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THE POP CULTURE RAG VOL. 3

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5 min read

THE POP CULTURE RAG VOL. 3 Photo

by Team Thinx | 05/03/2016

1. DEMI LOVATO & NICK JONAS ARE NOT MESSING AROUND (AND WE LOVE IT)

Musicians Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas have decided to cancel their upcoming shows in Raleigh and Charlotte in North Carolina, which was originally a branch of their 2016 HONDA CIVIC tour (not crazy about the tour name, but we get it, #marketing). Their decision was based on a law called HB2, which became official in March upon being signed by Governor Pat McCrory, and poses severe limitations to the transgender community. HB2 bans local governments and cities within North Carolina to pass rules that allow people to use the bathroom based on their gender identity (essentially, if, for example, you are a trans man, you could be legally stopped from using the men's bathroom in NC. Yikes). 

Image by Jennifer Linnea Photography

Lovato and Jonas posted identical Instagram posts explaining their decisions to cancel the shows. “North Carolina’s discriminatory HB2 law is extremely disappointing, and it takes away some of the LGBT communities basic rights and protections. But we will not allow this to stop us from continuing to make progress for equality and acceptance,” the post read. They continued their statement by hoping their fans would understand, and join them in their stance against HB2. "We know the cancellation of these shows is disappointing to our fans, but we trust that you will stand united with us against this hateful law."

This decision was made together by Jonas and Lovato, who appeared at the 7th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. Jonas awarded Lovato with the Vanguard Award, and Lovato delivered an emotional speech: “What I want to say is, I’m so excited for the future. I want to be a voice to my generation,” she said. “I always knew that if I made ever made it as a singer, that I needed to use my voice for so much more than just singing, and this award to me means to much more than any music award- because this is the real stuff.”

Lovato is keeping her word, and her voice of concern and force of action are gaining the attention it deserves. 

2. IMDB IS BEING SHADY SO OUR CURRENT VIBE IS THIS PHOTO OF LESLIE JONES

Looks like IMDB has snubbed Ghostbusters reboot actress Leslie Jones by listing her far below (like, all the way down at #17) her white costars (mhmm, that's right: CO-stars) amongst the boom-ops and ghost trainers (no offense to them I'm sure they're hard workin folks). She's SEVENTEENTH. And sitting at number one? Chris Hemsworth (who we <3, but still) as KEVIN. KEVIN? He doesn’t even have a last name! Something smells a little fishy here, and we don't think it's the ghost that oozes green slime. 

IMDB has claimed that this occurred due to a system they've got called the STARmeter, which sounds like a boardgame I would have begged for when I was 10. The STARmeter allegedly uses a proprietary algorithm to "provide industry professionals with insights into the popularity of film and television productions as well as the people and companies that make them." Hmmm, muy interesanté.

Either way, Leslie Jones has earned her spot next to Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, and Kate McKinnon, amirite?? All of the women starring in this film deserve recognition, a first page IMDB spot above Kevin. Sorry, Kevin. 

**3. BROOKLYN DECKER HAD A VERY BAD DAY AT THE AIRPORT** 

Model and actress Brooklyn Decker experienced a Planes, Trains, and Automobiles level nightmare when her plane left her behind.

Context: Decker gave birth to her son, Hank, in October and is currently breastfeeding (k, maybe not at this moment, but generally). So, during a two hour delay on Delta Airlines, she left the plane to pump (after being told that passengers “were allowed to leave and return”).   When she arrived back at the gate, they'd closed the gate. Lol wut? Decker went on a Tweet rant about the incident (because duh), claiming it was the first time she had left her son at home, and she was going to drown her sorrows in some wine (totally and completely reasonable), because quelle desastre.

 

Delta has not responded to the Tweets from Decker or her husband, Andy Roddick. Their lack of response is disappointing, mainly because it could open up a larger discussion on how we can better support breastfeeding mothers when they are traveling, and what resources planes can offer them. Breastfeeding publicly continues to be a cultural taboo and stigma, and perhaps if this weren't the case, Decker would have stayed on the plane to pump and gotten home sooner to her sweet ‘lil Hank.

4. KESHA IS MAKING MUSIC AGAIN AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, SEEMS HAPPIER THAN EVER

Good news, friends! Our girl Kesha is back in the studio making music again ~ huzzah! To rewind- Kesha was not recording because she did not want to work with her producer, Dr. Luke, who she claimed was physically and emotionally abusive. Kesha’s legal battle to sever ties with the producer is still ongoing, but Sony is allowing her to work with other producers (although they are not allowing her to end her contract with them). It’s not *exactly* what we had hoped for, but if Kesha is allowed to work with who she wants and feels safe and valued, it's a step in the right direction.

Kesha is working with Zedd, a Russian-German producer who has worked with other hit musicians like Hayley Williams and Elie Goulding. His collaboration with Kesha is called True Colors, and has already been released for streaming and was performed by the two at the Coachella Music Festival. Kesha posted an Instagram picture of her singing in the studio, and captioned, “It's a miracle when someone gives you a chance at finding your voice again with no reason other than that he is a fucking beautiful person with a heart of gold @zedd #truecolors." 

Team THINX is still standing with Kesha, and are so freakin’ happy that she is not only making music again, but she is able to do so with someone she respects and trusts-- no doubt a result of so many women coming together to speak out against Sony and Dr. Luke. You go, girls.

by Team Thinx

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