Month: March 2022

Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay is notorious for having a bit of a temper on his shows “Hell’s Kitchen” and “MasterChef.” But that doesn’t mean he can’t have a big heart, too.

Ramsay was being interviewed on the BBC’s “The Radio 2 Breakfast Show” last week when kitchen manager Tina Clarke from Edward Peake Middle School in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England jokingly called in to ask for help. She said she was “cooking on her own here” because two of her co-workers were out sick.

She had to prepare 300 meals for the students while short-staffed.

“I’m cooking here on my own, I work in a school kitchen and my chef has gone off sick and I have another one off with COVID, and I just wondered if Gordon would help me today and give me a hand?” Clarke asked jokingly.

He’s not only the king of the kitchen, @gordonramsay is the king of kindness too! nn@vernonkay caught up with Tina from Edward Peake Middle School to find out how Gordon’s generosity went down! pic.twitter.com/2CqYfy3DIt

— BBC Radio 2 (@BBC Radio 2)
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To her surprise, Ramsay agreed to help. “If I did have the time I would be in Bedfordshire, I promise you in a heartbeat, I can send a chef if you wish?” he asked.

How could Clarke refuse the help of a chef that works with Gordon Ramsay?

Ramsay called a cab and sent over a member of his team, chef Rob Roy Cameron from Ramsay’s Lucky Cat restaurant in London, to help. Lucky Cat is in a wealthy neighborhood and is known for Asian-inspired small plates and sushi.

Clarke had no idea that Ramsay would send help so she was a little worried the school administration wouldn’t be too pleased with her inviting a stranger into the kitchen without permission. But she couldn’t have known that Ramsay would say yes to her half-hearted plea.

“When I got a message saying your chef will be with you in an hour, I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to have to fess up to the head and I hope she doesn’t give me detention or lines,'” she admitted.

Hereu2019s an appreciation post for @GordonRamsay @BBCRadio2 and Chef Rob Roy Cameron for helping us out in the kitchen today! #TeamPeake #AppreciationPost #ThankYoupic.twitter.com/qqnYVD6gI1

— EdwardPeake (@EdwardPeake)
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However, the headteacher, Miss Linington, said it was fine with her and a jolt of excitement went through the halls of the school. When Cameron arrived, Clarke put him to work immediately making cauliflower cheese. “I’m sure he was terrified by having three menopausal women around him in the kitchen all day,” Clarke joked.

We had a very exciting visitor today at Edward Peake. Rob Roy Cameron was sent to us by @GordonRamsay all thanks to our wonderful chef for asking Gordon Ramsey to come help her in the kitchen on @BBCRadio2 #TeamPeake #GordanRamsey #RobRoyCameron #HugeThankyou #BBCRadio2pic.twitter.com/1tFML7xklG

— EdwardPeake (@EdwardPeake)
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Clarke said that the food tasted “amazing” even though Cameron was shocked to learn he couldn’t use any salt. The students were happy about their visitor, too. “The kids were so excited,” Clarke said. “We’ve never had so many visitors [in the kitchen],” Clarke said.

The next day, Clarke got the chance to personally thank Ramsay on the radio. “It sent a huge buzz around the school. So, thank you,” she said through a pretaped message. She also thanked “her loyal staff,” Andrea, Mandy, Sharon and Louise.

“Anytime, Tina,” Ramsay responded.

Ramsay’s generosity shows that when you have a true love of food and cooking, a kitchen is a kitchen, whether you’re preparing a meal at a 5-star Michelin-rated restaurant or you have hundreds of hungry students to feed.

Tina, Kitchen Manager of a school in Bedfordshire called for aid and @GordonRamsay answered! nnWe just loved this story so much.nn#TheOneShowpic.twitter.com/b6Z3V7Ydch

— BBC The One Show (@BBC The One Show)
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The infamous Slap Heard Round the World at the Academy Awards on Sunday night stole all of the event’s headlines but there were some very sweet moments that shouldn’t be overlooked.

The speech by Best Supporting Actor winner Troy Kotsur for his performance in “CODA” was a real tear-jerker. There was also a tribute to Betty White featuring Jamie Lee Curtis, who took the stage with an adorable dog named Mac & Cheese. White was a tireless animal rights advocate who helped countless animals throughout her lifetime.

“Day in and day out for almost a century, she was a woman who cared so much for not just her two-legged friends but for animals just like this,” the actor said. “So, the greatest gift you could give Betty White is to open your heart and your home and adopt a rescue dog just like Mac & Cheese from (the nonprofit organization) Paw Works.”

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Curtis left the theater after the tribute and received a text message with a photo of actor John Travolta holding Mac & Cheese in the green room. “I thought it was so beautiful to see him,” she said of her “Perfect” co-star. Travolta was preparing to hit the stage for a “Pulp Fiction” reunion with Uma Thurman and Samuel L. Jackson.

Evidently, Travolta and Mac & Cheese shared an immediate bond because the next day, Curtis shared a photo of the “Grease” star with the dog along with his 11-year-old son, Ben. After meeting Mac & Cheese at the ceremony, Travolta decided to adopt the pup.

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Curtis was overjoyed that Mac & Cheese found a forever home with the Travoltas.

“I thought it was so beautiful to see him with her and then today I found out that he and his son, Ben have adopted beautiful little mac & cheese and are taking her home today. It is an emotional end and a perfect tribute to Betty White,” Curtis wrote on Instagram.

Travolta is clearly an animal lover. His Instagram feed shows that he has two dogs, one of which is a mini pin named Jinx. According to Celebrity Pets, he adopted a cat named Crystal last year. There’s no doubt that Betty White would have been elated to know that she played a role in another dog finding a forever home.

When White passed away on New Year’s Eve last year she left an incredible legacy of caring for animals. She worked for decades championing animal rights, published a book on the subject and starred in the nature show “Pet Set” in 1971.

After her death, she was honored by the ASPCA.

“Betty White demonstrated a lifelong commitment to helping animals in need, including dedicated support for local shelters and animal welfare endeavors, fiercely promoting and protecting animal interests in her entertainment projects, and personally adopting many rescued animals,” Matt Bershadker, ASPCA president and CEO, said in a statement.

Thank you for being a friend, Betty.

What’s not to love about Lizzo? She’s talented in multiple ways, has impeccable fashion sense and encourages people to love themselves on a regular basis, so it’s no surprise that she’s taking her talents to the small screen. Lizzo recently created a reality show with Amazon Prime Video titled “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls,” where she is on the hunt with her choreographer and touring team to find new backup dancers for her upcoming tour.

This isn’t just any search for backup dancers though, it’s a search for backup dancers in larger bodies and other varying body types and a celebration of dancers of all sizes. Lizzo posted to her Instagram about the excitement behind the show and the viral TikTok dance it created. In true Lizzo fashion, she took the opportunity to shut down part of Hollywood Boulevard and dance it out in the street with some of the dancers from the show.

Body positivity and the health at every size (HAES) movement have been steadily gaining traction and Lizzo has been unapologetic about how she dresses her body and the level of confidence she has. It is refreshing to see the landscape begin to change to include bodies that are more representative of the country in which we live. Lizzo’s fierce defiance of the societal norm of keeping larger bodies covered up has emboldened other women and some men to do the same.

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A show like “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls” will continue to provide representation for body types outside of what society deems appropriate and healthy. It will show that bodies can move at every size and stand on a public stage to show the world what they can do. Lizzo often has dancers of various sizes on tour with her, but this will be the first time we’ll get to see the hiring process happening in real time. Dancers have come from all over to audition for this show and be cast.

It’s no wonder that Lizzo decided to stop her car on Hollywood Boulevard to dance to the viral TikTok dance that bears the same title of her reality show. In her post on Instagram, the singer wrote “We shut DOWN Hollywood blvd (IN HEELS) last night in celebration of WATCH OUT FOR THE BIG GRRRLS—it’s been crazy watching the world do our dance.” The video and images included in the post show several of her talented dancers of all sizes recreating the viral dance created by Jemel McWilliams.

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Body positivity is for everyone, but it’s especially important for people with large bodies. Representation in the media means people that have the lived experience of being larger in America can see the possibilities they have because they see someone else doing it. Representation goes so much further than feminism or race. It matters for everyone, but especially those who belong to marginalized groups.

Lizzo’s show is much needed and the ripples will continue far after the show wraps.

At the moment, it really looks like Doja Cat is getting ready to leave the music world behind. After receiving criticism from fans in Paraguay for not mentioning the country enough while she was there, Doja declared on Twitter, “i f*ckin quit i can’t wait to f*cking disappear and i don’t need you to believe in me anymore. Everything is dead to me, music is dead, and i’m a f*cking fool for ever thinking i was made for this this is a f*cking nightmare.”

She’s said a few more things since then and in her latest dispatch from today, she explained that while she will be sticking around a bit longer, it’s only to honor her current obligations. Once that’s over with, she does indeed plan on leaving music behind.

This afternoon, Doja wrote in a pair of tweets, “for those who are seeing me at the after hours tour, i’m not bailing. But me not bailing doesn’t mean my ass isn’t gonna disappear right after. i still got sh*t i gotta do. and a lot of y’all think cuz i post a f*ckin picture it means i’m not out. Pic doesn’t = music GOOFY. so yes that still means i got videos to film i got performances to do and I got content to drop so i’m pooping it out and dippin. i ain’t gone yet.” She also added, “piggy dippin.”

So, unless this is whole saga is an elaborate set-up for an April Fools’ Day reveal tomorrow, fans may only have a limited amount of time remaining to enjoy Doja’s music career.

These days, the smallest move Chlöe Bailey makes is enough to get the internet’s attention. Following up the success of her debut solo single, “Have Mercy,” she’s been on quite a run, most recently collaborating with Gunna on the “You & Me” video, and prepping the release of her second solo song. That track, which she’s already been teasing, is called “Treat Me,” and today she let fans know exactly when it will drop — and shared some pretty bossy single artwork to go along with it.

“TREAT ME DROPS 4/8 y’all ready? make sure you pre-save,” she wrote on Twitter.

Fans were definitely excited about the single artwork, which is line with some of the other high-glam photos Chloe has been sharing since she started as a solo artist. Those photos often have people — including other celebrities like Cardi B — absolutely floored. Meanwhile, despite their recent collaboration, and photos of them holding hands, Gunna and Chloe have still been maintaining that they’re not a couple. Well, if that is true that means Chloe is still single, and it sounds like her next song is laying out exactly how she wants to be treated in a relationship.

Keep an ear out for that new single dropping next Friday, April 8.

Following up her new single, “Island In The Sun,” Winona Oak has returned today with more new music for Scandi-pop lovers. Born Johanna Ewana Ekmark, the Swedish singer-songwriter is readying her debut album, and “Baby Blue” is the second single we’ve heard so far. In the song, she remembers a past lover who didn’t love her like they should’ve.

Here’s what she had to say about the track:
“I wish I knew earlier in my life that your self-worth has nothing to do with how other people treat you. When you exhaust yourself trying to save them from themselves, lying to protect them, sacrificing your own needs and getting your heart broken over and over again – you may realize that sometimes you have no other choice than to leave to stay alive. It’s a tough lesson to learn that someone you love doesn’t care about you, maybe they wish they could but they just aren’t capable and there’s absolutely nothing you can do to change that. And maybe one day you will learn that your happiness isn’t reliant upon the happiness of others and that you deserve to feel loved, no matter what.”

Check out the video up top and keep an eye out for Winona’s album, coming this June.

Hong Kong rapper and rising pop star Jackson Wang — who is set to headline 88Rising’s Double Happiness Digital festival — is gearing up to release his sophomore album, Magic Man. That festival follows up 88Rising’s Head In The clouds event, which was one of the best new festivals of last year.

Wang shared a new single and video from the record today, and “Blow” is the first English language single Wang has shared so far in 2022. In the video, directed by longtime collaborator Daniel Cloud Campos, Wang is part of a heap of partygoers who seem like they’ve had enough for the night. Then, the entire crew awakens and gets into a dancing mood, blowing smoke and bringing the heat with synced up choreography. “Blow” follows up a pair of 2021 singles from Wang, “Drive You Home” and “LMLY,” all of which precede his new album, which is coming very soon.

Aside from being a solo musician, Wang is also a creative director and fashion designer and the founder of TEAM WANG, a record label, and Team Wang Designs, a design studio. In addition to all that, Wang is also a member of the K-Pop group, Got7.

Check out the video up top.

In his latest music video, London rapper and singer Bakar allows us to see his city by way of his own lens. In “NW3,” Bakar is seen dancing on a rooftop as the sun sets. The camera then cuts to him enjoying a meal with friends, riding in the back of a car, and smoking in his home. By the end of the video, Bakar returns to the same rooftop as the sun rises.

“I’ve always been here to be an alternative for the Black kids that don’t fit in,” said Bakar of the visual in a statement.

The music video was directed by the duo Machine Operated, comprised of Nathan Taylor and Joshua Hercules who have previously directed clips for Rejjie Snow and the late MF Doom.

Bakar also said of the song, “I had moved to Hampstead, a nicer area. I had gone from the bottom of the hill in Camden, Chalk Farm, to being at the top of the hill. That’s a crazy thing to do from where I’m from. I guess the whole concept is me saying to a girl, ‘I think I’ve found the spot. There’s a whole new world up here, the top of the hill, it looks different. Come see it.’”

The name of the cut from his debut album, Nobody’s Home, refers to the UK postal code for Hampstead, London.

Check out “NW3” above.

Nobody’s Home is out now via Black Butter. Get it here.

During a recent episode of his podcast, Joe Rogan basically issued a warning to Spotify that he’ll quit if the platform tries to water down his show or force him to censor it in any way. Rogan made the declaration to MMA fighter Josh Barrett who was a guest on the show and revealed that he was afraid people would “pore over every single thing I say.” Barrett even admitted to confiding in his wife that he was “stressed” about the whole thing.

While Rogan did little to assuage those fears by telling Barrett flat-out that people will pore over everything he says, the podcaster made it a point to say that the show is “just a conversation.” However, should Spotify attempt to mess with that formula, Rogan threatened to walk. Via Deadline:

“If I become something different because it grew bigger, I will quit. If it gets to a point that I can’t do it anymore, where I have to do it in some sort of weird way where I walk on eggshells and mind my p’s and q’s, f*** that!” said a defiant Rogan of the show with millions of listeners for which he is paid $100 million.

Those are bold words from Rogan, who issued two apologies earlier in the year. One of those was for repeatedly saying the N-Word, and the other was for not being better about having experts on his show after musicians like David Crosby pulled their music off Spotify in protest of the podcaster spreading misinformation about COVID-19, particularly the vaccines. Both of those seem like clear cases of Rogan walking on eggshells and minding his “p’s and q’s” to keep his highly lucrative podcast deal. In fact, when offered a matching salary to move all of his content, uncensored, to Rumble, Rogan stuck with Spotify.

(Via Deadline)

Sour was a terrific debut album for Olivia Rodrigo: It topped the charts, is home to two No. 1 singles in “Drivers License” and “Good 4 U,” and it established Rodrigo as a global music star. When it comes to Rodrigo’s next album, though, it looks like things will be different in terms of its emotional tone.

A new feature from Elle references a moment from Driving Home 2 U in which Rodrigo half-jokingly says to Dan Nigro, “Hopefully I won’t be so sad on the next record.” In the interview, Rodrigo expanded on that, saying, “I’m definitely not as sad as I was when I wrote Sour. I’m so excited to make my next record and explore more colors and textures and feelings and grow as a human being even more. I’m really stoked for that.”

Elsewhere, she discusses the lyrics of “Brutal,” specifically the line, “‘Cause who am I if not exploited?” Rodrigo said, “My gosh, it’s so funny. I look back at it and I was like, ‘Wow, I was so angsty.’ […] I guess I was just coming to terms with being like a really young person in the industry and feeling weird about it. But I don’t think I feel that way anymore, which is nice.”

Read the full interview here.