Quoteworthy
Spike Lee Apologizes for Defending Woody Allen: “My Words Were Wrong”
Over the weekend, Spike Lee took a slight, problematic detour amidst his press run for Da 5 Bloods. During an interview with New York’s WOR 710 radio (via The Playlist), the legendary filmmaker came to the defense of Woody Allen. “I’d just like to say Woody Allen is a great, great filmmaker, and this cancel thing is not just Woody,” Lee explained. “And I think that when we look back on it, we are going to see that — short of killing somebody — I don’t know if you can just erase somebody like they never existed.” He continued, “Woody is a friend of mine, a fellow Knick fan, and I know he’s going through it right now.” Editors’ Picks As expected, those thoughts warranted some major backlash online, and Lee has since released a statement on Twitter clarifying his position: “I Deeply Apo...
John Cleese Calls Removal of Fawlty Towers Episode That Uses N-Word “Stupid”
As a wave of media companies are pulling content that could be deemed offensively racist, the BBC-owned UKTV has removed a classic episode of the sitcom Fawlty Towers for its use of racial slurs. The show’s star and writer John Cleese has spoken out against the removal, saying executives trying “to hang onto their jobs” are “too stupid to see that” the episode was mocking the derogatory language, not supporting it. In the episode, entitled “The Germans”, Cleese’s Basil Fawlty has a conversation with Ballard Berkeley’s Major Gowen. The Major recalls a time he took a woman to a cricket game played by an Indian team, during which he uses racial epithets when referring to Indians (“w*gs”) and West Indians (“n*ggers”). While the episode is remembered fondly for its repetition of the phrase “don...
J.K. Rowling Pens Essay Defending Her Stance on Transgender People
J.K. Rowling, photo via Facebook J.K. Rowling is making headlines again for her views on transgender individuals and issues. After some of her actions on Twitter sparked backlash in December, she again drew claims of transphobia over the weekend when she tweeted that “erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives.” Daniel Radcliff, star of the Harry Potter franchise based on the author’s best-selling book series, denounced the remarks in an essay published on The Trevor Project. Earlier today, Fantastic Beasts star Eddie Redmayne also distanced himself from Rowling’s views, stating, “As someone who has worked with both J.K. Rowling and members of the trans community, I wanted to make it absolutely clear where I stand. I disagree with Jo’s c...
Keanu Reeves Previews The Matrix 4: It’s a “Really Special Story”
Almost two decades later, Keanu Reeves is set to reprise his role as Neo in the upcoming film The Matrix 4. While franchise actors sometimes stick around due to nostalgia or a fat paycheck, these weren’t Reeves’ reasons to return for the upcoming sequel. In a new interview, he said it was the script’s “wonderful story” that convinced him to join the Warner Bros. reboot. “Lana Wachowski wrote a beautiful script and a wonderful story that resonated with me,” Reeves explained to Empire. “That’s the only reason to do it. To work with her again is just amazing.” The 55-year-old actor also suggested The Matrix 4 plot could provide “meaningful” modern-day lessons to fans. “It’s been really special, and the story has, I think, some meaningful things to say, and that we can take some nourishm...
Daniel Radcliffe Addresses J.K. Rowling’s Transphobic Comments in New Essay
Twice in recent months, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has decided to tarnish her legacy by spouting transphobic comments on social media. The latest instance came over the weekend, when Rowling seemingly dismissed the existence of non-binary people and gender-nonconforming people. “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased,” Rowling tweeted. “I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.” Now, Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, is speaking out in support of the trans community in a new essay published to The Trevor Project. Radcliffe, who portrayed the titular character in all eight Harr...
Tiger King’s Joe Exotic Says “I’ll Be Dead In 2-3 Months”
Hard times for Tiger King’s Joe Exotic. In a letter obtained by TMZ, dated June 1st, and addressed to “supporters, fans, and loved ones,” the imprisoned Netflix celebrity paints a pretty bleak portrait for himself. In fact, he predicts, “I’ll be dead in two to three months.” Before that, though, Exotic thanks everyone for their support, erroneously claiming the pandemic is over, and pleading for that sweet presidential pardon, writing: “I ask President Trump to keep his word and look into making this wrong a right and grant me a miracle.” It’s perhaps at this point that Exotic realizes everyone’s moved on from Tiger King mania because things take a dark turn. “My soul is dead,” he writes, “I struggle every day to hold on to what little hope I can find.” Reason being, he has no outside...
J.K. Rowling is Being Transphobic Again
J.K. Rowling, photo via Facebook Late last year, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling drew accusations of transphobia after expressing her support for Maya Forstater, a researcher who was fired from the Centre for Global Development after opposing changes to the Gender Recognition Act that would allow for individuals to self-identify themselves. In a message posted at the time, Rowling wrote, “Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real?” Rowling was seemingly unmoved by the criticism over her past remarks, as the literary giant has tweeted more problematic, transphobic commentary regarding transgender people, non-binary ...
Billie Eilish Talks Body Image, How She’s “Never Felt Desired” in New Interview
As a global, mainstream pop star, Billie Eilish is constantly in the public eye, with everything from her fashion to her politics heavily scrutinized. However, she’s consistently made it a point to reject any forms of objectification, especially when it comes to her body. She recently released a short film on the topic, Not My Responsibility, as well as issued a powerful statement on body-shaming during the kick-off date of her “Where Do We Go? Tour”. Now, in a new interview with GQ, Eilish goes into more personal detail regarding her self-image and why she presents her body to the world in the way that she does. She also talked about her status as mainstream media “clickbait”. In the feature, the 18-year-old megastar admitted that she’s “never felt desired” before. “My past boyfriend...
Rush’s Alex Lifeson Doesn’t Feel “Inspired or Motivated” to Play Music Following Neil Peart’s Death
Next week marks six months since the death of Rush drummer Neil Peart, however, bandmate Alex Lifeson is still finding it hard to return to music. In a recent interview, he said that not only has he barely picked up his guitar, but that there’s currently little “motivation” to make music in general. “It’s been difficult,” Lifeson recently admitted on the sports radio program Talkin’ Golf (via Rolling Stone). “After Neil passed in January, I’ve played very little guitar. I just don’t feel inspired and motivated.” Fans of the legendary rock band have wondered whether the surviving members would forge ahead without Peart, but it sounds as though that won’t be happening anytime soon. “I don’t know if the motivation is there for us to really do anything now,” noted Lifeson. “We’re cer...
Tyler, the Creator is Fine with GOLF Store Property Damage During Protests
In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, cities around the US have imposed strict and early curfews in an effort to prevent violent protests and looting. However, rapper and GOLF Wang clothing founder Tyler, the Creator doesn’t seem to care about property damage to his own store. Tyler’s GOLF store was recently vandalized during protests in Los Angeles. Rather than condemn demonstrators and looters, though, he simply posted a picture of the Black Panther Party on his GOLF WANG Instagram account. “BLACK FURY: keep your eyes wide and educate yourself,” the Odd Future artist wrote in the caption. In a later comment, Tyler acknowledged that the issues gripping the nation go far beyond a broken door or window. “and the store is fine, but even if it wasnt, this is bigger than getting some glass fix...
The National’s Aaron Dessner Confirms That No, He Is Not an Antifa Organizer
In a world gone mad, the Twitterverse reveals itself as both a tool for positivity and asinine outrage. At the same time as K-pop stans mobilized to sabotage a Dallas Police Department snitching app, right-wing trolls spread false allegations of The National’s Aaron Dessner being an Antifa organizer. He has since clarified that, of course, he’s not. Video circulated over the weekend of a bearded white man at a Columbus protest appearing to pay black protesters cash to, as the accusers claimed, start a riot. Twitter user @LilBlondie45, a woman whose name reads “Michelle 🇺🇸 PUT CUOMO IN A NURSING HOME” and whose account has since been suspended, thought she recognized the man as Dessner, and sicced people on the musician. “Meet @aaron_dessner he’s an Antifa org...
Billie Eilish: “If I Hear One More White Person Say ‘All Lives Matter’ … I’m Gonna Lose My Fucking Mind”
In an impassioned post on Instagram, 18-year-old pop star Billie Eilish eviscerated the All Lives Matter movement, writing, “If I hear one more white person say “aLL liVeS maTtEr” one more fucking time I’m gonna lose my fucking mind.” The message was captioned with the hashtags #blacklivesmatter and #justiceforgeorgefloyd. Like millions of Americans, Eilish was incensed after George Floyd’s killing by a white Minneapolis police officer on May 25th. Ex-officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, continuing almost three minutes after Floyd went unconscious. After Floyd died, Chauvin was subsequently fired, but only placed under arrest after several days of sustained protests. Eilish began her post by writing, “I’ve been trying to take this week to figure out a way ...
