Month: January 2021

Guardians of the Galaxy star and Florida resident Dave Bautista is stepping up to do some heroics in real life by aiding in the arrest and capture of whoever carved the word “Trump” into the back of a manatee. The wrestler turned actor tweeted out a $20,000 cash reward for anyone with information on the animal abuse. Along with some choice words about the perpetrators, Bautista also promised “bonuses,” should they be brought to justice.

“If there’s not already a reward for the arrest and conviction of the low life scummy MAGATs that did this I’ll throw in $20,000,” Bautista tweeted. “And I promise there will be bonuses to that reward!”

Bautista has been a vocal critic of Trump over the years and even delivered a rare endorsement of Joe Biden in the 2020 election. In a message to his millions of Instagram followers, the Drax actor tore apart Trump’s tough guy image and shot down the concept that bullying (or abusing animals) is a sign of strength. “This country, more than anything right now, needs someone who’s going to have a plan so we can get back on track,” Bautista said. “A leader is someone who can unite people, who takes responsibility. That’s toughness. That is Joe Biden.”

But in case you aren’t sure that Bautista knows what he’s talking about when it comes to toughness, scope out this selfie he posted to celebrate his 52nd birthday. Also note that the Marvel star isn’t afraid to make a self-deprecating joke about not being able to stop “sagging above the neck,” which is the kind of humility you’ll never see from Trump.

(Via Dave Bautista on Twitter)

Uproxx’s React Like You Know is back with another round of classic videos for today’s cohort of young performers to watch and the reactions remain as entertaining as ever. This week’s episode revives the 1996 wedding reception/family reunion staple, Mark Morrison’s “Return Of The Mack,” and recruits Gen Z faves like Trippie Redd, Toosii, and BRS Kash to report on the videos extremely mid-90s trappings.

Most of this week’s panel seems familiar with the track, but as many of its members weren’t even born in 1996, there are more than a few who have never seen the video. Toosii straight up forgets to comment as he becomes engrossed in the video’s Blaxploitation-inspired plot, while Blac Chyna seems fascinated by the fashion, which Hook calls “Matrix vibes,” remarking that she loves “a good turtleneck.”

However, Chyna has some advice for anyone looking to mimic the video’s distinctive look. “Don’t be doing the Gumby if your hairline is [bad],” she jokes. DaniLeigh takes a crack at explaining what a “mack” is, while AZChike approves of the background dancers’ support for Mark and what Bobby Sessions calls “bouncing back like the [Denver] Nuggets.”

Watch the latest episode of React Like You Know above.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Bridgerton is a huge hit for Netflix — and porn websites. Page Six reports that steamy scenes from the Shonda Rhimes-produced drama “have racked up hundreds of thousands of views on adult video-streaming platforms, leaving Netflix executives struggling to yank the unauthorized shared footage.” The same thing happened for HBO with Game of Thrones and Hulu for Normal People, and now it’s Netflix’s turn.

Many clips have already been removed from porn platforms after Netflix issued warnings about “misuse of their intellectual property” — but it’s apparently difficult for the streaming giant to keep up with the shady business of rogue online smut. “It’s been particularly distressing for [Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page], two young actors who signed on for the role of a lifetime and did not consent to being exploited in this way,” the insider said.

The same insider also complained that to “peddle scenes as pure smut is beyond the pale,” which is a very British way of saying “just subscribe to Netflix, you creeps.”

Dynevor told the Guardian that her sex scenes, whether with a partner or solo, were carefully choreographed. “We would rehearse the sex scenes like stunts,” she said. “I would literally know exactly where a guy was going to put his hand at what moment. And we’d have props, like mats, that went in between us… I never really felt exposed at all.”

(Via Page Six)

Euphoria‘s second season production wound up in the pandemic shuffle, but HBO was still able to crank out two special episodes to quench Zendaya-fan thirst, at least a little bit. The twin standalone episodes act as mirror reflections for what happened after Rue was left standing alone at a train station by Jules, which led to some sad diner action by the former, and now, the second episode (directed by Euphoria creator Sam Levinson) will inform the audience of what went down on Jules’ end. Actress Hunter Schafer, who portrays Jules, also co-wrote the installment, which is entitled, “F*ck Anyone Who’s Not A Sea Blob.” HBO previously released an image that helps the title make more sense, but the most important bit of news today is that the release date has been bumped up for those who prefer to watch on HBO Max.

The episode will still receive its official HBO debut on Sunday, January 24 (at 9:00 p.m. EST/PST), but HBO Max will stream it beginning Friday, January 22 (also at 9:00 p.m. EST/PST). Two days might not seem like a lot in the pre-social-distancing era, but it’s sure appreciated by fans who are staring down the weekend and looking to plan out their weekend bingewatching schedule. Like the first episode (which also received a slightly pushed-up HBO Max premiere), this installment about Jules was also produced during the era of strict COVID-19 guidelines.

The trailer looks as emotional (and glitter-crusted) as one would expect from this series, and the episode will revolve almost solely around Jules’ perspective after her getaway plot with Rue (following her relapse) didn’t workout exactly as planned. Keep your ears peeled for the sounds of a fresh collaborative song from Billie Eilish and Rosalía, “Lo Vas A Olvidar,” which shall be released in its entirety on Thursday, January 21.

Fortnite has teamed up with just about everything under the sun in an attempt to bring new stuff to its game. This has meant a number of unique skins, presentations on with the game itself, and emotes that gamers could use to keep things fresh as they shoot and build their way to a Victory Royale.

The latest example of this is coming via a partnership with a number of clubs from the world of football, along with one of the greatest individuals to step on the pitch. In a video, Fortnite announced that the signature air punch that Pele would do after slotting one into the back of the net with come to the game as an emote.

This isn’t the only Pele-related addition to the game, as Fortnite announced that an event called The Pele Cup is coming on Jan. 20, 2021. According to Goal, Nate Nanzer, the head of global partnerships at Epic Games, explained that the event is “a really exciting tournament that we’re going to be running where any Fortnite player will be able to sign up and compete to try to win both outfits and the Pele emote early, prior to launch, for free.”

Beyond all of that, Fortnite is adding kits from a number of clubs across world football, with European giants, MLS stalwarts, and much more included. Per Epic Games, here are the 23 clubs coming to the game:

• Manchester City FC
• Juventus
• AC Milan
• Inter Milan
• AS Roma
• Seattle Sounders FC
• Atlanta United
• Los Angeles FC
• Santos FC
• Wolves
• West Ham United FC
• Sevilla FC
• Sporting CP
• Borussia Mönchengladbach
• FC Schalke 04
• VFL Wolfsburg
• Rangers FC
• Celtic FC
• Cerezo Osaka
• Melbourne City FC
• Sydney FC
• Western Sydney Wanderers
• EC Bahia

The gamers who won’t participate in the Pele Cup will have to wait until Jan. 23 to be able to acquire the emote and the various kits in the game’s story.

Gordi released her excellent album Our Two Skins back in June, which reflected on love, loss, and identity. Now that the album has been out for a few months, the singer decided to put her music in the hands of her trusted contemporaries so that they could reimagine the album in various ways. Sharing the Helado Negro remix of “Free Association,” Gordi announced her upcoming Our Two Skins (Remix) EP.

Helado Negro’s “Free Association” remix subdues the song into a quiet ballad, stripping back Gordi’s resonating instrumentals in favor of eerie synths. Speaking about Helado Negro’s remix, Gordi said she’s been a big fan of the musician for some time:

“I must have listened to This Is How You Smile a dozen times when it came out. The subtle pulses and feelings that run through the music that Roberto [Helado Negro] makes are truly unique. Hearing that same life flood through ‘Free Association’ — the closer of Our Two Skins — is very special to me.”

Listen to Helado Negro’s “Free Association” remix above and below, find Gordi’s Our Two Skins (Remix) album art and tracklist.

1. “Radiator (Lawrence English Remix)”
2. “Free Association (Helado Negro Remix)”
3. “Unready (Loraine James Remix)”
4. “Extraordinary Life (Georgia Maq Remix)”
5. “Extraordinary Life (Alex Somers Remix)”
6. “Unready (Ryan Hemsworth Remix)”
7. “Radiator (Lawrence English Remix – Eternal Coda)”

Our Two Skins (Remix) is out 1/27 via Jagjaguwar. Pre-order it here.

If there’s anyone who knows what it’s like to play Spider-Man, it’s Tom Holland. And also Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield and Shameik Moore in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Jake Johnson also in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Christopher Daniel Barnes from 1994’s Spider-Man animated series and… But for the sake of brevity, it’s Tom Holland. The British actor has been the MCU’s friendly neighborhood Peter Parker since 2016’s Captain America: Civil War and has appeared in four movies since, including the highest-grossing movie of all-time. But the most he’s “ever felt like Spider-Man” wasn’t in Far From Home or Avengers: Endgame — it was on a ride.

“Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure” is a screen-ride coming to the Avengers Campus at two Disney parks: Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, California, and Walt Disney Studios Park in France (there will be no campus at Disney World for complicated legal reasons). “What Disney Imagineers have created is pretty spectacular,” Holland said about the ride in the first-look video above. “When I first joined playing Spider-Man, I went to Avengers Headquarters and it was just a bunch of green screens. So the fact that there’s going to be a legit place where people can go and visit is pretty awesome.” He added, “For me, personally, it’s the most I’ve ever felt like Spider-Man. So everyone is gonna get to share that experience, which is so awesome. So I’m just really excited for it to open and I want to go ride it again with all the fans.”

As for the ride itself:

Donning 3D glasses, your mission will be to test-drive the aspiring inventor’s latest invention, the WEB Slinger vehicle, and discover your web-slinging super powers! Through specially designed, innovative technology that recognizes body movements and gestures, you will reach out your hands and sling webs from your wrists, just like Spider-Man. As the WEB Slinger vehicles progress, you will virtually pass through several other Campus addresses, including Pym Test Kitchen, Avengers Headquarters, and the Collector’s Fortress, also home to Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! As the mission continues, Spider-Bots will become harder and harder to beat as they continue to multiply.

In excellent news for the acrophobics among us (me), “Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure” isn’t a rollercoaster, so you won’t exit the ride saying, “I don’t feel so good.” The Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure opens later this year.

(Via Disney Parks)

Some rappers — like J. Cole, Drake, and Quavo, to name a few — are big basketball fans and have some game on the court as well. DJ Khaled and Fat Joe are not on that same tier. Last summer, the two generated some attention online for a video of them playing one-on-one, a match-up that didn’t inspire much confidence in their abilities. Now, though, they have a rematch on the way, and interested parties will be able to check that out on the pair’s new OnlyFans account.

Yes, Joe and Khaled have a joint OnlyFans account. It doesn’t look like they’ll offer the sort of racy content the site is best known for, though. A subscription costs $20 per month and Khaled and Joe’s bio reads, “welcome to the LIGHT – the page for fans to get exclusive motivational and inspirational content, where we will be guiding fans to ‘the light’ while sharing uplifting insights and behind-the-scenes of our personal lives.”

Khaled and Joe both teased the basketball rematch and the OnlyFans account on social media, noting that video of the fateful game will be available on January 25. In a statement, Khaled noted, “We’ll be sharing content that’s not anywhere else….it’s the light. Joe added, “We also wanted to create a community that’s full of positivity and hypes each other up! We want to get to know our actual fans.”

Check out the OnlyFans account here.

The Tennessee Volunteers became a late addition to college football’s coaching carousel on Monday. Head coach Jeremy Pruitt got the pink slip following an internal investigation into the program which, per ESPN, claimed that “the conduct by at least two assistant coaches and several recruiting staff members are likely to lead to an NCAA finding of Level I and/or Level II violations of one or more Governing Athletic Rules. The University also has concluded that these likely findings were the result of either your material neglect or lack of reasonable preventive compliance measures.”

Pruitt ended up getting fired for cause, but the biggest question amid all of this is what exactly happened that led to Pruitt’s ouster at the conclusion of his second year in Knoxville. The answer, per Dan Patrick, involves money, recruits, and bags from McDonald’s.

“I was told that there’s a few things that are going on here, and I asked my source, I said, ‘How did they get these assistant coaches on recruiting violations?’” Patrick said on his radio show on Tuesday morning. “And he said, ‘Well, they put money into McDonald’s bags and gave them to the recruits when they came on campus. Some of the campus visits were not organized, or they were not above board, but they were handing out cash.’”

After a little crosstalk, Patrick claimed his source made clear that the Volunteers were blatant with their operation to the point that the NCAA had to step in.

“You literally had bag men, and they put the cash in McDonald’s bags and handed it to the recruits,” Patrick said. “My source said they were so in your face with this, they weren’t even trying to hide it. And that’s where my source said Tennessee got sloppy — Georgia has gotten sloppy, but there’s been no word on the NCAA looking at Georgia. But Tennessee, they got sloppy, and they were handing out cash in McDonald’s bags.”

Now, Patrick is not a frequent college football newsbreaker or anything like that, so it does come out of left field that he’s the one who broke this news. Still, this entire ordeal — from the circumstances surrounding Pruitt’s hiring to the circumstances surrounding his firing — was described by Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports as “plain-old incompetence,” and there are few things that would be more incompetent than bringing “Happy Meal” to a whole different level.

Despite ASAP Mob’s 2021 Yams Day getting scaled back to being a live stream in response to COVID-19, by all accounts the concert was a success thanks to exuberant performances from ASAP Rocky, ASAP Ferg, Rowdy Rebel, and the crew giving out “Yammy” awards — their version of a Grammy — to the rappers many fans felt were overlooked by official awards shows in 2020, like Lil Baby.

Of course, with ASAP Rocky gearing up to release a new album this year, he also wound up previewing plenty of new music via snippets of music videos that made exquisite use of the concert’s new live stream format. Naturally, enterprising fans captured video from the live stream and shared it on Twitter, juicing the buzz for a follow-up to Rocky’s 2018 album Testing.

The crew also hosted a number of exclusive freestyles from the Mob and the recently-released Rowdy Rebel.

The highlight of the show for many was the Yammys presentation. The awards highlighted artists in categories like Yamborghini High Artist Of The Year, Big AWGIE Award for Best Creative Direction, and Hella Flows.

If you missed the concert live, have no fear. The Mob has posted the stream in its entirety on YouTube. You can check that out above.