Naomi Osaka's Labubu dominates TikTok trend at U.S. Open
"Billie Jean Bling."
Greetings!
Here are the latest trending internet culture stories today:
Naomi Osaka jumped on the “24K gold Labubu” trend in her bedazzled U.S. Open look, the interview between Rep. Ritchie Torres and Adam Friedland has sparked internet discourse, and social media collectively lost its shit over the New York Times adding a paywall to its previously free mini-crossword.
Enjoy the weekend!
— W.J.
⚡️ Today in Internet Culture
“You hands down won this trend”: Naomi Osaka brought a custom bejeweled Labubu to the U.S. Open, and fans are obsessed
Professional tennis player Naomi Osaka joined the Labubu trend by toting a custom toy that matched her U.S. Open outfit. While the younger generations loved the addition, not everyone is in agreement.
The custom Labubu, created by A-Morir Studio, is dripped out in red crystals and carries a mini tennis racket. The TikTok sound referenced is the “24K Gold Labubu” trend.
Adam Friedland confronted Rep. Ritchie Torres over Israel. Fans are calling it a breakthrough moment
Comedian and talk-show host Adam Friedland clashed with Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) during a heated interview this week. The result was an interview filled with sharp interruptions and emotional declarations that carried beyond the studio into social media.
“Hurt and betrayed”: Fans share their fury online as New York Times paywalls free mini-crossword
For years, the New York Times Mini Crossword has been the quick brain boost people squeezed in before work, on the subway, or right before bed. But as of Thursday, that daily ritual now requires a subscription. What might make sense as a business decision landed as a gut punch for loyal puzzle players.
Online, frustration spread fast. One user wrote, “finding out the NYT mini crossword is now behind a paywall has done irreparable damage to my spirit,” with a photo of a crying Tiny Chef. Another added, “I hope whoever decided this has warm pillows for the rest of their life.”
🕸️ Crawling the Web
🏈 Charlie Kirk reacted to Taylor Swift’s engagement in the way you’d expect: by demanding she “submit” to Travis Kelce and birth “lots of children.”
⛪ A church introduced a “hot priest” on their social media channels, but the comments were so thirsty, they had to turn them off…
🎬 Fans of indie(ish) movie studio A24 are spinning out over the reveal in a New Yorker article that they’ve launched an AI division.
🥑 A TikToker has gone viral after cutting open two avocados that looked nearly identical on the outside but revealed a startling difference inside.
🥊 Hollywood is making a new Street Fighter movie, and Noah Centineo is giving a sneak peek at his take on Ken Masters.
🏖️ Students and teachers agree: The “August scaries” are painfully real.
🔥 Hot on the Dot
This was the most-read story on the Daily Dot yesterday: