Arts & Entertainment

Photo Contribution: Forbes

In a recent ad for American Eagle, actress Sydney Sweeney was prominently featured. The ad sparked controversy for a plethora of reasons. A few months ago, Sweeney did another ad for Dr. Squash soap, which featured, ‘Sydney Sweeney Bathwater Soap.” This of course had its own criticisms of being overly provocative and odd. Many people were shocked that she would spring for an American Eagle ad after this backlash. Nonetheless, she appeared in another sultry ad, targeted for the male audience. Although the soap ad was indeed a soap mainly for men, the jeans ad was for women. In addition to  this, the ad’s most prominent slogan was, “Sydney Sweeney has great genes.” Obviously, this was a play on the homophone, jeans/genes; however, the public did not take it as such.

At first, there was small amounts of discourse over the matter, hiding only in the debate and controversy sides of social media. However when right-wing conservatives took to Twitter or Tiktok, they called out others for claiming the ad was eugenic and out of touch, sparking outrage across the internet 

The main argument against the ad was that it was indeed eugenic, the belief that one race’s genes are better than another’s. This ideology was prominently used during the Holocaust in WW2 and began to be rooted in antisemitism. American Eagle argued that it was not their intention for the ad to sound offensive, and while that may be true, Sydney Sweeney is blond-haired and blue-eyed, making the “great genes/jeans” slogan come off extremely poorly. Many thought that targeting a male audience for a women’s jeans advertisement was contradictory and would reduce American Eagle’s sales. Although the company only dropped 3% compared to last year’s sales, this is not enough to conclude that the ad had any link to this statistic. However, the specific jeans Sweeney was selling sold out at record speed. which could lead you to, of course, argue the ethics of an advertisement like this. Some could ask: Is it really reasonable to provoke outrage for money? However, one could also ask: Was it truly something that needed to be so controversial, if it was such a big deal, how come most people didn’t care? In a poll by The Hill, only about 12% had a strong opinion against it, which leads one to truly consider how offensive it was.

Through all this debate, GAP released its own jeans ad featuring the K-pop group, Katseye. The group started in 2024 and consists of six members. The ad featured the members of the group dancing to the popular 2000s hit, Milkshake by Kelis. The song contains the line, “It’s better than yours,” referring to how GAP jeans are “better than yours,” had hundreds of thousands of individuals dancing online. Katseye received nothing but praise for the ad, and GAP saw an immediate income increase of more than 4%. Unlike the American Eagle ad, this had nothing but love coming from all corners of the internet. With its joyful music and diverse group of women, a message reflecting inclusiveness and positivity was created and, stemming from a purely marketing standpoint, the ad features the girls dancing in the jeans, showing how versatile they are. The public responded so differently to both of these ads, sending hate to Sydney Sweeney’s ad while praising Katseye’s. However you could argue that Katseye, although racially diverse, has a much less inclusive body type and the song has historically been centered around competing for male attention, no matter how iconic the internet makes it seem. As a result of these ads both companies benefited in their own way, so that begs the question: which ad is better? Is it better to appeal to the masses, creating an unproblematic message that is catchy and fun, or create a controversial ad that sparks conversation and debate? At the end of the day, it all comes down to how much media coverage it got. Like the old saying goes, “all press is good press”, and these ads show just how true this saying can be.

On August 26th, one of the world’s most famous singers shared the news that she is engaged! The joint Instagram announcement of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement spread like wildfire, amassing the highest number of reposts on an Instagram post in under six hours. The post currently sits at 37 million likes.

Taylor Swift’s and the Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end, Travis Kelce started dating two years prior to their engagement. Fans first caught wind of the budding romance when Travis mentioned attempting to give Taylor a friendship bracelet with his number on it during her Eras Tour stop at Arrowhead Stadium. When asked by his brother  whether it was his jersey number or phone number, Travis Kelce joked, “You know which one.” Their relationship rumors skyrocketed but it wasn’t confirmed they were dating until September 24, 2023, when Taylor was spotted cheering him on in a VIP box during a Kansas city Chiefs game against the Chicago Bears. Since then, the pair have publicly supported each other at multiple games and shows, including two Super Bowl appearances. Travis even made a surprise appearance during Swift’s Eras Tour stop at London’s Wembley on June 23, 2024.

 Many eagle-eyed viewers noticed that her hair has headphone indentions in it which fueled speculation that the proposal happened shortly after her guest appearance on the Kelce brothers podcast: New Heights. That episode, which aired on August 13th, additionally featured Swift announcing her upcoming 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, along with revealing the cover art. Set for a release on October 3rd, the album will feature 12 tracks developed during the European leg of the Eras Tour in 2024. One of those songs, the title track, features Sabrina Carpenter. Swift revealed that the project was produced by Max Martian and Shellback, both longtime collaborators known for their work on Swift’s album, 1989. During the same appearance on the New Heights podcast, Swift opened up about the inspiration behind the album’s 12 tracks, revealing that each song was shaped by personal experiences while on the Eras Tour. “This album is about what was going on behind the scenes in my inner life during this tour, which was so exuberant and electric and vibrant,” she explained. “It just comes from like the most infectiously joyful, wild dramatic place I was in in my life.” 

While fans were still buzzing over the album reveal, they didn’t expect for another bombshell to drop a few days later: Travis had proposed. According to Travis’s father, Ed Kelce, the proposal took place in the garden of Travis’s home in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Speaking on The Jimmy & Nath Show with Emma in Australia, Ed Kelce revealed more details on the proposal. “Travis actually did the proposal, oh, maybe two weeks, not quite two weeks ago,” Ed Kelce said. “He was going to put it off till this week. I think she was getting maybe a little antsy, but he was going to put her off till this week, to, you know, make some grand thing, to make it a big special event. And I told him repeatedly, you know, you could do it on the side of the road, do it anywhere that makes it a special event … when you get down on one knee and ask her to marry you.” 

Kelce’s fame has expanded since their relationship began. Once known primarily to NFL fans, he is now recognized worldwide. His jersey sales have increased 400% since Swift’s first appearance at the game, and his follower count and media presence have increased as well. NFL broadcasts featuring Swift drove a 63 percent jump in female viewership among women aged 18-50. 

As the couple celebrates their engagement and with The Life of a Showgirl on the way, fans are eagerly anticipating what comes next from one of pop culture’s most watched couples.

It’s a new year, so you know what that means– the start of the 2025 awards season. From Broadway theatre to film and television to music, loved members of the entertainment industry have many different awards they’ll soon fight to win.

This awards season was kicked off by the Golden Globes on January 5th, hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser. The carpet was lined with stars from both television and film. The film that won the most awards was Emlia Pérez, including winning Best Picture for a musical or comedy. The Brutalist was another high achiever of the night, with lead Adrien Brody winning Best Actor in a Drama Motion Picture and the movie itself winning Best Picture for a Drama. 

On the other hand, television’s biggest winners were Hacks and Shōgun. Shōgun reigned supreme, taking home four awards total, including Best Television Series (drama) and three acting awards. Hacks took home two awards– Best Television Series (musical or comedy) and Best Female Actor in a Comedy, given to lead Jean Smart. 

While the Golden Globes gave audiences an idea of what is to come, there are still many upcoming shows that viewers are excited to tune in to, including the iconic Oscars. Other approaching events include the GRAMMYS, Tonys, and SAG Awards. 

The coveted Oscars take place on March 2nd, 2025. Already, Emilia Pérez has broken an amazing record– most nominations for a non-English language film. It received this achievement after dominating the nominations with thirteen, followed by The Brutalist and Wicked with ten each. Additionally, Karla Sofía Gascón (star of Emilia Pérez) became the first openly transgender actor ever to be nominated for an Academy Award. 

Now, what records are at stake? Cynthia Ervio has a chance at winning a prestigious EGOT. EGOT stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, and refers to people who have won every single award. If Erivo wins best actress for her portrayal of Elphaba in Wicked, she will become the youngest EGOT winner ever at 38 years old.

There’s another close race at the Oscars, between Timothée Chalamet and Adrien Brody. Both were nominated for best actor– Chalamet as legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, and Brody as a Holocaust survivor relocating to America in The Brutalist. If 29-year-old Chalamet takes home the Oscar, he will become the youngest actor to ever do so, breaking the previous record by a few short weeks. This would take away the status from the current record holder, who, ironically, is his competitor Brody. In the past seven years, Chalamet has starred in seven films nominated for best picture at the Oscars. Will this be the year he wins his first Oscar, or will Brody win his second and keep his record?

But no awards season happens without a little drama. Currently, the films Emilia Pérez and The Brutalist are facing controversy after revealing they both used AI to modify their actors’ voices. The Brutalist used AI to enhance the Hungarian accent of actors Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. The film’s editor, Dávid Jancsó, described in an interview that as a native Hungarian speaker, he knows “it is one of the most difficult languages to learn to pronounce.” He further explained that he was “very careful about keeping their performances,” and that they used AI “so that not even locals will spot any difference” in their accents. 

Emilia Pérez used AI on lead Karla Sofía Gascón’s singing voice. Gascón was unable to reach certain singing registers, so her voice was mixed with another singer to give the impression she was still singing.

Why is this an issue? Some claim that it is unfair to actors and actresses nominated against Brody and Gascón. For example, as Bob Dylan, Timothée Chalamet performed live throughout the film, including singing in a voice uncannily similar to Dylan’s and playing guitar. In Wicked, Cynthia Ervio and her co-stars sang live. Chalamet and Erivo are nominated against Brody and Gascón, and it is argued that AI gave those who used it an unfair advantage. 

Regardless of how this award season ends, it’ll be a wild and exciting ride seeing how everything unfolds.

This year, The Golden Globes had their first solo female host and they couldn’t have chosen a better comedian for that title. Niki Glaser, a 40-year-old comedian from Cincinnati, Ohio killed it as the host of the Golden Globes. Rarely is the host of an award show the most talked about at the end of the night but Glaser certainly was the talk of the town after the annual event. Although she has recently gained media attention, Glaser is not new to the industry, she has been around for a while but is just now getting her flowers.

Glaser first gained attention after appearing on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” in 2009. She then got her first comedy special “Perfect” in 2016 which was not very successful. That same year, Glaser appeared in her first Comedy Central Roast. The Roast of Rob Lowe earned Glaser lots of praise; she came up with jokes that were as ruthless as they were hilarious. This earned Glaser respect in the comedy industry which led to her appearing in the Roasts of Bruce Willis and Alec Baldwin. However, she didn’t limit herself to Roasts. Glaser hosted a reality show as well,  appearing on “Dancing with The Stars”. While Glaser has always been in the industry,  the most recent Comedy Central Roast that Glaser participated in created a huge shift in her career. The Roast of Tom Brady was highly anticipated. Glaser is known for her blunt comedy, she even says the goal of her comedy is to “mention the unmentionable.” She carried this mindset into The Roast of Tom Brady with jokes poking fun at Brady’s divorce, the NFL covering up head injuries, retiring too late, and so much more. After the Roast, Glaser was praised for her roasting skills, named the unofficial winner of the Roast. This introduced Glaser to new audiences, all of which were impressed by her Roasts. Her newfound popularity led to the opportunity of hosting the Golden Globes.

Stakes were high for Glaser as the first solo female host, but she delivered. We are used to seeing men in boring suits delivering the same generic jokes, so  Glaser was a nice surprise for this year’s Golden Globes. Her racy jokes and excited spirit brought a certain light to the stage that is not often there. Her monologue included jokes about Timothee Chalamet, Ben Affleck, and Harrison Ford. Glaser’s performance included costume changes and a refreshing lack of misogynistic jokes, unlike previous years. The support for Glaser’s hosting abilities poured out on social media with fans saying “Niki Glaser is made for this.”Producers noticed the outpour of love Glaser received and there was talk that she would return for future years. Executive producer Glenn Weiss stated, “I can’t talk officially for anything. I will say, as someone who produces and directs award shows, [that] she really found her niche here, and I think it really worked out beautifully on this show. And I would love to see it continue.” It’s safe to say that fans would love to see her on the Golden Globes stage again. Glaser told Howard Stern on “The Howard Stern Show” that she would have hosted for free because it was an amazing opportunity. However, she also mentioned that a male past host was paid more than her. Glaser did not appear to be upset about this although it is interesting that there was a difference in paycheck.

Glaser has worked hard for many years and has been writing jokes since she was in college. Now, at 40 years old, she is on top of the world receiving so much love for her hard work. We can hope to see Glaser at next year’s Golden Globes as well as stand-up specials and Roast appearances in between. 

The 2025 Academy Awards are already stirring controversy, particularly in the wake of the recent Golden Globes. The 2024 film Challengers took home the award for Best Feature-Length Film Score, a win that left many surprised. Fans of Wicked were especially vocal on social media, expressing outrage over Challengers’ victory. However, their frustration quickly revealed a common misunderstanding—many were confusing a film’s score (its original instrumental composition) with its soundtrack (a collection of pre-existing or vocal songs). This debate has reignited discussions about the role of music in film and how audiences perceive its impact.

Score is an incredibly important aspect of a film’s storytelling and creation of its atmosphere. For example, in the aforementioned film Challengers, the score, composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, is an electrifying and pulse-pounding blend of electronic and orchestral elements. It leans heavily into pulsating synths, distorted basslines, and hypnotic rhythms, creating a sense of tension and movement that mirrors the film’s high-stakes drama and emotional intensity. The music has a raw, almost physical energy, reinforcing the competitive nature of the film and the pure drama between each character. Without score, a film would be full of awkward silences. The addition of a score can also convey the mood or theme of a scene. A character could be shot with a blank expression on their face, but with the addition of sadder sounding music, that character can be perceived by the audience as melancholic. 

Alternatively, Wicked faced high praise for its soundtrack specifically; An adaptation of the 2003 musical, based on Victor Flemming’s The Wizard of Oz. Wicked tells the story of the main antagonist of the Wizard of Oz, Elphaba, as her story twists her into the villain we see portrayed in the film. The importance of the soundtrack is much greater in a musical than other films, being the main medium of communication of the story and plot. Without the soundtrack Wicked would be an incomplete story. This isn’t to say that the soundtrack isn’t important in other films as well, particularly non-musicals. The 2017 film Baby Driver, directed by Edgar Wright, is an illustrious example of this concept, the high action packed music and the importance of music as a whole within its’ central plot allows for a creative and colorful mix of different tracks within its sound. The film follows a heist driver, named Baby, as he transports many criminals. He is very interested in music and refuses to drive without it. There are a few high stress scenes where he simply won’t drive because he can’t get his iPod working. Without the inclusion of this film’s soundtrack, the characterization would be lost and not communicated effectively. 

Score and soundtrack in combination are a powerful tool in storytelling, the 2011 film Rio, is often regarded as an animated masterpiece, the soundtrack being undoubtedly one of the core reasons. Both aspects within the film’s sound utilize the sound to define the setting of Rio De Janeiro, making its score and soundtrack undeniably a pillar in setting the scene of the film! 

In short, score and soundtrack couldn’t be more glaringly different, however they are best used in tandem when filmmaking as important tools in a filmmaker’s tool box to setting a story’s plot, setting, and characterization. The upcoming award season, particularly including the Grammy’s and Oscar’s, will be a hard contest between last year’s amazing scores and soundtracks!

Recently, Movie star Zendaya was seen at the Golden Globe award ceremony, repping an orange customized ball gown, bold diamond statement necklace, and some sponsored rings, Although her jewelry tied in perfectly with the outfit, one did not appear like the others. 

Fans of Zendaya could easily spot the ring on her left index finger. Some speculated that it was another sponsored jewelry item, some speculated it was an heirloom, and many others noted its special placement. 

Zendaya was wearing an engagement ring to the Golden Globes! 

Family members and friends have reported some details of the engagement, the Hoofprint has put together some of our favorite facts about everyone’s favorite celebrity couple’s engagement. 

The diamond and the destination

People Magazine reports that the ring appears to be a 5.02-carat East-West Cushion Diamond button-back ring from Jessica McCormack, listed in the engagement section on the jewelry brand’s website. This means that the estimated price of the ring could be anywhere from $29,000 to $320,000, However, many have speculated that it could be more. 

Holland hinted at his “secret” holiday plans with his fiancée during the December 18 episode of the Dish podcast. He mentioned, “I’ll be with my girlfriend’s family, which will be fun. Where we’ll be is a secret.” he said of his plans to spend Christmas in the U.S. “[Secret] to you guys,” he joked. “I’ll know where we’re going.”

During this vacation, it is speculated that Holland proposed in Zendaya’s childhood home, which included both friends and family, along with a romantic touch. They do not plan to rush the wedding, and friends have commented that they are currently ‘soaking up the moment’. 

2- Private but passionate

The two met on the set of the infamous Spider-Man movies, consistently staying as friends until they were spotted kissing in a car in July 2021, confirming their off-screen romance. In September of that year, they went Instagram official, with Holland sharing a selfie of the pair in honor of Zendaya’s 25th birthday. In the caption, Hollandcalled the Euphoria star “my MJ”.  Since then, the couple has maintained a very private relationship, barely making the relationship open to the public, but still making it clear that they are in it for the long haul, Tom Holland recently stated, “We don’t think that we owe it to anyone, it’s our thing, and it has nothing to do with our careers.”. The following month, he revealed that his relationship with Zendaya is the thing he holds “most sacred” in life. “I don’t talk about it. I try my best to keep it as private as possible,” he said while appearing on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast. “We both feel very strongly that that is the healthiest way to move on as a couple.” Zendaya also shares the same feelings as her new fiance, stating in Elle Magazine, “Parts of my life, I accept, are going to be public. I can’t not be a person and live my life and love the person I love,” she said.

“But also, I do have control over what I choose to share,” Zendaya continued. “It’s about protecting the peace and letting things be your own but also not being afraid to exist. You can’t hide. That’s not fun either. I am navigating it more than ever now.”. 

Fans are ecstatic about the recent engagement, many taking to social media to express their congratulations and feelings about the couple. Although this is one of the biggest celebrity engagements of the year, it is important to respect the couple’s privacy. 

Growing up in the era of prime Nickelodeon and Disney Channel, I can attest to the significance of their laugh track shows as a presence in the childhood of Generation Z. Whether you were an avid Victorious fan or you dabbled in some iCarly or Jessie, most kids who are now high school and college age grew up watching the programs Nickelodeon and Disney Channel produced. The programs were made for kids, featuring kids. While child acting has always been known as a scandalous and intense industry, the Discovery documentary series Quiet on Set exposes the real danger involved in the industry of child acting and the truth behind some of our favorite shows. 

The series was released in March of 2024, revealing that behind all the neon green slime, Nickelodeon was not a healthy environment for their child actors. These former child stars allege a variety of abuses and toxic behavior on the sets of classic shows, such as Drake & Josh, Victorious, All That,  and The Amanda Show. From claims of bullying and discrimination to truly horrifying accounts of sexual assault, the documentary reveals all the darkness hidden behind the laugh tracks. Many of these claims are directed at infamous producer Dan Scheider who denies all the allegations of inappropriate behavior after being fired in 2018 when the allegations surfaced. 

Perhaps the most shocking of all is Drake Bell’s disclosure that he was the victim in the criminal case, for which Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck pleaded no contest to lewd acts with a child. “My name is Drake Bell and I came here today to tell my story,” Bell says as he opens up for the first time in the documentary’s third episode, before detailing his relationship with Peck, whom he met at the beginning of Season 2 of The Amanda Show. Nickelodeon’s child actors commonly stayed in Peck’s home, trusting him as a role model and their parents trusting him as a supervisor. Unfortunately, according to Bell, “everything changed with Brian one morning.” After experiencing repeated acts of sexual abuse Drake didn’t immediately go to the police in fear that Peck, a powerful man in the industry, would destroy his career and income. Later telling his mom the truth, she immediately called the police and a year-long investigation began. Brian Peck was eventually arrested in 2003 and no one, not even at Nickelodeon knew who the victim was. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison and is officially registered as a sex offender. After his release, Peck landed a job on Disney Channel’s The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.

In Quiet on Set, actors Bryan Hearne and Giovonnie Samuels alleged experiencing racism, both subtle and glaring, from producer Dan Schneider. Two former female The Amanda Show writers accused Schneider of sexism and sexual harassment. Rewatching all of the shows that were a part of our childhood after the details regarding the truth behind the industry were released, many people took to social media accusing Schneider of sexualizing the children on his shows, including now-famous pop star, Ariana Grande. Schneider expressed remorse in an interview posted to his YouTube page. “I owe some people a pretty strong apology,” he said.  

Viewers are heartbroken by this series to learn that their enjoyment of watching childhood shows came at the expense of the well-being of the actors who played them and that it took years for people to start listening to their claims. Talented youth have been paraded in front of the spotlight for years but at what cost? With increasing numbers of childhood stars admitting the troublesome experiences they went through and how they drove them into substance abuse or mental health issues, it’s important to push Hollywood adults to do better. The current safeguards for child safety in the studio environment are insufficient. After this documentary, many are left wondering, will this documentary change the situation?

It is not every day that a Disney actor goes on to attend the University of Southern California, graduate with a Master’s degree from MIT, have four million monthly listeners on Spotify, be the CEO of a space startup, and be a mom. Bridgit Mendler breaks this mold. 

Mendler signed with Disney in 2009, starring in hit shows such as Wizards of Waverly Place, Lemonade Mouth, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, and her most notable role as Teddy Duncan in Good Luck, Charlie. Good Luck, Charlie is one of Disney’s most popular shows, with 7.48 million viewers. Outside of her Disney fame, she has played multiple roles in sitcoms and a Netflix Original musical. However, Mendler hasn’t been seen on screen since 2019, as she has been busy excelling in her alternate artistic field: Music. 

Mendler’s music career kicked off in the early 2010s with her contributions to the Lemonade Mouth soundtrack. With the movie’s success, Mendler signed with Hollywood Records in 2011. A year later, she released her one-hit-wonder album, Hello My Name Is…. Even if you aren’t a die-hard Mendler fan, chances are you have jammed to the album’s two singles, Ready or Not and Hurricane. Her album peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Top 200 and has recently seen a spike in streams over a decade later. Mendler embarked on two tours and released nine other singles over the years. 

Mendler isn’t confined to just Arts and Entertainment. In the late 2010s, she began to focus on her education, enrolling at the University of Southern California with a major in anthropology. When asked why she chose to attend college, Mendler shared that her parents had always encouraged her to “do everything.” Even after leaving USC, Mendler’s ambition kept her pursuing her education. In 2018, she announced she was attending MIT and majoring in humanity and technology, concentrating on improving social media. Mendler took to X to share her struggle with social media throughout her career, “I felt like there was a more loving and human way to connect with fans.” 

Why stop at attending just two major universities? In 2022, Mendler was enrolled at both Harvard Law School and MIT. This past March, she confirmed that she was just two months away from earning her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law, has her Masters from MIT, but is still working on her PhD. 

With her Bachelor, Masters, and soon-to-be PhD, Mendler created a new space startup, known as Northwood Space. Mendler and her husband, Griffin Cleverly, are the co-founders of this startup that aims to create “a data highway between earth and space” by making more ground stations for satellites. 

On top of acting, music, school, and space engineering, Mendler has embarked on a new endeavor: motherhood. Mendler and Cleverly adopted a four-year-old boy at the end of 2022, after fostering for many years. “Being a parent is the biggest gift and most defining experience there is,” Mendler wrote on X.

 Despite all that she has accomplished, Mendler has always prioritized others. Over the years she has worked hard with multiple charities and received numerous awards for her activism. She fights for environmentalism with charities like Disney’s Friends for Change and is vocally anti-bullying with organizations such as Common Sense Media. 

Mendler can do it all. Since the 2000s, she has been breaking boundaries set by the multiple industries she takes part in. In an interview with USA Today, Mendler said, “I want to know something outside of what I do.” From acting to music to school, her aspiration to learn and grow has made her the versatile and intelligent person she is today.