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Is Sami Zayn Unbanned From Saudi Arabia? Visits Mecca Ahead Of Match

Sami Zayn is also competing at Night of Champions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

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Sami Zayn has entered the boundaries of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the second time since he joined WWE as a full-time professional wrestler.

Currently, he is in Saudi Arabia as part of WWE’s upcoming professional wrestling pay-per-view Night of Champions, which will take place in Jeddah’s Jeddah Superdome on Saturday, May 27, 2023.

At the PPV, Zayn and his tag team partner Kevin Owens will defend their Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships against The Bloodline’s Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and his tag team partner Solo Sikoa.

But ahead of his much-anticipated match, Zayn took the opportunity to utilize his second-ever visit to Saudi Arabia and visit Mecca, considered the holiest city in Islam and the “fountainhead and cradle of Islam.”

And as Zayn himself is a Muslim, it was one of the greatest moments of his life to cross a name off his bucket list. On Friday, May 26, 2023, he took to his social media handles – Instagram and Twitter – and shared pictures of himself at the location.

The first picture showed him wearing a white outfit as he touched The Kaaba – a stone building at the center of Masjid al-Haram, the important mosque and holiest site of Islam. The Kaaba is also spelled Ka’ba or Kabah, referred to as al-Ka’ba al-Musharrafa.

Similarly, the second picture showed him standing in front of The Kaaba, inside Masjid al-Haram, also called the Great Mosque of Mecca or the Grand Mosque.

In the caption, Zayn wrote, “Being a pro wrestler and being with WWE has taken me to places I never dreamed I’d get to see and do things I never thought I’d get to do. It has provided me a life filled with incredible experiences that I will cherish forever.”

Sami Zayn standing in front of The Kaaba inside Masjid al-Haram

Sami Zayn standing in front of The Kaaba inside Masjid al-Haram (Photo: Instagram)

At the end of his caption, he mentioned that being able to visit Masjid al-Haram and touching The Kaaba was the top thing on his list. He then wrote, “الحمدلله,” which translates to “Thank God.”

Is Sami Zayn unbanned in Saudi Arabia?

As mentioned above, this is Zayn’s second-ever visit to Saudi Arabia, with the first one being in 2014 as a part of WWE’s three-night house show tour in Riyadh. After that, many more shows and PPVs took place in Saudi Arabia, but Zayn wasn’t a part of them.

So, what happened? Was Zayn banned from competing in live shows and PPVs in Saudi Arabia? Well, banned isn’t the exact word that is fit to use in this context, as it’s more of a voluntary choice that Zayn made.

Zayn is a Canadian national, but his parents were Syrian immigrants who left their home country in the 1970s and settled in Canada. And the diplomatic relations between Syria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia haven’t been on a positive note since 2011, until now.

Sami Zayn donning the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships

Sami Zayn donning the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships (Photo: Instagram)

Syria and Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties in November 2011 after Saudi Arabia’s backing of non-government forces during the Syrian Civil War. And while both nations are Sunni Muslim-majority countries, they didn’t see eye-to-eye.

As for Zayn’s refraining from Saudi Arabia-based WWE Shows and PPVs, Ryan Satin reported in 2018 that Zayn was pulled out from competing in The Greatest Royal Rumble as WWE didn’t want to disrespect the local culture in Saudi Arabia.

One year later, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that the Saudi Arabian government had banned WWE from using Zayn at Super ShowDown due to Zayn’s Syrian ethnicity.

That being said, Zayn will now compete in WWE’s Night of Champions. So, what changed now? The answer is the diplomatic relationship between Syria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which became good, i.e., they resumed diplomatic ties on May 9, 2023.

Due to that, it became clear that Saudi Arabia had no problem letting Zayn compete in Saudi Arabia-based WWE PPVs, and Zayn was also willing to wrestle once again in Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, Zayn’s longtime best friend, Kevin Owens, will also compete for the first time in Saudi Arabia as Owens had also backed out from contesting in Saudi Arabia-based WWE PPVs as a show of support for Zayn.

Dipesh is an experienced writer who has been covering entertainment news and stories for more than four years. Presently, he writes stories for Glamour Buff and GB Issue.

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The Bachelor’s Aly Jacobs Gets Engaged to Longtime Boyfriend

The duo has been dating since early 2023.

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The Bachelor’s Aly Jacobs Gets Engaged to Longtime Boyfriend

Congratulations to Alyssa Danielle Jacobs, also known as Aly Jacobs, who recently got engaged to her longtime boyfriend, whose identity is yet to be revealed.

The 28-year-old former contestant of The Bachelor revealed her engagement to her boyfriend in a romantic Instagram post on Monday, August 5, 2024. She shared a series of pictures alongside her future husband while flaunting her engagement ring.

In the first picture, she was seen sitting in her fiance’s lap, as her partner delivered a sweet kiss on her cheeks. Jacobs seemed to be donning a red outfit; however, it isn’t clear as she had covered herself with her fiance’s coat.

On the other hand, her mystery fiance wore a white shirt with a navy blue suit. The second picture showed the newly engaged couple passionately kissing each other on the lips, as Jacobs upheld her hand to flaunt her stunning diamond engagement ring.

Aly Jacobs being kissed on the cheeks by her boyfriend following their engagement

Aly Jacobs being kissed on the cheeks by her boyfriend following their engagement (Photo: Instagram)

Similarly, the third and last picture she added was a selfie her now-fiance took on their first date at Bones Restaurant in Atlanta. To accompany those memorable images, she wrote, “from first dates to forever, the easiest yes.”

Moments after she made the big engagement announcement, her Instagram post was filled with congratulatory messages from friends and well-wishers. For instance, one Instagram user and a friend of the couple wrote, “I knew it!! Congrats, Aly!! So happy for you two.”

“OMG!!! Yay Aly!! You deserve it all. So happy for you!” wrote another friend of the former Bachelor contestant, with one Instagram user following up with, “Congratulations!!! Such an incredible couple, so so happy for y’all!”

Aly Jacobs and her boyfriend attending a friend's wedding at Cherokee Town and Country Club

Aly Jacobs and her boyfriend attending a friend’s wedding at Cherokee Town and Country Club (Photo: Instagram)

Likewise, one Instagram user commented, “Over the moon elated for you both!!! So happy you found your person, and above all, to see you receive the love you are so worthy and deserving of. Congratulations lovey!!!”

Jacobs and her boyfriend-turned-fiance officially began dating on February 3, 2023. However, the exact details of how they met as well as all the details about her future husband currently remains unknown, as the reality star prefers to keep them under the limelight.

That said, the first time she featured her then-boyfriend on her Instagram handle was on June 21, 2023. She shared a series of pictures with her partner from their vacation in Amelia Island and captioned it by writing, “keeping this one to myself.”

Since then, she has frequently featured her boyfriend on her social media handles. In December 2023, they spent Christmas together, and a couple of months later, on February 3, 2024, they marked their first dating anniversary.

Fast forward to August 2024, Jacobs and her partner have taken a big step in their relationship and gotten engaged. Once again, congratulations to the love birds!

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Jenn Tran Responds to Hurtful Racist Message She Received over Instagram

“You’ll have to try a little harder.”

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Jenn Tran Responds to Hurtful Racist Message She Received over Instagram

Jenn Tran, the first Asian American Bachelorette, recently addressed a racist message she received, expressing her dismay and resilience. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of racism and the importance of standing against hate.

As The Bachelorette Season 21 – featuring Tran – continues to air weekly, Tran has been taking to her Instagram handle to bond with her fans, by asking them to send her which Taylor Swift song they believe applies to that week’s episode.

After going through all the suggestions, she picks one and officially names the one song as the “song of the week” after the episode airs. Some of Swift’s songs that have been picked during the past few weeks are ‘Sparks Fly,’ ‘Karma,’ ‘State of Grace,’ and ‘Jump Then Fall.’

On Monday, August 5, 2024, the fifth episode of The Bachelorette Season 21 aired, and as custom, Tran took to her Instagram story to ask her fans which Taylor Swift song applies to this week’s episode. However, one particular response wasn’t what Tran was expecting.

Jenn Tran at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'Deadpool & Wolverine'

Jenn Tran at the premiere of Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (Photo: Instagram)

It’s because that response was targeted toward Tran’s ethnicity. This hateful and racist response targeted the reality star’s Asian roots, mentioning the shape of her eyes and her ability to “see” if they are “barely open.”

Tran immediately decided to shut down this racist message and clapped back via her Instagram story. First, she wrote, “First of all, not on Taylor Swift song day!!! How rude!” She then followed up with, “Second of all, if you’re gonna make a racist comment to hurt me, you’ll have to try a little harder than with something I’ve been hearing since I was a kid.”

Despite the hurtful message, she remains focused on her journey as the Bachelorette. She continues to approach her role with positivity and determination, demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity.

As the first Asian American Bachelorette, Tran has faced unique pressures and responsibilities. In an earlier interview with Bachelor Nation, she discussed the significance of her role, expressing her desire to be a positive role model.

In the interview, she shared her thoughts on the pressures of being the first Asian American Bachelorette. She acknowledged the weight of expectations but emphasized her commitment to staying true to herself and her story. Jenn expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent her ethnicity and inspire others.

She stated, “Of course I feel pressure. A lot of it actually comes from me wanting to be a good role model and do it ‘right,’ whatever that means. At the end of the day, I tell myself that it’s just about being myself and telling my story the best that I can.”

Her journey as the Bachelorette is not only about finding love but also about breaking barriers and promoting inclusivity. Her grace and strength continue to inspire many, and her stance against racism sets a powerful example for her audience and beyond.

Here at GlamourBuff, we don’t tolerate any online bullying or racist behavior.

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Shanae Ankney and Future Husband Nate Ebner Celebrate Second Anniversary

Congratulations to the two!

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Shanae Ankney and Future Husband Nate Ebner Celebrate Second Anniversary

Shanae Ankney is relishing all the days before she officially becomes a wife to her boyfriend-turned-fiance Nate Ebner.

One such day was Ankney and Ebner’s second dating anniversary. On Tuesday, July 30, 2024, the Bachelor in Paradise alum took to her Instagram handle to mark the special occasion.

She posted a PDA-filled picture of herself and her partner, where they were sweetly kissing each other. The image was taken on the sidewalk, in front of what seems to be a small restaurant or a diner.

It means that the love birds went to get some alone time and celebrate their special milestone. Alongside the picture, she wrote a sweet caption, reading, “Love is spelled T-I-M-E. Happy two years my love. I can’t wait to share your last name.”

Some moments later, friends and well-wishers took to the comment section to pour congratulatory messages. One Instagram user wrote, “You were our favorite ever from the bachelor franchise, sooo happy to see you found your happily ever after!!!”

“So happy for y’all. May God bless you and your little family,” wrote another Instagram user. Similarly, a friend of the engaged duo commented, “Yay!!! Can’t wait to hear all about it!!”

Likewise, one doubter, who didn’t believe Ankney and Ebner’s relationship would last this long, took to the comment section and wrote, “I can’t believe it lasted this long. I was wrong. I thought he would leave within 3 months.”

Well, while there might have been some doubts about Ankney and her boyfriend’s relationship during its initial phase, those doubts went away as their bond strengthened. One of the main reasons behind their relationship’s strength was when they welcomed a baby.

Speaking from the start, the 32-year-old Ankney – whose birth name is Shanae Irene Ankney – officially began dating Ebner on July 30, 2022. However, she initially kept their relationship a secret and also didn’t feature him on her socials.

Shanae Ankney kissing her future husband Nate Ebner

Shanae Ankney kissing her future husband Nate Ebner (Photo: Instagram)

On November 11, 2022, she soft-launched her relationship with the former NFL player. She had posted the same picture as the one in her second dating anniversary post, except only Ebner’s arm was visible in the 2022 Instagram post.

On April 10, 2023, she officially hard-launched their relationship via Instagram. Less than a year later, on October 23, 2023, Ankney took to her Instagram handle to announce that she was pregnant with a baby girl and her due date was April 2024.

On April 11, 2024, she gave birth to an adorable daughter, whom the couple named Maven Jane. She publicly announced the good news on April 15, captioning her post, “Maven Jane 🤍 4•11•2024 🤍 you were worth the wait my sweet girl.”

A month after welcoming their baby girl, the boyfriend-girlfriend duo got engaged. On May 16, 2024, The Bachelor alum revealed that Ebner went down on his knee and proposed to her, to which she gladly accepted.

Shanae Ankney and her future husband, Nate Ebner, with their baby girl

Shanae Ankney and her future husband, Nate Ebner, with their baby girl (Photo: Instagram)

She shared a picture of her holding her baby girl, while flaunting her engagement ring, and wrote, “I can’t wait to do it all with you Nate, you make me the happiest girl alive. Here’s to FOREVER. I love you!”

As mentioned earlier, Ankney and her partner have been together for a little over two years. In the time they have spent together, they have welcomed a baby and gotten engaged. And the wedding bells might also be ringing soon. We wish the couple nothing but the best!

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