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      Lenny Kravitz’s Viral Workout Video

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      The rock star’s viral social media post showed him doing a furious three-in-one routine, with weights. Gym professionals had thoughts.Regardless of what Us Weekly says, celebrities are not just like us.One had only to see the workout video Lenny Kravitz posted on Tuesday to know that.Thank God for today! Grateful. Never been better. There are no shortcuts so seize your day. It is all possible. Love! pic.twitter.com/BHqQ63oNOt— Lenny Kravitz (@LennyKravitz) April 9, 2024

      First, there was Mr. Kravitz’s outfit: a plum-colored muscle tank, complete with leather pants, black boots and his signature sunglasses.Then there was the exercise itself, which took place on a decline bench and involved a barbell with weights on each side.At the starting position, Mr. Kravitz is supine, with the bar extended below his head. Then, while hoisting the upward with a furious motion, he appears to do a combination of a pullover and a situp. At the upright position, he does a shoulder press, bringing the bar over his head.In the video, Mr. Kravitz, 59, performs seven reps before handing the weight off to a trainer, who, in his wraparound shades, bears a resemblance to Joe Manganiello, Channing Tatum’s hulking sidekick in “Magic Mike.”We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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      A K-Pop Star’s Lonely Downward Spiral

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      Goo Hara’s life was a struggle from the start. She ended it at 28, isolated and harassed online.The K-pop star looked utterly drained. Her face scrubbed of makeup, Goo Hara, one of South Korea’s most popular musical artists, gazed into the camera during an Instagram livestream from a hotel room in Japan. In a fading voice, she read questions from fans watching from around the world.“You going to work, fighting?” one asked.In halting English, she gave a plaintive answer: “My life is always so fighting.”By the time she climbed into bed at the end of the livestream in November 2019, she had reached a low point after a lifetime of struggle. As a child, she was abandoned by her parents. Her father at one point attempted suicide. After grueling training, she debuted in a K-pop group at 17, early even by the standards of the Korean hit-making machine.With the group, Kara, she found international fame, and Ms. Goo became a regular on Korean television, eventually anchoring her own reality series. But with celebrity came ravenous attacks on social media from a Korean public that is as quick to criticize stars as it is to fawn over them. Following a sordid legal fight with an ex-boyfriend, the harassment only intensified, as commenters criticized her looks, her personality and her sex life.Ms. Goo in 2018, the year before she died by suicide.Choi Soo-Young/Imazins, via Getty ImagesOn Nov. 23, 2019, less than a week after her Instagram appearance, she posted a photo of herself tucked in bed, with the caption “Good night.”We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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      The Best Looks From the 39th Annual Independent Spirit Awards

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      A mix of casual and chic attire made the 39th annual awards show worth watching. “The Independent Spirit Awards, where the dress code is, get dressed,” said John Mulaney during his bit at the 2018 show, which he co-hosted along with comedian Nick Kroll. This year, “Saturday Night Live” alum Aidy Bryant is hosting the Indie Spirit’s 39th annual show, which is being live-streamed, with a presenter list that included Joel Kim Booster, Greta Lee, Jude Law, Colman Domingo and Emma Corrin. There are substantial differences between these awards and the rest of the seasonal intake of trophies this time of year — including, for the second year, all acting categories are gender-neutral — but last year “Everything Everywhere All at Once” won best picture awards at both the Oscars and the Indie Spirits. Held in broad daylight in a tent on a beach in Santa Monica, the show has always been presented as the looser, hipper distant cousin of the Oscars — the outfits could also be somewhat described the same way. Due to the time of day it’s held (2 p.m. PST), this is one place during awards season when the industry can kick off its heels, leave the evening gowns at home and show off its casual wares, which has the potential for interesting style choices. Here are some of the best ones.Lily Gladstone, a nominee for the John Cassavetes Award and an honorary chair of the event.Aude Guerrucci/ReutersBillie Eilish in Valentino.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressGreta Lee, who was nominated for Best Lead Performance in “Past Lives.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressJeffrey Wright, who won for Best Lead Performance in the film “American Fiction” and Colman Domingo.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesAli Wong, who won for Best Lead Performer in the TV series “Beef.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesMonica Schipper/Getty ImagesAude Guerrucci/ReutersMonica Schipper/Getty ImagesDa’Vine Joy Randolph, who won the award for Best Supporting Performance for the film “The Holdovers.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressCharles Melton, nominated for supporting performer in the film “May December.”Aude Guerrucci/ReutersAidy Bryant, the host of the show.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesNatalie Portman, one of the stars of the film “May December.”Aude Guerrucci/ReutersAnne HathawayJordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressSteven Yeun, nominated for “Beef,” with his wife, Joana Pak.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesMichelle Williams, who starred in the film “Showing Up,” which was honored with the Robert Altman award.Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesSterling K. Brown, nominated for supporting performer in the film “American Fiction.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesJessica Chastain, who starred in the film “Memory”Aude Guerrucci/ReutersValerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesJordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressMonica Schipper/Getty ImagesA.V. Rockwell and Lena Waithe, the writer/director and producer, respectively, of “A Thousand and One,” which won Best First Feature.Aliah Anderson/Getty ImagesDominic Sessa, who won the Best Breakthrough Performance award for his work on “The Holdovers,” wearing Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesCeline Song, who won Best Director for the film “Past Lives.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressQuinta Brunson, the creator of the series “Abbott Elementary.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesIra Sachs and Franz Rogowski, the director and star, respectively, of the film “Passages.” Both were nominated for Spirit Awards.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesJudy Reyes, nominated for her work in “Birth/Rebirth.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressStephanie Hsu, last year’s winner of the Best Breakthrough Performance award.Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesAndrew Scott, nominated for his performance in “All of Us Strangers.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesBenny Safdie, who was nominated for his supporting role in the TV series “The Curse.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesEmma Corrin, nominated for their work in the television series “A Murder at the End of the World.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesJordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressMonica Schipper/Getty ImagesMonica Schipper/Getty ImagesLee Sung Jin, the writer and director of the series “Beef,” which won Best New Scripted Series.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressTia Nomore, nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance in “Earth Mama.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesNoah Galvin, nominated for his supporting performance in “Theater Camp.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesZoe Lister-Jones, nominated in the Best Lead Performance category for the television series “Slip.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesJoel Kim Booster, a presenter.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesBel Powley, nominated for her work in the series “A Small Light.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesFrazer Harrison/Getty ImagesTeo Yoo, who was nominated for his performance in the film “Past Lives.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesAnna Kendrick, a presenter.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesElizabeth Banks, who was a presenter and produced the film “Bottoms.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesLuke Tennie, nominated for his supporting work on the series “Shrinking.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesJessica Williams, nominated for her role in the show “Shrinking.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesMarin Ireland, nominated for her supporting acting work on the film “Eileen.”Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesDominique Fishback, nominated for her role in the series “Swarm.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressWill Ferrell, the producer of the film “May December.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressAdina Porter, nominated in the best supporting category for her work in “The Changeling.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressEmma Roberts, a presenter.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressJharrel Jerome, nominated for his work in the series “I’m a Virgo.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressKara Young, nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance in the series “I’m a Virgo.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesHannah Einbinder, a presenter and star of the show “Hacks.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesLewis Pullman, who co-starred in the film “Top Gun: Maverick.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressErika Alexander, nominated for her role in “American Fiction.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesJack Farthing, nominated for his supporting role in “Rain Dogs,” and actress Hanako Footman.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesRamón Rodríguez, who was nominated for his role in the TV series “Will Trent.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesOlivia Washington, nominated for her supporting role in “I’m a Virgo.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesKeivonn Woodard, who won for Breakthrough Performance in the series “The Last of Us.”Aude Guerrucci/ReutersNoomi Rapace, who stars in the show “Constellation.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesGlenn Howerton, who was nominated for his work in the show “BlackBerry.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressTrace Lysette, nominated for her work in the film “Monica.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated Press More

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      2024 SAG Awards Red Carpet: See the Best Fashion Looks

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      Lily Gladstone, Cillian Murphy and Margot Robbie led the celebrity fashion brigade.A few short months ago, members of the Screen Actors Guild wore jeans, shorts and T-shirts while carrying picket signs in the last days of a lengthy strike. On Saturday, they were at their red-carpet best as they arrived at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles for the 30th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.Before the ceremony, which is streaming on Netflix for the first time, Lily Gladstone, Jeremy Allen White, Margot Robbie, Cillian Murphy, Selena Gomez, Ali Wong, Ayo Edebiri and a host of other film and television stars took a moment to pose on the red carpet. The looks ran the gamut, from sober black and white to the wildly colorful. Scroll on to see the full celebrity fashion report.Lily Gladstone, nominated for outstanding performance by an actress in a leading role for “Killers of the Flower Moon.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressCillian Murphy, nominated for outstanding performance by an actor in a leading role for “Oppenheimer.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesMargot Robbie, nominated for outstanding performance by an actress in a leading role for “Barbie.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesColman Domingo, nominated for outstanding performance by an actor in a leading role for “Rustin.”Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesAnne Hathaway, a presenter.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressIssa Rae, one of the hosts (with Kumail Nanjiani) of the SAG show.Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesAli Wong, nominated for outstanding performance by an actress in a TV movie or limited series for “Beef.”Caroline Brehman/EPA, via ShutterstockJeremy Allen White, nominated for outstanding performance by an actor in a comedy series for “The Bear.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesCarey Mulligan, nominated for outstanding performance by an actress in a leading role for “Maestro.”Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesJeffrey Wright, nominated for outstanding performance by an actor in a leading role for “American Fiction.”Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesDa’Vine Joy Randolph, nominated for outstanding performance by an actress in a supporting role for “The Holdovers.”Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesBradley Cooper, nominated for outstanding performance by an actor in a leading role for “Maestro.”Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesSterling K. Brown, nominated for outstanding performance by an actor in a supporting role for “American Fiction.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressEmily Blunt, nominated for outstanding performance by an actress in a supporting role for “Oppenheimer.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressDanielle Brooks, nominated for outstanding performance by an actress in a supporting role for “The Color Purple.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesPenélope Cruz, nominated for outstanding performance by an actress in a supporting role for “Ferrari.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressSelena Gomez of “Only Murders in the Building,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHalle Bailey of “The Color Purple,” a nominee for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture.Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesElaine Welteroth, a host of Netflix’s red-carpet preshow.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressTan France, a host of the red-carpet preshow, and his outrageous bow tie.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressAyo Edebiri, nominated for outstanding performance by an actress in a comedy series for “The Bear.”Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesAriana Greenblatt of “Barbie,” a nominee for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture.Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesSheryl Lee Ralph of “Abbott Elementary,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesMeryl Streep of “Only Murders in the Building,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesAmerica Ferrera of “Barbie,” a nominee for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture.Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesTracee Ellis Ross of “American Fiction,” a nominee for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture.Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesReese Witherspoon of “The Morning Show,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series.Mike Blake/ReutersGreta Lee of “The Morning Show,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressLaverne Cox wore a vintage Alexander McQueen piece as part of her ensemble.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressElizabeth Debicki, nominated for outstanding performance by an actress in a drama series for “The Crown,” in Giorgio Armani.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressPedro Pascal, nominated for outstanding performance by an actor in a drama series for “The Last of Us.”Caroline Brehman/EPA, via ShutterstockTyler James Williams of “Abbott Elementary,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesChris Perfetti of “Abbott Elementary,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesErika Alexander of “American Fiction,” a nominee for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture.Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesBrie Larson, nominated for outstanding performance by an actress in a TV movie or limited series for “Lessons in Chemistry.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesUzo Aduba, nominated for outstanding performance by an actress in a TV movie or limited series for “Painkiller.”Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesJessica Chastain, a presenter, in Giorgio Armani.Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesKelley Curran of “The Gilded Age,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series.Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesBen Ahlers, a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series, wore an outfit beyond the wildest sartorial dreams of the character he plays on “The Gilded Age.”Mike Blake/ReutersKaren Pittman of “The Morning Show,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series.Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesDominic Sessa, a relative newcomer to the red carpet, dressed in black to represent “The Holdovers.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesMatty Matheson of “The Bear,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.Mike Blake/ReutersHannah Leder of “The Morning Show,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressEdwin Lee Gibson of “The Bear,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesAlan Ruck of “Succession,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series.Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesAuliʻi Cravalho of “Mean Girls.”Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesLinda Emond of “Only Murders in the Building,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.Mike Blake/ReutersMichael Cyril Creighton of “Only Murders in the Building,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesCorey Hawkins of “The Color Purple,” a nominee for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture.Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesWilliam Belleau of “Killers of the Flower Moon.”Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesCara Jade Myers of “Killers of the Flower Moon.”Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesNestor Carbonell of “The Morning Show,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series.Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesTaissa Farmiga of “The Gilded Age,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series.Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesZachary Golinger of “Barry,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressJuno Temple of “Ted Lasso,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesRobert Wisdom of “Barry,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.Caroline Brehman/EPA, via ShutterstockThe writer and performance artist Alok Vaid-Menon.Caroline Brehman/EPA, via ShutterstockAndre Hyland of “Barry,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.Caroline Brehman/EPA, via ShutterstockAnthony Carrigan of “Barry,” a nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images More

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      America Ferrera, Katie Holmes, and Carey Mulligan Turn Out for Chanel

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      The brand hosted a celebrity-fueled bash for its U.S. foray into high-end jewelry.On Wednesday night, a throng of actors, cycling through a swirl of events — awards season, New York Fashion Week and the Super Bowl — assembled in Midtown Manhattan, wearing Chanel, dressed by Chanel and for Chanel.Over cocktails, guests mingled for the opening of the brand’s first U.S. watch and fine jewelry flagship boutique on Fifth Avenue near 57th Street, designed by the architect Peter Marino with elements from Coco Chanel’s apartment in Paris.America Ferrera greeted Natasha Lyonne. Kerry Washington chatted with Elizabeth Olsen. Katie Holmes posed for photos with Michelle Williams. Zazie Beetz convened with Rachel Brosnahan. Dianna Agron lingered. And nearby, Carey Mulligan and Jerrod Carmichael talked.The new flagship store for fine jewelry and watches comes as New York’s retail space prices have kept rising over the past year. The move seemingly positions Chanel in a sector of the fashion industry that other brands, like Prada and LVMH, are also embracing.Chase Sui Wonders and Molly Gordon.Rachel Brosnahan and Zazie Beetz.Michelle Williams and Katie Holmes.Sadie SinkThe location on Fifth Avenue — sandwiched among Cartier, Tiffany & Company, Bulgari and Harry Winston — was a yearslong waiting game, according to Frédéric Grangié, the president of Chanel’s watches and fine jewelry.“It’s a big step for the house,” Mr. Grangié said.Steps away from the boutique, around 200 guests, including Lori Harvey, Francesca Scorsese and the actor Molly Gordon, shuffled into a dimly lit event space for dinner. In contrast to the store’s well-lit sparkle, the multilevel venue was enveloped in darkness that mimicked the shuttered Abercrombie & Fitch that was once there.Natasha LyonneCarey Mulligan and Jerrod Carmichael.Rose Byrne and Seth Meyers.Christopher AbbottPeople reflected on their favorite everyday accessories, like Ms. Lyonne’s grandmother’s gold chain. “I never saw her as a Tony Montana type. She was just a little Hungarian lady in a Pucci dress,” she said.The actor Taylour Paige, who loves her tennis bracelet and engagement ring, said that you can never have too many rings.“If anyone says you’re wearing too many rings, cut them out of your life,” she said.For the actors Tommy Dorfman and Amandla Stenberg, watches, which were family heirlooms passed down from generations, elicit a sense of nostalgia and sentimentality in an era of smart devices.White roses lined long tables where influential guests like Lauren Santo Domingo, the artistic director of Tiffany’s homewares; Larry Gagosian, the gallery magnate; and Sean MacPherson, the hotelier, enjoyed oysters, caviar-topped potatoes, lobster or wagyu, and a two-tiered assorted dessert tower. After one course, guests were offered vodka shots.Seth Meyers, the late-night host, did rounds greeting Ms. Ferrera and Ms. Olsen at one table, Ms. Beetz in another section with Ms. Holmes, and then later settling at his table with Ms. Washington and Ms. Williams.When it grew late, the crowd was invited to the basement for a surprise performance, and the singer Gracie Abrams took the stage to a backdrop lit like a starry sky.The singer Gracie Abrams. Larry GagosianKerry WashingtonPeter Marino and Cornelia Guest. More

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      How Vintage Won the Grammys Red Carpet

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      Miley Cyrus, Laverne Cox, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish — big stars in old clothes was the trend of the night. Because it’s not just about the gowns.The awards show red carpet has become such an access game, such a race of clout and connections to see who can wear the most never-before-seen or sizzlingly-hot-off-the-runway look — the answer, this time, was Beyoncé, in Louis Vuitton men’s wear from Pharrell Williams’s January show — that any other approach can seem like a shock.But recently a different trend has been emerging, and at the 66th Grammys it reached critical mass. Indeed, it’s so applause worthy, here’s hoping it isn’t a trend at all but rather the signal of a permanent shift in the fashion-Hollywood industrial complex.I am speaking of the rise of vintage. Or as it is apparently now known, “archival” fashion. “Archival” here is being used to refer to anything that simply isn’t new. (Well, it was getting a little ridiculous to refer to two-season-old clothes as “vintage.”) That could mean clothes from a brand archive, or a personal one. Sometimes also known as a “closet.”Laverne Cox in 2015 Comme des Garçons.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressOlivia Rodrigo in a Versace siren gown from 1995.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressAt the Grammys, Laverne Cox, the E! red carpet host, led the way, as she also did at the Emmy Awards, in a Valentine’s Day red contraption from 2015 Comme des Garçons. She chose the look, she said, because that collection had been about “blood and roses” and finding beauty in pain, and, well, it felt particularly apropos.Then there was Olivia Rodrigo, another vintage disciple (remember the 1995 Chanel suit she wore to the White House?), in a white 1995 Versace siren gown. Also Caroline Polachek in gothic 1998 Olivier Theyskens coursing with crimson veins and arteries. Billie Eilish in an upcycled and customized Chrome Hearts “Barbie” baseball jacket. Lana Del Rey in a found-it-herself puff-sleeve black vintage floral number. Coi Leray in a 2019 Saint Laurent jacket and leotards, no pants.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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      Taylor Swift and the Profound Weirdness of MAGA

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      Hatred makes people gullible and foolish. That’s a key lesson of the MAGA right’s deeply strange turn against Taylor Swift and her boyfriend, the Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end Travis Kelce. In fact, that’s a key lesson from this entire sorry era in American political and cultural life.There’s nothing new about partisan anger at celebrities. And Swift has dabbled in politics. In 2018, she endorsed the Democratic candidate for Senate in Tennessee, Phil Bredesen, over Republican Marsha Blackburn, and in 2020 she endorsed Joe Biden for president. Kelce, for his part, appeared in ads for the Pfizer Covid vaccine. By MAGA’s calculation, between them the couple express the most infernal combination of affiliations — Democrats and vaccines.Moreover, “shut up and sing” (or, in Kelce’s case, shut up and catch) has been such a consistent theme in right-wing cancel culture that it was the title both of Fox News host Laura Ingraham’s 2003 book and of a 2006 documentary about the Dixie Chicks (now just the Chicks). But Republican opposition to celebrity engagement has always been highly selective. Even as he condemned Swift, one prominent MAGA figure recently boasted that his “side” still had Kid Rock, Ted Nugent and Jon Voight. And it was the G.O.P., after all, that elected both a movie star (Ronald Reagan) and a reality TV celebrity (Donald Trump) to the presidency.But while traditional partisan pettiness can explain the knee-jerk negative reaction to Swift, it can’t come close to explaining the incredible weirdness of the recent theory emanating from people with some of the largest platforms in MAGA America. According to them, Taylor Swift’s extraordinary popularity isn’t the organic outcome of a talented and appealing superstar’s bond with her fans. No, according to them, Swift’s rise is an “op” or a “psyop” engineered by the deep state in order to benefit Joe Biden.A central part of the plot, of course, is Swift’s fake, deep-state-invented relationship with Kelce. Thus when the Chiefs struggled earlier in the season, it was a source of right-wing schadenfreude. But now that they’ve surged into a berth in the Super Bowl, it has all been revealed as part of The Plan.Again, it’s all just so dumb and strange. But dumb and strange is par for the course with MAGA. If we imagined conspiracy theories as movies, we’d say “Taylor Swift: Psyop” was brought to you by the same studio that produced cult classics such as “Pizzagate” and “The Seth Rich Conspiracy,” not to mention the tentpole franchises “QAnon” and “Stop the Steal.”We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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      The Sunday Read: ‘The Whale Who Went AWOL’

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      Adrienne Hurst and Corey Schreppel and Listen and follow The DailyApple Podcasts | SpotifyOn April 26, 2019, a beluga whale appeared near Tufjord, a village in northern Norway, immediately alarming fishermen in the area. Belugas in that part of the world typically inhabit the remote Arctic and are rarely spotted as far south as the Norwegian mainland. Although they occasionally travel solo, they tend to live and move in groups. This particular whale was entirely alone and unusually comfortable around humans, trailing boats and opening his mouth as though expecting to be fed.News of the friendly white whale spread quickly. In early May, a video of the beluga went viral, eventually earning a spot on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” By midsummer, he had become an international celebrity, drawing large groups of tourists. All the while, marine experts had been speculating about the whale’s origin. Clearly this animal had spent time in captivity — but where?In the years since the whale, publicly named Hvaldimir, first entered the global spotlight, the very qualities that make him so endearing — his intelligence, curiosity and charisma — have put him in perpetual danger. Hvaldimir is now at the center of a dispute over his welfare. Even as he swims freely through the ocean, he is caught in a tangle of conflicting human ambitions, some noble, others misguided, nearly all distorted by inadequate understanding. Whether to intervene, and how to do so, remain contentious subjects among scientists, activists and government officials.There are a lot of ways to listen to ‘The Daily.’ Here’s how.We want to hear from you. Tune in, and tell us what you think. Email us at thedaily@nytimes.com. Follow Michael Barbaro on X: @mikiebarb. And if you’re interested in advertising with The Daily, write to us at thedaily-ads@nytimes.com.Additional production for The Sunday Read was contributed by Isabella Anderson, Anna Diamond, Sarah Diamond, Elena Hecht, Emma Kehlbeck, Tanya Pérez and Krish Seenivasan. More