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Are Taylor Swift & Matty Healy Really Dating?

March was so relatively tame for Taylor Swift, at least in hindsight. She launched her largely unprecedented and insanely impressive The Eras Tour on March 17. Everyone was under the impression she was still dating Joe Alwyn, as she had been for the better part of the last six years, and maybe she was at that point. Among the first songs of her three-plus hour set is “Cruel Summer,” in which she sings, “Devils roll the dice, angels roll their eyes.” And Swift has probably been in a perpetual state of eye-rolling since reports first broke of her and Alwyn’s split on April 8.

According to People, on April 10, Alwyn and Swift had broken up “a few weeks” before Entertainment Tonight‘s initial report because of “differences in their personalities” and Alwyn struggling “with Taylor’s level of fame and attention from the public.”

So naturally the public is paying even more attention to Swift and speculating over who she might be involved with now. One person perfectly resurfaced an alleged 2014 tweet from Swift reading, “As my 25th birthday present from the media, I’d like for you to stop accusing all my friends of dating me.”

Fast forward to Wednesday, May 3, and The Sun is reporting that Swift is dating The 1975’s Matty Healy. They claim “the pair are ready to go public with their romance in Nashville, Tennessee” this weekend, as Swift is prepared to perform three The Eras Tour shows there.

The British tabloid cites an unnamed source “close to Taylor” as saying, “She and Matty are madly in love. It’s super early days, but it feels right. They first dated, very briefly, almost ten years ago, but timings just didn’t work out.”

They continued, “Taylor and Joe actually split up back in February, so there was absolutely no crossover. Both Matty and Taylor have been touring the past few weeks, so it’s been a lot of FaceTiming and texting, but she cannot wait to see him again.”

Wait! There’s more:

“But as two international megastars, they understand the pressures of one another’s jobs better than anyone and are incredibly supportive of their respective careers. They are both massively proud and excited about this relationship and, unlike Taylor’s last one — which was very much kept out of the spotlight, deliberately — she wants to ‘own’ this romance, and not hide it away.

Taylor just wants to live her life, and be happy. She’s told pals Matty is flying to Nashville over the weekend to support her on the next leg of her tour.”

The validity of these rumors is anyone’s guess — she has also been at the center of unverified rumors linking her to Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso (as noted by Page Six and Rolling Stone) — but we saw a glimpse of Healy’s admiration for Swift in January when she was a surprise performer at The 1975’s O2 Arena tour stop in London.

Healy thought so highly of Swift that he bailed on his then-nightly tour ritual of making out with fans in the crowd:

Minds were blown when Healy revealed mid-concert in Australia last month that he really did inspire the rat in Flushed Away, but this? This is too much.

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A Judge Tossed The Trump Lawsuit Against ‘The New York Times’ That Once Prompted His Niece To Call Him A ‘F*cking Loser’

Trump is so prodigiously and recklessly litigious that you may have forgotten about one of his wackier ones: In 2021, he sued The New York Times and the niece who hates him, Mary Trump, over their Pulitzer Prize-winning report exposing his taxes. At the time, Mary simply laughed it off, calling her uncle a “f*cking loser.” Well, jump a year-and-a-half and a judge has (mostly) proven her right.

As per The Daily Beast, a New York judge has not only tossed the lawsuit, but also ordered Trump to pay all attorney legal fees, legal expenses, and associated costs. In a ruling filed Wednesday, Justice Robert R. Reed ruled that despite Trump claiming that the Times and Mary — who had provided the paper with her uncle’s records — were perfectly within their first amendment right to collaborate on the story.

The New York Times is pleased with the judge’s decision today,” a paper spokesperson wrote in a statement to The Daily Beast. “It is an important precedent reaffirming that the press is protected when it engages in routine newsgathering to obtain information of vital importance to the public.”

Though Reed cleared the Times of wrongdoing, the claims against Mary have yet to be ruled upon. Donald had claimed that by smuggling the records out of her attorney’s office and handing them to reporters, Mary had violated confidentiality agreement she’d signed in 2001.

Upon learning of her uncle’s lawsuit, Mary Trump did not hold back. “I think he is a f*cking loser, and he is going to throw anything against the wall he can,” she said. “It’s desperation. The walls are closing in and he is throwing anything against the wall that will stick. As is always the case with Donald, he’ll try and change the subject.”

Meanwhile, Mary Trump is busy suing her uncle back on another matter.

(Via The Daily Beast)

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Fans Have A Lot To Say Over A Tabloid’s Report About Taylor Swift’s Unlikely New Romance

We might want to spy on Taylor Swift’s friend’s social media activity. Fans have noticed in recent weeks that some of Swift’s closest confidants unfollowed Joe Alwyn, her boyfriend of approximately six years until news of their alleged breakup was first reported by Entertainment Tonight on April 8.

People followed up with a report the following week, which alleged that Alywn and Swift “weren’t the right fit for one another” and that Alywn “struggled with Taylor’s level of fame and attention from the public.”

Well, since then, speculation has blossomed that Swift is romantically linked to men with similar levels of fame (though, to be fair, Swift’s fame is in another stratosphere from most human beings). There have been dating rumors surrounding her and Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso, as reported by the likes of Page Six. Now The Sun is claiming Swift is dating The 1975’s Matty Healy.

According to the UK tabloid, “The pair are ready to go public with their romance in Nashville, Tennessee,” where Swift’s The Eras Tour is preparing to stop this Friday, May 5, Saturday, May 6, and Sunday, May 7.

“A source close to Taylor said: ‘She and Matty are madly in love. It’s super-early days, but it feels right,” The Sun relayed. “They first dated, very briefly, almost ten years ago but timings just didn’t work out.”

The unnamed source added the Alwyn and Swift broke up in February, “so there was absolutely no crossover.”

There are plenty of Swifties online willing to put their names on their insta-reactions to the rumor.

Whether it’s true is anyone’s guess, but enjoy some of the Twitter fallout below, including a resurfaced tweet of Swift’s from 2014 kindly asking the media “to stop accusing all my friends of dating me.” Fitting.

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New study shows spanking hurts kids’ mental health and is less effective at teaching lessons

Whether to spank your child or not is one of the oldest debates among parents. Many live by the age-old wisdom that to “spare the rod” is to “spoil the child,” while others believe it’s wrong to resort to violence to punish a child when so many alternatives exist.

It also begs the question: If it’s wrong to hit your spouse or pet, why is it acceptable to hit a defenseless child?

The 2021 American Family Study found that support for spanking has declined in the U.S. over the past few years. In 2015, 54% either somewhat or strongly agreed with the practice, but that number dropped to 47% in 2021. Thirty-five percent of respondents disagree with the practice and 18% neither agree nor disagree.

A new research study from the Parent and Family Research Alliance in Australia led by Professor Sophie Havighurst and Professor Daryl Higgins from Australian Catholic University makes a strong case that people should stop using corporal punishment to discipline their kids. The study “Corporal punishment of children in Australia: The evidence-based case for legislative reform” analyzed countless studies on the topic and found spanking ineffective and harmful.

The study was published to urge lawmakers to make corporal punishment in Australia illegal. Sixty-five states across the world have made corporal punishment illegal, protecting 14% of the world’s children.

The study defined corporal punishment of children as using physical force to cause pain, but not injury, to correct or control a child’s behavior.

The most startling meta-analysis published in the study found that “only 1 out of 111 statistically significant effect sizes was associated with a link between ‘spanking’ and a positive child outcome,” while 110 were found to be associated with adverse outcomes.

The one positive outcome was in a 1972 study of children of the U.S. military living in West Germany that found those spanked showed less amphetamine and opiate use as adults.

However, the remaining 110 significant results found that spanking had adverse effects, including: “reducing trust and connection with those they are closest to, lower self-esteem, more internalizing and externalizing behavior problems including aggression, mental health difficulties, and increased risk for later substance abuse, antisocial behavior, and violence.”

A meta-analysis found that when children are spanked, they are less likely to internalize the moral implications of the behaviors that led them to be disciplined. It also found that non-physical discipline was more effective at teaching “alternative behaviors,” “developing a child’s conscience,” and advancing their “emotional development.”

Another meta-analysis cited in the story found that corporal punishment in childhood was associated with mental health problems, low self-esteem and antisocial behavior.

In the end, the studies show that corporal punishment is counter-productive when it comes to raising healthy, happy children. But it will take much more than a study to get people to reconsider their views of corporal punishment because they are deeply rooted in many cultural traditions.

Looking for some non-physical alternatives to discipline your child? Here’s a great place to start from WebMD.

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Thanks To A Mix-up, Karen Gillan Once Accidentally Wound Up Having To Do Zoom Therapy In Nebula Makeup

Karen Gillan is a very talented actress, but she’s all but unrecognizable in her most famous role: Nebula in the Marvel movies. She’s the blue-skinned adoptive sister of Zoe Saldaña’s green-skinned Gamora, first seen in the original Guardians of the Galaxy outing, when they weren’t yet on good terms. Nebula is also part-cyborg, meaning the Doctor Who vet has to wear a lot of makeup that is later augmented with CGI. And one day during a shoot, she forgot she had couples therapy.

Gillan shared a screenshot of the ignominious day on social media, showing her, her husband Nick Kocher, and their therapist all congregating over Zoom while she filmed the third Guardians of the Galaxy. Their therapist’s face is blocked out with an emoji, but it’s Gillan’s face that is the most ridiculous, plastered in blue and purple and red lipstick, her hair covered under an aggressive bald patch.

“In honour of Guardians of the Galaxy in theaters Friday, here’s a screenshot of the time I forgot I had scheduled a COUPLES THERAPY session on a day we were shooting,” she wrote in the post.

Earlier this year, Gillan revealed that she and Kocher, a comic, had secretly tied the knot in 2022. So congrats to her, and congrats to her character inspiring Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord to drop the first f-bomb in MCU movie history.

(Via Entertainment Weekly)

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Mexico’s Best Reposado Tequilas, According To The 2023 ‘Oscars Of Spirits’

If there ever was a time to bolster your tequila collection, it’s May. Cinco de Mayo is here and the results from the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) have arrived, giving you both a good reason to drink tequila and expert advice on which tequilas to actually drink.

This year’s SFWSC results saw only five reposado tequilas get the coveted “double gold” medal. What does that mean exactly? Well, judges gathered around a table last month to taste hundreds of tequilas — 80 of which were reposados (a tequila that’s just kissed with oak before batching and bottling). For a pour of reposado to get the high honor of double gold, every judge at the table had to award the pour a gold medal (a truly exceptional pour that goes beyond the ordinary), based on a double-blind taste. Out of 80 pours, that only happened five times!

Before we move on, it’s worth mentioning that the judges at the SFWSC are the elite of the elite in the spirits industry with some of the biggest names in tequila criticism and production judging these double-blind pours. So this is truly what the pros loved without branding getting in the way. Below, I’m naming all five double-gold reposado tequilas with my tasting notes on each. I was a head judge at the competition this year, but I only had one flight of reposado tequila — still, I’ve sampled all of these tequilas in my general day-to-day of spirits tasting.

Lastly, this comes just in time for Cinco de Mayo shopping over the next couple of days. So find the tasting notes that speak to you and hit that price link to get the bottle just in time for some Friday night partying!

Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Tequila Posts Of The Last Six Months

Cierto Tequila Private Collection Reposado

Cierto Tequila Private Collection Reposado
Cierto Tequila Private Collection Reposado

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $98

The Tequila:

This tequila — from NOM 1149 (Tequileña, S.A. distillery) in Tequila, Mexico — is made from 100 percent Weber agave cooked in an autoclave (pressurized chamber). The juice from the agave is extracted by a roller mill and then fermented in open stainless tanks with local spring water. That mash is then twice-distilled in copper pot stills before aging in a combination of used French and American oak.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: That “roasted” agave really breaks through on the nose with a touch of grilled pineapple in brown butter, a hint of vanilla, a touch of espresso bean, and a sweet note of caramel sauce.

Palate: The palate largely delivers on the butter, caramel, and tropical fruits as the agave takes on a greenish mid-palate, leading towards a black pepper spiciness.

Finish: That pepperiness drives the finish towards a sweetgrass note and a little more of that grilled pineapple with a dusting of clove.

Bottom Line:

This is a nicely complex tequila, not overly so. It’s not challenging you but is providing an easy-drinking flavor profile. Overall, I’d mix a tequila old fashioned with this or just sip it over some rocks.

El Tequileño “The Sassenach Select”

El Tequileño “The Sassenach Select”
El Tequileño

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $107

The Tequila:

This tequila is a collaboration between third-generation Master distiller Antonio Salles and TV star Sam Heughan of Outlander and Sassanach Blend Scotch Whisky fame. The tequila in the bottle is a limited edition release that highlights autoclave cooked agave, roller mill extraction, open-air fermentation in stainless steel tanks, double distillation in copper pot stills, and an initial rest in old American whiskey barrels with a finish in French oak. Lastly, the tequila is batched, proofed, and bottled with no additives!

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Caramelized roasted agave and soft and sweet dark spices mingle on the nose with a hint of dried raisins and old oak cellars.

Palate: That caramelization comes through on the front of the palate with a smooth vanilla bean oiliness next to a cinnamon cake, deeply roasted agave, white pepper, and a hint of green sage.

Finish: That white pepper and caramel pop on the finish as the sip slowly fades through sweet cinnamon and soft vanilla sweetness.

Bottom Line:

This is a nice pour. I had one with an old fashioned application and it was excellent. On its own, I preferred it over a rock as a delicate and straightforward slow sipper.

Hotel California Tequila Reposado Tequila

Hotel California Tequila Reposado
Hotel California Tequila

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $45

The Tequila:

This Los Altos tequila — from Hacienda Capellania or NOM 1545 — follows a very similar path to most tequila. Blue Weber agave, autoclave cooking, stainless steel tank fermentation, and local water. This time, the juice is twice-distilled in stainless steel stills and then aged in former bourbon barrels.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Roasted agave with a grassy edge meets black peppercorns with a hint of citrus as that vanilla from the bourbon barrels smooths everything out on the nose.

Palate: The taste has a slight winter cake vibe with plenty of dark spice, a touch of dried fruit, and a rich caramel sauce that’s cut with plenty of that bourbon vanilla.

Finish: The finish has a hint of burnt sugar next to a dry oak with a very, very mild note of smoke at the very end.

Bottom Line:

This feels like the tequila that fits exactly where it is. It’s an easy-drinking tequila for a fairly good price (in a ridiculously eye-catching bottle). I’d still more likely use it for a cocktail, but I can 100 percent see drinking this over a few rocks with a twist of lime any day.

Tequila Campo Azul Selecto Reposado

Campo Azul Tequila Reposado
Campo Azul Tequila

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $35

The Tequila:

This tequila from the Southern Highlands of Jalisco is all about taking it slow. The agave is slow-roasted in brick ovens before classic roller mill extraction. The juice is then open-fermented in stainless steel tanks before classic copper pot still double distillation. Finally, the hot spirit is left to age in a combination of new American white oak, used whiskey, and other used barrels before batching, proofing (with deep well water), and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Toasted red peppercorns (think of heating them in a skillet) dance next to candied almonds, a fistful of black peppercorns, and juicy cactus fruit tossed with caramelized agave hearts and just kissed with salt.

Palate: There’s a salted caramelized vibe on the front of the palate that gives way to freshly cracked black pepper over strawberry and rhubarb crumble with a hint of dry vanilla, old oak, and smudging sage.

Finish: The end leans into the pepper and vanilla with a creamy vibe that’s like black pepper sprinkled over fresh and full-fat cottage cheese (in the best way) with an acidic yet sweet tropical fruit feel lurking deep in the background.

Bottom Line:

This is a quintessential reposado pour. Yeah, I know it’s not “additive-free,” so so-called tequila purists will be bitching and moaning about that. But this just tastes good. Period. Pour it over a rock and enjoy.

Tequila Ocho Reposado

Tequila Ocho Reposado
Tequila Ocho

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $54

The Tequila:

Tequila Ocho sticks with old-school brick overs for cooking its single estate agave piñas before open-air fermentation in old wooden tanks. After two runs through the copper pot stills, the hot juice is left to rest in a combo of new American white oak, old whiskey, and other used barrels for a short spell. Finally, the tequila is batched, proofed, and bottled as-is with no additives.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a hint of oak tannins next to bright and lush summer flowers, garden green savory herbs, powdery white pepper, and caramelized agave rolled in sweet winter spice (nutmeg, clove, cinnamon).

Palate: The palate leans into the agave but gets juicy and sweet with a grassy vibe followed by juicy tropical fruits with a good hit of lactic acid touched by black pepper and old oak.

Finish: That oak drives the finish toward a woody spice bark mix, a touch of old dry tobacco, and woody vanilla balanced by tropical fruit juice that almost gets creamy by the end.

Bottom Line:

This is a very easy-drinking tequila. It’s complex enough to take your time with or to make a rich and compelling cocktail. This is also my favorite bottle on the list and I have one open on my bar cart right now — I recommend you do the same.

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Indie Mixtape 20: Charlotte Cornfield’s ‘Could Have Done Anything’ Hopes To Stand The Test Of Time

“Nowhere to go, nothing to do, except lie here with you,” Toronto songwriter Charlotte Cornfield gently sings on “Nowhere.” The song exemplifies how Cornfields upcoming album, Could Have Done Anything, leans endearing compared to her breakthrough, gut-punch of an LP Highs In The Minuses.

While her previous LP featured songs about failed relationships and navigating your 20s, Cornfield now tackles a new chapter. On Could Have Done Anything, she writes reflective tunes inspired by her committed relationship (she also just became a first-time mom!) The album is touched with the feeling of safety and comfort that comes with falling in love. While there’s plenty of songs out there that describe lust and the burning passion of a new relationship, Cornfield offers intimate snapshots of the oftentimes overlooked parts of a relationship, like when your partner picks you up from the airport. Pastoral and cinematic, songs like “You And Me” and “In From The Rain” capture fleeting moments and expertly spin them into lasting memories.

Ahead of Cornfield’s upcoming album, Could Have Done Anything, she sits down with Uproxx to talk Neil Young, sleeping next to a ferret, and being a new mom in our latest Q&A.

What are four words you would use to describe your music?

Immediate, spacious, lyrical, true.

It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?

Songs that stand the test of time.

What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?

It’s a three-way tie between Toronto, Montreal, and New York. Those three cities have deep significance to me and are all over the lyrics to my songs.

Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?

It changes, but right now I would say Lucinda Williams. I’m so inspired by her poetic, honest songwriting and general badassery.

Where did you eat the best meal of your life?

I was in a little surf town in Mexico called San Pancho, and there’s a tiny outdoor vegetarian food stand in the centre of the town with a few tables. I can’t even remember what it’s called, but I ate there pretty much every day when I was there, and the food was just so fresh and delicious and healthy and I still think about it.

What album do you know every word to?

Neil Young Live at Massey Hall 1971.

What was the best concert you’ve ever attended?

Three that stand out are: Charles Bradley at Halifax Jazzfest 2011, Stevie Wonder at Bell Centre in Montreal in 2007, Sharon Van Etten at Il Motore in Montreal in 2012, and then again at the Danforth in Toronto in 2019.

What is the best outfit for performing and why?

I love jumpsuits. They’re simple, comfortable, and I feel like myself when I wear them. There are lots of variations and you can have a lot of fun with color.

Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?

Niko Stratis on Twitter. She’s brilliant and hilarious and her tweets are so great.

What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?

Lately, it’s been Teenage Sequencer by Pedro The Lion, and Telephone Line by ELO.

What’s the last thing you Googled?

Something about babies, ’cause I just had a baby.

What album makes for the perfect gift?

Tapestry by Carole King.

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?

I stayed on a floor in Kamloops, BC once and my host had a pet ferret that was on the loose in the apartment and kept trying to burrow into my sleeping bag and bite me. That was pretty weird.

What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?

I don’t do tattoos because I have severe psoriasis, but my partner Nelson has a tattoo that I love, of a fire hydrant surrounded by blooming plant life. I wrote about it in the song “Black Tattoo.”

What artists keep you from flipping the channel on the radio?

So many, but some current faves: Leo Nocentelli, The Roches, Yo La Tengo, Bernice, MJ Lenderman, and Feist (her new record is so gorgeous).

What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

My partner and I have a new baby, and our community of friends and family has been so incredibly supportive and generous and in helping us make these early days go smoothly, bringing food and helping out. I am so moved by everyone’s kind and loving gestures, and so grateful.

What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?

I would tell myself to slow down. I was always rushing everything at that age.

What’s the last show you went to?

Do Make Say Think at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto.

What movie can you not resist watching when it’s on TV?

High Fidelity. I know it hasn’t aged well but it’s a classic to me.

What’s one of your hidden talents?

I’m a half-decent ice hockey player.

Could Have Done Anything is out 5/12 via Polyvinyl / Double Double Whammy. Find more information here.

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Jamie Foxx Has Released His First Statement Since Experiencing A Medical Emergency Three Weeks Ago

In mid-April it was revealed that Jamie Foxx had experienced a “medical complication.” Details were not made public. Instead, his family released a statement saying that “due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery.” There haven’t been many updates since then, but nearly three weeks later, Foxx himself took to his Instagram account to offer a very brief but encouraging statement.

“Appreciate all the love!!!” he wrote in the image. “Feeling blessed.”

It’s the first contact Foxx has had with the public since the emergency, and it wasn’t the only one. In his Instagram Story, he thanked Nick Cannon for taking over hosting duties on Beat Shazam, the primetime musical game show Foxx has hosted alongside his daughter Corinne since 2017. Cannon is set to temporarily replace Foxx at an as-yet-revealed date. (Corinne herself is being replaced by Kelly Osborne, at least while her father remain in the hospital.)

It still remains unclear what caused Foxx to receive medical attention. At the time of his hospitalization, he was in Atlanta, Georgia filming Back in Action, an action-comedy for Netflix that also features Cameron Diaz, Glenn Close, and Andrew Scott. The shoot has continued in his absence, with the use of stunt and body doubles. May his recovery be quick.

(Via Variety)

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Paul George Knew Dillon Brooks Was On A ‘Slippery Slope’ Because Of Lance Stephenson’s Beef With LeBron

It’s been awhile since one of the main characters in the NBA Playoff discourse was a role player, but Dillon Brooks talked (and then refused to talk) his way into that spotlight in the first round against LeBron James and the Lakers.

After poking the bear and getting bounced in the first round, Brooks is now apparently not coming back to Memphis, as the Grizzlies reportedly informed him in exit interviews they wouldn’t be looking to re-sign him. Given Brooks’ skillset, apparent desire to play a much bigger role than that skillset calls for, and propensity for causing headaches with his talk, there are real questions about who would even really want to sign him.

One of the closest comparisons for Brooks is another former LeBron antagonizer, Lance Stephenson, who was a member of the Indiana Pacers teams that regularly ran up against James’ Heat in the playoffs. Paul George was one of the stars of that team, and on the latest episode of Podcast P, he compared Brooks’ antics to Lance’s infamous ear blow. George noted that, for one, a role player beefing with a star is already a losing battle, simply because James is going to have so many more opportunities to make big plays than you are. George also recalled how frustrating it can be for your star teammates, recalling that when Stephenson blew in James’ ear, it was actually PG’s job to be LeBron’s primary defender in that series.

This is among the best parts of active players having podcasts and these platforms where they’re talking about things going on around the league, because this is real insight into how players feel about these things. I will push back a bit on the part about Brooks not having enough shots to go toe-to-toe with LeBron, because one of the chief problems Memphis had with Brooks is that he was taking too many shots, trying to be that guy. Still, the point stands that role players beefing with stars rarely ends well and can only create more headaches for everyone else in the locker room.

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Woman’s experience scheduling an EEG highlights the unconscious bias of textured hair

Getting a medical procedure done can be scary, or at the very least nerve-wracking, no matter how many times you’ve had it done. It’s something that’s outside of your normal routine and you’re essentially at the mercy of the medical facility and providers. Most of the time, the pre-procedure instructions make sense, and if something catches you by surprise, it’s usually easily explained.

Sadé Naima recently had an experience while attempting to get an EEG that wasn’t easily explained away. In fact, the entire situation didn’t make sense to the TikTok creator who experiences migraines. Naima uploaded a video to the social media platform explaining the sequence of events that happened after her doctor referred her to receive an MRI and EEG.

An MRI uses a magnetic field to generate images and an EEG uses electrodes that stick to your scalp to create images of your brain waves.


Since Naima was having consistent migraines, it seemed like a medical necessity to have these tests done to make sure nothing more serious was going on. So imagine the patient’s surprise when the pre-procedure paperwork for the EEG mentioned that her hair had to be loose, which at first glance may seem harmless and inclusive of everyone. But, kinky textured hair does not have the same effect as straight hair when it’s “loose.”

“I received a document saying to prepare for the EEG—I can’t have weave, braids, no hair oil, no conditioner, like nothing in your hair,” Naima explains. “And how as a Black woman that is so exclusionary for coarse and thick hair. To literally have no product in your hair and show up with it loose, you’re not even reaching my scalp with that.”

@sadenaima

update: someone else from the medical center called me & suggested i show my hair to/talk with the technician so tbd i guess … It’s 2023, this makes no sense that the technology isn’t inclusive or that the practioners aren’t educated / prepared for diverse experiences. Not too much on the appearance 😂 #migraine #eeg #eegblackhair #blackhair #nyc #neurology #racialbiasinmedicine #racialbias #fyp #foryoupage

When kinky textured hair is “loose” without product, this generally means the hair is in an afro, which makes the scalp extremely difficult to get to without the use of a tool to part it and hold it out of the way. Naima called the facility for clarification and explained that her hair is currently in twists with her scalp exposed. She assured the woman on the other end that she would make sure her hair was clean and free of product, but that it would be easier for everyone involved if her hair remained in twists.

Naima went as far as to send an email with multiple pictures of her hair showing that her scalp was indeed easily accessible with her protective style in place. But the unnamed woman told her that it wasn’t possible for the EEG to be completed if Naima’s hair was in twists. This prompted the question, “What about people with locs?” to which the person told her they also wouldn’t be able to get the procedure.

@sadenaima

I sent out an email to the center & their HR and will see where that takes me to start! Thank you everyone! 🧡 i love that this has been able to help & inspire people. #racialbias #medicalracialbias #minitwists #migraine #eegblackhair #eegnaturalhair #neurology #locs #eeg #fyp

The frustrated patient searched the internet looking for the best way to have an EEG with kinky textured hair when she came across information written by a Black doctor who was also trying to find an answer. Currently, there doesn’t seem to be much information on how to appropriately give an EEG if the patient has textured hair, though many protective styles provide the direct access to the scalp needed for the procedure.

So, while policies like these aren’t meant to be discriminatory, it’s clear that they may cause some unintended problems. In the end, Naima’s EEG was rescheduled, but after speaking to the technician that completes the procedure, she was assured her hair would not be an issue. Hopefully, the results of her EEG are favorable and she has a much more pleasant experience when preparing for the procedure.