Hello fellow citizens of the internet! Andrew here. Welcome to today's edition of web_crawlr. 

I hope your weekend is off to a good start! Our top stories today are about: A woman claiming she got a concussion after being hit in the head with cheese at Cheesecake Factory, a UPS and USPS text scam warning that has gone viral, Nikki Haley telling Vivek Ramaswamy that every time she hears him she feels "a little bit dumber," and how conspiracy theorists somehow think Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift's relationship is a ploy to push COVID boosters. 

After that, our Assistant Editor Kira has got her second "Decoding Fandom" column for you. 

One last thing: If you didn't take our weekly news quiz yet, there's still time! Just open yesterday's newsletter and answer the question. If you guess correctly, you might get a "Crawl Into Fall" shirt just in time for spooky season. 

Kira will be guiding you through the news on Monday, so I'll see you next week! 

— A.W. 

⚡ Today's top stories

🧀 WTF
Woman claims to have gotten a concussion after being hit in the head with cheese at the Cheesecake Factory

A woman’s love for cheese came back to bite her.

➤  READ MORE

✉️ SCAMS
Customer warns of texts that purportedly come from USPS, UPS

A woman went viral after warning viewers about a text scam that could cost people their identity and what’s in their bank account. 

➤  READ MORE 

🗳️ POLITICS
Nikki Haley to Vivek Ramaswamy: ‘Honestly, every time I hear you I feel a little bit dumber’

After Vivek Ramaswamy was asked why he changed his mind about joining TikTok, which he once called ‘digital fentanyl,’ former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley lost patience and laid into him.

➤  READ MORE 

💉 CONSPIRACY
Is Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s relationship a ploy to push new COVID boosters? Conspiracy theorists think so

When you believe everything is a conspiracy, then your beliefs don’t stop at global events, political machinations, or billionaire plots. They only start there, extending to every aspect of everything you see around you—even a football player maybe dating a pop singer.

➤  READ MORE 

 We crawl the web so you don’t have to. Sign up to receive web_crawlr, a daily newsletter from the Daily Dot, in your inbox each day.

⭐ Decoding Fandom

‘Shipping’ is still alive and well 

In each edition of web_crawlr we have exclusive original content every day. On Saturdays our Assistant Newsletter Editor Kira Deshler dives deep into the world of fan culture in her “Decoding Fandom” column. If you want to read columns like this before everyone else, subscribe to web_crawlr to get your daily scoop of internet culture delivered straight to your inbox.

🕸️ Crawling the web

Here is what else is happening across the 'net.

🥪 A Jimmy John’s manager is receiving backlash after reportedly demanding that an off-duty employee return to work late at night to lock up and firing the employee when she said no.

⛽ This viral hack that shows how a man gets extra free gas while at the pump has viewers both laughing and expressing gratitude.

🍴 A server is calling out customers who use coupons to cover part of their bill and then only tip based on the leftover amount.

👻 One in five Americans swear that they’ve seen a ghost before. A TikTok user named Jolie claims she’s among them after having an encounter with a ghost at Seattle’s Alibi Room... and she's not the only one. 

💪 This culinary-grade powder may be the ingredient missing in your wellness journey. Here's why Caliper may be the greatest thing since sliced bread.* 

🚗 A TikTok video posted by an insurance agent has gone viral for revealing a crucial detail that many car owners overlook when shopping for their insurance.

☕ While Starbucks has fans all over the world, many customers have called the chain out for their high prices. 

💼 In a viral video, a worker says her job hired another person after she was denied a raise, and plenty of people strongly related to her. 

🏳️‍🌈 From the Daily Dot archive: Long before #instagays, YouTube’s gay celebs blazed the trail for a generation of LGBTQ youth.

*The Daily Dot may receive a commission in connection with purchases of products or services featured here.

👋 Before you go

Flight attendant Cierra Mistt (@Cierra_Mistt) posted a YouTube tutorial giving the low down on a little hack that fliers could use in order to get extra swag, drinks, and even a boost in travel status as they jet through the friendly skies.

Mistt says that a little kindness goes a long way. As long as passengers are willing to grease the palms of one attendant dedicated to serving them throughout the flight, which will usually be the first person you say passing by you on a beverage/snack cart, Mistt says 99% of the time they will hook you up.

🎶 Now Playing: "Dana Katherine Scully" by Tacocat 🎶 

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The post Newsletter: Don’t fall for this UPS text scam appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Hello fellow citizens of the internet! Kira here. Welcome to today's edition of web_crawlr. 

Toady's top stories are about: A dine-and-dasher who got a little too big for their britches, Sen. John Fetterman's hilarious response to a right-wing conspiracy theory, a suspicious connection between Shrek and House of Dragon, and a McDonald's customer who made the mistake of 'trauma-dumping' at the drive-thru. 

After that, check out a special edition of Mikael's "Your Password Sucks" column. 

Until next time,

— K.D. 

⚡ Today's top stories

🍴 LABOR
Dine-and-dashers forget phone at restaurant. Manager exacts revenge

As a server on TikTok recounts, a customer left a restaurant without paying, but left their phone behind. The manager took their phone hostage.

➤  READ MORE 

👕 POLITICS
‘Keep the GOP mad’: John Fetterman embraces right-wing conspiracy, sells ‘body double’ T-shirts

A right-wing conspiracy theory alleges that Senator John Fetterman has been replaced by a body double. Fetterman's response? Selling merch to make the GOP mad.  

➤  READ MORE

🐉 CULTURE
Viewers think HBO is trolling them after noticing parallels between ‘Shrek’ and ‘House of the Dragon’

A TikTok user pointed out the many similarities between the Shrek movies and House of Dragon, leading some to believe Hollywood is running out of ideas.

➤  READ MORE

🍔 VIRAL
‘I don’t care about your life’: McDonald’s customer tries to ‘trauma dump’ on drive-thru attendant. It backfires

A viral TikTok video shows a customer in the McDonald's drive-thru venting about his relationship issues. The attendant was not having it.

➤  READ MORE

🔒 Your Password Sucks

By Mikael Thalen
Staff Reporter

Welcome to Your Password Sucks, the web_crawlr column that answers all your internet security related questions.

Today, Mikael is diving into a hacking tool he got while at DefCon this year.

Do you have an internet security question you want answered? Let Mikael know! His “Your Password Sucks” column runs bi-weekly in the web_crawlr newsletter.

If your question gets picked to be answered in a future column, you’ll get a pretty sweet “Your Password Sucks” shirt!  

Got a question you want answered? Sign up for web_crawlr here so you can learn how to surf the ‘net safely.

🕸️ Crawling the web

Here is what else is happening across the 'net.

💵 A man went viral by talking about about the correct Venmo etiquette to have with your peers. 

🚘 Even though mechanics may routinely get their hands dirty they have standards too. And there can even be cars that are just too dirty for them to work on as proven by a recent viral video.

📷 A video criticizing the outfits of attendees at a Beyoncé show is sparking debate over the ethics of filming strangers in public.

♻️ Living more sustainably is surprisingly easy with these eco-friendly alternatives for things you use every day.* 

🛩️ A woman’s rant about giving up seats on an airplane has gone viral on TikTok.

💸 This woman from British Columbia recently went viral after claiming she was financially better off in 2012 while making minimum wage than she is today making almost $100,000 a year.

🔨 A popular topic of discussion online is the “landlord special”—a subpar repair job performed by a landlord before a tenant moves into a property.

🛒 This TikToker says she was fired from her grocery store cashier job for letting her toddler-aged daughter scan customers’ groceries on the checkout lane.

🏳️‍🌈 From the Daily Dot archive: How a Sims 2 fan forum became an unwitting safe space for queer creatives.

*The Daily Dot may receive a commission in connection with purchases of products or services featured here.

👋 Before you go

The housing crisis is the worst it’s ever been in America, and there are a bunch of reasons why.

This has resulted in not only higher mortgage costs but also increased rental rates. It appears the problem isn’t endemic to just the United States, but Canada as well.

Realtor and TikTok user Anya Ettinger (@aserealty) posted a listing for a “shared room for rent” in Toronto, Canada that costs $650 a month.

It seems like a super low price… until you see what you’re getting.

🎶 Now Playing: "Make A Move" by PeelingFlesh 🎶 

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The post Newsletter: Don’t ‘trauma dump’ at the drive-thru appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Hello fellow citizens of the internet! Andrew here. Welcome to today's edition of web_crawlr. 

Our top stories to kick off the weekend are about: A McDonald's worker exposing the "things McDonald's won't tell y'all," how a viral painting sparked controversy over AI art, a woman going viral for sharing a hotel's room with a view fail, and how Tucker Carlson is firmly denying that Gov. Ron DeSantis kicked his dog. 

After that, we've got something exciting to share: We're launching a new column! Our Assistant Editor Kira will be diving deep into how fandom impacts internet culture in her new "Decoding Fandom" column each week. 

See you tomorrow! 

— A.W. 

⚡ Today's top stories

🍔 LABOR
McDonald’s worker exposes the ‘things McDonald’s won’t tell y’all’

One McDonald’s worker is dishing the dirt on the fast food chain and going viral for her revelations.

➤  READ MORE

🤖
AI Viral ‘Spiral Town’ painting sparks controversy over AI art

A lot of people hate AI-generated art on principle and for good reason.

➤  READ MORE 

🏨 FAIL
‘I woulda been UPGRADED IMMEDIATELY’: Woman books hotel room ‘with a view.’ It’s a picture of a skyline

When a traveler arrived to her hotel, she realized that the “view” was actually a photo printed a shade over the window.

➤  READ MORE 

🐶 POLITICS
‘Totally made up’: Tucker Carlson refutes ‘absurd’ claim DeSantis kicked his dog

Ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson is firmly denying claims that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis kicked the Carlson family’s dog.

➤  READ MORE 

We crawl the web so you don’t have to. Sign up to receive web_crawlr, a daily newsletter from the Daily Dot, in your inbox each day.

⭐ Decoding Fandom

By Kira Deshler
Assistant Newsletter Editor

In each edition of web_crawlr we have exclusive original content every day. On Saturdays our Assistant Newsletter Editor Kira Deshler dives deep into the world of fan culture in her “Decoding Fandom” column. If you want to read columns like this before everyone else, subscribe to web_crawlr to get your daily scoop of internet culture delivered straight to your inbox.

🕸️ Crawling the web

Here is what else is happening across the 'net.

🍸 A bartender went viral after walking out of her longtime gig. In a nearly minute-long video, she alleged that she was punished for asking for extra bathroom breaks while on her period.

🎂 People are amazed at this TikToker who got birthday freebies from 29 different places like Taco Bell, Panera, Crumbl, Olive Garden, and more. 

👀 A user on TikTok has gone viral after showing an alleged “hack” for certain apartment dryers.

🍲 Food safety experts are warning viewers about leaving their food out on the counter, saying that it could lead to illness.

🔪 A good chef and a bad chef each tried a meal kit from HomeChef...here's what happened.* 

🎃 This Dunkin’ customer is getting a ton of attention for showing how much sugar is in a Pumpkin Swirl Frozen Coffee. 

🥤 If you’re a fan of dining in at McDonald’s so you can top yourself off with a refill before you head on your merry way, you might be disappointed to hear that the popular burger franchise is doing away with soda self-service.

🥡 Recently, much attention and acclaim has been given to Walmart’s hot food bar.

📺 From the Daily Dot archive: What happens when your favorite TV show gets canceled? 

*The Daily Dot may receive a commission in connection with purchases of products or services featured here.

🔒 Surf the 'net safely

Do you have questions about how to surf the 'net safely? We can help you! 

If your question gets picked to be answered in a future column, you'll get this pretty sweet "Your Password Sucks" shirt to show off.

Got a question you want answered? Sign up for web_crawlr here so you can learn how to surf the ‘net safely.

👋 Before you go

A customer recently shared his experience with an unusual DoorDash driver who arrived in a car decked out in colorful neon lights.

Unknown to the customer at the time, the driver is something of a local legend. 

In his video, Lee (@leethechampion10) says that he placed a DoorDash order and specifically asked for his driver to be discreet because he didn’t want his family to know that he had ordered food.

To his surprise, when the driver arrived, it was in a heavily modified car outfitted with neon lights, including glowing neon rods attached to the rear.

🎶 Now Playing: "Veronica Mars" by Blondshell 🎶 

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The post Newsletter: Exposing what McDonald’s ‘won’t tell y’all’ appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Since before Barbie first hit theaters, it seems like pink has been everywhere. From reclamations of the much-ridiculed color to the virality of aesthetics like coquette and Barbiecore, women’s fondness for America’s favorite doll has launched hyper-femininity back on the map.

Among the plethora of frilly, sparkly “cores” you may have come across while scrolling through TikTok, princesscore has been making the waves recently. Like adjacent aesthetics—fairycore and regencycore, princesscore takes a romanticized lifestyle (in this case, royalty) and turns it into a camera-ready fashion style for social media. Looking through the #princesscore TikTok page, you’ll find almost one billion clips of meticulously groomed women wearing glimmering slippers, twinkling tiaras, and jaw-dropping dresses.

However, something glaringly problematic lies amid the dreamy pink fantasies that these women sell. Few women of color are included in princesscore, and most of the content at the top of the #princesscore page comes from white women and brands that have capitalized off the aesthetic. In a society where representation matters and women of color are stereotyped as un-feminine, their inclusion in feminine spaces is important.

Two Black princesscore TikTokers, Pristiny Deshia and Chazlyn Yvonne, have set out to do just that. Native Georgian Deshia first discovered the aesthetic in 2021 thanks to two faces of the Black princesscore movement, Megan Swan and Porsha Renae Hall. Deshia had always been “fascinated with pink and girly things” since childhood, so that aesthetic aligns perfectly with her style. “When I got older,” she says, “I was like, ‘You know what? I’m going to express who I am and release my inner child.’” On the other hand, Los Angeles-based Yvonne became a princess by way of related aesthetics. She shares, “When I first started posting, I was kind of into [the] cottagecore style, and then I found out about princesscore … and I was like, ‘Woah, this is so cool.’”

@pristiny_deshia Lets be friends 🫶🏾🎀☁️#GirlyAesthetic #GirlyGlam #GirlyTiktok #GirlyThings #GirlyOutfits #Femininity #hyperfeminine #hyperfeminity #hyperfemininaesthetic #blackfemininity #GirlyGirlFashion #GirlyFashion #GirlyGirlAesthetic #GirlyTok #FeminineJourney #SoftGirl #SoftGirlAesthetic #SoftGirlEra #SoftEra #DevineFeminine #DevineFeminineEnergy #PinkThings #Pink#Coquetteaesthetic #coquettecore #coquette #coquetteblackgirl #blackcoquette #princess #blackprincess #blackprincesscore ♬ Follow me dgibbsofficial - Dominic Gibbons

Beyond TikTok, Yvonne and Deshia have sought to spread the princesscore gospel. In the former’s case, she attended her first New York Fashion Week as an ambassador for whimsical brand Selkie this past fall, whereas Deshia has shared her loc journey on her YouTube channel. Yvonne shares that while it’s become customary for many brands to adopt a “minimalist … street style,” it was a dream come true for her as a Black princesscore creator to sit front row at shows with an aesthetic similar to hers. Deshia says sharing her loc journey as a princesscore TikToker is important because she wants to show that women of all hair textures and hairstyles can be soft and feminine, too. “As a Black woman, you don’t really think that feminine women can have locs. So I want to be a representation of a princess with locs for young Black girls,” she says.

By embracing their authentic selves, Deshia and Yvonne are actively challenging stereotypes about Black women and providing the representation they didn’t have while growing up. Explaining that Black women “aren’t really seen as soft and feminine,” Deshia says that she wants to “inspire other women and young girls into the princesscore aesthetic because growing up, I didn’t have that.” Both Yvonne and Deshia share that their only representation of Black princesses during their childhood consisted of Princess Tiana from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog and Brandy Norwood’s Cinderella from the eponymous 1997 movie.

In 2023, however, much has changed. Films like Barbie and the live-action version of The Little Mermaid have provided representation for hyper-femininity, particularly Black femininity. As Yvonne explains, “I feel like both of them have really started … this renaissance for unlocking and healing your inner child, especially for Black girls. I mean, none of us saw ourselves as mermaids … until Halle Bailey was portrayed as Ariel.” She also points out that “In Barbie, we have Isaa Rae as … a beautiful Black woman being the president of Barbie Land, and I think things like that are really important.” Weighing in on the representation the films have provided, Deshia says, “It’s like this new wave of princesses … and overall feminine aesthetics, and it’s really good to see that this is now becoming a big thing.”

@chazlyn.yvonne Literally the best day ever! 💗#airbnb #kensdreamhouse #barbiethemovie #barbiemonth #gretagerwig ♬ Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album) - Dua Lipa

Amid the public’s growing acceptance of hyper-femininity, Yvonne and Deshia hope that their content will help Black women express their feminine side. Deshia says, “I want to be a representation for other women and young girls to be inspired to know that ‘Hey, you’re a young Black girl, and it’s okay to be soft and feminine.’” Similarly, Yvonne reiterates that “I just want my page and my accounts to be a safe space for young Black girls, and not just young Black girls, but anyone, really.” One heart-shaped locket and tiara at a time, Pristiny Deshia and Chazlyn Yvonne are helping forge a world where young Black girls can feel free to embrace their princess personas.

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The post How Black women are revolutionizing TikTok’s princesscore appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Hello fellow citizens of the internet! Andrew here. Welcome to today's edition of web_crawlr. 

Our top stories today are about: How Venmo was the secret to catching a cheating boyfriend, an exclusive report about 10 years of 911 calls made to Meta's headquarters, a look at the best Starbucks hacks, and how to track all of Rep. Nancy Pelosi's stock purchases. 

After that, our Senior IRL Reporter Tricia has a "Problematic on TikTok" column for you. 

See you tomorrow! 

— A.W. 

⚡ Today's top stories

👀 VIRAL
‘Did Venmo just become the new Snapchat?’: Girl says Venmo is the secret to catching cheaters—even if they display ‘green flags’

A girl went viral after finding out the guy she was dating had been lying to her. She says Venmo was her secret to catching the cheater.

➤  READ MORE

🚓 TECH
EXCLUSIVE: Inside 10 years of 911 calls to Meta’s 1 Hacker Way home

After years in startup mode in downtown Palo Alto, Facebook opened a massive new campus in 2013, just down the road in Menlo Park. Since Meta opened its news office, police have been called hundreds of times.

➤  READ MORE 

☕ HACKS
What are the best Starbucks hacks?

You have to determine the kind of life you want to lead when you pull to a Starbucks. To hack or not to hack: That’s one of the many questions.

➤  READ MORE 

📈 POLITICS
Here’s how to track all of Nancy Pelosi’s stock purchases

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic representative and former House Speaker from California, has long been of interest to those who trade stocks.

➤  READ MORE 

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😬 Problematic on TikTok

By Tricia Crimmins
Senior Reporter

Being 'skinnyfat' is not the worst possible situation to be in

In each edition of web_crawlr we have exclusive original content every day. On Tuesdays our IRL Reporter Tricia Crimmins breaks down the trends on the popular app that will make you cringe in her “Problematic on TikTok” column.  If you want to read columns like this before everyone else, subscribe to web_crawlr to get your daily scoop of internet culture delivered straight to you inbox.

🕸️ Crawling the web

Here is what else is happening across the 'net.

🍔 This McDonald's corporate chef is going viral for sharing what the "10:35 burger" is (and what's in it). 

🌮 Yikes. A parent is going viral for lamenting that he spent $53 on Taco Bell for family of four—but spent $66 at an upscale restaurant that morning. 

🥕 There’s a running theory amongst Instacart customers that male Instacart shoppers are inferior to their non-male counterparts.

🥣 An Olive Garden customer says a server gave customers extra to-go leftovers of unlimited soup and salad. Talk about a dining win. 

🍿 Fuel your hate-watching with movies so bad, they're actually…kind of good. These are the best worst movies you need to watch right now. * 

🍽️ In a viral video, a TikToker called out customers who treat service workers with an entitled attitude, urging everyone to do time in a service industry job to build empathy.

🥪 One Subway worker is excited about changes to the restaurant’s menu and thinks everyone should run, not walk, to the store to try them out.

🌭 One woman discovered some pretty odd fine print on a coupon for a BOGO (by one get one free) hotdog from New York Fries.

🤑 From the Daily Dot archive: #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt: Why TikTok shopping isnow the ordinary.

*The Daily Dot may receive a commission in connection with purchases of products or services featured here.

👋 Before you go

A TikToker and former Target employee has sparked discussion after revealing some alleged “secrets” about the popular chain.

In a video with over 38,000 views, TikTok user @alterego_2daytmrw4ever says that, though she only worked for Target for about a week, she learned a few secrets that she’s excited to share with viewers. Her first tip involves returns.

🎶 Now Playing: "Voodoo" by Shay Lia, Buddy 🎶 

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The post Newsletter: Venmo is the secret to catching cheaters appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Following this weekend's bombshell report accusing Russell Brand of rape, sexual harassment and abusing a 16-year-old girl, Russell Brand is now facing professional repercussions. Alongside postponements for his upcoming comedy tour, YouTube has demonetized his channel.

"If a creator's off-platform behavior harms our users, employees or ecosystem, we take action," said a YouTube spokesperson.

Brand has 6.6 million followers on his main channel. Rebranding himself as a political commentator after his heyday as an actor and comedian, he now posts a lot of conspiracy theory content.

He's particularly known for his anti-vaxx views, publishing videos with titles like, "Hang on, Biden 9/11 Speech Was A Lie?!" and "So, Trump Just Said THIS About Vaccines And It Changes EVERYTHING."

Brand's last YouTube update was a pre-emptive response to the sexual misconduct allegations, where he claims to be a victim of "a co-ordinated attack" due to his political views. He denies all the accusations, which were based on extensive research and interviews conducted by a team of UK journalists. According to Brand, all of his relationships were consensual.

How Russell Brand makes money online

On Monday a social media expert told the Guardian that Brand was likely earning about $2500 - $5000 per YouTube video. So despite his gradual departure from mainstream celebrity, he's still making a ton of money - in part due to an enthusiastic fanbase of conspiracy theorists.

He also has over a million followers on the video platform Rumble, which hosts a lot of far-right creators. His arrangement there includes a pay-per-view standup special and paid subscriber content.

It's entirely possible that Brand will continue posting and earning money through Rumble. However demonetizing his most public outlet was an obvious move for YouTube - especially considering the perennial controversy over YouTubers monetizing their own controversies.

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The post YouTube demonetizes Russell Brand’s channel amid sexual assault allegations appeared first on The Daily Dot.

The three words "youth pastor voice" wield magnificent power online. Every day there are multiple examples of people using the phrase on X, mocking the way that youth pastors—American figures, stereotypically, who are unique in that no one on the planet is less cool than them—desperately try to keep Christianity relevant in a world that is gradually leaving religion behind.

Youth pastor voice has been applied to everything on the internet, from big dick energy and being canceled all the way through to serving cunt (yep). Its most obvious sibling, also seen online everywhere in the last decade, is the Steve Buscemi meme “How do you do, fellow kids?”—a lame person failing to endear themselves because of how clearly inauthentic they are.

The origins of 'youth pastor voice'

Youth pastor voice is everywhere. Never heard of it? Welcome. Youth pastor voice is a meme whose true origin is unknown, but it probably first appeared in Tumblr’s heyday about ten years ago. (Know Your Meme claims it began on Tumblr in 2015 but this seems a little too late, as I will explore later.) Most often seen in brackets, it’s a phrase that prefaces a ludicrous statement. The statement will generally begin with “You know who else” and will be a thinly veiled reference to Jesus Christ, whom the imagined youth pastor is desperate to introduce into every conceivable conversation. Here is an example: “[youth pastor voice] Kids, Twitter is sharing revenue with its top creators, but let me tell you about a Creator who shared his most precious gift of all—his own Son—with us.”

On X, no one really said the words youth pastor voice until 2009. In the first few years, however, it seems to have been reserved exclusively for sincere professions of Christian faith, with no indication that youth pastors can be embarrassing at all. Then on September 19, 2014, the phrase was first uttered in jest—by user CostumeMomTM, who was 15 years old at the time. “[youth pastor voice] balls deep in the word of god”, she tweeted, linking to a Tumblr account. 

First of all, she says, she’s honored to be contacted. “I’m pretty sure “[youth pastor voice]” was a meme started on Tumblr, to poke fun at how youth pastors talk to kids!” she says. “The same format was used for other things, ‘[hacker voice] I’m in’ being one of the first ones I remember seeing.”

She says that the appeal was the humor, of course, but also the sense of inclusion: “Almost everyone who reads that post will have a similar, if not the exact same, idea of what the youth pastor voice sounds like.” On Tumblr, which isn’t the frantic meme platform that X now is, the phrase is largely a thing of the past. On X, there are countless examples of the phrase in its conventional form, but "youth pastor voice" is now old enough that users, assuming an awareness on the reader’s part, can play with it. Posts can refer to Hitler, not Jesus; they can let readers fill in the blanks; they can simply say “You know who else rizzed up baby gronk?”

How youth pastors reacted

I wanted to explore the reactions of one particular group of people: youth pastors themselves. How does the meme come across to people sincerely trying to do the Lord’s work? After trying to get in touch with about a dozen youth pastors, I received responses from only two. I think this speaks volumes in itself. Perhaps America’s youth pastors do not want to be associated with the youth pastor meme.

One youth pastor who responded by email is 38-year-old Jeremy Cooper from the “refreshingly biblical” Summit Ridge Church in Las Vegas. “I have a few friends who send me that kind of stuff from time to time,” he says. He likes making fun of youth pastors and even makes fun of himself. His 13-year-old daughter notices him going into “youth pastor mode” when he makes an effort to be spectacularly enthusiastic.

But there’s a limit, says Cooper, because youth ministry is serious work. He wants to move away from an image of youth pastors as “glorified babysitters” and towards an image of “real spiritual shepherds.” This won’t happen with memes. “My bottom-line thought is that all of life belongs to King Jesus and we need to be more awake to that reality, not less,” he says. “But the caricature of the typical youth pastor I think takes some of the sharp edge off of that glorious truth and just turns a resurrected God-Man into word games. I don’t think word games ever brought real joy and peace.” Fans of Wordle might beg to differ.

On X, I also spoke to AngryYouthPastor, a 37-year-old youth pastor who tweets under the cover of anonymity all about youth pastor-centric issues. He has been in youth ministry for more than 15 years and admits that—to a certain extent—he is guilty of the behavior being mocked. In fact, straight out of the gate, he fires off his own example: “You heard how there’s a new Mission Impossible movie coming out? Well, it’s our MISSION to make it POSSIBLE for you to know Jesus!” It’s a good one.

“I actually like the meme,” he says. “Mainly because it’s gentle ribbing at the kind of youth pastor many of us have seen, or even been at some point.” He thinks a little differently to Cooper and frames the issue as being the responsibility of youth pastors, not the people making fun of them. “When you start out in youth ministry, you want to try to connect with students. People will do this by changing their wardrobe, the way they talk, or even pretending to know what is going on in teen culture. When you do that, it’s just going to make you look like you’re trying too hard and make students cringe. It’s much better just to be yourself.”

It's advice that each and every one of us could apply to our lives. Rather than trying to crowbar contemporary references in conversation, youth pastors will do themselves a favor if they show students who they really are, said the anonymous youth pastor, somewhat ironically. It will be then, when they are authentic and comfortable in their skin, that they will actually be considered cool.

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Rappers Nicki Minaj and Cardi B are still feuding. Over the weekend, several bloggers reposted footage of Nicki Minaj's husband, Kenneth "Zoo" Petty apparently threatening Cardi B and her husband, Offset.

TikToker @theessenceofit7 recapped the footage on their page, the video has more than 110,000 views. "I’m lost for words. These are elders acting a damn fool," someone commented. In the footage, Petty and alleged associates are seen standing outside, making vague and direct threats at Cardi B and Offset.

"Plan that vacation, you gonna be planning your funeral p*ssy. We out here to talk, right," he said.

@theessenceofit7 Replying to @Megleftnip #greenscreen #theessenceofit7 #offsetyrn #offsetcardib #cardib #bardigang #nickiminaj ♬ original sound - Black Baddie 🖤

Nicki Minaj premieres 'Big Difference'

Kenneth Petty and Nick Minaj met as teenagers in NYC's LaGuardia High School. The pair started dating officially in 2018 and had their son in September 2020. Petty is a registered sex offender. He has been convicted for the attempted first-degree rape of a minor and the first-degree manslaughter of a man years later.

Last Tuesday, the "Anaconda" rapper performed and hosted the 2023 VMAs. Minaj performed a mix of new and older songs, including an apparent diss track directed at other female rappers. "Big Difference," specifically aiming at Cardi B.

"It sound like you tryin' to me. I'm who you dyin' to be. Will somebody cop all these groupies a ticket? 'Cause I'm who they dyin' to meet," she rapped.

When I tell you my whole body had the chills!!! 🔥 @NICKIMINAJ is unmatched. https://t.co/3UmYel6gaZ

— Jeffree Star (@JeffreeStar) September 13, 2023

New videos circulated online

Kenneth Petty continued with threats in further videos recorded on the VMAs pink carpet and at an unknown location in New York City. These videos were originally shared by Petty's associate @onlydasturdy_ on Instagram. 

Many online shared their thoughts, including rapper Offset. Offset responded to Kenneth Petty and his associate's threats with some humor. The "Bad and Bougie" rapper had just finished a sleepover with Twitch streamer Kai Cenat. He recorded himself laughing getting off a private jet. “Fuck these n*ggas talmbout,” Offset asked unfazed.

Reported by Complex Magazine, Kenneth Petty's camp and Offset had exchanged intense Instagram direct messages behind the scenes. "U a grown 40 year old man talking shit about a woman you p*ssy," Offset said in a text.

Kenneth Petty on an empty street a whole predator: “offset where you at?”

Offset: pic.twitter.com/UmhcsiCSOA

— Paigey🥢 (@PaigeChristieUK) September 16, 2023

When Nicki’s husband and his goons run up on Offset but he’s in a school zone. pic.twitter.com/sUNYKbx183

— TONY SNARK🎰 (@Yamscasino) September 16, 2023

Nobody:

Nicki Minaj husband outside talking about Offset : pic.twitter.com/NZbRIlajo8

— Shirt-Ish (@Shirt_Ish) September 16, 2023

Both Cardi B and Nicki Minaj have not responded directly to the incident, but have been active on X and Instagram, engaging with fans.

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Halle Berry says that Drake asked her permission to use a photo of Berry covered in slime for his new single with SZA, “Slime You Out”—and when she didn’t give it to him, he did it anyway.

Last week, Drake released an album cover for “Slime You Out” on his Instagram account by posting an image of Berry from the 2012 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in the immediate aftermath of having slime dumped on her head. The photo, taken by photographer Christopher Polk, shows Berry having a visceral reaction to the slime covering much of her face.

In Drake’s cover for the single, the only thing added was a parental advisory warning.

However, there’s at least one person who didn't like it: Berry herself.

On Saturday, Berry posted a text image about being the bigger person and moving on from something.

“Sometimes you have to be the bigger guy...even if you’re a woman!” she wrote while tagging the musician beabadoobee.

Many interpreted it as a vague and cryptic comment toward Drake’s use of Berry’s slime photo for the album cover of his new single, which Berry confirmed when directly asked her thoughts on him using it in the comments. According to Berry, Drake asked her permission to use the photo, but she said no.

“didn’t get my permission,” she replied. “That’s not cool I thought better of him !”

Other commenters were confused about what she had to be mad about because she didn’t own the copyright to the photo. For Berry, it was the principle of the thing.

“Cuz he asked me and i said NO that’s why,” she wrote. “Why ask if you intend to do what you want to do ! That was the f*uck you to me. Not cool You get it? ❤️”

Many of Berry's fans took her side when arguing that she had every right to be upset about Drake using the photo without her permission.

“If Halle Berry was mad at me, I would simply perish,” Heben Nigatu wrote.

But the internet’s wrath on Berry’s behalf grew even more when one user, in a now-ratioed tweet, suggested that Berry should be grateful for the “free clout” that Drake gave her by featuring her photo on the cover. They not only posted pictures of Berry holding her Oscar and her numerous accolades over the decades, but they also pointed to her long and storied career in Hollywood, one that spans nearly Drake’s entire life.

In the end, even with the controversy brewing over the album cover image, it’s not the one associated with “Slime You Out” on music streamers. If you look up the song on apps like Spotify or Apple Music, it uses the same album cover as Drake’s upcoming album, For All the Dogs, which was illustrated by Drake’s son Adonis, instead.

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A lot of people hate AI-generated art on principle and for good reason.

AI image generators use pre-existing content without permission, scraping the internet for images to digest and regurgitate in similar styles. Publishers and news outlets have already started using AI images instead of paying skilled illustrators. And on an aesthetic level, there's a lot of pushback against the unavoidably derivative nature of AI art.

But what happens when a piece of AI art looks real enough - and original enough - to fool casual viewers? Case in Point: "Spiral Town," an AI-generated painting posted to the Stable Diffusion subreddit by a creator named Ugleh:

Generated by combining a spiral with an image prompt for a painting of a medieval town, it's a style of trippy optical illusion that you'll also find in traditional illustration.

Ugleh has posted several other pieces using similar techniques - for instance, a landscape where patches of sky and buildings make up a geometric grid - and they've provoked an intensely divisive response.

As Spiral Town spread to X and TikTok, many commenters were shocked to learn it was AI-generated. For some AI proponents, this was proof positive that generative tech can measure up to "real" art. Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham tweeted, "This was the point where AI-generated art passed the Turing Test for me."

Meanwhile, detractors criticized flaws in the image, arguing that it doesn't stand up to scrutiny compared to art by a trained illustrator.

As Ars Technica points out, it's easy to replicate this kind of optical illusion if you know the right prompts. Other creators have already posted similar spiral/grid images, with Ugleh publishing a step-by-step guide on how to do it yourself.

One of the main points of contention here is the number of commenters saying they thought Spiral Town looked cool until they realized it was AI art. "The tragedy of A/I is this could have been cool but loses all meaning knowing it’s based on theft," reads one popular retweet.

But AI fans see these reactions as irrational anti-AI bias. One described this attitude as "like gritting your teeth and refusing to enjoy amateur song remixes or fan-fiction." If you enjoyed Spiral Town out of context, is it "virtue signaling" to change your mind when you find out it's AI-generated?

Ultimately though, this shift in opinion is an entirely normal way of reacting to art. Plenty of people stop enjoying a creator's work due to their IRL behavior. For instance, Harry Potter fans who abandoned the fandom due to J.K. Rowling's politics, or film buffs who oppose Woody Allen and Roman Polanski's continuing careers after appreciating their older movies.

The backlash against AI art is mostly founded in ethical concerns. So if someone already rejects this technology on those grounds, a single image is not going to change their mind.

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