Latest news with #Ruthless'
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
JD Vance Defends Sydney Sweeney Amid American Eagle Ad Backlash: 'Dems Are Calling People Nazis for Finding Her Attractive'
Vice President JD Vance has waded into the controversy surrounding actress Sydney Sweeney's latest campaign for American Eagle, criticizing what he calls a 'Democratic meltdown' over the ad's allegedly coded messaging. Speaking on Friday's episode of the conservative 'Ruthless' podcast, Vance delivered an incendiary rebuke of critics who have accused the campaign of playing into white supremacist aesthetics. 'My political advice to the Democrats is: continue to tell everybody who thinks Sydney Sweeney is attractive that they're a Nazi. That appears to be their actual strategy,' Vance said. 'You have a normal all-American beautiful girl doing a normal jeans ad—and they've managed to unhinge themselves over it.' Vance's comments come amid a swirl of online discourse over a series of American Eagle ads featuring Euphoria star Sweeney. The campaign, which launched last week, features playful wordplay on 'genes' and 'jeans.' In one ad, Sweeney tells viewers, 'Genes are passed down from parents to offspring,' before smiling and clarifying, 'My jeans are blue.' Another features a billboard proclaiming 'Sydney Sweeney has great genes,' with 'genes' humorously scratched out and replaced with 'jeans.' What was intended as a lighthearted back-to-school campaign has instead exploded into a full-blown ideological clash, with critics accusing the brand of peddling a eugenicist subtext and idealizing whiteness. One now-viral MSNBC opinion piece, titled 'Sydney Sweeney's ad shows an unbridled cultural shift toward whiteness,' argued that the ad centers Sweeney's Anglo-Saxon features as a beauty standard in a way that subtly reinforces racial hierarchies. No Democratic Officials Have Actually Commented Despite the online furor, CNN White House producer Alejandra Jaramillo clarified in a report Thursday morning that 'no prominent Democratic Party leaders or officials have commented on the ad.' The backlash, she notes, appears to be coming primarily from progressive commentators on social media and in opinion columns, not from the Democratic establishment. Still, that didn't stop Vance from seizing the moment to score political points. 'So much of the Democrats' identity is oriented around hostility to basic American life,' Vance continued. 'You have a pretty girl doing a jeans ad and they can't help but freak out. It reveals a lot more about them than it does us.' The vice president, who has leaned heavily into culture war issues since taking office alongside President Donald Trump in January, framed the ad uproar as emblematic of a broader 'liberal obsession with policing beauty and tradition.' 'I actually thought one of the lessons [Democrats] might take from the November 2024 election was, 'We're going to be less crazy,'' Vance said. 'But no—the lesson they've apparently taken is, 'We're going to attack people as Nazis for thinking Sydney Sweeney is beautiful.' Great strategy, guys.' White House Spokesman Weighs In Earlier this week, White House spokesman Steve Cheung also slammed the backlash to the Sweeney ads, calling it 'cancel culture run amok.' 'This warped, moronic and dense liberal thinking is a big reason why Americans voted the way they did in 2024,' Cheung posted on X. 'They're tired of this bullshit.' His post included a screenshot of the controversial MSNBC headline and ignited further conservative support for the actress and the brand. Sweeney herself has remained silent amid the uproar, choosing instead to continue posting promotional clips from the campaign across her social platforms. American Eagle has not issued a formal comment on the backlash but continues to run the ads on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, where they have garnered millions of views. The post JD Vance Defends Sydney Sweeney Amid American Eagle Ad Backlash: 'Dems Are Calling People Nazis for Finding Her Attractive' appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
EPA proposing to repeal climate ‘endangerment finding' Tuesday
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will propose Tuesday to repeal its landmark 2009 finding that greenhouse gases pose a threat to the public. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the timing of the proposed repeal during an appearance on the conservative 'Ruthless' podcast Tuesday morning. He had previously said last week that he would axe the finding. 'Later today, we're going to be making a big announcement in Indiana,' he said Tuesday morning. 'Something that happened back in the Obama administration in 2009 was that they put forward this regulation called the 'endangerment finding,'' Zeldin said. 'Repealing it will be the largest deregulatory action in the history of America,' he added. The finding is not just symbolic: It also represents a legal justification for climate regulations, especially rules governing the auto industry that have significant environmental and economic ramifications. In 2007, the Supreme Court case Massachusetts v. EPA authorized the agency to regulate climate change if it makes a determination that global warming poses harm to the American people. The first Trump administration did not go as far as repealing the endangerment finding, even if it did weaken climate change regulations. The proposal to repeal the finding comes in spite of decades of evidence that climate change drives an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Los Angeles Times
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Beat ‘em or buy ‘em. Fox News and others chase online audiences with podcaster deals
As legacy news brands turn to podcasters to court online audiences, another digital media upstart has been invited to sit at the grown-ups table. Fox News Media this week signed a licensing deal with the makers of 'Ruthless,' a popular conservative podcast, a move aimed at expanding the network's digital reach. The five-year-old podcast is co-hosted by public affairs and digital advocacy consulting firm Cavalry LLC's founding partners Josh Holmes, Michael Duncan and John Ashbrook, as well as Shashank Tripathi, a commentator known by the pseudonym 'Comfortably Smug.' It will operate under the Fox News Digital division led by Porter Berry. The co-hosts will also get exposure on the Fox News Channel. The move is another sign of traditional media outlets looking for ways to appeal to audiences who are no longer in the pay-TV universe. Faced with a slow but steady decline in audience levels due to competition from streaming, upstart digital operations are seen as a route to reach those consumers. Podcasts — particularly those hosted by comedians such as Joe Rogan and Andrew Schulz — proved influential in the 2024 presidential election as more traditional news outlets felt their relevance waning. 'Ruthless' has gained a large following among men aged 18 to 45, a group that is spending less time with traditional TV, where Fox News is the most-watched cable channel and often tops broadcast networks in prime time. The podcast is regarded as the conservative answer to 'Pod Save America,' the popular digital program led by four former Obama aides, which is produced by Los Angeles-based Crooked Media. Recent 'Ruthless' episodes covered anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles and Elon Musk's proposal for a new political party. Fox News Media has a stable of podcasts hosted by the network's on-air talent such as Will Cain. But 'Ruthless' is the first outside entity to join its digital platforms, and similar deals could follow. Fox News has a multiyear deal with 'Ruthless,' which will share in the revenue the podcast generates across the network's various platforms. The 'Ruthless' partners will retain editorial control over the podcast, although their right-leaning worldview is in keeping with other commentators on Fox News. They will also serve as Fox News contributors appearing on the TV network's programs. Others media giants have gotten into the more freewheeling online sphere by working with podcasters and YouTubers. ESPN reached into the digital media space when it picked up sports commentator Pat McAfee's program — a hit on YouTube — for its TV networks. McAfee retains control of the program, which is licensed by the Walt Disney Co. unit. Earlier this year, Fox News parent Fox Corp. acquired Red Seat Ventures, which provides ad sales, marketing and production support for digital content creators, many of them aimed at politically conservative audiences. There may be more such deals ahead. The Fox News announcement follows reports that David Ellison, whose company Skydance Media has a merger agreement with Paramount Global, has engaged in talks about acquiring The Free Press, a popular digital news site launched by former New York Times opinion writer Bari Weiss. The entity, which produces Weiss' current affairs podcast 'Honestly' and uses the independent newsletter publishing platform Substack, would operate separately from Paramount Global's CBS News division, according to one person familiar with the discussions who was not authorized to comment publicly.
Los Angeles Times
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Actor who sued Tyler Perry for sexual harassment says he ‘couldn't stay silent anymore'
Derek Dixon, the actor who raised allegations of sexual harassment against Tyler Perry, has broken his silence after suing the producer and media mogul for $260 million last month. In his first interview since filing the bombshell lawsuit in June, 'The Oval' actor Dixon told the Hollywood Reporter, 'I couldn't just let [Perry] get away with this.' Dixon alleged in his complaint that when he worked for Perry from January 2020 to June 2024, the multi-hyphenate entertainer 'sustained a pattern of workplace sexual harassment, assault and retaliation,' according to court documents reviewed by The Times. Dixon briefly appeared in BET's 'Ruthless' before landing a role in Perry's 'The Oval,' appearing in 85 episodes from 2021 to 2025. 'Everyone deserves to go to work and do their job without their boss trying to have sex with them,' Dixon said to THR in a story published Thursday. 'My goal is to help ensure that the next generation of actors and creatives don't have to choose between their dreams and their dignity.' Seeking a response from Perry, The Times was referred Friday to the initial statement from Perry's attorney Matthew Boyd, which denies Dixon's allegations. 'This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,' Boyd said in the statement. 'But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.' Dixon recalled to the trade outlet how he initially came to work for Perry and further spoke on the producer's allegedly incessant attempts to spark a sexual relationship with his employee. In his suit, Dixon describes sexually suggestive text messages Perry allegedly sent, including one where he asks the actor 'What's it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?' More damning were the allegations of sexual assault Dixon raised against Perry in his lawsuit. The 46-page complaint detailed multiple incidents, including one at Perry's guest house in Georgia when the producer pulled down Dixon's underwear and groped his buttocks. Dixon's complaint also alleged Perry sexually assaulted him during a previous stay at his guest house and during a meeting in the director's trailer. According to the lawsuit, Dixon refused Perry's advances and walked a fine line, keeping his interactions with Perry professional but friendly enough to remain in his good graces. Recalling the alleged assault in the trailer, Dixon said it would seem Perry would back off and 'say things like 'We need to just be business.'' 'And I would think, 'Great. Yes.' Every time I thought it would stop,' he said. Dixon claims in his lawsuit that Perry leveraged his standing in the entertainment industry — specifically his ability to bring the actor's own TV series to life — 'to create a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic.' The suit also says Dixon 'woke up' in June 2024 and realized Perry was never going to be serious about helping Dixon 'grow his career.' The actor reported the alleged abuse he experienced to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Though the lawsuit claims the complaint was not investigated, THR reports the case is pending. He told the magazine he felt compelled to sue Perry because 'I was an employee, and he was my boss.' He added: 'For a long time, I convinced myself that it was part of the industry, or that somehow I had to accept it to keep working. But eventually, I couldn't stay silent anymore.' Since suing Perry, Dixon told THR he has received mixed reactions, including threats online and support from people who claim they experienced similar misconduct by Perry. He also said he decided to publicly accuse Perry as he feels attempts to settle matters privately 'never result in the type of change necessary to protect victims.' Despite going public with his allegations against Perry, Dixon said he fears that the producer 'will be able to continue doing this without any major consequences.'
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Tyler Perry 260 million dollar lawsuit: Derek Dixion speaks out for the first time since accusations, says 'I couldn't stay silent…'
Derek Dixon recently made his first public statement after filing a $260 million lawsuit against the director and actor. He had shared earlier last month that Perry had been involved in alleged sexual harassment, assault and retaliation, among other things. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Dixon opens up for the first time since filing the lawsuit Derek Dixon, who starred in Perry's 'The Oval' and 'Ruthless', issued his first statement since he filed an official lawsuit against the director for s*xually harassing and assaulting him as well. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor shared his side of the story and shared that filing the lawsuit was one of the most terrifying things that he had to do. He shared that although he was scared, he could not let Perry "just let him get away with this'. He continued, sharing that "Everyone deserves to go to work and do their job without their boss trying to have s*x with them. My goal is to help ensure that the next generation of actors and creatives don't have to choose between their dreams and their dignity'. The 'Ruthless' actor opens up about the reaction The actor even addressed how the reactions he has been receiving after coming out about the assault have been extremely mixed. He stated in the interview that "This is why people, especially men, don't come forward. I was too afraid to come forward. I knew it would be awful. And I was right'. While being asked whether any solutions were sought out for the matter before he went public, the actor responded that attempts to resolve such situations are always made. He continued, saying that even if a solution is reached, it does not provide any relief or help to the person affected the most by the matter. He also delved into how he had put this off for so long, and had tried his level best to reassure himself that whatever happened to him was 'normal'. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The actor then later shared that he reached a point where "eventually, I couldn't stay silent anymore'. Tyler Perry issues statement against Dixon's comments In a statement issued to People, Tyler Perry's side denied all allegations and shared that the director and actor will not be shaken down by this. His attorney, Mathew Boyd, shared that "This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam'. He continued his statement that 'Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail'.
