GoneTrending

The first reactions to Blue Beetle are rolling in, and critics seem to be on board with the latest DC Comics film.

Directed by Angel Manuel Soto and starring Cobra Kai‘s Xolo Maridueña in the title role, Blue Beetle faces an uphill battle after Shazam!: Fury of the Gods and The Flash failed to ignite the box office and raised concerns about the future of the DC Universe. However, judging by the social media reactions rolling in, Blue Beetle manages to shake off the baggage of its predecessors thanks to its strong Latino representation and Maridueña’s performance.

You can see what some of the critics are saying below:

“#BlueBeetle is here & Latinos FINALLY have a superhero of their own reflected on the big screen,” Umberto Gonzalez tweeted. “The film is so incredibly good, so unique & delivers on all fronts giving the superhero genre much needed sazón! The film’s Tangerine Dream inspired synthwave score also rocks!”

“#BlueBeetle is an electric and thrilling ride, Xolo Maridueña was born to play Jaime Reyes!” Ben Rolph wrote. “It’s a spellbinding origin story, made and steered by the excellent Angel Manuel Soto. Loved the film and what it teases about the future of DC.”

“The #BlueBeetle movie is mostly a blast,” Brandon Davis tweeted. “Some is too silly or childish for me, a lot had me laughing loud (George Lopez!). Practical suit rocks. The Latino representation is awesome. Enjoyed the family-centric stakes, solid action beats. Overall, it’s fun.”

“#BlueBeetle stands out from previous DC entries & its mostly due to the Latin flavor, let’s be real,” Genesis O’Neill wrote. “It’s funny, emotional & the action scenes w BB are amazing! The cast is beautiful, but Maridueña & López SHINE. Can’t wait to see more! Congrats al BORI @angelmanuelsoto LFG!!”

You can see more Blue Beetle reactions below:

Blue Beetle flies into theaters on August 18.

What’s the deal with Ron DeSantis running for president?

The sad meatball governor made a campaign stop in Iowa on Friday. It did not go well. DeSantis was greeted with megaphone chants of “Pudding Fingers” and “Ron DeFascist” (no meatball?) from protestors in the lightly attended crowd.

According to Politico, “At the DeSantis event, Kara Ryan of Des Moines said she and her aunt, Heather Ryan, were there on behalf of a political action committee called ‘B*tches Get Stuff Done,’ that supports abortion rights.” A DeSantis supporter tried to knock the megaphone out of Heather’s hand, but she was determined to get her message out, turning what sounds like “go back to Florida” into “get the f*ck away from me.”

The New York Times detailed the scene:

“Racist, fascist, anti-gay, Ron DeSantis, go away,” they chanted. At one point, a minor fracas ensued between one of the women and a man who was there to welcome DeSantis. Handlers for the governor and local law enforcement stepped in between them. The governor’s remarks were mostly muffled by the chants, and his aides quickly escorted journalists away from the scene to an awaiting travel van.

At the same event, DeSantis stood in front of a brick wall and gave described as the “worst stand up set of all time.” The tepid applause is even more embarrassing than being called “Pudding Fingers.” He must be saving his A material (“I identify as American/patriot”) for the debates.

(Via Politico and the New York Times)

Based on the titling of 50 Cent’s current live show excursion, The Final Lap Tour, fans may assume that the rapper-turned-mogul will hang up his microphone to focus on his film and television ventures. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. During a recent interview, the Queens native revealed his appearance on Nas’ album Magic 2 was just the beginning.

When Capital XTRA’s hosts Robert Bruce and Shayna Marie asked if there were any other musical acts he’d be interested in working with, he immediately answered that he’d like to collaborate on a new song with Lil Wayne.

“I didn’t do [a song] with Wayne directly. He’s one of the ones that, like — Wayne has been trained,” said 50 as he praised the Young Money Records star.

If a record does come from this shoutout, it wouldn’t be the first time the pair rubbed shoulders. 50 Cent revealed that they rocked the same stages earlier in his career. “People don’t know. I was on the Cash Money/Ruff Ryders tour — before they opened the curtain. Before the show started, people were still walking in and sh*t, and I was doing my sh*t,” he joked.

He continued, “They thought I was lightweight, but then I came back around.” Even back then, 50 Cent had the foresight that he’d shift the culture of hip-hop.

(Worth noting is that there is a bit of beef history with 50 and Weezy.)

Listen to the full interview above.

In a world of negative headlines, misinformation, and the various pitfalls of social media, it’s easy to get down on the internet. Most people surveyed say they’d like to return to pre-online days when life seemed simpler, and we weren’t bombarded with information and distractions all day long.

But the internet has also allowed us to connect, create and learn in ways that were previously unfathomable. We can talk face-to-face with loved ones from across the planet in real time. We can send photos, videos and art to one another in the blink of an eye. We can share things that made us laugh with countless others to bring an immediate smile to their faces, wherever they are on the planet.

Here at Upworthy, we’re all about bringing out the best of humanity, which includes sharing gems of joy that remind us of the good in people and our world. We hope this week’s roundup makes you smile as well!

---

1. Flower girl takes her job seriously, and schools her dad in what’s what

See on Instagram

Might as well give that girl the corner office right now, cuz she’s got boss written all over her.

2. 12-year-old steps up for a younger kid being teased for singing ‘Let it Go’

See on Instagram

That’s how it’s done. The fact that he’s shy and hates performing and still offered to accompany that kiddo speaks volumes. Well done, Mama.

3. Wallace the Uber driver gamified his passengers’ ride experience

— (@)

Three cheers for Wallace. Gotta love someone who loves their job this much. Read the full story here.

4. Identical twins surprise their dad with a classic identity swap prank, and his reaction is delightful

Not an easy feat to trick a parent of identical twins, but they pulled it off. Such a sweet family. Read the full story here.

5. Percy the bearded dragon really, really, really loves his favorite sock

Who knew lizards could have so much personality? Read the full story here.

6. Pet mom narrates her dog and cat kerfuffles like ‘Fight Club’ and the deadpan delivery is everything

@mickeymarisandmeg

Replying to @gourdfarmer in which we see a sideways skiddily dap and a very underwhelming butt fluff trophy #labradorretriever #fightclub #dogsoftiktok #catsoftiktok #capcut #animals

Bamboozled by the sideways skiddily daps. Perfection. Read the full story here.

7. Woman’s neighbor tells her to wear her yellow dress to her art show opening for the best reason

See on Instagram

Scroll through for the whole story. What a sweet surprise (though, according to people in the comments who live or have lived in Ithaca, not at all surprising—apparently quite a wonderful community there).

8. Is there anything sweeter than a 96-year-old grandma meeting her 1-day-old grandchild for the first time?

See on Instagram

How incredibly special. Also, go Grandma! Looking amazing at 96.

9. Man shares his dad’s rave review of ‘Barbie,’ in which he calls her more of a superhero than Superman

See on Instagram

Wow. He apparently really liked it. Pretty amazing considering he’s not the target demographic for the film.

10. Not even sure how to describe this raccoon, but…well, just watch

— (@)

Is it thirsty? Hungry? Cooling off? Whatever it is, it’s amazing to witness. Get it, raccoon.

If you enjoyed this roundup and would like to receive more like it in your inbox, sign up for our free newsletter, The Upworthiest, here.

Chappell Roan has been turning heads with alluring songs like “Naked In Manhattan” and “My Kink Is Karma.” These beloved tracks will appear on her debut LP The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess, which she announced recently and described as a “14-song album holding stories of unearthing my true self and fearlessly embracing queerness.”

She’s back with an anthemic new single called “Hot To Go!” It bursts with her vivacious energy that fans love her for as she makes her own danceable chant: “H-O-T-T-O-G-O / Snap n’ clap n’ and touch your toes,” she sings against buzzing synthesizers. In the music video, she’s as enthusiastic and entertaining as the music, donning an array of glittery outfits.

Chappell said about the song in a statement, “I wrote this song so I could live out my cheerleader fantasy! I just wanted to make something simple and silly that I could do with the audience because I’m a huge fan of audience participation. Also, selfishly (and shamelessly) wanted to bounce around on stage singing a song about being hot.”

Watch the video for “Hot To Go!” above.

The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess is out 9/22 via Amusement/Island Records. Find more information here.

Los Angeles saw the end of several eras on Wednesday night. At SoFi Stadium, Taylor Swift concluded the initial leg of her Eras Tour, which will likely go down as the most significant concert run of this century so far. But at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, a much more hushed era — but just as musically exciting — also ended, the Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You cycle from Big Thief.

One of the best albums of the last few years, Big Thief’s masterpiece saw multiple years of support, but both Buck Meek and Adrianne Lenker announced that the band would be taking a year off from touring following the sold-out show (don’t worry too much, the time off will include at least the upcoming Buck Meek solo album). Lenker went on to thank the band’s crew, management, and even merch person by name, noting that it was an emotional moment to close this chapter. But anyone who’s been following Big Thief knows that the band’s eras are much more blurry than other artists. At this point in the tour, nearly half the set was comprised of music that has yet to be released, following the Animal Collective model of touring the album to come as much as supporting the album released.

All that said, it was a magnificent 90-minute set in a perfect atmosphere, with Lenker acknowledging the weirdness of playing where people are buried (and possibly performing for their spirits). Early in the set, the band set the bar high by inviting a fan, Sophia, to the stage to sing harmonies on “Sparrow” — and she knocked it out of the park. Elsewhere, “Simulation Swarm,” “Not,” “Masterpiece,” “Spud Infinity,” “Certainty,” the recent “Vampire Empire,” and the finale, “Change” all elated fans ranging from children to grandparents. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Big Thief is the best band in the world right now and it isn’t particularly close. Their rest is much deserved, and based on the new material, their next era might raise the bar even higher.

Check out some exclusive photos of Big Thief at Hollywood Forever Cemetery below:

Big Thief

Bill Callahan

It’s been just about a year since DJ Khaled’s last album, God Did, highlighted rising star Lil Baby with Drake and Future-assisted singles and reminded the world just how good at this rap stuff Jay-Z really is. So, what with the accelerated album release cycles we’ve seen in the streaming era, it stands to reason it’s just about time for a new DJ Khaled album to drop soon.

Evidently, Khaled himself agrees. After announcing the impending release of his fourteenth(!) studio album, Til Next Time, he followed up today with its first single. Fittingly the new single, “Supposed To Be Loved,” also features Lil Baby, as well as Future and Lil Uzi Vert. Til Next Time will be Khaled’s first album under a new joint venture between his We The Best Music and Def Jam.

To announce the album, he tapped into his recent infatuation with golf, crafting a four-minute trailer that sees him hit some impossible shots alongside his sons Asahd and Aalam, and his wife Nicole. The first single, “Supposed To Be Loved,” contains a sample of Michael Jackson’s “PYT” and marks Khaled’s first-ever collab with Lil Uzi Vert. While a release date for Til Next Time has yet to be announced, considering his usual rollout schedule, it can’t be too far off. Check out the album’s trailer and the first single below.

Petey is doing well: His comedic videos have earned him 1.5 million followers on TikTok and his music recently landed him a new record deal with Capitol Records. The signing was announced last month when he dropped “I’ll Wait,” the first single from his upcoming album, USA. (His social media handle has long been @peteyusa, hence the album title.) The project is set to drop in a few weeks, but ahead of that, Petey has shared a new single, “Did I Mention I’m Sorry.”

He also shared a video for the track, in which he and his band give their debut talk show performance… on a fictional, low-budget Bulgarian talk show. Press materials describe the song as “a high-octane anthem for anyone who’s ever been caught in a loop of missteps and half-hearted apologies.”

Towards the end of the year, Petey is set to embark on a tour in November (with one December date, at The Fonda Theater in Los Angeles). The trek kicks off in Atlanta and will hit storied venues like Washington DC’s 9:30 Club, Philadelphia’s Union Transfer, and New York’s Irving Plaza. More information on the tour can be found on Petey’s website.

Watch the “Did I Mention I’m Sorry” video above and revisit our 2021 interview with Petey here.

USA is out 9/22 via Capitol. Find more information here.

Sacha Baron Cohen might be dusting off one of his classic characters. While the comedian is best known for his portrayal of Borat, who now has two movies under his belt, Cohen looks to be going back to his roots by bringing back Ali G, the character that started it all.

According to Variety, Cohen is reportedly developing a stand-up tour featuring Ali G, whose absurd interviews put the actor on the map. Ali G originally appeared in the late ’90s on the British TV sketch series, “The 11 O’Clock Show” before making the jump to HBO where Ali G became a breakout hit with American audiences in the early-to-mid 2000s.

However, a source close to Cohen made it a point to “strenuously deny” that a new Ali G movie was in the works and that Cohen is “strictly abiding” by strike rules. “As a SAG and WGA member he is supporting the ongoing strike alongside his fellow writers and actors,” the source told Variety.

While Cohen has focused mainly on Borat, Ali G has reemerged a handful of times. The actor famously surprised audiences with the character at the 2016 Oscars thanks to the help of wife Isla Fisher. More recently, Cohen dropped a secret Ali G set at The Comedy Store in Sydney in 2021 where he may have been laying the groundwork for the pending stand-up tour.

“I just wanted to get on stage and muck around and see what Ali G would be like with a crowd,” Cohen said after the performance. “It was really good fun.”

(Via Variety)

2023 is all about Karol G. Her album Mañana Será Bonito became the first all-Spanish-language album by a woman to land atop the charts and broke Spotify records. Today, she’s already building up more hype with the release of Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season), which has features from Peso Pluma, Kali Uchis, Dei V, and Young Miko.

Along with the record, the star has shared a music video for the third track, “Mi Ex Tenía Razón.” It’s a stunning visual accompaniment that depicts the pink-haired performer singing by the water in a chic translucent cowboy hat.

In our interview with Karol about Mañana Será Bonito, she touched on who the music is intended for. “There are songs for everyone,” she said. “There’s a song for people in love, if you have a broken heart, if you’re feeling crazy, or if you want to party with perreo. With everything that’s happening, I want to enjoy the present with my music and remember that tomorrow everything will be great. Tomorrow will be beautiful.”

Watch the video for “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” above.

Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season) is out now via Universal Music Latino. Find more information here.