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Editing

I became an editor for three reasons: 1) To help shape stories 2) To help mentor and elevate other journalists and 3) To become the leader that I felt many newsrooms lacked.

What I Do

I launched the Culture & Trends team in September 2021 at NBC News Digital. Our coverage focuses on the latest news, trends, personalities, and cultural shifts that are native to the internet and social platforms. 

We tackle a mix of daily quick hits on what’s trending (like American Girl doll collectors are fighting homophobia within their online community and Jesse Williams' nude Broadway images circulated on Twitter. His castmates, the 'Take Me Out’ Theater are condemning the leak); explainers (like, why is everyone talking about Elmo’s feud with a rock? and how Duo the big green owl became a TikTok star); and deep dives into why things go viral (like ‘Couch Guy' is the latest viral TikTok to show how internet sleuthing can be toxic and Her TikTok-famous cat died. Devastated fans lashed out). TLDR: If people are talking about it online, we’re likely finding a smart, unique way to cover it.

As the section editor, I manage a small but mighty team of three reporters. I assign and edit their stories, and help shape our overall coverage of the beat. I also occasionally write.  We approach our coverage not like outsiders looking in, but rather as observers who can offer expertise and insight to those who want to know more. Everything that is trending online, what people are talking about, serves as a window into what people actually care about. I actively work to change people’s perceptions of this beat, as well as why we as an industry should care and cover what Gen Zers are interested in.

In addition to my day-to-day editing and managing role, I also oversee and help lead coverage of major entertainment events, including: awards shows (Oscars, Emmys, MTV Movie Awards, VMAs), the Super Bowl, festivals/conferences (SXSW, VidCon, TwitchCon) and other important news events (Depp-Heard trial, Britney Spears conservatorship). 

Daily stories & features

Some of my favorite stories I've edited by the Culture & Trends team.

NBC News •

Their children went viral. Now they wish they could wipe them from the internet.

During the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, Kodye Elyse started posting what she described as “normal mom quarantine content” on TikTok.

Kodye Elyse, a cosmetic tattoo artist, said she "really wasn’t on social media" before then, so she barely had any followers. Because her videos weren’t getting many views, she felt it “wasn’t a big deal” to have a public account to showcase her family’s life during lockdown, with many of the videos featuring her and her daughters dancing around the h
NBC News •

Young women on TikTok want the next generation to avoid becoming ‘almond moms'

Some young women are changing the way they talk about food and their body image after seeing the discussion surrounding so-called almond moms on TikTok.

The term “almond mom” began trending on TikTok last month after a 2014 clip of former “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast member Yolanda Hadid went viral. In it, she tells daughter, Gigi Hadid, who was a teen at the time, to “have a couple of almonds, and chew them really well.” The recommendation was made in response to Gigi, who is a
NBC News •

Millennial nostalgia sells. Just ask these influencers making their livings off it.

Erin Miller has mastered the art of unlocking millennials’ core memories.

Miller, 33, has grown a following of more than 1.7 million people on TikTok by posting videos re-creating relatable — sometimes cringeworthy — moments they may have also experienced in the late ’90s and the early 2000s.

Like frying her bangs with a flatiron ahead of a garage party — because that was the cool hairstyle at the time (and no one knew any better). Or asking classmates to sign her plain white T-shirts with a s
NBC News •

What is the 'lesbian breakup curse,' and why are some TikTok users worried about it?

It started with Sedona and Rylee, who announced their split in a TikTok video that now has 8.5 million views. Then Alissa and Sam quietly announced they had separated. By the time Avery and Soph broke up, TikTok users began worrying that a fabled "lesbian breakup curse" would affect their relationships, too.

In recent weeks, the supposed curse, also referred to as the “breakup plague” and the “breakup apocalypse,” has consumed many TikTok users' lives.

“Remixing my attitude to avoid the lesbia
NBC News •

A foot fetish site and claims of overnight riches show murky world of TikTok's creator economy

Videos about the photo-selling website FeetFinder have popped up across TikTok in recent weeks, with many creators on the platform claiming they have made thousands of dollars by simply uploading pictures of their feet.

But a handful of creators are now revealing that the videos praising FeetFinder were actually sponsored by the fetish site.

“Why did I just make like $70 on this thing called FeetFinder?” Andy, a creator known as andierhoe said in a video posted on May 24. “If you have cute fee
NBC News •

A pawnshop owner thought he discovered unseen images of horrors from the Nanjing massacre. Historians disagree.

A pawnshop owner's viral TikTok video, in which he said he received an album of over 30 previously unseen photos of the Nanjing Massacre, has sparked backlash over the ethics of posting graphic historical materials online without expert verifying that they're real.

Evan Kail, the pawnshop owner and TikTok creator who posted about the photos last week, said a client brought him the album to sell. A relative of the client was a soldier stationed in Southeast Asia in the late 1930s and apparently
NBC News •

Black creators say they ‘have to be perfect’ to get promotional products from brands. They want that to change.

As influencers who were new to New York City, Antoni Bumba and her former roommate spent time last year trying to strengthen their relationships with brands.

The creators, who had already built sizable followings on their platforms, knew that one of the best ways to grow their careers was to ask brands for “PR packages,” or gifts, to create promotional content and foster brand relationships. One day, Bumba said, the two of them decided to send emails to the same company.

Bumba’s friend, who is
NBC News •

Gabbie Hanna’s TikToks are prompting concern from her followers. Some say the platform should do more.

The concerned comments from Gabbie Hanna’s followers began pouring in on Wednesday.

By that time, Hanna, a social media creator who has more than 12.8 million followers across YouTube and TikTok, had already posted more than 100 increasingly erratic videos to her TikTok, including several in which she made comments that some of her followers called racist and transphobic. She also uploaded videos of her letting someone, who appeared to be a stranger, enter her Southern California home. He event
NBC News •

TikTok trend inspires women to wear pigtails to work in an experiment to see whether they get more tips

Some women who have jobs in the service industry are sporting pigtails at work as part of a social experiment to find out whether they will earn more in tips from male patrons.

From servers to dancers, those who have participated in the experiment and shared their experiences on TikTok say their tips have increased since they rocked the hairstyle at work. They say the experiment's success has shown that young women are more sexualized in society.

“Unfortunately, women are going to be fetishize
NBC News •

The internet can’t stop talking about Andrew Tate

Once best known as a professional kickboxer and struggling reality TV star, Andrew Tate has become almost impossible to avoid on social media.

He’s a topic of conversation on every major platform. Major creators have either talked about Tate or had him on their livestreams and podcasts, often in an attempt to counter his hyper-misogynistic stances on women and modern masculinity. Teacher-focused online spaces are discussing how to handle students who have been influenced by him.

Tate, 35, cont
NBC News •

Lensa, the AI portrait app, has soared in popularity. But many artists question the ethics of AI art.

For many online, Lensa AI is a cheap, accessible profile picture generator. But in digital art circles, the popularity of artificial intelligence-generated art has raised major privacy and ethics concerns.

Lensa, which launched as a photo editing app in 2018, went viral last month after releasing its “magic avatars” feature. It uses a minimum of 10 user-uploaded images and the neural network Stable Diffusion to generate portraits in a variety of digital art styles. Social media has been flooded
NBC News •

'Marry Me' and the everlasting appeal of a Jennifer Lopez rom-com

Ask anyone who knows her in the entertainment industry and they’ll tell you: Jennifer Lopez is the queen of the romantic-comedy genre.

Sure, she's also a global music sensation, dancer and mom to two children. But on screen, she shines in leading roles where viewers can't look away from her characters' journeys to finding love.

Milo Ventimiglia, who played her husband in the 2018 film “Second Act,” told NBC News, “She’s larger than life but somehow the most relatable person in the world on the
NBC News •

'Licorice Pizza' criticized for scenes involving fake Asian accent

Director Paul Thomas Anderson's "Licorice Pizza" is being criticized by some on social media for including scenes where a white businessman speaks in a fake Asian accent with his on-screen wife, who is Japanese.

The film, which rolled out in limited release over Thanksgiving weekend, is a coming-of-age comedy-drama that stars Alana Haim (of the Haim band) and Cooper Hoffman (son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman), two young people growing up in the San Fernando Valley in California in the 1970
NBC News •

Adele, Mitski and Taylor Swift usher in 'Sad Girl Autumn' with new music

Summer is over. Temperatures have dropped. The leaves have changed colors. And as the pumpkin spice lattes have returned, so, too, has the concept of “Sad Girl Autumn.”

At least, that’s according to those on social media who went into an internet frenzy ahead of Adele release of her fourth studio album, "30," on Friday. The album drops about a week after indie rock artist Mitski released the music video for “The Only Heartbreaker” and hit artist Taylor Swift released the re-recorded version of
NBC News •

From calling Dua Lipa 'mommy' to twerking to Adele, Duolingo's owl is a hoot on TikTok

There appears to be a new unlikely TikTok star — and it's a big green bird that will threaten people for missing their French lessons.

The Duolingo owl, better known as the furry icon that frequently reminds language learners to do their daily exercises, has made a hoot on TikTok for featuring a life-size version of its mascot in lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek — and sometimes unhinged — videos.

From twerking atop a conference table to a remix of Adele’s “Easy on Me” with rapper CupcakKe or call

Trial Coverage

For two weeks, I ran and edited a daily live blog dedicated to the Amber Heard-Johnny Depp trial. Additionally, I assigned and edited sidebars and thoughtful bounces related to the trial. I also edited all stories related to Britney Spears' conservatorship. Below, some of the strongest stories.

NBC News •

Britney Spears’ father suspended as her conservator, judge rules

LOS ANGELES — A judge in Los Angeles ruled Wednesday that Britney Spears' father should be suspended as her conservator, a change that the singer requested and that her attorney hopes will set her on the path to freedom for the first time since 2008.

Spears' father, James "Jamie" Spears, filed the petition to dissolve the conservatorship last month after she filed to replace him with a professional conservator. Britney Spears, 39, described her situation as "abusive" in public testimony over th
NBC News •

'You guys saved my life': Britney Spears talks life post-conservatorship

Britney Spears spoke to fans Tuesday about her intentions to move on after she was released from her conservatorship last week, thanking #FreeBritney activists for their support.

Spears, 39, posted a two-minute video on Instagram to answer questions about her life after her conservatorship. She joked in the caption that she'd give her followers a "hint" of her thoughts before she "set things square" with Oprah Winfrey, referring to speculation that she might want to do a sit-down interview abou
NBC News •

Fans fear repeating history with Britney Spears post-conservatorship

Britney Spears is finally freed of her conservatorship, but observers and fans worry that society will fall back into the same behavior that helped put her there more than 13 years ago.

Spears’ conservatorship has been the subject of numerous documentaries, headlines and even a congressional hearing over the past year after her fans called attention to her situation through the #FreeBritney movement. The New York Times examined the social media campaign and Spears’ struggles under media scrutin
NBC News •

Meet the TikTok creator who likes to help people understand Britney Spears' social media posts

For years people have analyzed Britney Spears’ social media to try and figure out what the pop star was really trying to say. One TikTok creator has made it her mission to demystify the singer’s captions.

Kimberly Thomas, 35, calls herself Spears "southern translator." Her goal with her videos, which have racked up millions of views in recent days, is to inject new context into the star's posts.

Thomas got more than 8 million views on a video she made a week ago simply reading a post from Spea
NBC News •

Britney Spears and Amanda Bynes: How the public diverged on their conservatorship cases

A judge issued a tentative ruling Tuesday to extend Amanda Bynes' conservatorship until 2023, a development that offers a stark contrast to Britney Spears' ongoing battle to be free from her father’s oversight.

In a tale of two high-profile conservatorships, one dominated headlines, while the other didn’t get much attention. Some experts say that has to do with star power, and how the cases have separately evolved.

“[Amanda Bynes] was a big deal, you know, among child stars who had Disney Chan
NBC News •

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation trial: Summary and timeline

The defamation case brought by actor Johnny Depp against his ex-wife Amber Heard came to an end on Wednesday after a seven-person jury unanimously ruled in favor of Depp.

But what preceded the case? Depp and Heard's relationship began more than a decade ago, and eventually devolved into what appears to have been a toxic marriage.

The couple split in 2016. They battled in court over an op-ed Heard wrote for The Washington Post in 2018, in which she described surviving domestic violence -- witho
NBC News •

Johnny Depp fans' making memes of domestic abuse testimony sickens some online creators

In the last few months, audio clips from the defamation trial involving Amber Heard and Johnny Depp went viral as trending TikTok sounds.

"Users were lip-syncing to an audio of Amber's testimony and using it to mock her," said Lauren, a creator known as gothamshitty, who did not want her last name used out of fear of harassment from Depp's supporters.

"Specifically they were using an audio of her recounting how Johnny had raped her," Lauren continued. "These users were responding to the audio
NBC News •

Johnny Depp-Amber Heard verdict: Jury sides with Depp, awards $15 million

Less than an hour after Depp won his defamation case against Heard on Wednesday, he said in a statement that he felt like the “jury gave me my life back.” But will the jury’s decision help him get his Hollywood career back? In the minds of some public relations experts, that remains to been seen. In interviews with NBC News on Wednesday, three PR and crisis communications professionals said they felt confident that Depp could get his big-screen acting career back on track. Two other experts expr
NBC News •

'It changed my life': Amber Heard describes alleged abuse by Johnny Depp in defamation trial

Amber Heard took the witness stand Wednesday to detail her allegations of abuse against her former husband, fellow actor Johnny Depp, who filed a defamation suit against her.

Depp is suing Heard for $50 million in damages over a 2018 essay she wrote for The Washington Post, in which she said she had become the "public figure representing domestic abuse." Although the essay never mentions Depp by name, his attorneys said it indirectly refers to allegations she made against him during their 2016
NBC News •

Experts question the phrase 'mutual abuse' after testimony in Depp-Heard trial

The phrase "mutual abuse" has circulated online after a clinical psychologist used it during the defamation trial involving Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. It's a divisive concept, domestic violence experts say.

Depp is suing Heard for defamation over an essay she wrote for The Washington Post in 2018, in which she said she had become the “public figure representing domestic abuse.” Although the article never mentions Depp by name, his attorneys said it indirectly refers to allegations she made ag
NBC News •

National feminist organizations break their silence on Amber Heard in an open letter

More than 130 people, including Gloria Steinem, and organizations in the field of women’s rights advocacy and domestic violence and sexual assault awareness have signed an open letter to support Amber Heard, who lost a defamation suit this year brought by her ex-husband, Johnny Depp, for an op-ed in which she said she was a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”

The letter, which was exclusively shared with NBC News ahead of its public release Wednesday, was signed by groups like the Nati
NBC News •

Pro-Amber Heard hashtag trends after documents from trial with Johnny Depp emerge

A hashtag defending Amber Heard trended Monday on Twitter after what appeared to be unsealed court documents in the defamation case brought by Johnny Depp were made public by a YouTuber known for her legal commentary.

The hashtag, “#AmberHeardDeservesAnApology,” first surfaced over the weekend after The Daily Beast published some of the findings from the court documents. Heard’s team said Depp, her ex-husband, sought to introduce nude photos of Heard into evidence, according to The Daily Beast.
NBC News •

Why the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard verdict was a setback for women and domestic violence survivors

Wednesday’s verdict favoring Johnny Depp in his trial against ex-wife Amber Heard is a setback for domestic violence victims that comes at an already delicate time for women’s rights, survivors and experts say.

As the high-profile trial dragged on for six weeks in a Virginia courtroom — centered on a 2018 Washington Post op-ed written by Heard in which she didn’t name Depp but called herself a “public figure representing domestic abuse” — it became a social media frenzy. Various media columnist
NBC News •

Heard-Depp trial memes could have 'chilling effect' on domestic abuse victims, expert says

As a survivor of domestic abuse, Ruth M. Glenn said watching the Amber Heard-Johnny Depp defamation case has been triggering.

It’s not that she believes one side over the other. It’s more that the inescapable memes and jokes on social media emanating from the trial have exacerbated the trauma of surviving abuse to another level.

Depp and Heard have been in a weeks-long battle in a Fairfax County, Virginia, courtroom. The “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor is suing Heard for $50 million in damage
NBC News •

Notable moments from Amber Heard's testimony in Johnny Depp defamation trial

Court adjourned on Thursday for about a weeklong break in the high-profile defamation trial involving actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.

Depp and Heard began their relationship more than a decade ago before it eventually devolved into what appears to have been a toxic marriage.

The former couple is now battling it out in court in Fairfax County, Virginia, after Depp sued Heard for $50 million over an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in 2018 in which she described surviving domestic vio

Awards Show & Events Coverage

Super Bowl 

NBC News •

Super Bowl 2022: The most memorable moments of the night

It was a very L.A. Super Bowl.

The Los Angeles Rams won the 2022 Super Bowl in front of a home crowd at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20.

But the win wasn't the only thing people were talking about Sunday.

The hot weather made visitors break a sweat. The halftime show, featuring legendary rappers, paid tribute to the city of stars. Some of those stars (including Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck and Kanye West) joined the crowd to watch the g
NBC News •

Super Bowl: It’s 85 degrees in Los Angeles. Fans don’t mind.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — As unseasonably high temperatures soared well into the 80s in the middle of February, fans pouring into SoFi Stadium welcomed the heat and the sunny weather.

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory last week for Los Angeles County through Sunday evening, warning of an increased risk of heat-related illnesses.

Despite concerns, the National Weather Service tweeted that Sunday's game did not top or match the previous record for hottest Super Bowl. As of kickoff, t
NBC News •

Super Bowl 2022: The most notable commercials

Super Bowl Sunday will be, per usual, jampacked with ads.

And, as they have done in recent years, many advertisers have already released their spots on social media in the days leading up to the big game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals.

This year, a highly coveted 30-second spot on NBC's telecast cost as much as $7 million — up from the average price tag of $5.6 million CBS logged last year.

Some highlights include an “Austin Powers” reunion, a Lindsay Lohan comeback a
NBC News •

Super Bowl halftime show taps into millennial nostalgia

LOS ANGELES — The 2022 Super Bowl halftime show, which featured a handful of hip-hop legends, was a love letter to Black history in Los Angeles. And millennials were here for it.

The show, held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, featured performances from hip-hop legends Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige and a surprise appearance by 50 Cent.

Some online, including Los Angeles Lakers legend LeBron James, hailed it as the "greatest halftime show." Many praised it for sho

2022 Oscars

NBC News •

Academy bans Will Smith from Oscars ceremony for 10 years over Chris Rock slap

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will prohibit actor Will Smith from attending the Academy Awards for 10 years following his Oscars night slap of Chris Rock, the organization announced Friday.

Smith, who slapped Rock for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, already resigned from the group behind the Academy Awards — a move that prevented the motion picture academy from suspending or expelling him.

"Today, the Board of Governors convened a meeting to discuss how best
NBC News •

Jada Pinkett Smith calls for 'healing' after Will Smith apologizes to Chris Rock for slap

Jada Pinkett Smith, the subject of the joke that led her husband, Will Smith, to slap Chris Rock at the Academy Awards on Sunday, called for "healing" on Tuesday.

"This is the season for healing and I'm here for it," Pinkett Smith said in a message posted on her verified Instagram account.

Pinkett Smith posted the message the morning after Smith publicly apologized to Rock, saying in a statement that he was "out of line," "wrong" and "embarrassed."

"I am embarrassed and my actions were not in
NBC News •

What happened at the Oscars 2022: Highlights, Will Smith and more

The best supporting actress Oscar goes to Ariana DeBose for her magnetic performance as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s retelling of the classic musical “West Side Story.” She is the first Afro Latino and openly queer woman of color to win an acting Academy Award. In her acceptance speech, DeBose nodded to that milestone. "You see an openly queer woman of color, an Afro-Latina, who found her strength and life through art," she said. "And that is, I think, what we’re here to celebrate. So if anyone h
NBC News •

Will Smith apologizes to Chris Rock for slapping him at the Academy Awards

Will Smith apologized to Chris Rock on Monday for slapping him at the Academy Awards on Sunday night, saying in a statement that he was "out of line" and "embarrassed."

"Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive," Smith said in a message posted Monday night on Instagram. "My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable."

"Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emo
NBC News •

Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at the Oscars over joke about Jada Pinkett Smith

In a stunning moment during the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday, “King Richard” star Will Smith hit Chris Rock after the stand-up comedian made a joke about the actor’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Smith, accepting the best actor Oscar in "King Richard," later apologized to the film academy and his fellow nominees as tears streamed down his face. But he did not address Rock and attempted to justify what he did.

"Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Will
NBC News •

Apple TV+ makes history as first streaming service to win best picture with 'CODA'

Apple TV+ on Sunday became the first streaming service to win the Academy Award for best picture, scoring the film industry’s top honor for Sian Heder’s touching coming-of-age drama “CODA.”

Apple’s triumph on Hollywood’s biggest stage is a major moment for the film industry, which has been dramatically transformed by the rise of direct-to-consumer streaming platforms and the growing popularity of at-home entertainment.

“CODA” stars Emilia Jones as a Massachusetts teenager named Ruby, an aspiri
NBC News •

2022 Oscar nominees: Where to stream this year's best picture contenders

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Academy Awards, handed best picture nominations to 10 eclectic films on Tuesday — the most since "The King’s Speech" beat out nine rivals to take the Oscar in 2011.

Three of this year's nominees were distributed by streaming-first studios, and another two were released simultaneously in multiplexes and via HBO Max. The crop of nominees features only one certifiable blockbuster: "Dune," the sci-fi epic that has grossed
NBC News •

Everything you need to know about the 94th Academy Awards

This year's Oscars are returning to the beloved Dolby Theatre on Sunday after having switched to a more Covid-friendly venue last year. For the first time since 2018, the show will have hosts again. And, of course, parties (lots of them) are being held all across Los Angeles.

But there's still a global pandemic — so there will still be some changes to the show.

Here's everything you need to know about the 94th Academy Awards.

After a few host-less years, the Oscars are bringing not one but th
NBC News •

'The Power of the Dog' cinematographer on historic Oscar nod, Sam Elliott comments

Wegner, who collaborated with New Zealand auteur Jane Campion on the Western drama "The Power of the Dog," could soon become the first woman to win a best cinematography Oscar. Campion's latest goes into the March 27 ceremony with a leading 12 nominations, including best picture.

In the 94-year history of the Academy Awards, only one other woman has been nominated in the cinematography category: Rachel Morrison, who in 2018 was recognized for her work on Dee Rees' "Mudbound." (The prize that ye

SXSW

*Disclaimer: Some of these I wrote, not just edited*

NBC News •

New Nicolas Cage film gets perfect Rotten Tomatoes score after South by Southwest premiere

AUSTIN, Texas — Nicolas Cage was everywhere at the South by Southwest festival.

He was on temporary tattoos, handed out as part of promos for his new film, "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent," and on T-shirts worn by many fans who turned up at the premiere over the weekend.

His face was on posters made by one superfan plastered across Austin that read: “Nicolas Cage I’m your biggest fan please call me.” Which, later, Cage did. Three mascot Nic Cages, who looked like life-sized bobble hea
NBC News •

The challenges of bringing one of the most popular video games of all time to TV

AUSTIN — How does an actor prepare for a role in a live-action adaptation of one of the most popular and lucrative video game franchises of all time?

It’s a challenge that the cast of the highly anticipated "Halo" TV series, which premiered at the South by South West festival on Monday, was up for tackling.

"It was such an eye-opening process," said Pablo Schreiber, who plays the video game's iconic character, Master Chief Petty Officer John-117.

The show, which debuts on March 24 on Paramoun
NBC News •

'X' star Brittany Snow on why the film is 'escapism at its finest'

AUSTIN, Texas — Ti West's new film, “X,” is part erotic slasher film, part dark comedy. And according to star Brittany Snow, it's got all the elements that make a movie "escapism at its finest."

“This movie really gives everybody what we need right now,” Snow said in a recent Zoom interview. “There’s a lot of levity and charming people and characters in this movie, as well.”

The movie, which premiered to rave first reactions at the South by Southwest festival on Sunday, is set during a '70s am
NBC News •

Elle Fanning transforms into Michelle Carter in new Hulu show about texting suicide case

AUSTIN — Elle Fanning was in high school when the Michelle Carter case unfolded, so she wasn’t following it too closely.

But what she does remember vividly is Carter’s photo in the news.

“I remember her — her eyebrows, her scowl,” Fanning, who plays Carter in Hulu’s new “The Girl from Plainville” show, said in a recent interview. “That’s all I knew.”

Carter was convicted in 2017 of involuntary manslaughter in the death of 18-year-old Conrad Roy III in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Carter, who was
NBC News •

'Everyone wants the biggest party': SXSW is back for the first time in two years

In 2020, the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, was one of the first major events to be canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Travel plans were upended, venues were shuttered and many businesses took a hit.

Now, after going entirely virtual last year, festival organizers and local business owners say they are ready, and excited, to welcome thousands back to Austin for the event, which kicks off Friday in person for the first time in three years. There will also be an online comp

VidCon & TwitchCon

NBC News •

They met their favorite streamers in person at TwitchCon. Kind of.

SAN DIEGO — Tucked away against the wall furthest from the entrance of the San Diego Convention Center, the fuchsia-drenched VShojo booth appeared to be that of a standard merchandise vendor. A line of eager fans snaked around the booth, with some in the queue craning their necks for a glimpse of the Vtuber Projekt Melody.

When fans met Melody, however, she appeared on a lifesize screen rigged with a microphone and a camera. The camera tilted up and down and autofocused to keep whoever was inte
NBC News •

TwitchCon had a foam pit exhibit. Two attendees say they got injured when they jumped in.

SAN DIEGO — At least two TwitchCon attendees said they were severely injured after they participated in an interactive exhibit that featured a shallow pit of foam cubes scattered over bare concrete.

The exhibit was part of the weekend-long event for the livestreaming video platform, which this year was held at the San Diego Convention Center.

Run by Lenovo and Intel, the exhibit invited attendees to “battle” one another by standing on one of two platforms suspended over the foam pit.

Particip
NBC News •

Creators are mitigating burnout with long-form YouTube videos

ANAHEIM, Calif. — While some VidCon attendees lined up for hours to try Squishmallow's "human claw machine" and packed into the Dream SMP panel to see their favorite Minecraft role-players, YouTuber Jenny Nicholson quietly posted her first YouTube video of the year.

The hour-and-20-minute dive into church plays — in which Nicholson plunged into the "cinematic universe" of a Canadian evangelical church's elaborate retellings of movies like "The Dark Knight" — seemed to counter the push for short
NBC News •

VidCon 2022: The rockstars of Minecraft are giving teens something to root for online

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Without as many traditional Internet A-listers as years past, VidCon, an annual social media conference for creators and their fans, seemed unusually quieter this year.

That is, unless you were at the Dream SMP panel on Thursday.

Two hours before the group, made up of Minecraft players, was expected to show up, screams had already broken out from the packed audience of about 2,000 fans. That doesn’t include the 135,000 people who livestreamed the panel from their homes.

“Hon
NBC News •

VidCon 22: Former YouTuber Lindsay Ellis says she’s learning to live with the trauma of being ‘canceled’

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The last time Lindsay Ellis addressed her fans on YouTube was eight months ago. Not long after that, she quit the platform, and Twitter, for good.

At the time, the science fiction author felt like it was the right choice, and perhaps the only choice, after she felt “canceled” by the internet community she had worked so hard to build. A string of tweets she wrote had stirred backlash, and ignited doxxing and death threats, all of which took a toll on her mental health.

But one

Memes & Explainers

The latest internet trend or meme can be confusing. We often break them down for you.

NBC News •

'It’s corn!' 'Dark Brandon' and 'girl explaining': A look at the most notable memes of 2022

Memes, for better or for worse, were there for all the highs and lows of 2022. Sometimes they made us cringe. Other times they helped us cope with the chaotic year of news. But most of the time, they kept "very online" people entertained.

This was a year when TikTok once again proved its might in terms of where some of the most prolific memes are born, said Don Caldwell, the editor-in-chief of the database Know Your Meme.

"In the earlier days of TikTok, the memes on there were kind of focused
NBC News •

Here's the story behind the 'yelling girl' meme you're seeing all over social media

An image of an impassioned girl yelling into the ear of a guy who appears indifferent to what she's saying has captivated the internet.

She's the "girl explaining" — and seemingly everyone finds her relatable enough to meme.

People, politicians, brands and companies have used the image to explain niche subjects ranging from legislation to astrology, using all-caps captions to mirror the girl in the image’s vibe.

Though the image went viral in the U.S. this week, the photo first appeared in Sp
NBC News •

The 'yassification' of the internet, feminine urges and feeling cheugy: Here are the best memes of 2021

In 2021, it felt like memes were being made at a breakneck pace.

Somehow, they seemed stranger than ever.

Meme-makers used photo-editing apps to modernize classical works of art, brought two films from 2002 back to present pop culture and revitalized insults that told people to go outside.

TikTok's influence on memes was most noteworthy this year, experts said, adding that the app not only had a profound impact on the number of memes made but also the kind of memes that were popularized, name
NBC News •

‘Little Miss’ viral meme: How a children's book series inspired a new trend

If you’ve been online in the last week, chances are you’ve seen them: Little multicolored blobs with smiling faces doing some kind of gesture, with the text “Little Miss” or “Little Mr." prominently featured above them.

But what are these illustrations, and why are they suddenly all over the internet?

The art is from the "Mr. Men" and "Little Miss" children's book series, created in 1971 and 1981 respectively by the British author Roger Hargreaves. Decades later, Hargreaves' characters are bei
NBC News •

Chef Pii, the creator of the viral TikTok pink sauce, has seen your memes. They don’t bother her.

The creator behind the viral "pink sauce" is addressing the internet's concerns after TikTok users questioned the safety of her homemade dipping sauce.

The mystery sauce, which appears to range from an opaque blush to a vibrant fuchsia, has fascinated and horrified people online. TikTok viewers can't stop talking about the product, which costs a whopping $20 per bottle. The tag #pinksauce has 80.9 million views on the app. Pink Sauce was trending on Twitter on Thursday.

The sauce has inspired
NBC News •

'She's/he's a 10' is the latest trend to dominate the internet

Anybody surfing the internet these past few weeks has likely come across the latest social media trend: the "She's/he's a 10" meme.

The trend, which originated on TikTok in May, begins with a person rating an imaginary lover on a scale from 1 to 10 based on their attractiveness before presenting a negative or positive trait that might affect their score.

In a tweet that has garnered more than 35,000 likes, a person wrote: "He's a 10 but follows girls that don't follow him back." On the flip si
NBC News •

Fake Spirit Halloween costumes meme parodies pop culture knockoffs

Spirit Halloween, the iconic costume and prop store, has inspired a slew of memes related to their costumes.

Deemed the “Fake Spirit Halloween Costumes” meme by database Know Your Meme, the trend originated in 2019, “when the Facebook meme page Guy Fieri’s Post-Ironic Meme Vault uploaded a picture of what appeared to be a Guy Fieri costume being sold at a Spirit Halloween, but the image itself was photoshopped to mimic the design of real costume packaging at the retailer.”

However, the trend r
NBC News •

Teen boy's fatal fall at Florida theme park becomes a TikTok trend

A teen's fatal from a Florida theme park ride is being used in a TikTok trend that many creators have denounced as insensitive and distasteful.

Fourteen-year-old Tyre Sampson died last week after falling from a ride at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida. Videos of the fatal fall circulated on social media, sparking criticism of platforms like Twitter for allowing graphic “snuff” content.

Now, videos referencing his death have received hundreds of thousands of views.

One video with 1.7 million view
NBC News •

The internet is arguing over whether there are more doors or wheels in the world

In a viral tweet earlier this month, a New Zealand rugby league manager posed a divisive question: Are there more doors or wheels in the world?

"My mates and I are having the STUPIDEST debate ... And I am here for it," Ryan Nixon wrote. Wheels won the poll, winning 53.6 percent of the 223,347 votes.

Weeks later, the debate is still bubbling on TikTok. The tags #DoorsVsWheels and and #wheesvsdoors have 240.8. million views and 143.8 million views, respectively.

Nixon believes that the debate i

Additional Editing: HuffPost & CNN

During my time at HuffPost, I worked as a news assignment editor on the evening shift from Los Angeles. That meant I helped helm coverage of major breaking news events that happened in the P.M. hours. I also handed off stories at the end of the night to the London bureau, and worked with reporters based in cities across the U.S, U.K. and Australia. Below some editing highlights. 

At CNN, I served as an editor on the national news desk, helping reporters (both digital and on-air correspondents)  shape their reporting of coronavirus pandemic, Black Lives Matter protests, the killing of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, California fires and other tragedies.  On average, I edited about 5-10 stories per day.

CNN •

Your big questions about race, answered

Ever since the recent Black Lives Matter protests, leaders have called for a national conversation on race.

Race is a thorny topic, and for people seeking to understand others’ racism – or their own – it can be difficult to know where to turn.

So please consider this a safe space where you can pose questions you may hesitate to ask elsewhere. To help answer them, we’ve reached out to scholars and other experts on race. Send us your questions — there’s a place to do that at the bottom of this p
CNN •

Independence Day fireworks, once joyous celebrations, are now nightmares for these gun violence survivors

Maggie Montoya used to love Independence Day fireworks. Now, the loud explosions and bangs that come with the American ritual agonize her.

The 26-year-old’s views on fireworks changed after she had to hide under a desk while a gunman fired rounds in the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, more than three months ago. Ten people were killed in that shooting.

“Any fireworks or similar noises I’ve heard in the past months have been especially triggering,” Montoya told CNN in an email.
CNN •

There's a database whose mission is to stop problematic police officers from hopping between departments. But many agencies don't know it exists

When a police officer leaves their department because of misconduct, there’s no easy public way for people to know if they’re rehired elsewhere in law enforcement.

One of the most notable recent cases was Timothy Loehmann, the former Ohio officer who shot and killed Tamir Rice in 2014.

Loehmann was fired from the Cleveland police force in May 2017 after an internal review panel investigating Tamir’s shooting found he lied or omitted crucial information in his application’s personal history sta
CNN •

What it says about us when we want a cook's recipe but not their humanity

Not everyone wants to cook mung bean popsicles. Judy Leung, one of the people behind recipe website The Woks of Life, understands that.

So when she shared her recipe online, she opened her blog post by taking the reader back to Shanghai, where she grew up. There, she wrote, popsicle peddlers would ride through the city on bicycles, wooden boxes strapped to the backseats, selling the treat.

“When the neighborhood kids heard the peddlers’ distinguished hollers, they would charge out with pennies
CNN •

Inside Chicago's refrigerated warehouse for bodies

It was a grim precaution. Now, it’s an unimaginable reality.

Just a 20-minute drive from the heart of downtown Chicago sits a refrigerated warehouse, which is now being prepped as a space to potentially store more than 2,000 bodies amid the increase in coronavirus-related deaths.

From the outside, a nondescript exterior gives no indication of the type of work going on inside the facility, which stretches nearly an entire neighborhood block. Inside, the frigid temperatures reach as high as 40 d
HuffPost UK •

Trump Orders Military To Attack Iran Before Strikes Suddenly Called Off

U.S. military assets, including planes and ships, were in position during the early stages of the strike, ready to target several Iranian assets, the Times, citing senior administration officials, said. But those plans were called off before any missiles were fired.

The newspaper noted that it’s unclear if the scaling back of the plans reflected a change in opinion by the president or if there was a shift in strategy that necessitated they be delayed. It’s also unclear if they will go forward i
HuffPost UK •

'I'm Fucked,' And Other Damning Revelations From The Mueller Report

‘The Worst Thing That Ever Happened To Me’

“How could you let this happen, Jeff?” Trump said to his then-attorney general, Jeff Sessions, when Sessions gave him the Mueller news, according to notes taken by Sessions’ former chief of staff Jody Hunt. Sessions told investigators that Trump told him “you were supposed to protect me,” or words to that effect. “Everyone tells me if you get one of these independent counsels it ruins your presidency. It takes years and years and I won’t be able to do
HuffPost UK •

Mass Shooting At 2 New Zealand Mosques Leaves At Least 49 People Dead

“It is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist attack,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at a news conference. “From what we know, it does appear to have been well planned. ... These are people who I would describe as having extremist views that have absolutely no place in New Zealand and in fact have no place in the world.”

“At the Deans Avenue mosque, we now know that 41 people have lost their lives,“ New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said at a press conference at 9
HuffPost UK •

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti Says He Will Not Run For President In 2020

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Tuesday that he will not run for president, knocking down months of speculation he’d be the latest Democrat to join the 2020 race.

“I have decided not to throw my hat into the ring to run for president in 2020,” he said at a news conference outside Los Angeles City Hall. “This was not an easy decision, given the extraordinary times that we live in.” However, he added, “I realized that this is what I’m meant to do.”

Garcetti has served as the 42nd mayor