It seems congratulations are in order for Nick Cannon — again — because he appears to be expecting a baby with quarterback Johnny Manziel‘s ex Bre Tiesi.
On Sunday, pictures obtained by TMZ seem to show Cannon, 41, and Tiesi, 30, hosting what appeared to be a gender reveal baby shower in Malibu, Calif. The two were seen gathered with an intimate group of friends and surrounded by pink and blue balloons. The talk show host was also photographed cradling Tiesi’s baby bump as she rocked a form-fitting white strapless dress and heels.
As for the sex of the baby, party poppers sprayed out blue confetti revealing it’s a boy.
If things are as they seem, this will be the eighth child for The Masked Singer host. He currently shares 10-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan with his ex-wife, Mariah Carey; son Golden, four, and one-year-old daughter Powerful Queen with Brittany Bell; Twins Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir, who were born in June, with Abby De La Rosa. Zen, his son with model Alyssa Scott, died at five-months-old, he announced in December.
This will be the first child for Tiesi, who recently finalized her divorce from Manziel.
“I’m having these kids on purpose. I don’t have no accident,” Cannon admitted on his radio show last year. “Trust me, there’s a lot of people that I could’ve gotten pregnant that I didn’t. The ones that got pregnant are the ones that were supposed to get pregnant.”
(NEW YORK) — Veganuary is over, but that doesn’t mean your sustainable fashion journey has to be.
The Veganuary challenge was created by a UK nonprofit of the same name to educate people about veganism during the month of January. While in 2014 it started off as a sign-up program to help participants follow plant-based diets, it has since grown into a movement, with people in every field — particularly fashion and beauty — embracing it.
Over the past several years, the interest in vegan and sustainable fashion has risen rapidly, according to The Vegan Society, not only among young designers who are conscious about the health of the planet, but also among consumers who are learning about the benefits of leaving behind fast fashion.
Good Morning America spoke with a group of sustainable designers about how they developed their businesses, why they decided to take the vegan route and what can be done, by both creators and shoppers, to help make the fashion and beauty industries less wasteful — not only during January, but every day.
The wave of sustainable and vegan fashion designers
Monica Santos, a Puerto Rican designer based in New York, launched her brand, Santos by Monica, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, to “challenge the traditions of the fashion industry” in a way that reflected her values and did not negatively impact the environment.
Before taking the leap with her label, the designer worked for numerous fast fashion (the business model of replicating trends and mass-producing them at a low cost) and luxury brands, and said she “gained visibility into supply chains and realized the effect the fashion industry has on the planet and garment workers and wanted to do something different.”
That’s when she said she decided to create a collection of handbags made entirely out of cactus leather — one of the various vegan leathers which sustainable brands have been loving.
Similarly, LØCI, the sneaker brand which has been endorsed by celebrities and dropped a collection with actress Nikki Reed, has made a name for itself due to its “animal free always” motto. Its 100% vegan shoes are made using recycled materials, including ocean plastic upper for the upper, foam and cork for the insoles, ethically sourced bamboo for the lining and rubber for the outsole.
LØCI co-founders Emmanuel Eribo and Philippe Homsy are not the only creatives using plastic waste to make products. While the material can be turned into vegan leather, it can also be made into smooth fabric — just ask La Gotta founder Valeria del Rey, whose stunning swimsuits are made out of recycled plastic bottles.
“La Gotta progressed organically toward becoming a sustainable brand based on my personal passion for second-hand and vintage pieces, as well as on my love for the environment, particularly our oceans and beaches,” del Rey said.
The love for the planet runs deep in the sustainable fashion industry. The team at SINBONO, a vegan handbag brand, said they decided to take the sustainability route after realizing that by adopting sustainable options, they could drop their carbon footprint by around 73% and help slow down global warming. “It is important to keep the planet’s health before our desires,” they said. “Our vegan leather is composed of a mixture of responsibly recycled plastic bottles and reclaimed fruit material. This produces a high-quality product that looks like animal skin, without harming animals or the environment.”
Casey Dworkin, the founder of vegan New York-based footwear brand Sylven, is an example of a designer embracing vegan design but not letting go of luxury. Her plant-based shoes are handcrafted in Italy by expert artisans, and have the look, the feel and the durability of high-end European leather shoes — but without the negative impacts that come with producing them. (According to PETA, turning animal skin into leather “requires massive amounts of energy and dangerous chemicals,” and raising animals for their skin to eventually be turned into leather “requires huge amounts of feed, pastureland, water, and fossil fuels.”)
“I was actually born on Earth Day. I started getting involved with environmental advocacy when I was around 14, and it has always been a big part of my life,” Dworkin said. “When I decided to launch my own brand, sustainable practices were a must for me from the get-go. I am incredibly passionate about new-age materials and components made from plants, so I focus a lot of my messaging on material use, but sustainability really is a holistic practice.”
Because of the recent popularity of vegan leathers, consumers now have many options to choose from when it comes to sustainable footwear and handbag brands, but for apparel, it’s often more difficult, as there is so much that goes into creating truly sustainable garments that are of high quality and last for generations.
French brand Parisienne et Alors is one of the brands designing sustainable ready-to-wear. Creative director Laury Thilleman said every piece is made locally in France and crafted from recycled and/or upcycled fabrics — most from natural fibers. “Fashion is one of the most polluting industries, but Parisienne et Alors is determined to make a change and to stand out as a positive example of how fashion can make a difference,” Thilleman told GMA.
Another European brand, Manola, creates chic activewear from environmentally-friendly materials, such as recycled nylon from ECONYL (which comes from discarded fishing nets, plastic and carpets) or organic cotton from PYRATEX, which generates 46% less greenhouse gas emissions than conventional cotton.
Loungewear brand PANGAIA is also big on recycled fabrics, and uses plant fibers, bio-based fibers and leather alternatives. Their approach to creating fashion is very much science-based. “Our goal is to demystify science and become a bridge builder between science and fashion — to make sustainable innovations the new normal,” Chief Innovation Officer Amanda Parkes said.
More mainstream brands are also embracing veganism and sustainability. Patagonia, Levi’s, Fabletics and H&M are all implementing sustainable practices into their businesses, and expanding their clientele by doing so. “Fabletics understands the importance of protecting the environment, and we want to ensure we are doing our part. As such, while there’s much work to be done, we have made sustainability a core focus and are proud of the steps we’ve taken thus far,” the Fabletics team, which just released various vegan leather leggings and pants, said.
Vegan beauty
Natural beauty products have been in for some time now, but for many brands today, the challenge has become: How do you make your production and shipping methods sustainable and entice people with the history and roots behind your organic products?
Luca, a fragrance company established in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 2013, works with sustainable, local suppliers, uses upcycled (products made by transforming other recycled products) materials and only puts out small drops. “One of our core oils is a fossilized amber extracted from a 35 million-year-old Himalayan fossilized tree resin. This oil comes from a process called ‘dry distillation,’ whereby the Amber resin is processed over high heat until an oily substance is obtained. Another stellar oil in our perfume is the cedar, which is obtained from the sawdust created when the wood is cut for lumber,” the Luca team said.
Another brand, Kumiko, also said it embraces nature and shows consumers the benefits of living a vegan lifestyle, through skincare. The company said its products are made with Japanese matcha tea, an antioxidant, and are non-toxic, gluten-, parabens- and cruelty-free.
“It is an undeniable reality that the vegan preference is on the rise worldwide, along with respect and care for the environment. Kumiko is aware of this, with a total commitment for sustainable products from the beginning of the production line to the end, always considering recyclable packaging,” the team said.
Sustainability is a lifestyle
Organic ingredients and vegan leathers — particularly cactus, apple, pineapple and corn — have become the new go-tos for sustainable designers looking to create eco-friendly luxury, but as people learn more and more about sustainability, it has become clear that there are many parts to it, both as a creator and a consumer.
Using organic, vegan materials is just one of the things brands are doing to make their businesses more sustainable; there is also packaging, production and ethics to think about. LØCI, for example, said it donates 10% of its profits to environmental causes, including ocean conservation charities and carbon offset projects. Santos said she has made her entire packaging either compostable or recyclable, and recently introduced biodegradable hang tags embedded with wildflowers, so that when you plant the paper in a pot of soil, the seeds in the paper germinate and grow into plants. Also, with every Santos by Monica bag sold, one tree is planted with One Tree Planted.
Santos by Monica, apart from being charitable, follows a made-to-order production strategy, which means the designer creates only enough product to fit the demand, and therefore avoids generating waste. La Gotta and Manola produce in the same way.
Araks Yeramyan, the designer of cotton lingerie brand Araks, said educated shoppers don’t just want eco-friendly materials, they want to know that the businesses they’re supporting are actively trying to reduce their carbon footprint, eliminate toxic waste and help their communities and their planet. This idea of getting rid of waste by using natural materials or extending the life of each garment is also the reason — apart from nostalgia — vintage and pre-owned clothing sales have spiked in the fast few years.
Thrilling, an online marketplace that sells vintage and second-hand items from small businesses across the U.S., said that orders have increased by 240% over the last year, and the amount of vintage inventory that stores uploaded to the site increased by nearly 500%.
How can creators and consumers help fashion become more sustainable?
If you’re looking to make the switch to shopping vegan and living sustainably, Santos said you need to do your research.
“Consumers could be more aware by taking into account where products they consume come from, what they are made of and what the ideals of the brands they support are,” she said. “Making an effort to learn more about the brand before consuming and asking themselves if the product is something they really need before making the purchase.”
Jordan Clark, the founder of vegan footwear brand Dooeys, said shoppers should ask how things are made and buy things that last. “If a brand gives vague material information on a product page, it’s probably because it’s not worth sharing,” she said. “Invest in pieces you love now and will continue to love over the coming years. I also find it helpful to follow influencers and bloggers that focus on sustainable fashion and shop sustainable marketplaces like Made Trade that do the vetting for you.”
Del Rey said it’s also the creators’ job to educate shoppers on the actual value of a vegan brand or item, rather than market the sustainability movement as just the latest hot trend.
“We feel as if awareness of veganism in the fashion industry can be promoted the same way a vegan diet and lifestyle was,” the SINBONO team said. “If you go back a couple of years, not many people were ready to make the shift, but now, many people choose vegan products. This was primarily done through the media and companies themselves.”
And, they said, if more big, popular companies make the shift toward vegan fashion, customers will inevitably be more interested in learning about the topic.
Dworkin, of Sylven, said the word “veganism” so often gets equated with diet, but it’s absolutely a lifestyle.
“It’s about consciously eliminating the use of animal products, and fashion plays a huge part in that equation,” Dworkin said. “I think a majority of people who first dabble in being vegan really hone in on food, but I think that fashion can and should play a much larger role in introducing new alternatives to the masses, especially for people who may not be ready to make a full lifestyle change, finding a pair of boots that are made from apples instead of cows, or a coat made from Tencel instead of down is a great way to reduce the number of animal products consumed.”
(LAS VEGAS) — Nine people died on Saturday in a “chaotic” traffic collision involving six vehicles in North Las Vegas, officials said.
“We have not seen a mass-casualty traffic collision like this before,” Alexander Cuevas, public information officer for the North Las Vegas Police, told reporters late Saturday.
Fifteen people had been involved in the incident, Cuevas said. Two were transported from the scene to University Medical Center, where one later died, he said. The other remained in critical condition, he said.
Officials said speed was a factor in the crash. It was unknown whether impaired driving had been a factor, they said.
The National Transportation Safety Board said on Sunday that it is sending a go-team to investigate the crash in coordination with the North Las Vegas Police Department.
A Dodge Challenger heading north “at a high rate of speed” on Commerce Street ran a red light prior to the crash at about 3 p.m., Cuevas said citing statements from witnesses.
“And, with that, it struck multiple vehicles and, unfortunately, it was a chaotic event,” Cuevas said.
Several vehicles were pushed off the road into a vacant lot near the intersection of Commerce Street and Cheyenne Avenue, officials said.
The driver of the Challenger was among the dead, officials said. The deceased ranged from young juveniles to middle-aged adults, Cuevas said. Their identities will be released by the coroner’s office, police said.
“Our thoughts and our prayers are with the families who are experiencing a tremendous and unnecessary loss due to a careless, senseless act,” Pamela A. Goynes-Brown, a member of the North Las Vegas City Council, said.
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Sunday’s sports events:
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Atlanta 129, LA Lakers 121
LA Clippers 115, Charlotte 90
Chicago 130, Portland 116
Detroit 115, Cleveland 105
Denver 136, Milwaukee 100
Orlando 110, Dallas 108
Phoenix 115, San Antonio 110
Minnesota 126, Utah 106
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
NY Rangers 3, Seattle 2
Los Angeles 4, Pittsburgh 3
Carolina 2, San Jose 1
Dallas 6, Boston 1
Columbus 6, Montreal 3
Minnesota 4, NY Islanders 3
Colorado 4, Buffalo 1
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Cincinnati 27, Kansas City 24 (OT)
LA Rams 20, San Francisco 17
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Purdue 81, Ohio St. 78
Wisconsin 66, Minnesota 60
Providence 65, Marquette 63
On Sunday, January 30, U2 frontman Bono and guitarist The Edge posted a video of them delivering a new acoustic performance of their band’s classic 1983 song “Sunday Bloody Sunday” that features a new final verse.
The debut of the updated version of the tune coincides with the 50th anniversary of the “Bloody Sunday” massacre — which served as the inspiration for the song — where British Army soldiers shot and killed 13 civil-rights protesters in Derry, Northern Ireland.
The black-and-white video, which was shot at one of the U2 members’ homes in Dublin, was posted on the group’s official YouTube channel along with the caption “30 January 2022 – With love, Bono & Edge.”
The newly written closing verse features the following lyrics: “Here at the murder scene/ The virus of fiction, reality TV/ Why so many mothers cry/ Religion is the enemy of the Holy Spirit guide/ And the battle just begun/ Where is the victory Jesus won.”
Here are the original lyrics of the song’s final verse: “And it’s true we are immune/ When fact is fiction and TV reality/ And today the millions cry/ We eat and drink while tomorrow they die/ The real battle just begun/ To claim the victory Jesus won.”
“Sunday Bloody Sunday” was originally featured on U2’s third studio album, War.
This weekend’s Saturday Night Live, hosted by Willem Dafoe, with musical guest Katy Perry, also featured a surprise appearance from former NFL player Peyton Manning, whose “Weekend Update” commentary on Saturday’s playoffs and Tom Brady‘s rumored retirement ended with him gushing over Netflix’s Emily in Paris.
The Spider-Man: No Way Home star Dafoe used his opening monologue to joke about his “expressive face,” which he “can’t control.”
“Maybe that’s why people come up to me and say, ‘You know what role you’d be perfect for? The Joker,’” he continued. “Always nice to hear that you’ve got the vibe of a sociopath,” the host joked.
Manning confessed to “Update” co-anchor Colin Jost that he, “had an hour to kill before the first game, so just for fun, I put on the first episode of Emily in Paris season two, and I watched the entire season straight through.”
“This show has everything: romance, adventure, sensuality, culture, a fresh take on feminism…a culinary tapestry so rich, I could only describe it as ‘food porn,’” he continued.
Regarding Brady’s possible retirement, Manning replied that it was “probably just speculation,” but if it were him he, “probably would retire, too, if it gave me more time to watch Emily in Paris.”
Responding to Jost’s shock at him blowing off football for the show, Manning explained, “Sure, watching football was the safe thing to do. That’s what everyone expected me to do, but if I’ve learned anything from Emily, it’s to follow my passions and always be true to myself.”
The episode also marked Jost’s co-anchor Michael Che‘s 155th appearance behind the “Update” desk, breaking Seth Meyers‘ record, surpassed by Jost in October. Che is also the first African-American “Weekend Update” anchor.
SNL returns February 26 with host John Mulaney and musical guest LCD Soundsystem.
The latest seres in the Power franchise, Power Book IV: Force, debuts Sunday, February 6 starring Joseph Sikora. In this spinoff, Sikora, who portrays Tommy Egan, has left New York City with hopes of taking over Chicago.
Executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has teamed with Jeremih and Lil Durk for the theme song, “Power Powder Respect.”
Jeremih is proud of the fact that he was involved in producing the track. “What I really look more forward to with that with the intro, is that people don’t know that I actually made the beat. It’s my first production placement,” he tells ABC Audio.
The Grammy nominee adds that he sent Fiddy several tracks, and was pleasantly surprised with the one he selected for the theme. “I couldn’t ask for nothing better. Even hearing it back and seeing the additional plays he made with it, adding on Lil Durk, just turned it into a real power play,” the “Down On Me” singer continues.
Jackson says he emphasized to Jeremih that the song has to reflect the series.
“Because it’s the theme, you don’t have to be Jeremih. You can do [or] say things that…relate to the show instead of just being what we would say next or what we would do next as artists,” Jackson says.
Since Power Book IV: Force is set in Chicago, 50 says it was key to have Windy City natives Jeremih and Lil Durk on the song.
“I had to make it feel like Chicago. So, you know, in order to do that, you know, I got Lil Durk involved and got Jeremih to bring me some tunes,” Jackson says.
Neil Young and Joni Mitchell in 2012; Lester Cohen/WireImage
Joni Mitchell has joined her old friend and fellow Canadian artist Neil Young in removing her music from Spotify because the streaming service continues to host The Joe Rogan Experience. Many in the medical community have claimed that Rogan‘s podcast spreads harmful misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines.
In an online message, Mitchell writes, “I’ve decided to remove all my music from Spotify. Irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people their lives. I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the global scientific and medical communities on this issue.”
Joni also posted a link to an open letter that was signed by hundreds of scientists and medical professionals asking Spotify to “immediately establish a clear and public policy to moderate misinformation on its platform,” after a recent episode of the podcast aired that they allege included harmful untruths regarding COVID-19.
That same letter prompted Young to demand that his music be removed from Spotify if the service didn’t stop hosting Rogan’s extremely popular podcast. Spotify granted Neil’s request, rather cut ties with Rogan.
Following Young’s decision to leave Spotify, many artists expressed support for him, while quite a few others criticized him, suggesting that Neil’s actions were anti-free speech, and that Rogan had a right to express his opinions about the pandemic and vaccines.
In response to his detractors, Young maintained in an online note, “I support free speech. I have never been in favor of censorship. Private companies have the right to choose what they profit from, just as I can choose not to have my music support a platform that disseminates harmful information.”
He added, “I am happy and proud to stand in solidarity with the front-line health care workers who risk their lives every day to help others.”
(LONDON) — Thousands of feet in the air, Willem Briers-Louw, a wildlife biologist, surveys the Zambeze Delta in Mozambique via helicopter — seeking the animal populations he helps to conserve and maintain in the bushland.
Cheetahs, one of Briers-Louw’s subjects and the fastest land animal in the world, could get a boost to its population if a new conservation method researchers are practicing in Africa is successful.
Biologists in Mozambique released a group of wild cheetahs in a “massive” protected area in the Zambeze Delta in August as part of a reintroduction project they believe is “crucial” to conserve the species, Briers-Louw, a wildlife biologist working on the project with the Cabela Family Foundation, the organization that funded the reintroduction project, told ABC News.
From the two-seat Robinson R22 helicopter, Briers-Louw can track the animals wherever they go and monitor their behavior — what they’re eating, whether they’re mating, when a litter of cubs is born. It’s one of the perks of the job, Briers-Louw said.
“Watching them at full speed chasing down [cleft-back] antelope is truly incredible to see,” he said.
The project was suggested by the foundation’s wildlife trust coordinators after a similar reintroduction for lions in the Zambeze Delta was successful, Briers-Louw said. In addition to the ample space and limited poaching in the preserve, the cheetahs are not prey for lions and have plenty of food sources to sustain a decent population.
Biologists found historical evidence that cheetahs occupied the area in the past after finding a book from 1914 described the animals, which was imperative for the reintroduction to be successful, Briers-Louw said.
Eleven cheetahs from South Africa and one from Malawi were transported to Mozambique over the summer. The big cats were stationed in a fenced area for months to get acclimated before the gates were opened to their new home, Briers-Louw said.
Two additional females, described as “valuable additions to the founder population,” were released in December. The researchers hope to maintain an interconnected conservation project where different countries work together to maintain as healthy a cheetah population as possible, Briers-Louw said.
What makes the project “novel” is the cheetahs were released into a sizable, unfenced area that could possibly support up to 100 cheetahs in the future, he added. In fenced preserves, a male cheetah looking to explore and find females is likely to hit an electric fence and turn around, Tamar Kendon, another wildlife biologist with the Cabela Family Foundation, told ABC News.
“It’s totally open, and they’re not constricted or not confined to a fenced area, so they can move pretty much wherever they want to,” Briers-Louw said. “And so we’ve seen quite a lot of exploratory movement within the first four or five months.”
The cheetahs’ newfound ability to wander causes “a bit of stress” for the researchers and presents a possibility for the need to collect them and bring them back, Kendon said.
Conservationists have been introducing cheetahs in small, fenced preserves since 1999, Briers-Louw said. Once cubs are born, they need new homes because those preserves can’t support larger populations.
“So Africa, at that time, was the only country with a growing cheetah population,” until biologists began practicing similar efforts around the world, Briers-Louw added.
All of the cheetahs seem to be thriving in their new habitat and seem to have started fixed movement areas, Briers-Louw said. The researchers track them on the ground, aerially via helicopter and through satellite imagery, which allows them to ensure they’re thriving and monitor other behaviors, such as mating, Briers-Louw said. Each cheetah is also outfitted with a GPS collar in case they move outside of the preserve, Kendon said.
Briers-Louw emphasized that it’s “not all sunshine and roses” for the health of cheetah populations around the world, and they were “strongly” on the way to extinction for the better part of two decades.
Cheetahs are currently listed as vulnerable, with their populations deceasing, on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. There are currently about 6,700 mature cheetahs in the world, according to the IUCN.
They only have about 9% of their historic range, and of that population, 30% are in protected reserves, Briers-Louw said. The main threats facing cheetahs are habitat loss, fragmentation of habitat and poaching, but they are also at risk of becoming trapped in snares placed for bushmeat, Kendon said.
The Zambeze Delta historically contained thousands of animals, but years of armed conflict and poaching led to a sharp decline of wildlife in the area, Briers-Louw said. While the Zambeze Delta has experienced a massive resurgence in animal populations in recent years, poaching still remains the biggest threat to carnivores in the region.
But the conservationists believe they are at a turning point where wildlife can once again thrive.
“Even though poaching is the biggest threat to the carnivores, we are at the point where it’s fairly controlled and limited to the point where it shouldn’t have any effect on the population,” he said.
ABC News’ Morgan Winsor contributed to this report.
(NEW YORK) — Looking to buy a new Kia Telluride sport utility vehicle? Expect to pay $48,509 — more than $3,700 above the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.
Luxury SUVs like the Range Rover ($117,890) and Cadillac Escalade ESV ($102,584) are selling for $3,000 to $6,000 over MSRP, according to Edmunds, which compiled a list of the top 10 vehicles with the largest market adjustments in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Markups on sports cars are even more dramatic: dealers are asking (and getting) 5% over MSRP for the Corvette Stingray ($86,511) and 8% for Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 ($91,611).
“People are accepting these prices without complaining … they’re going with it and making the plunge,” Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds’ executive director of insights, told ABC News. “Dealer markups are happening all over the board. Manufacturers don’t really have control over it.”
The automotive industry has not been immune from the price hikes impacting nearly every industry. Desperate consumers are starting to surrender to the new reality: discounts, incentives and negotiating are so 2019.
In December, consumers paid on average $709 more than the suggested transaction price, Caldwell said, noting that the upward march in prices really took hold in August.
“We have not seen this happen before on an aggregate level,” she said.
And markups are impacting nearly 90% of car buyers, according to one estimate, forcing some automakers to threaten a dealer crackdown.
‘Out of control’ luxury markups
It’s the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the boxy, ultra-luxe ute driven by celebs and socialites, that may be the most extreme example of dealership markups. The base G-Class costs $174,650 though new owners are shelling out an additional $30,405 on average — if they’re lucky to get one at all. Caldwell said she knows of one woman who recently paid $50,000 above MSRP for a G-Class. Some Mercedes dealerships are even asking $337,000 for a 2021 AMG G 63 G-Class — more than $150,000 above the MSRP, according to Caldwell.
“This woman thought she got a good deal,” said Caldwell. “Consumers feel pressure to buy right away because inventory is so low.”
Some owners of the ultra-luxe G-Class have paid $150K above the six-figure sticker price.
And it’s not just the G-Class getting the markup treatment. The Mercedes GLS SUV and GLC Coupe SUV are also seeing massive price hikes. A Mercedes-Benz spokeswoman declined to comment when reached by ABC News.
Marc Van Hengst, a brand ambassador at the Jack Daniels Porsche dealership in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, called the car market “out of control” and said he disapproves of the outrageous prices dealers are charging.
“I don’t like to do markups. It’s bad for business and will scare people away,” he told ABC News.
Van Hengst said he sees prospective customers coming into his dealership and pleading with management for a 2022 911 GT3 — the hottest Porsche on the market now among enthusiasts. The 502-horsepower GT3 sprints from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds and comes with a starting price tag of $161,100. A quick search on Cars.com pulls up listings for $307,740 — $339,000 — even $349,900.
“You get a lot of performance [in the GT3] which a lot of people will not use at all … but people want the performance,” Van Hengst said. “The internet makes it seem like it’s the most desirable Porsche of all.”
Tyson Jominy, vice president of data and analytics at J.D. Power, said 87% of consumers are currently paying above MSRP, which is already at a record high. The average new vehicle price is now $45,283 versus $35,000 in December of 2019, according to J.D. Power. The global chip shortage and supply crunch have led to surging prices, Jominy said.
“There are some crazy markups and the higher price point you go the crazier they are,” he told ABC News. “Automakers have never seen anything like this. But some of them are telling dealers to cool it with markups. It’s not in their best interest long term.”
He added, “The higher markups are like a tax on rich people.”
Cracking down
Ford and General Motors are actively trying to stop dealerships from heavily marking up the price of new vehicles.
Steve Carlisle, president of GM North America, addressed customer interest for the upcoming Corvette Z06, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Hummer EV, GMC Sierra EV and Cadillac Lyriq in a letter sent to the automaker’s dealer network on Jan. 18, writing in part:
“Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that in connection with some of these announcements and launches, a small number of Dealers have engaged in practices that do not support a positive sales experience for our customers. This puts our collective interests at risk and generates negative press that reflect poorly on GM’s brands and your dealerships. Specifically, it has come to our attention that some dealerships have attempted to demand money above and beyond the reservation amounts set in GM’s program rules and/or have requested customers to pay sums far in excess of MSRP in order to purchase or lease a vehicle … GM will be forced to take action if it learns of any unethical sales practices or brokering activities that undermine the integrity that customers expect from the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac brands.”
A GM spokesperson confirmed the letter to ABC News, adding, “We want every customer to have a great experience. The majority of our dealers know this; however, we want everyone on the same page.”
In a tersely worded memo, Ford instructed dealers not to raise the price of its new F-150 Lightning electric truck nor demand that customers already on the reservation list make additional deposits or payments.
“It has come to our attention that a limited number of dealerships are interacting with customers in a manner that is negatively impacting customer satisfaction and damaging to the Ford Motor Company brand and Dealer Body reputation,” the memo stated.
A Ford spokesperson told ABC News in response to the memo: “The all-new F-150 Lightning represents a leap ahead in innovation for Ford trucks and is critical to the Ford brand and our dealerships as we move into a segment we’ve never competed. We are competing with others who have a direct model and we need to be very mindful of how customers perceive Ford and our dealer network. How our dealers treat customers has major implications not only on an individual dealer but the reputation of Ford and our dealers as a whole. We want to show customers how our Ford dealer network provides a better experience than anyone out there.”
Automakers displeased with excessive markups could penalize wayward dealers in the future with fewer allocations.
“Markups can sour the relationship with the customer,” Caldwell said.
Even the unloved compact car has seen its price skyrocket as consumers frantically snap up SUVs. Drivers who may have shunned sedans before are willing to buy any vehicle at this point, Jominy pointed out.
“We’re seeing very limited inventories and high prices in this market for the foreseeable future,” he said.
