Opinion – idolising billionaire bosses is a risk to worker rights
A new, lengthy article by Rolling Stone has outlined Kanye’s culture of bullying, pornography, and emotional abuse at Adidas. Alongside Elon Musk’s chaotic Twitter takeover, it’s time we stopped idealising billionaire bosses and prioritised worker rights. Kanye West is back in the news again this week after Rolling Stone...
Current in Media
Will Grammy’s honour more diverse nominations this year?
The 2023 Grammy nominations honour artists Latto, Lizzo, and Beyonce. But when it comes to supplying the trophies, will the Recording Academy pay Black women artists their dues? Beyonce has just cemented her status as the most nominated artist in Grammy’s history, alongside partner Jay-Z. With nine nods this year,...
Right wing government in Tennessee attempts to criminalise drag
The GOP has felt the sting as they sit neck-and-neck with Democrats in the midterms. But blue victories haven’t stopped Republicans from introducing far-right state legislature. This week, Tennessee Republicans introduced two new bills that would ban gender-affirming care for children, along with public drag performances state-wide. Sponsored by Republicans Ken...
Trans woman Nikita Dragun was placed in a men’s prison
Despite identifying as a woman since her transition in 2015, Dragun’s arrest highlights continued transphobia and human-rights violations within the US prison system. On Monday, YouTube star Nikita Dragun was arrested and charged with felony assault of a police officer. The influencer was taken to a men’s prison in Miami and...
Opinion – do we really need Christmas adverts this year?
Festive favourite brands like John Lewis and Sainsbury’s are toning down their Christmas adverts as the cost of living crisis looms. But is seasonal marketing truly necessary this year? For years, the start of the festive adverts has signalled the beginning of Christmas. Like most seasonal traditions, the launch of the...
Magazine causes outrage with racist World Cup cartoon
A new cartoon by French magazine Le Canard enchainé has been decried for its racist depiction of Qatari footballers. It’s a prime example of football at its worst. A caricature published in le Canard enchainé has caused outrage on social media for its depiction of Qatari footballers as terrorists. The...
Opinion – ‘Queerbaiting’ creates unfair pressure on young celebrities
18-year-old actor Kit Connor announced he was bisexual this week, claiming that pressure from fans and the media had forced him out of the closet. Are we forcing celebrities out of the closet? It sounds like a bizarre question. Just a few years ago, being queer in the public eye was considered career ending. Now, fans of stars like Harry Styles and Taylor Swift are so desperate for their idols to...
Opinion – politicians should stop trying to be celebrities
Constant media coverage kickstarted the personalisation of politics, where leaders aren’t seen as representatives but more as ‘personalities’ that the public tries to know, relate to, and measure their own values against. Is this damaging? Yesterday, the wiser half of Britain collectively scoffed and eye-rolled after learning that its former health secretary Matt Hancock had signed up to star in the reality TV program, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out...
Kevin Spacey has won lawsuit against Anthony Rapp
The jury’s decision marks a difficult turning point in the #Metoo movement. This week, as a jury concluded actor Kevin Spacey was not guilty of molesting Anthony Rapp – an assault that Mr Rapp alleges took place when he was just 14 – Spacey dropped his head in relief. Hugging lawyers and others, Spacey said he was ‘deeply grateful’ for the court's decision. The lawsuit had been based on Anthony Rapp’s...
Alex Jones to pay $965 million USD for Sandy Hook defamation
Infowars founder and right-wing conspirator Alex Jones has been ordered to pay nearly $1 billion USD in damages to the families of Sandy Hook victims, after years of abuse and harassment from his followers. Right wing conspirator and commentator Alex Jones has been ordered to pay $965 million USD to the families of Sandy Hook victims. The verdict was read out on Wednesday in Waterbury, Connecticut, 20 miles from the...
