Well Played

People all over the world have watched in horror as Russia continues to invade Ukraine. But the war isn’t just being fought on the ground. It’s also being waged across social media.  For the past few weeks, our timelines have been flooded with memes about the conflict. But as we’re processing what some say could be the next World War III, the backlash to what's being posted on all sides has been s...

On Sunday, “Euphoria” finally lowered the curtain on its drama-filled sophomore season, and fans and critics have a lot to say — and not just about Fexi, the Maddy-Cassie showdown or the HBO Max outage that almost caused a Twitter riot.  Despite its popularity, the show has been under fire all season long, especially as it zeroed in on the unraveling of Zendaya's character, Rue. After season two p...

Since the breakup of Kimye, it seems like we’ve been keeping up with the Kardashians more than ever. We’re watching made-for-TV type drama unfold IRL, and you can’t go on social media without seeing the rapper going viral.  But not all fans are here for the spectacle. Some say that the way Ye’s talking about his ex and her new boyfriend are abusive and triggering, while others are questioning his...

Dating is hard. It’s even harder now that dating apps and social media have entered the chat — or rather, our relationships. And everywhere you turn, there are new standards on what it means to be Facebook or IG official.  Ten years ago, you’d ask Dear Abby all of your questions, read Cosmo, or watch a talk show. Now, people are turning to dating influencers online — and finding they have both goo...

Even if you don’t watch Bravo’s “Real Housewives,” you know about the franchise built around ridiculously rich women and over-the-top drama. Recently, fans uncovered six months’ worth of racist social media posts from “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Jennie Nguyen. And in a surprising and unusual move, Bravo fired Nguyen and publicly acknowledged the decision via social media. But with all...

When Carrie Underwood sings about taking a Louisville slugger to the headlights of a cheating ex’s car, does anybody assume she actually did it? What about when Johnny Cash said he shot a man in Reno?  Violent lyrics show up in a lot of music. But when it comes to rap and hip hop, it’s not unusual for those lyrics to show up in court. Prosecutors continue to use them as evidence to convict artists...

We’re all a little obsessed with “Buffy.” The demon-hunting, vampire-slaying heroine captured our attention in the late 90s — along with the man behind the series, Joss Whedon. His Whedonverse of hits includes everything from “Angel,” “Firefly” and “Dollhouse” to the DC and Marvel universes. But in recent years, the person we thought of as a feminist icon in Hollywood has been accused of toxic and...

Season two of “Euphoria” is here, and episode one broke HBO records with 2.4 million viewers tuning in to watch. So, yeah — we’re obsessed with the high school drama, which stars actress and Disney alum Zendaya as teen addict Rue. Known for its gritty — and often uncomfortable — storylines portraying drugs, sex and addiction, “Euphoria” is the latest in a long list of shows pushing the boundaries...

Last week, a new season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” kicked off. The show has opened doors for many drag performers to sashay their way into mainstream culture and educate us on the art of drag. One of the most famous queens to grace the show’s stage: Shangela Laquifah Wadley (aka D.J. Pierce, when out of drag) — after RuPaul, one of the most influential drag performers in America.  We talk with Shange...

We're kicking off 2022 right with a mini episode! We chatted with the one and only Cynthia Erivo. You know her as an award-winning actress and singer, but one thing you may not know is that she’s super serious about her wellness and exercise routine (she’s even part owner of a new workout wear line).  And we play a little musical game that's all about getting pumped up! Can you guess what’s on our...

It’s hard to believe that 2021 is almost over. But before we ring in the new year, let’s take a look back at all of the stories that entertained us — the things we watched, the celeb moments we couldn’t stop talking about, the music that topped our Spotify Wrapped lists and the industry shakeups that we’ll still be talking about next year. Can you guess what made our list? And stay tuned, because...

“Insecure” made us laugh, cry, yell and argue with strangers on Twitter for five years, but now it's time to say goodbye. Issa Rae’s award-winning series broke the mold and portrayed young Black people as more than stereotypes — signaling to Hollywood that creators can tell their authentic stories and be successful. But what will the show's cultural impact mean for the next generation of creatives...

"The Bachelorette’s" Michelle Young is making "Bachelor" nation history. For the first time since the franchise premiered in 2002, the man who'll soon be handed that final rose is guaranteed to be a man of color. It may seem like reality dating shows are making some slow progress on diversity. But why aren’t they keeping up with our IRL views on love and relationships?  You’ll hear from: Bethonie...

Meghan Markle won the latest battle in her privacy lawsuit with British tabloid The Mail on Sunday over its printing a private letter written to her father back in 2019. And the Duchess of Sussex is calling for changes to the tabloid industry. But could this ruling in the UK courts affect how the media covers celebrities? Then, we remember famed designer and style icon Virgil Abloh, and explore th...

The Colin Kaepernick Netflix series "Colin in Black & White" opened with a controversial scene comparing NFL tryouts to chattel slavery. It upset some people. For others, it sparked a conversation about systemic racism within the NFL. But the Kaepernick series also highlights racism present in three major American sports — football, baseball, and basketball. So we’re digging into the series’ big q...

From Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday to after-Christmas sales, more and more brands are selling fast fashion. And social media has been huge in helping brands like SHEIN, Zara and other online retailers show up in your Instagram, Facebook and TikTok feeds. But before you hit check out on your cart, learn the three questions you should be asking yourself to see if it’s really worth the cost. Pl...

What was supposed to be a celebration of music and the city of Houston turned deadly at Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival earlier this month. Ten people died after a crowd surge, and hundreds more were injured. Inevitably, people are looking for someone to blame — and Travis Scott is the most obvious target. But it’s more complicated than you might think.  You’ll hear from: Joey Guerra, music cri...

For years, the #FreeBritney movement has put a spotlight on the conservatorship pop princess Britney Spears has been living under for more than a decade. In a scathing testimony earlier this year, Spears made it clear that she wants out of the legal arrangement. This week, a judge may deliver a decision about the conservatorship that could change Britney Spears’ future and the way we think about d...

Reggaeton superstar J Balvín is in hot water over the video for his song "Perra." Critics say its portrayal of Afro-Latino people as dogs is racist and demeaning. J Balvín apologized and removed the video, but the controversy is stirring up a debate about long-standing racism and colorism in Latinx entertainment. After that, we’ve got all the details on a royal wedding that’s sparked protests in J...

There’s a lot happening at Netflix. Its South Korean show “Squid Game” became a surprise hit, and then it sparked controversy with a Dave Chappelle special many of its own employees called out as transphobic. “The Closer” and “Squid Game” might not seem to have much in common — other than being the most talked about things on Netflix right now. But they both represent big swings for the world’s bi...

Our obsession with space travel has always gone hand in hand with pop culture. And now that space is more accessible than ever, Hollywood has its sights set on a new, way more expansive studio. You’ll hear from: Dr. Teasel Muir Harmony, curator of the Apollo Spacecraft Collection, professor at Georgetown University and author of Apollo to the Moon: A History in 50 Objects.   Swapna Krishna, journa...

Nicki Minaj still has the kind of starpower that can hijack a news cycle with a few tweets. Has she been using it to silence the voice of a woman her husband was arrested for assaulting?  You’ll hear from: Dr. Jameta Barlow, community health psychologist and an assistant professor of writing at The George Washington University Carmen Alvarez, the bookstagrammer behind the @tomesandtextiles Instagr...

A PSA for the pop-culture obsessed: If you’re wading into this sea of TikTok videos, internet outrage, and celebrity news, you’re gonna want to bring us along. Welcome to Pop Cultured with theSkimm — the show that breaks down the stories you can’t stop thinking about. Coming October 12, with fresh episodes every Tuesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices