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Just last week, more than 100 million women across America were stripped of their right to make personal healthcare decisions for themselves and their own bodies and many Republicans celebrated then went about their day. But when a grocery store worker in Staten Island patted former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani on the back so that he could voice his disgust about that decision, all hell broke loose in Rudytown!

Since footage of what was being called an “attack” on Giuliani was made public, anyone with eyes and a glint of sanity has commented on the disparity between what we can see on the tape and the way that Donald Trump’s longtime doormat described the events of that day, which he has described as being like getting “shot” in the back and/or “a boulder.” And now he’s on a tear about New York City at large, and how it has turned into something like HBO’s Deadwood.

The New York Post reports that Giuliani claims he is suffering from “swelling” and “a sore back” as a result of the incident, in which a ShopRite worker tapped the septuagenarian on the back. “He hit me to knock me down and if that doesn’t merit jail time in New York, we’re in the Wild, Wild, West,” Giuliani said during a virtual press conference.

Clearly feeling like he was on a roll, Rudy swears the man could have easily killed him. “It was a very, very heavy shot,” he said. “He could have easily hit me, knocked me to the ground and killed me. He’s lucky he didn’t knock me down. Falling is extremely dangerous for an elderly person.”

Rather than acknowledge that none of the unlikely scenarios that could have resulted in his death came to pass, Giuliani swore that the grocery store worker—who was expressing his anger at Roe v. Wade being overturned, and the role Giuliani played in making that possible—intended “to cause serious harm … I could have fallen and cracked my skull and died.”

“This guy should be in prison,” Giuliani concluded.

Meanwhile, lawyers for the perpetrator of the backpat—39-year-old Daniel Gill—have issued their own statement claiming that the video speaks for itself (read: Rudy’s recollection of how everything went down has been extremely exaggerated). The charges against Gill, who was originally kept in NYPD custody for more than 24 hours, have since been downgraded, which further pissed off the man formerly known as “America’s Mayor.”

“Finally, I thought we had a DA in New York in Staten Island who was a real DA in favor of protecting victims and not letting criminals go free so they can start hitting other 78-year-old men,” Giuliani said.

(Via New York Post)

Machine Gun Kelly has been a magnet for a lot of negative attention over the years and in his new documentary, Life In Pink, he recalls how it all came to a head, resulting in a suicide attempt that he barely survived.

After his father died in July of 2020, MGK says he fell into a depression, during which he says he locked himself away, sleeping with a shotgun next to his bed. “I couldn’t get closure on it,” he recalls. “I wouldn’t leave my room and I started getting really, really, really dark.”

He says that even his then-budding romance with actress Megan Fox became a stressor. “I called [girlfriend Megan Fox], I was like, ‘You aren’t here for me,’”
he remembers. “I’m freaking out on her and I put the shotgun in my mouth. I’m yelling on the phone and the barrel’s in my mouth. I go to cock the shotgun and the bullet as it comes back up, the shell just gets jammed. Megan’s dead silent.”

The incident prompted Kelly to seek therapy, which he says helped him cope with life in the spotlight and losing his dad. Hopefully, he also made amends with his girlfriend for what was almost certainly a traumatizing experience.

MGK isn’t the only star who struggled with suicidal ideation in recent years. In 2021, Logic’s memoir also touched on the backlash he received from the public on social media, much of it ironically over his hit song “1-800-273-8255” named for the American National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. While the song certainly helped awareness of the issue (calls to the number went up and suicide rates went down), Logic himself nearly gave in under the weight of the negative commentary sent his direction, only reversing course to avoid becoming “a meme about how the Suicide Guy killed himself.” That’s something to think about before you hit “send” on that “funny” tweet or comment you were just typing up.

You can check out Life In Pink streaming now on Hulu.

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide or contemplating self-harm, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text TALK to 741741, or visit Speakingofsuicide.com for additional resources.

Dakota Johnson was a star from the second she appeared in The Social Network. Actually, she was a star from the moment she was born, considering her parents are Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, but the decade-defining birth of Facebook movie is when she got the greatest compliment of her career, courtesy of director David Fincher: “David said that role could have easily been thankless and that I did something different with it. I found that to be the most wonderful thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

Johnson’s first leading role came four years later when she starred in Fifty Shades of Grey. The erotic-drama, which was followed by two sequels, was a huge hit at the box office and, as Vanity Fair put it in a new cover story, “turned Johnson into a globally known name in 2015.” But not a lover of limes. Looking back at playing Anastasia Steele now, Johnson has mixed feelings about the films. “There were a lot of different disagreements. I haven’t been able to talk about this truthfully ever, because you want to promote a movie the right way, and I’m proud of what we made ultimately and everything turns out the way it’s supposed to, but it was tricky,” she said.

“I’m a sexual person, and when I’m interested in something, I want to know so much about it,” she begins. “That’s why I did those big naked movies.” She sips her tea without breaking eye contact. “I signed up to do a very different version of the film we ended up making.”

I ask if the studio or the directors were the problem, or if it was a combo platter.

“Combo,” she says. She leans in. “It was also the author of the books.”

That would be E. L. James, who got the inspiration for the Fifty Shades books after writing Twilight fan fiction under the name “Snowqueens Icedragon.” (Do you think Johnson, Robert Pattinson, and Kristen Stewart, three of the finest — and finest looking — working actors in their 30s, ever text about this? They should.)

When asked if she regrets starring in the Fifty Shades trilogy, Johnson replied, “No. I don’t think it’s a matter of regret. If I had known… If I had known at the time that’s what it was going to be like, I don’t think anyone would’ve done it. It would’ve been like, ‘Oh, this is psychotic.’ But no, I don’t regret it.” She doesn’t wanna live forever with regret.

You can watch Johnson in Cha Cha Real Smooth, now on Apple TV+.

(Via Vanity Fair)

This was probably one of the most difficult weeks to get through after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which sent the country into panic. Many musicians spoke up about it, from world-dominating pop star Billie Eilish to old-school legends Pearl Jam, providing comfort to fans who know that their idols support the same values as them. It even brought Taylor Swift to Twitter to discuss the matter. Despite the chaos, there were some great releases in pop music this week, which can be found below.

Each week, Uproxx rounds up the best new pop releases. Listen up.

Taylor Swift — “Carolina”

Taylor Swift’s new song “Carolina” is for the forthcoming film Where The Crawdads Sing. It’s a haunting ballad that feels taken from Folklore; it’s in touch with her patient, folky side. Her vocals linger in a lower range, imbuing the track with a visceral seriousness.

Willow — “Maybe It’s My Fault”

Willow, who pivoted to pop punk with her latest album Lately I Feel Everything, has barely rested in the past year. “Maybe It’s My Fault” is the newest of her songs, after collaborations like “Psychofreak” and “Purge,” and it has the same sharp edge and bombastic personality, but it’s even more inventive and catchy, really leaning into the darkness.

Muna — “What I Want”

“Silk Chiffon” singers Muna have had to prove that they’re more than that hit, and this new self-titled album succeeds. This electronic track “What I Want” is colorful and holds nothing back: “I want the full effects / I want to hit it hard / I want to dance in the middle of a gay bar,” they sing. It’s the perfect pride anthem.

Nessa Barrett — “Die First”

Nessa Barrett’s strength is her vulnerability, and her new song “Die First” takes that to the next level. In Morrissey-like fashion (“To die by your side is such a heavenly way to die,” of course), Barrett shows her love and devotion through tragic means, contemplating her own mortality as well as that of her lover: “I hope I die first / ‘Cause I don’t wanna live without you,” she sings.

Conan Gray — “Disaster”

“Disaster” portrays pop star Conan Gray’s immaculate storytelling ability. Against a bouncy beat, he sings about his reluctance about engaging in romance. He thinks about the worst possible scenario, as we’re all prone to do: “I’m a little bit plastered / You call me a liar, / Now I’m falling in faster / This could be a disaster,” he sings entertainingly.

Kacey Musgraves — “Can’t Help Falling In Love”

A lot of artists have taken on the task of covering this classic, but Kacey Musgraves is definitely one of the best candidates. Her soft voice and twangy style make it sound as if the ballad is her own; her vocals glow with earnestness and emotion against the slow piano. Though it’s brief, every second is impactful.

Dove Cameron — “Breakfast”

Dove Cameron is not messing around on this new song “Breakfast,” which is propelled forward with a brooding, menacing rhythm as well as mischievous vocals. She haunts in a Lana Del Rey or Billie Eilish kind of way, with incisive lyrics: “I eat boys like you for breakfast / One by one hung on my necklace / And they’ll always be mine / It makes me feel alive,” she sings.

Charlie Puth, Jung Kook — “Left And Right”

This collaboration between Charlie Puth and BTS’ Jung Kook is about trying to move on from a relationship that’s hard to forget. The two singers trade off verses, singing about the pain over a breezy beat: “Did you know you’re the one that got away / And even now baby I’m still not okay,” Puth sings.

Hayley Kiyoko — “Deep In The Woods”

“‘Deep in the Woods’ is a song that captures the feeling of instant connection,” said singer Hayley Kiyoko, “as if you’ve known someone forever even though you’ve only just met.” She does a great job conveying this powerful sensation in her emotive new song, on which she sings, “I know I met you in another life / You’re unforgettable.”

Glaive — “Minnesota Is A Place That Exists”

Glaive’s new song “Minnesota Is A Place That Exists” is an addictive, vivacious anthem about youthful, reckless love: “Smoking cigarettes with pretty girls inside my head / Do you remember when you / Said you’re smoking less and then you ashed it on your chest,” he sings over an almost hyperpop sound. The track bursts with idiosyncratic synths and an eccentric aura that will make you press repeat.

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

SpotemGottem is known for getting in trouble. The Jacksonville, FL rapper, whose real name is Nehemiah Harden, has been arrested after a jet ski chase. According to NBC Miami, Miami police tried to pull Harden over when he was speeding on a jet ski. Needless to say, he did not pull over. When the cops caught him, he was charged with reckless operation of a boat and fleeing police.

Last year, the “Beat Box” star was arrested by US marshalls on firearm violations and aggravated assault. He and several of his friends broke the gate at a parking garage in Miami and reportedly threatened someone who tried to stop them — the story doesn’t make clear whether this was a passerby or the garage attendant — with a semi-automatic weapon. He was granted an $18,500 bond.

A few months after that incident, he was shot multiple times while driving on the I-95. He told police he was being driven south on the highway when someone in another car began shooting at his car, hitting his driver in the hip and wounding Spotem, who was sitting in the passenger seat, in both legs. The report said at least 22 shots were fired, likely from an automatic weapon.

While Britney Spears has shared several celebratory moments on Instagram recently — including getting married, recreating her iconic kiss with Madonna, and moving into her new home — she, like many of us, admits she still sometimes feels insecure seeing other people’s photos and videos on the platform.

In a video set to Katy Perry’s “Firework,” Spears shared a video of her recreating a viral dance. Although she appeared happy in the video, the accompanying caption indicated that she’s worked hard to find that happiness.

“Do you know how many times I literally wanted to crawl in a hole and feel like an idiot while looking at social media ???” said Spears in an Instagram post. “These women with a style game and hot bodies … sh*t !!! The excitement of fast shooting with edits these days … In my conservatorship, each shot in my videos was like 4 years !!!”

Also in the post, she admitted she feels she doesn’t have it all together, saying, “I lose my phone 3x a day, can’t find my shades when they are on top of my head … I’m human and I do my best !!! I know I completely suck most of the time but I still try my best.”

Stars — they’re just like us.

Vladimir Putin’s so steamed over the world rejecting Russia amid his Ukraine invasion that the Kremlin’s been rolling out massive sh*t lists of Americans who are no longer welcome to visit his country. That includes expected. names like Joe Biden and his colleagues, but also semi-random names like Morgan Freeman. None of them, probably, are losing any rest over never entering Russia, but Putin’s still going. The Russian president, who’s leadership is said to “no longer absolute” is continuing to bring the (ineffective) hammer down, and he’s got a new list.

According to Forbes, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has finally landed upon Putin’s list of those who not “indefinitely” worthy of Russia. This is amusing, considering that (back in 2019) Mitch groused on the Senate floor after critics dubbed him “Moscow Mitch,” and the Washington Post called him a “Russian asset.” Yet Forbes unrolls the list of Putin-banned names, which includes part of Biden’s family and these U.S. lawmakers:

A host of high-profile politicians have also been targeted, including McConnell, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Sen. Benjamin Sass (R-Neb.), Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).

What did Mitch do? He criticized far-right congresspeople (including Madison Cawthorn and Marjorie Taylor Green), who he accused of being part of the “Putin wing of the Republican party” as well as “a few lonely voices off to the side” who should be ignored. Surely, Putin’s also steamed about this lack of Mitch support during the Russia-Ukraine war, all while the U.S. continues to pile on economic sanctions. Well, Vlad the Bad really told him who’s boss, not to mention who’s the biggest Botox addict of them all.

(Via Forbes & Salon)

A couple nights ago, on June 26, Halsey played a show in Phoenix, Arizona. Since abortion and Roe v. Wade is on minds everywhere right now, Halsey took some time during the show — after “Nightmare,” towards the end of the setlist — to speak out about the issue. At one point, they noted, “If you don’t like it, you can go home right now, I don’t care. If you don’t like it, I don’t know why you came to a Halsey concert, because I’ve never been shy that this is how I feel.”

According to some fan reports online, it turns out that a decent number of attendees took Halsey up on that and did in fact leave the show: One fan tweeted, “The amount of people who just walked out of the Halsey concert after Nightmare when she spoke about abortion was sickening.” Halsey, though, remains unbothered, as they shared that tweet and added, “downside of doing outdoor venues: no door to hit them on the way out [hand waving emoji].”

This came a couple days after Halsey tweeted, “I have been advocating for abortion, reproductive rights, and bodily integrity for as long as I’ve had a platform and I’m running out of ways to word and frame the severity of the impact that fundamentalism has on our country. I know some of you look to my page for information or guidance but I need a little bit of time to speak to some people with more authority and experience than me and gather my thoughts. I don’t want to just contribute to antagonistic noise. I’m just defeated at the moment.”

For the past 48 hours, Rudy Giuliani has been trying to make hay of being “attacked” at a Shop-Rite in New York while campaigning for his son, Andrew Giuliani. However, despite Giuliani’s claims that he could’ve died if he was a “weaker 78-year-old,” the so-called assault looked like nothing more than a pat on the back to most observers. With Fox News not really covering the story, Giuliani took his harrowing tale to Newsmax where he expected a more sympathetic audience. Instead, even pro-Trump anchor Greg Kelly’s first reaction is the same as anyone with eyes.

“I’ve got to be honest, it doesn’t look that bad,” Kelly said during the bizarre interaction where it sounds like Giuliani is next to a lawnmower.

While Kelly’s initial reaction pretty much says it all, the Newsmax anchor gave Giuliani some wiggle room, and America’s Mayor immediately used it to claim that the anchor was looking at the wrong person. Via Insider:

As the video showed the man slapping his back, Giuliani claimed that Kelly was looking at another person in the video.

“That was the woman who was rubbing my back, not the guy who hit me,” said Giuliani.

Kelly didn’t challenge this, saying: “That makes sense. Well look, I’m sorry you were roughed up but the campaign trail is crazy.”

It also doesn’t help Giuliani’s case that a judge has already downgraded the charges from felony assault to a misdemeanor because, again, the video clearly shows a pat on the back. MSNBC anchor Chris Hayes went full Zapruder on the footage, playing it slow motion, and it is nowhere near the potentially deadly assault that Giuliani has been touting since Sunday.

(Via Aaron Rupar on Twitter)