Latest news with #BlakelyThornton
Forbes
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
How Creators Turn Words Like 'Slutty Little Glasses' Into Consumption
You probably never heard of Blakely Thornton, the online creator and cleaver culture critic, but unless you've been living under a rock, it's likely you've seen his work. Ever heard the term 'slutty little glasses,' the phrase that Entertainment Weekly suggests might just be this year's 'brat summer?' Well, Thornton created it, and now it's being used across social networking platforms, in news headlines, on red carpets, and throughout the broader zeitgeist. The language 'slutty little glasses' refers to the thin, wire-framed, barely-there glasses that actor Jonathan Bailey dons in the new Jurassic World Rebirth movie, co-starring Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali. The language gained popular on the internet after Thornton coined it to describe Bailey's aesthetic in the movie trailer and soon became the newest menswear fashion trend. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: (L-R) Mahershala Ali, Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Rupert ... More Friend attend the "Jurassic World Rebirth" New York Premiere at Lincoln Center on June 23, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/WireImage) But what captures my attention most about the adoption of Thornton's creation is that this is the kind of cultural impact that brands would spend a small fortune to produce. Yet, creators like Thornton have been able to introduce ideas and language to the public and, subsequently, drive engagement and commerce. For instance, retailers have reported rising searchers for micro-framed glasses thanks in part to 'slutty little glasses' and its popularity. That's because these creators aren't making ads for products; they are making cultural production for people. The scholarly literature refers to cultural production as the shared creative output of a community that reflects its perspective on the world. It consists of the books we read, the music and podcasts we listen to, the film and television we watch, the food we eat, and a host of other artifacts that simultaneously reflect and influence how we (collectively and individually) see the world, and how we subsequently behave in the world. These works are often made by producers—like artists, writers, creators—and used by people to socialize the characteristics of a given community through the outward expression or justification of their worldview. For instance, I grew up listening to hip hop music, watching The Cosby Show, and reading the bible. The ideals expressed in these works have impacted how I think about style, good parenting, and moral decision-making, respectively. They have influenced my worldview, so, naturally, they are reflected in the way I show up in the world—informing what do and what I consume. But that's not the case for just me; that goes for all of us. Our commercial consumption is a byproduct of cultural consumption. Like the Janus god of Roman mythology, the relationship between culture and commerce is circuitous. What's expected of people like 'like us' (our culture) sways what we consume (our commerce). And what people 'like us' consume (commerce) becomes expected of us (our culture). It's hard to tell where one begins and other ends. (Original Caption) Janus, Roman God of doorways, after whom the first month of the year was named. ... More Engraving. BPA2# 3543 According to the mythology, the Janus god—which consists of one being—acted as a custodian of the universe's entrance, guarding what comes in and what goes out. Likewise, culture and commerce operate in a similar capacity—acting as a singular gateway to consumption but from two different sides which are hardly indistinguishable. Yet, these two processes happen together and drive what's acceptable and what's intolerable. What's 'in' and what's 'out.' What's cool and what's whack. Cultural production like 'slutty little glasses' give products new meaning which make consumption acceptable. Simultaneously, conspicuous commerce makes consumption more public and, therefore, casts a vote on what's acceptable—ultimately, driving more consumption. This is the power of cultural productions like 'sluttly little glasses;' they get integrated into our way of life and become a part of how we live and, not to mention, what we buy. The calculus is simple: if people 'like me' do a particular thing then that thing is now deemed socially acceptable for me, and I am likely to follow suit. Not so much because of what the product is but because of who 'we' (my people) are. That's why creators like Blakely Thornton are so invaluable to the marketing mix. It's not so much because of their reach, an outdated perspective for engaging 'influencers.' Instead, it's because of their ability to rework ideas into culture production by giving products new meaning beyond their value propositions. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 27: Blakely Thornton attends "Another Simple Favor" New York Screening at ... More Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 27, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/WireImage) The legendary hip hop artist, Rakim, puts it plainly in his 1988 classic, 'Follow the Leader,' where he says, 'I can take a phrase that's rarely heard, flip it, now it's a daily word.' This is the essence of what cultural production does; it goes beyond merely getting people's attention to being adopted into their way of life. What marketer wouldn't want that? No doubt, the creation of cultural product can make for some of the best marketing for any brand that seeks to benefit from the influential effects of 'culture.' We know this intuitively because there is no agency on this green earth that has not utter the phrase, 'we want to get the brand into culture,' because we know the powerful sway of culture and how far it can propel an idea or drive product adoption. But the only way to harness the power of culture is to contribute to it, and it doesn't take slutty little glasses to see that truth.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jonathan Bailey Is Ready For "Slutty Little Glasses" Summer, And It's A Trend I Never Want To End
When the trailer was released for Jonathan Bailey's new movie, Jurassic World Rebirth, fans could not stop talking about his character's appearance, particularly the frames sitting upon his face. He kept the conversation going when he wore these shades on Tuesday at the world premiere of the sci-fi action film at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London, England. Well, it turns out there's a trendy name for this eyewear: slutty little glasses. Yep, you read that right. During a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight at the premiere, Jonathan was asked, "What do you think of fans' reactions to your slutty little glasses?" Jonathan responded, "Slutty little glasses? Are you allowed to say the 'S' word?" "Listen, Blakely Thornton came up with that. So, copyright, where copyright is due." Jonathan was referring to Blakely, the internet personality who describes himself as a "pop culture anthropologist." He coined the term "slutty little glasses" and even created an Instagram page dedicated to sharing images and videos of men wearing them. The term typically (but not exclusively) refers to trendy thin, wire-frame glasses that give the person wearing them personality. The social media page was filled with a range of male heartthrobs like Pedro Pascal, Ryan Coogler, Chris Evans, Keith Powers, Eric Dane, Jonathan, of course, and more. Related: From Florence Pugh To Zoë Kravitz, Here's All The Celebrities Who Rocked Sheer Or Naked Dresses "I'm thrilled that people having a hormonal explosion linked to optical support," Jonathan continued. "But, I think, yeah, glasses can go a long way. So, let's have the summer of slutty little glasses." But that wasn't the only thing he was hoping to see more of this season. Jonathan is also a big supporter of flip-flops and hats, noting he wears "a cap every day of the year." "I believe feeling confident, feeling cool, is about wearing what you love. I'll just wear my little glasses." Related: Here Are 10 Celebs Who've Publicly Admitted The Reasons Why They Regret Ending Their Marriages Amen! I'm a big fan of the glasses trend, whether you wear them out of necessity or fashion. Others seem to be onboard with the slutty little glasses movement, too: Entertainment Tonight / / @cupidhawk / Twitter: @cupidhawk For more of Jonathan, you can watch his full Entertainment Tonight interview below. You can also find him and the rest of the cast in Jurassic World Rebirth when it hits theaters on July 2. What are your thoughts on this? Share them with me in the comments! Looking for more LGBTQ+ or Pride content? Then check out all of BuzzFeed's posts celebrating Pride 2025. Also in Celebrity: If You Get 20/30 On This Difficult '90s Music Quiz, Then You Honestly Know Your Stuff!!! Also in Celebrity: 17 Actors Who Said "No" To Nudity And Sex Scenes Out Of Respect For Their Partners, Families, Religion, And More Also in Celebrity: 22 Absolutely Bonkers Things I've Learned About Old Hollywood Celebs That Made My Jaw Hit The Floor
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Blakely Thornton leaves Met Gala fans in stitches with brutal commentary about Kim Kardashian's outfit
Blakely Thornton has left Met Gala fans in stitches with his brutal commentary about Kim Kardashian 's outfit on the night. The internet personality, 39, took to TikTok to share his damning review of the star's ensemble which consisted of a leather bodycon dress with matching fedora by Chrome Hearts. Kim, 44, accessorized with several diamond necklaces which cascaded down her chest along with matching dangling earrings - but not even the glitz and glamor could win Thornton over. In the clip, Thornton - who describes himself as a 'pop culture anthropologist' - did little to hide his disappointment as the millionaire posed for pictures at the iconic event in New York City. His usually upbeat demeanor took a hit when Kim was guided up the iconic steps on the red carpet. 'Oh lord, oh lord,' Thornton exclaimed, before groaning loudly, per a video from The Cut. 'No, no, no, no, no, no, no. She not talking to nobody, she not talking to nobody. Oh my god.' Someone behind Thornton called out, 'Kim! Show us the look! Kim! Show us the look!' to which Thornton responded, 'I don't think so.' Blakely Thornton has left Met Gala fans in stitches with his wild commentary about Kim Kardashian 's outfit on the night And viewers were left in hysterics over Thornton's reaction, as one person wrote: 'This is the ONLY appropriate reaction.' 'The "ughhhhh" is so real,' a user wrote. 'She never gets the assignment. Ever,' someone shared. Another wrote: 'He's sooo bored with her!' One user said, 'Who is this guy, he needs a raise ASAP!!' 'Extend his contract and give him a raise,' someone else wrote. 'I can FEEL the eye roll he's probably giving and I'm living for it,' a comment read. Earlier in the night, Kim was caught scolding a security guard after he caused her to take an awkward tumble as she headed into the Met Gala 2025 with 11-year-old daughter North. She faced a near-fall when a security guard accidentally stepped on her dress. After stumbling forward, she angrily turned towards the man and said something to him before she held up her hand with a harsh look on her face. The awkward moment was caught on camera and shared to TikTok. Tension seemingly did not end there, as Kim glared back while hopping into a pick-up vehicle before hitting the famous steps at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
