A brief overview of what is currently trending on on X in news, culture, and/or trending hashtags and formats.
🦃 Thanksgiving: Well folks, it's that time of year again. Tomorrow marks the day we give thanks to those we love & gather 'round for a feast. Users on X are sharing cooking tips, talking holiday travel, & predicting who'll be bumped from the kids table.
🛍️ Black Friday: Thanksgiving doesn't exist without our favorite shopping occasion. Some X users are sharing deals while others claim they'll be boycotting it all together. The main gripe is the lackluster sales. For others, it's about politics.
😱 Scream 7: Everyone is talking about 'Scream VII ' star Melissa Barrera who has been dropped from the film following posts about the Israel-Hamas war. Production company Spyglass Media Group said it has "zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form." Die-hard fans are upset while others argue the decision was just. The director of the project Christopher Landon posted a statement on X that was deleted expressing that it was not his decision.
A deeper dive into a subject that is impacting culture on a macro level, beyond just the social space.
👑🩷 Who’s That Wonderful Girl? Could She Be Any Cuter? 🎀✨
What it is: Mona, the puppet of “Nanalan’,” an old Canadian children’s show, has found a new audience on TikTok. The clip that's gone viral shows Mona entering a room dressed in princess regalia while her grandmother, Nana, welcomes her by song. The first use of this now popular meme format was posted in mid-October with 9.5 million views & a relatable caption, “When the clothes you ordered arrive and you treat the family to a fashion show.” Various iterations have emerged from TikTok users and brands alike, taking their own approach to Mona. Some examples include "me hyping my dog up every time she walks in a room" or "my man being extra nice when I'm on my period because he's actually scared." Brands have even taken a stab like GirlBoss, Laneige, Flo, Subway Surfers, & Quizlet.
What brands can learn: Brands, Mona & Nana are undeniably iconic. Children’s content works so well because it’s made in earnest for kids, but parents end up watching alongside and can end up finding relatability for themselves. Paired with a whimsical tune and simple lyrics, this moment is the perfect soundtrack to commentary on so many moments in the day to day. Given that the sound & characters are from Nanalan’ it may be best to reach out to them via TikTok or YouTube for audiovisual permissions.
Examples: 1, 2, 3
Must-click links that crossed our feeds today
🦾 OpenAI hits 'undo.' He’s baaaaaaaaaaack. Less than 5 days after his shocking leave, Sam Altman is set to return to OpenAI as its CEO.
👀 The mystery of Banksy’s identity may have finally been cracked — The BBC has strong evidence that his name is Robert “Robbie” Banks.
🍸 Celebs are hopping on the gin bandwagon. Following Ryan Reynolds’ success with Aviation Gin, stars like Woody Harrelson, Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, & Emma Watson are all cashing in.
🗞️ Print is back baby. NYLON magazine will be re-launching physical copies for the first time since 2017. This new lease on life for print stems from digital fatigue as many readers want the real thing.
What to watch and what to listen to this weekend
Watching:
Napoleon ft. Joaquin Phoenix - Theaters, 11.22
Genie ft. Melissa McCarthy - Peacock, 11.22
Good Burger 2 ft. Kenan & Kel - Paramount+, 11.22
Squid Game: The Challenge - Netflix, 11.22
Faraway Downs ft. Nicole Kidman & Hugh Jackman - Hulu, 11.26
Listen
New Blue Sun - André 3000
Rockstar - Dolly Parton
Random Access Memories - Daft Punk
Walk Around the Moon - Dave Matthews Band
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