Should celebrities speak out on politics?
Jennifer Lawrence says speaking out against Trump would ‘add fuel to a fire’ ripping America apart. As political binaries continue to sharpen, should those in the public eye take sides? The question of whether famous people should be politically outspoken is a complex one. I’ve argued with friends and family...
Current in Media
Coca-Cola misses the mark with AI-generated Christmas ad again
After last year’s debacle, Coca-Cola has doubled down on its use of generative AI for its annually anticipated Christmas ad. The public reaction is even worse this time around. ‘Tis the season, it’s always the real thing’… except for when it’s not. Halloween is officially over, and Guy Fawkes Night will...
Opinion – TV’s serial killer continuum has stooped to new lows
When themes are explored and executed this tenuously, can we finally admit that TV’s fascination with serial killers is carried by morbid curiosity and nothing more sophisticated than that? Our minds are in the gutter, let’s just admit it. We can pretend the modern obsession with the macabre is about something...
How responsible should artists be over their content?
Lily Allen’s new album ‘West End Girl’ is an honest account of her separation from David Harbour. She references infidelity in extremely raw, authentic detail, and an inevitable online backlash has ensued. Do artists have any responsibility for the effects their work will have on those they reference? ‘West End...
Opinion – the reinvention of Taylor Swift is totally unrelatable
Apart from the fact that TLS lacks the endearing country innocence of her first albums, the artful yet poppy lyricism of her mid-career work, and the surrounding celebrity/poetic wannabe characterisation of her more recent releases, it’s just bad. But the biggest mistake Swift has made in painting herself as...
Opinion – Sabrina Carpenter is the opposite of submissive
Sabrina Carpenter began to receive criticism for her most recent album before it was even released in full, many people taking umbrage with her ‘submissive’ pose in the cover art. But is Sabrina catering to the male gaze, or is she turning round to stare right back, and to...
What’s going on between Taylor Swift and Charli XCX?
Taylor Swift and Charli XCX have been making headlines this week for a supposed ‘beef’ on both last year’s ‘Brat’ and the latest release of ‘The Life of a Showgirl.’ A Caucasian altercation is currently brewing in the pop sphere, if the rumours and fan theories are to be believed. Taylor Swift and Charli XCX have been making headlines this week for a supposed feud stemming back several years. With the...
Opinion – We’re lucky to have artists like Lola Young
The singer’s openness about mental health has made her a Gen Z icon. As she cancels upcoming shows to focus on her wellbeing, Lola Young’s refreshing self-preservation is a gift for all of us. Lola Young was a relatively unknown singer from South London only two years ago. The 24-year-old finally found widespread fame in 2024 when her sleeper hit ‘Messy’ took off on TikTok. Almost overnight, Young was a...
AI actress Tilly Norwood is causing a significant stir in Hollywood
Several talent agencies are genuinely interested in Tilly Norwood, an AI actress recently created and unveiled by the world’s first ‘AI talent studio’ Xicoia. The pushback from Hollywood has been significant. Hollywood and controversy go together like popcorn and butter, but this latest palaver is wholly unique – in that it centres on an AI-generated actress. Tilly Norwood is the name of the curated code that appears a lot like a...
Opinion – the Ryder Cup abuse is a symptom of escalating US tension
The Ryder Cup golf tournament last weekend in New York was plagued by poor crowd etiquette and aggressive behaviour, prompting McIlroy to publicly comment on the abuse. Such upset is indicative of the escalating nature of US rhetoric across nearly every facet of daily life, from politics to sport, with no clear end in sight. Europe managed to seize victory in the Ryder Cup last weekend, holding onto a...
