Beyoncé just texted
We're complaining *and* explaining.
Me sat here pretending this isn’t the first newsletter I’ve written in months.
Oh, hiya.
In London it’s hiya instead of hi and something about it relaxes me. It reminds me of eighth grade. Hiya is sing-songy and pleasant. It’s pretending things are great when they’re probably not. Hiya is keeping calm and carrying on! I am very into hiya right now.
I happened to be in the UK during the queen’s Jubilee and her funeral, and months later I still can’t think of a fit American equivalent who would get such a massive reaction from us. The one person we’d come together as a nation to celebrate and mourn, or pray for, or disagree on their relevance to society. Who is worth the city-wide shutdowns? Who would we cancel sports and fashion shows and network sitcoms out of respect for? Whose coffin have Americans waited overnight in a queue just to see for 30 seconds? Jesus? Biggie?
Since I last wrote…well, I’ve been worrying, darling! There has been so much loss and sadness lately, so much toxicity and gaslighting and girlbossing — and that’s just at Twitter.
The pop culture landscape feels particularly chaotic to me, a little topsy-turvy. Jennifer Lopez marrying her ex on a plantation. Kate Moss selling me wellness products, and Chloë Sevigny in an H&M campaign. The World Cup, the GMA3 affair. Men have continued to flop, from singers to CEOs to Supreme Court judges. Adam Levine, Tristan Thompson, Drake, Demna, Clarence Thomas, all the guys on Love Is Blind. The person who made My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010) is a full-blown Nazi. Hunter Harris says that if a man has not embarrassed you, he just hasn’t embarrassed you yet.
Sure, there were bright spots this year. There was Wakanda Forever. The Warriors won the Championships, and I got to see Adele perform live. But it is the end of 2022 and we are dealing with war, inflation and crypto bros, and we still don’t have a Rihanna album or Renaissance visuals. So at this point I am just trying to lie low, mind my business and live a cute little life before things get worse. Happy holidays!
After 10 minutes on social media.
As one can imagine, the Harry & Meghan docuseries has me by the throat. During the first three episodes the tea was tap water, but Part Deux? Henry said not on my mama’s life! The Daily Mail drama. The fleeing multiple countries. The guided meditation. Samantha Markle, clear ringleader of the internet trolls. Tyler Perry, Head of Security Operations. “Put it in writing!” I think they were still holding back, but in general it felt like a crash course in fuck around and find out.
I enjoyed hearing from Doria, Afua Hirsch, and their lawyer, Jenny Afia (what a badass). My heart broke for Ashleigh the niece — I too have been publicly embarrassed by my birth mother’s antics! But it was the little details for me, like Meghan’s natural hair and extensive hat collection; the Mario Testino photo of Diana hanging in Archie’s nursery; the casually draped Hermés throw; the way Harry types with two fingers. It was all equally heartwarming and heart-wrenching.
What struck me most was the huge amount of support Meghan and Harry received from friends, especially other famous people. The hate campaign was upsetting their homegirls and well damn, if you can’t go to People magazine where the hell else could you go?! The entertainment business is gross and not without its own institutional issues. But for all the shit Meghan got for being an American actress, it was those Hollywood connections that seemed to protect and defend her — whether publicly or behind the scenes — when the Royal Family wouldn’t. Meghan probably assumed Lindsay Jill Roth would ride for her no matter what. And maybe Serena Williams and people from Suits; Abigail Spencer is clearly that girl.
But the motivational message from Beyoncé — talk about privilege! Beyoncé just texted are three words that very few people will get the chance to think, let alone utter, and the slay of this correspondence is not lost on me. I believe that Lion King premiere photo to hold magical powers and I used it as phone wallpaper for two years.
Beyoncé just texted to check in. Beyoncé just texted to say she admires my bravery and vulnerability. Beyoncé just texted to tell me I was selected to break generational curses that need to be healed(!) I knew Meghan was Hive when she picked “Cozy” as her fave Renaissance track but now I see she has a gold card.
Those are my 2p. For more Haz & Meg reading, I suggest Nels Abbey’s article in The Guardian, Michelle Ruiz’s Vogue piece, and Elizabeth Holmes’s SMT discussion thread. Points are being made!
All images from Netflix.
Currently keeping me afloat:
SOS, obviously. I’ve been patiently waiting on it even though Ctrl never left heavy rotation. And of course, I love the cover art.
I’ve officially entered my jigsaw puzzle era. I can’t remember the last time I did one, but it’s what my brain needs right now. My sister bought me this Sex and the City puzzle and I finished in a few days; currently on RuPaul.
Secondhand shops in Denmark. The other day I scored a wool Ganni blazer and Vanessa Bruno sweater for 200 USD, and stopped myself from buying a mini Falabella tote. It’s going to be a problem for me!
Watching posh people decorate their stately homes for the holidays. I love the Christmas at… series.
I got to do an interview with Alaska for W’s Culture Diet series. It was literal months ago but maintains relevancy. You can also read my Culture Diet piece with Peppermint from the summer.
The idea of going back to Tumblr.
Have safe, healthy and happy holidays x
A same day newsletter re-emergence? What a treat for everyone else. 😜