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Kyrie Irving is headed back to Brooklyn, at least for now, as the star guard was given permission to seek out a sign-and-trade opportunity but found very few takers outside of L.A. As such, Irving picked up his player option worth $36.5 million, which means he’s going to be playing out his final year with the Nets and then hitting free agency next summer — or, he’ll be traded anytime between now and the deadline.

Because this is Kyrie Irving, he had to issue a deep statement about how he was picking up his player option rather than declining it and taking the taxpayer mid-level in L.A. that’s worth just over $6 million.

Irving saying he’s the type to “dare to be different” certainly is backed up by his history, but it’s also objectively funny to say not turning down $30 million is somehow the rebellious approach here as opposed to what literally everyone else would do in this situation if presented with the same number of options as Irving — which are, by all accounts, his player option, the TPMLE in L.A., or a short-term extension for not-max money in Brooklyn. Naturally, Irving’s effort at being deep about all of this led to NBA Twitter turning his quote into a rather hilarious meme for the night.

There sure are a lot of famous Chrises in Hollywood these days. Well, actually there’s really just four: Chris Evans, Chris Pine, Chris Hemworth, and Chris Pratt. That’s enough that, a couple years ago, a debate was held on Twitter about who was the best and who was the worst. The latter went to Pratt, partly because of his association with a church accused of being anti-LGBTQIA+. Pratt’s wife didn’t agree, but Pratt himself seemed okay with it. Well, guess what? Chris Pratt doesn’t even go by Chris anyway.

In a recent interview with SiriusXM’s Pop Culture Spotlight With Jessica Shaw (as caught by Entertainment Weekly), Pratt revealed that he’s not even a Chris. “What do they call you?” Shaw asked. “Pratt?”

“Yep. Pratt. CP. You know, CP. ‘Hey, CP.’” Pratt/CP replied. “But no one calls me Chris. My friend, Chad. I went golfing with my friend, Chad, my pastor the other day and he was like, ‘No one calls you Chris? I’m gonna call you Chris. Alright, Chris. You’re up.’ And I was like, ‘No, it feels weird. It’s not my name. Don’t call me Chris.’”

So now the “Best Chris” debate needs a new worst Chris. (Although it’s worth noting his birth name really is Christopher.) But just because Pratt’s not a Chris doesn’t mean he can’t still do Super Bowl bets with someone who’s still a Chris, and a pretty good one at that.

(Via EW)

Toronto rapper and producer Nav is back with the announcement of his first big release since 2020’s Emergency Tsunami: he’s unveiling a new album called Demons Protected By Angels. It has no official release date yet, though he has been mentioning July 29 on social media, which could be the release date of the record or of a single.

Nav is known for frequent collaborations. Emergency Tsunami watched him work with the producer Wheezy. He’s also done tracks with Lil Baby for “Don’t Need Friends,” Belly for “Requiem,” Young Thug for “No Debate,” and more. It’s likely that Demons Protected By Angels will be full of more chart-topping collaborations with an eclectic range of guests.

In 2020, he also shared “Turks,” a song with Travis Scott and Gunna, released during the week that he was celebrating the one-year anniversary of Bad Habits, his sophomore album that served as his first Billboard 200 chart-topper. It was his fourth collaboration with Travis Scott, following Nav’s “Champion” and Travis’ “Biebs In The Trap” and “Yosemite,” which also featured Gunna. Gunna’s album DS4EVER debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200, and featured a plethora of other guests including Landstrip Chip, Mobile, Yung Bleu, Beam, Rockford, and Fresco.

Gunna is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Kyrie Irving had one of the most bizarre individual seasons by an NBA player in recent memory. The 7-time All-Star guard sat out the start of the season after refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine to meet New York City’s mandate, then was allowed to be a part-time player, appearing in only road games until the city’s mandate was lifted in the final month of the season.

Irving had some tremendous highs, but also was inconsistent in his impact, particularly in the playoffs, which probably should’ve been expected from a player who appeared so infrequently — just 29 games in the regular season. The frustrations with Irving’s status was a factor in James Harden forcing his way out of Brooklyn almost as quickly as he had forced his way in from Houston, and the relationship between star and team is not exactly in a good position.

So, when it came time for Irving to make a decision on his $36.5 million player option, there was plenty of interest league-wide. Irving entering free agency would create a fascinating market (and potentially upset Kevin Durant and his future in Brooklyn) and there have been rumblings the Nets aren’t keen on giving him a max deal. Things got to the point that the expectation became Irving would leave, the team reportedly gave him permission to pursue a sign-and-trade, and at one point, we learned that the franchise would have preferred losing him and Durant as opposed to going through the circus we saw last year.

Ultimately, Irving decided to pick up his option, but in a twist, he told Shams Charania of The Athletic that he will stay in Brooklyn and see out the last year of his deal.

Now, all eyes turn to whether or not he can hammer out an extension with the team, or if the two sides even want to pursue one, anyway.

When the first image of Lily James and Sebastian Stan from Hulu’s Pam & Tommy, in which they played Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee, went live, there were widespread gasps. The Downton Abbey and Cinderella alum and the sometime Winter Soldier really had magically transformed into one of the ‘90s signature couples. It clearly took a lot of work, and in a new piece from Vanity Fair, James and crew open up about how much it took to turn her into the star of Barb Wire.

For one thing, James spent four hours being made up to look exactly like Anderson. For another, she had some tools: “dentures, a vest-like contraption over her chest to shape her bust to Anderson’s iconically buxom image, contact lenses, three wig styles, and even a forehead prosthetic that covered James’s iconic brows.”

All that work wasn’t just for audiences. It was for James herself. “It’s just insane to look in a mirror and really not see yourself anymore,” James told VF. “It just meant that I felt so much braver. I had less of my own self-inflicted boundaries of what I am and how I perceived myself. And this was just like, all gloves are off. I could just be anything.”

James also talked about the chest prosthetic, which she described as like “wearing a small jumper,” and which gave her some protection during the sex scenes. “I mean, of course I’m naked,” she said. “Well, I would always wear a skin-colored thong cause I’m not interested in doing full frontal, but it just felt like I wasn’t vulnerable in that sense because it wasn’t my boobs.”

Alas, when James tried to contact Anderson herself, that proved less successful.

Pam & Tommy, which aired earlier this year, streams on Hulu.

(Via VF)

On Sunday, Rudy Giuliani added yet another creatively bizarre blunder to an already endless list of them: He claimed he’d been “attacked” when he was actually just slapped on the back. An employee at a Staten Island ShopRite was arrested after lightly accosting the former “America’s mayor,” now an agent of weird chaos. Giuliani claimed the man, James Gill, “hit me to knock me down.” Video footage, however, showed otherwise. And now the charges against Gill have been all but inevitably downgraded.

The footage, obtained from a surveillance camera, shows Gill giving Giuliani what looks like a light slap. Giuliani doesn’t even move. But Giuliani has been effusive about how the slap put his life at risk. “I got hit on the back as if a boulder hit me,” he’s claimed. “It hurt tremendously. I did not know what it was. I had no idea what it was.” But if he really did fear for his life, that’s not remotely evident from the footage.

Gill’s lawyer, Susan Platis, told a judge that the “assault” “appears to be a tap on the back.” She also said the only thing close to a real threat came when someone with Giuliani followed Gill into the parking lot, poked him in the chest, and threatened him. She also pointed out the video isn’t exactly helpful for Giuliani.

“I think it actually shows a tap on the back, which is not criminal conduct,” Platis told the court. “There’s no intent here to harm anyone. [Giuliani] may have been surprised and stunned being touched in the back … but he’s a public figure, Your Honor. Being spoken to and things being said to him should be of no surprise and should be anticipated.”

After delivering the most famous slap since the Will Smith Oscars incident, Gill turned to Giuliani and allegedly said, “What’s up, scumbag?” He was angry over the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, which happened thanks in large part to Giuliani’s old client, former president Donald Trump, for whom he not only repeatedly embarrassed himself in public but also accrued pricey lawsuits. Trump has not helped him out, which may be why he delivered a very unwelcome appearance on The Masked Singer.

(Via New York Daily News)

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Maureen was a mom and “rowdy aunt,” as well as a 6-foot-tall podiatrist and an “uncommonly caring” one at that.

According to Caity, Maureen “could not stop herself from buying shoes for patients if she spotted just what they needed while shopping … She categorically did not do house calls, except for patients she ‘really liked’; of these, there were so many she had to set aside whole days for house calls.” She even “occasionally accepted” baked goods as payment from her patients.

Maureen was as “pathologically generous” as she was frugal.

“When a young nephew wished for a plastic microscope, she found him a real one (at a great price) and painstakingly prepared hundreds of slides for his study.” She also “briefly employed a skilled housekeeper but found her a more lucrative job.” To this day, her family has access to a “huge box of toothbrushes” she purchased for pennies decades ago.

Truly nothing made Maureen more happy than “helping people, and anyone anywhere saving money,” Caity wrote.

In honor of her mother’s passion for gardening, Caity encouraged others to plant something in lieu of flowers, with a Maureen-worthy reminder that “garden centers mark perennials down to unbelievable prices in the fall.”

Incredibly smart, fearless and “riotously funny,” Maureen had a “cackle that crashed through rooms.” One that will clearly be missed. Her death might have been “shocking” as it was the first thing she was ever “ahead of schedule” on, but she leaves behind “enough toothbrushes and memories to last several lifetimes.”

Caity followed up the obituary with a few of her mom’s “greatest hits” previously tweeted:

I’m not going to repost all the tweets but you get the idea https://t.co/7JcEzHZMjA

— Caity Weaver (@caityweaver) June 22, 2022

😂 I didn’t! https://t.co/xTmK9BMv6F

— Caity Weaver (@caityweaver) June 22, 2022

Oh this was a classic! https://t.co/NmjK4G44NV

— Caity Weaver (@caityweaver) June 23, 2022

Caity’s touching and joyful memorial received tons of love from people, including fellow writers.

“I’m so so sorry that you’ve lost her. That obituary might be one of the most joyous things I’ve ever read, funny and tender and loving, what a brilliant person your mum was xx,” Jess McGuire commented

“I am so sorry for your loss. And for the whole world’s loss! Your mom sounds fabulous,” added Mindy Kaling.

You can read the obituary in its entirety below. Maureen, you are deeply loved by your “favorite child,” and now by all of us as well.

Got the worst news I’ve ever gotten last week. My mom and I made each other cry laughing all the time. I hate to think about all the deals she’s going to miss out on. I hope she guides me to the best sales forever. pic.twitter.com/dZoWdIu86C

— Caity Weaver (@caityweaver) June 22, 2022

We’re all trying to help those we love channel their main character energy. Now, with LoveBook it’s never been easier. Whether it’s your best friend, romantic partner, parent, child or even yourself, LoveBook is all about sharing the love and making people feel special. Here’s how it works:

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LoveBook lets you bring your love story to life. You start out by creating your very own LoveMoji. With a variety of different body shapes, skin tones, hair styles, and accessories, it’s easy for your characters to look and feel like your loved ones. From there, the rest of the story is up to you! You can create a fully custom, one-of-a-kind depiction of your love, or you can work off of one of LoveBook’s many templates.

The templates work as guidelines and really help set you up for success as you create a very special love story. You can chose from outlines that let you fill in all of the reasons why you love them or boost their confidence by sharing just how great they really are. And with plenty of space to be packed full of inside jokes, not all of these have to be tear-jerkers… though a gift this special makes it pretty hard to *not* get choked up.

LoveBook also makes for the cutest addition to a proposal! Whether it’s “The Story of Us” read just before a romantic candle-lit marriage proposal or the last topping on a “Will you be my Maid of Honor” box, these books are the sweetest way to show someone how much they mean to you. They also make a great wedding gift (in addition to whatever the couple has on their registry, of course!).

You can also celebrate how much fun you’ve had with dad this Father’s Day by giving a book that shares the story of one of your fishing trips or all the ways that their “handy” tips have helped you around the house. These love stories make for a really unique Father’s Day gift and reading them together with dad will only make him appreciate it that much more!

You can also give one to that new grad so they can bring a bit of home with them when they go off to college in the fall and remind them just how much fun they had in their last summer home before school.

LoveBook also offers self-love stories for kids so that you can show your little ones just how special they are on their birthday. It’s a great way to help boost confidence and reiterate that they are beyond amazing!

The company is all about sharing the love and letting people feel special. And by helping their customers give these customizable, one-of-a-kind gifts, they do a great job at accomplishing just that!

They also have LoveMoji family and romantic coupon books, journals, mugs, greeting cards and more swag so your characters can guest-star in future occasions as well! That’s right, they’re not just bound by the pages of this chapter!

Check them out today and give someone the gift of being the main character. After all, we all deserve to be the star of our own love story!

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It’s no doubt that spring has sprung and while some parts of your outdoor space may be blooming, others may still be in hibernation. But transitioning to a summer ready space doesn’t have to involve a major overhaul. Here are 10 easy hacks to help get summer ready:

1. New Throw Pillows – it’s been a long off-season and while your cushions may have survived, the style of your outdoor furniture may be a little dated. Adding new outdoor throw pillows is a great hack that gives your outdoor space a fresh new look, without braking the bank.

2. Vibe Lighting – lighting truly is everything! Adding some cool solar lanterns can refresh the entire feel of your space with little effort. All you have to do is turn on the solar panels and these hip lamps will do the rest for you. They’re great on coffee tables or for lining a walk way.

3. Citronella Candles – candle light is the perfect way to give your outdoor space a little romance. These citronella candles are a natural bug repellent that not only look chic, but will keep you bite-free. Subbing out the antiquated fly traps and bug zappers for these holistic beauties is an easy way to upgrade your outdoors.

4. Hide Your Hose – this decorative garden hose storage pot is an amazing way to elevate your space. By tucking away your unsightly, gangly green hose you’ll open up your area in a way that’s both aesthetically pleasing and functional.

5. Repot – if your outdoor plants don’t have the space to touch the ground, consider repotting them into more decorative planters. Pots like these give the vibe that you’ve planted like this intentionally and not out of necessity.

6. Rugs – you’ve heard the expression “sweep it under the rug”? Well, the same principle applies here. Whether you’re waiting to redo the deck until next summer or just can’t stand the color of the patio, an outdoor rug will completely refresh the space. Sun-resistant and waterproof outdoor rugs are long-lasting and easy to clean making them the simplest way to revamp a large area.

7. Grills – perhaps the reason your outdoor space is lacking a little love is because you need a new reason to use the space. A grill could be just the thing to make you fall back in love. Plus, summer veggies taste better with a little char broil.

8. Outdoor Dining Area – with all of that cooking you might just need a new place to eat. A bistro table is the perfect way to transform a small outdoor space into an al fresco dinning area of your dreams. With a foldable table and chairs, you can get all of the perks of a romantic outdoor setting without committing to bulky picnic tables.

9. Water Feature – adding a water feature is a calming way to increase the zen of your outdoors. The soothing sound of trickling water is great way to block out traffic or the neighborhood. Plus nothing says *elevated* quite like having your very own a fountain.

10. Fire Pit – bring on the s’more toasting and weenie roasting! This fire pit adds a little something extra to your backyard summertime nostalgia!

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When life gave them lemons, this brand made an aperitif. But not just any – Le Moné created an approachable, refreshing citrus profile that doesn’t overpower, it compliments. Low in sugars, calories and alcohol by volume, this liquor doesn’t compromise. It delivers sophisticated flavor profiles, a better buzz, and leaves you in shape for a great morning without the fog or headache. Here’s what they’re mixing up:

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A family owned vineyard in picturesque Finger Lakes, New York was where the Le Moné journey started. The team cultivated a relationship with the farmers for several years and eventually they tasted the perfect, acid-forward wine with a sharp lemon-lime profile. The dry finish balanced the organic agave and the flavors lended themselves to the Meyer lemon profile that they were after.

Mixed with California brandy, a touch of Persian lime and Italian bergamot, California Meyer lemon remained the star of the show as Le Moné crafted their perfect aperitif. The 100% organic agave brought a sweetness and balance forward while not adding too much sugar.

But Le Moné didn’t stop at Meyer lemon, the company has five different flavors including:

The Classic, Meyer Lemon:

For a lighter, livelier aperitif, this flavor variation is the original that started it all. Simple and brilliant, it’s the aperitif for those who are dealt lemons and love them anyway. It’s that something that goes with anything and is the perfect addition to an at home bar. If you were thinking that Meyer Lemon and agave would go perfectly with tequila… well, you were right. Mix this with tequila, soda water and serve with a lime wedge for your new go to summer drink.

Meyer Lemon, Orange & Lime:

A citrus lover’s dream trifecta! The orange and lime create an absolutely beautiful marriage with the Meyer Lemon base. This variant is bright and summery, without being too tart or sour. And we take it back… this is everything you need to make a dream margarita… err at least it’s a good thing we don’t have to pick favorites. Just add tequila and get the complex, balanced, bar-quality margarita that will have all your friends asking “what’s your secret?”.

Meyer Lemon, Raspberry & Lavender:

Sophisticated botanicals and bright berries create this refreshing, aromatic aperitif. Ideal for bottomless brunches or those looking to add a little taste of the South of France to their summer agenda, the lavender and berries come together and deliver a getaway in a bottle. Mix with dry gin and prosecco for the perfect poolside drink.

Meyer Lemon & Cucumber:

Nothing says “relax” quite like refreshing cucumber. It is the perfect thirst quencher for long, hot summer days, and just one sip is enough to make you go “sppaaa” – er “ahhh”. Serve with just a splash of soda – it needs nothing else!

Meyer Lemon & Blackberry:

Perfect for a picnic that starts early but goes late, the essence of fresh juicy berries brings out the simple pleasure in life. Jammy blackberry and subtle cherry notes are vibrantly highlighted against the Meyer Lemon Canvas. Drink this straight over ice, or with muddled mint and vodka.

Each variation of the Le Moné aperitif delivers simple excellence. What’s more is that each of their bottles is made with 100% recycled Italian glass and their labels are made from post-consumer recycled cotton. Enjoy Le Moné responsibly, all summer long!

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