BRAVE MAG

By Lucie Barbier and Leo Marchandon

May 5 (Reuters) - Nearly one in two young people in Europe have used AI chatbots to discuss intimate or personal matters, as the ‌technology increasingly serves as a source of emotional support, an Ipsos BVA survey showed ‌on Tuesday.

Of the 3,800 people surveyed, 51% said it was "easy" to discuss mental health and personal issues with a chatbot. ​Only 49% said the same about healthcare professionals and 37% about psychologists.

People close to you were at the top of the list, with 68% saying it was easy to discuss issues with friends and 61% with parents.

The survey, commissioned by France's privacy watchdog CNIL and insurer Groupe VYV, was carried ‌out among people aged 11 to ⁠25 across France, Germany, Sweden and Ireland in early 2026.

The findings showcased growing concerns over young people's mental health. About 28% of respondents met the threshold ⁠for suspected generalized anxiety disorder, the survey found.

Around 90% of those surveyed had used artificial intelligence tools before, with many citing their constant availability and non-judgmental nature. More than three in five users described ​AI as ​a "life adviser" or a "confidant".

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However, concerns over the psychological impact ​ofAI toolshave also grown ‌over the past year, and experts have warned about the limitations of AI in detecting human emotions and safely providing emotional support.

Earlier this year, the family of a Florida man sued Google, alleging its Gemini AI chatbot contributed to his paranoia and eventual suicide.

The results of the survey were not a surprise, said Ludwig Franke Föyen, a psychologist and digital health researcher at Stockholm's Karolinska Institutet.

Current large ‌language models can produce high-quality responses, Franke Föyen told Reuters, ​adding that his research suggested even licensed professionals may ​struggle to distinguish AI-generated advice from that ​of human experts.

But he warned against relying on chatbots alone for mental health ‌support, saying general-purpose AI systems were designed ​for engagement and companies' ​goals may not align with mental healthcare needs.

"AI can offer information and support, but it should not replace human relationships or professional care," Franke Föyen said.

"If someone turns to a ​chatbot instead of speaking to ‌a parent, a friend, or a mental health professional, that is a concern. We ​do not want technology to make people feel more alone."

(Reporting by Lucie Barbier and ​Leo Marchandon in Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)

Wondering where your favorite celebrities were on the first Monday in May? Probably theMet Gala.

Fashion's biggest night of the year took place on May 4, with movie stars, singers, athletes and more (even robots!) arriving to The Metropolitan Museum of Art dressed for the "Costume Art" theme.

This year's event was full of plenty of surprises and statements, withHeated RivalrystarsConnor Storrie and Hudson Williams making their Met Gala debutandBeyoncéreturning after a decade, nearly shutting down the carpet when her 14-year-old daughter,Blue Ivy Carter,and her husband,Jay-Zjoined her for the affair.

However, despite the many Met Gala debuts and bold looks on the carpet, a few notable faces were absent from this year's festivities, including Met Gala regularsZendaya,Jennifer LopezandSarah Jessica Parker.

Here are 17 stars who skipped the 2026 Met Gala.

Zendaya

Zendaya has been just about everywhere in 2026 promoting several big projects this year, but she wasnotably absent from the Met Gala. The actress has been a mainstay at the fashion event and even served as the co-chair in 2024, but her stylistLaw Roachattended solo this year.

The Daily Mailreported that she and her partner,Tom Holland, were seen in London early in the day on Met Gala Monday.

Timothée Chalamet

Kylie Jennerreturned to the 2026 Met Gala dressed to the nines, while her boyfriendTimothée Chalametwasaway cheering on his favorite team.

TheDuneactor shared on his Instagram Stories that he missed the Met Gala in order to attend the New York Knicks game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden.

Chalamet also skipped the 2025 Met Gala for the game anddefended his choicenot to attend, saying on the7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthonypodcast that he was too "locked in" supporting the Knicks during the spring to attend fashion's biggest night.

Meryl Streep

Some Hollywood stars, likeMeryl Streep, have never walked the steps of The Met. Prior to the 2026 Met Gala,The Devil Wears Pradastar's rep told PEOPLE that despite Streep being the current cover star ofVogue, the outlet behind the event, the star-studded night is not "her scene."

“Meryl has been invited to the Met Gala for many years but has never attended. While she appreciates Vogue,Anna [Wintour], and her incredible imagination and stamina—it has never quite been her scene," Streep's rep told PEOPLE.

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieberskipped fashion's biggest night while his wife,Hailey Bieber, walked the steps solo. He alsoopted out of the 2025 Met Gala.

The couple made their Met Gala debut as husband and wife in 2021, but have not attended together since then.

Ryan Reynolds

Blake Livelyreturned to the Met Galathe same day it was announced that she andJustin Baldonisettled theirIt Ends with Uslegal battle— but the actress' husband,Ryan Reynolds, did not attend.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker haswalked the Met steps several timesover the years, but skipped out on the 2026 event after missing the prior year, too.

Bella Hadid

Though Gigi returned to the 2026 Met Gala, her supermodel sisterBella Hadidhasn't been since 2022.

Bella — who has been candid about herongoing battle with chronic illness— didn't directly say why she skipped the fashion event, but she toldAllurein April 2024 that she was taking a step back from the public eye and prioritizing attending events that feel right.

“For the first time now, I’m not putting on a fake face," she said. "If I don’t feel good, I won’t go. If I don’t feel good, I take time for myself. And I’ve never had the opportunity to do that or say that before. Now when anybody sees me in pictures and they say I look happy, I genuinely am. I am feeling better; my bad days now were my old good day."

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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce

While several pairs made their Met Gala debuts as a couple this year,Taylor Swiftand her fiancéTravis Kelcewerenot among the list.

It's been over a decade since the "Cruel Summer" singer has walked the Met steps, while the football star has never attended.

Up Next:https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

Sydney Sweeney

Sydney Sweeneystrutted down the Met steps several times after making her debut in 2022, but theEuphoriaactress was not in attendance in 2026.

The fashionable event came just a few days after Sweeneyattended the Stagecoach music festivalwith Scooter Braun.

Miley Cyrus

As someone who knows how to make a bold statement on a carpet, the Met Gala seems like a perfect place forMiley Cyrus. She is no stranger to the high-profile event, but this time, she took a year off.

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilishmade herMet Gala debut in 2021, when she was also co-chair of the big event. Though she returned in the years since, the "Ocean Eyes" singer was absent both in 2025 and 2026.

Just days before Met Gala Monday, Eilish posted onInstagramthat she was in London for the premiere of her upcoming concert film,Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D).

"our london premiere :’)," she wrote on Instagram. "this was so special and precious god i love you all so much. <333 HMH&S: THE TOUR (LIVE IN 3D) in theatres may 8th 💋 limited tix left to see it early 🤭🍿🎬."

Jennifer Lopez

It's been over two decades sinceJennifer Lopezmade her Met Gala debut. While Lopez has long been considered a Met Gala regular, the former co-chair hasn't returned since 2024.

Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigodidn't walk the Met Gala red carpet, but according toTeenVogue, the "Drop Dead" singer did make it to the afterparty.

Dua Lipa and Callum Turner

Dua LipaandCallum Turnermade theirred carpet debutat the 2025 Met Gala, but this year, the engaged couple skipped the event.

The "Levitating" singer shared photos onInstagramfrom Copenhagen, including a photo of her fiancé in a museum.

Selena Gomez

After making herMet Gala debutin 2014,Selena Gomezreturned several more times dressed in theme.

Neither her nor her husband,Benny Blanco, attended the 2026 event after making theirred carpet debut as a married coupleat the Academy Museum Gala in October 2025.

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grandedidn't walk down the Met Gala red carpet this year. After making her debut at the star-studded night in 2018, she attended once more in 2024.

On Met Gala Monday, the singer instead was promoting her upcoming album,Petal, on her Instagram Stories.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gagaknows a thing or two about walking the Met steps. Afterseveral grand entrancesandextravagant looks, the "Bad Romance" singer was absent from the 2026 Met Gala. She also missed the event in 2025.

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President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.

Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire,initial U.S.-Iran talksin Pakistan in April failed to reach a peace deal.

Trump later announced the open-ended extension of the ceasefire and the continuation of a U.S. blockade until negotiations are concluded "one way or the other."

Latest Developments

May 4, 1:54 AMTrump says Iran negotiations are going 'very well'

While exiting Air Force One in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, President Donald Trump briefly responded to a shouted question from reporters asking him how negotiations with Iran were going."Very well," Trump said. The president did not answer any additional questions.

-ABC News' Isabella Murray

May 4, 1:28 AM'Project Freedom' to extend defensive umbrella over shipping, official says

U.S. Central Command posted a statement to X on Sunday confirming that its forces will begin supporting "Project Freedom" in the Strait of Hormuz at the direction of President Donald Trump, beginning on Monday."Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade," Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said in the statement.The mission is intended "to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM said.The U.S. military role will be to extend a U.S. defensive umbrella over ships seeking to leave or enter the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official told ABC News. Project Freedom is not about providing escorts to ships, the official said."U.S. military support to Project Freedom will include guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms and 15,000 service members," CENTCOM said in its statement.

-ABC News' Lauren Minore and Luis Martinez

May 4, 1:05 AMUKMTO reports attacks on 2 ships in Strait of Hormuz

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The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre reported attacks on two cargo vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, as the U.S. Navy prepared to begin "Project Freedom" to restore shipping through the strategic waterway on Monday.The first incident occurred 11 nautical miles west of Sirik, Iran, the UKMTO said, with a northbound bulk carrier reporting an attack by multiple small craft. All crew were reported safe and no environmental impact was reported.Some hours later, the UKMTO said it received a report of another incident 78 nautical miles north of the Emirati port of Fujairah. A tanker reported being hit by unknown projectiles, the UKMTO said, with all crew reported safe and no environmental impact.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

May 3, 9:03 PMFirst to ABC: Iranian ship and crew seized by US transferred to Pakistan

The Iranian ship that was seized by the U.S. after it tried to run the U.S. blockade has been transferred to Pakistan for repatriation to Iran, along with its crew, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command told ABC News."Today, U.S. forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation," Captain Tim Hawkins said. "Six other passengers were already transferred to a regional country for repatriation last week."Iran state media identified the six as family members of some of the crew."Custody of Touska is currently being transferred back to its original ownership after the ship was intercepted and seized when attempting to violate the U.S. naval blockade against Iran last month," Hawkins said.When the crew of the Touska ignored six hours’ worth of warnings from U.S. ships on April 19, a destroyer fired several rounds at the container ship's engine room, Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a Pentagon news conference on April 24. The ship was later boarded by U.S. Marines, who seized the ship.-ABC News' Luis Martinez

May 3, 6:45 PMTrump says US will guide ships of countries not involved in war out of strait

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he's ordered U.S. personnel to safely guide ships and crews from countries that are not involved with the Iran war out of Strait of Hormuz, which is currently subject to a naval blockade.This "humanitarian gesture," which Trump called "Project Freedom," will begin Monday morning "Middle East time," he wrote.

"The Ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong -- They are victims of circumstance," the president wrote. "This is a Humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran."Trump claimed that his "representatives" were having "very positive discussions" with Iranian leadership, despite the fact that he said earlier Sunday that he reviewed their most recent peace proposal and that it is "not acceptable."He said these discussions "could lead to something very positive for all" but warned that if Iran interferes with these safety efforts, they will "have to be dealt with forcefully."-ABC News' Isabella Murray

May 3, 8:01 AMTrump must choose between 'impossible' war or 'bad deal,' IRGC says

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement via the state-run Press TV claiming that the U.S.' room for decision-making "has narrowed" amid the ongoing negotiating stalemate.In its statement, the IRGC claimed that Tehran has set the Pentagon a deadline to lift its blockade of Iranian ports. It also claimed that the global tone of conversation on the conflict has shifted "against Washington," citing critical statements on the war from China, Russia and Europe.President Donald Trump, the IRGC said, must choose between "an impossible military operation or a bad deal" with Iran.

-ABC News'DraganaJovanovic

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