Opinion – Colleen Ballinger’s apology is a grim blur of comedy and consent
The former YouTube star Colleen Ballinger has faced allegations of grooming and abuse. Her bizarre response to these claims highlights the morbid meme-fication of almost everything. Colleen Ballinger isn’t a name many will recognise. Perhaps the character that made her famous, Miranda Sings, will stir memories for those in their...
Current in Culture
Opinion – U-turn on festival drug testing is a step backward
Young people are facing higher risks at UK festivals, as the government makes organisers jump through hoops to provide basic on-site drug testing. The Loop, a UK drug-testing charity, has been a mainstay of British festivals in recent years. Parklife festival, in Manchester, has provided drug-testing to attendees via The Loop...
Hollywood shuts down for the first time in six decades
A mega-strike involving writers and performers demanding better pay and increased safeguarding around AI rights is likely to grind to a halt the production of most movies and many popular television shows. Swapping the red carpet for the picket lines, Hollywood actors are going on strike after negotiations between studio...
Why is the return of classic Smosh a big deal?
Last week, Smosh’s co-founders Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla purchased the company from owners Rhett and Link. It’s the first time the two have had complete creative control since 2011. Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla have announced their acquisition of Smosh, a comedy YouTube channel and brand they first founded...
Do ad agencies need to disclose the use of AI in online campaigns?
As AI photo creation tools like Midjourney become more advanced and widely used, the world’s largest advertising agency Ogilvy is encouraging marketing companies to explicitly state when they are used in social media campaigns. The advent and rapidly improving capabilities of AI image generators such as Midjourney have sparked both...
Opinion – Swift relationship criticism shows unfair expectations of women
The backlash against Swift’s alleged coupling with Matty Healy demonstrated how women are often viewed as extensions of their partners. Taylor Swift has long been in the public eye for reasons beyond her illustrious music career. In fact, fascination with Swift’s love life has arguably been as instrumental in her...
Opinion – Mizzy’s rise sets a dangerous precedent for young creators
Meet Mizzy, the epitome of chasing attention and clout at all costs. His illegal ‘prankster’ antics have garnered a cult-like following online and ignited concern that aspiring creators may follow his blueprint. ‘Hate brings likes, hate brings views,’ says 18-year-old Bacari-Bronze O’Garro, aka Mizzy. Like millions of youngsters, Mizzy has shunned the idea of a conventional career in favour of chasing the influencer dream. Achieving social media stardom is harder than...
Paul McCartney says a new AI Beatles record is on the way
It seems we’ll be hearing a new Beatles record later this year. Paul McCartney has confirmed via BBC Radio 4 that he used AI to pull John Lennon’s vocals from a previously recorded demo. Legendary songwriter Paul McCartney says a new Beatles song is scheduled for release later this year. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today, McCartney explained that artificial intelligence was used to pull John Lennon’s vocals from an...
Could music be contributing to a toxic work environment?
A US federal court is allowing a lawsuit brought forward by warehouse workers who say their workplace has become ‘more hostile’ as a direct result of music. Could our favourite artists be causing problems in our offices? Raunchy, explicit, or misogynistic music could be an illegal workplace practice, a US appeals court has said. Eight former employees of S&S Activewear in Nevada have been allowed to move forward with a...
Designer Gyuhan Lee upcycles McDonald’s bags into lamps
These nongreasy upcycled lamps were made from McDonald’s paper bags by Gyuhan Lee. They’re a fun example of how packaging and waste can be repurposed to become useful decoration. Fancy yourself a midnight snack? Craving the golden arches of fast food convenience? Single-use packaging could be worth more than you think, even after it’s been used to store burgers and fries. Korean designer Gyuhan Lee is known for his sculptures...
