What Else?

Over on our Substack, The Squawk, there was a conversation happening in the daily chats - which are always popping! - about the raids that have been going on around the United States as families are being torn apart and children traumatised and used as pawns. 

Here’s the intersection between celebrity and social issues. Because Selena Gomez shared on Instagram her heartbreak over the situation. She is one of the most followed people on the platform. And she was met with maga backlash. There are also assholes on the right who are threatening to deport her. This is an attempt to silence a person who is influential. And she’s had her own complicated relationship with social media and criticism and online toxicity. So they’re hitting her in her Achilles while she’s also quite visible for her work, as she’s with the Emilia Perez team, campaigning for Oscar. So far she seems to be holding firm. Which is admirable. But hopefully she’s also able protect her mental health. (Pajiba)

This is sort of related - Duana sent over a link to me yesterday, it’s NY Mag’s new piece on “The Cruel Kids Table”. It’s politics, sure, but it’s also pop culture. “The Cultural Ascendency of the New Young Right” is taking place on social media, on TikTok, and YouTube. You might not be entirely aware but it’s shaping your views on entertainment and media and fashion. It’s definitely shaping your kids’ views in how they gossip and that in turn has an impact on the gossip on this site. This is what I mean about the intersection. (NY Magazine)

That intersection is on full display in the Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni saga. This man, a self-proclaimed feminist, is getting a LOT of support from the very same sinister forces that have weaponised the internet against women time and time again. And he’s giving them all the content they want on a steady drip. Every week it seems, Justin’s team is leaking videos and messages intended to entrench the widespread TikTok opinion that he’s been wronged. The latest is a voice note and I guess after listening to it I’m supposed to think he’s soft and humble well before this thing goes to court. (Celebitchy)

One of my favourite brands of all time: Comme des Garçons. It’s the shapes, the layers, the quality - and if you’ve been to Japan, you’ll see that there’s very much the spirit of Japanese aesthetic in these clothes. Every day when I was there I wanted to approach someone and ask them where they got their pants, coats, hats, shoes. If I could wear Comme every day, I would. Here’s the latest collection. Those splashes of colour are a delight! (Go Fug Yourself)

This one is for Sarah because she loooooves Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. “Paul Newman was Method’s greatest star”, a wonderful piece by Brogan Morris. (AV Club)