• News

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 11, 2026

Former NFL Player Reportedly Asked ChatGPT For Help After Allegedly Killing Girlfriend

A judge described the alleged killing as "beyond that necessary to produce death."

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A former NFL player charged for allegedly killing his girlfriend reportedly had a AI confidante in ChatGPT.

NBC News reports that Darron Lee, 31, asked the AI chatbot for advice after his girlfriend “stabbed herself.” Prosecutors revealed the messages during a preliminary hearing at a courtroom in Hamilton County, Tennessee.

Prosecutors explained how Lee reportedly sent the messages Feb. 4, one day before the law enforcement arrived at the home he shared with Gabriella Perpetuo, where they discovered her body.

A judge over the case called her death “especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel.” Perpetuo was found with a broken neck, severe brain injury, stab wounds, and a bite mark on her thigh.

Lee also asked ChatGPT on what to do. He faces charges of first-degree murder and tampering with or fabricating evidence.

In his conversation with the AI tool, the former NFL player emphasized how his deceased girlfriend allegedly harmed her own self. He noted how she did “her crazy thing again and now she’s messed up,” seemingly trying to omit himself as a suspect in the crime.

“She has two swollen eyes (I didn’t do anything, self inflicted) she stabbed herself, slit her eye?” he said, according to the message. “Idk but she isn’t waking up or responding, what do I do?”

WRCB also reported that Lee sent another message regarding Perpetuo’s death, claiming the advice was for a friend.

“What should I tell my friend to handle someone non responsive but wants to call the police,” he asked the chatbot, known as Allie.

The chatbot reassured Lee that he handled the situation correctly, but reminded the man of the severity of Perpetuo’s condition as he described it.

“Okay—this is **serious, but you can handle it clearly and protect everyone**. Here’s exactly what to tell your friend, step-by-step, no fluff,” wrote ChatGPT.

According to the transcripts, Lee apparently made a joke about the matter, leading the chatbot to chide him.

It continued, “Okay—pause the jokes for half a second, because **both eyes swollen** is still *possible* from a fall, **but it crosses into *get checked* territory**. not meh, ice it.*”

Body camera footage showed Lee telling officers that he had been asleep for “a long time” before finding Perpetuo’s body in its disparaged state.

The former first-round draft pick remains held without bond.

RELATED CONTENT: ChatGPT Admits To Driving Man On The Spectrum Into Manic Episode

• Health and Wellness

by Mitti Hicks

March 11, 2026

First-Of-Its-Kind Boston Study Finds Black Men Have The Lowest Life Expectancy Of Any Racial Or Ethnic Group

The city is taking action.

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Black men have the lowest life expectancy of any other racial or ethnic group in Boston, according to the first-ever report that analyzes the life expectancy among Black Bostonians.

The report, “Closing the Gap: An Examination of Life Expectancy Among Black Residents in Boston,” is part of the Boston Public Health Commission’s (BPHC) Live Long and Well Agenda. It’s the first in a series of reports addressing the health needs of Boston’s diverse populations, the mayor’s office said in a news release.

Alarming data in the report shows Black residents have the lowest life expectancy of any racial or ethnic group in the city. Even though life expectancy for Black residents and their neighbors doubled between 2013 and 2024, Black women only had an average life expectancy of 80.1 years in 2024, which is 6.4 years fewer than their counterparts.

During that same period, the life expectancy for Black men was lower, at about 71.8 years. Black men’s life expectancy is 9.3 years less than that of all other men in Boston, and is the lowest life expectancy of all groups in the city of Boston’s report.

“Projections for the next ten years show that if no additional and meaningful action is taken to address the inequities Boston’s Black communities face, the life expectancy gap will remain the same through 2035,” the report said.

Key Findings

For Black men, the three leading causes of death are unintentional overdose, heart disease, and cancer. These three leading causes of death account for 42% of the life expectancy gap between Black men and other men in Boston.

As for Black women, the three leading causes for early death in Boston are cancer, heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease. These three causes account for 40% of the life expectancy gap for Black women.

Boston’s Black population is diverse, with roots representing the Caribbean, West Indies, and Africa. When compared to the rest of Boston, researchers found Haitian residents experience the highest mortality rates among the groups analyzed. Cabo Verdean residents have lower overall mortality but face elevated risks from unintentional overdose.

Diabetes is a major contributor to mortality among Haitian and Jamaican residents.

Addressing The Health Disparities For Black Men In Boston

City leaders are getting right to work to address the health disparities outlined in the report. There will be a $1 million investment from BPHC’s annual operating budget to fund organizations working to improve Black men’s health.

There will also be a new partnership with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to invest $1 million in cancer prevention, treatment, and other community-based initiatives that tackle the key drivers of premature mortality.

In addition, the Black Men’s Health Activation Summit will assemble local leaders to discuss the challenges facing Black men and recommend priorities for BPHC’s $1 million investment.

“Every Boston resident deserves the opportunity to thrive in their city. This report makes clear that we have more work to do, and we’re acting with urgency …  on improving Black men’s health and strengthening prevention efforts across our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Through our Live Long and Well Agenda, we’re bringing together residents, advocates, and institutions to confront these inequities head-on and build a healthier future for everyone in our city.”

RELATED CONTENT: Dr. ‘Shyne’ Barrow Charts An Impressive Course For Diasporic Excellence At Island Music Conference 2026

• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 11, 2026

Super Bowl Champion Matt Snell Dead At 84

The 1964 AFL Rookie of the Year helped the New York Jets win their first (and only) Super Bowl in 1969.

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Matt Snell, who won AFL (American Football League) Rookie of the Year and helped the New York Jets win their first Super Bowl in 1969, has died. He was 84.

The New York Jets announced that Snell, who scored the only touchdown in the franchise’s only Super Bowl victory, had died. The franchise gave no details on the cause of death.

“Matt Snell will forever hold a special place in the history of the New York Jets,” said Jets Chairman Woody Johnson in a written statement. “He was the embodiment of toughness, selflessness, and belief—traits that defined our organization’s proudest moments. His performance in Super Bowl III was nothing short of legendary. Against the odds, Matt set the tone with his physical running, delivering the Jets’ lone touchdown and helping secure one of the most important victories in sports history.”

When the Jets took home the championship trophy in 1969 against the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, he ran 121 yards on 30 carries. Snell helped the upstart AFL team upset the NFL’s might Colts, 16-7, in a game no one expected the Jets to win.

The Jets have yet to return to the Super Bowl in 56 years.

Snell, who grew up on Long Island and attended Ohio State on a football scholarship, played at OU from 1961 to 1963. For the Buckeyes, he rushed for 688 yards and 6 touchdowns and was named the team’s most valuable player in 1963. The Jets drafted him with the No. 3 pick in the 1964 AFL Draft. The other hometown team, the NFL Giants, drafted him at No. 49. 

In his first year, Snell won the AFL Rookie of the Year award. During his career, he led the team in rushing for five of the six seasons he played. When he retired from the franchise, he had 4,285 rushing yards (4.4 yards per carry) and 24 touchdowns while pulling in 193 receptions for 1,375 and 7 touchdowns in 84 games.

In two AFL title games and Super Bowl III, Snell rushed 61 times for 253 yards and caught 6 passes for 64 yards. Snell was also a first-team All-AFL player in 1969 and made second-team All-AFL in 1964, 1965, and 1968. Snell ranks fourth on the Jets’ all-time rushing list.

RELATED CONTENT: Frank Pitts, HBCU Football Legend Who Played in First Super Bowl, Has Died

• Women History Month

by Ahsan Washington

March 11, 2026

Get Into These Women’s History Month Events: Week 2 

The National Women’s History Alliance educators started Women’s History Month

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The National Women’s History Alliance educators started Women’s History Month after launching the initial Women’s History Week in 1980 to improve women’s representation in American history education. The United States government recognized its first official Women’s History Month observance through a declaration by Jimmy Carter before Congress, which extended recognition to the entire month of March in 1987. Museums, libraries, and cultural institutions throughout the country host programming around Women’s History that includes exhibitions, film screenings, and public discussion panels to showcase women’s achievements, leadership, scholarship, and contributions. 

To continue the monthlong immersion into Women’s History Month, check out BLACK ENTERPRISE’s four-week series on things to do to celebrate women’s worth

Wakeupworld Salon — Harlem, New York City 

The Schomburg Center continues its tradition as a space for intergenerational world-building with the 4th Wakeupworld Salon. Named after the mythical creature in Countee Cullen’s poetry, this installment features a cross-disciplinary dialogue between author and artist Harmonia Rosales and Olaronke Akinmowo of The Free Black Women’s Library. Join us for a deep dive into the visual and literary arts, followed by a book signing and refreshments.

Waiting to Exhale Cultural Celebration — Houston, Texas

The Houston Museum of African American Culture organizes a Women’s History Month cultural night based on the film Waiting to Exhale which creates a space for audiences to explore how author Terry McMillan transformed Black womanhood and representation in American literature and cinema. The event combines film discussion with art installations and community vendors who showcase Black women creatives.

EmpowerHER: A Celebration of Women in Art — Atlanta, Georgia

Fulton County Arts & Culture organizes EmpowerHER from March 13 to April 25 2026 at the Emma Darnell Aviation Museum & Conference Center which features more than 140 women artists and includes Lillian Blades’ new installation Sanctuary: Forms of Shelter and Light. The exhibition starts with an opening reception on March 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. and features an artist talk with Tisha Smith as moderator on March 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. The exhibition welcomes public visitors without charge.

20th Annual Women of Power Summit — Las Vegas, Nevada 

The BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit 2026 marks two decades of leadership and legacy when it returns to the Bellagio Las Vegas from March 11 to 15. This year the event recognizes business and cultural community leaders, including Angela Bassett, Carla Harris and Shellye Archambeau, and Rosalind Brewer for its 20th Annual Legacy Awards Gala. The Summit celebrates the intersection of Women’s History Month and Black excellence at its highest level .

“All About Black Women” Symposium & Empowerment March

On Saturday, March 14, Marie C. Widman Neighborhood Park in San Diego, California, will host a symposium and community march to celebrate the achievements, storytelling, and empowerment of Black women. The event, which occurs during Women’s History Month, seeks to recognize the important cultural, civic leadership, and community resilience contributions made by Black women.

RELATED CONTENT: It’s Women’s History Month And These Black Women Are Definitely Owning The Moment 

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 11, 2026

To Get Back At Trump, Who ‘Betrayed America,’ Candace Owens Encourages All US Military To Quit Amid Iran Conflict 

As followers started to attack her or express their feelings against her claims, Owens carried on, saying the military shouldn't fight for “child rapists.”

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Candace Owns, a former ally of President Donald Trump, is doing what she can to highlight his wrongs as the country continues in a conflict with Iran. Namely, she is encouraging U.S. military members to resign immediately. 

In a series of fiery tweets on X, the conservative podcast host spoke out against the ongoing battle with the Middle Eastern country that has already taken the lives of several American troop members.

“Do not join or remain in the United States Military. Trump has betrayed America and expects you to die for Israel,” she wrote in a repost of former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz saying he won’t rule out U.S. troops being on the ground in Iran. “There is no honor in being led by dishonorable men to your death.”

She didn’t stop there. As followers started to attack her or express their feelings against her claims, Owens carried on.

“Zionists are having a meltdown about what I said yesterday, so let me reiterate. Do NOT sign up for or continue to fight for the U.S military. This war is on behalf of satanic pedophiles,” Owens wrote. “Find the legal means to exit the military. Do not fight for child rapists. Come home.”

Owens spoke out about the demise of the battle with Iran during an episode of The Candace Podcast.

The mother of four doubled down on her stance, encouraging military members and antagonists to “write their articles and reach out to the White House” because she knows this isn’t right.

“I want war with all of you. And there’s a reason, but I want war with all of you. So I want you to write your articles, issue your statements, email the White House, reach out for comments, OK? Say whatever it is you want to say about me,” Owens said. 

“I want war with all of you ’cause I know,” she added. “I know this isn’t right and there is no way you are going to convince me and the rest of the world that all of this is normal.” 

Since the U.S. strike on Iran killed the country’s leader, Ali Khamenei, Owens has been outspoken about Trump putting national security at risk. But she isn’t the only one. 

Outside of American voters concerned about a homeland attack and the rising cost of gas, Republican and Democratic leaders are in opposition—but behind closed doors, according to Politico.

“The constitutional sequence is, you engage the public before you go to war unless an attack is imminent. And imminent means like, imminent—not like something that’s been over a 47-year period of time,” former Army ranger Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), said.  

Davidson is one leader who had no problem sharing his grievances out loud. Others wanted anonymity to speak candidly. “Sounds a little bit like President Lyndon Johnson going into Vietnam, doesn’t it?” one such lawmaker said.

RELATED CONTENT: Minding Our Own Business: How Women-Led Savings Clubs Built The Black Middle Class

• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 11, 2026

Bam Adebayo Scores 83—Second-Most Points in NBA History—In Miami Heat Victory

He is the first NBA player to make 25 free throws and five 3-pointers in a game.

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Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo broke several records in scoring 83 points against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.

Adebayo passed Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant, who scoring 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in Jan. 2006. Adebayo’s accomplishment is only surpassed by that of NBA Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 100 points while playing for the Philadelphia Warriors in 1962.

Even better, the Heat clobbered the woeful Wizards, 150-129.

Along with his 83 points, Adebayo pulled down nine rebounds, dished out three assists, had two steals, and blocked two shots. He doubled his previous scoring high, which was 41 points.

He surpassed his previous career high in the first half.

NBA.com reported that Adebayo ended the game 20-for-43 from the field, 36-for-43 from the foul line, and 7-for-22 from 3-point land.

Along with the Heat player emerging in second place for most points scored, he set records for most free throws made and attempted. He attempted more free throws than the previous holder, Dwight Howard, who attempted 39 free throws twice in his career. And he took over the record of most free throws made in a contest, which Chamberlain and Adrian Dantley, another Hall of FDamer, previously held (28).

He also easily broke the Heat’s record for a highest-scoring game, LeBron James, who scored 61 points in 2014.

According to ESPN, Adebayo netted several other achievements. He is the first NBA player to make 25 free throws and five 3-pointers in a game. Along with Chamberlain, he is the only players n NBA history to make 20 field goals and 25 free throws in a game. Adebayo is also the first player with a 60-point game this season. 

RELATED POSTS: Miami Heat Sends Udonis Haslem ‘Rocking’ Home as He Ends 20-Year Career with Huge Game

• Travel and Leisure

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 11, 2026

Global Entry Program To Reopen After Pause Despite Partial Gov. Shutdown

Global Entry was taken away to re-allocate TSA officers to the general population security lines.

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The Global Entry program, used by travelers making international trips, is reopening at U.S. airports.

The program, funded by the Department of Homeland Security, like TSA PreCheck, had paused due to the ongoing partial government shutdown. The Trump administration confirmed to CNN that the security program would reopen after several airports faced major security delays over the past weeks.

“As DHS continually evaluates measures it can take amidst the Democrats’ continued shutdown of the department, DHS will be reactivating Global Entry on March 11th at 5:00 AM ET. We are working hard to alleviate the disruptions to travelers…,” shared a DHS spokesperson.

With Global Entry and TSA PreCheck stunted as the DHS budget remains unapproved, frequent flyers have faced headaches at airports nationwide. Airports are expected to eventually face security checkpoint strains while TSA officers go unpaid for weeks.

Global Entry took an immediate hit from the lack of funding, with DHS stopping the program on Feb. 22. The move sought to reallocate more TSA officers to the general security lines as resources became strained. A similar move was made regarding TSA PreCheck, but public backlash apparently spurred the government to reverse the decision.

While those with Global Entry also get TSA PreCheck perks, the program is for streamlined entry back into America after international travel. Program participants undergo background checks and interviews and pay an $85 fee to receive status for five years upon approval.

TSA PreCheck mainly focuses on domestic passengers, allowing them to bypass regular security checkpoints with their own designated, and often quicker, process. But as the shutdown enters its fourth week, travelers have seen security lines lasting several hours, regardless of which program they have.

As airport personnel try to keep up operations, the Trump administration is now bringing back one program to ease the strain on international travel. With its temporary closure, travel advocates noted how national security could take a hit.

“Global Entry is far more than a convenience; it is on the front line of national security. More than 13 million members undergo rigorous background checks, interviews and vetting. Suspending it doesn’t just slow lines. It increases costs and strips away a layer of security infrastructure that took years to build,” wrote the US Travel Association in a previous message.

When the DHS expects to regain funding, bringing both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry to full operations, remains unknown.

Lawmakers have held the DHS budget at a standstill, particularly over its management of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its agents. According to USA Today, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY_ has maintained his vow not to reopen the government until GOP lawmakers agree to new restrictions on ICE.

RELATED CONTENT: Minding Our Own Business: How Women-Led Savings Clubs Built The Black Middle Class

• Career

by Mitti Hicks

March 11, 2026

Lauren Wesley Wilson’s Best-Selling Career Guide Gets A Paperback Release

Wilson provides women with common basic principles and the unwritten rules for succeeding.

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Lauren Wesley Wilson’s best-selling playbook for women on the rules of getting ahead is prepared to reach an even larger audience.

What Do You Need? How Women of Color Can Take Ownership of Their Careers to Accelerate Their Path to Success is now available in a paperback version less than five years after its hardback release.

It’s a milestone that not every author can reach.

“It’s an honor that a paperback version gets to be released,” Wilson tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “[This] means that you sold a significant number of hard copies … then the publisher comes to you and says, ‘We can make your book available to a wider audience because a paperback is cheaper than a hard copy.”

This achievement is also a testament to the fact that her guidebook, which draws on her own career trajectory, has stood the test of time.

A New Chapter Amid Tough Times For Black Women

In her book, Wilson provides women with common basic principles and the unwritten rules for succeeding in the workplace and advancing their careers.

The paperback version of it is releasing at an eerily similar time to when she began writing it in 2022, when Black women were facing unprecedented levels of unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At its peak in May 2020, the unemployment rate for Black women reached 16.6% and remained in the double digits for six months, according to data from the National Women’s Law Center. By July 2022, the unemployment rate for Black women remained elevated at 5.3%, even as unemployment for women declined overall to its pre-pandemic rate of 3.1%.

Within the last year, the unemployment rate for Black women has increased again. In 2025, Black women started the year with an unemployment rate of 5.4 percent. They ended it at 7.3 percent, the highest rate in four years, according to The 19th.

“The unusual nature of this increase in Black women’s unemployment is a testament to and a direct result of the anti-DEI and anti-Black focus of the new administration’s policies,” William Michael Cunningham, an economist and the owner of Creative Investment Research, tells BE.  This is demonstrably damaging to the Black community, something we have not seen before.”

With this book, Wilson wants women, especially Black women, to understand they are in full control of their careers.

“This book is a guiding light for those who feel like they’re not in control of their destiny,” said Wilson. “I want to be able to provide tools, resources, advice, and tips to help you get to the other side.”

Before the Book, Wilson Was The Woman Who Needed It

Wilson’s book came from an honest place. 

Before she became the founder and CEO of ColorComm and before she said those four words (What do you need?) that have helped countless women, she found herself unemployed during a recession. She was living in the DMV area and was too embarrassed to tell her family that she had been laid off.

Instead, she made the more than an hour commute from Maryland to Washington, D.C. as if she were going to work, and spent eight hours each day applying for jobs from the library. It took her two months to find another job. That experience also taught her a valuable lesson.

“When people get let go, they oftentimes want to do a big LinkedIn announcement and tell everyone,” said Wilson. “You want to be strategic about the people you tell [because] you don’t want to decrease your value in the marketplace.”

Navigating being let go, building your personal brand, establishing your worth and confidence, combating burnout, and strategies for building the right professional connections are among the many topics covered in Wilson’s book. She said the information inside is the key to what everyone wants: access to information.

“This book is meant to last you 15 or 20 years because so much of what’s in it is common basic principles towards advancing,” said Wilson. The paperback version is now available on Amazon.

Wesley is a scheduled speaker at BE’s 20th Annual Women of Power Summit in Las Vegas at the Bellagio Hotel on Thursday, March 12 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. In “Strategic Relationships: The Unspoken Key to Success,” she will delve into “how to be intentional with your connections to make sure you’ve got friends in high places.”

RELATED CONTENT: Dress For Success At This Year’s Women Of Power Summit With BE’s Official Style Guide

• Media

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 11, 2026

Former MSNBC President Rashida Jones To Run Piers Morgan’s Uncensored

It may seem like an odd pairing, but her background enticed Morgan.

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One year after stepping down as president of MSNBC (now MS NOW), Rashida Jones has been named CEO of Piers Morgan’s new media company, Uncensored.

As CEO, Jones will oversee efforts to expand the company’s reach, launch new verticals, and create opportunities for emerging voices and talent, Variety reports. Her appointment signals the new direction Morgan hopes to take with the company, particularly given Jones’s most recent role leading MSNBC and its more left-leaning news coverage. Morgan has more recently been associated with more conservative viewpoints.

“Piers developed an incredible platform with Uncensored that’s already going head-to-head with legacy media,” Jones said in a statement. “In today’s fragmented media world, audiences are craving real conversations grounded in authenticity, rigor, and open debate. Uncensored not only delivers that—it’s ahead of the curve.”

The company announced Jones’ appointment as it launches a series of new ventures following a capital agreement with Raine Ventures, Antenna Group, and other investors, including the Reuben Brothers.

Jones led MSNBC as president from 2020 to 2025 and stepped down as the network prepared to separate from Comcast.

She joins Uncensored as the company expands its growing slate of programming, including its flagship channel, Piers Morgan Uncensored, History Uncensored hosted by former CNN anchor Bianca Nobilo, and a licensing deal with the U.K.’s Channel 5 to air Piers Morgan Uncensored on broadcast television. The company plans to grow into a “multi-genre, talent-driven digital network,” according to a release.

Jones reportedly caught Morgan’s attention after departing MSNBC in January 2025 and later consulting for Antenna Group, working closely with its chairman, Theodore Kyriakou. Antenna Group has since become one of Uncensored’s lead outside shareholders.

A person familiar with the matter told Variety that Morgan was looking for an executive who understands content, distribution, and how to build a new media enterprise. During her time at MSNBC, Jones started several digital products and programs, experimenting with hybrid series that aired both on the network and across its digital platforms.

Since leaving MSNBC, Jones founded Imagine Strategies, where she advises media, sports, and technology companies on mergers, acquisitions, and content strategy. She was also named a fellow at the Knight Center for the Future of News at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

RELATED CONTENT: Rashida Jones To Step Down As President Of MSNBC In Days Ahead Of Trump Inauguration

• Legal

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 11, 2026

Ailing American Basketball Player In Indonesian Prison Over Cannabis Gummies Pleads For Compassionate Release

Jarred Shaw is urging the Indonesian government to get him to the hospital as his health deteriorates.

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Former college basketball player Jarred Shaw is praying for a “miracle” as his health deteriorates while serving a 26-month sentence in Indonesia on a cannabis-related charge.

Shaw, a former standout at Oklahoma State and Utah State, remains imprisoned in Indonesia after his May 2025 arrest for allegedly ordering a package containing 132 cannabis gummies to his apartment, Fox News reports.

Shaw, 35, has said he used the product to manage symptoms of Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel condition that affects the digestive tract.

As his health reportedly worsens behind bars, Shaw’s legal team is now petitioning Indonesia’s minister of health for compassionate release, citing his cooperation during court proceedings and his previously clean criminal record.

Cannabis is known to help ease some of the severe symptoms associated with the disease, and Shaw had previously obtained it legally for that purpose. However, Indonesia maintains some of the world’s strictest drug laws, with roughly 276,000 people imprisoned for drug-related offenses. Under Indonesian law, cannabis is classified alongside heroin and methamphetamine, regardless of its legal status in the United States and many European countries.

“I wish I could go back and change my actions, but it was definitely a relief to know I wasn’t getting the death penalty,” he said last month.

Shaw he is being held in a room “no bigger than a typical New York City studio apartment” with 11 other inmates. He said he has lost 40 pounds from his 245-pound playing weight, noting that people with Crohn’s disease face a higher risk of colorectal cancer.

“I can wake up any moment and be hospitalized,” Shaw said. “Some days are better than others. It’s not where it needs to be. I still feel sick quite often. I am asking for sympathy, and hopefully a miracle can happen.”

In November 2025, a doctor evaluated Shaw and found he was suffering from abdominal pain, mild anemia, and an E. coli infection that caused diarrhea, bleeding, and fever. Shaw said he has struggled to get proper nutrition in prison and that the fried food he’s served aggravates his Crohn’s disease.

Four months after the diagnosis, Shaw says he still has not received the colonoscopy, intestinal ultrasound, or other tests the doctor recommended, procedures that would require at least a three-day hospital stay. Shaw said that while he understands he broke the law and was unaware of Indonesia’s strict drug policies, he believes the most urgent issue is that he has yet to receive hospital treatment for his worsening condition.

“We’re trying to get them to understand,” he said. “Even though there’s no cure for [Crohn’s], you have to treat it, or it could get worse. Hopefully, someone with higher power can at least help me get to the hospital.”

The State Department spoke with a source close to Shaw and said it’s looking into the player’s case.

“The Trump Administration has no higher priority than Americans’ safety and security,” a State Department spokesperson said. “We take seriously our commitment to assist Americans abroad, and the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta is providing consular assistance to Jarred Shaw.”

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