Growing up in Brazil, Kat Torres was a shy kid who loved to learn the latest dance routines on TV. But a promising future as a model took a surprising turn. It led her to tabloid gossip columns, the glitz of Hollywood and claims of supernatural powers.If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, here are some resources:The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 988. The National Alliance on Mental Illness is available at 1-800-950-6264.If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault, here are some resources: The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) survivor helpline is 1-800-656-4673. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center provides resources for sexual violence and prevention education. You can find them at nsvrc.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Wondery Plus subscribers can binge all episodes of Don't Cross Cat early and ad-free. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Hey, Chico here. Just wanted to let you know that this episode has a short mention of sexual abuse and self-harm. So please take care while listening. It was May 2013, long before Patty or Desiree had ever heard the name Cat Taurus.
At an upscale nightclub in the south of France, flashing lights lit up glamorous partygoers and socialites. In the middle of it all, a photographer stood scanning the crowd. It was the week of the Cannes Film Festival, and the town was full of Hollywood film stars. A buzz of excitement spread through the club. The photographer glimpsed a familiar face across the dance floor.
It was a handsome man, with a goatee, wearing a newsboy hat pulled low. Leonardo DiCaprio had arrived. The photographer followed his movements, looking for a clearer view. As he watched, a stunning blonde woman in a sleek white low-cut top emerge out of the crowd. The woman edged closer behind Leo. She leaned in, as if to say something. Then she put her hand on his back.
The photographer lowered the camera. He had gotten the shot. In October of that year, the photo splashed across the pages of Brazilian newspaper Extra. The article announced, the new lover of Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, Cat Torres. Within hours, British tabloid The Daily Mail picked the story up, featuring more photos of Cat.
One of her in a silky black dress, another in a white swimsuit, looking seductively over her shoulder. The next day, the photos were all over the world, reaching the gossip pages as far as Australia, South Africa and the US. It looked like Kat's big break, a moment that was set to take her from a life of obscurity to a life filled with fame and glamour.
But it didn't quite turn out that way, because Kat was about to take a more troubling path. It's a path I spent many months investigating, one that reveals the forces that shaped her and helps explain what was really going on in that house in Texas.
When Luigi Mangione was arrested for allegedly shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, he didn't just spark outrage, he ignited a cultural firestorm. Is the system working, or is it time for a reckoning? I'm Jesse Weber. Listen to Law & Crime's Luigi exclusively on Wondery Plus.
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
From Wondery, I'm Chico Felitti, and this is Don't Cross Cat, episode three, The Voice. The Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte is not the kind of place that gets much attention from the gossip columns. It's a town north of Rio, surrounded by mountains. Its name literally translates to beautiful horizons. But for Julia, living there as an eight-year-old, life was mainly about two things.
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