HOT: Kanye Mocks Deadmau5
A lesser-known attribute of Kanye West’s is his sense of humor. When Electronic star Deadmau5 called West a “dick” on Twitter after West posted a screenshot that appeared to show he was using a music-pirating website, West hit back with a series of funny tweets asking if Deadmau5 would perform at his Minnie Mouse-loving daughter’s birthday party, not with his usual giant Deadmau5 head, but one made to Minnie’s specifications. “I’m very detailed oriented,” West wrote, “and I will know the difference so don’t try to just throw a bow on the original head.” West later said he was being ironic and the screenshot was “obviously” not from his own computer.
WARM: Queen Trap Queen?
With few exceptions, online petitions are exercises in futility, so some users have turned to petition sites for satire. The latest to garner attention is a change.org petition to have Fetty Wap perform “Trap Queen” at the funeral of former first lady Nancy Reagan. “Nancy Reagan holds the important legacy as being the most famous Trap Queen in American history,” the petition states. It goes on to reference her failed “Just Say No” anti-drug campaign, which coincided with her husband allegedly helping to “flood the streets with narcotics” while enforcing stricter drug possession laws that sent minorities to prison “in droves.”
COLD: Zoe’s No Nina
Beyond the recent Oscars controversy over diversity, there has long been outrage over white actors being cast in ethnic roles. But the forthcoming biopic about legendary singer Nina Simone has put a new twist on the debate. Some in Simone’s family is reportedly unhappy that Zoe Saldana was cast as Nina; though Saldana is African-American, some say she is playing Simone in “blackface,” because Saldana has lighter skin (which was darkened) and wore a prosthetic nose to look more like Simone. The official Simone Twitter account (presumably run by her estate) tweeted to Saldana to “take Nina’s name out your mouth. For the rest of your life.” Several people — including Simone’s daughter — have since come to the actress’ defense.
This article appears in Mar 2-9, 2016.