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Anyone who has seen Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV—a documentary chronicling the abusive, exploitive and egregiously dangerous conditions under which employees and child actors at Nickelodeon worked under the leadership of showrunner Dan Schneider—knows that during a period that began in the late ’90s, Nickelodeon Studios was portrayed as a cesspool of abusive behavior, sexism, child endangerment and child sexualization that allowed multiple convicted pedophiles run wild on and off set.
To say the absolute least, the docuseries served as a cautionary tale to any parents who are thinking of introducing their children to the world of child acting.
Well, accomplished actor and comedian Kenan Thompson, who started in ’90s Nick shows All That and Kenan & Kel, doesn’t appear to think the investigations into what went on at Nickelonean have gone far enough, and he believes authorities should “investigate more” in order to ensure the kids we watch on TV are being kept safe behind the scenes.
“It’s tough. It’s a tough subject, you know?” the Saturday Night Live cast member said during an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “It’s tough for me because I can’t really speak on things that I never witnessed, you know what I’m saying? Because all these things happened after I left, basically.”
In the Docuseries, Schneider is accused of deplorable and abusive behavior towards the people who worked under him, especially the female writers, two of whom he’s accused of illegally making share a single-employee salary, and child actors who starred in shows he ran, and whom he was accused portraying in sexually suggestive ways—and somehow, his offenses weren’t nearly the most horrific.
“Dan wasn’t really on Kenan & Kel like that,” Thomsaon explained while distancing himself from the disgraced producer. “I mean, he got a ‘created by’ credit, but it was a different showrunner, so our worlds wasn’t really overly overlapping like that outside of All That, necessarily. And then all of that negativity kinda started happening outside of our tenure there, you know what I mean? So I wasn’t really aware of a lot of it.”
But regardless of whether or not Thompson was around when Nick Studios ironically proved to be the last place one would want to leave their child unattended, the Good Burger actor said he supports the victims and wants to see more investigating done to ensure their aren’t more out there whose stories have gone ignored.
From EW:
Thompson, who was 15 when All That premiered, also extended sympathy to his fellow former Nickelodeon stars who discussed the toxic work environment they endured in Quiet on Set. “My heart goes out to anybody that’s been victimized, or their families,” he said. “I think it’s a good thing that the doc is out and it’s putting things on display, stories that need to be told for accountability’s sake. But it’s definitely tough to watch because I have fond memories of that place and I have fond memories of my costars and stuff like that. So to hear that they’ve gone through terrible things like that is really tough.”
Later in the interview, Thompson reiterated his support for the doc. “Investigate more,” he said. “It’s supposed to be a safe place for kids. And to hear all about that is just like, ‘How dare you?’”
Exactly.
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As Women’s History Month comes to an end, we’re highlighting some of the women-owned small businesses that should be on your radar.
According to a recent report, female-owned businesses make up 39 percent of all businesses in the U.S., bringing in a reported $2.1 trillion. Additionally, the number of women-owned businesses doubled compared to male-owned businesses between 2019 and 2023 and more than quadrupled between 2022 and 2023.
The future is female. See below for a list of women-owned and female-founded beauty and fashion brands to shop.
Yensa Beauty
Former Power Rangers actress Jennifer Yen’s Yensa Beauty brings “superfood science” to your beauty routine.
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The beauty brand carries a range of high-performance complexion cosmetics and skincare products each infused with eight superfoods to help nourish and improve your skin over time.
Yensa Beauty
Yensa Beauty Super Serum Silk Foundation
Nodpod
Nodpod founder and CEO Melissa Bamberg is passionate about “helping people feel their best every day,” and sleep plays a big part in that.
Nodpod’s Pressure Blocking Sleep Mask offers the comfort of a “weighted blanket for your eyes” or a “hug for your brain,” per the product description, and it’s a bestseller at Amazon with over 2,000 sold in the last month.
Amazon
Nodpod Gentle Pressure Sleep Mask
The lightweight, sleep mask is made of soft silk and velvet and filled with beads that apply slight pressure to your eyes for deeper relaxation. What do shoppers think? Nodpod is a “sleep game changer” according to one customer review.
Hill House Home
Nell Diamond founded Hill House Home with the hope of making “happy things for happy places” and she’s succeeding with a range of midi and maxi dresses featuring lightweight fabrics, ruffles, adorable prints and a loyal fanbase.
Hill House Home
Hill House Home The Ellie Nap Dress
The brand carries a lovely selection of dresses that are perfect for spring and summer including the signature Nap Dress (it’s also breastfeeding-friendly). Save 25% off with the code SPRING25.
Maison Miru
This independent, direct-to-consumer jewelry brand creates pieces made for work and play. Designed by former engineer Maison Miru, the brand makes waterproof, sweatproof jewelry designed for continuous wear (they even have a collection of earrings that won’t hurt your ears while you’re taking a nap).
Also, the jewelry comes packaged in cute little boxes.
Maison Miru
Maison Miru Classic Huggie Hoops
TomboyX
TomboyX is a gender-inclusive, queer-owned brand founded in 2013 by married couple Fran Dunaway and Naomi Gonzalez. The brand carries sustainable bras, boxers, briefs, gender-affirming underwear, swimwear, tees, tanks, hoodies, joggers and more in sizes 3XS-6X.
TomboyX
TomboyX Boy Shorts
TomboyX’s popular boy shorts are available in various colors including black, charcoal, burnt orange and rainbow prints.
Alterre
Founded by Shilpa Iyengar and Harmony Pilobello, Alterre is a sustainable footwear brand featuring ethically made designs in nice prints as well as solid colors.
Alterre
Alterre Painted Snake Pointed Loafer + Twiggy Strap
Each shoe features foam-padded insoles and interchangeable straps, making it easy to instantly switch up your look.
PerfectDD
With PerfectDD, founder and CEO Alice Kim set out to create figure-flattering, fun and flirty tops for women with fuller busts.
PerfectDD
PerfectDD Krista Tulip Sleeve Scoop
The Krista Tulip top offers the versatility of a basic T-shirt with a scoop-neck design, and in a few different colors such as black, white, gray and army green (sizes X-SX).
Dezi Eyewear
Dezi Eyewear is TikTok– and Beyoncé-approved. The eyewear brand, founded by influencer Desi Perkins, features stylish sunglasses for under $100. You can find Dezi Eyewear at desi.co and Nordstrom.
Dezi Eyewear
Dezi Eyewear Drippy 59mm Sunglasses
Daydreamer
For the daydreaming music lover. Daydreamer is an LA-based streetwear brand founded by Laura Glover that has tops, bottoms and oversized band tees covering just about every music genre you can think of including alternative rock, pop, pop rock, hip-hop, country and metal.
Daydreamer
Daydreamer Shania Let’s Go Girls Vintage Tee
ThirdLove
ThirdLove was founded by Heidi Zak and Ra’el Cohen to provide “a third, better option” between comfortable bras and sexy bras.
ThirdLove
ThirdLove T-Shirt Bra
Shoppers can’t stop talking about ThirdLove’s bestselling T-shirt bra. It’s a supportive, comfortable everyday bra that has nearly 60,000 customer reviews and a 4.5-star rating. The bra is available in a dozen colors and cup sizes ranging from A-H.
Thigh Society
Big or small, Thigh Society covers them all! Founded by Marnie Rabinovitch Consky, Thigh Society makes size-inclusive, anti-chafing, multi-wear slip shorts, the first of which was introduced in 2009.
Thigh Society
Thigh Society The Staple Short
The Staple short is nicknamed “Goldilocks” because it’s not too thick or too sheer — it just right. The comfortable short is available in sizes ranging from XS-6XL (in black, beige, rosette, lilac and indigo).
For more recommendations, read our picks for the best tote bags for travel, best workout gear and
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has broken plenty of records — even in streaming with the Eras Tour movie becoming Disney+’s most […]
After you’ve sufficiently yee’d your haw with Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, take some time to play a few tracks from your favorite queer artists. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.
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From Doechii’s banging new single to Becky Hill’s infectious new pop track, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Doechii ft. JT, “Alter Ego”
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Leave it to hip-hop powerhous Doechii to create her own new genre for a new single. With “Alter Ego,” Doechii ushers in the era of what she calls “editorial rap” — a genre she describes as “if hip-hop and house music had a baby.” The result is an irresistible, Doechii-flavored banger, tinged with Eurodance synths and hard-hitting hip-hop beats, all accompanied by the Florida rapper’s unstoppable flow and in-your-face chorus. Add in City Girls’ JT for a fiery verse of her own, and you’ve got an A+ track on your hands.
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Becky Hill, “Outside of Love”
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It may only be March, but rising British pop star Becky Hill is ready to give you a summer dance anthem early. “Outside of Love,” the BRIT Award winner’s latest dance-pop single, leans all the way into the aesthetics and sounds that fans of Hill have come to love — her singular voice float over a thrumming beat through the song’s building verses, before exploding into a firework of electronic ecstasy on the thrilling chorus. If you’re looking for feel-good club vibes heading into your weekend, look no further.
St. Vincent, “Flea”
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St. Vincent is no stranger to the concept of lust — her seminal 2017 album Masseduction saw the singer-songwriter expounding on the topic ad infinitum. Yet “Flea,” the latest cut off St. Vincent’s forthcoming album All Born Screaming, still delivers something entirely different for Annie Clark. Bathed in blaring guitars and Dave Grohl’s bombastic drums, this “Flea” immediately burrows into you, toying with your pleasure centers as Clark’s writhing voice insists that she’s not letting you go without a fight — and after listening to this track, you won’t want her to let you go, either.
Blondshell feat. Bully, “Docket”
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If you’re ready to keep rocking, Blondshell and Bully have you covered with “Docket,” their infectious new single about the chaos of an imbalanced relationship. At the start, “Docket” presents itself as a hazy, mellowed-out piece of self reflection, where both Blondshell and Bully are looking for some validation about the push and pull of romantic ambivalence. By the time the first chorus hits, though, listeners find themselves in a full-blown rock song, with chunky guitar chords amping up the pair’s call for “a curse” or “a bug” to help their partner find “someone who’s more in love.” As catchy as it is deeply relatable, “Docket” lands as an immediate standout in both artists’ already-stacked catalogues.
Cakes da Killa, Black Sheep
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Much like the titular animal of his latest LP, Cakes da Killa has regularly found himself pushed to the margins of the music industry simply for being himself. So, why not give them a taste of what they’re missing? Black Sheep stands as one of the emcee’s best works to date, continuing his genre-defying style with renewed panache — jazz, house, R&B and rap all meld into one sound throughout the project — while his writing game reaches yet another career-high. Go ahead, keep underestimating Cakes; he’ll just keep showing you how wrong you are.
Stand Atlantic, PVRIS & Bruses, “GIRL$”
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Take a group of queer women and ask them to write a song about women, and magic can happen. Stand Atlantic’s latest alt-pop jam “GIRL$,” featuring fellow alt-rockers PVRIS and Bruses, sees a trio of women delivering a hearty middle-finger to misogyny, unrealistic body standards, femmephobia and plenty more. The song’s hooky verses build up the tension, only to let it release in total catharsis on the amped-up chorus. Need to vent? Just press play.
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
Following calls for him to withdraw from and boycott the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest over Israel’s inclusion amid the ongoing war in Gaza, Olly Alexander explained why he will still be participating in the annual competition on Friday (March 29).
In a statement posted to his Instagram, Alexander responded to activist group Queers for Palestine, who wrote the singer an open letter asking him to withdraw from the contest. “I wholeheartedly support action being taken to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the return of all hostages and the safety and security of all civilians in Palestine and Israel,” he wrote. “I know some people will choose to boycott this year’s Eurovision and I understand and respect their decision.”
The “Dizzy” singer continued, saying that he took “a lot of time to deliberate” over the correct course of action, and decided that withdrawing from Eurovision “wouldn’t bring us any closer to our shared goal.” Alexander said he and a number of other contestants spoke and decided that “by taking part we can use our platform to come together and call for peace.”
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In its original open letter, Queers for Palestine applauded Alexander’s “vision of queer joy and abundance you’ve offered through your music, and share your belief in collective liberation for all,” then asked him to “heed the Palestinian call to withdraw from Eurovision … There can be no party with a state committing apartheid and genocide.”
Alexander also shared a statement from a collective of other Eurovision participants — signed by himself, Ireland’s Bambie Thug, Norway’s Gåte, Portugal’s Iolanda, San Marino’s Megara, Switzerland’s Nemo, Denmark’s Saba, Lithuania’s Silvester Belt and Finland’s Windows95Man — saying that they “stand in solidarity with the oppressed and communicate our heartfelt wish for peace, an immediate and lasting ceasefire and the safe return of all hostages.” They added that they felt “it is our duty to create and uphold this space, with a strong hope that it will inspire greater compassion and empathy.”
Queers for Palestine later responded to Alexander’s decision, saying that while they “welcome” responses from both the singer and his fellow contestants, they found both statements lacking. “When [Alexander et al] use that voice to downplay the genocide in Gaza by vaguely calling it a mere ‘situation,’ they misuse their power. When they choose to ignore the call for a boycott issued by the largest Palestinian coalition, in historic Palestine and in exile, they risk condescending to the people who are being occupied and massacred and are asking for our solidarity.”
This is not Alexander’s first time sharing his thoughts on the ongoing war in Gaza. Shortly before he was announced as a participant in Eurovision 2024, the singer signed an October 2023 open letter from LGBTQ activist group Voices4London calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and calling out Israel as an “apartheid regime.” After Alexander was announced as the U.K.’s representative for the annual contest, a source for the Conservative Party spoke to The Daily Telegraph to criticize the BBC for choosing the singer as a representative for the U.K., calling the decision “either a massive oversight or sheer brass neck from the BBC.”
Read both of Olly Alexander’s full statements below:
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Crystal Mason, who was sentenced to five years in Texas for trying to vote with a ballot in 2016 that was rejected, was acquitted.
On Thursday (March 28), an appeals court in Texas threw out a five-year prison sentence given to Crystal Mason, who was sentenced for trying to vote in the 2016 presidential election using a provisional ballot in Fort Worth that was rejected. Mason maintained that she had no idea she was ineligible due to being on supervised release for a tax felony at the time. The case became nationally known and was regarded as an attempt to intimidate Black voters as they saw the sentence as egregious for what legal observers saw as a simple error.
“We conclude that the quantum of the evidence presented in this case is insufficient to support the conclusion that Mason actually realized that she voted knowing that she was ineligible to do so and, therefore, insufficient to support her conviction for illegal voting,” Justice Wade Birdwell wrote in the ruling. The 49-year-old Mason was initially convicted in 2018 after a trial lasting just hours. The highest court in the state reviewed the case in 2022 and told the lower appellate court to reconsider. Mason had remained out of jail on an appeal bond but wound up losing her job at a bank and spent months in federal prison for being arrested for a federal crime while on probation.
“I was thrown into this fight for voting rights and will keep swinging to ensure no other citizen has to face what I’ve faced and endured for the past seven years, a political ploy where minority voting rights are under attack,” Mason said in an interview Thursday night. “Although I’ve cried for seven years straight, seven nights a week … I’ve also prayed for seven years straight, seven nights a week. Prayed that I would remain a free black woman,” she said in a statement released later. “I am overjoyed to see my faith rewarded today.”
“Crystal and her family have suffered for over six years as the target of a vanity project by Texas political leaders,” said Alison Grinter Allen, a criminal defense attorney who represented Mason. “We’re happy that the court saw this for the perversion of justice that it is, but the harm that this political prosecution has done to shake Americans’ confidence in their own franchise is incalculable.”
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Nintendo Entertainment System
While the Atari 2600 might be the first home console success, the Nintendo Entertainment System is a home video game console that’s widely known and iconic. The NES might be a little tougher to come by on eBay, with prices starting at $109 for the console itself and a controller.However, getting games — such as Rad Racer, Super Mario Bros. 2, The Legend of Zelda, Double Dragon and others — might be easier with prices starting as low as $7 per cartridge. The NES has become much more of a collector’s item than other retro gaming consoles, which is why finding one in good working condition is rare. Check out the NES on eBay here.
When Travis Scott returns to Saturday Night Live this weekend as the musical guest, castmember Marcello Hernandez promises the show will be in “Sicko Mode” — just like Scott’s Billboard Hot 100-topping Drake collab from 2018. But first-time host Ramy Youssef isn’t having it in new SNL promos, released late Thursday (March 28) ahead of Saturday’s new episode.
“I told you not to do that in front of him,” the Poor Things actor/comedian tells Hernandez of the song-title pun.
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“Sorry, I just get these goosebumps every time,” Hernandez replies with a smirk, name-dropping yet another Scott song: “Goosebumps,” a top 40 Hot 100 solo hit in 2017 that led to the No. 47-peaking HVME remix in 2021.
“It’s just not a good look,” Youssef says. “Sorry, Trav.”
Things don’t get any better for Hernandez in a second promo, when he launches into an ill-fated joke setup. “A Latino guy, an Egyptian guy and a Black guy walk into a bar…” he begins, before Scott and Youssef cut him off.
“You guys are probably right, because the punchline was bad,” Hernandez admits, before Youssef says, “The setup was too.”
Scott will take his second turn as SNL musical guest this weekend, following his October 2018 debut. For his first performance, he brought out John Mayer on guitar and Kevin Parker of Tame Impala on bass for a mash-up of “Skeletons” (which features Mayer) and “Astrothunder” (a collaboration with Tame Impala) from his Astroworld album, before pulling out “Sicko Mode” sand Drake for his second song.
Youssef will host SNL for the first time after co-starring opposite Emma Stone in the awards-season darling Poor Things. The stand-up comedian also took home the best actor in a television series – musical or comedy Golden Globe in 2020 for his Hulu series Ramy.
Watch the new SNL promos below, and catch the new episode at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. ET on NBC or streaming on Peacock.
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All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Your bed deserves some attention every once in awhile, and Parachute is providing the perfect excuse to upgrade you bedding essentials […]
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The length a family would go to be reunited is examined in the new series We Were the Lucky Ones, which premiered its first episode via Hulu on Thursday (March 28). Joey King and Logan Lerman star in the limited TV series, which is adapted from the novel of the same title by Georgia Hunter, and you can stream We Were the Lucky Ones at home now.
Taking place in 1939, the series follows the Kurcs, a Polish-Jewish family separated at the start of World War II. Three generations of the family are put at different parts of the world, and viewers will watch as each character fights their way to safety during one of the darkest times in history. Driven by their need to survive, each family member must cope with the idea of never seeing each other again while leaning on hope and perseverance to keep them alive.
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Other cast members include Hadas Yaron, Sam Woolf, Robin Weigert, Lior Ashkenazi, Amit Rahav, Eva Feiler, Henry Lloyd-Hughes and Moran Rosenblatt.
Keep reading to learn more about the series and the streaming options available to watch We Were the Lucky Ones online.
Is We Were the Lucky Ones Based On a True Story?
The miniseries was adapted from the novel We Were the Lucky Ones, which Hunter wrote based on true events that happened to her ancestors. The author was born into a family of Holocaust survivors, which she learned more about at a family reunion she went to in 2000, according to her author website. In 2008, she set out to research more about her grandfather, his siblings and the journey they underwent to survive and eventually find their way back to one another.
“We Were the Lucky Ones: A Novel” by Georgia Hunter
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Delve into the history of the Kurc family through the official novel written by Hunter. Within its pages you’ll be able to discover moments and scenes that didn’t make it into the Hulu series while gaining a further understanding of the struggles real people endured during World War II.
How to Watch We Were the Lucky Ones Online for Free
We Were the Lucky Ones is a Hulu original series that you can stream online exclusively through the streaming platform. Current Hulu subscribers can watch We Were the Lucky Ones for free when you log into your account.
Don’t have a Hulu subscription? New users will receive a 30-day free trial when you sign up for the streaming platform. After the free trial is over, you’ll be charged a subscription fee based on the plan you choose at checkout. Click here or the button below to start your free trial.
Hulu plans start as low as $7.99/month for the basic streaming package, or you can take advantage of a student membership for just $1.99/month.
For even more content you can bundle Hulu with Disney+ and ESPN+ and for live TV channel options, you can opt for Hulu + Live TV that includes over 90 live channels including ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, Bravo, TLC, OWN, FX and A&E.
Hulu programs and exclusive content you can look forward to streaming include Freaknik, Only Murders in the Building, Poor Things, All of Us Strangers, Death & Other Details, Shogun, The Bear, Survivor and The Great.
Check below for the trailer of We Were the Lucky Ones.
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