Category: Viral

Donald Trump has steam coming out of his ears, Yosemite Sam-style, about Fox News failing to cover a single county in Michigan naming “Man of the Decade.” But his tantrum goes deeper — and more vain — than that. What he’s really mad about is the network using “horrible” photos of him, even though he’s the Most Handsome Man of the Century (by his own estimation, at least).

“Three people in New Hampshire asked me why FoxNews uses such ‘horrible’ pictures of me when doing or promoting a story,” the indicted former president fumed on Truth Social. “The coloring, distortions, everything are just so bad. They must sit and look at 100 different shots, and then take the 10 absolute worst. My staff has even complained about it for months, but to no avail. Fox is just bad news, but I’m leading in the Polls by record numbers, so perhaps their bull…. is just not working. They are down 37% for a reason!”

This is the same guy who ordered the official White House photographer to “carry around a stool to all events to shoot the president from above” so he can “appear slimmer and taller,” so it’s not a surprise that Trump has a bee in his bonnet about this particular issue (also, if he’s elected president in 2024, women will be required to wear bonnets when they appear in public). I’m not sure why he’s worried, though. He’s very photogenic.

Looking good, sir!

(Via Raw Story)

Exactly two weeks ago, on June 14, Kid Cudi announced his Moon Man’s Landing festival would be going down on August 19 in Cleveland. The lineup was set to featured an intimate lineup led by Lil Uzi Vert, Suicideboys, Coi Leray, and himself. Now, though, Cudi has had to U-turn on that, as he revealed last night (June 27) that this year’s festival will not be happening.

In a statement shared on Twitter, Cudi explained that he was unable to get approval for the outdoor event from the city, and that an indoor event wasn’t desirable. He wrote:

“Hey guys,

Got some bad news Im gonna have to cancel Moon Man’s Landing this year. I know u guys wanted an outdoor festival, and so did I, but the city wouldnt approve it. And instead of cancelling the whole thing I decided to have it at the arena because I still wanted to bring something cool to the city, but I know u guys werent feelin it. Dont even trip!! Heres the good news. Im bringing the fest back next year, hopefully w some of the same line up and it will be in an outdoor venue. Only thing is, it might have to be over an hour outside of Cleveland. I saw some people say they dont mind the drive if I did make it outside of the city, so let me know ur feedback yall! I doubt the city will approve anything in the city, but Moon Man’s Landing is not dead! And we will find a better place for u all to have an epic time at. Promise. Big bro got u.

Scott.”

Find Cudi’s post below.

For nearly a decade, a cloud hanging over Kesha’s life was the 2014 defamation lawsuit producer Dr. Luke had filed against her, after Kesha claimed he drugged and raped her in 2005. The suit was finally set to go to trial in July, but before that, Kesha and Dr. Luke shared a joint statement announcing they had settled the suit out of court.

Following that, Kesha posted a new statement thanking her fans.

Her Instagram post from yesterday (June 27) reads, “I am humbled and in awe of the support and love y’all have given me. You have held me and carried me through the past 9 years. I am so full of light and excitement for the beautiful things to come, for shows to play, and art to make to share with you all. Animals, ‘I don’t need much but there’s one thing I can’t lose. All I need is you.’”

This follows the statement she made with the recent lawsuit announcement: “Only God knows what happened that night. As I have always said, I cannot recount everything that happened. I am looking forward to closing the door on this chapter of my life and beginning a new one. I wish nothing but peace to all parties involved.”

Last month, indie rock royalty Jeff Rosenstock made his grand return with the energetic single “Liked U Better” and an announcement of a fall tour. Now, as many suspected, he’s back with even more to follow his ambitious 2021 album Ska Dream.

Rosenstock has announced his new album titled Hellmode will be arriving in September. “To me, the album feels like the chaos of being alive right now,” Rosenstock said in a statement. “We’re experiencing all these things at the same time that trigger our senses, and emotions that make us feel terrible. We’re just feeling way too much all at once!”

The single “Doubt” is out now. Though Rosenstock’s voice is resigned and the guitars are downtrodden, the words are motivational: “Speak / Even if it feels weird / Even if it feels weird to be yourself.” It comes with a music video of gorgeous animation, which makes the emotion of the music even more powerful. The track eventually bursts into an optimistic anthem, making for an impactful catharsis.

Listen to “Doubt” above.

Find the album artwork and tracklist below.

1. “Will U Still U”
2. “Head”
3. “Liked U Better”
4. “Doubt”
5. “Future Is Dumb”
6. “Soft Living”
7. “Healmode”
8. “Life Admin”
9. “I Wanna Be Wrong”
10. “Graveyard Song”
11. “3 Summers”

Hellmode is out 9/7 on Polyvinyl. Find more information here.

Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo has exercised his $9.4 million player option for the 2023-24 NBA season, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Oladipo is set to stay in South Beach after joining the Heat midway through the 2020-21 season. However, he tore his left patellar tendon during Miami’s first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks in late April and will presumably miss a notable chunk of 2023-24 as a result. Injuries have unfortunately spoiled much of Oladipo’s tenure with the Heat. He played just four regular season games with Miami in 2020-21, eight in 2021-22 and 42 in 2022-23. When healthy, the veteran guard has provided Miami with some welcomed, feisty point-of-attack defense and ball-handling.

His defense fits well with the Heat’s ethos and his shot creation, though up and down, helps complement their defense-first identity. He averaged 10.7 points, 3.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals last year. Whenever he returns, he’ll look to contribute to a Miami squad aiming for its third consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearance and third Finals trip in five years. With key role players Gabe Vincent and Max Strus set to enter free agency, Oladipo’s status could prove instrumental. It’s comforting to see a guy who’s struggled so much to stay available because of injury secure some guaranteed money as well.

Although the Golden State Warriors’ depth was not as impactful last season as during their 2021-22 title run, certain players still emerged and helped them to the second round of the playoffs. Among those players was 6’4 wing Donte DiVincenzo, who played 72 regular season games, started 36 of them and shot 39.7 percent beyond the arc. He also appeared in all 13 of Golden State’s playoff games.

DiVincenzo will seek to parlay his fine season into a payday. According to ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, he will decline his $4.7 million player option and enter free agency.

“This wasn’t a big surprise for the Warriors and other front-office executives around the league,” Andrews wrote. “There was a sentiment that DiVincenzo had outplayed his contract in Golden State after arriving in San Francisco last summer.”

DiVincenzo bounced back from a slow 2021-22 this past year. He provided the Warriors with physical point-of-attack defense, slippery screen navigation on and off the ball, connective passing and valuable floor-spacing. Despite some clear limitations, notably as a finisher and driver, he’s quite the useful role player and should help whichever team signs him later this summer. Golden State was 1.4 points better per 100 possessions with him on the floor, according to Cleaning The Glass. He averaged 9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game in 2022-23.

The Bond team may still be unsure who will replace Daniel Craig, who wrapped his last day in the role nearly four years ago. But for years and years, a large number of people know who they want: They want Idris Elba. Alas, Elba has long said he doesn’t want the gig, though he’s never really given an answer explaining why. Now he’s finally supplied one reason, and it’s a good one.

As per Variety, Elba recently appeared on the podcast SmartLess, where he started by saying he was at least initially into being 007.

“The truth is, I was super complimented for a long time about this,” Elba admitted. “I was like, ‘This is crazy!’ James Bond…We’re all actors and we understand that role. It’s one of those coveted [roles]. Being asked to be James Bond was like, ‘Ok, you’ve sort of reached the pinnacle’. That’s one of those things the whole world has a vote in.”

Sadly, not everyone was into it, and by “not everyone” we mean the usual suspects. “Essentially, it was a huge compliment that every corner of the world except from some corners, which we will not talk about, were really happy about the idea that I could be considered,” Elba explained. “Those that weren’t happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting, because it became about race. It became about nonsense and I got the brunt of it.”

It’s not uncommon for non-white performers to be trashed by bigots when they land key roles in big IP. Just ask John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran, and Moses Ingram, all of whom were plagued with abuse when they joined the Star Wars-verse.

Elba has spoken in the past about not wanting to be thought of as a “Black actor.” He told Esquire U.K. in February that as humans, we are obsessed with race and that obsession can really hinder people’s aspirations, hinder people’s growth. Racism should be a topic for discussion, sure. Racism is very real. But from my perspective, it’s only as powerful as you allow it to be.”

As such, he “stopped describing myself as a Black actor when I realized it put me in a box,” adding, “We’ve got to grow. We’ve got to. Our skin is no more than that: it’s just skin. Rant over.”

So if you were one of many who wanted Idris Elba drinking shaken martinis and driving an Aston Martin, you know who to blame.

(Via Variety)

In May of 2022, New York rapper Casanova — responsible for viral hits like “So Drippy,” featuring Young Thug and Gunna, as well as “Woah” with Jeremih — pleaded guilty to the charges against him, which included firearm possession, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, racketeering, and attempted murder. It was a rough trip, including being wanted by the FBI and denied $2.5 million bond.

As of Tuesday, June 27, Casanova has received his prison sentence, and it includes 188 months — translating to over 15 years — behind bars, according to a press release from Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

“Caswell Senior is not just a notorious recording artist, but he is also a high-profile leader of a vicious street gang and a magnet for gang violence,” Williams said. “At a crowded Miami house party, Senior personally fired a gun that seriously injured and could have killed a victim, inciting a shootout. Further, Senior’s stature in the community was central to Gorilla Stone’s successful recruitment and nationwide expansion. Today’s sentencing — along with the other significant sentences that have been imposed in this case — shows once again that gang life is not worth it and will lead to many years in prison.”

Talen Horton-Tucker will hit unrestricted free agency at the conclusion of the 2023-24 NBA season. But before that, Horton-Tucker will play out the final year of his contract with the Utah Jazz, as Brian Windhorst of ESPN brought word via Rich Paul that Horton-Tucker will opt into the last year of his deal, which will pay him a hair over $11 million this year.

Horton-Tucker originally agreed to this deal — a 3-year contract worth just under $31 million — back when he was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. He played out the first two years of the contract in L.A., but prior to the start of last season, the former Iowa State Cyclone was sent to Utah as part of the deal that sent Patrick Beverley to the Lakers.

Horton-Tucker appeared in 65 games as a member of the Jazz, with 20 of them coming as a member of the starting lineup. He posted some of the best numbers of his young career, as he averaged 10.7 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game, and set his career-high in scoring by dropping 41 points in a win over the San Antonio Spurs in March. While this is going to be his fifth year in the NBA, Horton-Tucker won’t turn 23 years old until November.

In May, Lizzo shared a TikTok about struggling to overcome hate. “Today was one of those days where I was very angry, very angry at the world. Saw a lot of mean sh*t about me on the internet, and I wanted to give up,” she explained. However, after expressing her gloomy feelings more, she ended the rant on a high note, saying, “Then, I reminded myself to get up, get out, and get some sun, and I put on Renaissance.”

Beyoncé’s music is an oasis for many people. That album in particular is an excuse for celebration. So, when Lizzo went to The Renaissance Tour on Tuesday, June 27, in Warsaw, it makes sense that she totally let loose and have fun. A clip is circulating of the “Truth Lies” singer in attendance at the event and she quite possibly might be the most enthusiastic person there. She’s caught dancing her heart out to “Church Girls” and raising a beer.

On social media, she once divulged how many times she’s seen the Lemonade legend. “I have seen Beyoncé perform live 10 times in my lifetime,” she wrote on Twitter. “and today the 11th time was on a IG live across a body of water of a hotel and I’m not ashamed.”