World's most popular TikTok personality Khaby Lame joins UNICEF as goodwill ambassador
DAKAR, Senegal — Khaby Lame , the Senegal-born world's most popular TikTok personality who never says a word in videos watched by millions of followers, addressed the youth in his native country on Friday when he was appointed as UNICEF goodwill ambassador.
The 24-year-old influencer, who has over 162 million followers, rose to fame with charming videos of his reactions to everyday life in which he never says a word. His following surged during the pandemic, when he was fired from his factory job and used the extra time on his hands to make and upload more videos.
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Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
These eight LGBTQ+ Kansans make Pride Month worth celebrating. And all the other months, too.
This Pride Month, writes Clay Wirestone, we can find inspiration among LGBTQ+ Kansans. (Getty Images) LGBTQ+ Pride Month in a red state tends to have a certain edge. Even the most earnest celebration of freedom and belonging can feel like one of those disposable plastic ponchos, quickly unwrapped to keep off the rain. You appreciate it, you value it, but it can't last forever. Yet us gay people persist in living across all 50 states, and in every country around the globe besides. We're most definitely here in Kansas. You can make a joke or two about the Wizard of Oz (heck, I even wrote a column about it), but we're still here, we're still queer, and we're still asking everyone to get used to it. Rather than opine about the meaning of the exercise, I thought I'd kick off the month by highlighting eight LGBTQ+ Kansans. (A hat tip to our friends over at the Manhattan Mercury, who published a similar list last year.) If I left off important folks, please let me know. We have a lot of June left! Melissa Etheridge The Leavenworth-born singer-songwriter rocketed to fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s. A husky-voiced rocker, she blazed trails by coming out publicly all the way back in 1992. She's since recorded a live album at the Topeka Correctional Facility. William S. Burroughs Beat-adjacent writer Burroughs was born in St. Louis and notably lived in Tangiers and New York. He relocated to Lawrence in 1991, however, and lived there until his death in 1997. The city's Burroughs Creek Trail now bears his name. Rep. Sharice Davids The state's Democratic representative for the 3rd District made history in 2018 as the first LGBTQ+ and Native American member. She has now been re-elected three times, which perhaps should raise some eyebrows among national Dems. Cassandra Peterson (Elvira) Any child of the 1980s (and I was one) knows the vampy Elivira on sight. The woman below the wig was Manhattan-born Cassandra Peterson, who revealed her two-decade relationship with a woman in her 2021 memoir. Janelle Monae This Kansas City, Kansas, native first caught my husband's eye through her 2010 album, 'The ArchAndroid.' She has since recorded more albums, acted in movies and now identifies as nonbinary, using she/her or they/them pronouns. Gilbert Baker Born in Chanute and graduating from Parsons High School, Baker created the iconic rainbow pride flag in 1978. Queer icon Harvey Milk, the San Francisco politician and activist, asked him to do so. As an unwelcome note, the Trump administration plans to remove Milk's name from a Navy ship. Just to show that Making America Great Again includes insulting a slain veteran. Stephanie Byers Former State Rep. Stephanie Byers of Wichita was elected in 2020 as the state's first transgender lawmaker. Suffice to say, she put up with an awful lot during her term in office. However, I found her grit and vibrant personality a constant inspiration. Matthew Vines The Wichita native Vines attended Harvard and caused a sensation by arguing that Christianity doesn't condemn same-sex marriage or relationships. He founded the nonprofit Reformation Project and wrote the book 'God and the Gay Christian.' Bonus: your Kansas Reflector opinion editors This might sound like a bit of a cheat, but so be it. Both founding Reflector opinion C.J. Janovy and yours truly have written about our community many times. Janovy even published a book on the subject. Listen, living here might not always be easy. But there's still a heck of a lot to celebrate. I plan to spend at least a bit of time doing just that. Clay Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
Business of Fashion
an hour ago
- Business of Fashion
The Year Pride Went Beige
For the past half-decade, Connor Clary has racked up tens of millions of TikTok likes for his sardonic reviews of branded Pride collections. In previous years, he poked fun at what he dubs a 'rainbow barf' aesthetic, including a Target shirt saying, 'Sorry, can't think straight' with a picture of a rainbow-hued brain or a bright green boilersuit with the word 'Gay' plastered in yellow across the back. This year, the theme of many corporate Pride efforts could best be described as 'in the closet,' he said. Clary has reviewed a beige Target Pride collection called 'New Neutrals,' dark denim jorts from Abercrombie & Fitch and a 'bizarre' number of other items that could easily pass for non-Pride clothing. It's not just fewer rainbow tank tops. Obvious political statements, envelope-pushing looks by LGBTQ+ artists, casting of trans models in campaigns and defiance of gender norms are rarer this year. Influencers and LGBTQ+ activists have rolled their eyes at corporate Pride celebrations for years, viewing these efforts as rainbow-washing — latching onto the cause mostly for its marketing potential — or just plain tacky. But the subdued tenor to 2025 Pride merch comes as many brands are avoiding public engagement with progressive causes amid a backlash by right-wing activists and the Trump administration, which has shaken the private sector by declaring DEI efforts unlawful and threatening to release a list of 'woke companies.' In one survey by Gravity Research, a risk management firm, 39 percent of corporate leaders said they planned to reduce 2025 Pride activities, with 61 percent citing fear of retaliation from Trump as a reason. LGBTQ+ youth nonprofit The Trevor Project 'has seen a dip in support from corporate partners this year,' said a spokesperson, and many cities' Pride parade organisers report a steep drop in sponsorships. Steering clear of rainbow T-shirts has its own risks. Target's sales are down from last year due in part to its public retreat from diversity efforts, chief executive Brian Cornell acknowledged in a May earnings call. Nike raised eyebrows last year for not releasing a Pride collection for the first time since 1999; this year it's back with sneakers in collaboration with a pair of WNBA stars (Nike-owned Converse is also out with its usual colourful collection of canvas shoes). A retreat from LGBTQ+ rights can not only alienate customers but also hurt recruitment, creative partnerships and influencer relationships, said Brent Ridge, founder of skincare brand Beekman 1802. 'It just depends on how visible you have been in the past, and how invisible you are now,' he said. 'It's more about the contrast between the two.' The brand's Pride collection includes soap and moisturiser with rainbow packaging designed by residents of the Ali Forney Center. A portion of the profits goes to the LGBTQ+ youth shelter. Beauty brands sticking with Pride campaigns include decades-long supporters like Kiehl's and MAC and younger brands like Glow Recipe. Beekman 1802's Pride collection for 2025. (Beekman 1802) 'Some companies give too much credence or weight to what they think is going to happen,' said Ridge. In a politically fraught time, collections heavy on neutral and black can be seen as a way of laying low, even for brands that continue to support LGBTQ+ organisations and Pride parades. 'A lot of companies … now seem to have the attitude, 'We've been doing it for this long, and it would be a big deal if we didn't do it, so here's just something that is non-offensive and quiet,'' Clary said. Blending In Pride collections typically include their share of basic T-shirts and tanks alongside edgier items. The scarcity of more provocative looks could be viewed as either a tasteful or fearful turn — or possibly both. Some mainstream brands' collections evoke pop stars more than politics this year. Brands used to 'approach Pride with a sense of humour,' said Clary, who noted that Target's cringiest catchphrase merch has disappeared since 2023, when an uproar about trans-friendly swimsuits resulted in violent threats to employees and the retailer pulled items from stores. There are still some whimsical touches at Target, including a rainbow mesh dress and a 'Love is for all' slogan T-shirt. A miniature moving truck featuring bird figurines and the lesbian flag colours has gone viral. In a statement, Target said it 'will continue to mark' Pride month with products, internal programming and event sponsorships. Clary has called out five brands so far for putting out Pride-labeled items that could pass for everyday clothing, including plain denim items, a green oxford shirt and shorts set and a Britney Spears tank top from Abercrombie & Fitch; an earlier year saw the brand's collection draw on American artist and activist Keith Haring. In the UK, Adidas labels a Jeremy Scott collaboration as a 'Pride' collection, but doesn't connect it to the celebration on its US site. There, the Pride landing page displays sneakers available year-round, along with a mention of its partnership with the LGBTQ+ nonprofit Athlete Ally. An Adidas representative said the Jeremy Scott collaboration 'is available in the US as part of the Pride collection,' pointing out a banner saying 'love lifts us up' on a separate landing page minus the term 'Pride.' The titles of the Jeremy Scott Adidas collaboration page on the brand's UK site (top) and US site (bottom). (Screenshots) Standing Up Not all labels are shying away from rainbows or provocation this year, as shown by a bright watch capsule by Guess and a lascivious Diesel collection and campaign cast from the social networking app Grindr. Whether bland or bold, most brands' Pride items are combined with donations to LGBTQ+ causes. Pride is a crucial fundraising month for advocacy, but takes on more urgency this year amid what a Trevor Project representative called 'uniquely challenging political environment' in the US. Abercrombie & Fitch, Lululemon, Sephora, MAC Cosmetics and Rare Beauty are among The Trevor Project's continued supporters. Levi's 2025 collection doesn't have anything as bold as the purple gender-neutral dress by a non-binary textile artist it offered for Pride in 2023. But it was designed in collaboration with the GLBT Historical Society, and the company is one of a small number of large brands to publicly stand by its DEI efforts. The denim brand also tags several pride products with the triangle symbol used by queer activists starting in the 1970s, 'proving that you can go beyond rainbows and remind people that the personal is political,' said Michael Wilke, the founder and executive director of LGBTQ-focused marketing consultancy AdRespect. Beauty labels that have stood by the LGBTQ+ community for decades are also staying active. Kiehl's, a Pride supporter since the 1980s, has an in-store campaign and is donating $150,000 to the Ali Forney Center, while MAC Cosmetics' 30-year-old Viva Glam initiative will donate $1 million and 100 percent of proceeds of a special-edition Kim Petras lip gloss to charities. Sephora teamed up with Haus Labs and Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation for a Pride campaign donating $1 from every purchase. Aesop is sponsoring its fifth annual Queer Library in select stores, giving away free copies of books by queer authors in partnership with Penguin Random House and the ACLU. Kim Petras poses with MAC Cosmetics' special-edition lip gloss for Pride 2025. (MAC Cosmetics) Pairing Pride marketing and merchandise with donations helps brands counter accusations of rainbow-washing. Experts also highlight the importance of continuing to elevate the work of smaller artists in the community, especially in the face of right-wing backlash. Not all brands have given in to their own customers' blowback. Nascar has eschewed critics of its kitschy rainbow Pride shirts with phrases like 'Slaytona.' One with 'Yaaascar' in rainbow letters was among the only Pride items that Clary has accepted as a PR gift. 'The move is to crop it and then wear it,' said Clary.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Her Father Died in 2002. Her Toddler Says She Knows Where He Is, and That He's Missing Her (Exclusive)
A 2-year-old told her mom, 'Your daddy is missing you,' while pointing to the hallway — referring to a grandfather who died two decades ago The video, captured in a now-viral TikTok, brought back memories of similar childhood moments for the mom herself Chyanne J. says the peaceful feeling from the experience changed how she thinks about connection, grief and the afterlifeFor Chyanne J., an ordinary morning turned extraordinary when her toddler daughter calmly insisted that her late grandfather was standing in the hallway. The moment, caught on video and shared to TikTok, quickly captivated millions. 'My daughter kept telling me to come here, and I was cleaning up or whatever, and that's when she said, 'Your daddy's here,' ' Chyanne J. tells PEOPLE. 'In the beginning of the video, when I first started recording, you can hear her say, 'It's daddy.' And I asked, 'Is it your daddy, or is it my daddy?' And she said, 'It's your daddy.' ' The clip captures the moment Chyanne's 2-year-old daughter points down the hallway, insisting that her grandfather — who died in 2002 — is right there. She then tells her mom, 'Your daddy's missing you.' At first, Chyanne says she was flooded with disbelief. 'It was panic when she was telling me, 'It's your daddy. He's right here,' ' she recalls. The shock deepened when she realized her daughter was talking about someone she never met. 'It kind of hit like, okay, my dad has obviously passed, so, you know ...' she says. Trying to process the moment, Chyanne asked her daughter to point out exactly where he was. 'She said, 'He's right here,' and then added, 'Your daddy's missing you,' ' she shares. 'It was emotional, but I was so caught off guard that I didn't even process what really happened until afterward.' This wasn't the first time her daughter had made a mysterious claim like this. Months earlier, she had suddenly refused to sleep in her room. 'I knew something was wrong, because it was almost like she was afraid,' Chyanne says. 'We were asking her, 'What's wrong?' and she said, 'There's a ghost.' ' In an effort to ease her fear, Chyanne showed her a photo from her wedding day where a family member had edited in her late father. 'She lit up,' Chyanne remembers. 'I think seeing me in the photo with him comforted her, because she knew this was nothing to be afraid of.' Her daughter began calling him 'daddy ghost' and started talking about him as if he were her friend. 'Another time, she came up to me and said, 'The ghost sees me,' and took me to her bedroom and told me it was my dad,' she says. 'If the first two things were crazy, this one — where she said he's missing you — was the craziest.' What makes the moment even more interesting is that Chyanne never spoke to her daughter about her father. 'One of the main things people ask is, did she know him? No,' she says. 'She didn't know him at all.' Chyanne was just 2 years old when her father died, the same age her daughter is now. 'I remember certain things, but mostly the relationship I've built with him is through stories from my family,' she shares. It was a familiar experience for Chyanne, who says she had similar encounters as a young girl. 'My family always talks about how I did the same thing — talked to my grandfather and to my dad after he passed,' she explains. 'They absolutely believed me when I told them what was happening.' Her grandmother, especially, encouraged her to nurture her daughter's gift. 'She told me, just keep encouraging her and believing in her,' Chyanne says. 'Don't make her feel scared or like she's crazy — just say, 'Yes, baby, he's here,' and go on.' While the experience was startling at first, Chyanne says she ultimately "felt very calm and peaceful,' she tells PEOPLE. 'We walked into her room and everything just felt okay,' she continues. 'There was no panic, nothing to be scared of — I could feel that it was okay.' Moments like this have changed how she thinks about life and what comes after. 'I do love to think that we will get to visit our loved ones when we pass,' she says. 'It makes me a little more excited for what's to come.' The viral response has been overwhelming but mostly supportive. 'About 85% of the comments are people's personal stories, like, 'Please believe her, this happened to me,' ' Chyanne says. 'It makes me feel not so like, 'Oh my God, why is this only happening to me?' ' Some commenters were skeptical, but the outpouring of heartfelt experiences far outweighed the negativity. 'A lot of people even messaged me about how they help their children or grandchildren with something similar,' she says. 'That's been helpful too.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Chyanne describes her daughter as unusually articulate and bright for her age. 'She's the smartest 2-year-old. I went to college for early childhood development, and she blows me away,' she says. Her daughter talks like an adult, understands sarcasm and even tells jokes. 'Everybody's like, 'Did she just say that?' And she absolutely did,' Chyanne adds. Although life has been busy, Chyanne hopes to bring her daughter to visit her father's grave soon. 'Every time we've tried, something came up,' she says. 'But now I really want to take her out there, especially since she understands so much.' For Chyanne, the moment captured on TikTok was more than a viral sensation. 'It was the first time I ever felt like I got to talk to my dad,' she says softly. 'And that means everything.' Read the original article on People
