Entertainment
Psychiatrist weighs in as “The Summer I Turned Pretty” fan enthusiasm turns toxic
The debate over who the main character in creator Jenny Han’s “The Summer I Turned Pretty” should end up with is heating up as the final episodes of the third season approach – but fan enthusiasm is starting to spill into hostility.
Prime Video’s hit romance series has captivated audiences as it follows Isabel “Belly” Conklin who finds herself in a love triangle with brothers Jeremiah and Conrad Fisher competing for her attention. Passionate fans have broken off into two dueling camps: #TeamJeremiah versus #TeamConrad. And they’re taking to social media to battle over which love interest should ultimately win Belly’s heart.
But some of these so-called fans are turning on the actors themselves.
Last month, actors Christopher Briney (Conrad) and Gavin Casalegno (Jeremiah) told “CBS Mornings” they often have to remind fans that they’re just playing a role.
“It’s a story that people can relate to and love. Yeah, we’re just grateful that people are passionate about the story we’re telling,” Casalegno said. Briney added, “You root for both of these characters at times.”
Lola Tung, who plays Belly, also admitted the rivalry gets a bit too intense at times.
“When people have an attachment to the characters, they want to see it come together at the end. I’m so grateful that they care so much, but people get a little scary about it. Please don’t threaten to kill someone if something doesn’t go your way — I promise you, it’s not that serious,” she told Teen Vogue.
“There is a line between fiction and reality”
Last week, Prime Video launched a social media campaign called, “The Summer We Started Acting Normal Online,” urging viewers to keep the conversation kind and highlighted its zero tolerance policy for bullying and hate speech.
“The show isn’t real but the people playing the characters are,” Prime Video wrote.
Board-certified psychiatrist and author Sue Varma said she is “blown away” that a network had to step in and tell fans to simmer down and the show is fiction. Varma says fans’ emotional attachment may point to a larger societal problem.
“There is a line between fiction and reality. And I feel as if these lines are becoming really blurred when people are projecting their anger, their hatred, their harassment and resentment onto fictional characters,” she said.
Varma said this indicates that there is perhaps a “deep void in our society right now” with people longing for human connection.
She explained these fan behaviors are a sign of a psychological phenomenon known as parasocial relationships – or one-sided bonds with media figures. Varma adds the anonymity of social media emboldens fans to exhibit bad behavior.
Kim Kardashian just called out the haters of her new Hulu legal drama All’s Fair.
Sharing a series of social media posts that both acknowledged and mocked the show’s harshest reviews the 45-year-old reality star, who plays lawyer Allura Grant in the series, posted them on her official Instagram following All’s Fair’s debut earlier in the week.
The show, created by Ryan Murphy, also stars Glenn Close, Niecy Nash-Betts, Sarah Paulson, Naomi Watts and Teyana Taylor.
It is a show about a group of women who leave a male-dominated law firm to start their own practice.
Kim began her post with a photo of herself wearing a purple fur-trimmed crop top before sharing an image of her and Ryan.
She then uploaded a screenshot of a tweet showing the show’s Rotten Tomatoes score for the show sitting at 0%, alongside a fan’s response that read: “Immediately pressed play.”
Kim then uploaded a picture featuring herself laughing with Ryan and her co-stars, before posting another tweet that read: “Some of the worst acting I’ve ever seen in my life alongside the most predictable storylines and the most ridiculous styling.”
She also attached a tweet that read, “I’m obsessed, I need 14 seasons. #AllsFair.”
Kim also included screenshots of reviews from The Hollywood Reporter and the BBC, plus an image of comedian Amy Schumer recreating their viral 2015 Time 100 Gala moment at a screening of the show.
One tweet she shared read: “All’s Fair on Hulu dares to ask the question ‘Does a show need to be good?’ And the answer is no, it doesn’t. We have legendary actresses here giving the worst performances of their careers, it takes a special kind of talent to pull that kind of inability out of them. Amazeballs.”
Kim Kardashian ended her series of post on a positive note, highlighting good feedback and captioning the photos: “Have you tuned in to the most critically acclaimed show of the year!?!?!? All’s Fair streaming now on @hulu and @disneyplus.”
James Hetfield just paid homage to his late friend, Cliff Burton.
As the iconic band’s Australian tour continues The Enter Sandman hitmakers are currently in Melbourne to perform at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
Ahead of the anticipated performance, in a sweet gesture to his friend, James headed to Melbourne’s iconic AC/DC Lane, where a mural depicting the band’s founding bass player was being completed.
On Metallica’s official Instagram page, the picture uploaded features James standing proudly next to the mural next to one of its creators.
The mural showed Cliff set against a lightning backdrop and the names of the artists – Maid (Liquid Pastels) and Ling written in Metallica’s iconic font.
“Visiting an old friend in Melbourne,” James captioned the image, adding, “Fantastic mural.”
Cliff Burton was a founding member of Metallica and played on the band’s first three studio albums – Kill ‘Em All, Ride The Lightning and Master of Puppets.
He was tragically killed in 1986 in a bus crash in Sweden while the band were on tour and was then replaced by Jason Newsted, who served until 2001 before being replaced by Robert Trujillo in 2003.
Metallica fans swamped the comments sections gushing over James Hetfield’s gesture and with many praising the artwork.
One fan commented: “Even after nearly 40 years, the members of Metallica are still commemorating a lost brother in the most beautiful way.”
“I truly respect them because they reminded us how important friendship is,” another wrote.
Reba McEntire has opened up about Happy’s Place.
As the show returns with its season 2, the actress told People Magazine that she loves returning to the set.
She said, “It’s natural. Anytime I get to step on that set, I feel like home. It’s my happy place.”
McEntire shares the experience with her fiancé Rex Linn as both star in the show together. The actress said, “Driving to work with Rex and doing the show, the rehearsals, drive home, talk about it, rehearse together. That’s what’s really special for me. I’ve not had that before.”
“We go into my dressing room and we eat lunch or we’ll have dinner together. Also on the set, we’ll belly up to the bar and have our breakfast,” she added.
Calling Linn funny, McEntire said her fiancé have whatever she have. “So if I have my oatmeal, he’ll have oatmeal.”
Reba McEntire and Rex Linn began dating in 2020 and got engaged in December last year.
The actress and singer also teased that Happy’s Palace season 2 is full of surprises. “Where you think it’s going, it’s not. So stay tuned,” she said.
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Kim Kardashian claps back at haters of ‘All’s Fair’
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