Latest Stories from Flo
Are brands crossing a line in the pursuit of relevance?
The widespread mocking of Gary Barlow’s son proves that virality alone should not equate marketability. Oh boy, does the internet love a spectacle. Over the past week, a photograph of Gary Barlow’s son, Daniel, towering above his dad, went viral. The memes arrived shortly after, and overnight Daniel became a punchline feeding the algorithm’s endless appetite. Like most social media trends nowadays, viral content is a bit of an open season...
How realistic is Keir Starmer’s COP29 pledge?
The Prime Minister’s goals may be loud, but is anyone listening? Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s commitment for the UK to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 81% by 2035 at the COP29 climate summit has been hailed by some as a brave push for climate leadership. The pledge is marginally more ambitious than the current target of a 78% reduction measured against 1990 levels and aligns with recommendations from Britain’s climate...
What is the 4B movement?
The phenomenon is gaining traction in the US after emerging in South Korea. The 4B movement is a bold refusal. In South Korea, a country where dating violence, revenge porn, and a stubborn gender wage gap are everyday realities, women are stepping away from marriage (bihon), childbirth (bichulsan), romance (biyeonae), and sexual relationships (bisekseu) as an act of defiance against deeply ingrained societal norms. The movement calls out the patriarchy with...
The Film and TV industry reckons with its own shortcomings
Reports of staff abuse and toxic work environments, particularly amongst Runners, are forcing industry regulators to face uncomfortable truths. The film and TV industry is often sold as a world of glitz and glamour, a pipeline to the stars where creativity reigns and dreams come true. But for the runners – entry-level staff usually overworked and under-paid work – this is often far from reality. After actor Richard E. Grant recently spoke...
Death of Ella Kissi-Debrah leads to government settlement
As the first person to have air pollution linked to their death, Kiss-Debrah’s death marks a turning point for greener legislation. In a landmark decision, the UK government has agreed to compensate Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, mother of Ella Kissi-Debrah, who died after a fatal asthma attack in 2013. Ella’s death certificate, for the first time in British history, listed air pollution as a cause of death, an acknowledgment that has sent ripples...
Is film tourism now becoming a problem?
Movie fans are flocking to locations ill-equipped to handle them. Film and TV locations have drawn people from around the world for years. From the misty mountains of New Zealand’s ‘Middle Earth’ to Croatia’s mediaeval Old Towns featured in Game of Thrones. But the global pilgrimage of fans has started to feel less like harmless fun and more like a relentless invasion of spaces that were never designed to handle the...
A guide on how to waste less this Halloween
The scariest thing about spooky season might just be its impact on the planet. It’s that time of year again – the air is crisp and the days are shorter, signalling a return to Halloween’s many rituals: pumpkin carving, costume shopping, and houses haunted by single-use plastic. While Halloween may have a knack for seasonal delight, it also leaves behind a rather sinister legacy: a staggering 83% of Halloween costumes are made...
Chappell Roan’s merch highlights the true cost of fashion
The singer has faced backlash for high prices, but sustainable clothing comes at a cost. Chappell Roan has established herself as a no-holds-barred, unapologetic breed of celebrity. Despite being only 26-years-old, the singer has made headlines for speaking out against harassment and candidly sharing her struggles with mental health and fame. This kind of boldness isn’t without consequences, of course. The media have jumped on Roan relentlessly since she entered...
Is Elon Musk really allowed to pay voters?
The tech billionaire has planted himself at the center of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, and not without controversy. With the 2024 presidential election just weeks away, Elon Musk has established himself as a key supporter of Republican nominee Donald Trump. From a rambling conversation between the two, streamed on Musk’s platform X, to an appearance at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the billionaire is on a mission to secure...
How far are we from a car-free Oxford Street?
Is Sadiq Khan pinning his legacy hopes on the capital’s most famous street? As Keir Starmer’s government prepares to share their new budget, speculation has been swirling around potential investment in London’s infrastructure –and with it, the mayor’s vision for a car-free Oxford Street has come back into focus. For years, London’s busiest shopping street has been stuck in a battle between modernisation and inertia. But now, with Khan reportedly planning...
