Year: 2022

Once upon a time, in the mid 1970s, “Sesame Street” traded its bright, sunny atmosphere for ominous gray skies. Most of us would have probably never known this had it not been for the power of the internet.

An entire episode of the beloved children’s show has resurfaced online after being initially pulled for allegedly being “too frightening” for kiddie viewers.

What on earth could be so scary in a place where the air is so sweet, you might wonder. As it turns out, even “Sesame Street” isn’t impervious to a wayward witch broom.

The video clip starts with upbeat, fast-talking David (played by Northern Calloway) exiting Hooper’s store, struggling to make his way through powerful gusts of wind.

“Look at that! Something’s falling right outta the sky!” he shouts gesturing up as the wind whirls. David drops to one knee and catches an incoming broom just in the nick of time. Suddenly the wind stops. Yay?

Unfortunately, our hero’s troubles are just beginning. Sinister music begins to play, and unbeknown to David, who should come lurking from around the corner but the original Wicked Witch of the West herself.

No, you’re not in Dorothy’s dream. That is Margaret Hamilton reprising her role as the one, the only, the Wicked Witch of the West. Guess that bucket of water didn’t quite do her in.

“I know I’m not in Oz anymore,” Hamilton says while looking around, concluding she “must be over the rainbow somewhere.” Determined to find her broom and fly away, she marches over to David, demanding he give it back.

Unfazed, David does not immediately give back the broom, insisting that she should be more careful and treat him with more respect (can’t have a “Sesame Street” episode without a life lesson, after all). The lecture only further agitates the witch, but David won’t budge. Finally she tries to snatch the broom away, only to be electrocuted.

“Oh I forgot!” the Wicked Witch exclaims. “I can’t so much as lay a finger on the broom as long as somebody else is holding onto it!” What an oddly specific and important detail to forget. Oh right, kid’s show.

The Wicked Witch disappears in smoke, promising that this is not the last we’ve seen of her. She proceeds to terrorize poor David throughout the entire episode, including creating an indoor thunderstorm and threatening to turn him into a basketball. Savage.

Finally the Wicked Witch concocts a plan to get her broom back by turning herself into a sweet, regular looking older woman, a scheme so fiendish she wins the heart of Oscar the Grouch in the process. The plan works, but the witch still has to ask for it nicely. So, you know … compromise.

Though Big Bird called the ordeal “interesting and exciting,” apparently audiences didn’t quite hold the same view. Mike Minnick, who posted the episode on YouTube, claimed that it only aired once in the mid ’70s before getting the pull for being “too scary for children.” According to an article published by AV Club, the show was on the receiving end of a deluge of complaints from the parents of freaked out kids.

Some reminiscing fans agreed that yes, as kids, the episode was terrifying. One wrote that it “scared me beyond belief when I was 5. I would anxiously watch the start of each episode after seeing this one, to make sure it wasn’t the ‘witch one’ again.”

However, the main sentiment shared in the comments was gratitude that the footage found its way back into viewing.

“What a real joy to see … I know she scared the bageezus out of me when I was a little one watching The Wizard of Oz every year on television. Now, it’s just plain old nostalgic to see the original Wicked Witch,” wrote one person.

Another added, “People have no idea how huge this is. I honestly thought I’d never see the day. One of the holy grails of lost media has been found.”

Mostly, the whole thing became one giant Margaret Hamilton appreciation fest. Here are just a few of the heartfelt comments:

“From the bottom of my heart, Thank you SO SO much for making this available to watch and experience! This really was a great treat and seeing Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch again just brought out the kid in me!”

“Lmao when she turns into a cute little grandma and does the evil laugh, I loved it! She is so cute, what a legend.”

“Margaret Hamilton…. I love her so much and miss her desperately. I love how 40 years later she was still able to play the wicked witch as incredible as she always was.”

You could say that Hamilton was born to play a witch. During her interview with Mister Rogers—yes, Hamilton frequented children’s shows in her heyday—she shared that as a little girl, she always dressed up as a witch for Halloween. So it’s no wonder that getting the chance to play perhaps the most iconic witch of all time made her “very, very happy.”

Hamilton felt her cackling, green-skinned, shoe-obsessed character wasn’t all that wicked, just misunderstood. She told Mister Rogers, “Sometimes the children think she’s a very mean witch, and I expect she does seem that way. … She also is what we refer to as frustrated … because she never gets what she wants.”

Under that definition, there’s a bit of witch in all of us.

This uncovered relic, traumatizing as it might have been, has brought some major joy with its epic return. Perhaps even wicked witches can be a source for good.

MTV was a major part of youth culture for the last three generations. Gen X loved the channel for its dedication to music that went way beyond videos, and in the ‘80s and ‘90s, viewers tuned in to “Unplugged,” “Yo! MTV Raps” and “Headbangers Ball.”

Although the channel was less about the music by the time millennials came of age, “TRL” was its flagship show while it focused on edgy reality shows such as “The Osbournes,” “Jackass” and “Pimp My Ride.”

By the time the millennials grew up and Gen Z started watching, the channel was mostly reality TV, but shows such as “The Hills,” “Teen Mom” and “Jersey Shore” were pop culture juggernauts.

However, things began to change dramatically in 2010 after MTV dropped the “Music Television” branding. In the video below, YouTube user Patrick CC does a great job of describing how it happened.

“Instead of adapting, it seems like MTV just kinda rode out what was working,” Patrick CC says. “Plus, the world was moving at a much faster pace. By the time they came up with a new idea, cast, shot, edited and released the new show it could be irrelevant to the kids.”

In 2017, MTV tried to bring the music back, including a reboot of “TRL.” It was a total bust. Artists had no need to make videos for the channel when they had YouTube.

Patrick CC’s video, “How MTV Destroyed Their Network (They Gave Up On Music),” does a great job of explaining the rise and fall of MTV over the course of 23 minutes. But if you want to see why it all came to an end, you can skip ahead to 19:25.

Want to relive what MTV was like at its inception? The following video shows the channel’s first two hours when it launched on August 1, 1981.

There are few jobs that require people to be as nattily dressed as a TV news anchorperson. One has to look good for the camera while also projecting professionalism and credibility.

“It’s part of our uniform,” Tim Pham, the morning anchor on “Up with KREM” in Spokane, Washington, told USA Today. “It’s required in TV, I guess. It’s not written on paper, but when you turn on the news, the viewer expects to see someone who is dressed professionally.”

Having to look good every day means you accumulate quite an impressive wardrobe. Pham had a large collection of 250 ties—many of them crammed beneath his work desk—so he decided to share them with any young, up-and-coming journalists who may need one.

He put the offer out to his followers on Twitter.

u201cYoung professionals/journalists: I am giving away some of my ties! 8 yrs ago I opened up my first paycheck in TV for a whopping $600! I worked 3 jobs just to get by, let alone buy ties for work. If you need a tie, DM me. All I ask is that you pay it forward one day. n#PhamilyTiesu201d

— Tim Pham KREM 2 (@Tim Pham KREM 2)
1647970473

“8 yrs ago I opened up my first paycheck in TV for a whopping $600! I worked 3 jobs just to get by, let alone buy ties for work,” the tweet said. “If you need a tie, DM me. All I ask is that you pay it forward one day.”

Pham couldn’t believe the response.

“It did reach a lot of journalists,” Pham told USA Today. “But I also heard from people in different industries, recent college grads, a lot of seniors in college. Nonprofits even reached out to me. There was a jail that reached out to me asking about filling their closet for people leaving the prison system to then go find a job for an interview.”

Overwhelmed by the number of requests, Pham had to figure out the logistics of sending out all of the ties and some businesses reached out to help. A laundry company said it would help wash the ties. A shipping company said it would send the ties free of charge and others reached out to donate their used ties to the cause.

Pham now calls his mini charitable organization “Phamily Ties.”

Pham told Upworthy that Phamily Ties has sent out around 100 ties and handed out more than a dozen locally in Spokane since his tweet. He hopes his tie giveaway encourages young journalists to “keep working hard” and to pursue their dreams.

“They shouldn’t be counted out from a job they are qualified for because they don’t have the means to buy a tie,” he told Upworthy. “I hope this initiative encourages others to pay it forward and help the next generation coming behind us. So many people invested in me, now it’s time to do it for someone else.”

u201cBack in the saddle after a much needed vacation. Co-anchoring #UpWithKREM with @CProctorNews. Fun fact, Cody and I worked at competing stations in Great Falls, Montana 6 years ago. @KREM2 #GreatFallsMafiau201d

— Tim Pham KREM 2 (@Tim Pham KREM 2)
1654520127

He also believes that having the right tie can help young professionals get the confidence they need to succeed.

“A tie by itself is nothing impressive, it’s a piece of fabric stitched up,” he told Upworthy. “However, when worn, it adds more than style, it boosts confidence and shows others they are a professional. Everyone should be able to walk in this confidence and professionalism, yet the cost of ties is out of budget and not a priority for journalists who make pennies in their first job.”

As for now, Pham isn’t accepting donations but is getting his partners together for another tie drive in 2023.

“I am in the early stages of developing another giveaway next year with the help of sponsors and my company to help organize a campaign/event,” he told Upworthy.

People often deride Twitter as a place that fosters negativity and creates division in America. However, Pham’s experience is wonderful proof that there are still a lot of great people out there and that social media can bring them together to help those making their way in the world.

Way to pay it forward, Tim!

There are some people who live under the illusion that everything they say is deeply interesting and have no problem wasting your time by rambling on and on without a sign of stopping. They’re the relative, neighbor or co-worker who can’t take a hint that the conversation is over.

Of all these people, the co-worker who can’t stop talking may be the most challenging because you see them every day in a professional setting that requires politeness.

There are many reasons that some people talk excessively. Therapist F. Diane Barth writes in Psychology Today that some people talk excessively because they don’t have the ability to process complex auditory signals, so they ramble on without recognizing the subtle cues others are sending.

It may also be a case of someone who thinks they’re the most interesting person in the conversation.

For others, it’s a symptom of a disorder. Michelle C. Brooten-Brooks, a licensed marriage and family therapist, writes that excessive talking can also be a symptom of, among other things, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or anxiety.

“Anxiety can cause someone to speak excessively,” Brooten-Brooks writes at Very Well Health. “While many with social anxiety may avoid social interactions, some may inadvertently talk excessively when in social situations out of nervousness and anxiety.”

So what do we do when we’re stuck in a situation where someone just keeps talking? A Reddit user by the name of Spritti33 asked for some advice about how to “politely end a conversation with a person who won’t stop talking” and received some very practical and funny responses from members of the online forum.

A lot of folks pointed out that it’s not impolite to walk away from a person who is incessantly talking because they are being rude by disrespecting your time. Others shared how, in some cultures, there are ways of shutting down a conversation while allowing both parties to save face.

Here are 19 of the best responses to Spritti33’s question, “How does someone politely end a conversation with a person who won’t stop talking?”

1. 

“In Flanders we have a word for it, ‘bon,’ and then you say something ‘I have work to do,’ ‘It’s time to go home,’ ‘It’s time to get drinks.’ And people realize the other person wants to leave without being mean,” — ISuckAtRacingGames

2. 

“In Ireland we do like a little clap/slap our thigh/clap the person’s shoulder and say ‘Right! Shur look, I’ll let you go…’ as if we’re being polite and letting the other person off the hook, but actually, it’s like get me the fuck out of here haha!” —funky_mugs

3.

“If they keep talking over polite cues, I have found there really isn’t a polite way to exit the conversation,” — Binder_Grinder

4. 

“This is so true. People that do this don’t care whether you’re into the conversation or not, they’re talking simply because they want to. I’ve gotten better at just interjecting (even mid-sentence if I’ve already tried everything else) with, ‘I’m sorry, I have to go. (start walking away at this point) It was nice talking to you.’ Don’t give any excuses or reasons for leaving, just do it otherwise they’ll try to talk about your reasons.” — PSSaalamader

5. 

“As a teacher, I have learned how to interrupt people who do not leave any pauses when they’re speaking: start nodding and verbally agreeing with them, ‘Uh huh, uh huh, uh huh…’ You can’t interrupt these people, but you can start agreeing while they speak, then raise your voice and say, ‘Yeah, wow, excuse me but I must go,'” — Janicegirlbomb2

6. 

“Remember that it is them who is being impolite by talking incessantly about things of no interest to their audience,” — Orp4mmws99

7. 

“Source: am a therapist. What you do is recap their last story and in the same breath add a goodbye.

I.e. ‘Sounds like you guys found a bunch of great deals at the mall, that’s awesome! Thanks for meeting with me, you’ll have to tell me more next time we run into each other. It was great to catch up!'” — pikcles-for-fingers

8. 

“Just start coughing these days it’ll clear a whole room in seconds,” — Sinisterpigeon

9. 

“People who are like this expect folks to just walk away from them while they are talking because that’s the only way the conversation ends. It’s not rude to them, it’s normal. So, it’s entirely okay to say, ‘all right this has been great, see you later,’ and then just walk away smiling,” — Underlord_Fox

10. 

“If you can practice this, start to train one of your eyeballs to slowly drift off whilst the other eye remains locked on theirs. That should do the trick,” — The-Zesty-Man

11. 

“At 62, I just walk away. My bullshit filter has disappeared,” — Negative_Increase

12. 

“You gotta realize that everyone else they talk to just walks away. They’re used to that. They think a conversation is you just talk at someone til they walk away. It’s not weird to them,” — DelsmagicFishies

13. 

“I don’t know why some people are so afraid of this. It is not rude. You don’t need to lie. ‘We can speak more other time. Goodbye,’ is fine,” — Kooky-Housing3049

14. 

“On a more serious note, I typically do an ‘oh shit’ type of face like I’ve just remembered I had something important scheduled. I say ‘Sorry, what time is it? check the time Ah crap, I hate to cut you off but if I don’t head out now I’m going to be late for ____.’ Then I scurry away like I’m really in a rush. If you’re in a situation where you can’t straight up leave, I swap ‘gotta head out’ for ‘I told someone I’d call them at [time] and they’re waiting on my call’ and then make a fake phone call,” — teethfairie

15. 

“‘Wow, you have a lot of opinions about this subject…’ and then never stop angling the conversation back to how weird it is that they’re still talking,” — Ordsmed

16. 

“Had a friend who would put his hand gently on your shoulder and kindly say, ‘I love you , but I just don’t care, good (night/day),'” — Think-Passage-5522

17. 

“While not exactly polite, my Aunt Sophie had a great way of ending a conversation. When the monologue got too much she would nod her head like she was listening and then at the slightest pause she would go, ‘The end.’ And walk away.

She mostly did it with kids who didn’t realize they were yabbering on about Thundercats too long. (It was me, I was yabbering on about Thundercats too long.)” — theslackjaw727

18. 

​”Change your stance, instead of facing them head on turn 90° your body language will end the conversation quickly without being rude,” — Zedd2087

19. 

“Where possible, I’ve always found it best to tell these people up front that you have somewhere to be 15, 30, 45, etc minutes from now. If that’s not realistic, I’ve found that if you can usually find a gap to say you need to run if you focus on doing only this for 3-5 minutes,” — Pretend_Airline2811

Imagine you’re hiking out in the red rocks of Moab, Utah, or taking a stroll down the beach in Key West, Florida, when you come across a gorgeous piece of glazed pottery. No one is around, just a beautiful, hand-carved bowl sitting with an envelope next to it that reads:

FREE ART

This bowl was left here for someone to find and keep. If it doesn’t speak to you, leave it for someone else to find, or take it and give it to a friend. I only ask that it be enjoyed, and if you like, you can let me know where it ends up. (Contact details inside.)

Love, Kim

Kim Press is an artist from Texas who shares her pieces under the name Sailing Adrift Studios. When she travels, she takes a piece with her to leave for a random, unsuspecting person to find. Lucky wanderers in 36 states and two countries have come across Press’ pottery “free art drops” and gotten to take home an unexpected artistic treasure from their own travels.

And these aren’t any old bowls. Check out how absolutely stunning these pieces are:

See on Instagram

See on Instagram

Press recently shared a video highlighting some of the pieces she’s dropped, and every single one of them would be an incredible gift.

“To say that I am proud of these numbers is an understatement,” she wrote. “In my wildest dreams, I could never imagine how much taking a pottery class and playing in mud would change my life…. And it just goes to show that if you travel far enough, eventually you will find yourself.”

See on Instagram

People who find Press’ pottery let her know where the pieces ended up, and half the fun of it is seeing how far they travel. She put a page on her website where she shares the pieces’ “found” stories, such as the bowl she left in Santa Monica, California, making its home in Spain, a bowl she left in Tucson finding its way to China and a piece found in Pennsylvania ending up in Mexico. Sometimes she leaves them in hiking spots in the wilderness. Sometimes she drops them in the middle of a city. Some pieces have stayed in the states she dropped them and others have traveled across the country or the world.

People who have found them have shared how much joy their discovery brought them:

“Just wanted to drop you a note to say that I picked up your ‘Free Art’ in the park in Fairhope during my last day of my Snowbird stay (January and February) in Orange Beach. While I was in Orange Beach, a dear friend fell and broke her hip and I wanted to get her something to take back. When I say your beautiful bowl, I knew it would touch her heart. Thank you so much for your generosity. She absolutely loved it.”

See on Instagram

“Dear Kim , Today I found a wonderful surprise, we were at Ft. Zach for my grandson’s 5th birthday party and found this on our table, my first thought was ..why is this here? Then I read the card and was speechless… How incredibly lucky I am to have such a precious gift. You are an amazing , talented person. Thank you so much , this will be something I will pass on to my grandchildren. I wish you nothing but the best!”

“Found this incredible gem today. It makes me happy how people are so passionate about their gifts and talents that they would want to share it with the world. Thank you.”

Some people have even started looking for the pieces when Press does an art drop announcement, alerting friends and family if the drop is near where they live. A woman who found a bowl in Boise, Idaho, wrote:

“My friend follows you and today she shared your profile with our friend group. We all followed your page and on my way home from work she called me and sent me on an adventure. I squealed when I found it. Thank you so much!! Keep on keeping on.”

And a group in Lago Vista, Texas, shared:

“Our out of state guests were about to do a polar plunge in our pool when they saw your post and decided to go art drop hunting instead… so exciting!!!”

Everyone who found pieces shared how much gratitude they felt upon finding them.

Check out the Sailing Adrift Studios website to see where Press has left her free art so far, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram to see where the next art drop happens.

Thank you, Kim Press, for bringing joy not only to the people who happen upon your artwork, but also to those of us living vicariously through them. (I really need one of those bowls!)

Coming out can be an emotionally fraught process. Even when you’re secure in your queerness, there’s still a sense of fear and hesitation. Because it’s so emotional, people sometimes choose an unconventional way to do it. That includes coming out in an unlikely place … like a Harry Styles concert. Yes, this has happened more than once.

Most recently, a fan of Styles used the singer’s help to come out as gay during the Love On Tour 2022 stop at London’s Wembley Stadium.

In a clip posted to Twitter, Styles picks up a cardboard sign that had been thrown onto the stage.

“You’re a free man” 🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Harry Styles helps an Italian fan come out at his London show 🥹

Congratulations, Mattia 💖 #LoveOnTour #LoveOnTourLondon #HarryStyles pic.twitter.com/XVSJOicUSg

— Official Charts (@officialcharts) June 19, 2022

“From Ono to Wembley: help me come out,” the sign reads.

“So you would like the people of Wembley to bring you out?” Styles asks, a smile on his face. You can tell he’s done this before, and that he’s genuinely excited to do it again.

“When this sign,” he begins, but returns the sign to the fan and picks up a Pride flag.

“When this flag goes over my head, you’re officially gay, my boy,” he says with a proud smile on his face. Of course, the crowd begins to cheer.

Styles runs back and forth waving the flag, but hesitates before raising it over his head, joking, “still straight!” before he continues to run. Then he stops, raises the flag in the air while throwing his head back triumphantly.

“Congratulations, Mattia, you are a free man!” Styles screams as the crowd roars.

Styles then takes another minute to revel in what has just happened. It’s obvious he takes his role of helping fans come out seriously. There’s a level of trust and care between Styles and his fans underpinning what everyone has just witnessed.

Being in the audience of a Harry Styles concert when a fan comes out is both intimate and big. People make the choice to do it knowing their declaration will become a YouTube video or news article by the next morning, and that never seems to scare them. It seems that there’s something liberating about coming out to thousands of strangers.

As a longtime Harry Styles fan, I’ve seen this happen in real life. During the Los Angeles dates of Love On Tour 2021, I attended two shows where fans used the concert as an opportunity to come out. Styles asked each fan if they had an item they wanted him to hold to signal their official outing. He then ran around the stage building the anticipation until the glorious moment the item was lifted over his head and the crowd erupted. It was an honor to be part of such a life-changing moment.

Styles isn’t a stranger to helping his fans come out during one of his concerts. In 2018, during a tour stop in San Jose, California, Styles helped another fan come out.

“I’m going to come out to my parents because of you,” says the sign Styles reads to the audience. Although the parents weren’t in attendance (they were in a nearby hotel), Styles still took the opportunity to help.

“I’m going to tell Tina before you get a chance to,” he said.

“Tina, she’s gay!” he yells, before telling the young woman that her mom “says” that she loves her. The video has become a bit of an inside joke among fans, but proves that he has always been willing to provide a safe space for his fans.

YouTuber Logan Paul revealed that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson” stopped talking to him after he filmed his notorious “suicide forest” video, and if that sentence makes sense to you (guilty…), you spend too much on the internet (…as charged).

Paul was a guest on a recent episode on the True Geordie podcast, where he discussed his falling out with The Rock. They used to make videos together, including one where he asked the wrestler-turned-movie star how he can get “DJ-sized, bro,” but then Paul uploaded a video to his popular YouTube channel of a dead body in Japan’s Aokigahara forest, also known as the Suicide Forest, and he got a call from The Rock’s publicist.

“After Japan happened, obviously I found myself in a hole, rightfully so, that I had never been in before. Extremely low mentally, and I got a call from my publicist, who also repped Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson,” he said. The publicist, speaking for her client, asked for Paul to “remove every picture and video” of him and the Black Adam star together. “I thought we had a healthy relationship, an open line of communication,” he continued, “and I was so sad that my hero wanted nothing to do with me.”

Paul, who has 23.5 million subscribers on YouTube, claims that The Rock reached out to him a few months ago through a direct message on Instagram to say that he enjoyed one of his videos. But he didn’t respond back (“I think I’m a scumbag for outing this story,” he admitted). Paul thinks The Rock is a “f*cking awesome” person, but, he added, “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hurt.” You can watch the interview above.

Kevin Bacon is going back to his campy thriller roots to star in a new horror film from Blumhouse productions, who are known for their spooky-yet-sometimes-hilarious films. Looking at you, Happy Death Day.

In They/Them, Bacon will play Owen Whistler who runs Whistler Camp, a conversion camp that aims to “psychologically break down” their LGBTQ campers. On top of the psychological breakdown, a killer seems to be stalking the grounds and claiming victims. Bacon historically hasn’t had good luck with isolated summer camps in the past. When will he learn?

The trailer shows some Whistler counselors inviting the campers into the “safe space” before it slowly turns into a bloody slasher, complete with creepy marionette puppets and some old-timey photos that may or may not be haunted. The title is a play on words, as They literally slash Them. That pun alone should get some praise! Here is the official synopsis:

When a group of LGBTQ+ campers arrives at Whistler Camp – a conversion camp run by Owen Whistler (Kevin Bacon) – they are promised a “new sense of freedom” by the end of the week. But as the counselors attempt to psychologically break down each of the campers, a mysterious killer starts claiming victims, and they must reclaim their power if they’re going to survive the horrors of the camp. Written and directed by Academy Award nominee John Logan and produced by Jason Blum, They/Them is an empowering slasher film starring an ensemble cast that includes Carrie Preston, Anna Chlumsky, Theo Germaine, Quei Tann, Anna Lore, Monique Kim, Darwin del Fabro, Cooper Koch, and Austin Crute.

The movie will drop on Peacock on August 5th. Check out the trailer above.

Michael Jordan does not own a reputation of being the warmest personality across the sports landscape. That notion was generally understood, but further reinforced throughout the The Last Dance documentary back in the spring of 2020. His stern public persona once again, understandably, shined through when a random fan asked for a photo with the NBA legend in a parking garage, while simultaneously filming him.

As most people would, Jordan justifiably took exception to this person’s behavior, asked that he stopped being recorded and quickly turned down any request for a photo as he walked to his car.

Of course, Jordan is entirely in the right for his frustration here. It’s merely a funny example, given all the details we know about Jordan’s hard-line nature and the fact that, despite his status as one of the famous people to ever live, he greatly values his own privacy.

The best part is how the videographer seemingly ruins their friend’s slim chance to snag a picture with Jordan. The cameraperson is so starstruck by Jordan’s presence that they can’t find anything other to say than repeatedly yelling Jordan’s name, as the all-time great repeatedly tells them to put the phone down.

When the person not holding the camera finally musters up the courage to inquire about a flick, they’re met with a swift “no” from Jordan and that’s that. Jordan’s first impression of them being greeted by an unsolicited video derails any opportunity to salvage the interaction.

Maybe, they’ll learn from this moment and avoid videos in the future if they actually meet LaMelo Ball, who appeared to be the initial subject of their intentions.

As the Senate race in Pennsylvania heats up, Democratic candidate and the state’s lieutenant governor, John Fetterman, continues to run circles around Dr. Mehmet Oz, whose campaign has been one embarrassing misstep after another. The TV doctor narrowly won the Republican nomination following a recount, and now, in a move that’s sure to anger the base who just barely elected him, Oz is reportedly distancing himself from Donald Trump.

According to Axios, Oz has been scrubbing all “Trump branding” from his campaign website and social media accounts. It’s an odd about-face, which Fetterman wasted no time capitalizing on. Just hours after the Axios report, Fetterman’s Twitter account fired off a clown meme roasting Oz for everything from being a New Jersey resident to desperately seeking Trump’s endorsement, only to realize that it’s now a political liability.

As for the scrubbing of Trump from Oz’s entire campaign, it’s a pretty thorough cleansing despite the candidate heavily using the former president’s name on social media throughout the primary. Via Axios:

Oz’s social media banners now say “Thank you, Pennsylvania,” and feature a solo photo of him without Trump. His website no longer has a pop-up fundraiser appeal touting his Trump endorsement.

Oz’s Twitter bio no longer advertises him as the “Trump Endorsed Candidate for U.S. Senate,” and he hasn’t tweeted about Trump since May 17.

Oz’s campaign hasn’t run Facebook ads since the primary, and on Google his only general election ad reads, “⁦The PA Senate Race will determine who has the majority. Donate to take back the US Senate!⁩”

Even on the Trump-run social media site Truth Social, Oz hasn’t posted about Trump since the primary — though he still touts his Trump endorsement in his bio.

When reached for comment, Oz’s spokesperson said that Trump is still the first name listed on the “Endorsements” section of campaign website, which is true. However, the former president is no longer featured on the front page or in pop-up ads that were highly prominent during Oz’s primary campaign.

(Via Axios)