‘I have no clue where they went’: Wendy’s manager speaks out after 2 employees walk out during a rush


A former Wendy’s manager spoke out on TikTok about poor working conditions, being understaffed, and being underpaid for her labor.

“My former employer @wendys overworked me and underpaid me to put up with poor and hazardous working conditions, understaffed shifts, random new employees training, and then them quitting mid-shift,” user Rayshawn (@queenrayray888) wrote in the video’s caption.

In the clip, Rayshawn says she wanted it to be documented that only she and one other employee (who’s only trained to cook fries) were managing the entire fast food restaurant while trying to serve a wrap-around line of customers.

There were originally two other people working the shift with them, but they abruptly left.

@queenrayray888 My former employer @wendys overworked me and underpaid me to put up with poor and hazardous working conditions, understaffed shifts, random new employees training and then them quitting mid-shift. This place wouldn’t close until 1am, which meant we wouldn’t leave until like 2am and the ENTIRE closing shift would be all girls and maybe 1 older guy. Then I was blamed for a cash flow issue when they would bring in temporary managers to run shifts because the store mentioned in the video almost never had a GM until like the last 2 or 3 months I was employed there. I was paid $13/hr as a manager and started out having 2 days off a week, then it became 1 day off a week, then it became I was working everyday either before or after my college classes. I asked for a pay raise and was told I wouldn’t get it until my store stopped getting complaints during my shifts, but most of the complaints would be about how long the line would be because that store was a BUSY store for only having 3-4 employees during dinner rushes. This is only part of what I had to put up with at this place and I feel very wronged by the place and then to be let go for a simple, but stupid mistake aggravated me, but it was actually the most freeing feeling ever because my anxiety was crippling and I’d cry everyday. Now I have a job as a crew member making $15/hr. Moral of the story: PAY EMPLOYEES ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO PUT UP WITH, NOT JUST WHAT YOU THINK YOU CAN AFFORD IN LABOR. #wendysoflasvegas #manager #trauma ♬ original sound – Rayshawn Session

“I have no clue where they went. Literally, they disappeared, not said a word to nobody. Just left,” she says.

Rayshawn adds that she did find out from a different worker that the other crew members left because they didn’t want to stay to help clean up.

“I don’t know what’s expected of me at this point to try and run an entire busy shift right now because it’s still a wrap-around right now with just one crew member that doesn’t know anything other than fries,” she concludes. “… This is frustrating.”

In the caption, Rayshawn added more context about her work situation, stating that general managers never lasted more than two or three months and she was blamed for cash flow issues during the times they would bring in temporary shift managers.

When she started off working at the Las Vegas Wendy’s, Rayshawn had two days off a week, then one day, and then she was working every day while also taking college classes.

Despite all of the turmoil, Rayshawn was only making $13 an hour and was denied a pay raise until her store got fewer complaints—even though the complaints had to do with the store being understaffed during rush hours.

“This is only part of what I had to put up with at this place and I feel very wronged by the place and then to be let go for a simple, but stupid mistake aggravated me, but it was actually the most freeing feeling ever because my anxiety was crippling and I’d cry every day,” Rayshawn says.

In a follow-up video, Rayshawn explains that the reason she didn’t up and quit her job was that she relied on her paycheck to pay off credit card debt, rent, and bills.

“Moral of the story: PAY EMPLOYEES ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO PUT UP WITH, NOT JUST WHAT YOU THINK YOU CAN AFFORD IN LABOR,” Rayshawn said.

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Source: https://www.dailydot.com/irl/wendys-manager-poor-working-conditions/

All of the Balloon Locations in ‘Hogwarts Legacy’

Source: Avalanche Software

Jon Bitner - Author

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The world of Hogwarts Legacy is filled with intriguing stories and memorable faces – but it’s also filled with a surprising number of balloons. Just about every region in the game is jampacked with the floating collectibles, and it’s worth your time to go out of your way and hunt them all down.

Aside from granting experience and completing challenges, they’ll also reward you with unique broom appearances that can’t be found elsewhere.

Thinking about tracking down the floating collectibles? Here’s a look at all Hogwarts Legacy balloon locations.

Hogwarts Legacy Outdoors

Source: Avalanche Software

All ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ balloon locations.

Balloons in Hogwarts Legacy come in clusters of five, and you’ll need to pop all five to check the location off your list. And since balloons have a tendency to float, that means you’ll be flying through them while riding your broomstick. Be sure to pop all five in the cluster before moving on – otherwise, your efforts won’t be recorded and you’ll need to backtrack to pop the remaining objects.

Before diving into the exact location of every balloon cluster, here’s an overview of the total clusters in each location.

Region Balloon Clusters
Clagmar Coast 1
Cragcroftshire 2
Feldcroft Region 6
Hogsmeade Valley 2
Hogwarts Valley 7
Marunweem Lake 1
Manor Cape 2
North Hogwarts Region 1
North Ford Bog 1
Poidsear Coast 4
South Hogwarts Region 5

Clagmar Coast

Clamar Coast

The lone balloon cluster here is found by the cliffs next to the South Clagmar Coast Floo Flames.

Cragcroftshire

Cragcroftshire

Navigate south of the Cragcroft Shore Floo Flames and find the balloons floating above the river. Then fly above Cragcroft to see your second cluster floating right on top of the town.

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Feldcroft Region

Feldcroft

Six balloons can be found in the Feldcroft Region in Hogwarts Legacy. Start by navigating to the canyon outside of Irondale, where you’ll find your first cluster of balloons. Next, head to the cliffs below Feldcroft Catacombs for your second. The third is above the beaches by the South Feldcroft Floo Flame, and the fourth is to the west of North Feldcroft Road. The final two are located by a bandit camp outside the North Feldcroft Floo flame and south of Feldcroft.

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Hogsmeade Valley

These two are relatively easy to find – one is by the East North Ford Bog Floo Flame and the other is by the Upper Hogsfield Floo Flame.

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Hogwarts Valley

Hogwarts Valley

With seven balloon clusters, you’ll be spending a lot of time in Hogwarts Valley. First, head to the Central Hogwarts Valley Floo Flame and look south to find a balloon cluster. Next, head towards the foothills of the mountains outside of Keenbridge for your second cluster. Another balloon can be found in Mine’s Eye by the train tracks.

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With those three out of the way, head to Brocburrow and look south near the train tracks. Floating high in the sky is your fourth balloon cluster. Another is located east of Brocburrow. Wrap up by finding balloon clusters near the ruined tower by Keenbridge and by the West Hogwarts Valley Floo Flame.

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Marunweem Lake

You’ll find the sole balloon cluster in Marunweem Lake just east of its Floo Flame.

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Manor Cape

Manor Cape in 'Hogwarts Legacy'

Head to the West Manor Cape Floo Flame and look skyward for your first balloon cluster, then head south to find your second hovering near a peak outside West manor Cape.

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North Hogwarts Region

The lone balloon cluster in the North Hogwarts Region is located by the Mooncalf Den Floo Flame, and they’re floating relatively close to the ground.

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North Ford Bog

North Ford Bog

Head towards the Pitt-Upon-Ford Floo Flame and search the skies above the nearby river. There, you’ll find your one and only balloon cluster.

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Poidsear Coast

Poidsear Coast

One cluster is located by a waterfall close to the Tomb of Treachery Floo Flame. A second is near Marunweem Lake and its connecting river. The third is underneath a bridge by the South Poidsear Coast Floo Flame, and the final one is above a river directly south of Poidsear Castle.

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South Hogwarts Region

South Hogwarts Region

Your first in this region is floating inside the Quidditch Arena. After popping those, head south of the castle and in the skies near Lower Hogsfield. Another cluster is under the archway of the bridge by Aranshire, while a fourth is above a bridge by Hogsmeade Station. Wrap up this region by heading south of Aranshire and looking towards the top of the forest canopy to see your fifth and last balloon cluster.

If you or someone you know is a member of the transgender community and in need of support, call the Trevor Project’s 24/7/365 Lifeline at 866-4-U-TREVOR. You can also use TrevorChat, their online instant messaging option, or TrevorText, a text-based support option. If you are looking for peer support, you can visit TrevorSpace from anywhere in the world.

Source: https://www.distractify.com/p/hogwarts-legacy-balloon-locations

‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’ Has Unveiled Footage Of A Challenging New Environment And An Official Release Window

AMC

The Walking Dead franchise will return this spring. This will happen on Mother’s Day with the final season of Fear The Walking Dead‘s premiere, and then the rolling releases of three spinoffs will go down over the next year or so. Actually, Rick Grimes/Michonne’s standalone show only recently began filming, so we’ll see it sometime in 2024. Before that happens, Daryl Dixon will mysteriously wash ashore in France, but first, Negan and Maggie will head into Manhattan for The Walking Dead: Dead City.

This is a bad idea, obviously. Not the show but the idea that heading into one of the world’s most populated cities can work out well. Yet the show’s synopsis reveals that they’re on a “dangerous mission,” which would be to rescue the son (Hershel) of Maggie and the late Glenn, who appears to have been kidnapped. The irony here, of course, is that Glenn is the one who rescued Rick Grimes when he was dumb enough to wander into a city, and his son is now potentially recreating this peril.

Yet for the moment, it’s enough to witness this new BTS footage released by AMC and tweeted by Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

As Morgan also writes, we can expect this spinoff to debut in June. We’ll see six episodes with possible followup seasons, and I do hope that Maggie gives Negan a lot of hell. Redemption arc or not, he deserves to keep suffering for what he’s done. Not only to Glenn and Abraham but to most of the humans on The Walking Dead. At least Judith let him know who’s boss, though.

As the above footage reveals, the concrete jungle environment will very much be a character in this spinoff. The leafy greens of the country have been replaced by colder, harsher surroundings in a city that’s apparently still inhabited by millions of non-Walkers. Should be strange! Further, showrunner Eli Jorne has boldly promised to deliver “one of the most awesome, disgusting, terrifying walkers that I’ve seen in the history of the show.” Get ready for people to puke, but then again, viewers of this franchise have likely acquired tough stomachs.

The Walking Dead: Dead City arrives in June on AMC.

Source: https://uproxx.com/tv/walking-dead-dead-city-release-date-jeffrey-dean-morgan/

The ‘Yellowjackets’ Creators Are Pretty Sure They Know How Many Seasons The Show Will Run For

showtime

Showtime’s Yellowjackets is back the same night as Succession (and the same weekend as John Wick: Chapter 4). We know one show is ending after season four (miss you already, literally everyone on Succession but especially Greg), but the other is only entering season two. There’s plenty of Yellowjackets story left to tell — although not too much.

“The original plan was about five seasons, and we feel like we’re still on track for that,” co-creator Ashley Lyle told Entertainment Weekly. “We don’t really see this as being more than a five-season show.”

There are some shows that might never end, like The Simpsons, Law & Order: SVU, and apparently Dexter, but Lyle thinks “that when you’re telling such a deeply serialized story and it’s about these characters’ lives, you want to reach a satisfying conclusion and not just drag things out forever.” She added:

“This isn’t really one of those setup shows where it can go anywhere. So far, we’ve been really on track. Season two is largely what we always planned, but you do make a lot of discoveries along the way and so it’s always a little bit surprising.”

Spoiler: the real treasure was the cannibals we met along the way. I saved you four more seasons, Yellowjackets (jk, it’s a good show and you should watch it).

(Via Entertainment Weekly)

Source: https://uproxx.com/tv/yellowjackets-how-many-seasons/

Meet the Rockin’ Band Members of ‘Daisy Jones & the Six’

Source: Prime Video

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Daisy Jones (Riley Keough)

Riley Keough as Daisy Jones.

Source: Prime Video

Lead vocalist Daisy Jones joined the band after spending time as a groupie and then as a solo artist after signing with Runner Records in 1975. She appeared as a featured artist on The Six track “Honeycomb” before eventually joining the group, making them Daisy Jones and The Six. Daisy’s rumored affair with bandmate Billy Dunne eventually led to the band’s breakup.

Daisy is played by Riley Keough, who is the granddaughter of real-life rockstar Elvis Presley.

Billy Dunne (Sam Claflin)

Sam Claflin as Billy Dunne.

Source: Prime Video

Lead singer and songwriter for the band, Billy Dunne, and his brother/bandmate Graham (see below) founded The Dunne Brothers in the 1960s, which eventually became The Six. The group rose to fame with their hit “Honeycomb” featuring Daisy Jones, who was later inducted into the band. He’s married to Camila Dunne (Camilla Morrone).

Sam Claflin, who plays Billy, is best recognized as Finnick Odair from The Hunger Games series.

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Karen Sirko (Suki Waterhouse)

Suki Waterhouse as Karen Sirko.

Source: Prime Video

The group’s keyboardist Karen Sirko played with several other bands, such as The Winters, before joining The Six in 1971. In addition to the keyboard, Karen is responsible for backup vocals and plays the electric harpsichord. Karen is also romantically involved with fellow bandmate Graham Dunne.

Karen’s actress, Suki Waterhouse, is a real-life rockstar who released an EP and a full album in 2022.

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Eddie Roundtree (Josh Whitehouse)

Josh Whitehouse as Eddie Roundtree.

Rhythm guitarist Eddie replaced Billy on the rhythm guitar to give Billy more time to focus on songwriting a few months into the band’s formation. Eddie occasionally has tension with Billy, especially regarding Billy’s wife, Camila Dunne, who acts as a photographer for the band.

Actor Josh Whitehouse is best known for his work in the BBC television series Poldark and the Netflix film The Knight Before Christmas.

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Graham Dunne (Will Harrison)

Will Harrison as Graham Dunne.

Source: Prime Video

The group’s lead guitarist, Graham, is Billy’s brother who started The Dunne Brothers alongside him in the 1960s. He also sings backup vocals and plays the guitar using the “fingerpicking” style. Graham is also romantically involved with Karen Sirko.

Actor Will Harrison portrays Graham. Will is an up-and-coming star who told TODAY that while his castmates had to brush up on their musical skills, he already knew how to play the guitar! He is also one of the stars of The Coast Starlight play.

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Warren Rojas (Sebastian Chacon)

Warren (Sebastian Chacon) and Eddie (Josh Whitehouse).

Source: Prime Video

Warren is the group’s drummer. He is one of the original members of The Dunne Brothers band alongside Billy and Graham and remained an original member of Daisy Jones & the Six until the group’s breakup in 1979.

Sebastian Chacon brings Warren to life. You might recognize Sebastian for his work in the film Emergency or the TV show Penny Dreadful: City of Angels.

Source: https://www.distractify.com/p/daisy-jones-and-the-six-band-members

‘Bel-Air’: Here’s All The Music You Heard In Season 2, Episode 2

Peacock

(SPOILERS for this week’s Bel-Air episode will be found below.)

Bel-Air didn’t get off to the most peaceful start for season two. It began with Will living at Jazz’s apartment after he had a fallout with Phil, Vivian, and his mother over the truth of his estranged father. Fortunately, Phil and Will were able to patch things up in the season two premiere and Will even returned home to the Banks’ Bel-Air mansion, but not before partying with family and friends for Ashley’s 13th birthday. In episode two of this season, the focus shifts to Will, Carlton, Hilary, and Jazz’s individual and interconnected lives where they all seek to make some type of progress toward their goals. Will has his eyes set on a getting a division one college basketball project while Carlton looks to make an impact in the Black Student Union and take a step forward in his battle with anxiety. Hilary and Jazz made things official in the season two premiere, but they aren’t exactly on the same page — something they hope to fix this week.

The aforementioned events in the second episode of Bel-Air season two, titled “Speaking Truth,” are soundtracked by songs that help to accentuate the emotions behind each scene. You can find a list of them belong as well as details about the scenes that the records soundtracked.

Check out our Bel-Air season 2, episode 1 recap here.

KAMI & Smoko Ono — “Superstar Moves”

KAMI & Smoko Ono’s track can be heard at the 01:15 mark during a Bel-Air Academy basketball game. Tensions are high as Will and his coach are not on the same page. Will wants to carry the team to a win while his coach wants it to be more of a team effort.

Easy McCoy — “Deja Vu”

At around the 06:40 mark, Easy McCoy’s “Deja Vu” briefly plays as the Bel-Air title flashes on the screen. This record is the theme song for Bel-Air.

Last Verse — “Semper”

Last Verse’s “Semper” checks in around 06:54 mark as Will and Carlton arrive at school. Will is venting to Carlton about his basketball frustrations. Carlton’s crush Yazmin arrives shortly after and asks him about attending and contributing ideas at the next Black Student Union meeting.

Tupac — “Can U Get Away”

Tupac’s track from his 1995 album Me Against the World plays around 09:05 as Jazz is tyding up at the record store. Hilary walks in as he’s dancing and rapping, but he doesn’t notice right away. She surprises him with lunch, but her agenda comes alive as she asks to use his Impala his for a video shoot with Ivy. He initially says no, but after some convincing, he changes his mind.

Jade Amar — “My Own Boss”

Jade Amar’s “My Own Boss” can be heard at the 16:04 mark as Hilary, Ivy, and friends are filming the video shoot with Jazz’s car. Contrary to Jazz’s wishes, Hilary reluctantly lets Ivy drive the car. Unfortunately for Hilary, Jazz finds out about this as he makes a surprise visit to the set.

YG — “Scared Money” Feat. J. Cole & Moneybagg Yo

YG’s “Scared Money” checks in in around 26:19 as Will and Carlton sneak out with Jazz to go to a party in South Central. Will meets with Jackie, where he also finds Doc, while Carlton lets his wild side out with a couple ladies in the club.

Inka Delli — “Bank”

Inka Delli’s record can be heard around the 28:42 mark as Carlton finds himself dancing, and rather happy, with a couple of ladies in the club. Will also gets his groove on with Jackie.

Iain Harper — “Look Alive”

Iain Harper’s “Look Alive” plays in the background during a conversation at the club between Doc and Will. Doc questions Will about his sudden appearance in Bel-Air before telling Will that the Bel-Air basketball team is hurting his potential. Doc also introduces the idea of joining an AAU team to improve his stock, something that piques Will’s interest.

Julian Roy — “Trouble”

Julian Roy’s “Trouble” checks in around the 34:15 mark as Jazz is back working at the record shop. While there, he receives a text from Hilary asking for them to meet up for a conversation about their relationship. It leads to Hilary deciding to introduce him as her boyfriend to her parents.

Coast Contra — “Legacy”

Coast Contra’s record plays around the 37:10 mark as Carlton suggests that the Black Student Union hold a protest, a walk-out specifically, in defense of Mrs. Hughes unjust firing. The idea is fully supported by the BSU.

Chel Strong — “I Know You See It”

Chel Strong’s “I Know You See It” plays around the 40:59 mark during the latest Bel-Air basketball game. Will is on a whole new level during the game as his arrogance and cockiness is at an all time high. However, once again, Will and his coach clash during a timeout.

Armani White — “Billie Eilish”

At around the 42:38 mark, Armani White’s viral hit “Billie Eilish” plays as Will goes on an absolute tear, one that is also selfish and against his team’s wishes, to end the basketball game. Will’s team wins the game, but it appears that Will may lose his team.

You can stream this week’s episode of Bel-Air on Peacock here.

New episodes of ‘Bel-Air’ are available Peacock on Thursdays at 5:01 am EST/ 2:01 am PST.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Source: https://uproxx.com/music/bel-air-music-season-2-epiosde-2/

Trying To Figure Out Time On ‘The Mandalorian’ (Or Star Wars) Is A Fool’s Errand

Lucasfilm

Season three of The Mandalorian debuted this week and there have been a couple of dust-ups, and both have to do with Grogu’s time with Luke Skywalker. The first, and less interesting, is the fact that Grogu’s time with Luke Skywalker came to an end not during an episode of The Mandalorian but, instead, during The Book of Boba Fett. I concede it’s a little weird,* but this does seem like an overreaction. First of all, if you pay attention to Star Wars at all the word was out that The Book of Boba Fett turned into a mini-season of The Mandalorian. Also, to those honestly caught off guard by this, well if I just learned two episodes of The Book of Boba Fett were full-on episodes of The Mandalorian, I’d be happy to learn there are more episodes of my favorite show. It’s like someone right now telling me that two episodes of Home Improvement are just episodes of Seinfeld. I would not be mad about this. I’d be ecstatic.

Again, the way this was handled was certainly unusual. I compared it to if, during an episode of Frasier, Sam Malone showed up. Now, this did happen on an episode of Fraiser, but it would be like if there were two full episodes of Sam Malone tending bar back in Boston before he boarded his flight to Seattle. I mentioned this analogy to a friend and he corrected me, saying it would be more like if Cheers were still on when Frasier was on and during an episode of Fraiser, Frasier Crane murdered someone. Then, in an episode of Cheers, Fraiser is acquitted. Then back on Fraiser, Fraiser is back to life as normal with no mention of the trial. Anyway, my point is here, this all seems like a missed opportunity for the good folks at both Cheers and Fraiser and I hope this plot point is used in the new reboot.

The other topic of note, which I find much more interesting, is Jon Favreau kind of nonchalantly mentioning Grogu spent a couple of years training with Luke Skywalker. People kind of freaked out about this because, in the nature of these shows, it all seems pretty compact, time-wise. If two whole years had passed, what was our pal the Mandalorian doing with himself? What was anyone doing? Honestly, I don’t think Favreau put much thought into it in the first place because time in Star Wars doesn’t really matter and is impossible to figure out. He later had to correct himself and lower that amount of time a bit, but he was probably surprised anyone cared in the first place because people who grew up on the Original Trilogy have been kind of ignoring this for year and years. (Actual years and years, not Star Wars years and years.)

Let’s use The Empire Strikes Back as an example. How long was Luke on Dagobah training with Yoda? It seems like a couple of days? Maybe three or four? But Luke sure improves quite a bit over the time he’s there. At least enough to survive an encounter with Darth Vader. Okay, sure, Vader wasn’t trying to kill Luke, but Luke got a couple of legitimate shots in and a moment where Vader admits Luke’s skills are “impressive.” This seems like more than a couple of days of training?

Making this more confusing is the case of Han, Leia, Chewbacca and C-3PO on the Millennium Falcon. Having somewhat successfully evaded Imperial capture (but not evaded the aforementioned Boba Fett) Han looks for places he can get his ship repaired and comes upon Cloud City, high above the gas planet of Bespin, run by his, let’s say, sometimes associate Lando. Now, how long does this take for the Falcon to get to Bespin without a hyperdrive engine? Han says it’s pretty far, but thinks they can make it. Using actual math and science, someone calculated this and found it would be over a billion years. Yeah, Luke should be really good by that point.

Since this is a fool’s errand to begin with, a popular number is maybe a month or two. But in the context of the movie, which is very tight from scene to scene, it’s jarring to think those four were just cruising along in the Falcon for a couple of months. Or even a couple of weeks. In the flow of the movie, it seems like they get there in a few hours, which even in Star Wars fiction is kind of impossible without hyperdrive.

But here’s my main point: I am not trying to figure this out in any way. Yes, I will spend months trying to figure out Luke Skywalker’s plan to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi because these are actual plot points that, still to this day, do not make sense. (Since that piece ran, even now, once every few weeks someone will tweet at me, “I have this figured out.” Every time, they certainly do not have it figured out.) But I’ve given up on trying to figure out how time works in Star Wars. It does not matter. Only 19 years had passed between Revenge of the Sith and the original Star Wars and people were already like, “Yeah I don’t buy this whole Jedi thing.” It would be like now trying to say The Killers’ Hot Fuss never existed. (Though, we’ve seen what government conspiracies can do to formally rational people so maybe, now, having lived through 2016 – 2020, I give this one more of a pass.)

Did Grogu spend two full years training with Luke? Did Han Solo spend over a billion years trying to get from Hoth to Bespin? It doesn’t matter. Don’t try to figure out how time works in Star Wars. The answer is it doesn’t work. And you can drive yourself crazy trying to make sense of it.

You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter.

Source: https://uproxx.com/tv/the-mandalorian-grogu-luke-two-years/

39 Men From 39 Countries In Their National Costumes

39 Men From 39 Countries In Their National Costumes

Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/mister-global-2023

Fashion and comedy icon Tyshon Lawrence shares insight from building an audience of over 18 million followers on TikTok


We’re reaching out to some popular creators to get their best tips and tricks for success and better understand the ups and downs of life as a trailblazer on the internet.

Tyshon Lawrence (@tyshonlawrence) is a former CNA nurse turned social media star. The 24-year-old’s bold personality and experimental fashion sense earned him a global reach of over 18.7 million followers on TikTok. 

The North Carolina native dabbles in modeling, podcasting, and comedy, and he continues to push boundaries. He’s worked with numerous notable brands, including Savage X Fenty, Michael Kors, and Yves Saint Laurent. 

On TikTok, Lawrence consistently goes viral for “Outfit of The Day” and “Get Ready With Me” videos. He lifts the curtain on attending glamorous events and working with top fashion brands, like showcasing his time at New York’s fashion week or modeling for Vogue. 

Meanwhile, he shows off his humor and personality by reacting to funny viral trends or making jokes with his family. Lawrence also embraces authenticity as an LGBTQ+ influencer, striving to make a positive impact by being open about his sexuality and empowering his audience to do the same.

In an interview with Passionfruit, Lawrence provided advice for creators on fan engagement, avoiding burnout, maintaining confidence, and producing viral videos. He also spoke about why being a content creator instills him with purpose, as well as the importance of Black representation online. 

The following interview is condensed and edited for clarity.

How do you engage with fans online?

My videos are like FaceTime calls. They’re me talking to my followers and bringing them into my life. Recently, I switched my content so that it’s more personal as if I’m interacting with my friends. 

I’m trying to get back into live streaming since I used to do that a lot. I’m showing more of where I travel to besides just yelling catchphrases all the time. It’s always good to involve fans and make them feel like a part of your content as if they’re right in front of you. I treat all the people who support me like my best friends. It’s been hard to build what I have, and I’m very grateful for the people who watch my videos.

How do you prevent burnout as a content creator? Do you prioritize time offline as well as online? 

It’s funny you ask that because I recently had burnout. I’ve been grinding on social media since I was 19, non-stop, posting four or five videos a day. Before Fashion Week, at the beginning of January, I started realizing I was tired. I prioritized therapy, meditating, yoga, and exercising. I also don’t get a lot of time to hang out with family and friends, so I’m trying to do more of that. 

The perks of being an influencer are great. You’re going to get your coin. You’re going to get opportunities. You’re going to build a fandom. But it’s okay to chill for a second and take a moment to think about why you started your career in the first place. I’m not saying social media is the hardest thing in the world, but there are moments when you showcase a lot. You’re being this person 24/7. I just want to chill and watch a movie. It’s important to take a break.

How do you maintain confidence on social media when others try to tear you down?

People are going to say what they want to say. Everyone has an opinion about something, and they’re gonna speak their opinion. Some people might not be feeling your outfit, feeling you, feeling your personality. I don’t care what anybody negative has to say. 

Why sit there and soak that in when you can be soaking in the good things that people say about you? I don’t accept negative energy. If someone critiques something I did wrong, I’ll listen. But if they’re saying, “I’m not feeling your face or your eyes,” then no. Like, why are you in my business? Go read a book or something. 

Why is it important to you to connect with people through social media?

It’s always good to showcase different personalities because no one in this world is the same. Growing up on social media, I looked up to people who were dark-skinned and trying to make it in the modeling or acting industry. I was looking at Martin Lawrence and Naomi Campbell. I’m happy I can now be one of those people that others look up to. Somebody could be looking at me saying, “Wow, if he can do it, I can do it.”

What do we need to do to make social media more inclusive?

I want to see everybody in the room. I want to see more diversity. But if you want us in the room, you’re going to have to support our content. People say they want us in the room, but they aren’t interacting with us and our content. They’re not liking or giving any energy towards it. We need to start supporting everyone who pushes content out for us. I know so many TikTokers who don’t have a huge following but make the best videos ever. I see someone that’s working ten times harder than someone with a big following and not getting the push they deserve.

It’s really sad to see. The whole reason I started social media was because I wanted to be in those rooms. I wanted to be that dark-skinned, Black boy that really gets somewhere. I’m trying to do things that we don’t normally do. People think that if they speak about more diversity, it will happen. But if you want to see it, then you should be telling brands. You should be telling organizations not to lowball Black creators.

What would you like to see in the world of social media that isn’t currently present?

I want to see more diversity. I can’t believe this is still being talked about. A lot of my mutual friends are tired of saying it. How many times do we need to stand for people to understand it? You’d think people would have understood at this point because we’ve been talking about it for so long. We stand up with our hearts, but no actions are being taken. 

I’ve had situations where my friends call me to say they’re being lowballed for a campaign, and that’s just sad to hear. People that work hard are going to be successful regardless, but brands really need to put in the work to be more inclusive.

What are your top tips for creating viral videos? 

Find something you’re passionate about. When I started social media, I wanted to find something I was obsessed with. I tried different videos, different outfits. You need to find your dish. If it’s something you’re passionate about, and you’re not faking a personality, it’ll be more authentic. I can tell when someone is passionate about their videos versus just doing something for views.

What software or hardware tools do you use to produce content?

I use my Canon camera I got from Best Buy to film all my YouTube videos. I use iMovie to edit the videos on my laptop. It’s nothing too difficult. There’s no crazy type of editing. You just need a phone, laptop, and camera. 

How do you produce sponsored content without coming off as “inauthentic?”

It’s always easier when you know the brand, but if you don’t know it, educate yourself to see what you like. When you make the content and are trying to sell the product, make it authentic. 

I’ve had conversations with brands where I ask if I can do the video a certain way that goes with my content. Use your personality to sell the product. Obviously, you’re going to have talking points where they want you to say certain things but don’t fake it. I can tell when somebody doesn’t know what they’re talking about and is reading off a script. 

I’m lucky in that I’ve loved all the brands I’ve worked with. I had heard of most of them before. When Savage X Fenty reached out to me, I said, “I already know y’all. I’m ready to do this.” 

What does the future of social media look like in your eyes?

I feel like it’s getting a bit more inclusive. I’ve seen TikTok go from Musical.ly, where people were singing songs, to where they’re talking in “Get Ready With Me” videos. There are all different types of content, and that’s what I appreciate most about social media.

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Source: https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/tyshon-lawrence-interview/

Amazon Enlists ‘True Detective’ Creator Nic Pizzolatto To Try To ‘Yellowstone’-Up A Western Series

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Amazon wants to take a stab at creating its own Yellowstone, and the streaming platform has reportedly turned to True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto to get the job done. The untitled project has a series commitment and is being “fast-tracked,” according to The Hollywood Reporter, which obtained a tentative synopsis of Amazon’s attempt to capitalize on the Western genre:

It revolves around a former outlaw who must reckon with a threat from his past in order to keep the life and family he has worked so hard to build. He sets out on an epic journey that unites a formidable gang of indelible figures to face an even greater danger, in an epic saga of adventure and romance that forces this former criminal to become the hero he’s been pretending to be.

The Western project came together after Pizzolatto exited his first-look deal with Disney/FX, which would’ve re-teamed the writer with Matthew McConaughey for a series called The Redeemer. However, the show never came to be when McConaughey walked, making Pizzolatto a free agent again.

As for Pizzolatto’s involvement with True Detective, which will soon drop a fourth season, he’s credited on the show as an executive producer “though he is not creatively involved at all,” according to THR. HBO owns the rights to the franchise, which is now being run by Barry Jenkins. In short, Pizzolatto has a lot of time to mount a challenge to Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone empire that’s in wobbly shape thanks to rumors that Kevin Costner could be exiting the flagship series over a scheduling dispute.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

Source: https://uproxx.com/tv/nic-pizzolatto-amazon-western-yellowstone-true-detective/