Category: News

The immediacy of data is something that many people love about modern baseball, as things like Statcast can provide instant information about exit velocity and launch angle, which in turn can be turned into stats about expected batting average on each swing and more.

However, some things you don’t need numbers to show you how incredible a hit was, as you can instead just marvel at how far it went or how fast it came off of the bat — I personally think Statcast often shorts long home runs on distance and prefer to eyeball it and proclaim things went “about 500 feet” because they looked awesome. We got one such example on Wednesday night in the world of Minor League Baseball, when Gabriel Moreno of the Buffalo Bisons hit a 111 mile per hour line drive for a ground rule double.

When spelled out like that, you might think, “wow, that’s a hard hit double,” but let me tell you something, friends, those numbers don’t do justice to how cool this double was. You see, Moreno hit the ball so damn hard it cratered into the padding in the wall and got stuck, something I don’t think I’ve ever seen.

Now, I’ve seen the ball get stuck in the seams of padding, on the underside of the padding, and even on top of a wall. But never have I seen a baseball that was hit hard enough to just crater into the wall itself, to the dismay of everyone. The home plate umpire was confused initially and signaled for a home run, but the left fielder had to point to it and show that, no, this baseball was just stuck in the wall.

If I were the Blue Jays, I’d call this young man up right now, if for nothing else than he is clearly too strong for Minor League ballpark infrastructure.

There are very few multi-hyphenates as legitimate as Chicago-born artist Common. Depending on where a person is coming from you may know him best from Grammy-winning albums, Oscar-winning songs, best-selling books, or performances in hit feature films like Wanted and John Wick: Chapter 2. Not surprisingly, running several successful careers all at the same time takes a toll on the body and Common’s become a boss at maintaining his health amidst the madness.

“The changes I’ve made over the years give me the power to follow my creativity and have energy still left for my loved ones or passions,” says Common from his temporary residence in Brooklyn.

The actor just wrapped his latest movie Breathe with Jennifer Hudson in Philadelphia and is preparing to recharge his batteries before heading into his next project.

“I’m grateful to have learned these practices and feel like it’s my responsibility to share them with others,” he adds. “Not everyone is the same, but perhaps people will find out what works for them after trying out the routines I’ve developed.”

That concept is being furthered with some special episodes of his wellness series Com + Well. To dive deeper, Uproxx asked the mega-star — who started his solo career three decades ago with Can I Borrow a Dollar? — about how to stay in the health game for your own good.

How did your eating habits look at the beginning of your career?

In the early days of my career, I would eat anything that was available to me. That was a lot of junk food and beer. I’m not saying that wasn’t fun, but it didn’t lend itself to me operating at my best or having the best energy. The first step in my journey was becoming vegetarian, and even when I started doing that it wasn’t in the healthiest way. I was just eating lots of bread, french fries, and pizza.

It was even worse late at night because the vegetarian options were always crazy limited. I didn’t even know what vegetarianism was when I was growing up. But now it’s a way of life for me — I have learned how to do it the right way.

What did you do to better those habits as you grew more focused on being healthier?

Instead of buying a flashy car when I started to make some money, one of the first big things that I spent money on was a chef. I felt like that was the better investment to have good food around when I needed it. My career started to take off and the schedule got insane, so it came so clutch.

I know that not everyone can hire a chef to cook for them, but having that experience brought me to focus on having more fresh-made meals. That is something that anyone and everyone can do as well.

How do you make sure that you are eating cleaner on the road when you are touring or away filming a movie?

Let’s be real, at the beginning of the journey that airplane food is never good for you. And the late-night menus at the hotels don’t have the healthiest options on there either. I really prescribe to bringing and buying my own food as much as possible when I travel. I like to go to the grocery store or the health food store when I arrive in a new city. I always bring my supplements though, so I will take my vitamin C, vitamin B12, chlorella, and spirulina. I also get a turmeric or ginger shot wherever I go. For the most part, you can travel with these little turmeric or ginger shots, so they are great pick-ups to keep around.

One of the best ways I make sure I am cleaner throughout the day is by carrying juices and protein shakes. I also like to have plenty of them around when I’m filming a movie or television show because the food situation on set is always a little challenging.

I believe one of your best action performances was John Wick: Chapter 2, what was it like training for that?

I’ve been having so many people reach out about John Wick saying they want my character Cassian back. The training that we did for that was unlike anything that I had ever done before. We trained hard for like six months. They took me through the basics of the movements that I was going to have to do. I was working with the ladder, doing different movements and motions.

I was training in boxing and jiu-jitsu. I started to really feel like a warrior. Those fighting scenes take a lot of work, which is why I have so much respect for Keanu Reeves.

Do you have any other activities that help keep you fit?

I love playing basketball. I love hooping so that’s my favorite way to burn some calories. I grew up playing basketball and never stopped. I don’t want to spend my entire day staring at a screen. When I feel like I’ve been too still for too long I’ll grab a basketball and go dribble out around the house. Being outside shooting some hoops just makes me feel normal.

I played a basketball player in Just Wright and really invested myself into training for that because I had to look like a pro player. I may have been in the best shape of my life there.

Besides becoming vegetarian, is there anything else you have dramatically changed in your diet that has helped you?

I cut back on my drinking a whole lot. I enjoy still my red wine from time to time, but nothing close to what I used to do. I am on record covers with 40 ounces in my hand. That is a whole different universe to be in and I have been more conscious about taking care of my temple.

How have your sleep habits evolved over your career?

I’ve just started to get better about getting good rest. During the pandemic, I was getting more rest than I ever had because I was finally forced to slow down. During that time I was able to see the benefits that came with that. I don’t need any rituals when it comes to falling asleep man, that’s easy, because I be tired at the end of the day.

I have discovered that turning off all the lights earlier in the day, to get ready for sleep is more conducive to better rest. It’s also important to go to sleep with good thoughts — like it is to wake up with good thoughts.

How do you train when you are on the road?

I don’t compromise on my workouts, especially when it comes to when I’m traveling. For me, a workout is a great way to kick off a day on the road. It allows you to start your day focused, because for that period you aren’t able to be focused on emails or texts, and at the same time taking care of yourself. That is great and pure energy to begin the day with. I think too many people ignore the mental aspect to wellness, and for me time in the gym is also time that I will use to make sure my mind is in the right place.

What do your workouts look like these days?

I have worked a lot of great trainers over the years like Yancy Berry and others. I took bits from the training that they gave me and kept what worked for me. Even if I don’t have all of my equipment around me, there is plenty that I have learned to do with my own body weight. My focus is on strengthening my core. I like to pack resistance bands in my bags and use them when I am traveling in a hotel room. I’ve gotten a great workout this way. I would do burpees or a high-intensity movement like that to finish my cardio.

I always have more energy after a workout than a did before it. I feel the difference.

What do you have back at home to elevate your training sessions?

Back at home, I’ll do workouts with the Bosu Ball. I spent a lot of hours on the Peloton bike when I was quarantined and still do today. That bike took my cardio to another level because those sessions could be absolutely brutal. I would spend some extra time on that Peloton whenever I knew I had to take pictures or had to be shirtless for a movie.

Do you have any bits of advice that you have picked up over the years that have stuck with you?

Dr. Tracey Rico is someone that I leaned on for guidance when it comes to wellness, and she really imparted to me the importance of drinking the right amount of water. She also said how important it was to get a good amount of greens in the diet. Before you start deciding on all fo the things that you are going to take out of your life, first make sure you are putting in the right things. Because it’s important to start building those routines as quickly as possible. We are all creatures of habit, you see it over and over again. If you start drinking more water by having a bottle always with you and eating more greens with every meal it becomes a way of life.

Do you have any rituals that contribute to a positive mindset at the beginning of the day?

One of the things I got to do every day is communicate with God the creator to give thanks for everything that I have. It’s hard to feel like you’re failing when you are properly practicing gratitude. Starting out the day by saying thank you for that morning is a great way to keep the right perspective. I don’t think that a lot of people understand the power of their own thoughts and their own words. Wherever I go and I keep my spiritual text with me, which in my case in the Bible. Everyone has their own path, but for me personally, my path to God is the Bible and the scriptures inside there.

What do you do to keep your mental state healthy as well?

I have developed my own form of meditation that I do regularly. I have had some sessions with Jesse Israel from The Big Quiet, I have taken the lessons I have learned and developed my own process. I like it because it silences my mind and gives me time to set my intentions for the day.

I don’t have a specific amount of time that I try to meditate for. I just try to make sure that I take some sort of time. Some of my meditations can be really quick.

Do you have any things you keep around that help you build a positive space no matter where you go?

I always have Palo Santo sticks on me. I love the smell of them. I found them a few years back and now don’t go anywhere without them. I don’t have any problem getting through TSA with them in my pockets. I will say that I am always careful to tell people when I have my Palo Santo sticks smoking and I am doing a Zoom meeting because of the smoke I think people something a little more recreational, but that is not the case. But they do bring me a lot of peace. It’s important to find things that resonate with you personally, that’s what this journey is all about, and that is what these sticks do for me.

It doesn’t look like Young Thug will be leaving Fulton County Jail until his trial date next January — or at least, not anytime soon. Nancy Dillion, senior court reporter for Rolling Stone, reports that Thugger’s latest bond request was again denied, courtesy of Fulton County Judge Ural Glanville. This follows two previous attempts; the first in May, just after he turned himself in, and the second in June. The reasoning for the latest denial likely remains the same; Georgia authorities are concerned he could flee or otherwise attempt to obstruct justice if freed.

Thug is one of 28 individuals charged in the case against Young Slime Life (aka “YSL”), which authorities have called a “hybrid criminal street gang” using his Young Stoner Life label (also nicknamed “YSL”) as cover. In a 56-count indictment, Thug and some of his artists including Gunna and Yak Gotti are charged with attempted murder, drug possession, armed robbery, and more, with Thug and Gunna’s lyrics listed as evidence of their participation in gang activity. Thug was also charged with a bevy of new offenses after police searched his home; seven additional felonies were added to his tally, including possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a dangerous weapon or silencer.

The case has drawn significant attention for its use of lyrics as evidence, becoming a lightning rod in an ongoing movement to limit the use of lyrics in criminal cases.

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

Normally, when you put a bunch of the biggest Jeopardy! winners in a room, it’s to defend their honor as one of the show’s greats in the Tournament of Champions. However, this weekend, they’re going to battle it out in a different arena for a cause. On Saturday, Amy Schneider, Matt Amodio, James Holzhauer, Buzzy Cohen, and more are taking part in the Titan Throwdown in Las Vegas to benefit Project 150, a non-profit providing “free support and services to homeless, displaced, and disadvantaged high school students.”

The showdown even got a shoutout from Ken Jennings, who gave the charity event a boost on Twitter. He also worked in a friendly jab at Holzhauer, who will have to hold his own against a throng of Jeopardy! champs.

“Whoa, this is some lineup!” Jennings tweeted. “And benefits a great cause. (NOT just @James_Holzhauer getting smacked around. A Las Vegas nonprofit called Project 150.)”

Here’s the official info from The Space in Las Vegas:

Join us for a fun filled night with the top game show winning contestants from Jeopardy!, The Chase, and Masterminds. This is a live game show featuring the “Titans” who will take on contestants in a challenging game of trivia – LIVE. The game will be hosted by local celebrity Chet Buchanan of 98.5 KLUC and the proceeds from the event will benefit local charity Project 150. Your ticket includes entry to the gameshow and the opportunity for photos and autograph signings from the Titans. All ages welcome.

Tickets for the Titan Throwdown event on Saturday, August 20 are available here.

(Via Ken Jennings on Twitter)

The 2022 WNBA Playoffs started off with a bang on Thursday night, as the seventh seeded New York Liberty upset the reigning champion Chicago Sky in the first game of their series. With a new format implemented this season — best-of-3 in the first round and best-of-5 after that — there’s a tighter blend of game-to-game strategy and shot variance. Elimination games allowed for absurd outside shooting heaters to ratchet up the chance of an upset, and while small sample size still plays a part, there’s more of a balance in a straightforward, 8-team playoff.

On the surface, the fifth seeded Washington Mystics seem like a solid but overall average playoff team after finishing the year at 22-14. I feel that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

It’s part of my job to soak everything in, decipher what’s going on, and make accurate predictions of where the WNBA is headed. I have no idea how to view the playoffs, who to choose as an eventual champion, or a real faith in how it will play out. I do, however, feel pretty strongly about this: The Mystics have a real opportunity to make a run, largely due to the play of Elena Delle Donne.

It sounds crazy to say this about a former MVP and one of the most accomplished athletes in the sport, but generally, I feel Delle Donne’s season has gone under-appreciated. Yes, that’s a very subjective statement, but let’s put this into perspective: Delle Donne had played a grand total of three games since the 2019 Finals heading into this year. She missed the entire 2020 season, while her 2021 campaign was hampered by injuries.

To say I was unsure how to view Delle Donne as a player at the start of 2022 was an understatement. How would her movement look? How much would she be able to play? What would her process be like in handling back-to-backs?

Delle Donne responded by putting together what I’d consider an All-WNBA worthy season — I officially put her on my second-team All-W ballot. She averaged 17.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.6 combined steals and blocks across 25 games. She didn’t play back-to-backs prior to the All-Star break and missed a few games due to injury, but in all, Delle Donne appeared in 25 of the team’s 36 regular season contests.

While their first-round opponent, the Seattle Storm, have played inspired of late and found a groove, I just have a feeling about Washington and their potential to make a deep run, largely due to Delle Donne’s prowess. The Mystics are an elite defensive unit, and while they have offensive talent, they tend to lack rim pressure, the staple of creating easier offense. In a playoff setting with multiple shot creators and specifically Delle Donne, I’d argue their team is better built for success.

Delle Donne’s shot chart may as well be colored in green, because there isn’t really a spot where a defense can feel comfortable leaving her open. Pick-and-pop jumpers, even from well beyond the arc, are cash.

Sell out too hard to close on her jumper and she’ll take her defender off the dribble swiftly or make an immediate read to hit the open player. Her ability to react quickly in spite of not being overly fleet of foot makes her one of the hardest guards in the league. She sees things play out and is making a play before the opposition has even responded more often than not.

Show a hard close and present a driving lane, and Delle Donne will take it. She may not beat you to the rim, but she’s incredibly adept at mixing and matching post-ups into her drives before turning a quick post into a shimmy and then another drive off a face-up. She constantly makes minor shifts and adjustments that can send the defense into a frenzy.

Her technical ability, footwork, fluidity, and scoring craft at 6’5 is breathtaking. Even if a defender makes all the right reads in time to keep up with how quickly Delle Donne processes the court and moves the ball, it still may not be enough. She’s incredibly good at using her size to get to the line and attack off-kilter defenders, seeking contact when a direct opening isn’t available. Or, she’ll just hit a crazy one-legged runner fading through contact, because she’s Elena Delle Donne.

While 2.3 assists per game seems small in stature — and relatively, it is — dive into the actual passing touch and vision from Delle Donne and you find that doesn’t tell the whole story. She’s not going to generate paint touches at a high level outside of post-ups or hit a wealth of live-dribble passes, although she has some wonderful short-roll playmaking in her bag. Delle Donne eviscerates defensive help and presents the great quandary: Do you try and defend her one-on-one in the post where she averages 1.22 points per possession, or do you send help to force the ball out of her hands?

Well…

I don’t think there’s a player in the league better at feeling out and mapping oncoming help. With high level cutters across the Mystics’ roster, Delle Donne taps into her playmaking as doubles come. There isn’t an “answer” for Delle Donne, as the Storm will likely employ numerous coverages and individual defenders to try and get the ball out of her hands. But that’s what makes Delle Donne so lethal — even without the ball, she can impact defenses greatly.

She’s maybe the best outlet player in the league. Her screening is dynamic and she’s a high-quality hand-off partner. Her rim dives drag interior defenders, and she can’t be sagged off of when spaced. She’s a sublime running mate alongside Washington’s starting backcourt of Ariel Atkins and Natasha Cloud.

She more than holds her own defensively, having impressed me routinely with her ability to play in space and serving as a fantastic secondary rim protector from the weak-side. Teams have tried time and again to pinpoint Delle Donne as a weak spot in the league’s best defense, and it doesn’t work.

The impending match-up with the Storm in round one seems a tall task. It almost feels unfair that two teams so capable of winning a title are paired up before a later date. That’s what makes this series the most intriguing in the opening week for me. The stakes are high. A multitude of great players are involved. There are phenomenal basketball minds and coaching staffs on either sideline. This is going to be appointment television.

Regardless of how far the Mystics go in this postseason, Delle Donne’s incredible season pushed them to be here, she’s made waves with her postseason play before, and it’s difficult to bet against her doing it again.

It’s difficult to have a lot of sympathy for celebrities who have a hard time living in the spotlight. It’s generally accepted as the price one has to pay for all of the benefits that come with being famous. Most people would probably trade having negative things said about them in the press for the power, access, opportunities and money that come with living in the public eye.

However, there’s something to be said for creating art without having to risk your mental health. Or, simply performing your job without suffering from an anxiety attack.

Actor-director Jonah Hill wrote an open letter, first published by Deadline, announcing he will no longer do press appearances because they create too much anxiety. The announcement comes as he prepares for the release of his new documentary, “Stutz,” about his relationship with his therapist.

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He’s also recently completed a film called “You People” for Netflix that stars Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Lauren London.

“I have finished directing my second film, a documentary about me and my therapist which explores mental health in general called ‘Stutz.’ The whole purpose of making this film is to give therapy and the tools I’ve learned in therapy to a wide audience for private use through an entertaining film,” Hill wrote.

“Through this journey of self-discovery within the film, I have come to the understanding that I have spent nearly 20 years experiencing anxiety attacks, which are exacerbated by media appearances and public facing events,” he continued.

“I am so grateful that the film will make its world premiere at a prestigious film festival this fall, and I can’t wait to share it with audiences around the world in the hope that it will help those struggling,” Hill wrote. “However, you won’t see me out there promoting this film, or any of my upcoming films, while I take this important step to protect myself. If I made myself sicker by going out there and promoting it, I wouldn’t be acting true to myself or to the film.”

To put it simply, Hill has learned a lot about himself through therapy and wants to put those valuable lessons into action. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Press tours are notoriously grueling and force people to travel across the world to do sit-down after sit-down with a gaggle of reporters.

Further, for most healthy people, it can be terribly uncomfortable to talk about yourself all day.

In the letter, Hill also acknowledged that he is in a unique position to make this request and he’s grateful for the ability to choose how he works.

“I usually cringe at letters or statements like this but I understand that I am of the privileged few who can afford to take time off,” he wrote.

Hill’s latest film is an attempt to show the benefits of therapy and help people deal with their mental health struggles in a constructive way. By taking himself out of the public eye for his mental well-being, Hill is being the change he wants to see in the world.

Last year, Olivia Rodrigo‘s debut album Sour took her from Disney star to household name, racking up accolades, awards, and achievements that placed her firmly within the “superstar” category all while still a teen. Driven by the success of hit singles like “Drivers License,” “Deja Vu,” and “Good 4 U,” Sour was one of the most successful debut albums of the last handful of years, and fans are naturally impatiently curious to know when Olivia will follow it up.

It appears that Olivia’s been writing new songs since early this year, as she told Billboard in February. While she said she isn’t in a hurry to put them out, she did acknowledge how excited she was for her next release. “It’s really exciting to think about the next world that’s coming up for me,” she said. “I just love writing songs. I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself. [I want to] just sort of explore and have fun right now,” she said. She also told Elle magazine that the new album is “definitely not as sad as I was when I wrote Sour.”

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it’ll be anytime soon but the good news is that it appears she’s back in the studio with producer Dan Nigro, who produced the bulk of Sour, particularly fan favorites like “Traitor,” “Deja Vu,” and “Happier.” Rodrigo posted a photo of the two hanging out on her Instagram story on Tuesday, August 16, prompting a frenzy of speculation from fans. While there isn’t an official title or release date yet, you can bet they’ll be waiting with bated breath to see what she does next.

There has been a recent trend of celebrities angrily responding to criticism of their work online, which never really seems to work out in their favor. The latest celeb to jump on the trend is Amandla Stenberg, the star of A24’s new comedy slasher Bodies Bodies Bodies.

Stenberg intensely responded to a New York Times review of the film which called it a “95-minute advertisement for cleavage.” The actress didn’t like the phrasing of the review and decided to message the writer, Lena Wilson, on Instagram. “Your review was great,” Stenberg wrote in a DM that was shared on Wilson’s Twitter account. “Maybe if you had gotten your eyes off my tits you would’ve watched the movie!” This didn’t land well.

Wilson took to Twitter to share her response: “Hey, Amandla! Generally a big fan of your work, but this sure is something. Really wishing you well in your career and life. Have a nice night.” In order to clear the air and hopefully not cause more drama, Stenberg took to her Instagram to react, saying that she is “baffled” by people always commenting on her appearance and chest.

The actress says that she sent the message to be funny, and didn’t mean to cause drama, but she is “tired” of people talking about her chest. “The amount of commentary that I’ve received on my boobs is so extreme, and this has happened since I was a teenager.” Stenberg first rose to fame when she starred in The Hunger Games as a young tribute named Rue in 2012. “There seems to be a lot of unwarranted conversation around my chest that kind of baffles me.”

Stenberg finished the video by wishing Wilson the best, and saying that it’s important to hear criticism of her work. Bodies Bodies Bodies hit theaters last week, and also stars Maria Bakalova (breakout star from Borat Subsequent Moviefilm), Rachel Sennott, Myha’la Herrold, Chase Sui Wonders, Lee Pace, and Kim Kardashian’s ex, Pete Davidson.

Check out the full transcript of Stenberg’s video below:

I just thought I would get on here really quickly to say I’m receiving a lot of commentary on the internet for being a very naughty girl and sending a DM that I thought was hilarious. But basically, there is this film critic. Her name is Lena Wilson, and she writes for The New York Times, and she wrote a criticism of a movie that I just had come out called ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies,’ and she described in her review the movie as a ’95-minute advertisement for cleavage,’ which I thought was hilarious. I am proud that a piece of work that I was part of was described in such a renowned publication. That is a really unique experience that I get to have.

Alright, OK, listen, I thought it was hilarious. I thought because Lena is gay, I am also gay, I thought as gay people we would both find this comment funny. I was also curious to know what Lena would say to such a statement, but Lena decided to publish it and also say that I am homophobic for saying that. The intention of why I said that – and this is my experience as an actress – it’s quite surprising, I mean, it shouldn’t be surprising I guess at this point – the amount of commentary that I’ve received on my boobs is so extreme, and this has happened since I was a teenager.

I could literally be wearing a t-shirt, and just because of the size of my boobs, there will be some sort of sexualization or commentary on my chest. In this movie, I’m wearing a tank top, and I know that when I’m wearing a tank top, the result is there’s going to be some cleavage, because I have boobs. So I knew this comment was mostly directed towards me and I think Lena was trying to make a commentary about A24 sexualizing me, sexualizing my body, exploiting young women in order to sensationalize them in order to make their media more popular. I understand the angle. I can tell you that I wore this tank top in this movie because me and the costume designer thought that it fit the character well. And so I do get tired of people talking about my chest. It seems to be in Hollywood it’s not normal to have boobs that are above an A or a B cup. I’ve actually noticed this as my time as an actress. There seems to be a lot of unwarranted conversation around my chest that kind of baffles me. Anyways Lena, I thought your review was hilarious, I thought my DM was funny, I did not mean to harass you, I did not mean to wish you any harm. You are allowed to make criticisms of my work, and I am allowed to have my criticisms of your work, and that is A-OK with me. And I wish you the best. Anyways, thank you, guys. Thanks to anyone who has gone to see our 95-minute advertisement for cleavage.

(Via IndieWire)

Kanye West has been known for some unconventional rollouts in the past, but the way he insisted his latest Yeezy Gap collaboration be sold has even his staunchest fans flabbergasted. Kanye’s latest collection has his clothing clumped together in massive garbage bags on shop floors rather than hung or folded neatly on shelves. A now-viral tweet from a customer asserts that a sales associate explained, “Ye got mad when he saw they had it on hangers and this is how he wanted it. They won’t help you find ur size too, you just have to just dig through everything.”

Naturally, the question on everyone’s minds is: Why? However, it doesn’t appear that an answer is forthcoming. During a recent appearance on Fox & Friends, which normally loves to hate on rappers but seems to be making an exception for the Trump-supporting Kanye, the rebellious rapper said, “Look, man: I’m an innovator, and I’m not here to sit up and apologize about my ideas. That’s exactly what the media tries to do: Make us apologize for any idea that doesn’t fall under exactly the way they want us to think.” Not exactly an answer.

For what it’s worth, Kanye’s sometimes outrageous approach to doing things often flies in the face of tradition, but often becomes standard operating practice down the line. For instance, when he released The Life Of Pablo to streaming services only partially completed in 2016 and spent the next year or so tweaking things to his liking, he angered some fans who believed he was short-changing them. However, in recent months, stars like Lizzo and Beyonce updated their albums post-release to clean up some questionable language when fans protested. Since then, he’s innovated album releases further by putting out Donda 2 exclusively on his stem player device.

Could this spell the end of clothes hangers and dressed-up mannequins at retail? It probably depends on how well this strategy works out. As CNN points out, though, brick-and-mortar stores have been pretty consistently losing business in the face of online shopping, which is much more convenient. Ironically enough, when you buy clothes online, guess how they arrive. That’s right: In a bag.

Just like the Beastie Boys taught us, the internet is ready to fight for the right to party. Only in this case, it’s for Sanna Marin, the 36-year-old prime minister of Finland, who has been getting dragged by critics for committing the apparently cardinal sin of… dancing and have fun in her free time? After someone leaked a video of Marin at a private party, her detractors have been demanding everything from a drug test to a full-on resignation.

“This is the Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin. Some been saying she’s cool… maybe among other teenagers. But a responsible leader for a country in crisis? She is by far the most incompetent PM we ever had. Knows nothing,” Finnish talk show host Aleksi Valavuori tweeted. “Please take your leather jacket and resign. Thanks.”

“Just for the sake of the discussion in public, it would be wise if the Prime Minister @MarinSanna voluntarily went through a drug screening, the results of which would be made public by an independent body. The people are also allowed to expect this from their prime minister,” tweeted Finnish parliament member Mikko Kärnä.

However, Sanna is already pushing back on the “scandal” and defending her pretty normal actions from critics. Via Mediaite:

“I have danced, sung, celebrated, done legal things,” she said. “I have a family life, I have a work life and I have free time to spend with my friends,” she added. “Pretty much the same as many people my age.”

Naturally, the internet thinks it’s awesome that Marin is out living her life, and numerous people rushed to defend her on Twitter. In fact, several wished this was the only “scandal” happening in their own countries.

(Via Mediaite)