Is the Actor Who Played the Karate Kid More Than 60 Years Old Now


A whole generation began to feel very old when a number of TikTok videos claimed that Ralph Macchio, the actor who played Daniel Larusso in “The Karate Kid” film franchise of the 1980s was more than 60 years old.

Many on TikTok expressed shock at what appeared to be Macchio’s ageless features.

It is true that Macchio is now 62 years old. According to his IMDb page he was born in November 1961.

He confirmed his age in a September 2022 interview with Jimmy Kimmel, where he was asked about how people around him reacted when they learned his real age. Macchio said people were “maybe a little surprised” and then admitted he was 60 years old.

The exchange can be heard at the 1:05 mark:

In November 22 this year, news broke about a new ad# Karate Kid movie in the works with Macchio and Chinese star Jackie Chan, who had appeared in a 2010 reboot of the series. Chan and Macchio announced a global casting call to find the new teenage star of the film.

 

Times Square’s New Year Eve Party Uses Confetti Strips With People’s Wishes Written on Them


If you have a hope or wish for 2024, it can be part of New York City’s famous New Year’s Eve Times Square celebration, albeit in a small way.

Claim- The confetti that drops in Times Square on New Year’s Eve bears people’s hopes and dreams, written or printed on each piece of paper. People can write these hopes and dreams on Post-it notes year round at the Times Square Visitor Center.

In early December 2023, organizers for the annual party started collecting submissions for the “Wishing Wall” — an initiative where anyone can share their wishes for the coming year, and then those messages will appear on confetti that drops over Times Square on New Year’s Eve. The small pieces of confetti will carry people’s dreams and hopes for 2024.

The Wishing Wall is an annual tradition. In 2022, however, a meme misleadingly claimed that a year-round visitor center wall would also allow people to share their hopes and dreams on Post-it notes that would be later used as part of the confetti drop on New Year’s Eve. However, submissions are not accepted year round, contrary to the Pinterest post below:

The Wishing Wall can be found in Manhattan at the Times Square Plaza between 46th and 47th streets, and will be open every day of December except for Christmas Day, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., until Dec. 29, 2023. For people who cannot submit wishes in person, a digital option allows submissions through an online form until Dec. 28, on the Times Square website, or on the website of its sponsor, Planet Fitness. Digital wishes submitted after that date will be saved for next year’s New Year’s celebration.

According to the official website for Times Square:

Whether it’s a personal goal, a dream for the future or doing something for the very first time, these wishes are added to over a ton of confetti that floats down at midnight onto the revelers gathered in Times Square in celebration of the new year. Be a part of this most magical night by making your wish in person through our mobile Wishing Wall on the plazas or by sharing your New Year’s wish with us below or on Twitter and Instagram using #ConfettiWish. We will add it to the thousands of others released above Times Square at midnight on New Year’s Eve for all the world to see!

According to one report in the New York Post, the Wishing Wall has appeared every December since 2007. Around 3,000 pounds of confetti reportedly will shower down on New Year’s Eve to mark the beginning of 2023. The confetti showering has taken place in Times Square since 1992.

Falling confetti in Times Square on New Year’s Eve does carry people’s hopes and dreams, but there is no option to submit them via Post-it notes year round. As such, we rate this claim as “Mostly True.”

 

Is Macaulay Culkin Really Returning for a New ‘Home Alone’ Film


In November and early December 2023, a rumor made its way across the internet claiming that #ad“Home Alone” actor Macaulay Culkin would be returning to the series in a new movie for Disney+.

Many posts on social media – Facebook & X claimed the new film would be titled “Cabin Alone” and shared what appeared to be a movie poster featuring Culkin all grown up and in a holiday sweater, surrounded by Christmas decor:

Get ready for a hilarious adventure in “Cabin Alone” starring Macaulay Culkin! When his family’s cabin getaway turns into treasure hunt chaos, Kevin must outsmart bumbling treasure hunters convinced DB Cooper’s loot is under his cabin. Will he save the day before his family arrives and crashes the party? Find out in this laugh-out-loud family comedy!

No evidence found that such a film is in the works, including no official confirmation from Culkin or Disney+. The creator of the above image also appears to have edited Culkin’s face onto another body, given the contrast in lighting from his face to his neck as well as the strange blurring effect around his ears.

Originated as Satire – The poster originated from a Facebook page titled “YODA BBY ABY,” which describes its content as satirical in nature: “I’m just here to eat frogs, lift rocks and be satirical,” its profile says.

Culkin’s IMDb page shows, as of this writing, that he has only one forthcoming appearance, which is a retrospective film compiling music videos of Michael Jackson, in which he starred as a child.

Browsing at Disney+ catalog of upcoming movies online, we also found no evidence of the above poster or of any film called “Cabin Alone.” Disney+ already released a “Home Alone” movie reboot in 2021 titled “Home Sweet Home Alone” without Culkin. While there were rumors that Culkin would be involved, an X account that has been attributed to him denied he was acting in the film. The account posted on X: “Hey y’all. Just a heads up since I’ve been getting this question a lot today: I am NOT in the new Home Alone reboot. I wish all involved the best of luck though.”