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It’s been 12 years since the late Kobe Bryant shut down the Drew League in a wild game where he scored 45, including the game-winner, to top James Harden’s 50-point performance.

DeMar DeRozan was also part of that game, and in a recent appearance on the Iman Amongst Men podcast with Iman Shumpert, he was asked for his favorite Kobe memory and went to that game. However, the game-winner from Kobe wasn’t even the part that stuck out most to him, but something that happened three minutes of game time before that, when Bryant refused to leave the game at the request of the police there who wanted to get him out before the masses of people in the gym swarmed him at the end of the game.

As DeRozan recalled, police approached Kobe and suggested he leave, which he declined, and then he fully embraced the crowd after knocking down the game-winner, getting swarmed by fans as they poured out of the bleachers and onto the court as he stood, arms raised, in triumph. It is an incredibly cool moment and one that might not have happened with a different superstar. It’s hard to emphasize how big Kobe was in Los Angeles in 2011, a year removed from leading the Lakers to another championship. Some might’ve taken the advice of the police in the gym that day and dipped out early to avoid the craziness at the end, but Kobe wanted to feel that energy and delivered a game-winner just to ensure it was as crazy as possible.

Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour is still going strong. It was reported last month that the “Break My Soul” performer contributed to country-wide inflation in Sweden with her concert stop, with data showing a 0.3-percent rise from April to May sparked by “a broad set of goods and services, for instance, hotel and restaurant visits” and “recreational services.”

Something similar is taking place in Chicago after Beyoncé performed there on July 22 and 23 at Soldier Field. A news anchor discussed it on Fox 32 Chicago, saying, “It isn’t just fans basking in the glow of Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour, Yelp Data shows hotels, restaurants, shops, beauty salons all saw a huge spike as well, especially Black-owned businesses.” Statistics were displayed, showing Beyoncé search trends in the Illinois city. Hotels and travel are up 20%, shopping is up 17%, restaurants is up 14%, and beauty services is up 5%.

More statistics show that cosmetics and beauty stores are up 7%, eyebrow services are up 9%, nail salons are up 2%, shoe stores are up 9%, and men’s hair salons are up 4%. For Black-owned businesses, beauty and spas are up 12%, hotels and travel are up 31%, women searches for hotel and travel are up 44%, LGBTQ+ searches for nightlife are up 2%, and restaurants are up 2%.

Once upon a time, Ron DeSantis was supposed to be the younger, fitter, more disciplined Trump 2.0. Those were the days, my friend. Ol’ Pudding Fingers has spent months lagging way, way behind the GOP’s presumptive 2024 presidential nominee, who’s also his state’s most famous resident. (At least he won’t call him Meatball Ron.) Things are so bad that he’s had to gut his campaign staff. But at least one fired employee seems to have deserved his fate.

As first reported by Semafor, among the firees was Nate Hochman, who had been seen as a rising star in today’s extra-combative far right. He even left The National Review to join DeSantis’ team as a speechwriter. He also retweeted multiple pro-DeSantis videos from their Twitter account DeSantisCams.

But on Tuesday Hochman was out. The campaign wouldn’t say why, but some speculated it might be because he shared another pro-DeSantis video over weekend that was even more alarming than the anti-LBTQIA+ one they shared a few weekends ago. After all this one, boasted Nazi imagery.

The video finds a “wojack” character, depressed by Trump’s record, finding a new hope in DeSantis. It’s all well and good — which is to say it’s terrible in a mediocre fashion — until the end, when the seal of Florida transforms into the Sonnenrad, or the Black Sun symbol originated in Nazi Germany and later used by Neo-Nazis. Under the Sonnenrad lies DeSantis surrounded by soldiers marching in formation.

Hochman later deleted the video. It’s unclear who made it, though Axios reported that he did.

Did the DeSantis team not want one of the staffers outright comparing him to Adolf Hitler? Was that too much even for someone who suppresses free speech and tries to the power of the state to crush those he doesn’t like? They won’t say, but it’s another sign that this might not be DeSantis’ time.

(Via Semafor)

The Newport Folk Festival is coming up this weekend. After making tickets more accessible for fans, the Rhode Island festival is sure to be a great experience this year. With artists like Lana Del Rey, Maggie Rogers, Angel Olsen, and Aimee Mann, the lineup is stacked.

The experience takes place from July 28 to 30, and the music is split into four stages: the Fort Stage, the Quad Stage, the Harbor Stage, and the Foundation Stage. Check out the full set times below, organized by stages.

Fort Stage

Friday, July 28

11:25-11:55 — Laden Valley
12:25-1:20 — Eastern Medicine Singers with Yonatan Gat and Lee Ranaldo
1:50-2:50 — Del Water Gap
3:20-4:20 — Caamp
4:55-5:55 — Maggie Rogers
6:30-7:45 — My Morning Jacket

Saturday, July 29

11:25-11:55 — The Huntress And The Holder Of Hands
12:25-1:20 — Danielle Ponder
1:50-2:50 — The Backseat Lovers
3:20-4:20 — Goose
4:55-5:55 — Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit
6:30-7:45 — Jon Batiste & Friends

Sunday, July 30

11:25-11:55 — Dan Blakeslee
12:25-1:20 — The Earls Of Leicester
1:45-2:45 — Black Opry Revue
3:15-4:15 — Los Lobos & Friends 50th Anniversary
4:55-5:55 — Lana Del Rey
6:30-7:45 — Billy Strings

Quad Stage

Friday, July 28

11:05-11:50 — Free Range
12:15-1:05 — The Beths
1:30-2:20 — Mdou Moctar
2:50-3:40 — Thee Sacred Souls
4:10-5:10 — Nickel Creek
5:40-6:40 — Noah Kahan

Saturday, July 29

11:05-11:50 — Orchestra Gold
12:15-1:05 — Nanna
1:30-2:20 — Bartees Strange
2:50-3:40 — The Hold Steady
4:10-5:05 — Angel Olsen
5:35-6:35 — Turnpike Troubadours

Sunday, July 30

11:05-11:50 — The Harlem Gospel Travelers
12:15-1:05 — Jupiter And Okwess
1:30-2:20 — Madison Cunningham
2:50-3:40 — Remi Wolf
4:05-5:05 — Gregory Alan Isakov
5:35-6:35 — Folk Family Revue feat. Robert Ellis, Beau Bedford & Phil Cook

Harbor Stage

Friday, July 28

11:00-11:40 — Ron Gallo
12:00-12:45 — Peter One
1:10-2:00 — Bella White
2:25-3:20 — Slaughter Beach, Dog
3:45-4:40 — The Heavy Heavy
5:05-6:05 — Heavy Make Up

Saturday, July 29

11:00-11:40 — Willi Carlisle
12:00-12:45 — Jaime Wyatt
1:10-2:00 — Alice Phoebe Lou
2:25-3:20 — Indigo De Souza
3:45-4:40 — John Oates featuring Guthrie Trapp
5:05-6:05 — Aimee Mann

Sunday, July 30

11:00-11:40 — Senora May
12:00-12:45 — Sumbuck
1:10-2:00 — Abraham Alexander
2:25-3:10 — Mereba
3:45-4:40 — M. Ward
5:05-6:05 — Dawn Landes & Friends Perform The Liberated Woman’s Songbook

Foundation Stage

Friday, July 28

10:00-11:00 — Open Mic
11:00-11:25 — Joan Caddell & The Midnight Choir
11:55-12:20 — Rainbow Girls
1:20-1:45 — Choir School Of Newport County With Special Guests
2:50-3:15 — Sistastrings
4:20-4:45 — Mon Rovia

Saturday, July 29

10:00-11:00 — Open Mic
11:00-11:25 — The Gospel Of The Hold Steady: In Conversation With Ryan Walsh
11:55-12:20 — Chance Emerson
1:20-1:45 — Jobi Riccio
2:50-3:15 — Adam Gaffney
4:20-4:45 — Erin Rae

10:00-11:00 — Open Mic
11:00-11:25 — Sheroes Radio
11:55-12:20 —Grace Bowers
1:20-1:45 — Tiny Habits
2:50-3:15 — Tommy Prine

No doubt you’ve seen people reacting to TikTok’s “aged” filter, which shows users what their face might look like many years into the future. It uses the same AI technology that creates those mind-bogglingly realistic beauty photos with zero imperfections or signs of aging, but turns the concept on its head. Less glam, more gray hair and wrinkles.

Generally speaking, the reactions have been…less than welcoming. From celebrities to beauty influencers to just regular folks, this filter has unlocked some deep-seated fears and shame towards aging that continue to exist no matter how much we shout the mantra of “SELF LOVE” from the rooftops.

However, a 5-year-old girl is having the time of her life “aging” herself up, and it’s every bit as refreshing as it is wholesome.

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In the clip, which has already racked up over a million views on TikTok, the girl shoos mom out of the way before impersonating a granny.

Not just any granny, but “Rita,” an old lady persona that the cartoon character Bluey puts on as a game with her sister Bingo, who goes by “Rita” during their play pretend time. Yeah, she’s impersonating an impersonation. Meta.

“What did ya say Rita..? Pass me my glasses,” she says in her best old lady voice, squinty eyes and all, followed by countless giggles.

“The way she knew exactly what to do with this filter. 95 and 5 all at once,” her mom wrote in the video’s caption.

@reviejane

The way she knew exactly what to do with this filter 😭😂 95 and 5 all at once.

♬ Funny – Gold-Tiger

For both this little girl and the granny segments from “Bluey,” the dread and disgust is replaced by pure joy and a playful embrace of life’s later chapter.

Sure, there’s the argument that it might feel a lot more “fun” just pretending, rather than actually experiencing the effects of growing older. But there are also plenty of people in their Golden Years who report feeling healthier, more confident and more fulfilled, so our attitudes toward aging, deeply ingrained as they are, aren’t completely accurate.

And perhaps more importantly, can we just not let a filter ruin our day? No matter how realistic it might be, it still doesn’t necessarily predict the future. So why not do as the kids do—throw on a granny voice and simply enjoy seeing ourselves through a different lens. It all has value.

Childless women in the public eye are often plagued by the question: “So, why don’t you have any children?” It’s a deeply personal question that cuts right to the bone, and there can be many answers. But, if the woman doesn’t want children and says so publicly, she is bound to face some judgment.

“[I don’t] like [the pressure] that people put on me, on women—that you’ve failed yourself as a female because you haven’t procreated. I don’t think it’s fair,” Jennifer Aniston told Allure. “You may not have a child come out of your vagina, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t mothering—dogs, friends, friends’ children.”

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On the Monday, March 6 episode of “The Diary Of A CEO” podcast, host Steven Bartlett asked actor Seth Rogen about why he’s childless, and it was a rare moment where a man in the public eye was challenged on the topic. Rogen gave a thoughtful explanation for his and Lauren Miller’s decision to be child-free.

Rogen and Miller were married in 2011.

“There’s a whole huge thing I’m not doing, which is raising children,” Rogen told Bartlett. The host attempted to play devil’s advocate and asked Rogen if he considered whether having children might have made him and his wife “happier.”

“I don’t think it would,” Rogen responded.

Then, as if anticipating the question, the “Pineapple Express” star upended one of the arguments that people who have children often make: that people who don’t have children have no idea what it’s like.

“I’ve been around obviously a lot of children; I’m not ignorant to what it’s like…Everyone I know has kids. I’m 40, you know? I know,” Rogen said. “Some of my friends have had kids for decades. Some people want kids, some people don’t want kids.”

He added that many people seem to have kids without considering the issue.

“I mean, a lot of people have kids before they even think about it, from what I’ve seen, honestly,” he said. “You just are told, you go through life, you get married, you have kids—it’s what happens.”

Rogen and his wife have only grown stronger in their decision and they believe that it has helped their relationship.

“Now, more than anything, the conversation is like, ‘Honestly, thank God we don’t have children,’” he continued. “We get to do whatever we want.”

“We are in the prime of our lives. We are smarter than we’ve ever been, we understand ourselves more than we ever have, we have the capacity to achieve a level of work and a level of communication and care for one another, and a lifestyle we can live with one another that we’ve never been able to live before. And we can just do that, and we don’t have to raise a child—which the world does not need right now,” Rogen concluded.

Everyone has the right to choose whether or not to have children, and no one has the right to judge them. Rogen and Miller have thought their decision through and should be applauded for living how they see fit. It’s cool to see Rogen with such a thoughtful opinion on the matter. It’d be even cooler if celebrities never had to discuss the topic in the first place.

This article originally appeared on 3.9.23

Greg Gutfeld may be the unlikely king of late night TV, and not just because all other late night TV shows are on hiatus during the WGA strike. (Of course his writers aren’t union members.) But he does double duty on the network. He’s also one of the quintet on The Five, where he gets to say all manner of edgy, stupid stuff during the late afternoon, too. For instance, on Monday he said some deeply offensive stuff about the Holocaust that’s even pissing off some of his Fox News colleagues.

The gang was talking about Florida’s decision to whitewash the teaching of slavery in America, with new curriculum that claims slaves at least got to learn some job training while being treated as property. Governor Ron DeSantis has defended it, and so has The Five’s Jesse Watters, who sat there on Monday’s show as Gutfeld basically told him to hold his beer.

During the segment, token liberal Jessica Tarlov said she was “uncomfortable” with the idea of junior high students being taught that slaves benefited from being slaves.

“Obviously, I’m not Black. But I’m Jewish. Would someone say, about the Holocaust, for instance, that there were some benefits for Jews, right?” she said. “While you were hanging out in concentration camps, you learned a strong work ethic, right? Maybe you learned a new skill?”

That prompted Gutfeld to butt in. “Did you ever read Man’s Search for Meaning?” referring to Viktor E. Frankel’s 1946 account of his experiences at the Buchenwald concentration camp. Gutfeld then cherry-picked a bit to make some kind of point, or whatever you’d call it. “Vik Frankl talks about how you had to survive in a concentration camp by having skills. You had to be useful, utility. Utility kept you alive.”

Gutfeld’s comments earned widespread scorn, from the Anti-Defamation League, from the Auschwitz Museum, and from the White House. They also alarmed some at Fox News, who spoke to The Daily Beast under anonymity.

One “network insider” said Gutfeld’s latest comments have prompted a “lot of internal worry.” They also said the obvious: “At any other place, his career would be over.”

Another, who called his comment “disgusting,” gave some insight into how Fox News’ staff really operates:

“Just generally speaking, I’m amazed that FOX has any ability to retain employees from multicultural backgrounds. Our workplace is shockingly diverse given the vitriol that often makes it to the air. Understand that they’re likely here for the same reasons I am, these jobs are scarce, but I can’t help but feel awful for them because they undoubtedly see this nonsense and can’t do anything to stop it.”

Yet another simply said, “Yikes.”

Will all that “internal worry” end with Gutfeld dethroned from his late night spot? Almost certainly not, even though Fox News did get rid of their biggest star. But if they do, Gutfeld should take note that Tucker Carlson isn’t doing so hot without such a sizeable platform. More importantly, it means Fox News won’t be randomly greeted with a visit from members of GWAR.

(Via The Daily Beast)

“I would never retire!” country-pop icon Dolly Parton said the other week. “I would hopefully drop dead in the middle of a song on stage someday — and hopefully one I’ve written.” She’s proving her dedication once more with the release of her new single, “We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You,” an ambitious Queen medley from her highly anticipated forthcoming album Rockstar.

Following the politically-pissed-off song “World On Fire,” “We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You” is more victorious and lighthearted, bursting with confidence and exuberance. Her voice is as strong as ever and she sings the legendary lines with force.

About “World On Fire,” she clarified that it was about all politicians. “I don’t think any of ’em are trying hard enough,” she said. “I’m sure they’re all trying, but I just really think that, often, they worry more about their party than they do about the people. If we just do what we felt was the right thing, rather than who’s gonna lose, who’s gonna win this, who’s gonna look better if they do this, rather than working from the heart.”

Listen to “We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You” above.

Rockstar is out 11/17 via Butterfly Records. Find more information here.

Ryan Gosling is a funny guy. He doesn’t always remind viewers about that. The last comedy he made was The Nice Guys, all the way back in 2016, in which he and Russell Crowe made for a top shelf buddy comedy duo. (Gosling was the overtly funny one, Crowe was the straight man, who was also pretty funny.) So why did Greta Gerwig want to cast the very serious thespian as a deeply silly Ken in her Barbie film? It wasn’t only so he would do comedy again.

In an appearance on the SmartLess podcast (as caught by Entertainment Weekly), Gerwig said what really made her turn to Gosling for Barbie’s not-quite-boyfriend was not The Nice Guys or The Big Short or even his fine work in Crazy Stupid Love. It was his two stints hosting SNL, in 2015 and 2017. (Mind you, it could have been those films as well.)

“You know those actors you can… just sort of feel that they know what’s funny, and I always felt that about him,” Gerwig said. “And then I’m a big fan of all of his SNLs, I always thought he was great on SNL… He did ‘Guy That Just Got a Boat’ on ‘Weekend Update,’ and it’s so good.”

In the sketch, which aired during his latter appearance, Gosling played “Guy Who Just Joined Soho House,” who joined Alex Moffat’s titular boat guy on Weekend Update. Gosling even wore a pink button-up.

Gosling’s work so impressed Gerwig that she kept putting his name in the screenplay, despite not even knowing him. “And then when we handed them the script, the studio was like ‘Oh, it’s so wonderful that you know Ryan,’” she recalled. “And I was like, ‘Oh, I don’t know Ryan. I’ve never met Ryan, I have no idea.’”

You can watch Gosling’s sketch below — and don’t forget him trying and failing not to crack up in another, even more famous sketch with his future Barbie co-star Kate McKinnon, which he was so good he did it twice.

(Via EW)

It would be hard to choose anyone to be the “person of the moment” right now other than actress Margot Robbie. Her new film, “Barbie,” which she also produced, is currently at the top of the box office, well on its way to becoming the summer’s biggest film.

The publicity and excitement surrounding the “Barbie” star has caused a video to resurface showing that the A-list actress has a sweet side and knows a bit of sign language.

In September of 2022, at the London premiere of “Amsterdam,” Robbie was interacting with fans when a deaf man handed her a piece of paper, which appeared to be a sign language cheat sheet. “For me?” the actress asked before exclaiming, “I know it!”

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Then she frantically looked for a place to set down the cheat sheet and some pens to free up her hands so she could show off her finger alphabet skills.

— (@)

In another angle of the same interaction, you can get a better glimpse of Robbie’s hand gestures and see how genuinely enthused she was to share this touching moment with the man. “Nice to meet you,” she appears to say to him after rifling through the alphabet.

— (@)

If you’re familiar with American Sign Language (ASL), you may have noticed that the signs Robbie and the fan use are a bit different. In the video, Robbie uses Auslan or Australian sign language, which is related to British Sign Language (BSL) and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). These three signed languages descended from the same parent language and are part of the BANZSL language family.