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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Opinion: How AOC Wins Social Media Without Trolls Taking Her Down
This excerpt from When We're in Charge has been lightly edited. I'm going to state the obvious here: Social media can be a necessary and positive tool for advancement—it can win elections, change lives, and transform societies. It can also, on a personal level, totally mess with your head unless you set clear and explicit boundaries. Your followers, whether it's online or in real life, don't really know you, even when they think they know you. One of the best to do it: Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) beat out a Democratic incumbent in New York City in a 2018 primary and became the youngest woman to ever serve in Congress when she took office at twenty-nine years old. A former waitress and organizer turned elected official, she's raised the bar on how to use social media in a way that feels authentic, genuine, and strategic, and for leaders looking to strike a balance online, she's at the top of the list of excellence. The tools and tactics have shifted over the years, but even looking back, she was always on her A game online. From a compelling video that could help her raise money to visual branding that stood out among the crowd to content that was real (but with boundaries!)—AOC seemed like an authentic version of herself online. In particular, she's strategically used live streams to connect to her base: From logging on to Twitch to play video games—which she described to The Washington Post as 'kind of like the way some of my colleagues talk about golf'—to using Instagram Live to talk directly to the camera about what she experienced during the January 6 insurrection, she's cultivated a remarkable amount of intimacy with her community. I remember that 2021 stream in particular, sitting in my bedroom, riveted to my phone as she looked into the camera and expressed the panic she felt hiding behind her office door. It was like FaceTiming with my friend, who just happened to be the congresswoman from New York. (To be clear: She's not my friend; we've never met.) Going through the screenshots on my phone, it seems like every few months I have one from one of AOC's Instagram stories—whether because I laughed when she described the Capitol building as a kind of Hogwarts, I found it compelling when she was explaining how she chose a dress to wear to a diplomatic meeting, or I wanted her recommendation on which beauty balm cream to use as foundation, her social media has stuck with me. AOC has made the highfalutin office of United States representative seem approachable and real and given us, her followers, a carefully curated feeling of community and insider-ness with her. She isn't a stranger or an elite—she is one of us, while also leading us. I trust her because, thanks to her social media, I feel like I know her. I also know that I absolutely don't know her, not even a little. Instagram is not reality, and as a member of Congress, she is actually one of the more powerful people in the country. I only know the version of her that she presents online. As you think about how to incorporate AOC's example into your own social media presence, consider what kind of hate you might get, and remember: Leadership means taking a stand, and taking a stand means some people are going to disagree with you. When that disagreement shows up online, it can quickly get personal, because online, you're not a real person. Even knowing that, being on the receiving end of nastiness and cruelty can be exhausting (or worse) and can quickly get dangerous. Trolls are everywhere. If your leadership takes you into a more public role, your trolls may grow in volume, and it may feel more personal. It's not personal, even when the comments specifically say: This is personal! It's still not. They're mad about what you represent: change, disruption, a force against the status quo. That depersonalization doesn't make them go away, but it can turn down the impact on your sense of self. I say this because sometimes the haters will defend themselves as if they're good-faith critics: Trolling and doxing are different from feedback. Feedback is a gift that, when delivered thoughtfully with compassion, clarity, and integrity, can make you better. You will never be doing everything right, you always have opportunities for growth, and there are people who you can and should trust to give you honest, constructive guidance. Online trolls, especially ones who do not actually know you, are not those people. They're just a--holes. Even if your leadership role is not explicitly public, you still might encounter some online trolling that eats away at you. Maybe former employees will shit talk you on social media—a deeply nonstrategic move on their part, but hey, everyone has their own goals—or maybe your company or brand ends up on the receiving end of a lot of online hate. Whatever it may be: They have a right to say whatever they want, and you have a right to mute or ignore it at your leisure. I say this only kind of joking: What other people have to say or post about you online is none of your business. Many of those I've spoken to about using social media as a leader have brought up the anxiety of knowing any Zoom meeting could be recorded, any email could be screenshotted, and any post online could be taken out of context. There is no room for turning it off, even in the highest-trust environments. The balance between internal management and external communication is exhausting and requires constant context shifting and a perpetual balancing act between different personas. Part of the solution is to show vulnerability and our more human sides. But as I've been hammering home: You can't really do that, at least not to the fullest extent possible. If it ever reaches a point that you do not want to have to deal with, you can and should protect your peace. Log off. Make your accounts private. Hand off your passwords to someone else or shut the accounts down entirely. No leadership goal is worth the hit to your mental health. When We're In Charge is a no-bulls--t guide for the next generation of leaders on how to show up differently, break the cycle of bad boomer leadership, and navigate the changing demands of those in power and the evolving expectations people have of their workplace.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"You Are The Reason That People In Our Community Don't Feel Safe": Reneé Rapp Went Off At People Getting Upset That She Identifies As A Lesbian Now Instead Of Bi
Reneé Rapp is firing back at those who criticized her sexual identity journey, after confirming she's a lesbian. When she came out as bisexual in 2020, Reneé received both praise and ridicule. Many fans celebrated her as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, while others questioned if she was queerbaiting. Despite it all, she's always openly and proudly shared her love for women. Fast forward to January 2024, the "Tummy Hurts" singer made her Saturday Night Live debut, where she served as the show's musical guest, and even made a guest appearance in a sketch called "Entertainment Tonight Lip-Readers." In the skit, Reneé was introduced as the "little lesbian intern." Coming out as a lesbian on SNL was a last-minute decision for her. In an interview with Them, she revealed the script originally said "little bisexual intern," but she asked the writers to make the change, despite being nervous about how viewers would react. 'They were so sweet," Reneé told Them. "And obviously, they were going to be so sweet. But to me, I was thinking about being so afraid to publicly change my identity. I didn't want anybody to be upset with me," she said of the experience. Reneé, who'd essentially been unofficially crowned as a bi-icon on the internet, was hesitant about switching the label publicly, fearful doing so would "make bisexual people feel shitty," and that referring to herself as "gay" would prompt backlash from fellow queer people who felt like she was inappropriately using the label. "I felt so wrapped up and scared." That same year, Reneé went public with her relationship with fellow singer Towa Bird. They walked the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty red carpet together in March 2024. But that same fear Reneé had about people responding negatively to her lesbian identity back in 2024 became a reality in 2025. The former Sex Lives of College Girls star took to Instagram Live to vent her frustrations regarding some of the backlash she's received. Related: "It Was Not Right": Shailene Woodley Broke Her Silence About The Aaron Rodgers Breakup "Did you not fucking hear me when I just said I'm a lesbian? When I said I'm a big, bad, fucking lesbian?" Renee asked on Instagram Live, per Reddit. "Did you not just fucking hear me? Did you decide to stop listening in that moment? Shut the fuck up. Shut the fuck up." "Here's why I'm fucking pissed: You are the reason that people in our community don't feel safe coming out and changing and evolving. That is the reason why. We got a lot of other people who are fucking us up, but I'm saying in our community, if you don't allow people to change and to evolve and grow and grow into themselves — I'm so sorry, I grew up in the South me stop myself because I will start crying. I grew up in the South, where you don't do that." Related: Sophie Turner Opened Up About Her "Incredibly Sad" Split From Joe Jonas Reneé then admitted that she felt like she "had to be bisexual" because it was more digestible and acceptable for others if she still assumed a "closeness" to heterosexuality and men. "I felt like for so long I had to be bisexual because I had to assume closeness to a sexuality that could lead to being with a man," she continued. "That is something that I struggled with for such a fucking long time. So for you to get in your fucking comments and in my fucking comments and say that it's not fair that I decided to start identifying as a lesbian because you didn't like the fucking way I went about you! Fuck you!" "I'm glad that you felt comfortable in your sexuality your entire life. I'm glad that you felt like that, truly. I'm so glad. I wish that I had that when I was growing up, but I didn't. It pisses me the fuck off, because that is why people don't feel the validity to change and to grow and to grow into themselves. Everybody grows up in a different way. Everybody comes out in a different way. We hit, like, a second puberty. If you're gay, sometimes you find your people later on in your life, and you grow into yourself. Allow people the space to grow and change and to move forward and to identify how they want." "I have so many of my friends who later on in life, have come into their gender, have come into their sexuality, have changed their sexuality — God forbid I decided that I was a lesbian. God for fucking bid! There's a lot of stuff you can play with me on. Don't play in my face about that. Don't fucking play in my face about that." Reneé went on to reveal that when she has kids, she won't tolerate anyone being an "asshole" to her children if they were figuring out their sexuality as well. There was no hint of humor in her voice either — she was not playing. "Do not make people in our own community feel unsafe to be themselves," Reneé added. "We are too close to pride month for you to piss me off like that. I'm not playing about that. That is one comment that irks me to my core. It makes me feel sad and it makes me feel insecure, because that's something that I had to deal with for such a long time in my life, and so many people do." "Just please, for the love of God, let people be. I get it, this is our identity, right? It is a sacred space. It is special. It is exclusive in so many ways, but you gotta let people be. You gotta let people be. You got to." Honestly, good for her. Sexuality isn't always as black and white as people may think. Allowing people to discover themselves in all facets of life is a part of growing. To hear more from Reneé, you can watch her full response here. Also in Celebrity: "I Can't Emphasize Enough How Filthy Some Of These People Are": 39 Hollywood Secrets People Have Learned From Working With Celebs Also in Celebrity: If You Think You're Smarter Than The Average Celebrity, Prove It By Correctly Answering These Questions They Got Wrong On "Jeopardy" Also in Celebrity: 28 Celebs Who Never Seem To Get Canceled Despite Some Pretty Awful Behavior
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Reneé Rapp Addresses Criticism Of Coming Out As Lesbian
Reneé Rapp is firing back at those who criticized her sexual identity journey, after confirming she's a lesbian. When she came out as bisexual in 2020, Reneé received both praise and ridicule. Many fans celebrated her as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, while others questioned if she was queerbaiting. Despite it all, she's always openly and proudly shared her love for women. Fast forward to January 2024, the "Tummy Hurts" singer made her Saturday Night Live debut, where she served as the show's musical guest, and even made a guest appearance in a sketch called "Entertainment Tonight Lip-Readers." In the skit, Reneé was introduced as the "little lesbian intern." Coming out as a lesbian on SNL was a last-minute decision for her. In an interview with Them, she revealed the script originally said "little bisexual intern," but she asked the writers to make the change, despite being nervous about how viewers would react. 'They were so sweet," Reneé told Them. "And obviously, they were going to be so sweet. But to me, I was thinking about being so afraid to publicly change my identity. I didn't want anybody to be upset with me," she said of the experience. Reneé, who'd essentially been unofficially crowned as a bi-icon on the internet, was hesitant about switching the label publicly, fearful doing so would "make bisexual people feel shitty," and that referring to herself as "gay" would prompt backlash from fellow queer people who felt like she was inappropriately using the label. "I felt so wrapped up and scared." That same year, Reneé went public with her relationship with fellow singer Towa Bird. They walked the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty red carpet together in March 2024. But that same fear Reneé had about people responding negatively to her lesbian identity back in 2024 became a reality in 2025. The former Sex Lives of College Girls star took to Instagram Live to vent her frustrations regarding some of the backlash she's received. "Did you not fucking hear me when I just said I'm a lesbian? When I said I'm a big, bad, fucking lesbian?" Renee asked on Instagram Live, per Reddit. "Did you not just fucking hear me? Did you decide to stop listening in that moment? Shut the fuck up. Shut the fuck up." "Here's why I'm fucking pissed: You are the reason that people in our community don't feel safe coming out and changing and evolving. That is the reason why. We got a lot of other people who are fucking us up, but I'm saying in our community, if you don't allow people to change and to evolve and grow and grow into themselves — I'm so sorry, I grew up in the South me stop myself because I will start crying. I grew up in the South, where you don't do that." Reneé then admitted that she felt like she "had to be bisexual" because it was more digestible and acceptable for others if she still assumed a "closeness" to heterosexuality and men. "I felt like for so long I had to be bisexual because I had to assume closeness to a sexuality that could lead to being with a man," she continued. "That is something that I struggled with for such a fucking long time. So for you to get in your fucking comments and in my fucking comments and say that it's not fair that I decided to start identifying as a lesbian because you didn't like the fucking way I went about you! Fuck you!" "I'm glad that you felt comfortable in your sexuality your entire life. I'm glad that you felt like that, truly. I'm so glad. I wish that I had that when I was growing up, but I didn't. It pisses me the fuck off, because that is why people don't feel the validity to change and to grow and to grow into themselves. Everybody grows up in a different way. Everybody comes out in a different way. We hit, like, a second puberty. If you're gay, sometimes you find your people later on in your life, and you grow into yourself. Allow people the space to grow and change and to move forward and to identify how they want." "I have so many of my friends who later on in life, have come into their gender, have come into their sexuality, have changed their sexuality — God forbid I decided that I was a lesbian. God for fucking bid! There's a lot of stuff you can play with me on. Don't play in my face about that. Don't fucking play in my face about that." Reneé went on to reveal that when she has kids, she won't tolerate anyone being an "asshole" to her children if they were figuring out their sexuality as well. There was no hint of humor in her voice either — she was not playing. "Do not make people in our own community feel unsafe to be themselves," Reneé added. "We are too close to pride month for you to piss me off like that. I'm not playing about that. That is one comment that irks me to my core. It makes me feel sad and it makes me feel insecure, because that's something that I had to deal with for such a long time in my life, and so many people do." "Just please, for the love of God, let people be. I get it, this is our identity, right? It is a sacred space. It is special. It is exclusive in so many ways, but you gotta let people be. You gotta let people be. You got to." Honestly, good for her. Sexuality isn't always as black and white as people may think. Allowing people to discover themselves in all facets of life is a part of growing. To hear more from Reneé, you can watch her full response here.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tory Lanez Reportedly Launches Website To Prove His Innocence In Megan Thee Stallion Shooting
Tory Lanez is intensifying efforts to secure his freedom. The rapper's team is powering up to prove his innocence in the alleged shooting involving Megan Thee Stallion in June of 2020, which landed him in prison in 2023. The effort from Tory Lanez's team comes after he was moved to another correctional facility due to his involvement in a stabbing incident that left him injured in 14 different spots. Lanez's legal team has launched a new website, which features previously unheard audio from the night he allegedly shot Megan. The website aims to shed light on the 36 hours following the incident, which was triggered by Megan's Instagram Live session where she shared her version of the events. The audio carried an account from Sean Kelly, a witness interviewed by police on July 12, 2020, who stated in the video that he observed a woman, who is now identified as Kelsey Harris, aggressively exiting the rear of a Cadillac Escalade. He recounted witnessing a heated confrontation between Harris and Megan, describing a physical altercation that erupted between the two women. While the driver attempted to separate them, Tory reportedly remained in the backseat of the vehicle. Per TMZ, Kelly noted that it was during this chaos that he saw Kelsey begin to fire shots into the car, prompting Tory to rush out of the SUV to diffuse the situation. On May 19, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna from Florida's 13th district called on California Governor Gavin Newsom to reconsider the 2020 shooting case involving the singer, urging him to grant a pardon. Luna argued in her post on X that Lanez's conviction was founded on "flawed evidence and influenced by political pressure and prosecutorial bias." She emphasized the principle that "justice must be blind—not driven by headlines." On May 20, Luna further announced that new "compelling evidence" would be unveiled within 36 hours, which she believed would prove Lanez's innocence. She noted that those who had hastily called for the rapper's incarceration should be prepared for accountability due to the dissemination of false evidence. During a recent press conference held by Lanez's representatives from the nonprofit organization Unite the People, attorney Walter Roberts presented what he described as new findings in the case. Notably, he confirmed that an affidavit from Bradley James, Kelsey Harris' bodyguard, was in their possession. According to Robert, James, in his affidavit, claimed to have heard Harris admit to firing the weapon, hence suggesting that Lanez was not the shooter. Following the feedback from Lanez's team, Megan's lawyers swung into action, reiterating that new evidence would do little to nothing to ease the rapper's sentence. As shared by The Blast, Megan's lawyer, Alex Spiro, described the alleged evidence as mere rumors peddled as facts. Spiro explained that Lanez was convicted at trial based on overwhelming evidence, which included his admission of guilt. The attorney added that the rapper and his team have been promoting a misleading narrative, often supported by individuals who are uninformed about the situation. Spiro also dismissed reports of James being present at the shooting scene. He insisted that one simple truth still stands despite Lanez's team's shenanigans: "He was convicted by overwhelming evidence, and those who seek to traumatize the victim of the crime should be called out as foolish bullies." Nearly five years after news of the alleged shooting broke out, the rapper still grapples with the shadows of that unfortunate incident. Following the recent surge in discourses surrounding the event, Megan has been forced to defend herself from critics again. In a recent TikTok post, Megan addressed her critics, expressing frustration over continually having to revisit the trauma of being shot by Lanez. She questioned why the harassment persists and demanded that Lanez and his fans stop spreading false narratives about her experience. "Why is this happening EVERY DAY??" "TORY PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE you a f-cking demon," the rapper noted. Megan emphasized her honesty regarding the incident, pointing out that Lanez's guilt had been established in court. She ended her message by urging Lanez to leave her alone and announced her departure from social media, calling the situation absurd. May has been nothing short of explosive for both parties involved in the case. As noted by The Blast, the Canadian rapper survived a torturous prison stabbing episode that had him hospitalized. His family and fans were seemingly concerned by the incident that occurred at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi. Now that he is recovering, his father confirmed that he was moved to a new correctional facility to ensure his safety further. His dad, Sonstar Peterson, added that his transfer was an important part of prison protocol when a dangerous situation had happened. The incident reportedly left Lanez with collapsed lungs, but his father's gratitude for his survival remained evident. Peterson reiterated his son's innocence in whatever led to his prison experience. According to him: "Tory Lanez is the victim. He never provoked this incident in prison and anybody that knows him. in fact, I have met many people who went there to visit him, my wife and I, that will tell you that he is someone who is liked. He is not someone who is a troublemaker." Will the agitations from Tory Lanez's camp hold enough water to sway the hands of justice?
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Inside Chelsea's Conference League celebrations as Caicedo sings karaoke until early hours and Mudryk poses with medal
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHELSEA stars partied into the early hours of the morning after getting their hands on the Uefa Conference League trophy. The west Londoners completed the set of European club trophies on Wednesday night thanks to a 4-1 win over Real Betis in Poland. 12 Chelsea got their hands on the Uefa Conference League trophy on Wednesday night Credit: GETTY 12 The Blues beat Real Betis 4-1 to complete the set of European club trophies Credit: GETTY 12 Pedro Neto was joined on the pitch by his other half, Claudia Silva after getting his winners' medal 12 Marc Cucurella was joined by his wife, Claudia Rodriguez Goals from Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo sealed a famous victory in Wroclaw for the Blues. There were joyful scenes on the pitch after the final whistle. And skipper Reece James sent the travelling Stamford Bridge faithful into a state of ecstasy when he raised the trophy high into the sky. But the celebrations didn't stop on the pitch, with Enzo Maresca's troops keeping the party going in the dressing room. The players, understandably, were in the mood for busting a move - particularly Marc Cucurella. The Spaniard did his best two-step as Caicedo broadcast the celebrations on Instagram Live. Goal scorers Fernandez and Jackson also cut a rug as several of the Spanish-speaking players belted out Daddy Yankee's 2004 hit 'Gasolina'. Marc Guiu was seen in the background enjoying one of the beers brought through for the players to enjoy. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 12 There were joyful scenes in the dressing room, with Marc Cucurella dancing along to some Central Cee 12 The west Londoners celebrated long into the night back at the team hotel Credit: INSTAGRAM@ENZOJFERNANDEZ 12 They were joined scores of staff members who travelled to Wroclaw Credit: INSTAGRAM@LEVICOLWILL 12 Moises Caicedo serenaded his team-mates with a rendition of a reggaeton song Credit: INSTAGRAM@YUNGCHALOBAH The Blues continued their celebrations back at the team hotel, where they had a private room to dance the night away. Pedro Neto and Filip Jorgensen were well and truly in the mood for dancing, getting downtown to Bruno Mars' 'Uptown Funk'. CBS Sports reporter asks Cole Palmer why he's carrying trophy in his shorts and Chelsea star's answer doesn't disappoint There was also some late-night karaoke, with Caicedo treating his team-mates to a rendition of a reggaeton song. Trevor Chalobah posted footage of Caicedo's sing-song to his Instagram story, with his accompanying caption reading: "Ladies and gentlemen, my CDM." Noni Madueke also got on the mic, rapping to Meek Mill's 'Dreams and Nightmares'. It was a late night for Ecuador international Caicedo, who was still going strong at 4am. The 23-year-old returned to Instagram Live in the early hours of the morning, prompting team-mate Romeo Lavia to tell him to "go to bed". Several players shared snaps of themselves proudly showing off their winners' medals, including the BANNED Mykhailo Mudryk. The Ukrainian, who is serving a provisional drugs ban, wore a medal for a snap with Fernandez despite not having played in the competition since last November. Levi Cowill gave a glimpse at just how many people were in attendance at the celebrations with a photo shouting out the club staff. 12 Noni Madueke also got on the mic, rapping Meek Mill's 'Dreams and Nightmares' 12 The midfielder was on Instagram Live at 4am and was told to go to bed by team-mate Romeo Lavia Credit: instagram 12 Mykhailo Mudryk joined in on the celebrations - despite serving a provisional drug ban Credit: INSTAGRAM@ENZOJFERNANDEZ 12 Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was happy as Larry during the celebrations Credit: INSTAGRAM@KDH_8 Maresca, 45, was nowhere to be seen during the late-night celebrations, which may have resulted in a sore head or two. The Italian is hoping the Conference League triumph will be the first of many trophies during his reign, saying: "I'm very proud, and very happy. "I know the fans deserve it, they've waited for a few years for good moments. "The club has invested a lot of money so they've been waiting too. "Hopefully, this can be a starting point and we can begin to create something important. "The target for next season? We're going to try again. "We'll enjoy it for a week or so, and then start looking ahead."
