Audience abandons Kennedy Center Honors in Trump‑era broadcast
Plus: Petitions to deport Nicki Minaj and fix Stranger Things.
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Here are the latest trending internet culture stories today:
The ratings for the first televised Kennedy Center Honors since Trump’s attempt to change the name are in, and they’re not good.
A petition to deport Nicki Minaj back to Trinidad has gained over 58,000 signatures after her collaboration with Erika Kirk.
Some Stranger Things fans are jumping to conclusions—even though the show’s not over yet—and demanding to see the “cut footage.”
See you in the next one,
— W.J.
⚡️ Today in Internet Culture
“Smallest audience ever”: Trump’s first Kennedy Center Honors post name-change pulls in half the audience of last year
Soon after Trump’s second term began, he took over the Kennedy Center. He cleaned house, replaced the board of trustees with his own loyalists, and added his name to the building.
This past week, Trump hosted the 48th Annual Kennedy Center Honors. He previously claimed that people were begging him to do it, but only half of last year’s audience tuned in.
Petition asking for Nicki Minaj to be deported to Trinidad has over 50,000 signatures
A controversial online petition calling for Nicki Minaj to be deported to Trinidad began circulating this week, following her appearance with Erika Kirk at a Turning Point USA event in Arizona.
The petition gained momentum as fans and public figures began distancing themselves by unfollowing or blocking her on platforms like Spotify and X after she praised the current administration. At the time of writing, it had gathered over 58,000 verified signatures—and counting.
Disappointed “Stranger Things” fans demand to see original cut as theories about lost plot lines grow online
Speaking of petitions, there’s another one picking up even more traction online. Stranger Things fans online are demanding to see cut scenes, claiming the new Season 5 episodes contain plot holes. The only problem? Most of their questions have already been answered, and the finale hasn’t dropped yet. Still, a Change.org petition demanding the additional footage has 326,000 signatures so far.
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🔥 Hot on the Dot
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