How Tory Lanez case demonstrates Hollywood’s misogyny
Rapper Tory Lanez has been found guilty of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot. But angered responses from Lanez’ fans – and the demonisation of Stallion – highlight Hollywood’s persistent issue with successful Black women. Since the summer of 2020, rapper Megan Thee Stallion has claimed Tory Lanez shot...
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Has health guidance gone a tad too far?
In the last few days, Britain’s Food Standards Agency has compared being around cake in the office to passive smoking. The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction has concluded that no amount of alcohol is safe. Yes, our wellbeing is important, but can’t we have fun anymore? Barely a...
Study shows most musicians can’t afford equipment
New research by charity Help Musicians says that over 90% of all musicians can no longer afford equipment to perform live shows. Being a musician is a tough ordeal in the age of streaming. Most consumers aren’t buying CDs or vinyl, with touring and merchandise usually serving as the...
How gaslighting became our word of the year in 2022
Gaslighting — defined as a particular kind of deception and psychological manipulation that causes you to question your own reality. It has been chosen by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as 2022’s word of the year, following ‘a 1740% increase’ in searches. The word itself arises from the 1938 thriller play...
Why Megan Thee Stallion is more than just her milestones
After becoming the first Black woman to cover Forbes’ 30 under 30, the rapper is using her success as a foundation for important conversations that go beyond race. Megan Thee Stallion is on a winning streak that shows no signs of slowing. Since releasing her first single in 2016, the Texas-born...
France’s César film awards take stand against sexual violence
Movie stars and other members of the industry convicted of or facing possible prison time for sexual violence are being banned from the French Oscars ‘out of respect for the victims.’ Every year, when awards season rolls around, the world turns its attention to the glamorous red carpet looks,...
Pallet ‘pop up’ shelters used to help combat homelessness
What if you could build a house in less than an hour? The US company Pallet has created a shelter that does just that in an effort to fight homelessness. It can be a huge task building homes. Planning, construction, and plumbing can take months and even years, with sizeable costs and materials required before you can start. These nifty temporary shelters from Pallet skip all of those obstacles, however,...
Milan Design Week showcases innovative biofilm breakthrough
At the world’s most important design event, Dutch designer Lionne van Deursen presented an innovative biofilm made from yeast. The eco-material could one day replace pesky plastic films that are notoriously difficult to recycle. Phasing out plastics is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century. With 9 billion tons of the stuff produced over the last seventy years, we’ve created a mess so difficult to eradicate that plastic can...
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, she is the most nominated artist overall in the 2023 line-up. The Pop-R&B singer is nominated in the most prestigious categories...
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 Yager and Ferrell Haile, ‘Senate Bill 1’ – also titled the ‘Protecting Children From Gender Mutilation Act’ – states that...
