Their conflicting politics and personal decisions unmask the harm of their need to be seen.

Between Kim Kardashian West posting a detailed Twitter thread about her 40th birthday celebration on a private island and Cardi B posting nonstop about everything from her relationship to presidential debates, celebrities cannot seem to shut up, and in particular, they cannot seem to shut up about themselves. They acknowledge their influence enough to say the right things, but fail to do the right things and provide good examples, like wearing a mask and social distancing.

Over the last eight months, I’ve found it particularly difficult to grasp that we are in fact living through a pandemic. Secluded in suburbia, I rarely leave the house enough to know what is going on in the world beyond what I see on the internet or the news. It doesn’t help that the rest of entertainment continues to produce content, with weekly episodes of SNL and The Bachelorette reminding me that the world still moves forward, if you’re privileged enough to have the resources. The only performers I’ve seen wear a mask on stage in the last eight months are Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande at the VMAs back in August, proving it is not impossible to sing with a mask on. Meanwhile, almost every other artist performs mask-free, noting they’ve taken “precautions” — without regard for the people surrounding them, and those tuning in to watch. …

In the music video, Grande looks political, without really saying anything.

Laying in bed last night, I contemplated staying up to watch Ariana Grande’s music video for her new single, “Positions.” After clenching my jaw through a less grueling, final presidential debate, I was fatigued (and envious of the smarter people who just didn’t watch for their mental health). I spent the hour after the debate looking at jobs and bookmarking the ones I would apply to in the morning. Then I got ready for bed, ready to collapse. It was 11:48 — could I really make it through another 12 minutes to get a glimpse of Grande’s newest era?

Like most people, I watched TikTok to pass the time. Then, as the countdown began on YouTube, and I waited patiently this time, I wondered what I could possibly see — and then I saw it: The White House. Over the next two-plus minutes, I would watch Ariana Grande play different “positions” throughout the White House — from cook to President, in 1960s fabulous garb. While I saw people tweeting, “This is the president we want!” and “Yes, Jackie Onassis!” I thought to myself, is this really what we want? …

C’mon celebs, people are dying.

For what seems like the tenth year in a row, Chris Pratt reigns again as the internet’s Worst Chris (compared to the likes Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and Chris Pine). Year after year on Twitter, random people assess who is the “worst Chris” — all in good fun — but this year, his Marvel colleagues had something to say about Pratt’s unanimous win. Fellow Marvel alums, from Robert Downey Jr. to James Gunn, defended Pratt on Tuesday against not only the online trolls, but the sincere critics of Pratt’s support of The Hillsong Church, a notoriously anti-LGBTQ organization.

During a time of unrelenting turmoil, celebrities still have something to say, and it has nothing productive to do with the dismantling of systemic racism or patriarchy. It has everything to do with ego and reputation. Mark Ruffalo attempted to settle the online fun by making Pratt’s apolitical stance, political, stating, “You all, @prattprattpratt is as solid a man there is. I know him personally, and instead of casting aspersions, look at how he lives his life. He is just not overtly political as a rule. This is a distraction. Let’s keep our eyes on the prize, friends. We are so close now.” This is the same man that consoled Chris Evans online after he accidentally exposed himself online, tweeting, “Bro, while Trump is in office there is NOTHING you could possibly do to embarrass yourself. See… silver lining.” …

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t separate my real self from my game self.

The other day, my villager Blaire turned to me and said, “I do hope Lilac Cove life is everything you’d hoped for.” Blaire, a snooty squirrel villager, was the first resident of Lilac Cove to gift me her photo — the ultimate indicator of friendship on Animal Crossing. The moment she uttered those words to me, I felt a sort of kinship that transcended the game. …

The illustrator talks about her new book, self-care, and artistic expression.

Robin Eisenberg seems like she’s everywhere online, especially on Instagram. The visionary LA-based artist illustrates vivid, yet soothing intergalactic dreamscapes. Often, women of all sizes are at the center of her work, indulging in their desires, whether that be eating pizza or making out. While self-care may never always be at the center of her work, empowering imagery of women embracing who they are, through the female gaze allows followers and fans alike to relax a bit. There’s a sense of comfort in consuming art that feels like it’s naturally made for you.

And that art comes at an affordable rate. Eisenberg sells prints of her work starting at $15, phone cases at $20, and tote bags at $30 on her website. She also shares phone backgrounds on her Instagram account for all followers to screenshot and display her art wherever, whether that be on their phones, hanging on apartment walls, or hanging off their shoulders. …

Only one officer was charged with wanton endangerment for firing stray bullets into people’s homes.

More than six months after the killing of Breonna Taylor, a grand jury in Kentucky voted to charge former officer Brett Hankison with three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree. The other two officers involved in the shooting, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, were not charged.

The news comes after the city’s mayor, Greg Fischer, declared a state of emergency this week due to the potential “civil unrest” in response to the grand jury’s decision. Fischer also ordered a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. from Wednesday to Friday. In addition, Louisville Chief of Police Robert J. …

After seven albums of sonic exploration, a new Taylor Swift has arrived.

Taylor Swift’s genius lies in the stories she tells. She can enwrap a listener in the details like they were yesterday, and on folklore, Swift takes you on the conceptual, mystifying journey of love and life — one only she could create. After seven studio albums, her singing and lyrical voices are finally married and soaring on her eighth.

Throughout the album, Swift effortlessly wanders between the adolescent and adult kinds of love and loss. On “cardigan,” Swift reminisces about dancing under streetlights and kissing in cars and bars with a former love, singing “when you’re young, they assume you know nothing / but I knew you.” Swift’s caustic lyrics like, “You drew stars around my scars / But now I’m bleeding,” are all the sharper when backed by an eerie piano. …

Billboard belittles and attempts to discredit LGBT survivors by profiling alleged abuser Ben Hopkins.

Controversy appears never-ending for Billboard — a publication that gatekeeps genre and now uplifts sexual abusers. Today, Billboard released a profile of alleged sexual abuser and PWR BTTM member Ben Hopkins framing Hopkins’ upcoming album as a form of “putting the past behind them.” Editor-at-large Steve Knopper profiles Hopkins, spending more time painting Hopkins out to be more of a victim than Hopkins’ accusers, almost as though Knopper did not even consider that some of their readers may be survivors.

Accusations of sexual assault began circulating in 2017. According to Kitty Cordero-Kolin, an avid fan of the DIY scene in Chicago, Hopkins was a “known sexual predator, perpetrator of multiple assaults,” noting that “almost every single one of their victims is queer.” In response to the accusation, duo Liv Bruce and Ben Hopkins released a statement. They claimed neither party was contacted about the alleged abuse and provided an email so survivors could contact them directly. Soon after, Jezebel published an article quoting anonymous accuser “Jen,” who accused Hopkins of assault and asserted Liv Bruce was aware of her allegations. Two touring members, Cameron West and Nicholas Cummins, announced they were severing their affiliation with the duo. West cited Hopkins’ prior knowledge of the allegation as a primary reason for leaving. Afterwards, the duo’s label dropped them, streaming services pulled their then-newly released album, and the band canceled all upcoming events. …