The hottest Celebrity Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Why I And You Love Alysa Liu

JoeWrote • 104 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. She put joy and personal choice before strict, win‑at‑all‑costs rules, returning to skating on her own terms and refusing to be micromanaged about music, training, or diet.
  2. Her Olympic performance showed that human creativity, emotion, and authenticity can outshine algorithmic optimization and can’t be reduced to data or processes.
  3. People are captivated because she resists the dehumanizing trend of gamification and commodification, proving that passion and individuality still matter and can win on the biggest stage.

Are The Publicists On Strike Too

Hung Up • 7763 implied HN points • 15 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. The entertainment industry has been affected by strikes of writers and actors, leading to a standstill in major studios and streamers.
  2. Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis faced backlash for supporting a friend accused of sexual assault, handling the situation poorly.
  3. Drew Barrymore is navigating the return of her talk show amidst industry strikes, choosing to go without a publicist and potentially risking controversy.

Why Sydney Sweeney’s Body Is Causing a Total Meltdown

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3463 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Sydney Sweeney's recent ad campaign has sparked a lot of controversy over its wording and imagery. Some people feel it carries unsettling implications about race.
  2. Critics, including major media outlets, have labeled the ad as insensitive and suggestive of a cultural shift towards promoting a certain ideal of beauty.
  3. On the flip side, some people from the right are defending Sweeney, claiming this backlash reflects a larger issue with 'woke' culture in advertising.

Plastic Surgery

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 16 implied HN points • 28 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Extensive cosmetic surgery can erase a person’s recognizable face and often feels excessive, while subtle, tasteful changes are more acceptable.
  2. Being comfortable and authentic in your own skin matters more than buying a perfected look. Energy and effort often attract people more than genetics or perfect features.
  3. Cosmetic work is reasonable for medical or minor fixes, but widespread pursuit of manufactured beauty and homogenized looks is worrying and can reduce individuality.
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In Defense of Brooklyn Beckham

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 213 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Brooklyn repeatedly tries different high-profile careers—photography, cooking, wine collecting, modeling—but those efforts often fall flat and get mocked online.
  2. He alleges his famous parents have meddled in his life, even sending his siblings to attack him on social media and treating his wedding like an Instagram opportunity.
  3. Despite the ridicule, he appears to have accepted public humiliation to create distance from his family, which has generated sympathy.

Does The Name Club Chalamet Mean Anything To You

Hung Up • 5680 implied HN points • 09 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. The confirmation of Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner's relationship sparked intense reactions from fans.
  2. Club Chalamet, a fan account, gained attention for its lore and analysis of Chalamet.
  3. The divorce of Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas showcased different responses in the media.

Trailer for the "Hail Mary" Movie, Starring Ryan Gosling, Made by My First Cousin Phil Lord & All His Contubernales

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 92 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Project Hail Mary is being adapted into a big‑screen movie starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, opening in theaters and IMAX on 3/20/26.
  2. The story is a space buddy adventure about a confused middle‑school science teacher teaming up with an alien engineer to stop an astrophage apocalypse that threatens the sun.
  3. The film balances hard science, melodrama, and comic timing to deliver uplifting IMAX spectacle while keeping Andy Weir’s nerdy, ‘science the [bleep] out of this’ spirit.

Captioned photos (9)

Tao Lin • 439 implied HN points • 01 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Cats are always a fun topic, and they often bring joy in different ways.
  2. John Hutchison has done some unique experiments with electromagnetic fields that people find fascinating.
  3. It can be interesting to explore personal items, like unusual tools, and their stories behind them.

Blake Lively Reshoots the End of Her Story

Culture Study • 5988 implied HN points • 12 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni became part of a media storm over their movie 'It Ends With Us'. Each accused the other of bad behavior on set, shaping how people saw them, especially online.
  2. TikTok has a huge influence on how celebrities are perceived today. Unlike traditional media, TikTok users create narratives that can quickly spread and affect a celebrity's image.
  3. The power of publicity in Hollywood is shifting. Celebrities can now use social media to shape their narratives, but they can also fall victim to online campaigns that expose their flaws, as seen with Lively.

The New Age Is Dead

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 42 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. The New Age movement, long embodied by figures like Deepak Chopra, is collapsing as scandals tie prominent spiritual teachers to Epstein-era moral failures and abuse.
  2. New Age blended hand‑friendly Eastern ideas with self‑help and consumerist culture, effectively aligning with and covering for neoliberal, hyper‑individualist capitalism.
  3. Critics are exposing how spiritual authority was used for personal gain and to shield abuses, sparking a wider reckoning and questions about what will replace this apolitical neo‑religion.

The Weekend Press: Is Staying Married Taboo?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 440 implied HN points • 06 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Divorce is now often framed as a triumphant path to self‑actualization, even though overall divorce rates have fallen, and saying you stayed in a marriage because it was worth saving can feel countercultural.
  2. Celebrity culture is producing glossy, sometimes unintentionally funny content — Meghan Markle’s holiday special was described as charmingly sloppy and emblematic of that trend.
  3. There’s a public debate about travel etiquette, with pushback against wearing slippers or pajamas in airports and a call from some writers to travel in a more polished, gentlemanly way.

Meghan Markle Is the Slop Princess We Deserve

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 440 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Her Netflix holiday special is a goofy, unhinged mix of cooking, crafts, and celeb cameos that many find unintentionally hilarious and downright charming.
  2. After stepping away from the royal family she tried a string of projects — a short-lived podcast, a lifestyle jam brand, and a Netflix deal that wasn’t renewed — but she kept hustling.
  3. She’s embraced a cozy, domestic shtick (wrapping gifts, making wreaths, cooking with guests) that makes her feel relatable and has helped people soften their view of her.

Pet concrete, not propaganda

The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby (of Vooza) | Sent every Tuesday • 285 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. If you live in a city, the advice to “touch grass” misses the point — sometimes you have to pet concrete and adapt common platitudes to your environment.
  2. If your news never makes you uncomfortable, you’re probably consuming propaganda; good media should challenge your views so you can actually learn.
  3. Don’t confuse fame, pedigree, or wealth with virtue or happiness — nepotism, celebrity branding, and money don’t guarantee character, and lashing out at uninvolved people is unfair.

Perhaps Taylor Swift Isn't the Defining Political Issue of Our Times

Freddie deBoer • 12747 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Consumption should not be equated with politics; what you buy does not define your political beliefs.
  2. Boycotting products, like hating Bud Light, is not a substantial political action; true political change requires mass action and not just personal choices.
  3. Liking certain music or celebrities does not make someone inherently more progressive; true politics is about material change and actions, not just cultural consumption.

Daily Show Creator Freaks Out Over Gutfeld Ratings, But Says Audience is 'Gross' Anyway.

Raheem Kassam's Substack • 3026 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Celebrity
  1. The Daily Show creator expressed strong negative feelings towards Greg Gutfeld's ratings and his audience.
  2. The creator's remarks were filled with profanity and elitism, criticizing Gutfeld's humor and his viewers.
  3. Despite criticizing others, the creator's own dietary habits were revealed to include indulgence in unhealthy foods.

Kim, there's people that are dying.

HEATED • 2692 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Kim Kardashian's new nipple bra advertisement is an example of greenwashing.
  2. Greenwashing involves exaggerating environmentally friendly actions to boost sales.
  3. The ad utilizes various greenwashing tactics, such as vagueness and jargon, to mislead consumers.

‘Stranger Things’ Didn’t Have to End Like This

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 292 implied HN points • 12 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. The final season was badly delayed and plagued by production problems, including a 40‑month gap caused by the pandemic and the writers’ strike.
  2. Off‑screen scandals involving cast members added negative attention and made the season’s release feel messy and distracted.
  3. The biggest issue is how grown adults playing high‑school kids makes dialogue feel cheesy and breaks the show’s believability.

Can Someone Let Joe Biden Know He’s a Gay Icon Now?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 338 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Joe Biden is being treated like a gay icon now, even though his relationship with the LGBTQ community often feels transactional.
  2. He’s had awkward, out-of-touch moments — like the 2019 town hall bathhouse remark — that highlight a disconnect between him and queer people.
  3. People are asking why he’s getting awards and public praise when those gestures might be more performative than rooted in genuine understanding or consistent support.

BlueSky, Twitter, Celebrity, and the Is/Ought Distinction

Freddie deBoer • 4672 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. There are different social media platforms, each attracting different types of people and attitudes. Platforms like Twitter and BlueSky show how user bases can reflect broader cultural divides.
  2. The choice to join a platform often comes down to seeking comfort in shared beliefs and avoiding opposing viewpoints, which can create echo chambers. This has been a challenge for liberals understanding current political dynamics.
  3. A key concern is about wanting the visibility of online presence without the responsibility that comes with it. This reflects a deeper issue around accountability in our public online interactions.

What happened to J.K. Rowling?

The Path Not Taken • 286 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. A once-measured, liberal-style dissent about sex and gender has become much more single-minded and absolutist, treating the issue as a strict either/or choice.
  2. The tone and rhetoric have hardened, with less respect shown for transgender people's dignity and more public shaming and dismissive language.
  3. As the gender-critical movement won legal and political gains, it grew more militant and single-issue, risking overreach and a move away from liberal pluralism and compromise.

The Coldplay Kiss Cam and the Crushing Weight of Reputational Loss Aversion

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1306 implied HN points • 27 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. The incident at the Coldplay concert shows how quickly people's reputations can be damaged. A simple moment caught on camera led to serious consequences for the two people involved.
  2. Our instinctual reactions, like ducking or covering our faces, can reveal a lot about our fear of public scrutiny. These reactions show how much pressure we feel about what others think of us.
  3. In today's age, where internet reactions can be swift and harsh, managing your reputation is more important than ever. People can face major backlash for their actions, especially when they become a meme or viral topic.

Facing the truth, and what comes after

Disaffected Newsletter • 1159 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Sometimes, we realize things about people we never noticed before. This can lead to uncomfortable truths about our relationships.
  2. People often look up to celebrities who remind them of their own life struggles, using them as symbols of their hopes or fears.
  3. Movies like _Mildred Pierce_ explore complex family dynamics and the pain of becoming like someone we fear or dislike.

Kristen Stewart Needs You to Know She Thinks Method Acting Is Cringe

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 241 implied HN points • 12 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Kristen Stewart says method acting is cringe and seems to reject the solemn seriousness some actors bring to their craft.
  2. She quietly rebuilt her career after Twilight by favoring indie projects and moving into directing instead of courting mainstream fame.
  3. Her directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, is a bold but divisive film that left audiences split between admiration and bafflement.

Suzy Weiss: Ozzy Osbourne Was America’s Dad

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1048 implied HN points • 26 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Ozzy Osbourne was known for being a unique type of dad on his reality show, 'The Osbournes.' His family life was chaotic but entertaining, showcasing a very different picture of American family life.
  2. Despite his wild image, Ozzy had a relatable parenting style filled with funny and awkward moments, making him feel like a father figure to viewers.
  3. The show highlighted how families can have fun in their own crazy ways, breaking traditional norms while still bonding over their challenges.

News: Ashton Kutcher Resigns As Board Chair of Anti-Child Sexual Abuse Organization He Co-Founded

Yashar's Newsletter • 2201 implied HN points • 15 Sep 23
📰 News Celebrity
  1. Ashton Kutcher resigned as board chairman of an anti-child sexual abuse organization he co-founded.
  2. Kutcher admitted writing a character letter for a convicted rapist was an error in judgment, but he did not apologize directly to the victims.
  3. The character letters from Kutcher and his wife portrayed the rapist in a positive light, which hurt and infuriated survivors.

The Unraveling of a Royal Fairytale

Culture Study • 7348 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. The royal family's image control is rooted in their historical role as commodities, affecting how public perceive their every move.
  2. Princess Catherine's carefully crafted image contrasts with the destabilizing effect of Meghan Markle's outspokenness and mixed-race identity.
  3. The unraveling of the royal fairytale is symbolized by the mishandling of Princess Catherine's health crisis, exposing the monarchy's struggles to maintain control in a changing media landscape.

Suzy Weiss: Living In Gwyneth’s World

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 857 implied HN points • 09 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Gwyneth Paltrow started her lifestyle brand, Goop, way before social media influencers took off. She's been ahead of trends like gluten-free diets long before they became popular.
  2. Gwyneth's unique marketing strategies often tie into current events, making her brand relevant. For example, she cleverly associated herself with a recent scandal to promote a software company.
  3. A new biography about Gwyneth raises the question of why she holds such strong appeal in popular culture. It suggests there's something intriguing about her that keeps people interested.

Radical Honesty Has Come for the Boob Job

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1029 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. People are becoming more open about plastic surgery, moving away from old habits of denying enhancements. It’s more common now for celebrities to be transparent about their procedures.
  2. Kylie Jenner, for example, used to deny having surgery, but now she openly shares details about her breast implants. This shows a shift in how society views body modifications.
  3. The conversation around body image is evolving, with many now favoring honesty and transparency over secrecy, highlighting a changing attitude towards beauty standards.

On the chronicle of a life wasted

Unreported Truths • 50 implied HN points • 06 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Epstein’s post-2008 network was much smaller than people imagine, with most A-list celebrities, major media figures, and mainstream politicians largely absent.
  2. Over the 2010s the stigma around him grew and he became increasingly isolated, dealing mainly with a few confidants, foreign moneyed associates, struggling entrepreneurs, academics, and young women from Eastern Europe.
  3. By 2019 he had few allies and no realistic way to avoid a long prison sentence, which helps explain why his suicide became tragically believable.

#207: The Cringe Matrix

Maybe Baby • 2194 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Cringe can come in different forms, like wholesome, clueless, train wreck, and malevolent. Each type reflects a mix of awareness and sincerity.
  2. Not all actions that break social norms are cringe-worthy, but knowing your own cringe can help you avoid being too out of touch.
  3. When sharing personal thoughts online, it's important to stay sincere and aware to avoid falling into the trap of inauthenticity.

Brands are keeping celebrity culture alive, questioning role of politics, and the vibe shift

The Social Juice • 53 implied HN points • 31 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Celebrity culture is front and center — brands keep leaning on celebrities, creators, and star-powered stunts to grab attention across campaigns and big events.
  2. Brands are conflicted about politics and purpose. Some do real on-the-ground action, others post performatively, so know your customer and only speak up if your action will create real change.
  3. The vibe is shifting toward trend-chasing and AI 'slop' — lots of cheap engagement from memes and long Super Bowl teases, while the best work focuses on interactive OOH, clear storytelling, or meaningful use of AI.

I've been trying to write about Russell Brand, but I can't

The Shift With Sam Baker • 1697 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. Writing about sensitive topics like accusations against celebrities can be challenging and intimidating due to fear of repercussions.
  2. There are societal pressures and expectations that contribute to the silence around issues of abuse and assault, making it difficult for victims to come forward.
  3. The cultural narratives and responses to accusations of abuse and assault often place blame on the victims, questioning their credibility and actions.

The Vile Leading The Lost

So Here’s a Thing • 1671 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Celebrity
  1. The Attention Economy rewards those who attract the most attention, regardless of the content or quality of that attention.
  2. Insecurity Vampires like Russell Brand and Elon Musk thrive on exploiting the lost and confused, pushing controversial views for profit.
  3. There is a growing danger in mainstream media perpetuating damaging stereotypes about masculinity, which can be preyed upon by manipulative figures like Tate and Carlson.