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Anyone who has found themselves in a relationship with a narcissist knows how confusing, disorienting or downright terrifying it can be.

There are conflicting statistics on what percent of the population has Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), but it ranges anywhere from 1% to 6%. The average American knows 600 people, which means we all know at least a small handful of pathological narcissists personally.

But it’s people who are in close relationships with narcissists who bear the brunt of their pathology. Whether you were raised by a narcissistic parent or fell in love with a narcissist, it’s likely you’ve been abused by someone to feed their narcissistic needs.

NPD can be particularly challenging to treat because most narcissists will nor or cannot admit that anything is wrong with them. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found that most narcissists are actually aware that they are narcissists, but rather than see it as a problem, they embrace it and take pride in it. (Of course.)

However, a self-aware narcissist can get help through psychotherapy, if they are willing to do it. Since most don’t see the problem, many won’t. But many or even most isn’t all, and one man is on a mission to use his Narcissistic Personality Disorder diagnosis for good.

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Lee Hammock has been diagnosed with NPD and has been in psychotherapy for it since 2017. He calls himself a “self-aware” narcissist and uses social media—particularly TikTok—to share insider insights into a narcissist’s brain. Hammock describes why he decided to share the ins and outs of his disorder:

“The point of these videos is to help bring awareness from the other side of the narcissistic abuse spectrum. All my videos give perspective on why many narcissists do what they do and the possible different reasons behind them. The victims and survivors get validation and the narcissists (those that are willing) get to see that you can get help and that you are not alone.”

He explained how he ended up here:

@mentalhealness

Reply to @dubyuhbee hope this helps. I’m on a mission.

Hammock’s videos speak for themselves. There are tons of them, and they give amazing insight into a narcissist’s perspective from the point of view of a narcissist who actually works to understand and manage his own disorder. Here’s a sampling:

@mentalhealness

Narcissists and toxic people move fast. Slow down and stop ignoring the red flags

@mentalhealness

Reply to @balushijam narcissist don’t want to see you happy with anyone else. They think they are the best you’re going to get #narcavengers

@mentalhealness

Narcissistic people would rather you leave than to work on any of their issues

@mentalhealness

Collab with @Nia Renee Narcissists like to play games with you in order to start arguments, throw you off or in order to play the hero. #narcavengers

@mentalhealness

Reply to @donna28c narcissist see any discussions about your feelings as criticism #narcavengers

@mentalhealness

Reply to @meowmeow2342 narcissist have limited emotional capacity and the people closest to us get treated the worst #narcissist #ITriedItIPrimedIt

@mentalhealness

Sometimes we are the issue. Therapy helps #npd #narcissism #narctok #narcs #narc #narcissist

@mentalhealness

It’s never a good time to finish a conversation or argument with a narcissist. Leaving things unfinished causes them buildup #ShowUsYourDrawers #narcs #npd

He even weighed in on the Kanye West situation, not diagnosing West with NPD, but explaining how his actions are right out of the narcissistic playbook.

@mentalhealness

I’m not saying he’s a narcissist, but if he isssssss Kayne is definitely taking things to a narcissistic obsessive level #kayne #kanyewest #kimkardashian

Hammock has been honest about the fact that that making and sharing these videos and getting likes on them actually feeds his narcissistic ego, but it’s a healthy turning of the tables on the disorder.

And it really is serving a need. If you read through the comments on Hammock’s videos, the most common response is recognition. So many people have interacted with narcissists and see those interactions in these videos, which is both validating and relieving. People who have been victims of narcissistic abuse are not alone, and Hammock helps them see that. He even helps people who might be narcissists themselves maybe—maybe—become more self-aware that their personality disorder is something that needs management.

You can find Hammock’s videos on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

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When Eartha Kitt became the first black Catwoman back in 1967, she knew its importance. Her daughter Kitt Shapira told Closer Weekly:

“I was about nine years old when she played Catwoman on Batman, and that was a really big deal. This was 1967, and there were no women of color at that time wearing skintight bodysuits, playing opposite a white male with sexual tension between them! She was one of the first really beautiful black women — her, Lena Horne, Dorothy Dandridge — who were allowed to be sexy without being stereotyped. It does take a village, but I do think she helped blaze a trail.”

And blaze she did. Eartha Kitt purred her way into legend, giving the character an iconic voice, feline mannerisms and downright fierce femininity. Whenever she came on screen, it felt like something between edgy performance art and a civil rights protest.

In one particular Batman episode titled “Catwoman’s Dressed to Kill,” the character infiltrates a posh luncheon ceremony filled with white socialites, ready to give Batgirl an award for being the best dressed crime fighter. But Catwoman ain’t having it.

Gesturing to the table of white female socialites, she hisses “You ladies, with your fancy hairdos, what do you know about beauty?” before throwing dust that explodes and turns their hair into afros.” It was a pretty radical way to comment on white-leaning beauty standards, if you ask me.

Before Eartha, the role was played by the famously “statuesque” Julie Newmar. And though Newmar gave a wonderfully wistful, slinky innocence to the role, there is something about Kitt’s portrayal that feels more pivotal. More important.

Like Newmar, Kitt definitely had sex appeal, but in a way that empowered other Black women to see themselves in the same light.

Jamie Broadnax:

“Eartha Kitt molded Catwoman into a sex symbol, which was certainly appealing for the time. She served a purpose of being a beautiful antagonist for Batman, while Batman was conflicted himself with her beauty and was enamored by it. Eartha Kitt also allowed Black women like me to see themselves reflected in TV shows (especially genre TV shows) that allowed us to believe that we, too, can be Catwoman. It’s also because of Kitt’s Catwoman that many Black women felt comfortable cosplaying as the character.“

Fast forward to 2022, and now Zoë Kravitz is getting acclaim for her equally striking version of Selina Kyle. Everyone from Taylor Swift to OG Catwomans (Catwomen?) Halle Berry, Anne Hathaway and Michelle Pfieffer have sent their heartfelt praises.

This Catwoman is sexually fluid, stealthy AF, resourceful and cunning, with charisma and depth. Like Kitt before her, Kravitz offers an emotional equal to Robert Pattinson’s Batman. It makes for some fantastic viewing, even to those who could care less about The Batman and his conquests.

Broadnax adds:

“She’s fully fleshed out and gives proper motive for her actions in a way we haven’t seen before. By that I mean, she’s not a self-serving anti-hero as depicted in other films, but instead is more of a heroine to those close within her sphere of influence.”

This might seem like a small feat for Kravitz, who is no stranger to producing great work. But keep in mind: Even an A-list, award-winning actress like Kravitz, born into celebrity, still faces obstacles because of the color of her skin.

In an interview with The Guardian, Kravitz revealed that she had previously been refused a chance to audition for a role in “The Dark Knight Rises” for being too “urban.”

Previously, sources thought Kravitz wasn’t allowed to audition for the role of Catwoman (which went to Anne Hathaway). That has since been proven untrue, but even if it were, considering that Catwoman only appeared for a total of 19 minutes in “The Dark Knight Rises,” I’d say it was a blessing in disguise.

Taking the blatant racism aside, as a comic book nerd, this is just mind-boggling. Have you seen Gotham? That’s about as urban as it gets. But I digress. It’s an insidious and ugly word that Hollywood has been allowed to hide behind for far too long. Plain and simple.

Kravitz added, “Being a woman of color and being an actor and being told at that time that I wasn’t able to read because of the color of my skin, and the word urban being thrown around like that, that was what was really hard about that moment.”

For Kravitz to not only play the role, but to shine in it, helps other Black women see that times are changing. Not saying they’re changing fast enough, but still. Once again Catwoman has become a role model for confidence and power. For those who are often lacking positive representation, this can be vital.

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What will be next for Catwoman? The future is still unwritten. Broadnax and I both agreed that when it comes to Kravitz, we’re hoping for a standalone series. But either way, because of the courage of trailblazing performers, Catwoman will be forever changed. She may be considered a nemesis to Batman, but when it comes to Black feminism, she’s a hero.

By the way, if you’d like to see Jamie Broadnax’s full review on “The Batman,” you’re in luck! That can be found here.

It looks like another GOP member is realizing that a friendship with a twice-impeached president who’s now running a defunct social media company isn’t worth committing treason over.

Representative Mo Brooks, who’s currently gearing up for his Senate race in Alabama, lost the endorsement of his good friend, former President Donald Trump this week after Trump accused him of being too “woke.” The disgraced ex-president withdrew his support, issuing a statement that scolded Brooks for abandoning the “Stop The Steal” effort. Brooks was a big proponent of Trump’s voter fraud claims, even attending the Jan. 6th rally in Washington, D.C. but he’s since pivoted his messaging, encouraging voters to put the loss behind them and focus on upcoming elections — something that apparently pissed Trump off enough to cut ties with his former ally.

“Mo Brooks of Alabama made a horrible mistake recently when he went ‘woke’ and stated, referring to the 2020 Presidential Election Scam, ‘Put that behind you, put that behind you,’ despite the fact that the election was rife with fraud and irregularities,” Trump said before promising he’d endorse a new candidate soon.

In response, Brooks made some shocking allegations of his own, including a damning story about the length Trump was willing to go to when it came to winning the 2020 Presidential Election. Brooks claimed that Trump, encouraged by Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell, pressured Brooks to interfere with the electoral process in a way he deemed unconstitutional.

“President Trump asked me to rescind the 2020 elections, immediately remove Joe Biden from the White House, immediately put President Trump back in the White House, and hold a new special election for the presidency,” Brooks said. “As a lawyer, I’ve repeatedly advised President Trump that January 6 was the final election contest verdict and neither the U.S. Constitution nor the U.S. Code permit what President Trump asks. Period.”

So, why is all of this Republican infighting important? Apparently, some D.C. insiders think the riff between Brooks and Trump could be beneficial for the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, calling the Rep a “star witness” in the case.

Our only question: how many burned bridges does it take to land an ex-president in jail for treason?

(Via Washington Post / RawStory)

Gran Turismo 7 is considered, as far as car simulations go, an excellent game. It does the job of allowing players the opportunity to drive a car with a relative amount of realism well and gives them a great PlayStation exclusive experience. It also has a gorgeous look to it that shows the power of a console like the PlayStation 5. The problem is that most of the actual game part of it has been ignored due to two main issues: most of the gameplay must be done online and it is plagued with microtransactions.

Since the game is mostly online, players can’t play the game anytime there is an extended hiccup in the servers. So, just as a “hypothetical” if PlayStation Network had an issue where players couldn’t connect because of a possible glitch in the most recent update, they would not be able to play GT7. If this was the only issue then, while annoying, players would simply push on if they liked the game enough. However, with the constant microtransactions, players have gotten even more frustrated with the latest installment of the Gran Turismo franchise.

The microtransactions for this game are arguably out of control. Some of the higher-end cars cost literally millions of credits with many of the lower end cars still in the hundred thousand range. There are two ways players can reach this. Grind it out, or spend money on credits so they can skip ahead and get the car they want. For some quick conversions, the lowest credits pack available on the PlayStation Store right now is $2.50 for 100,000 credits. The most expensive car in the game, the Ford Mark IV Race Car ’67, costs 4.6 million credits. That converts to just under $46 in price, for a fake video game car.

Unsurprisingly, many players frustrated by GT7 are looking for ways to get credits faster without having to spend the price of a video game itself on cars. They appear to have found an exploit that allows the player to quite literally walk away from their PlayStation 5 and let it collect credits for them. (H/t Kotaku)

An exploit like this may sound like it’s taking out the fun of earning a car on the player’s own, but the game as of right now is set up to force the player into spending money on credits or have an unnecessarily long grinding period. This was only compounded when Patch 1.07 went through, which reduced payouts, making it even more difficult for players to grind out credits the old fashion way. This patch also happened to have an error that led to the game’s servers being taken down for over 24 hours. This meant that nobody could play their game because of the error.

The developers of Gran Turismo 7 apologized to players and explained the situation in a blog post. They also doubled down on the cost of the cars and microtransactions.

In GT7 I would like to have users enjoy lots of cars and races even without microtransactions. At the same time the pricing of cars is an important element that conveys their value and rarity, so I do think it’s important for it to be linked with the real world prices. I want to make GT7 a game in which you can enjoy a variety of cars lots of different ways, and if possible would like to try to avoid a situation where a player must mechanically keep replaying certain events over and over again.

We will in time let you know the update plans for additional content, additional race events and additional features that will constructively resolve this. It pains me that I can’t explain the details regarding this at this moment, but we plan on continuing to revise GT7 so that as many players as possible can enjoy the game. We would really appreciate it if everyone could watch over the growth of Gran Turismo 7 from a somewhat longer term point of view.

On one hand, it’s understandable why the developers of Gran Turismo 7 don’t want players to collect all the cars and stop having reason to play their game after two months. This is a game that’s been designed for players to play over the course of years. Since this is a game that’s always going to be online, and the blog post implies future updates are on the way, we need to look at GT7 as a live service game. A live service game is fun for the player when they’re able to play it for months if not years, not put it down after 20 hours.

However, even after looking through that lens, it’s hard to not look at every decision that has been made to the game so far and see it as making everything more difficult for the player. When players get frustrated they look for shortcuts. Exploits like this one are going to keep happening and it’s up to the devs of GT7 to decide if they’re okay with that, if they’re going to push back against it, or if they’re going to relent and reduce prices.

Despite going up against an enormous number of new/popular original series/movies (your Ozarks, your Bad Vegans, your Adam Projects), Netflix‘s latest reality series Is It Cake? has already smashed into the number one spot in the platform’s Most Viewed category. Hosted by Saturday Night Live castmember Mikey Day, the baking show based on the viral meme tasks contestants with making intensely realistic objects out of, you guessed it, cake. Apparently, viewers can’t get enough of it.

Via The Independent:

The reality series, in which contestants bake cakes disguised as everyday objects, was inspired by a popular internet meme from last year. Is It Cake? is hosted by Mikey Day, and currently ranks as the most watched programme on Netflix’s daily rankings in the US. In the UK, the series sits in second place at time of writing (23 March).

After learning that a show based on a meme is dominating Netflix, the reactions started pouring in on social media, where people — lots of them — couldn’t get over the show’s ridiculous premise being a hit. Although, they’re not exactly pretending not to be here for it either.

“Watching Mikey Day wield a knife like a maniac is the exact nonsense I wanted and expected from this show – 10/10,” tweeted a new fan of the show.

“There’s a show on Netflix called “is it cake?” and it’s literally just people guessing if things are cake or not,” tweeted another viewer. “This is the perfect show for where I am two years into the pandemic.”

You can see more reactions to Is It Cake? below:

Is It Cake? is currently streaming on Netflix. The show itself is not cake. Probably.

(Via The Independent)

Atlanta rapper Deante Hitchcock is preparing to release his second album this year after dropping the Valentine’s Day-themed EP, Every Day The 14th, a month ago. To get the campaign started, he shared the first single from the upcoming project, “Alone.” A heartbroken rap ballad, the song features production by Brandon Phillips-Taylor, who crafts a Latin guitar-laden backdrop over which Hitchcock reflects on a failed relationship, deciding that maybe he’s better off alone than with the woman who won’t reciprocate his feelings.

The Clayton County native has been lying relatively low over the past year after making a splashy, impressive debut with Better in May 2020. After dropping both a deluxe version and a live version of the album, he spent much of 2021 releasing discrete freestyles over fan-favorite beats like SpotemGottem’s “Beat Box,” Drake’s “What’s Next,” and Outkast’s “Roses.” He also appeared on a remix of Spillage Village’s Spilligion single “Baptized” along with IDK and Flatbush Zombies, then contributed a verse to “Georgan Favors” from the deluxe version of Isiaiah Rashad’s well-received 2021 album The House Is Burning.

Although it’s been a while since his last proper release, Every Day The 14th helped to kick start his momentum for 2022, and with another album on the way, he looks to build on his breakout year.

Listen to Deante Hitchcock’s new single “Alone” below.

Kristen Stewart was nominated for her first Academy Award for playing Princess Diana in Spencer. Maybe she can get nominated for her second (or third, if her “gay ghost-hunting” reality series gets adapted into a feature-length film) Oscar for another biopic, this time as pop-punk legend Avril Lavigne. Is it any crazier than Rami Malek slapping on some fake Freddie Mercury teeth and winning for Bohemian Rhapsody?

While walking the red carpet before the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards, Lavigne was asked who she would want to play her in a movie about her life. The “Complicated” singer took a long pause to think about it before answering. “Like Kristen Stewart would be cool to play me in a film,” she said. “She’s dope, yeah.” At the very least, Stewart needs to be in the “Sk8er Boi” movie. It couldn’t be any more obvious.

“I love how much people still really bring that song up,” Lavigne told us about the legacy of “Sk8er Boi.” “I love how warmly everybody still feels toward it. It’s a really special thing, and unique, to have a song that really stands out. I have a lot of big songs, but that one, everyone seems to resonate with. It’s taken on… it’s insane to see a whole new generation discovering music of mine twenty years later. It’s pretty unbelievable.”

(Via Paper Mag)

Jon Stewart’s making the rounds lately while discussing his semi-weekly topical Apple TV+ show, The Problem With Jon Stewart. The satirist, naturally, included a visit to speak with Howard Stern, which has led to much venting about hypocritical TV news chiefs and random subjects like who he admires in the business. In doing so, Stewart addressed his friendship with Pete Davidson, but above, he discussed the ongoing careers of fellow The Daily Show alums John Oliver and Stephen Colbert. Naturally, Stewart expressed admiration for both of them, but in the case of Oliver, things are staying very familiar (in a literal sense).

Oliver, who (it must be noted) will hopefully be very excited to once again describe Bridgerton soon, is apparently a favorite among the Stewart kids:

“I’ll come downstairs, and my daughter will be watching John Oliver. I’m like, ‘Holy sh*t, Oliver is raising my children. This is awesome!’”

Stern, of course, decided to get punch by asking of Stewart is “envious” of Oliver and Colbert’s successes on late-night TV, and Jon was like nah. “I don’t have regret or envy or any of those things because I’m astonished at how well sh*t has worked out for me,” he responded. “I never had that sense that someone else’s success is to the detriment of mine. It leads to such bitterness.” Further, “I’ve always felt that everybody’s success expands opportunity for you or for anybody.”

Wise words. Stewart also had good things to say about his pal Pete Davidson. “He’s just a kid trying to live his life. He’s one of my favourite people.” In a possible allusion to the Kanye mess, Stewart added, “I think he’s doing as best he can in that situation, when you’re dealing with something that’s so explosive and loaded with all kinds of other things.” Yup, Pete is holding his own in what can only be described as a very strange situation.

Omar Apollo turned some eyeballs in his direction with his 2020 debut full-length project Apolonio, and now he’s getting ready to generate even more attention with Ivory, a new album that’s set to drop in early April. Fans have actually already heard a decent portion of the album, as Apollo has now shared five singles from it. That includes the new one from today, “Tamagotchi.”

If the production style of this one sounds familiar, that because The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo) produced the song. On the smooth and sensual tune, sung in both English and Spanish, Apollo sings, “You with somebody, or are you cool? / I want your body, you want me too / I see you coming, I come for you / Need you around me, I know you do.”

Preceding “Tamagotchi” as Ivory singles are “Go Away,” “Bad Life,” “Invincible,” and “Killing Me.” Speaking of “Killing Me,” Apollo actually performed the track on The Tonight Show on March 11, the day of its release. He’s also got tour dates coming up this spring and summer.

Listen to “Tamagotchi” above.

Ivory is out 4/8 via Warner Records. Pre-order it here.

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

For better or worse, Nicki Minaj has developed a reputation for living up to her married name, being extra petty when it comes to getting credit and attention in the rap game. While it’s likely at least some of that rep derives more from her overprotective fans lashing out at anyone they perceive as a threat, she’s still worked pretty hard in recent years to undo some of the damage.

After nearly a decade of declining collaborations with her fellow women in rap, she’s worked with newer rappers like Doja Cat and Coi Leray (although the Leray one was almost derailed by Nicki’s ego), with a Latto collab rumored to be releasing soon, as well.

However, that doesn’t mean she appreciates being compared and contrasted to the modern generation of women currently running rap — a generation that includes assumed rival Cardi B, City Girls (who, to be fair, dissed her first), and Megan Thee Stallion. Case in point, she recently tweeted a screenshot of an article praising her, but edited a line mentioning some of her collaborators and frenemies by scratching out their names. In its unedited form on HotNewHipHop, the line reads, “Despite the welcomed contributions of women like Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion City Girls, and Doja Cat over the past few years, female rap still feels incomplete without Nicki Minaj’s presence and output, and that alone illustrates how important she is to Hip-Hop, as a genre, and as a culture.”

The cryptic nature of the edits, presented without comment by Nicki, prompted fans to immediately begin speculating, with results polarized between affirming Nicki’s perceived penchant for drama and crediting her for trying not to draw focus, since her watchdog-like Barbz could perceive even the mention of other female rappers as a slight against their Queen.

Whatever her reason for crossing the names out, it’s a fair bet to say she knew that the move would stir up controversy — which, to be fair, may have been the point of the whole exercise. People are certainly talking about Nicki, something we know she enjoys, and if she really is dropping a new collab with Latto in a few days, the move will certainly result in more eyes on the collab, as well as “Blick Blick,” her recent one with Coi Leray.