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Express Tribune
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Can Rihanna save the Smurfs?
Papa Smurf has been mysteriously captured by evil wizards Gargamel and his brother, Razamel. As the only female in her village of male Smurfs, Smurfette is taking the lead in the new adventure of the little blue humanoids. Smurfs, an animated musical film released on July 18, stars Rihanna as Smurfette. The megastar also co-produced the film and released an original song for the film's soundtrack in May, reports DW. Since it was Rihanna's first new track in three years — following rumours that the pop star was retiring from music — it was big news for her fans. But reactions were mixed: Even though many of them celebrate Friend Of Mine as "a club banger," others were disappointed to see her return with a song for a kids movie. The Grammy-winning artist-turned-entrepreneur, who's also pregnant with her third child, is generally seen as a symbol of Black female empowerment. Yet even though the new Smurfs film gives Smurfette an empowering role, the character's name is nevertheless synonymous with an entire sexist pop culture trope: the Smurfette principle. The concept, which was coined in 1991 by feminist critic Katha Pollitt in a New York Times article, refers to a pattern that can still be widely observed in films, TV series or video games: a single female character is surrounded by an otherwise all-male ensemble of heroes. Beyond the Smurfs, the trope can be observed in many other popular universes, from Princess Leia in Star Wars to Miss Piggy in The Muppets, from Kanga in Winnie the Pooh to Peach in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Reversing the Smurfette principle Reflecting Hollywood's endless cycle of reboots, spin-offs and sequels, the 2025 Smurfs film follows three other US-produced features in the franchise, all based on the series first developed in 1958 by Belgian comic artist Peyo. The live-action animated film from 2011, The Smurfs, reflects on the problematic gender imbalance of the Smurf universe when Gargamel plays with puppets representing the creatures he's obsessed with: "I'm Papa Smurf," he sneers, using a ventriloquist voice as he waves around a blue puppet with a red cap. "I have 99 sons and one daughter — nothing weird about that!" Smurfette's original sexist backstory is also revisited in The Smurfs 2 (2013): She was not initially part of the village, but rather created out of clay by Gargamel, who devised her as an evil spy to infiltrate the Smurf community. But once Smurfette gets to know the Smurfs and discovers how open and friendly they are, she disowns her master, and Papa Smurf transforms her into a real Smurf. The spell also metamorphoses her into a more stereotypically feminine character: Her unkept black hair is turned into lush blonde locks; her generic Smurf slippers and simple elongated tank top are also magically restyled as high heels and a frilly dress. The Smurfette principle is most directly tackled in Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017). Smurfette searches for her purpose, seeing that the other Smurfs around her all have a name describing their identity: Brainy, Clumsy or Sleepy. In her self-discovery journey, she lands in a village of all-female Smurfs. But that attempt to reverse gender roles also drew criticism: "I'm all for empowering girls, but not at the detriment of boys. I did not like the way the boy Smurfs were portrayed as bumbling idiots," wrote one parent reviewing Smurfs: The Lost Village on Common Sense Media. Film critic Maryann Johanson saw things similarly. The film "seems to believe it is feminist, but only doubles down on Smurfily regressive notions of gender," she wrote, by "embracing the gentler form of misogyny that puts women on a pedestal." Others pointed out that introducing the new female characters feels more driven by profit than by feminist values by merely expanding options for Smurf merchandising: "It's extremely obvious that Smurfs: The Lost Village exists to create a base for a new Smurfs universe that's more or less the same as the old one, except with more girls — and, presumably, more little girls in the audience too," correctly predicted a Vox critic reviewing the film at the time. An animated TV series with the female characters followed the film and is still running. Co-opted by far-right? Meanwhile, the Smurf brand is also facing other challenges beyond gender issues. In Germany, the creatures have been co-opted by content creators promoting far-right populist views. AI-generated videos set in the Smurf universe started circulating on social media platforms last year that computer-manipulated the original narrator's voice to criticise, for instance, a supposed "woke dictatorship." Collectible Smurf figurines were also spotted at election campaign events for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), whose party colour is also light blue. "We take this brand misuse very seriously," stated IMPS, the rights holder of the Smurfs, in a press release reacting to the videos created without permission. "In particular, we clearly distance ourselves from the content of these postings and their right-wing populist context;" he added. "The Smurfs are a symbol of childhood and innocence. They stand for values such as tolerance, respect and friendship and must not be misused in any way for purposes that are contrary to their values and history." French political commentator Antoine Bueno also sparked controversy with his 2011 book analysing the symbolism of the Smurf universe. The author argued that the Smurf society contains overtones of Stalinism and Nazism, and that the evil figures could be read as antisemitic caricatures. However, Bueno clarified that he didn't believe that the creator of the Smurfs had deliberately added the racist overtones to his stories, he told The Guardian at the time: "Peyo was not at all politicised; all this was unconscious."
Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Top 10 most followed people on X in 2025: PM Narendra Modi beats US President Donald Trump; see who is No. 1
World's most followed accounts on twitter in 2025: X, which launched as Twitter in 2006 – a microblogging site for sharing fleeting thoughts – has grown into a global digital powerhouse. It has transformed how we engage with celebrities, world leaders, and everyday voices. Over time, it has become a modern public square, where influence is measured in followers, reposts, and viral threads. Since Elon Musk took the reins, the platform has seen its share of chaos, change, and controversy. Yet one thing has remained constant: the immense clout of those who top the follower charts. So, who rules X in 2025? From pop icons to tech titans, here's a look at the 10 most-followed accounts on the platform as of July 17, 2025. My 14th Grammy award is a very special one. Being a songwriter, all I want to do is tell stories that touch peoples hearts. Telling this story with Bruno about love is truly a piece of my soul—love is what we all need right now. Thank you little monsters—wherever you go that's… — Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) February 4, 2025 Singer, actor, and activist, Lady Gaga remains a global favourite. Known for her genre-defying music and bold fashion, she shares updates from her creative projects, film sets, and mental health advocacy via the Born This Way Foundation. Her critically acclaimed role in A Star is Born (2018) not only wowed audiences but also won her an Oscar. You belong with me. 💚💛💜❤️🩵🖤 Letter on my site :) — Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) May 30, 2025 A powerhouse of storytelling and reinvention, Taylor Swift commands one of the largest and most loyal fanbases online. Beyond music, her influence spans business and culture—Forbes named her one of America's top self-made women in 2023. mood: Quokka — KATY PERRY (@katyperry) June 27, 2025 Katy Perry's quirky style and chart-topping hits made her a pop icon. But it's her unfiltered, relatable presence on X, eschewing glossy PR for real-life moments, that keeps her following strong. 'Friend Of Mine' from the #SmurfsMovie soundtrack iz out now!! 🩵 Check out the video on YouTube! — Rihanna (@rihanna) May 16, 2025 The Barbadian-born singer, actress, and beauty mogul has built an empire that stretches far beyond music. With her bold style, unapologetic persona, and the wildly successful Fenty Beauty line, she's redefined what it means to be a modern icon. Her magnetic presence on X has earned her the seventh spot among the most-followed accounts. Happy 20th Anniversary to Melania! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2025 Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States, made a dramatic return to X after a two-year suspension over policy breaches. Despite the ban, his follower base barely flinched, a testament to his unmatched ability to dominate headlines and timelines alike. Known for his blunt, no-holds-barred posts and polarizing takes, Trump's online persona remains as fiery and influential as ever, keeping X users perpetually tuned in and talking. — Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) July 16, 2025 With each of his high-octane performances and catchy hits, Bieber managed to keep millions of fans hooked, many of whom have grown up alongside his evolving sound and style. Whether it's his signature vocals or trendsetting dance moves, Bieber continues to dominate not just the music charts, but also the hearts (and timelines) of his massive online following. It was an honour to speak on India-Namibia friendship, our bond with Africa and India's efforts for global good, during my address to the Namibian Parliament. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2025 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has turned his X presence into a powerful extension of his leadership. Active since 2009, he's mastered the platform to connect with both citizens and global leaders, making him the most followed Indian personality online. 🇵🇹❤️ Feliz Dia de Portugal — Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) June 10, 2025 The football legend's charisma transcends the pitch. With an unmatched global fanbase, Ronaldo shares glimpses of his career, fitness routines, and family life—solidifying his status as a global icon. Today, I'm in Chicago for our @ObamaFoundation Democracy Forum, where we'll be bringing together leaders from around the world to discuss pluralism and the work we can do to strengthen democracy. Watch now: — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 5, 2024 Obama may no longer be in the Oval Office, but his influence remains as strong as ever, especially on X. The 44th President of the United States holds the second-highest follower count on the platform, a clear sign that his voice still resonates worldwide. Known for his thoughtful presence online, Obama often uses his account to spotlight the work of the Obama Foundation, share moments from his personal life, and weigh in on pressing global issues with the same calm clarity that defined his presidency. may da 4th be w u — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 4, 2025 It's only fitting that the man who owns X also tops its follower charts. Elon Musk, the mind behind Tesla, SpaceX, and a fleet of other futuristic ventures, is also a one-man headline machine. From revolutionising electric cars to literally reaching for the stars (and planets), Musk's ambitious ventures have made him a household name. Add to that his unpredictable posts, crypto crusades (especially his infamous Dogecoin fandom), and meme-worthy moments, and it's easy to see why the Internet can't stop watching. Note: Data reflects follower counts as recorded on July 17, 2025.
DW
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- DW
Can Rihanna outshine the Smurfette principle? – DW – 07/17/2025
The megastar plays a starring role in the new "Smurfs" animated movie. Yet the portrayal of a beloved community of blue creatures has been criticized for a lack of gender balance. Papa Smurf has been mysteriously captured by evil wizards Gargamel and his brother, Razamel. As the only female in her village of male Smurfs, Smurfette is taking the lead in the new adventure of the little blue humanoids. "Smurfs," an animated musical film released on July 18, stars Rihanna as Smurfette. The megastar also co-produced the film and released an original song for the film's soundtrack in May. Since it was Rihanna's first new track in three years — following rumors that the pop star was retiring from music — it was big news for her fans. But reactions were mixed: Even though many of them celebrate "Friend Of Mine" as "a club banger," others were disappointed to see her return with a song for a kids movie. The Grammy-winning artist-turned-entrepreneur, who's also pregnant of her third child, is generally seen as a symbol of Black female empowerment. Yet even though the new "Smurfs" movie gives Smurfette an empowering role, the character's name is nevertheless synonymous with an entire sexist pop culture trope: the Smurfette principle. The concept, which was coined in 1991 by feminist critic Katha Pollitt in a article, refers to a pattern that can still be widely observed in films, TV series or video games: A single female character is surrounded by an otherwise all-male ensemble of heroes. Beyond the Smurfs, the trope can be observed in many other popular universes, from Princess Leia in "Star Wars" to Miss Piggy in "The Muppets," from Kanga in "Winnie the Pooh" to Peach in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie." Reflecting Hollywood's endless cycle of reboots, spin-offs and sequels, the 2025 "Smurfs" movie follows three other US-produced features in the franchise, all based on the series first developed in 1958 by Belgian comic artist Peyo. The live-action animated film from 2011, "The Smurfs," reflects on the problematic gender imbalance of the Smurf universe when Gargamel plays with puppets representing the creatures he's obsessed with: "I'm Papa Smurf," he sneers, using a ventriloquist voice as he waves around a blue puppet with a red cap. "I have 99 sons and one daughter — nothing weird about that!" Smurfette's original sexist backstory is also revisited in "The Smurfs 2" (2013): She was not initially part of the village, but rather created out of clay by Gargamel, who devised her as an evil spy to infiltrate the Smurf community. But once Smurfette gets to know the Smurfs and discover how open and friendly they are, she disowns her master, and Papa Smurf transforms her into a real Smurf. The spell also metamorphoses her into a more stereotypically feminine character: Her unkept black hair is turned into lush blonde locks; her generic Smurf slippers and simple elongated tank top are also magically restyled as high heels and a frilly dress. The Smurfette principle is most directly tackled in "Smurfs: The Lost Village" (2017). Smurfette searches for her purpose, seeing that the other Smurfs around her all have a name describing their identity: Brainy, Clumsy or Sleepy. In her self-discovery journey, she lands in a village of all-female Smurfs. But that attempt to reverse gender roles also drew criticism: "I'm all for empowering girls, but not at the detriment of boys. I did not like the way the boy Smurfs were portrayed as bumbling idiots," wrote one parent reviewing "Smurfs: The Lost Village" on Common Sense Media. Film critic Maryann Johanson saw things similarly. The film "seems to believe it is feminist, but only doubles down on Smurfily regressive notions of gender," she wrote, by "embracing the gentler form of misogyny that puts women on a pedestal." Others pointed out that introducing the new female characters feels more driven by profit than by feminist values by merely expanding options for Smurf merchandisin: "It's extremely obvious that 'Smurfs: The Lost Village' exists to create a base for a new Smurfs universe that's more or less the same as the old one, except with more girls — and, presumably, more little girls in the audience too," correctly predicted a critic reviewing the film at the time. An animated TV series with the female characters followed the film and is still running. Meanwhile, the Smurf brand is also facing other challenges beyond gender issues. In Germany, the creatures have been co-opted by content creators promoting far-right populist views. AI-generated videos set in the Smurf universe started circulating on social media platforms last year that computer-manipulated the original narrator's voice to criticize, for instance, a supposed "woke dictatorship." Collectible Smurf figurines were also spotted at election campaign events for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), whose party color is also light blue. "We take this brand misuse very seriously," stated IMPS, the rights holder of the Smurfs, in a press release reacting to the videos created without permission. "In particular, we clearly distance ourselves from the content of these postings and their right-wing populist context;" he added. "The Smurfs are a symbol of childhood and innocence. They stand for values such as tolerance, respect and friendship and must not be misused in any way for purposes that are contrary to their values and history." French political commentator Antoine Bueno also sparked controversy with his 2011 book analyzing the symbolism of the Smurf universe. The author argued that the Smurf society contains overtones of Stalinism and Nazism, and that the evil figures could be read as antisemitic caricatures. However, Bueno clarified that he didn't believe that the creator of the Smurfs had deliberately added the racist overtones to his stories, he told at the time: "Peyo was not at all politicized; all this was unconscious."
Times
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Five reasons why you might want to see the Smurfs movie this summer
Below are five reasons why you might want to see Smurfs over the summer holidays. 1) You're fed up with your kids. They're annoying. They're out of control. They need to be punished. The multiplex has the answer, courtesy of this formless branded mind-numbing head-wrecker. It's a garish animation that celebrates everyone's favourite yet entirely interchangeable blue-skinned Belgian berks in a fifth movie outing from Hollywood. This one is notable only for featuring and foregrounding a multi-jobbing Rihanna as Smurfette and also the producer and creator of the film's ear-scrapingly generic Smurf anthem, Friend of Mine. Sample lyric over malfunctioning drum machine? 'Feel like a friend of mine, feel like a friend of mine, like a friend of mine, feel like a friend of mine.'
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A$AP Rocky might have spilled sex of third baby with Rihanna
A$AP Rocky might have just revealed that he's about to be a girl dad when his third baby with Rihanna is born. The rapper, who already shares two sons — 3-year-old RZA and 22 month old Riot Rose — with the Grammy winning singer, appeared to hint that the couple is expecting their first baby girl. During an interview at the world premiere of 'Smurfs,' Entertainment Tonight host Kevin Frazier asked the rapper, 'Is that the girl you've been waiting for?' Rocky replied saying, 'It is, man, it is.' He then played off the moment by holding up a Smurfette toy in attempt to redirect his answer while saying, 'Right here, right here.' When asked if the family plans to keep expanding, Rocky says the duo is just getting started. 'We're going to be like the Wayans family, you know?' Rocky joked, referencing the Hollywood family of 10 kids. 'I mean, love is beautiful, and it's just spreading it.' In a 2024 interview with Interview magazine, Rihanna spoke about her desire to have a girl. 'I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two,' RiRi said at the time. 'I would try for my girl. But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy.' Rocky joined Rihanna at the 'Smurfs' premiere in Brussels as the 'Umbrella' singer produced the live-action animated reboot and voices Smurfette in the summer film. She also contributed new song ' Friend of Mine' to the soundtrack. The pop star walked the blue carpet showing off her growing baby bump in a sheer baby blue top and skirt as she chatted and snapped photos with fans. The movie will hit theaters on July 18. -----------
