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There’s an old adage about journalism that has been attributed to numerous sources but which ultimately boils down to explaining a journalist’s responsibilities in plain and effective terms. “If someone says it’s raining and another person says it’s dry, it’s not your job to quote them both. Your job is to look out the f*cking window and find out which is true.”

NORE has never heard this quote. NORE is not a journalist.

Someone should tell him that though, because while he did try to apologize for the disastrous Drink Champs interview with Kanye West that has the family of George Floyd considering a lawsuit and fans on Twitter denouncing NORE’s podcast, he also apparently thinks he did a good job stepping out of the artist’s way and letting him talk.

Appearing on Hot 97’s Ebro In The Morning (sans Ebro, which is probably the only reason nobody called him out on this nonsense), NORE explained why he decided to host the interview despite Kanye’s recent trip down the Q-Anon rabbit hole. “I felt i could control the situation,” he said. “I felt like I could control the interview. And I learned early on that I [couldn’t]. As a Black man i feel like I failed. As a human I feel like I failed. As a journalist I feel like I succeeded.”

No, he did not. And after committing all those resources to doing the interview, I can certainly understand why he feels that he might have had to justify it by putting it out instead of pulling the plug like LeBron James and The Shop did last week. But here’s the thing: There’s never, not once, any excuse for giving a platform to someone who appears to be in the middle of a mental health crisis and is spouting racist rhetoric. The engagement isn’t worth people’s lives, and that is very much the trade that is being made there.

Antisemites and white supremacists probably don’t need to be told what horrid ideologies to parrot but every time a prominent public figure endorses one of those ideologies, it emboldens them. Just look at the last six years since you-know-who first ran for president. There’s been a sharp and kind of terrifying rise in hate group activity in the US ever since. (And if you think you’re safe, just wait until they decide to redraw the lines of who gets to be in their little racial purity club and you’re on the wrong side.)

NORE failed as a human, as a Black man, and as a journalist — because, again, he isn’t one — by letting Kanye get on his podcast and repeat white supremacist talking points, whether he pushed back or not. He failed again by not shelving the interview. At least he apologized, though, saying, “I sincerely apologize to anybody who was hurt by Kanye’s words, by Kanye’s actions.” However, in this case, that might be too little, too late.

Watch NORE’s full interview with the Ebro In The Morning show above.

After a successful show in the city of Busan over the weekend, and while the western hemisphere was already getting ready for bed or were already asleep earlier this morning (October 17), BTS and BigHit Music broke the internet confirming the group’s mandatory military service.

In a statement shared via Twitter, the group will go on hiatus until “around 2025” so all seven members would be able to serve the military then return at the same time. Initially, there was a pending decision to be made in December on whether or not the group would be excused or delayed, but the Korean music label has confirmed the group’s eldest Jin has withdrawn his application to delay his enlistment. The same has been done for the rest of the members — RM, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook — and will serve on their own personal timeline following Jin’s enlistment.

The news on Jin being the first BTS member to enlist comes to no surprise as he approaches his 30s — the age to which compulsory military service can be extended, according to the 2020 amendment of the Military Service Act. However, his soon-to-be hiatus from the music scene will not leave ARMY empty handed. The label’s statement also confirmed the member’s solo project is coming very soon.

But, of course, all of this news is overwhelming to some of the global ARMY. (Especially if this is what you’re waking up to the first thing in the morning.) With that being said, we compiled some of the reactions — light hearted, encouraging, witty, and funny — made after BigHit’s announcement this morning, so check it out below.

The season finale of House of the Dragon is next Sunday, but don’t cancel your HBO Max subscription on Monday. There’s a ton of good shows to come. HBO premiered a “coming soon” preview during Sunday’s episode of the Game of Thrones prequel series, including new footage from The Last of Us (clickers are the new walkers, pass it on) and Succession. “We’re killing the opposition! I’m going to build something better, faster, leaner, wilder,” Logan Roy yells to his Waystar Royco underlings with Tom at his side. “I love it here. I f*king love it!” Cousin Greg is thrilled, but Logan’s kids look miserable, especially Kendall. To be fair, Kendall always look miserable. Now he has company.

Here’s more on season four:

The sale of media conglomerate Waystar Royco to tech visionary Lukas Matsson moves ever closer. The prospect of this seismic sale provokes existential angst and familial division among the Roys as they anticipate what their lives will look like once the deal is completed. A power struggle ensues as the family weighs up a future where their cultural and political weight is severely curtailed.

The sizzle reels also highlights The White Lotus season two (October 30th), The Idol (which answers the question, “What if the Weeknd’s scene from Uncut Gems was a TV show?”), Love and Death, and the returns of The Righteous Gemstones, Barry, Curb Your Enthusiasm, How to with John Wilson, and A Black Lady Sketch Show.

You can watch the preview above.

In just a few days, on October 21, Taylor Swift is releasing Midnights, her tenth album. As is typical for an artist of Swift’s magnitude, there’s a busy promotional schedule surrounding the album drop, which Swift has now outlined.

In an Instagram post from last night (October 16), Swift shared a dry-erase board breakdown of what she’s going to be up to from October 20 to 28. Things kick off after this week’s Thursday Night Football kicks off, as a teaser trailer or some kind will air during the third quarter of the game broadcast on Amazon Prime Video.

The busiest day on the schedule is Friday the 21st. Aside from the album release, a “special very chaotic surprise” is set to take place/be unveiled at 3 a.m. ET, followed by the “Anti-Hero” video premiere at 8 a.m. ET and lyric videos dropping at 8 p.m. ET.

On the 24th, Swift is set to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and the next day, she’s dropping another video for a song yet to be revealed. Finally, on October 28, she will guest on the UK’s The Graham Norton Show.

As for “Anti-Hero,” Swift previously said of the song, “Track 3, ‘Anti-Hero,’ is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written. I really don’t think I’ve delved this far into my insecurities in this detail before. You know, I struggle a lot with the idea that my life has become unmanageably sized, and that I, you know… not to sound too dark, but, like, I struggle with the idea of not feeling like a person. But, don’t feel bad for me. You don’t need to.”

Check out Swift’s teaser video above.

Warner Bros. Discovery probably won’t be able to brush Ezra Miller’s problems under the rug that easily, The Flash actor has pled not guilty to felony burglary charges stemming from their arrest in Vermont earlier this year. Miller was arrested after surveillance footage and statements led to probable cause that the actor allegedly broke into a neighbor’s house and stole several bottles of alcohol.

Miller reportedly told police in June that they were simply getting cooking wine and vinegar for his mom, and that the house owner, Isaac Winokur, was a family friend who gave them to permission to enter the house. That excuse obviously didn’t fly. According to Deadline, a “jovial and chipper” Miller made a remote court appearance on Monday where they plead not guilty to the charges. While awaiting trial, the judge gave Miller instructions to stay away from Winokur. Via Deadline:

Miller faces a maximum of 26 years behind bars as well as over $2,000 in fines if found guilty of the charges stemming from the spring incident which entailed stealing three bottles of liquor –gin, vodka and rum — from Winokur’s pantry.

In a jovial and chipper mood Monday morning, the casually dressed actor will have to return to court per Superior Court Judge Kerry A. McDonald-Cady, virtually or in-person, at a yet to be determined future date for more proceedings in this matter.

Miller, whose attorney sat by them during the hearing, said, “I do understand,” following the judge’s instructions.

After a lengthy spat of damaging headlines (that are still rolling in), Miller has attempted to clean up their public image by issuing a public apology and reportedly entering treatment for “complex mental health issues.” However, despite the continued reports of their allegedly violent behavior, Warner Bros. Discovery has been moving full speed ahead on The Flash. Miller has been reportedly been shooting new scenes as recently as September 2022.

The newly-formed conglomerate desperately needs a box office win, and The Flash has reportedly been performing well with test audiences. However, the marketing of this film looks to be awkward, given its star’s legal woes.

(Via Deadline)

Kanye West’s second appearance on the Drink Champs podcast proved to be every bit as controversial as his first. However, this time, the consequences may end up being direr for all involved after Kanye parroted an alt-right conspiracy theory about the death of Minnesota activist George Floyd. Falsely claiming that George Floyd died of a fentanyl overdose — despite video depicting a Minnesota police officer kneeling on his neck as gasped “I Can’t Breathe” — West not only spread harmful messaging but also opened himself and Drink Champs to possible legal action.

Lee Merritt, the civil rights lawyer who fought a number of high-profile social justice cases including that of Ahmaud Arbery, noted on Twitter, “While one cannot defame the dead, the family of George Floyd is considering suit for Kanye’s false statements about the manner of his death. Claiming Floyd died from fentanyl not the brutality established criminally and civilly undermines & diminishes the Floyd family’s fight.”

Floyd’s death was a galvanizing incident in the movement for social justice, prompting uprisings across the nation demanding police reform — and a corresponding backlash from white supremacist groups online. Also during the episode, Kanye doubled down on the antisemitic comments that had already gotten him banned from Instagram and Twitter.

GloRilla is everywhere, including the end zone at Lincoln Financial Field. Miles Sanders scored the opening touchdown of the home team’s Sunday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys last night (October 16). The Philadelphia Eagles running back hit the GloRilla dance, joined by wide receiver Quez Watkins and tight end Dallas Goedert.

“Y’all I luv football so much like it’s the only sport I’ll ever watch so for dem to be hitting my jook move is crazzzyyyy,” the Memphis rapper tweeted with the heart and laugh-cry emojis. “Shoutout to the eagles & giants.”

The move began with GloRilla’s breakthrough single “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” with Hitkidd, which led to her signing to Yo Gotti’s CMG Records this summer. “Tomorrow,” her single from the label’s compilation project Gangsta Art, received the remix treatment from Cardi B, resulting in “Tomorrow 2.”

Last week, the New York Giants celebrated their 27-22 upset victory over the Green Bay Packers in London by blasting “Tomorrow 2” in the locker room. Defensive end Jihad Ward went live on Instagram, showing the team dancing and rapping along to the track. Cardi tweeted, “LMAAAAOOOOOOOOO …love that for them ….AHAAAAA.”

“Tomorrow 2” debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this month, becoming GloRilla’s first top-10 entry and Cardi’s 11th.

The Eagles improved to 6-0 by defeating the Cowboys 26-17, and GloRilla’s current run is just as dominant. The surging star will drop the aptly titled Anyways, Life’s Great… next month.

Anyways, Life’s Great… is out 11/11 via CMG and Interscope. Pre-save it here.

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

As the 6 p.m. ET deadline approaches, a number of players from the 2019 NBA Draft have gotten extensions done in the last week, most notably Jordan Poole and Tyler Herro getting nine-figure extensions in Golden State and Miami.

We’ve also seen some players from the back half of the draft lock up financial security, like Brandon Clarke in Memphis at 4 years, $52 million, but Monday brought word of the most unique extension of this cycle, as Houston worked out a 4-year, $82.5 million extension with Kevin Porter Jr., where only the first year is fully guaranteed.

Porter Jr. has taken a leap in production since arriving in Houston, last year averaging 15.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while posting a career-best 37.5 percent shooting mark from three-point range. Porter Jr.’s development has shown his tremendous upside on the floor, but off the court he has still dealt with a few incidents that have colored his reputation since arriving in the league, like getting suspended one game last year for allegedly throwing something at assistant coach John Lucas at halftime and then leaving and getting fined for going to a club and violating COVID protocols in 2021.

Those situations are why Porter Jr.’s contract features the structure it does — which Woj referred to as “unique” — as the Rockets clearly believe in Porter Jr.’s potential to be a core piece of their rebuild and pay him as such, while leaving themselves with some outs if future incidents arise. For Porter Jr., he gets to stay with a team that believes in him and gets some financial security, with the potential to make an awful lot if he continues to produce and play to his talent level.

[Spoilers for Netflix’s The Watcher below]

The Watcher, the seven-episode series that’s currently #1 on Netflix‘s top-10 list, tells the real-life story of Maria and Derek Broaddus, who thought they bought an unassuming home in Westfield, New Jersey — until they received a letter in the mail.

“Dearest new neighbor at 657 Boulevard, allow me to welcome you to the neighborhood,” the typed note — with no return address — began before taking an ominous turn. “How did you end up here? Did 657 Boulevard call to you with its force within?” It goes on, “Do you need to fill the house with the young blood I requested? Better for me. Was your old house too small for the growing family? Or was it greed to bring me your children? Once I know their names I will call to them and draw them too me.” The letter was signed “The Watcher.”

There are numerous differences between The Watcher and Reeves Wiedeman’s New York magazine article the show is based on, including Maria and Derek’s names being changed to Nora and Dean, played by Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale, but one thing remains the same: the identity of The Watcher. Or lack there of. As Netflix’s Tudum writes, “To date, Westfield police have not uncovered the identity of the Watcher.”

This is not news to anyone who read the article, but a lot of people who are experiencing the story of The Watcher for the first time through the Netflix series are feeling let down by the ending (the last thing viewers see before the credits is, “The Watcher case remains unsolved”). And they’re unsurprisingly voicing their frustration on social media.

Counterpoint: not knowing the identity of The Watcher is creepier than if it was, like, the next-door neighbor, or whatever. But it wouldn’t be a Ryan Murphy show without some controversy.

The internet never misses an opportunity to troll Drake. The table was set this time when FC Barcelona announced it would wear kits with Drake’s OVO owl on the front for Sunday’s (October 16) El Clásico match against Real Madrid. The gesture was to commemorate Drake becoming the first-ever artist to surpass 50 billion Spotify streams. It also revived the “Drake Curse” discourse.

For the uninitiated, the “Drake Curse” is roughly defined by the failure of the teams supported by Drake. Barça fans were immediately spooked when the club unveiled its OVO jersey, and their worst fear came true. Real Madrid toppled their LaLiga rivals 3-1, behind goals from Karim Benzema, Rodrygo, and Federico Valverde.

Online chirping almost certainly doesn’t bother Drake one iota, but he may be hurting a little bit over how much money he lost after betting Arsenal and Barça to win. The Gunners handled their business, beating Leeds United 1-0 behind a Bukayo Saka goal, but Barcelona couldn’t get it done.

In Drake’s defense, nobody has been able to beat Los Blancos lately. Madrid is riding a 16-match unbeaten streak across all competitions. Their last loss, ironically, came in a friendly match with Barcelona on July 23 in Las Vegas.