Pop Culture

Writer, director, and producer Justine Bateman, who broke through in the 1980s as one of the fresh-faced teen stars of the NBC sitcom Family Ties, has already grappled publicly with the fickle nature of fame. In 2018’s Fame: The Hijacking of Reality, Bateman recalled the “nauseating experience” of discovering how strangers on the internet were

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, has died at age 99, Buckingham Palace said Friday. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip have lavished much attention on Canada throughout their lives, each visiting the country more than 20 times over the years. Read more: Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, dies at 99 The list below includes

Comedian Ziwe Fumudoh’s Instagram Live show Baited is one of the very best things on the entirety of the internet. In a series of interviews with high-profile white people who have been “canceled,” she asks blunt and simple questions like “How many Black friends do you have?” to which far too many white people answer “between

Gaetz’s close friend, who reportedly procured the women he paid for sex, is expected to do a plea deal that would be very bad for the Congressman.  By Bess Levin April 8, 2021 When The New York Times reported that the Department of Justice was investigating Rep. Matt Gaetz for allegedly paying women for sex

Things are not looking good for the ex-president re: staying out of prison.  By Bess Levin April 8, 2021 Nearly three months after leaving the White House, things could be going both worse and better for Donald Trump. On the one hand, he was acquitted by the Senate for inciting the violent mob that attacked

Fox News launched a new late-night comedy show this week and just know that whatever you’re imagining, the reality is so much worse. Gutfeld! (yes, that’s actually the name) is hosted by network fixture Greg Gutfeld, who constantly refers to himself as “GG” and opened his first show Monday night by mispronouncing Kamala Harris’ name

A new sci-fi thriller presents some intriguing possibilities, but does nothing with them.  By Richard Lawson April 7, 2021 We’ve all had this nightmare: the Earth is dying, so we’re forced to get on a spaceship full of teens on a one-way mission to a faraway planet. Such is the fate that befalls Richard (no

Fresh off of being named Wrestler of the Year, Banks will make history alongside Bianca Belair as the first two Black women to compete for a WrestleMania championship, where Bad Bunny will also be wrestling. By Mick Rouse April 6, 2021 Sasha BanksCourtesy of WWE 2019 was a tough year for Sasha Banks. Since debuting

Eric Church is setting his sights on five Canadian cities as the country singer heads out on a 55-city full arena North American tour starting this fall. It’s the first concert tour announced in Canada since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (with the exception of drive-in shows). “I just want to play shows,” Church

“Do you think if any of the Trump children ever tried to get a job outside of their father’s business that his name wouldn’t figure into the calculation?” By Bess Levin April 7, 2021 One of the most cringeworthy subplots to emerge from Donald Trump’s attempt to take down Joe Biden via his son was

The White House press secretary was once again having none of Doocy’s fact-free Republican talking points. By Bess Levin April 6, 2021 If you’ve yet to tune into the White House’s daily press briefings, something you may not know is that they regularly feature Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asking inane questions that simply serve

Joss Whedon was held up for years as a “feminist” icon because he made Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the late ’90s/early 2000s. As someone who hadn’t watched the show in the late ’90s and only started it in the last few years, I didn’t understand the praise he got, but that’s neither here nor there.

British commentator Piers Morgan called Meghan Markle a “liar” and complained about cancel culture in his first interview since walking off the set of Good Morning Britain last month when he bailed in the face of a challenge from a co-host. The British pundit unloaded several attacks against Markle during a friendly, hour-long interview with

The acclaimed Donald Glover series resumed production last week. Here’s everything he and others have teased about the new episodes so far. By William Goodman April 6, 2021 Lakeith Stanfield and Donald Glover in Atlanta, 2018.Courtesy of Guy D’Alema for FX A three year hiatus is tough for any audience, but it’s especially difficult when

A super PAC allied with the Senate minority leader took in a whopping $475 million from corporate donors last year alone. By Bess Levin April 6, 2021 Earlier this week an extremely testy Mitch McConnell sent a warning to corporate America. Angry that companies like Delta, Coca-Cola, and Major League Baseball had had the audacity

In his new memoir, the first son recalled MAGA fans outside his driveway following a late-campaign laptop story in the New York Post, where he is once again gracing the cover. By Caleb Ecarma April 5, 2021 In Hunter Biden’s new memoir, Beautiful Things, the first son chronicles his long battle with substance abuse, writing

Taylor Swift has made her grand return to the Grammys after four years away, and she dressed for the occasion. The singer appeared at the event’s limited red carpet (there’s still an ongoing pandemic, after all), wearing a flower-adorned mini dress by Oscar de la Renta. Her boyfriend Joe didn’t pose with her. Getty Images

Spoilers for SK8 the Infinity I’ve gone on record saying that shipping and sports anime go together like two boys creating an infinity symbol with their fists to signify the fact that they’ll skate together forever. Yeah, we gotta talk about SK8 the Infinity’s finale, and how we Renga shippers (aka: those who ship the two leads, Reki Kyan and Langa

Matt and I forged an unlikely friendship in Congress, and he was one of the few colleagues who spoke out after a malicious nude-photo leak upended my life. But if recent reports are true, he engaged in the very practice he defended me from—and should resign immediately. By Katie Hill April 5, 2021 Since I

The popular Williamsburg restaurant fed frontline hospital workers and hungry families, and now they’re giving away free donuts and celebrating 15 years in business. By Mahira Rivers April 2, 2021 Pies ‘n’ Thighs co-owners Carolyn Bane and Sarah SannehCourtesy of Pies ‘n’ Thighs When Pies ‘n’ Thighs first opened in South Williamsburg in 2006, it

Stunt ensemble prizes have already been handed out to The Mandalorian and Wonder Woman 1984; stay tuned for more winners as they’re announced. By Vanity Fair April 4, 2021 You’ve seen all the looks from the SAG Awards 2021’s virtual red carpet—including nominee Emma Corrin’s 1990s-inspired beauty look. Now it’s time to learn which actors

Taylor Swift and her ex-boyfriend Harry Styles both performed at the Grammys in Los Angeles tonight. They has a moment at the ceremony when Styles won the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance for “Watermelon Sugar.” Swift was in the audience, applauding for him, like the supportive ex she is. This content is imported from

The campaign—which once took a hard line against “dishonest fundraising groups” that “confuse voters”—reportedly used misleading tactics in online fundraising to amass millions in donations.  By Charlotte Klein April 4, 2021 Former President Donald Trump reportedly convinced unwitting supporters to give tens of millions in recurring donations to his 2020 campaign—a scam that allowed the

Ever since we found out that Lola Bunny would be returning in Space Jam: A New Legacy, we’ve been waiting to find out who would be voicing the bunny baller. It was just confirmed that Emmy-winning actress Zendaya will be taking on the role. This continues Zendaya’s pop culture domination as a singular talent and

“In the moment of a laugh, you forget every problem you’ve ever had.” By Jordan Hoffman April 3, 2021 “What’s the deal with societal shutdowns?” Jerry Seinfeld, wearing a Mets cap and KN95 mask, was the first performer at New York’s re-opened Gotham Comedy Club on Friday night. The famed yukkery had been closed for

Saturday Night Live (SNL), took jabs at several celebrities and public figures in its newest cold-open, this time re-using a spoofed talk show hosted by pop star Britney Spears. Titled “Oops, you did it again,” this week’s iteration of the show featured Republican Representative Matt Gaetz, Lil Nas X and Looney Tunes cartoon character Pepé Le Pew.

Netflix’s plan for two sequels could turn what was a fun standalone mystery into the endless content loops demanded by today’s film culture. By Kyle Turner April 2, 2021 Daniel Craig in Knives Out, 2019.Courtesy of Claire Folger for Lionsgate The genre I have turned to the most in the last year has been the

Popular rapper and actor Earl Simmons, known to his fans by the stage name DMX or Dark Man X, was reported in grave condition Saturday in a New York hospital after suffering a heart attack triggered by an apparent drug overdose, according to the celebrity publications TMZ and Billboard. The publications reported that Simmons, 50,

Early reports indicate the prognosis is not good.  By Jordan Hoffman April 3, 2021 The rapper and actor DMX was rushed to a hospital in White Plains, New York on Friday, after an overdose triggered a heart attack, according to TMZ. A source told the outlet that the performer was in a “vegetative state.” Word

David Johnson courtesy of Amazon Prime Video Bronx-born comedian Gina Brillon is the co-host of the hilarious self-help podcast Mess In Progress: A Homegirls Guide To Self-Hel‪p and star of her own Amazon special The Floor is Lava. Her next act? A spot on Soledad O’Brien’s Matter of Fact Listening Tour, to demythologize what it