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One of the signals of whether a prestige film with its eyes set on Oscar will hit the mark or flop is how well it does at Cannes or Venice. These are two time-tested proving grounds where leaving in a loud huff and clapping so long your hands go numb are the only correct reactions to a movie.

Luckily for Andrew Dominik, Venice seems to be into his Blonde. According to Variety, the film where Ana De Armas plays a largely fictionalized Marilyn Monroe earned a 14-minute standing ovation after playing the fest, leaving De Armas in tears and cementing the film in the conversation for all the major awards.

Dominik, whose last narrative feature was Killing Them Softly in 2012, had taken a hiatus to focus on producing and making music documentaries. He wrote the script for Blonde from the Joyce Carol Oates novel of the same name, which explored Monroe as a cultural icon and included tantalizing gossip with famous, real-world characters referred to by code names or initials.

Of course, Cannes has a longer, more established history of clapping an absurd amount for movies. Its longest was for Pan’s Labyrinth at a whopping 22 minutes of cheering while not sitting back down. Meanwhile, Venice just gave a 13-minute ovation to Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin. According to science, Blonde is exactly one minute better. Because that’s how all art is judged.

All kidding aside, try clapping for 14 minutes straight. I assume you’ll be dehydrated and enter a trancelike state that lets you see past lives. Humans are so weird.

Blonde, which has retained its NC-17 rating, hits Netflix September 28th.

Kali Uchis is disregarding the law in the name of love in her latest video for her single, “No Hay Ley.” In the video for her hypnotic, house-inspired cut, Uchis is seen walking through Paris, chasing a love she knows will change her life.

In the video, Uchis walks around the city of love while longing for love, singing, “No matter what we do / No matter what they say / No importa lo que digan / Yo te besaré otra vez.”

The visual, directed by Torso Solutions, shows Uchis doing her make-up and trying on several different iconic outfits.

In an interview with Vogue, Uchis revealed that fashion immediately came to mind when writing “No Hay Ley.”

“Sometimes when you try to do something too Y2K, it can feel a little bit too cliche or too dated, so I was into keeping it more modern and making a video that was all about motion,” Uchis said. “I wanted to do something I hadn’t really done before.”

At one point, Uchis appears naked and walks through a restaurant as several other couples are enjoying dates in the daytime. Relatively unfazed by the glances she receives, Uchis has found a feeling to hold on to.

Check out the video for “No Hay Ley” above.

In June, Jay-Z launched The Bitcoin Academy which sought to inform residents of Marcy projects on financial literacy through courses focused on Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. The academy began in Marcy as that place is near and dear to Hov’s heart, being that that is where he grew up. As the inaugural class completed their courses this month, both the 4:44 artist and his co-founder, Twitter’s Jack Dorsey, rewarded the graduates in a special way.

In a Wednesday (September 7) tweet, Dorsey proudly exclaimed “An update! At tonight’s graduation class, @sc and I offered each student a grant of $1,000 in bitcoin. Students can save, spend, or send their bitcoin however they choose to keep investing in themselves.” The tweet was accompanied by a photo of seven smiling graduates.

Jay-Z and Jack Dorsey have plans to expand their program beyond the confines of Marcy Projects, as back in February 2021 they launched a $23 million Bitcoin fund with a focus on building teams in Africa and India. Their partnership also extends to Jay-Z’s streaming platform TIDAL, as last year the Roc Nation leader sold his majority stake in TIDAL to Dorsey’s Square Inc. for a reported $302 million.

Check out Jack Dorsey’s tweet about his and Hov’s gift to their inaugural Bitcoin Academy graduates above.

Much to the of many attendees, Mike Dean announced last month that he was removed from Kid Cudi’s Moon Man’s Landing festival taking place this month. While he did not say who directly was responsible, he alluded to it being “Just some baby kid baby sh*t.” Well, it appears that he is now ready to reveal the source of his removal, none other than Scott Mescudi himself. Additionally, he had some other choice words for the “Man On The Moon” artist.

In a now-deleted tweet, the powerhouse producer referred to the festival host as “Mid Cudi.” Fans quickly caught wind of the tweet, posting screenshots and inquiring further about what was going on. Dean went on to say “D*ckhead canceled me just from jealousy. Just because I was on tour with weeknd.”

It didn’t stop there, as one user took up his sword for Kid Cudi and stated “Cudi is selling out arenas I’m sure he’s not upset that you’re an opener” with a laughing emoji and a direct tag of Mike Dean’s Twitter account. Dean fired back with two separate replies. The first was explanatory and a bit somber: “Very upset that I didn’t help put his show together and play keys. So upset he canceled me. End of story. Sad. We were friends. I thought.”

The second response to the same user was a bit spicier, saying “Also there’s more people in a half full stadium when I play than when mid plays the small arenas.”

Kid Cudi has not replied directly to Mike Dean, and seems to be trying to take the higher road as he tweeted “The devil tryn yall but not today or ever again!!” This all comes after the Cleveland artist announced a few months ago that he and Kanye West, a close collaborator of Mike Dean’s, are no longer friends.

Check out Mike Dean’s now-deleted tweet and his tense exchange with the aforementioned Twitter user above.

When Beyonce released Renaissance at the end of July, a major talking point was how heavy it leaned into dance music. Many listeners stated that she would be instrumental in bringing back voguing, a dance style popular in the 1980s that evolved from the Harlem ballroom scene of the 1960s. Well, those people were right, but they may not have anticipated it being done on such a large stage as Lil Nas X commanded on the opening night of his Long Live Montero Tour.

In two separate videos shared on Twitter on Tuesday (September 6) and Wednesday (September 7), the “Industry Baby” artist can be seen vogueing to Beyonce’s “Pure/Honey.” One of those who tweeted captioned their video “Yall @lilnasx voguing to Pure/Honey was everything I didn’t know I needed.” The pop star wasn’t alone either, as his backup dancers joined in. The crowd erupted with excitement, singing along to the lyrics and encouraging the 23-year-old to “cut a rug,” as they would popularly say in the 1920s and 1930s.

Lil Nas X is a talented showman on his own, but infusing Beyonce songs and such a popular dance style into his set likely made that a night that attendees will never forget.

Check out the videos of Lil Nas X voguing to “Pure/Honey” above.

After seven decades on the throne as Britain’s monarch, Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8 at the age of 96.

The historic nature of her passing can’t be overstated. Elizabeth was England’s longest-reigning monarch and the second-longest reigning monarch in history (after France’s Louis XIV). She wore the crown for a third of the entire history of the United States, which is mindblowing. The vast majority of people alive today have never lived in a world without Queen Elizabeth. Whatever people’s feelings may be about the monarchy, British colonialism, royal family drama and the like, her passing marks the end of a long and storied era in human history.

Her title and station may have been powerful and consequential, but at the end of the day, she was a human being. The popular Netflix series “The Crown” helped remind people of that fact, but perhaps nothing showed the fun-loving, human side of Queen Elizabeth like the stories told by those who spent the most time with her.

During the celebration of her 70 years of reign this summer, the queen’s former bodyguard Richard “Dick” Griffin told Sky News about a hilarious encounter Elizabeth had with two Americans while hiking in the hills near her castle in Scotland.

The hikers struck up a conversation, and it was immediately clear they didn’t recognize that they were talking to Queen Elizabeth. They told her about where they had traveled around Britain, and then one gentleman asked her where she lived.

“Well, I live in London but I’ve got a holiday home just on the other side of the hills,” the queen responded. She told them she’d been coming to the area since she was a little girl, for over 80 years.

The e man said if she’d been coming there for 80 years, she must have met the queen at some point. Her response was perfectly quick-witted.

“Well I haven’t, but Dick here meets here regularly,” she said, gesturing to Griffin.

Griffin’s response was equally hilarious, playing along with her and never letting the hikers know that they were shooting the breeze with the queen herself.

Watch Dick Griffin tell the story:

u201cthis remains an all-time story about the queenu201d

— David Mack (@David Mack)
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The fact that they asked to get a picture with the bodyguard and not Elizabeth is absolutely hilarious. Imagine their reaction when someone saw their photos and told them. The utter astonishment and hilarity of that moment had to have been epic.

One story among thousands in a life that will not soon be forgotten. Rest in peace, Queen Elizabeth, and condolences to all who loved her.

Hey there, fellow cat people and people who know cat people!

If you’re here, there’s a good chance you know a quirky cat lover or are one yourself, and what a delight. Cats are simply the best creatures, a perfect blend of grace, strength, agility and delightful derpiness. They’re beautiful, soft little weirdos, affectionate when they want to be, aloof when they don’t and notoriously independent.

Cats are superior and they know it, which is hilarious. We may talk about guard dogs, but only a fool would mess with a cat.

Cat people are cat people because they revel in cats’ unique personalities and appreciate their idiosyncrasies. But that doesn’t mean they love all cat-related things.

Let’s say you want to buy a cat person a gift but don’t want it to be a kiddie stuffed animal or kitschy ceramic cat figurine that will just collect dust. Let’s also say your cat person also has a fabulous sense of humor. What do you get them?

How about an unexpectedly hilarious cat-themed book? Like, how could you go wrong with this:

“Crafting With Cat Hair: Cute Handicrafts to Make With Your Cat”

by Kaori Tsutaya

Amazon description: “Got fur balls? Are your favorite sweaters covered with cat hair? Do you love to make quirky and one-of-a-kind crafting projects? If so, then it’s time to throw away your lint roller and curl up with your kitty! Crafting With Cat Hair shows readers how to transform stray clumps of fur into soft and adorable handicrafts. From kitty tote bags and finger puppets to fluffy cat toys, picture frames, and more, these projects are cat-friendly, eco-friendly, and require no special equipment or training. You can make most of these projects in under an hour—with a little help, of course, from your feline friends!”

That description is so adorably earnest. Do people really do cat hair crafts? I would buy this book for someone just to see the look on their face.

If that’s a little too gaggy for you, how about this one?

“How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety: And Abstinence, Drugs, Satanism, and Other Dangers That Threaten Their Nine Lives”

by Zachary Auburn

Amazon description: “For over four decades, the American Association of Patriots have stood at the vanguard of our country’s defense by helping to prepare our nation’s cat owners for the difficult conversations they dread having with their pets. Written in a simple Q&A format, How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety answers crucial questions such as, “What is the right age to talk to my cat about the proper use of firearms?” and “What are the benefits of my cat living a lifestyle of abstinence?” and especially “Why does my cat need to use the internet? Can’t he just play with yarn like cats used to do?”

Our country—and our cats—stand at a precipice. It will take courage, and it will take hard work, but armed with the knowledge within these pages, we can make our cats—and America—great again!”

(Yes, it’s satire. Nobody actually give your cat a gun, please.)

Are you familiar with The Oatmeal? This book from the famous website was a #1 NYT Bestseller.

“How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You”

by The Oatmeal/Matthew Inman

Amazon description: “If your cat is kneading you, that’s not a sign of affection. Your cat is actually checking your internal organs for weakness. If your cat brings you a dead animal, this isn’t a gift. It’s a warning. How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You is a hilarious, brilliant offering of comics, facts, and instructional guides about crazy cat behaviors from the creative wonderland at The Oatmeal.”

Seriously, The Oatmeal is so funny. If that title alone didn’t make you chortle, surely this one will:

“I Could Pee on This and Other Poems by Cats”

by Francesco Marciuliano

Amazon description: “Animal lovers will laugh out loud at the quirkiness of their feline friends with these insightful and curious poems from the singular minds of funny cats. In this hilarious, bestselling book of tongue-in-cheek poetry.”

And finally, the cat butts. I came *this* close to dropping “Cat Butthole Coloring Book: Cat Butts for Cat Lovers” in here, but I couldn’t quite stomach the imagery. This one is still hilarious, but a bit more palatable:

“Butts, Bleps and Beans Cat Coloring Book”

by Lizzie Preston

Amazon description: “The fact that cats used to be worshipped as gods in ancient Egypt might have you think they always act regal and sophisticated. Well, you’d be wrong. Sometimes they just can’t help baring their bums, sticking out their tongues, or acting ridiculous. And we love them for it! Have fun coloring in all the amusingly quirky cats inside this artfully designed cat coloring book for adults.”

(We have a cat who insists on sticking her butt in my face every time she climbs onto my lap. I try not to take it personally.)

Cat gifts for cat lovers should be as quirky and funny and unpredictable as cats themselves, and every one of these books fits that bill.

Upworthy may earn a proceed from sales of the items included in this article

The Fellowship of the Ring has banded together once again in the name of solidarity and standing up for what’s right.

In response to racially centered backlash for the diverse casting choices in the new Amazon series “Rings of Power” (a situation disappointingly common for many modern fantasy franchises) the trilogy’s original Hobbits Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan took to social media—about as treacherous as Mordor, some might say—to show their support.

Each actor wore a clothing item displaying a row of elf ears in different skin tones along with a message in Elvish that translates to “You Are All Welcome Here.” The coolest, most LOTR way to rebel possibly ever.

The design was created by LOTR aficionado Don Marshall, otherwise known as “Obscure LotR Facts Guy” on TikTok. On the merchandise website, Marshall noted the exact Elvish language used (Sí de maedyl), which paints a pretty clear picture of this guy’s impressive knowledge base. Fifty percent of the proceeds for every “You Are All Welcome Here” T-shirt and hat go to helping charities that benefit the POC community.

His reaction to seeing the hobbit gang wear his merch is a heartfelt delight for nerds everywhere.

@donmarshall72 Replying to @tara_cards_ I am speechless. Thank you all. The translation was done by @WizardWayKris. The merch is available at the link in my bio! #lotr #hobbits #lordoftherings #tolkien ♬ original sound – DonMarshall72

Wood, Astin, Boyd and Monaghan have certainly reunited before to give us a nostalgic laugh, like their incredibly silly rap video on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” but this homecoming took on a different tone.

“Rings of Power” features people of color in central roles, including Silvan elf Arondir, played by Afro-Latino actor Ismael Cruz Córdova, and his human lover Bronwyn, played by British-Iranian actress Nazanin Boniadi, as well as Princess Disa the dwarf, played by Sophia Nomvete, a Black British actress of African-Iranian heritage.

Since their casting announcement, the actors and the show have received an influx of hateful comments and harassment online. And despite Amazon’s claims of streaming records on its debut day of Sept. 2, the Prime Series was the target of “review bombing,” when disgruntled fans inundate the internet with negative reviews based on a social or political reaction rather than to the show’s quality, which distorts and misrepresents how a show is actually being received by audiences.

Members of the current cast have defended each other, calling the claims that a diverse ensemble strays away from Tolkien’s original ideas “nonsense,” but getting support from Frodo, Samwise, Merry and Pippin was next level in terms of denouncing vitriol. For as we know … it takes an army to defeat a horde of trolls.

You are all welcome here.#RingsOfPower @LOTRonPrime #MiddleEarth #Samwise @ElijahWood @BillyBoydActor @DomsWildThings @DonMarshall72 https://t.co/w2tdZ4nFwN pic.twitter.com/f4RsBKE9an

— Sean Astin (@SeanAstin) September 7, 2022

Tolkien himself, though accused of having racist rhetoric in his novels, was certainly no stranger to defending against bigotry. Back in 1938, Nazis demanded to know if the fantasy author was Jewish (in an attempt to purge anything non-Aryan from German culture). Tolkien clapped back in the classiest way possible, regarding Jewish people as “gifted” and correcting the assumption that Aryans are even of German descent. Tolkien was, after all, a gentleman and a scholar.

With a story that depicts orcs, goblins and other gruesome creatures, it’s tragic to think that something much more monstrous lurks in our everyday life. Though racism is an ugly reality, having a united voice helps overcome that insidious foe. The beauty of fantasy is that it is limitless, going as far as imagination beckons. That is a magic meant for everyone.

The Emmys really snuck up on us, too. It’s almost that time when Primetime TV shows will throw down with victors emerging right and left, and hopefully, there will be a lot of Succession representation coming our way. The nomination list reflects as much with plenty of love for The White Lotus and Ozark, too. From there, we can also celebrate how Rhea Seehorn finally received her first nomination for Better Call Saul. Justice for Kim Wexler!

How the actual broadcast plays out is anyone’s guess. Controversy generally makes any awards show a more highly viewed affair, and that’s exactly what happened when Chris Rock and Will Smith’s smack heard ’round the world had everyone buzzing about the Oscars for weeks. In all likelihood, the Emmys want to avoid any such mess, but will that quest succeed? We shall have to wait and see.

Here’s the information that you’re looking for, though. The 74th Primetime Emmys will air on Monday, September 12 at 8:00pm EST. The broadcast will air on NBC, which means that watching this on a regular TV is easy peasy, but you can stream the awards show in plenty of places, including Peacock, Hulu Live, and YouTube TV. We look forward to seeing you for all of our Emmys coverage.

It’s absolutely wild how Jacob Anderson has jumped from playing the world’s most famous fightin’ eunuch to starring as an absurdly sexual vampire in Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire. His pendulum has definitely swung.

Further securing the novel’s immortality, the AMC series comes nearly thirty years since Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt made their bitemark on the story. For fans (of the book and the movie), the trailer will look largely familiar with a few faces swapped out and a renewed focus on flirtatious, lingering shots of two handsome dudes kissing. Anderson plays Louis de Pointe du Lac opposite Sam Reid as his “murderer and mentor” Lestat de Lioncourt. Bailey Bass plays Claudia, the curly-headed child-vamp, and Eric Bogosian (our generation’s Christian Slater) has taken the role of the journalist chronicling a very long life story.

Here’s the official synopsis:

“A sensuous, contemporary reinvention of Anne Rice’s revolutionary gothic novel, Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire follows Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson), Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) and Claudia’s (Bailey Bass) epic story of love, blood, and the perils of immortality, as told to journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian). Chafing at the limitations of life as a Black man in 1900s New Orleans, Louis finds it impossible to resist the rakish Lestat de Lioncourt’s offer of the ultimate escape: joining him as his vampire companion. But Louis’s intoxicating new powers come with a violent price, and the introduction of Lestat’s newest fledgling, the child vampire Claudia, soon sets them on a decades-long path of revenge and atonement.”

The series starts October 2nd and could potentially run forever.