Straight to the Comments

Entertainment or Porn? From HBO’s The Idol to OnlyFans

And we're back! This week, we're exploring the increasingly blurred lines between entertainment and porn, diving into the critical reactions surrounding HBO's show, "The Idol," and the controversial social media app, OnlyFans.
The Idol, featuring Lily Rose Depp and The Weeknd, and directed by Sam Levinson, has been promoted by HBO as a "revelatory take on the cult of the music industry." Yet all the internet is talking about is that the show seems to perpetuate a toxic male fantasy, raising questions about the true motivations of HBO and the creators. Is it genuine artistic expression or blatant sexual exploitation of women?
Meanwhile, the online gossip surrounding models and actresses funding their lifestyles through OnlyFans adds to the ongoing debate: When does entertainment cross the line into porn?
Join us as we navigate erotic thrillers, bad acting, cult classics and the real world impact of screen and digital sex.
P.S. If you love 90s erotic films or are curious about this era, we highly recommend checking out the podcast "You Must Remember This" and specifically the "Erotic 90s" season. It was a brilliant resource during our research for this episode.
http://www.youmustrememberthispodcast.com/
 
Full transcript here: https://www.straighttothecommentspodcast.com/post/entertainment-or-porn-from-hbo-s-the-idol-to-onlyfans
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This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.
 

JLo and ’The One’: The Case of Selling the Romantic Ideal

Jennifer Lopez is undeniably a megastar - she sings, she dances, she acts and has multiple product lines. But a big part of her story has been her very public love life. The rekindling of her romance with Ben Affleck has been touted as a perfect example of the long awaited ‘happy ever after’. However, not everyone is buying it, especially as this isn’t the first time the self-confessed ‘love addict’ has been what they call ‘loved up’.
 
This week, as JLo promotes her latest film The Mother at the same time as Affleck promotes Air, we’re looking at the way celebrities and Hollywood itself use the idea of 'soulmates' and 'romantic bliss' to sell us products. And asking is there such a thing as “the one”? Why are we so keen to buy into it? And do the media love to build up Hollywood love stories just to tear them apart later? Let's go Straight to the Comments.
 
This is the last full episode of our first season, and we’ve loved every minute of it! But don’t worry we’ll be back in mid-June with fortnightly episodes! In the meantime look out for some bonus episodes we’ll be dropping during our break.
 
Full transcript here.
 
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This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.
 

Pedro Pascal as the Internet’s ‘Daddy’: Harmless Fun or Going Too Far?

Pedro Pascal is riding a career-high with The Mandalorian and The Last of Us, but it is his newfound status as the "Internet's Daddy" and even “Cool Slutty Daddy” that has everyone talking. From playful memes to increasingly graphic thirst tweets, it seems all that anyone, including the mainstream media, wants to discuss with him - becoming the go-to question on red carpets or in interviews.
In this week’s episode, we are discussing where does appreciating male sexuality end and objectification begin? Actors such as Paul Mescal, Kit Harrington and Brad Pitt have all spoken out about being uncomfortable being labelled a “hunk” or a “sex symbol”. Yet Buzzfeed’s male celebrities read thirst tweets series is massively popular. So is the open sexualisation of male celebrities any different to sexualising women? And is there a double standard? Join us as dive deep into the comments.
Episode transcript here.
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This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Reddit Roulette: Exploring Online Secrecy and Confessions

The internet is filled to the brim with comments on every topic imaginable. So, this week, we are spinning the wheel and seeing where we end up in the internet's famous platform, Reddit, with our very own “Reddit Roulette”.
To us, Reddit is still a bit of a mystery, and we were curious to discover why it is considered the most influential yet least known internet forum. With every spin, we will explore a new group comment thread from ‘Am I the Asshole’ to ‘Ask me Anything’, and uncover the site where people come to confess, share their deepest, darkest desires/fears, and also laugh. Is it a modern-day church, a therapist, or a dark threat to women? Join us as we throw the dice and see where we end up.
Trigger warning: We do discuss some banned forums related to sexual abuse.
 
Episode transcript here.
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This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.
Credit for the roulette sound to Yle Archives.

When the Mask Slips: The Case of James Corden and Ellen

As James Corden says goodbye to the Late Late Show, we take a look at the recent spate of controversies he’s found himself in. From the Balthazar restaurant incident to accusations of obnoxious and demeaning behaviour, we look behind his ‘cheeky chappy’ public persona to the avalanche of comments online.
 
Similarly, Ellen, who built her brand on kindness, faced accusations of creating a toxic work environment and being the “meanest person alive”, leading to her daytime talk show being cancelled. So is it a case that their nice “masks” have slipped? Or are they simply casualties of society's unforgiving standards of scrutiny and 24/7 call-out culture? And can they come back from these scandals?
 
Episode transcript here.
 
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This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Magic or Mayhem? How Harry Potter, Hollywood and Instagram Are Changing Historic Places

Our recent trip to Sarah's hometown in the historic city of York had us under its spell in more ways than one. Whilst wandering through its charming cobblestone streets, we noticed a real change in tourism. 
From the medieval street in York now overrun by Harry Potter themed shops, to accusations of Edinburgh becoming ‘Disney Town’, we’re discussing whether the effect of Hollywood on historic locations has gone too far.
We’re also looking at how Instagram and Social Media are influencing our travel choices and if the impact is positive or negative. From visiting iconic locations made famous by The Holiday and Notting Hill, to the rise of instagrammable backdrops for businesses such as the fake flower wall, join us as we talk cream tea breakfasts, Dracula pilgrimages, and try to work out what a Ghost Merchant actually is?
Episode transcript here.
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Website: Podcast | Straight To The Comments Podcast
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This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.
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Wellness or Quackery? The Case of Gwyneth & Goop

For over a decade, Gwyneth Paltrow has been the spokeswoman for ‘wellness’ at the helm of her $250 million dollar empire - Goop.
However she regularly finds herself under accusations of monetising pseudoscience, misinformation and quackery. Recent controversies, including the ‘Almond mum’ backlash, and ‘ski trial of the century’, have reignited these conversations
So what is wellness? Is it empowering or exploitative? And where does Goop fall on this spectrum?
Join us on a journey through $2000 rainbow healing mats, the "that girl phenomenon," and whether Gwyneth Paltrow's constant scrutiny is justified or a modern-day witch trial.
Episode transcript here.
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If you like the show, please rate or review it and don't forget to share it.
This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.
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The Business of Baby Bumps: From Rihanna to Paris Hilton

We've all come across online stories speculating whether a celebrity is pregnant or not based on her clothing choices, or how she is holding her bag, but have you ever wondered why we as a society are so obsessed with fertility and "baby bumps"?
In this episode, we’re diving into the online comments and analysing the reactions to all things ‘bump’. From Rihanna’s recent Super Bowl pregnancy reveal, to Paris Hilton’s surrogacy announcement, and Beyonce’s fake pregnancy conspiracy, we’re examining whether society defines a woman’s value based on her maternal status. And asking how do we view women who choose childlessness?
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion. 
Episode transcript here.
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Website: Podcast | Straight To The Comments Podcast
If you like the show, please rate or review it and don't forget to share it.
This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.
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I’m Not Sorry: The Case of Madonna and Women Ageing

After the online storm over Madonna’s “new face” at the Grammys, we’re discussing whether the accusations of ageism and misogyny levelled by Madonna are true. Amid this backlash she’s been compared to stars who have been deemed to be ageing gracefully, such as Helen Mirren, Emma Thompson and Jamie Lee Curtis. But what do people actually mean when they talk about ageing gracefully? And do women become invisible once they turn 45?
In today’s episode, we are tackling botox and plastic surgery, the Acting your Age Campaign and the underrepresentation of older women on screen, and even ageism in the workplace, as we look at what it means for women to age publicly. 
Episode transcript here.
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Website: Podcast | Straight To The Comments Podcast
If you like the show, please rate or review it and don't forget to share it.
This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.
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Oscars 2023: All the Comments, Everywhere, All at Once

This week we're caught up in Oscars fever and diving into the comments about this year's awards. After last year's drama, we are reviewing the most talked about moments and asking, have the Oscars finally recaptured their magic?
We discuss the comeback four - Michelle Yeoh, Brendan Fraser, Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis - and why everyone in the online multiverse is catching emotions seeing outsiders win. Plus we will be looking at some odd viral moments, including that awkward Hugh Grant and Ashely Graham interview. Then asking why have the Oscars been in a death spiral?
Get your popcorn ready and join us on the champagne carpet for a very special Straight to the Comments.
Episode transcript here.
Follow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/
Website: Podcast | Straight To The Comments Podcast
If you like the show, please rate or review it and don't forget to share it.
This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.
Hosted on Podbean. See podbean.com for more information.