From backdoor bribes to viral memes: this week’s pop culture round-up

CULTUREWhat the f*ck!
Written By Ella Bardsley

This is WHAT THE F*CK!, your weekly pop culture round-up of nail-biting news, need-to-know trends and never-to-be-ignored topics. Think of it as your own personally curated list, prepped and preened with things that deserve your undivided attention or disapproving glances. Allow us to do the hard work for you (we’re your own little tattle-tale) and let us show you what to check-out and check-off this week.

 

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Bonkers for Billie: The World’s a Little Blurry

Spotlighting the stratospheric talent of a teenager recording a (five times) Grammy award winning album in her bedroom, Apple TV’s The World’s A Little Blurry documentary of BILLIE EILISH proves the singer’s anything but a Bad Guy. With cameos from Justin Bieber, Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry this heartfelt – and at times heart-breaking – rendition of Eilish’s journey to worldwide fame is a must-watch.

 

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A digital crowning: Priya Ahluwalia’s wins the Queen Elizabeth II Award

It was about time that British menswear designer PRIYA AHLUWALIA was championed for her commitment to diversity and sustainability within the fashion industry. At the close of London Fashion Week, in an unconventional crowning, Ahluwalia was praised over a webinar with the Countess of Wessex on behalf of dear Lizzie. With the Royal seal of approval now smacked on her flourishing brand, Ahluwalia is set to take over the world – making it a better place with every stitch that she sews.

 

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From Hot Girl shit to Mean Girl’s shit: Megan Thee Stallion puts the ‘catty’ in Coach

If you thought the Mean Girls spoofs had stopped (Momager Kris will forever be in our hearts), you were wrong. feast your eyes on MEGAN THEE STALLION as Regina George in Coach’s new campaign. "Her nails are so long; she accidentally gouged my eye out. And it was awesome!" chimes one student in the luxury brand-meets-Mean Girls spoof. "I heard that she was walking down the street and a guy saw her and crashed his car. It was so fetch. Or not fetch. It was awesome." Now that really is hot girl shit!

 

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An accidental meme queen: Juergen Teller does W dirty

When a series of what can only be called *amateur* photographs eternalising the likes of RIZ AHMED, OTMARA MARRERO and JARED LETO as subjects of a B-grade GCSE photography project appeared in W Magazine, photographer Juergen Teller was dragged on Twitter – big time. Riz Ahmed even confessed that this was "the fastest shoot of his life." We can tell. My favourite rebuttal? 

“Why do these pictures look like a middle school girl took them with her friends by the 7/11 just so she could upload them to a facebook album called "~*SuMmEr AdVeNtUrEs *~” @DanaSchwartz

Now the internet has done what the internet does best, turning Teller’s misfortune into a set of viral memes. Enjoy.

 

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When two becomes zero: a Daft split

On Monday the world went into mourning. Yup. We’re talking lace veils and running mascara. Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker even said: “It felt like when someone dies.” What are we talking about? Well, one of the most influential bands of the 21st century, Daft Punk, hung up their helmets. Can they not perform just…One more time? This hasn’t got me feeling so free. Okay, I’ll stop.

 

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Bribe-gate: Emily In Paris does it again

When Emily in Paris beat I May Destroy You to TWO Golden Globe nominations earlier this month, it sent the internet into a frenzy. How could this happen? By bribes, apparently. The LA Times has now published a tell all piece that cracks open the case and spills its guts on the floor. Apparently, 30 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association – the exact same people accountable for the idiotic Golden Globe nominations – were given a luxury press trip thanks to Paramount Network back in 2019. Whats more? They were even flown for a little sight-seeing tour of the Emily in Paris set. *Sigh*

 
Ella Bardsley

Ella Bardsley (25) is Check-Out’s very own Editor-At-Large, the Editor at Wonderland and ex-Junior Digital Editor at LOVE (#rip). The honourable meme queen tickled the keyboards at titles including Coeval, Goat, 1Granary and Off The Block having previously studied at the University of Manchester and Central Saint Martins. 

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