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Celebrity Culture

Vox’s coverage of celebrity culture news — plus analysis. Famous people: They’re fascinating to read about!

The story of Kate Middleton’s disappearance is haunted by Meghan Markle
Culture

And Diana, too.

By Constance Grady
Your guide to the 2024 Oscars
No, the director of Zone of Interest did not disavow his Jewish identity at the OscarsNo, the director of Zone of Interest did not disavow his Jewish identity at the Oscars
Your guide to the 2024 Oscars

Everyone is misquoting Jonathan Glazer’s speech at the Academy Awards.

By Aja Romano
Is Justin Timberlake the pop star anyone wants?
Culture

A new kind of masculinity is dominating music — leaving little room for yesterday’s pop idol.

By Kyndall Cunningham
Culture
Who is the British royal family willing to protect?Who is the British royal family willing to protect?
Culture

Kategate, briefly explained.

By Constance Grady
Your guide to the 2024 Oscars
The profound weirdness of Robert Downey Jr.’s Oscar win — and the category he wonThe profound weirdness of Robert Downey Jr.’s Oscar win — and the category he won
Your guide to the 2024 Oscars

The Best Supporting Acting Oscars are always a little wacky, because … what do they mean?

By Constance Grady
Your guide to the 2024 Oscars
What does winning an Oscar even mean anyway?What does winning an Oscar even mean anyway?
Your guide to the 2024 Oscars

A better question to ask than who wins the Oscar: Who benefits the most, win or lose?

By Aja Romano
Culture
Why all the internet’s boyfriends are IrishWhy all the internet’s boyfriends are Irish
Culture

Irish men are having a moment in Hollywood.

By Kyndall Cunningham
Culture
Shane Gillis’s SNL hosting gig is an unearned rehabilitationShane Gillis’s SNL hosting gig is an unearned rehabilitation
Culture

It proves how effortlessly the comedy industry forgives racism.

By Aja Romano
The chaotic, irreplaceable Wendy Williams
Culture

Wendy Williams’s rise, reputation, and absence from her talk show, explained.

By Melinda Fakuade
Today, Explained newsletter
Taylor Swift, the NFL, and two routes to cultural dominanceTaylor Swift, the NFL, and two routes to cultural dominance
Today, Explained newsletter

An extra-super Super Bowl is in store.

By Bryan Walsh
Usher has a Super Bowl-worthy legacy. Why don’t people act like it?
Culture

Put some respect on Usher’s name.

By Fabiola Cineas
How Britney Spears explains Taylor Swift
Culture

Britney was too out of control. Taylor is too in control. What now?

By Constance Grady
Your guide to the 2024 Oscars
What does the EGOT even mean, anyway?What does the EGOT even mean, anyway?
Your guide to the 2024 Oscars

What the quest for four major awards tells us about Hollywood, celebrity egos, and ourselves.

By Aja Romano
Culture
Why are Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj fighting?Why are Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj fighting?
Culture

The beef between these queens of rap is a lesson in toxic stan culture and misogynoir.

By Kyndall Cunningham
The bland allure of Hailey Bieber
Culture

Explaining Gen Z’s reigning beauty queen.

By Kyndall Cunningham
If you want to understand modern politics, you have to understand modern fandom
Culture

You don’t just vote for Trump. You stan him.

By Aja Romano
How 50 Cent became the most versatile man in entertainment
Culture

From rap to the silver screen, it’s (still) 50 Cent’s world.

By Marin Cogan
Culture
Jonathan Majors’s arrest and conviction, explainedJonathan Majors’s arrest and conviction, explained
Culture

The once-rising star has been dropped by Marvel and faces up to a year in jail.

By Aja Romano
Culture
Renaissance isn’t a deification of Beyoncé. It’s a reminder she’s human.Renaissance isn’t a deification of Beyoncé. It’s a reminder she’s human.
Culture

The concert documentary shows some people still try to say no to Beyoncé! Weird!

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
What Matt Rife’s baffling Netflix special tells us about comedyWhat Matt Rife’s baffling Netflix special tells us about comedy
Culture

Matt Rife’s one comedy rule: Be funny. The problem: He isn’t.

By Aja Romano
Culture
The Crown increasingly becomes a fantastical apologetic for the royal familyThe Crown increasingly becomes a fantastical apologetic for the royal family
Culture

The Netflix hit faced backlash for being too fictional. Season 6 doubles down.

By Aja Romano
Culture
What the Hasan Minhaj controversy says about the trouble with storytellingWhat the Hasan Minhaj controversy says about the trouble with storytelling
Culture

The New Yorker tried to pin the comedian down with facts. It didn’t work.

By Aja Romano
Culture
From Amityville to Annabelle, the Warrens on film are a lieFrom Amityville to Annabelle, the Warrens on film are a lie
Culture

The onscreen version of exorcists Ed and Lorraine Warren is a far cry from their real-life counterparts.

By Aja Romano
Culture
Let Britney Spears be weirdLet Britney Spears be weird
Culture

She spent her life at the mercy of toxic media narratives. Her new memoir, The Woman in Me, clears the air.

By Rebecca Jennings
Culture
The complicated relationship we have with Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s complicated relationshipThe complicated relationship we have with Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s complicated relationship
Culture

Jada Pinkett Smith is talking about her marriage, and Americans are hearing what they want to.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
The Eras concert movie is Taylor Swift leveling upThe Eras concert movie is Taylor Swift leveling up
Culture

She’s preserving herself at an unprecedented echelon of fame.

By Constance Grady
Culture
The satire, ironic boredom, and Drake-fueled mystery of podcaster Bobbi Althoff, explainedThe satire, ironic boredom, and Drake-fueled mystery of podcaster Bobbi Althoff, explained
Culture

The celebrity interviewer is really good at selling disinterest.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Travis Kelce, explainedTravis Kelce, explained
Culture

What’s a tight end? And other burning questions about Taylor’s new fling.

By Aja Romano
Culture
How the fight between tech founders and influencers shaped the internetHow the fight between tech founders and influencers shaped the internet
Culture

In Taylor Lorenz’s new book, extremely online women get their due.

By Rebecca Jennings
Culture
The cinematic glory of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s game-day dateThe cinematic glory of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s game-day date
Culture

Miss Americana is a master of weaving her love life into her art.

By Constance Grady
Celebrity Culture
Celebrities can’t stop showing us who they really areCelebrities can’t stop showing us who they really are
Celebrity Culture

Jann Wenner, Drew Barrymore, Ashton Kutcher, and what happens when privilege distorts reality.

By Aja Romano
Culture
The sexual assault allegations against Russell Brand, explainedThe sexual assault allegations against Russell Brand, explained
Culture

Four women have accused Brand of rape and sexual assault, all of which he denies.

By Li Zhou
Culture
The backlash against Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, explainedThe backlash against Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, explained
Culture

Character letters can be an important part of criminal sentencing. These Danny Masterson letters missed the point.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Joe Jonas — and the celebrity PR machine — isn’t fooling us anymoreJoe Jonas — and the celebrity PR machine — isn’t fooling us anymore
Culture

Nobody trusts tabloid spin anymore, for better and for worse.

By Rebecca Jennings
Culture
The sincerity and rage of Olivia RodrigoThe sincerity and rage of Olivia Rodrigo
Culture

Olivia Rodrigo’s Disney kid backstory is key to her music’s fury.

By Constance Grady
Culture
The Burning Man flameout, explainedThe Burning Man flameout, explained
Culture

Climate change — and schadenfreude — finally caught up to the survivalist cosplayers.

By Aja Romano
Culture
A brief timeline of Britney Spears’s marriage to Sam AsghariA brief timeline of Britney Spears’s marriage to Sam Asghari
Culture

Where does Britney’s marriage and divorce fit in with the pop star’s conservatorship?

By Constance Grady
How does Elon Musk get away with it all?
Culture

The billionaire’s heroic image is built on media praise, breathless fans, and … romance novel tropes.

By Constance Grady
Culture
Why Taylor Swift is rerecording all her old songsWhy Taylor Swift is rerecording all her old songs
Culture

After losing her masters to Scooter Braun, Taylor Swift is in the process of making new ones.

By Constance Grady