It’s Big Slick weekend in Kansas City, which means a cadre of celebrities who call Kansas City, or more generously Kansas and Missouri, home turn up for a weekend of sports and goofiness to benefit Children’s Mercy Hospital in KC. It started as a poker tournament back when Everything Was Poker and has grown to encompass celebrity softball, activities with kids from the hospital, a silent auction, and a variety show.
Big Slick was founded by Rob Riggle, Paul Rudd, and Jason Sudeikis, who all went to the same high school outside Kansas City and has expanded to include other Kansas City celebs like Eric Stonestreet and Heidi Gardner, plus their myriad famous friends. It’s a good cause, it also means unproblematic king Paul Rudd has emerged. Here’s Rudd & Co kicking off the weekend in KC. If you’d like to support Big Slick and Children’s Mercy, you can find more information here.
Speaking of support, wildfires are ravaging Manitoba, Canada. As we’ve seen in California, Australia, Brazil, and so many other places, these fires are devastating. You can find information on support and donations through the Canadian Red Cross here. The Southern Chiefs’ Organization is collecting to assist First Nations people displaced and affected here (thanks Virginia M). And if you’re in the Winnipeg area, the Winnipeg Humane Society is working to support animals affected by the fires and is asking for specific donations (thanks Lil):
What else happened today…
Here’s a branch of trad wifery I didn’t see coming—the “rodeo crush”, celebrating all things PBR and bull rider. I should have seen it coming, in no small part due to 1) growing up in Texas, and 2) Bella Hadid’s boyfriend is Adan Banuelos, a cutting horse champ, and Bella herself participates in cutting horse competitions.
I will say, whenever I see photos/videos of Bella riding, her horses’ mouths are always soft and closed, a sign they are not in distress, and she is not putting too much pressure on them via the bit. I stan a soft-handed queen! That said, as a whole sport, rodeos are inhumane byeeeeeee (Popsugar)
Cynthia Erivo has temporarily stopped theme-dressing. (Go Fug Yourself)
Broadway beef! Patti LuPone gave a deliberately incendiary interview—it’s what the people want, she was only indulging her audience—but it has revived public interest in her feud with fellow Broadway star Audra McDonald. Audra is now speaking up, saying she hasn’t seen Patti in over a decade. Well no kidding. No one mistook you two for friends. (Celebitchy)
Is the virality of the Criterion Closet proof that there’s still hope for physical media? (Vulture)
