Diggs: Stefon Diggs has been traded from the Buffalo Bills to the Texans. Fans of both teams and casual NFL watchers are reacting online to the news with speculation about the upcoming season
Malachi Flynn: The Pistons reserve got off the bench and had a 50 point night. Huge moment for Detroit fans and a feel-good moment for NBA fans online.
Silver Surfer: Julia Garner has been cast as a female Silver Surfer in the MCU's upcoming Fantastic Four. Fans of the comics, actress, and cinematic universe are all weighing in on the casting news.
The Normalization of Cam Rips
What it is: Studios have borderline given up on fighting piracy. When everyone has a phone and filming a movie in theatres for laughs on TikTok or X is normalized, we've seen movie moments go viral in meme form across platforms. The result sees a spike in curiosity and the box office starts to curve upward as conversation grows around these movies. This has happened several times in the last few months: from Madame Web to Dune to Godzilla & Kong. As more and more users spin their take on a funny moment, users come to the comments to express interest in the film. The out-of-context dissonance of the meme also leans into the absurd humor of the internet. It drives a sense of FOMO, that you must see the moment yourself to understand the context and be in on the joke.
What brands can learn: Piracy is nothing new, but with social at everyone's fingertips, it proliferates among normies much more quickly. Many brands have taken to letting this be a guerilla marketing tactic. If people have fun and interest increases, it can outweigh the harm of your movie's moments leaking onto the interwebs. It also saves the time and energy that fighting copyright violations takes. We've seen similar brand behaviors outside the media industry, with brands like McDonald's simply letting the Grimace Shake trend take off on TikTok instead of fighting the weird implications that it was a poisonous product. At some point, brands have to wonder: is it more harmful to be the party pooper? Is it worth letting users have fun with your brand or product online?
So Lizzo...didn't quit music? 🎶
Grey's Anatomy has been renewed for season 21. It is now old enough to drink. 🥴
🚨Spoiler Alert 🚨 Some of the best final lines in cinema history 🎬🎞️
🎧 Listen: The Hidden Costs of Hair Braiding
Ripley - Netflix, Now Streaming
Girls State - Apple TV+, 4/5
Scoop - Netflix, 4/5
The First Omen - Theatres, 4/5
Monkey Man - Theatres, 4/5
Ohio Players - The Black Keys
Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade - The Libertines
Humble As The Sun - Bob Vylan
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