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...
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Saatchi Gallery’s new exhibition spotlights Black visionaries
The New Black Vanguard features photographers Campbell Addy and Tyler Mitchell, spotlighting Black visionaries at the intersection of art and fashion. The Saatchi Gallery’s latest show, ‘The New Black Vanguard’, is – as its name would suggest – a celebration of Blackness. Photographer Campbell Addy, whose work features in the exhibit...
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...
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...
Opinion – ‘Kim, there are people that are dying’ is a toxic mindset
The popular phrase has become a default when we – or others – complain about trivial things in our lives, but could this thought process be damaging? We live in the era of heightened global awareness, with the ability to know what’s going on in virtually any part of the...
Scooby-Doo writers finally confirm Velma is gay
After years of speculation, ‘Scooby-Doo’ has officially confirmed Velma is gay. If that news seems both obvious and overdue, that’s because it is. In the new straight-to-TV film ‘Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo’ – the thirty-fourth of the series – show runners decided to give fans what they’ve been waiting for. A now viral...
Caleb McLaughlin opens up about racist ‘Stranger Things’ fans
McLaughlin’s experience proves one thing: that whether young, old, or wildly successful, even those who seem untouchable still face racism. We’re all guilty of mystifying Hollywood stars. We immortalise them, so much so that the death of a mainstream actor feels like the loss of a loved one. Their wealth feels untouchable – their fame endless. Of all celebrities, perhaps none are more beguiling than the child star. The ability to achieve...
Student wins design prize for microplastic collecting robot fish
A student at the University of Surrey has designed a robot fish capable of filtering waterways to collect microplastics. The digital code is open source too, so anyone with access to a 3D printer can create their own. Microplastics are an ecological menace that have only really entered global discourse in the last few years. Making up close to 92% of the estimated 5.25 trillion plastic objects floating on the...
Meg Thee Stallion launches mental health platform
The program, called ‘Bad Bitches Have Bad Days Too’ provides an expanse of resources for therapy services and mental health helplines. It also showcases organisations offering advice for Black and LGBTQ+ communities, with the hope of improving access to mental health care and removing the stigma around asking for help. Houston rapper and Grammy-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion practically invented the popular phrase ‘hot girl summer,’ which encouraged women everywhere...
Why is queerbaiting often a misunderstood term?
From Noah Schnapp to Madonna, accusations of ‘queerbaiting’ have been the source of controversy and debate across social media, but the term has often been misunderstood and misused. Just last week, Heartstopper star Kit Connor deleted Twitter after accusations that he had been ‘queerbaiting’ by playing a bisexual character in the popular Netflix show. Pictures of Connor holding hands with his co-star in the upcoming film, A Cuban Girl’s Guide to...
