honey, profits are slim - you should be too
the buzz #2 - on gagachella, recession chic, and krumbling brand deals
Welcome to another week of buzzing - a place to talk all things pop culture! Let’s get into it —>
Inspiration for 04/07/25 - 04/13/25:
The Buzz #2:
It’s Coachella time, which means macrame tops & short shorts, car camping tik toks, and the rise of pop’s next obsession are back. Need I remind you that last year, Sabrina Carpenter performed her ~new~ single Espresso, and we all know how that ended. A round-up of everything that has happened so far (as of Saturday night)!
Gagachella is here and I could truly talk about it forever. When Gaga took the stage on Friday night for her long-awaited headliner performance, people (i.e., me) had high expectations. Alas, Gaga made us literally go goo goo. Every song had a story with elaborate costumes/sets, jaw-dropping choreography, and Gaga’s most electrifying stage presence yet. She even reimagined old hits, the Bloody Mary/Abracadabra/Judas opening (!!) and Poker Face’s chess board, flooding every little monster with nostalgia. Many people place Gaga next to (or even above) Beyonce’s iconic 2018 headliner performance, and honestly, I’m gaga for Gaga - who isn’t?!
Benson Boone brought out Brian May for his cover of Bohemian Rhapsody, and frankly, I’m starting to respect the guy more (because it finally seems like he has more than just one song!!)
Charli XCX’s billboard crosses out brat and Billie Eilish posted a lime green story, making many fans excited for her set. Girl did she serve to (potentially) close out this iconic era, bringing out Troye Sivan, Billie, AND Lorde!! How did Lorde pull off a gray t-shirt and jeans so well?! God only knows, but wow am I excited for lorde summer 2025 (quoted by the Charli XCX herself).
Coachella outfits this year fall into two lanes: wildly impractical for the desert or so plain they’re barely worth mentioning. Where did the 2015 Coachella style magic go?!
This past week, the Kardashian/Jenner family ruled Crumbl cookies, with each sister having their own signature flavour. As a Canadian who couldn’t try them myself, I’ve heard mixed reviews (Kourtney’s apparently sucked!), but the whole idea of the Kardashians eating Crumbl cookies? That’s the kind of content I simply can’t digest.
When I see a brand deal, I want to think “oh my god of course this celebrity would work with them!” - not “they’re working together? really?” The Kardashian/Jenner family are known for eating huge salads on their show or bragging about hyper-restricted diets in prep for an upcoming red carpet. Sure, Khloe has a sweet tooth, but there’s always some ulterior motive, like I have these Oreos in a display case just to test my willpower. So, how does it make sense for a family who constantly promotes perfect bodies and extreme diet culture to collab with Crumbl?
I’m convinced this brand deal barely went through the family. I bet the sisters picked their flavours from a pre-existing list and called it a day because do you really think Kylie would’ve chosen vanilla?! This feels like part of a bigger trend - how the Kardashians/Jenners are desperately searching for a way to stay relevant. I’m sorry Kris, but this just didn’t kut it.
Also, for real though, why didn’t they call it Krumbl for the week..?!?! #missedopportunity
Honey, Profits Are Slim - You Should Be Too
Impact released yet another powerful social media-essay on a topic that I’ve grabbled with for a while: society’s obsession with thinness. Amid the Ozempic boom, it feels like skinniness is the all-time trend, with low waisted jeans, reversed BBLs, and ‘trad-wife chic’ dominating the fashion industry.
This waistline obsession feels eerily similar to 2008, when markets were crashing and ultra-thin Paris Hilton reigned as the queen of celebrity. As stock prices continue to drop, the question arises: will society’s body expectations become as paper-thin as our economic stability? With the ever-expanding internet, thinness is being pushed at us from all angles - runway shows, vloggers, red carpets, and my own community - pressuring individuals more than ever to fit this mold.
Is body positivity just a trend that will ‘reset’ ever ~20 years? Will we ever live in a community that constantly accepts us for who we are? Or, will brands continue to push us to chase an unattainable standard? Personally, I believe we can choose what we want and leave what we don’t. It’s easier said than done, but I truly believe we can continue accepting each other and just wear whatever the hell we want! After all, no one will remember if you wore the latest spring dress from Aritzia or not..!!
There is always light in the darkness, as Impact notes, “our bodies are not a part of soulless trends and never will be.”
Many oh times, celebrities have ‘accidentally’ sworn on SNL (which honestly, is just as funny for audience members). Famously a live show, this makes it impossible for producers to slap on an obnoxious BLEEP over their mistake, so they just have to ride the wave (and pay the fine). But last week, for the first time, it was the SNL AUDIENCE who were the bad mouthers.
After Ego Nwodim said to the crowd, “these men ain’t what?!”, they accurately responded, “SHIT!”, shocking Colin Jost, Michael Che, and Ego herself. She took it in stride, laughing over the incoming fine from the network for broadcasting a swear.
This was truly such a funny and iconic moment for SNL, instantly becoming a circulating meme afterwards. While it did not achieve Domingo status, it reminded me of the beautiful human qualities that makes SNL so special. Live shows will almost never be perfect, and I think in our hyper-perfectionist society, it’s a breath of fresh air to see a mini mishap or joke-turned-bad on television because it could happen to any of us!
To end on a light note, this tik tok is exactly how I feel (imagine I’m Billie Eilish talking about her Barbie song when I saw this). We must dance in the turmoil, letting strobe lights and shitty dj music help us forget the collapsing economy around us! With the ever-growing trend to have ‘wellness weekends’ instead of going out, this is your sign: go to the club, have the drink, kiss the guy, and get home at 4am sweaty and alive.
3 things that made me happy this week:
tanning weather!!
fresh smoothies
cuddling with my dogs
I liked your Coachella roundup!