Happy Sunday! Apologies that this week’s letter is coming a few days later than usual. We’ll be back in your inbox on Friday.

If you’re in the Northeast, we hope you’re staying warm—curl up with the letter and a warm drink, read some great writing about the buzziest TV shows from Too Many Tabs, and then try your hand at (one of) Daysia’s recommendations—the Vulture 10x10 crossword.

Daysia is also experiencing some sweet validation and an answer from her first investigation in Pop Cult. Meanwhile, Hannah has a celeb-based social media round-up.

Happy reading,

<3

Daysia and Hannah

This Week's Fixations

Daysia: HUGE news in the Pop Cult sphere this week: I was right.

Day ones may recall that my very first Pop Cult investigation was about Avan Jogia and Cleopatra Coleman’s potential breakup. I wrote that in 2020, but it was never confirmed or made public—until now?

A woman on TikTok found Jogia on Hinge, seemingly verified with a voice prompt in which he feared people would mistake him as a catfish. He makes a good point; as I said a couple of weeks ago, no one ever believes celebrity accounts on dating apps are real. In any case, I am vindicated!

In other news, I have a couple of unhinged recommendations to make to y’all this week:

1. If you’re curious about what’s in Jamie Lynn Spears’s new memoir, Things I Should Have Said, but don’t want to buy/read the book, listen to this week’s Celebrity Memoir Book Club episode. I think they do a great job of being sensitive to Jamie Lynn’s trauma while also pointing out that she *literally* doesn’t view Britney as a human being worthy of compassion!!! It’s about two hours, but it’s an enlightening look at the Spears family dynamic. Plus, I learned a lot about Jamie Lynn’s pregnancy and early motherhood experience that I didn’t know before.

2. Instead of watching the entirety of Pretty Little Liars, I watched YouTuber Mike’s Mic’s *six-hour* three-part recap. Why? I’m insane. But also it was super entertaining and quicker than watching 160 episodes of this twisted, nonsensical series. Watch ten minutes of the first part and see how you like it. Mike’s Mic is one of my favorite pop culture YouTuber’s and he’s hilarious. Highly recommend!

3. Vulture’s new 10x10 crossword is the only useful application for my rolodex of pop culture information.

Hannah: Here are some things I saw on my timeline this week that I found hilarious or made me extremely happy:

Skyler Gisondo being recognized as the star he is:

He’s my pick for White Boy of the Month and is definitely experiencing a renaissance. The range of this man: Licorice Pizza, The Righteous Gemstones, Booksmart, Santa Clarita Diet… young Shawn in Psych. So talented and funny! Some may say that Angus Cloud is January’s WBOTM but real ones know that it’s Skyler Gisondo.

Lady Gaga telling off paparazzi on behalf of Al Pacino:

Get ‘em, Gaga!

Lana Condor getting engaged!!!:

The caption, the video with her reaction, her fiancé working with a Vietnamese woman-owned jewelry store to design her ring… I love it all!

Has Lorde Dropped a New Album?

Solar Power is up for “Best Comeback Album” at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.

ICYMI: Charli XCX and Rina Sawayama released their UK garage-inspired track “Beg For You.”

Too Many Tabs

The New Yorker’s Doreen St. Félix wrote of the skillful execution of Showtime’s “Yellowjackets.”

Lori Harvey reveals herself, beyond the men in her life and the typical tabloid headlines about her, to writer Kelsey Castañon for Popsugar.

Bustle’s Samantha Leach spoke to Angus Cloud about Euphoria, Fezco, and softness.

Plus… Jacob Elordi’s hands, Shailene Woodley and Aaron Rodgers’ differences, Sujata Day on her debut “Definition Please,” Hilary Duff isn’t embarrassed by her past roles, and Damon Albarn provokes the Swifties.