The Olympics’ cheating scandal, Zayn Malik’s Call Her Daddy revelation and what is the tofu theory?

Bad Bunny has won the MAGA culture war this month thanks to his NFL Super Bowl halftime performance. We break down a little of the discourse around it, as well as the impact of the culture around ‘being first’ online.

The Winter Olympics have kicked off in Italy, and not without its share of eyebrow-raising stories. We chat about a couple, including the Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid and his declaration of love on the world stage.

During an interview on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast, Zayn Malik has revealed he was never “in love” with his ex-girlfriend Gigi Hadid, who he dated for six years, and who is the mother of his child.

In other pop culture bites, Britney Spears has sold her music catalogue and Amelia Dimoldenberg from Chicken Shop Date is directing (and starring) in her very own rom-com.

An episode of Library Takes (like Subway Takes but at London School of Economics and Political Science) has picked up traction online after one interviewee noted that men’s views on tofu directly reflect their views on women. Is this too deep or does it have some truth to it?

In recommendation, Maggie enjoyed the podcast, The Paradox of Petty Problems: Why Small Problems Can Snowball and Jas shared a documentary on Australian writer Charmian Clift titled Life Burns High, which is available on SBS.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jas references John Hughes as Sylvia Plath’s husband during Bookmarked. She meant to say Ted Hughes, the writer. Not the 1980s film director. (lol)

Also, we’re officially on YouTube! Watch this podcast episode on our brand new channel here.

Thanks for being here <3 Jas and Mags xo

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Hi friends!

To kick this episode off, we chit-chat about some celebrity headlines, including Olivia Dean being criticised for being... too nice, and Jason Bateman’s awkward Charli XCX kids moment. Was this an embarrassing Dad moment or a representation of where the culture is when it comes to reproduction?

Locally, Mecca has come under fire for using AI in a social media post promoting its Australian Open pop-up. We review their statement and the feedback they received, and ask what it means for brands in general that are incorporating AI into their creative work. Maggie references this article by Cory Doctorow in The Guardian.

Harry Styles has released worldwide concert dates “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally” and he’s touring Australia later this year. But, despite the excitement for a new Harry era, many fans have taken issue with the price of the tickets. We explore this sentiment and ask how we got here.

Why is there a flood of people “becoming Chinese” online? Is this latest internet fad light-hearted cultural appreciation or something we should be challenging? Maggie references videos by creators Caroline Ying Ouellette and Kathy Kalina Pham. Jas references a piece for Coveteur titled Who Gets to Be Chinese Now? by Faith Xue.

In Bookmarked, Jas recommends the blockbuster, One Battle After Another, while Maggie recommends the Everything Is Alive podcast.

Chat to you next time!

Jas & Mags

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi friends!

Nicki Minaj has hammered the final nail into the coffin that is her music career this week after outing herself as Trump's number one fan. Writer Tarla Lambert wrote a piece for the Women's Agenda on the topic titled, “Nicki Minaj thinks Trump is her ally. He sees her as his prop”. Next, Ariana Grande has been spotted in a Vogue Japan spread with an additional appendage. The AI blunder has caught the premier publication out on its editing skills. Is Ariana's reaction warranted?*

The Wuthering Heights press tour has kicked off and has audiences rolling their eyes already. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are giving co-dependent co-stars in press interviews, but is the PR-relationship-to-sell-a-movie over? We reference (and role play) from Vogue Australia's cover story by Hannah Rose Yee.

Sydney Sweeney has launched a new lingerie brand named SYRN. We look into the launch of the brand and her comments via Cosmopolitan magazine, where she positions herself as an apolitical artistic figure... much to think about.

In Bookmarked, Maggie recommends Hamnet whilst Jas recommends Mothering Sunday. It's a historical fiction party.

Chat to you next time!

Jas & Mags xo

*EDIT: During the episode we referenced the Vogue Japan photo as the cover, it's now been corrected to a photo in the spread, not the cover.

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