, assault in the fourth degree can be intentional or wanton, causing physical injury to another person, or recklessly causing physical injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument.

Domestic violence and abuse, in this case, are defined as causing some degree of physical injury, committing sexual abuse, committing assault, or committing stalking between family members or members of an unmarried couple. This charge is usually not a felony, but can have serious consequences. Each victim of domestic violence has legal options, and may request the court to issue a protective order which can limit or stop all contact with an abusive individual. These orders can be temporary or extended, depending on the severity of the situation.

Fans have theorized that this event may have occurred between Michael and Amy, during one of their at-the-time rather rare altercations, but there’s no evidence to support this claim. Not even the Slaton sister herself has ever mentioned this arrest, leading most others to believe that it’s entirely unrelated to her.

Still, that begs the question as to who else it might be, since Michael isn’t known to have ever had a girlfriend other than Amy, and he’s not very close to his family. Halterman may have spent reasonable time behind bars for this incident, or he may have been substantially fined. Either way, it’s evident that he learnt his lesson, as that was the one and only time he’s had a run in with the law.

Amy, on the other hand, is a wrongdoer of an entirely different magnitude. She and Tammy have been the subject of many videos by big-time content creators, detailing their despicable actions on the platform prior to getting their own show on TLC. SunnyV2, for example, dubbed them as “The Sisters Who Faked Their Funeral For Money”, his video in particular contributing a great deal to the rise of the Slaton’s notoriety.

The video, of course, refers to the time when Amy asked fans to give as much money as they could so as to fund Tammy’s upcoming funeral, that is, ‘just in case’ she died. The plea was publicized in one of the videos on her channel following Tammy’s admission to hospital for pneumonia that left her immobilized.

There was no talk of potential death, however, as no doctor even hinted at a possibility of this happening. Still, Amy got on camera and started sobbing hysterically, while asking viewers for money that would be used to fund Tammy’s extra large triple-sized coffin. She promised that all proceeds would be used strictly to fund the funeral, in the unfortunate event of that being necessary.

After a few weeks, it was revealed that Tammy was alive and well, and back in the household. The disgruntled fans asked Amy what she did with the money, to which the sisters replied that it was given to their mother to pay for Tammy’s hospital bills. Naturally, those who donated their hard-earned money wanted to see exactly where it went, so asked the sisters for receipts of these so-called expenses.

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No confirmation of a payment was ever provided, however, and Amy cited the reason for this as her mother being irresponsible. She pretty much stated that it was her mother’s duty to provide the receipts, as she was the one using the money after all. According to this narrative, neither of the sisters was to blame in the slightest – they were just innocents caught up in a scandal due to unfortunate circumstances.

This was far from the truth though, and that became apparent when Amy changed her story a few months down the line, saying that she did have the receipts at some point, but ended up throwing them away. Her reasoning for getting rid of the papers was that she had no idea they would be needed at some point, comparing the receipts for someone else’s money to her own from Walmart.

As the scammed fans became increasingly more enraged by the situation, Amy realized that she had to do something about it, or otherwise risk losing her career. The donators were ultimately offered reimbursement for their full donations, and things seemed to calm down for a while.

However, it was noted in the comment sections of the sisters’ subsequent videos that there were dozens upon dozens of disgruntled viewers who still hadn’t got their money back from the donation fiasco. These concerns were never addressed, and Amy dismissed all future mentions of the incident as though nothing ever happened.

To top that off, Amy was also arrested for shoplifting in 2010, which means both of her children’s parents have a criminal record. She also twice abandoned a dog in a vehicle during daytime and without air-conditioning on, but the authorities are least interested in cases like that, while stealing money and items from stores is a definite sign of criminal behavior.

The rules of custody

With all of this in mind, it becomes pretty difficult to pick a favorite parent from the two, so most fans are just waiting to see the court’s final decision. All of the current case files, at least as of late April 2023, have been obtained and explained by intouchweekly.com. The details are both confusing and surprising.

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First of all, it was Michael and not Amy who initially filed for divorce. He submitted the request on 13 March 2023, but listed no official reason for it. He did this a few days after Amy had moved out of their shared home with their children, presumably with the intent to live at Tammy’s house until the entire legal matter is settled. This must’ve been the breaking point for Michael, who finally decided that he’d had it with the Slaton sister.

In order to stop her from lying to the court, he also requested that both of them obtain a restraining order of one another, making it illegal for them to be within 500ft (150m) of one another’s places of residence, that neither of them be allowed to post anything related to the separation on social media, and that all of their communication must take place on an app that was sanctioned by the court.

He most likely made these requests to be as transparent as possible, since there’s a chance that Amy’s February 28th call to the authorities to report her husband behaving violently was an elaborate set-up by the sister herself. Following her telling the police that Michael was throwing things around and being violent with the boys, Halterman was issued an emergency restraining order. It was amended approximately a week later though, and he was allowed supervised visitation rights.

As things stand near the end of April 2023, the children are entirely in Amy’s custody, but Michael can see them from time to time if his mother and sister are also present for the whole duration of the visit. It isn’t specified how frequently Michael can come over or request to do so, but things aren’t likely to remain this way, since he and Amy are still battling it out in court.

The remainder of 2023 will potentially see the final outcome of this legal altercation, while the fans of either celebrity are still anxiously waiting to be proven right for supporting their favorite of the two. Due to the lack of evidence and transparency by both parties, almost everything they’re accusing each other of is currently nothing more than an allegation.

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How is Lisa Ebberson from “My 600-lb Life” doing now?

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Lisa Barnett Ebberson became famous around the world upon being featured in the penultimate episode of TLC’s controversial “My 600-lb Life” season 10, on 2 February 2022. She came in at a staggering 637lbs (290kgs), supposedly ready to make drastic changes to her lifestyle.

At the rate she was eating, Lisa wasn’t going to live much longer. Her episode was by all accounts a life-saving attempt by TLC’s producers and doctor Younan ‘Now’ Nowzaradan, who works closely with each cast member of the series to help them lose weight. His guidance is all-encompassing, and the expert doesn’t allow the patients to fall back on excuses. Now’s stern approach to Lisa’s treatment, however, had the opposite of the desired effect.

A living hell

Lisa was 51 years old upon entering the series, and had been living with her boyfriend of 10 years named Randy Rempel in Fairbury, Nebraska USA. At the age of 62, Randy had significant health issues himself, suffering from increased blood pressure and difficulty breathing, for which he had to wear a nasal cannula.

It was easy to see very early on in the episode that Lisa’s only reason for choosing Randy as her partner was because he’d indulge all of her unhealthy requests. In spite of actually living with the consequences of detrimental habits, Randy succumbed to all of Lisa’s whims and never questioned her food choices.

Ebberson herself wasn’t too fond of being told the matter-of-factly details of the state she was in, preferring to rely on Randy for literally everything from buying her food to cleaning her body and helping her relieve herself. It was necessary for Randy to facilitate even something as mundane as urinating because Lisa was unable to stand on her own legs.

Her personal doctor said that her ankles would crack under the enormous weight of her body, causing the bones to crumble and slit right through her skin. As a result, Lisa had been bed-ridden for three months prior to when the filming of the episode began. This was also a convenient excuse for someone with her mindset, since notionally it wasn’t that she was lazy anymore, it was that she would risk her life by actually trying to stand up.

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This victim mindset worked wonders on Randy, who was probably just really lonely and at an advanced age, meaning he must’ve thought Lisa was the best he could ever do. Consequently, Randy pretty much served her every single day, acting as caretaker, parent and boyfriend for very little in return.

As per most people with weight similar to hers, Lisa also suffered from myriad other health issues, including most prominently severe lymphedema all over her legs. Even so, while being aware that she’s actually committing suicide, Lisa continued ignoring doctor Now’s instructions.

Instead, she had Randy buy the customary amount of calorie-overfilled processed junk whenever he’d wrestle with his own difficulties, practically working out just to transport back home to her all of the food Lisa ordered.

The shock factor behind the ungodly amount of physical degeneration that each shopping spree would guarantee made Lisa one of the most notorious “My 600-lb Life” contestants. Furthermore, it didn’t help her public image that she blatantly used Randy’s saintly patience and understanding to the mental and physical detriment of both of them.

The mark of death

It was immediately clear upon first laying eyes on Lisa in the series that she was suffering heavily from lymphedema, even more so than most morbidly obese individuals. Her excess skin bulging with fat lay motionless on the bed where she’d been for months, engulfing her limbs in proportions that seemed otherworldly, with dark blue swelling on the underside. Anyone with a shred of rationality was able to conclude right away that things needed to change in Lisa’s life if she was to avoid premature death.

Lymphedema is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide, many of whom are obese. It’s caused by damage or blockage of the lymphatic system, leading to swelling, pain, and other symptoms. In other words, there is a network of vessels and organs that help the body to fight infections and maintain fluid balance; when this system is damaged or blocked, it can cause lymph fluid to build up in tissue, leading to swelling.

Obesity is a massive and well-documented risk factor for lymphedema. Numerous studies across the world have shown that obese people are more likely to develop lymphedema, because excess body weight can put pressure on the lymphatic system, making it harder for the lymph fluid to flow properly.

The symptoms of this debilitating illness can vary from person to person, but they typically include swelling in the affected area, discomfort, and a feeling of heaviness or tightness in the limb. Over time, lymphedema can lead to skin changes and infections, which can further complicate the condition.

There is no cure for lymphedema, but there are various treatment options available to manage its symptoms and prevent complications. These include compression therapy, which involves wearing compression garments or bandages to help reduce swelling and improve lymph flow, as well as massage, exercise, and skin care.

On top of that, Lisa also seemed to be suffering from acanthosis nigricans, which is characterized by dark, velvety patches of skin that typically appear in areas where there are skin folds, such as the neck, armpits, and groin. It is linked to insulin resistance, and can often be improved with weight loss and a healthy diet, while topical creams may also help to reduce the appearance of the patches.

If left untreated, as was Lisa’s intention from the get-go, lymphedema can lead to various complications, some of which are very alarming. First of all, people with lymphedema are at an increased risk of developing skin infections, such as cellulitis, which can spread quickly and become life-threatening if left untreated.

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Lymphangiosarcoma is a rare form of cancer, that can develop in people with long-standing lymphedema. There’s also septicemia, which is a bloodstream infection originating from lymphedema-related complications, and, upon spreading throughout the body, will most often cause death.

Deep vein thrombosis is also a massive risk for Lisa, which occurs when blood clots that develop in the deep veins of the legs or arms break loose and eventually flow to the lungs, resulting in a pulmonary embolism. She could also develop lymphatic fistula, caused by lymphatic fluid leaking into the chest or abdominal cavity, birthing infection, inflammation, and other complications.

Finally, chronic venous insufficiency is another potential threat to her life, as lymphedema can damage the veins in the affected limbs, leading to chronic leg ulcers, varicose veins, and other complications. The threat of all these conditions was apparent from a single glance at Lisa’s almost necrotic-looking underside skin tissue.

Enabling self-destruction

While many were quick to judge Lisa for outright refusing to change, so plunging herself straight into her own demise, others pointed out that none of that would be happening if not for her boyfriend’s irresponsibly indulgent behavior. Randy evidently never opposed Lisa’s food choices, and simply did what he was told, regardless of the extreme consequences that piled up over the 10 long years that he’d been enabling her that way.

Dr. Now was noticeably annoyed with both of them, and the sentiment was mutual. It seemed as though Lisa felt inconvenienced by having to speak to a health expert whose job was to save her life, while Randy never enjoyed speaking to Dr. Now, and openly defied him on more than one occasion.

In spite of professional advice and scientific data pointing to the futility of leading such a life, Lisa proceeded to live in her delusion out of fear of change, relying on Randy to tell her everything will be OK and ‘get me some more chips’. It wasn’t until disaster took place that she would finally come to her senses.

Having dealt with hundreds of people with similar mindsets, Dr. Now still persisted with trying to help, getting Lisa to agree to visits from a nutritionist and physical therapist. Randy had been both those ‘experts’ for her up until that point – his nutritional advice consisted of ‘Okay’ to whatever Ebberson wanted to eat, while he’d try and alleviate some of her physical symptoms by occasionally moving her joints and wiping down her diseased skin.

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The professional visits, however, would end up in denial-fueled emotional outbursts at both of the people trying their best to help Lisa. The nutritionist asked Ebberson what she normally ate, to which she vaguely replied by suggesting that she consumes whatever she is given by others, ‘others’ being the boyfriend whose shopping she dictates over the phone.

The nutritionist was obviously having none of that, and began inquiring further into the painfully childish statement. Upon realizing that her claim was completely hollow, Lisa became visibly agitated and began screaming at the nutritionist, eventually telling her to get out of the house, which the expert promptly did.

A visit by the assigned physical therapist followed right after, but Lisa was already in no mood to deal with another reality check. Hence, she told the professional that it’s way too late in the evening for a visit like this to be taking place, and that she should leave immediately.

Dr. Now got Lisa onto a Zoom call right afterwards, and asked her why she was so dismissive with the professionals. She used her by-that-point customary tall tales of a 12-year-old, telling the doctor that the physical therapist said she was too fat to be helped, which supposedly offended her. Nowzaradan knew the therapist well, and was certain that she would never say something like that.

He then asked Randy to get on the call instead, giving him another lesson about why his behavior is pretty much killing his girlfriend. Rempel also became agitated at that point, yelling at Dr. Now and refusing to listen to even the most basic advice. The situation seemingly ended up hopeless, until tragedy struck in earnest.

Losing a loved one

Everything changed for Lisa when she found herself having to dial 911 and request immediate assistance, as Randy was lying beside her bed on the floor, unconscious. The emergency responders quickly arrived and took him to the emergency room, at which point he was diagnosed with COVID-19.

In spite of being held in the intensive care unit, Rempel was unable to sustain the fight for his life, and passed away from omicron-related complications soon afterwards. Lisa herself was diagnosed with the virus as well, and taken to hospital as a precautionary measure, since her pre-existing conditions could’ve easily exacerbated the illness.

She spent a month away from home, eating healthily for the first time in a long while. This positive shift caused her to lose 80lbs (36kgs) while in the hospital, which renewed Dr. Now’s incentive to help her. Lisa herself also became much more receptive to criticism, and was noticeably easier to work with.

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Two of her friends began living with her and helping with proper nutrition and physical therapy, leading fans to believe that everything would work out for Ebberson in the end. However, that’s pretty much when Lisa cut all contact with TLC, and everyone who watched it had been dying to know – definite pun – what ultimately happened to her.

Lisa’s life in 2023

Ebberson isn’t big on social media, with her only public profile being on Facebook. Ever since her appearance in TLC’s series, that webpage has been the only source of information pertaining to her goings-on. She is known to have moved to live with her family at some point, as there was no way to handle her condition herself.

While some held out hope for her even long after the show, it doesn’t seem as though Lisa is managing to get her life back in order. Her Facebook profile is full of motivational quotes and five-minute crafts videos, but that appears to be a simple veil for the ugly truth.

According to Lisa’s post from 22 April 2023, her lymphedema continues to spiral out of control, having caused another leg infection, which she described as ‘really bad this time.’ Knowing what kind of damage this condition can cause to the body, combined with Ebberson’s lack of responsibility and general disregard for her well-being, the prognosis probably isn’t favorable.

It’s unknown whether any health professional is consistently working with Lisa at this point, or whether her family can even afford to take proper care of her. With that in mind, her few remaining fans are in for another ordeal with an uncertain and potentially grim outcome. It remains to be seen whether Lisa will emerge from this new struggle. As the very accurate expression goes – ‘you can’t help those who refuse to help themselves!’

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What to Expect from “Selling Sunset” Season 6

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“Selling Sunset” is a hit reality TV show that has taken the world by storm since its release on Netflix. Never before has the common viewer been given such unprecedented access to the operations of Hollywood real-estate companies, and with the release of this series, the spending habits of the ultra-rich have been put on full display through splendid cinematography. With season six on the horizon, fans are eagerly awaiting to see what the show has in store.

They are in for a multitude of novelties, as well as conclusions to previous dramas. The fate of The One is set to be determined in the 2023 installment, while two new cast members are preparing to grace the screen. Passionate viewers of the show are brimming with excitement as the next season is rearing its head for a May release.

The magic of “Selling Sunset”

Premiering on Netflix in 2019, “Selling Sunset” took the viewers behind the scenes of the cutthroat world of Los Angeles real estate. The series follows a group of glamorous female realtors who work at the prestigious Oppenheim Group, often praised as the most successful agency in the Hollywood Hills and on Sunset Strip.

At its core, this reality TV show is about the relationships and dramas that unfold among the realtors as they compete to sell multi-million-dollar properties to the elite. It mainly showcases the homes, the clients, and the personalities of the realtors who work at the Oppenheim Group. The series has been praised for its stunning cinematography and engaging storyline, which is equal parts drama and real estate. In essence, it’s akin to making Jersey Shore contestants full-time real estate agents.

“Selling Sunset” has featured a diverse cast of realtors over the years, including Chrishell Stause, Christine Quinn, Maya Vander, Heather Rae Young, Davina Potratz, Amanza Smith, Vanessa Villela, and Emma Hernan. The cast members are all accomplished real estate agents in their own right, with years of experience selling some of the most luxurious properties in Los Angeles and California overall.

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One of the standout cast members is Mary Fitzgerald – an absolute fan favorite. She’s a top real estate agent who has been in the industry for over 20 years, known for her impeccable taste and her ability to close deals, even in the most challenging of circumstances. Fitzgerald has been with the Oppenheim Group since the day it was founded, and her dedication to the agency and her clients is evident throughout the series.

Another popular cast member is Christine Quinn, who sports a famously sharp tongue coupled with rather bold fashion choices. She’s a skilled real estate agent who isn’t afraid to speak her mind regardless of the consequences, which can sometimes endanger an otherwise simple lucrative deal. She’s been involved in some of the show’s most dramatic storylines, and her unpredictable behavior keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. What she may have lost in deals, she has definitely more than made up for in “Selling Sunset” ratings.

In this woke day and age, the series has been praised by left-leaning media and audiences for its depiction of female empowerment in a rather male-dominated industry. In an attempt to further feed into this trend, the women in the show are shown as strong, independent and successful, challenging the traditional gender roles of real estate agents.

“Selling Sunset” also attempts to tackle important issues such as sexism in the workplace, infertility, and divorce. To achieve this, the overall message of the series is adjusted from episode to episode as necessary, by manipulating the narrative to portray heroes and villains. It’s arguable whether this strategy works out for the project in the long run, as it causes many to find it disingenuous.

That said, the show has been a ratings hit for Netflix regardless, with each season attracting more viewers than the last. The series has been renewed for six seasons, with the latest set to premiere on 19 May 2023. Fans are eagerly anticipating the new season, which promises to be just as dramatic and entertaining as the previous ones.

As is customary in the woke entertainment world, the show has also faced criticism for its lack of diversity and its portrayal of the real estate industry. Some have accused the show of glamorizing the business and perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Others have criticized the alleged lack of representation of people of color and for its failure to address issues such as gentrification and housing affordability.

Diversifying the cast

On the topic of representing other races in the series, it seems that the producers tried their best to avoid being accused of racial preference by some leftists, leading them to eventually introduce an African-American cast member.

The fifth season saw real-estate expert Chelsea Laskani join the regular crew, prompting her to open up in an interview with Vogue. Born in London and raised in Dubai, she moved to Los Angeles in 2012 with the goal of making it in the entertainment industry. After working in production and development for several years, she discovered her true passion for real estate, and began pursuing a career in the field.

While undoubtedly facing numerous obstacles and setbacks, Lazkani persevered and eventually landed a job at The Agency – one of the top real estate firms in Los Angeles. With her sharp business sense, impeccable taste, and eye for design, she quickly made a name for herself in the industry, and became one of the leading agents among her colleagues.

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In her new public role in the series, Chelsea hoped to take her career to the next level. As a woman of color and a Muslim in a predominantly white and Christian industry, she hoped to inspire and empower others who may face similar challenges.

Her intention was to ignore the glitz and glamour of the show, and remain focused on her work and her clients. She understands that buying or selling a home is one of the most significant financial transactions a person can make, and she takes that responsibility seriously.

She ended up performing reasonably well in the most recent season, managing to land a contract with the A3 Artists Agency. Meanwhile, the producers of the series seem to be happy with their decision, as it looks to have pacified the formerly rampant accusation of purposely promoting an exclusively Caucasian cast.

What’s new in 2023?

The sixth season is set to be released across 11 episodes that will showcase the team as they sell luxury real estate, and will also introduce two new cast members. As the stakes get increasingly higher with every new installment of the title, it remains to be seen how the ever-changing cast members will manage to adapt to the novelties.

One of the major changes in the new season is the departure of aforementioned Christine Quinn, which saddened many of her fans, while others were quite glad to see her go. The controversial real estate agent will not be appearing in the series for the foreseeable future, and fans will have to wait and see if she ever makes a comeback.

The show’s two new cast members are realtors Nicole Young and Bre Tiesi, who will be joining the Oppenheim Group. Young has been with the company for over a decade, and was originally meant to appear in the very first episodes, while Tiesi is a fresh face to the industry.

The first teaser trailer for the season was released in April 2023, and showcased the remaining cast members dealing with the fallout from The Breakup, which is the group’s split from Jason and Brett Oppenheim.

The sisters, who founded the company, left to start their own firm, and the remaining agents had to decide whether to stay with the Oppenheim Group or join the new venture. According to the trailer, the team is bouncing back from the split, and is focused on selling luxury properties in the Hollywood Hills.

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Quinn’s struggle

Christine Quinn recently opened up about her experience in the show in an interview with People magazine. She believes that she never got any listings throughout the show because she wasn’t on the best of terms with her former boss and co-star, Jason Oppenheim, refusing to behave by his expectations.

In the interview, the reality TV star went on to say that she was frustrated with how she was portrayed in the show, claiming that the producers edited her scenes to make her look like a villain. She also expressed disappointment with the way she was treated by her co-stars, accusing them of being fake and manipulative.

Quinn further claimed that fellow cast member Chrishell Stause had received preferential treatment from the boss due to their romantic relationship, thereby accusing the star of having a vapid personality. She said that their friendship had ended due to Stause’s manipulative behavior.

Her grievances notwithstanding, Christine said that she enjoyed her time on the show and that she was grateful for the exposure it gave her. She also expressed hope that the show would continue without her, explaining that she believed it had a strong foundation.

Mary and Amanza’s mess

One of the main storylines in the new season is the ongoing feud between Mary Fitzgerald and Amanza Smith. The two agents have been at odds since the previous season, and their tensions continue to escalate as they compete for clients and sales, though the details of these encounters are yet to be revealed.

While the exact cause of the rift between the two stars is unknown, sources close to the show have suggested that it may be related to their differing approaches to real estate. Fitzgerald, a seasoned realtor, is known for her high-end listings and expertise in the luxury market, while Smith, who joined the Oppenheim Group in the second season, has a background in interior design and a more laid-back approach to the business.

The feud between the two women has reportedly spilled over into their personal lives as well, with tensions running high both on and off camera. In the wake of several alleged fiascos, both Fitzgerald and Smith have remained tight-lipped about the situation, with neither woman publicly acknowledging the rumored falling out.

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This is far from the first time that tensions have run high among the cast of “Selling Sunset,” as the show has been known for its dramatic plotlines, with cast members frequently clashing over everything from real estate deals to personal relationships. Mary and Amanza’s unfolding conflict is sure to contribute a great deal to the series’ ratings in the upcoming season.

The fate of The One

Pretty much every fan of “Selling Sunset” has been awe-struck by the imposing abundance of luxury featured in a particular piece of real estate known as The One.  This magnificent property is located in the exclusive Bel-Air neighborhood of Los Angeles, and is currently one of the most expensive homes for sale in the US.

More specifically, it’s a massive 105,000 square foot (9,755 square meter) mansion, which includes 42 bathrooms, 21 bedrooms, a 30-car garage, and even a 10,000 square foot (929 square meter) sky deck. The property was developed by Nile Niami, who is a renowned film producer and real estate developer. The One is valued at an almost unbelievable $350 million.

The mansion has been in the works for over a decade, and was initially listed for sale in 2017 for $500 million, making it the most expensive home for sale in the US at the time. To the detriment of Nile Niami’s big dreams, the property has had trouble finding a buyer, and the price has since been lowered to $350 million.

The One has been featured in “Selling Sunset” multiple times, with the agents from the Oppenheim Group trying to sell the property to potential buyers. The show also featured Niami discussing the property’s features and his vision for it.

The mansion has garnered attention for its unique and extravagant additional features, including a four-lane bowling alley, a nightclub with a DJ booth, and a 50-seat movie theater. The sky deck, aside from its excessive size, also offers a panoramic view of the Los Angeles skyline.

The property remains unsold as of early 2023, and it’s unclear whether it will ever find a buyer willing to pay the hefty price tag. However, since its appearance in the reality TV series has undoubtedly raised its profile even higher, there’s reason to believe that it might actually have found a buyer in season six. If this transaction is to take place, it will be the crowning jewel of the series – stand-by for fireworks!

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