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Who has scored against the most Premier League teams?
BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team looks at which players have scored against the most teams in Premier League history
Tuesday ‘Dawg Bites Won’t Fumble In The Endzone
Welcome to Tuesday, Bulldog fans! We’ve entered that limbo period where certain fanbases are still basking in the glow of Saturdays victory, and others are still steaming from a frustrating loss that exposed expectations like telephone poles in winter when the kudzu dies off. Clemson has had as many lightning delays as rushing touchdowns this […]
WildBear Entertainment restructures leadership for global growth push
Australian factual producer WildBear Entertainment has revealed a new leadership team as part of a strategic restructure, with Serge Ou named head of creative services and former ABC exec Alan Erson appointed MD and head of premium television.
Sega wanted to cancel the entire Sonic series but the first movie saved it, says Sonic Team head Iizuka
The live-action Sonic film “definitely changed the course of this franchise…
Pascal Groß confirms retirement from German national team
Germany will have one less player in the potential talent pool moving forward.
Brentford's remaining players given week off
Most squads in the Premier League these days are packed with international players, and Brentford are no different. Most of the Bees' squad are away, but Callum Wilson and Igor Thiago are among about 12 players left at their training facility, including five who are coming back from injury. Brentford have a longer break than almost every other team, given they hosted Chelsea on Friday.
Why Spending Time Outdoors Is Good For Your Physical And Mental Health
British fitness expert Joe Wicks recently teamed up with neuroscientists to scientifically test the widely-held belief that spending time outdoors is good for us.
5️⃣ stories of the day: Atleti's complaints, Mbappé's step back..
Club football is on pause to make way for the national teams, but this weekend brought so much news that Tuesday is red-hot.So we’re going to run through the five stories you can’t miss to kick of...
Eddie’s Nephew Andy Howe Leaves Recruitment Role At Newcastle
The departure of the influential scout marks a total overhaul of the Magpies’ recruitment team as Matthias Jaissle and Ross Wilson solidify a new era on Tyneside.
Giants, Saints Get Intriguing Trade Idea After Jaxson Dart Injury
The New Orleans Saints might have a valuable backup QB that teams with injured starters could call on, despite being only two weeks into the 2026 NFL season. New Orleans has its franchise guy in Tyler Shough, but its backup QB, Spencer Rattler, could be a trade piece. On Sept. 21, the New York Giants […] The post Giants, Saints Get Intriguing Trade Idea After Jaxson Dart Injury appeared first on HEAVY.
Trench play proves big in Nebraska football’s win over North Dakota
To wrap up non-conference play, Nebraska football defeated North Dakota 34-7. The Huskers’ strong first and fourth quarters secured the win against the sixth-ranked FCS team, as the Scarlet and Cream earned their third consecutive 3-0 start to the season.
Injury update for Brian Burns
Brian Burns, who was injured late in the team's Week 2 game against the Rams, suffered a low ankle sprain.
San Antonio Spurs Get Significant Kyrie Irving Trade Update
Rival teams expect the Mavericks to trade Kyrie Irving, giving the San Antonio Spurs a potential deal for De'Aaron Fox. The post San Antonio Spurs Get Significant Kyrie Irving Trade Update appeared first on HEAVY.
Week 3 announcer assignments for every NFL game
The schedule is set and the networks know where their announce teams will be for Week 3 of the NFL season.
Brad Keselowski Parting Ways With NASCAR Cup Series Crew Chief
Brad Keselowski and RFK Racing are parting ways with crew chief Jeremy Bullins, effective immediately. Bullins was Keselowski’s crew chief from the beginning of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season and was previously atop the driver’s pit box at Team Penske. Mike Skarbowski, an RFK Racing engineer, will serve as Keselowski’s interim crew chief. No announcement […] The post Brad Keselowski Parting Ways With NASCAR Cup Series Crew Chief appeared first on HEAVY.
Staff Takeaways: Fulham 1-1 Manchester United
Staff takeaways from Manchester United’s weekend draw with Fulham. Vince: United Are Lifeless Manchester United are playing with the energy level of a retirement home right now. There’s no spark, no pace, no urgency — honestly, there’s very little that resembles a team that actually wants to be out there. Everything feels slow and predictable, […]
Vikings’ 2-0 Start Sparks Candid Thoughts From Adam Thielen
Two games against NFC North rivals and the Minnesota Vikings are off to a 2-0 start after wins over the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. Moreover, the team could reach 3-0 as they face the 0-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3. Nonetheless, with a 2-0 start that gives the Vikings good odds of […] The post Vikings’ 2-0 Start Sparks Candid Thoughts From Adam Thielen appeared first on HEAVY.
Prepping Now for Small Business Saturday 2026 and the Holiday Season - Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
By Barbara Weltman – Small Business Saturday this year is November 28, the first Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 26). The day follows what’s come to be known as Black Friday. November 30, is Cyber Monday. All in all, small business owners and their teams have a busy extended weekend to plan for. Many small businesses report […]
BKL Nightly: Greg Connors on the Bills, Business and Life Behind the Curtain
Connors & Ferris co-founder Greg Connors joins Thad on BKL Nightly to talk Buffalo Bills football, from the team’s early-season start to the players making an impact. Connors also takes viewers behind the curtain of his longtime relationship with the Bills as a business partner and shares more about the career and community work that have shaped his life.
Former First-Round Pick Named Breakout Candidate for Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets didn’t make any big-time additions over the offseason. So, in addition to health, the Rockets will need some of their younger players to step up if the team is going to take a step forward in the coming campaign.One particular young Rockets player has been named a potential breakout candidate heading into the […] The post Former First-Round Pick Named Breakout Candidate for Houston Rockets appeared first on HEAVY.
Dolly Parton’s nephew removed from estate security team, report says
The nephew of pop music superstar Dolly Parton has been removed from the security team for the late singer’s estate. Bryan Seaver was dismissed from his role overseeing protection of
Quintin Primo in talks to join stalled Michael Reese redevelopment team
Capri Investment Group's founder is negotiating for a substantial stake as City Hall presses the development team for a new plan.
OSU’s special teams responded to challenge from JaMarcus Shephard
Xayvion Noland returned three kickoffs for 79 yards, including a 46-yarder, and four punts for 37 yards, with a 29-yard return in the 52-17 win for the Beavers.
Vikings Hot Start Earns Major Recognition From FOX Sports
The Minnesota Vikings came in at the third spot on Fox’s NFL Power Rankings on Monday afternoon. The outlet put the rankings on social media.The Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks were the two teams ahead of the Vikings. In the meantime, the team has a ton of momentum after beating the Chicago Bears by a […] The post Vikings Hot Start Earns Major Recognition From FOX Sports appeared first on HEAVY.
Latest NBA news, rumors: Clippers name interim team governor; Jalen Duren, Pistons still at impasse
2 Packers players hit with NFL punishment
The NFL is officially punishing two Green Bay Packers players for actions taking in the team's season opener. Now, they'll have to pay up or fight the punishment.
Former Patrick Mahomes backup signs deal with CFL team
After filling in for Mahomes, he now finds himself in the Canadian Football League.
BKL Nightly: Greg Connors on the Bills, Business and Life Behind the Curtain
Connors & Ferris co-founder Greg Connors joins Thad on BKL Nightly to talk Buffalo Bills football, from the team’s early-season start to the players making an impact. Connors also takes viewers behind the curtain of his longtime relationship with the Bills as a business partner and shares more about the career and community work that have shaped his life.
Ex-Eagles Super Bowl Champion Signs With Detroit Lions: Report
The Philadelphia Eagles are enjoying their 2-0 record after beating the Tennessee Titans, and they are seeing their former players sign with other teams. One of those teams is the Detroit Lions, which is adding a former Eagle to its practice squad. ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler said the Lions will sign veteran safety Jalen […] The post Ex-Eagles Super Bowl Champion Signs With Detroit Lions: Report appeared first on HEAVY.
Gordon Rees, Maynard Nexsen Grow Business Litigation Expertise in the Southeast
Baker Donelson also grew its Birmingham office with a two-attorney equipment finance team.
Evaluating Bobby Webster's First Offseason In Expanded Role
The long-time Raptors executive has the team back on track to contention.
Can the Chicago White Sox Make the World Series?
On Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, the Chicago White Sox lost their 21st straight game. That brought their record to 27-88, 41.5 games out of first place days into August. 53 days later, the 2024 White Sox became the worst team in modern MLB history, losing its 121st game. “There are no excuses,” wrote chairman and […] The post Can the Chicago White Sox Make the World Series? appeared first on The Lead.
The SEC in a Sentence: Magnolia State Magic Edition
Welcome to the SEC in a sentence, in which we attempt to distill yet another wild and crazy weekend of SEC football into, but a single sentence for each of the leagues 16 combatants. It was another wild one, perhaps wilder that some teams (lookin’ at you, Aggieland) would have preferred. But that’s why we […]
How did the Rojiblanca academy get on this weekend?
This weekend was painted Red-and-White! The U-21 and U-19 teams played Mexico’s Clásico as part of Matchday 9 of the Apertura 2026. Both squads left Coapa with all three points in the bag.Meanwhile...
Buffalo Bills Lose Linebacker To AFC East Rival
Miami poaches linebacker Andre Jones Jr. from Buffalo’s practice squad, securing a versatile special teams asset while leaving the Bills with a fresh vacancy to fill immediately.
Everywhere the Detroit Lions need to improve, per Dan Campbell
Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell laid out everything the team needs to improve upon after Week 2.
Laver Cup 2026 format, points-scoring system explained
Team World hit back in San Francisco after their dramatic loss to Team Europe in the 2025 Laver Cup. Will it be repeat or revenge in London?
Atlético Madrid take aim at José Mourinho and Real Madrid
The social media team at La Liga giants Atlético Madrid have on Monday clapped back at those in a position of power at arch rivals Real Madrid.This comes in response to the latter’s furious respon...
Massive announcement: Liverpool star's revelation creates mixed feelings
One Liverpool star has made a massive announcement and it’s one that will create mixed feelings. Virgil van Dijk has announced that he'll be continuing with the Netherlands national team under new h...
Minnesota set for 11 a.m. kickoff against Michigan
Will the Big Noon kickoff team be in Minneapolis?
City of Albuquerque, partners to host Small Business Resource Fair
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The City of Albuquerque’s Small Business Office, Job Training Albuquerque, and SCORE are teaming up to host a Small Business Resource Fair connecting entrepreneurs with m…
Bakersfield PD, local partners conduct health, safety operation downtown; arrest 23
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Bakersfield Police Department’s Impact Team led a multi-agency operation aimed at addressing public safety, health and quality of life concerns in part …
Bakersfield PD, local partners conduct health, safety operation downtown; arrest 23
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Bakersfield Police Department’s Impact Team led a multi-agency operation aimed at addressing public safety, health and quality of life concerns in part …
Trey McBride reaches end zone in Week 2
Cardinals TE Trey McBride leads team in receptions and receiving yards in Week 2
Anthropic Eases AI Safeguards for Verified Life Science Teams
Sept. 21, 2026 — Anthropic has introduced the Life Sciences Verification Program (LSVP), which gives life science professionals access to Mythos, Opus, and Sonnet models with a refined set of safeguards more permissive for biology-related work. Dozens of organizations have already been onboarded through an early-access program, and applications are now open to the broader life […]
Raphinha's Great Start To The 2026/27 Season
Every fan who’s been following FC Barcelona during the past few seasons knows how important Raphinha has been to the team. Temporarily losing him due to injuries often meant a decline in the team’s performance, and he became widely respected among the Culers. After the summer break, he has seemingly ascended to another level, exceeding […] The post Raphinha’s Great Start To The 2026/27 Season appeared first on Stadium Rant.
Opinion: What the international break could do for Arsenal
Arsenal have many players away on international duty, which is understandable given that they have one of the strongest squads in the world, and national teams are unlikely to pass up the opportunity ...
📸 They played for two countries… but everyone forgot!
In modern football, international pathways are no longer always linear.Some players first wear the shirt of one national team at youth level before choosing another when it comes time to step up to th...
Why NuoData Believes Enterprises Need a Different Way to Connect Data, AI, and Automation — Not Another Place to Store It
NuoData’s leadership team sat down to answer six questions about the platform’s origins, its position alongside Snowflake, Databricks, Microsoft Fabric and Google Cloud, and where they believe enterprise data and AI architecture is headed next. The answers have been lightly edited for length. NuoData describes itself as an end-to-end enterprise Data, AI and Agentic orchestration […]
Nets Could Land Domantas Sabonis in Proposed 3-Team Trade
The Nets could have an intriguing opportunity to turn Michael Porter Jr. into an established star and two first-round picks. A proposed three-team trade involving Brooklyn, Detroit, and Sacramento would give all three teams plenty to consider.
Making Capitol Hill Connections for Public Health Advocacy
Read departing lessons and reflections from Catherine Murphy of the ASTHO Government Affairs team, including best practices for successful Hill Day meetings.
REV Entertainment Unveils Spartanburg College Baseball Series Matchups and Gametimes
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – REV Entertainment today announced the complete schedule for the inaugural College Baseball Series in Spartanburg, S.C., at Fifth Third Park, home of the Hub City Spartanburgers. The slate of matchups and game times for the four-team field, featuring Austin Peay, Indiana, UNCW and Wofford, can be found
Giants-Twins Series Preview: The final week (thank goodness)
Which team has been the bigger disappointment: the Giants or the Twins?
Kyle Whittingham sounds alarm over Michigan's turnover problem
Michigan football ranks low in turnover margin. Coach Kyle Whittingham says the team must fix its fumble issues.
Kyle Whittingham identifies troubling Michigan trend he must fix
Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham says his young team must improve its energy to build a winning culture.
Could 76ers Be the New Favorite Team in Philadelphia?
Adding Jaylen Brown and LeBron James made the 76ers the talk of the town. They may be the favorite team in the city.
MLB’s Fixed Bracket Could Punish the AL’s Best Teams
The league’s postseason format is generating a fresh round of controversy.
Akron City, Leviathan owners acquire 28-team amateur soccer league
The new owners plan to add teams and markets while creating new opportunities for players, coaches, clubs and sports business professionals.
Arizona volleyball middle blockers providing variety, still searching for consistency
Arizona’s middles have all shown stretches of strong play, but the entire team needs to do that consistently
Gunter leaves Wales U18s role to focus on Oxford
Chris Gunter was appointed assistant to Oxford head coach and former Wales team-mate Aaron Ramsey in July.
High school sports results for Saturday, Sept. 20
High school volleyball, soccer, cross-country and tennis teams were in action in the Appleton and Green Bay areas.
After Week 1, Cam Skattebo is forcing a Giants decision
Cam Skattebo ran for a team-high 81 yards and a touchdown in the Giants’ opening win over Dallas. The number […]
Conceicao wants Juventus to continue winning streak after beating Atalanta
Francisco Conceicao was one of the best players in the Juventus team during their match against Atalanta, and he wants that winning feeling to continue.The attacker has established himself as one of t...
The Bat Girls - College of Arts and Sciences
A Carolina research team is partnering with the military to track endangered bats and locate their roost sites.
Adam Smith Named Chairman of Direct-to-Consumer at Disney Entertainment
Disney Entertainment has announced that Adam Smith has been named Chairman, Direct-to-Consumer, with responsibility for Disney+ and Hulu including product, engineering, advertising technology, programming strategy, partnerships, and data and analytics....
'Cloud hangs over' Rose's underperforming Cherries
Bournemouth's 1-0 loss against Liverpool saw Marco Rose's side head into the international break failing to register a single win in their opening five league games of the season. Questions are now being raised about squad depth, tactics and how Rose's team are not able to capitalise on leads in games. The Cherries have made just two changes to their Premier League starting XIs under their new boss this season - the fewest of any side.
Portland sports teams bring in $110M annually
Mayor Mark Dion said the study could make an argument for investing in the Portland Expo, which hosts the Maine Celtics and needs repairs or replacement.
Portland sports teams bring in $110M annually
Mayor Mark Dion said the study could make an argument for investing in the Portland Expo, which hosts the Maine Celtics and needs repairs or replacement.
Portland sports teams bring in $110M annually
Mayor Mark Dion said the study could make an argument for investing in the Portland Expo, which hosts the Maine Celtics and needs repairs or replacement.
Encouraging stats from Eagles’ 24-20 win over the Titans
The Eagles didn't play a perfect game in Nashville, but several factord point to an Eagles team beginning to build good habits.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente signs contract extension
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has agreed on a contract extension to stay as national team boss until 2032, the Spanish federation RFEF said in a statement on Monday. According to media reports, his previous contract was valid until 2028.
Red Sox Roman Anthony Makes Personal Admission After Playoff Clinch
The Boston Red Sox lost to the Rays 5-1 on Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field. The game itself did not matter. What happened later did.The Braves beat the Astros to eliminate Houston from wild card contention, and the Red Sox’ postseason berth became official. Players pulled on celebration gear and goggles, posed for a team […] The post Red Sox Roman Anthony Makes Personal Admission After Playoff Clinch appeared first on HEAVY.
Premier League Team of the Week
Brighton stunned champions Arsenal this weekend, while Aston Villa produced an impressive away win at Tottenham and Manchester City survived an eight-goal thriller against Sunderland.There were stando...
College Football biggest risers & fallers after Week 3
See which players and teams are the biggest risers and fallers in College Football this week.
‘Stuff The British Stole’ Producer WildBear Entertainment Reshuffles Top Team To “Get Ahead” Of Industry Transformation
EXCLUSIVE: Australian factual producer WildBear Entertainment has unveiled a new look for its management team amid “the biggest transformation we’ve seen in decades” for the entertainment industry. A ...
'Stuff The British Stole' Firm WildBear Entertainment Rejigs Top Team
WildBear Entertainment has unveiled a new-look management team amid "the biggest transformation we've seen in decades" for the entertainment industry.
Pigskin Palaver: Coaching Blunders & Empty Seats
“Alex, I’ll take Stupid Coaching for $800.” “Whose team up 17-0 went for it on 4th and inches at his own 14 at the 2 minute mark of the first half, costing his team a TD?” “Who is Dave Doeren/” “Correct.” “Stupid Coaching for $1000.” “Who up four points had his QB run around the […]
Corn Nation Overreaction: Huskers Start 3-0, MSU Next
Jon Johnston put out a video this morning wondering if this is Nebraska’s best team ever. At least, that’s the headline. It’s much more captivating than “Huskers Start 3-0, MSU Next.” As of this writing, I haven’t watched the video yet. This is probably the best team in the Matt Rhule era. And the team […]
Kyle Tucker rests after fouling ball off right knee
LOS ANGELES — Kyle Tucker didn’t start on Sunday, one day after fouling a ball off his right knee, but the Dodgers right fielder insisted that he felt fine. This was more of a chance to pair a rest day for Tucker with Monday’s scheduled off day for the team. “[The off day] wasn’t planned. […]
New TV shows to watch this week: Tune in to 'Youth' on HBO, stream 'Slow Horses' on Apple TV and revisit 'Gilmore Girls' on Hulu
"Slow Horses" is back, "A Different World" gets a reboot and Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson team up in "Brothers."
Ligue 1 Review | Is Le Classique still classic?
Le Classique is supposed to be Ligue 1’s premier fixture. However, the contrasting realities of France’s two biggest teams, Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille, meant that Sunday night�...
The Daily Mauling: 9/21/26
Kansas Jayhawks News Dillon Davis of SI writes about the disappointment in London this weekend The full basketball Big 12 conference schedule is out. What does KU’s slate look like? Through the Phog writes that Tate Nagy could be a bigger contributor to the team than we may have realized Links! A blind loggerhead sea […]
Two Veteran Voices Who Will Impact the Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are a young team, which makes the presence of veterans in their locker room more important.
Inside ‘Team Blessed,' the Phillies trio always staying ready together
What began with a simple “Bless up” has grown into a daily routine and shared faith for Derek Hill, Edmundo Sosa and Bryan De La Cruz.
'A recipe for disaster' - but Tottenham 'will turn it around'
Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison has backed Tottenham to "still have a good season", despite their poor start in Roberto de Zerbi's first full campaign in charge. Saturday's 3-2 defeat by Aston Villa has left Spurs rooted to the bottom of the Premier League going into the international break, but they did score league goals for the first time in 2026-27. "Spurs were the better team in that first half and [Zion] Suzuki made three or four outstanding saves," Morrison told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
Which NHL teams could make postseason after missing last season?
There was a six-team turnover in the playoff field from 2025 to 2026. Which NHL teams could make the postseason this year after missing last season?
Brighton suffocated Arsenal - and there is much more to come
The latest absentee at the weekend was Lewis Dunk. Luka Vuskovic looked classy again at the back, and clearly has the traits of a ball-playing centre-back, which suits this Brighton team well. There's more to come from him, and - if this weekend is anything to go - there is much more to come from Brighton too.
Six Girona footballers called up to their national teams
Six Girona FC footballers have been called up by their respective national teams to take part in international commitments during this September and October break.Vlad Vanat will be part of Ukraine's ...
Under-20 squad report for friendlies in Spain
Players report to the U-20 National TeamCredits: Nelson Terme / CBFThe Brazil U-20 National Team players began reporting this Monday (21) in San Pedro del Pinatar, in the Murcia region, for a series o...
Mars’s Ancient Clay Holds the Same Organic Molecules That May Have Sparked Life on Earth
The team operating a remote chemistry lab onboard NASA’s Curiosity rover won a Gizmodo Science Fair award for discovering compelling chemical evidence that Mars could have once supported life.
Toronto Raptors season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction
After waiting more than a month for the Kawhi Leonard trade to be finalized, the Toronto Raptors are now an intriguing team in the Eastern Conference.
AP Top 25: How Channel 2 sports director Zach Klein voted in this week’s poll
The Southeastern Conference has 10 teams in this week’s poll, including three of the top five with No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Georgia and No. 4 Ole Miss.
Brighton 3-0 Arsenal
Dawid: Another excellent team performance with the goals being shared around and a clean sheet against arguably the best Premier League team. With the international break upon us, we can expect some of our injured players to have recovered.
Bundesliga Team of the Week
With Matchday 4 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season in the books, Bulinews Editor-in-Chief Rune Gjerulff has selected his Team of the Week.Goalkeeper:Finn Dahmen, AugsburgAugsburg conceded three goals ag...
Holiday Event & Entertaining Guide 2026
As Orange County’s business calendar turns toward the holidays, where you gather says as much as what you serve. OCBJ’s Holiday Event & Entertaining Guide profiles the venues and culinary destinations setting the standard for the season, from client receptions to team celebrations to entertaining at home. This year’s lineup spans the county’s most distinguished […]
Girona takes the three points from Cádiz
Girona FC won at Cádiz CF's stadium by 1-2. The Girona team went into halftime with a two-goal lead, and although Cádiz reduced the deficit in the second half, they managed to hold onto the result u...
Whether you like it or not, celebrities have an impact on politics
The global groundswell of support for Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian advocacy serves to remind us that maybe celebrity activism really is that deep after all, writes Cheek’s Varsha Yajman. Subscribe In the last week, publications, podcasts, and influencers that have either rarely or never spoken about Israel’s genocide in Palestine have flooded my social feed. And it was all because singer Ed Sheeran and his team dropped Macklemore as his opener for saying “Free Palestine” on stage. Millions raised, millions speaking up in support of Palestine - all of this confirming my view that, whether I like it or not, celebrities do have an impact on political outcomes. And this is interesting when much of the time celebrity activism can induce an eye roll - I love to see Charli XCX pointing out a Palestinian flag in the crowd, but it’s hardly the bold symbol of allyship that some fans would make it out to be. But there’s a line between healthy scepticism and outright dismissal - and I’d argue that the latter lets the rich and powerful off far too easily. For instance, actress Jennifer Lawrence, once outspoken about her political views, last year told The Times she no longer believes celebrities have a role to play: “Celebrities do not make a difference whatsoever on who people vote for. So then what am I doing? I’m just sharing my opinion on something that’s going to add fuel to a fire that’s ripping the country apart.” While it’s a narrative she might find comfort in, it simply is not true. Grassroots movements often garner worldwide attention when celebrities and other high-profile spokespeople bring a mainstream platform to their causes. And this frustrates me. We have had three years of a live-streamed genocide. Macklemore himself has been calling for a Free Palestine long before he booked the Sheeran concert. Yet it’s the high-profile fallout of the last week that finally seems to have made saying “Free Palestine” socially acceptable in the mainstream. It feels like the collective mood has shifted, where calling out censorship is now the obvious response - not just the business of ‘radical’ activists. To recap, Sheeran’s decision followed an ultimatum from billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, one of the venues Sheeran was scheduled to perform at: either drop Macklemore as your opener after only two of the eight scheduled shows, or you do not play at any stadiums. Sheeran’s disappointing decision to stand on the side of billionaire-led censorship has ultimately seen a surge in support for Free Palestine. It began when all his openers and his backing band pulled out of Sheeran’s tour, in solidarity with Macklemore and with the Palestinian cause. It was met with an uproar of support from those who had never or barely touched politics before: influencers lip-syncing to Macklemore’s music, singers like Jack Antonoff singing “Free Palestine,” and publications and podcasts standing with Macklemore. And finally, we saw material support: Macklemore donated $1 million in profits from his two nights opening for Sheeran’s tour to several Palestinian aid groups and called for Sheeran and Kraft to match it, which they have since promised to do. We’ve also seen children’s entertainer Ms Rachel follow suit with a $1 million donation to Palestinian aid, and publication PopBase has donated $10,000. Anera, a humanitarian aid group working in Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan, said donations since Macklemore’s announcement were more than triple this month’s daily average. The group’s Instagram page has also gained 8,000 followers. Macklemore far from the first celebrity to speak and participate in politics in the Western World. In 1924, singer Al Jolson supported Republican candidate Warren G. Harding for president, and decades later, celebrities such as Harry Belafonte, Lena Horne, and Aretha Franklin voiced their public support for the Civil Rights movement. More recently, in the lead-up to the 2024 US election, ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah partnered with the organisation Power the Polls to recruit poll workers to address shortages- a problem disproportionately affecting voters of colour. The campaign saw 170,000 new sign-ups - 35,000 of which came directly through the TV show’s link - resulting in the recruitment of 713,000 total poll workers that year, an almost three-fold increase on the organisation’s goal. Alongside recruiting workers, celebrities in the US (where voting in elections is not compulsory) have made a huge difference by calling for people to register to vote. Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris in 2024 saw over 400,000 visitors on the voter registration site within 24 hours of her Instagram post. In 2023, Swift had urged her fans to register, resulting in 35,000 new voter registrations. Similarly, Ariana Grande promoted voter registration in 2019 by setting up booths at concerts on the American leg of her tour, resulting in over 33,000 voters registering. And the same thing is happening closer to home. This year, musician Jack River successfully called for government action to ensure creatives in Australia do not have their work scraped by generative AI companies. Celebrity as the mediator between the punter and the politician Celebrity activism isn’t just a feel-good news story - research tells us it actually makes a difference. By directing attention to issues affecting the average person, like voting inaccessibility or a lack of action on a genocide, researchers Alfred Archer and Amanda Cawston state that “celebrities can play a useful bridging role between political elites and the people they represent”. Alternatively, in a world where talking about politics is “not cool,” or where people lack exposure or knowledge to engage with politics, celebrities can act as an educational resource or an entry point into the political world - when they speak up about an issue, their audience gets exposed to it. Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival is a perfect example. Rodrigo partnered with twelve organisations focused on women’s issues, such as reproductive rights. These organisations had stalls at the festival for people to meet them and were also featured heavily on social media, giving their issues global attention and raising $20 million for the organisations. We have also seen celebrities at award shows such as the Emmys wearing F*CK ICE pins, referring to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s treatment and detainment of people - generally people of colour. When celebrities speak up about political issues in public forums, they put the issue at the forefront of mainstream media, rally their supporters, and make it clear that, however much they disagree, the government cannot simply ignore it. Our over-reliance on celebrities versus our politicians As much as I love seeing my favourite celebrity use their platform for a good cause, there is an important question to ask: not whether celebrity activism is good or bad, but whether we should have to rely on celebrities. And the answer would, in an ideal world, be no. In an ideal world, or merely a just world, action on Palestine would’ve happened decades ago, climate change would be taken seriously, and most importantly, people would understand their democratic rights. However, that is not our reality. Only around 28 per cent of Australian Year 10 students reach proficiency in civics and citizenship. In the US, almost two-thirds of people under 30 say high school civics education didn’t prepare them to understand voting deadlines, how to research candidates, or how to vote by mail. When civics education is weak, our trust in these institutions and our understanding of change-making processes also decline. This is where celebrity steps in and becomes our main source of reliance. As Mary R. Connelly notes in _The Tartan, “_Celebrities will always be involved in campaigns in one form or another, but their presence is not what causes people to vote blindly. The lack of political engagement and literacy is what allows celebrities to wield their influence on the political sphere so impactfully.” About the author Varsha Yajman is the Digital Content Producer at Cheek Media. She is a youth advocate and lawyer with a background in climate litigation and is passionate about looking at the intersection between race, climate justice, and mental health. Thanks for reading Cheek Media Co. ! This post is public so feel free to share it. Share
Ballmer Apologizes, No Legal Fight
Steve Ballmer has abandoned any effort to challenge the NBA’s penalties against the Los Angeles Clippers, issuing a public apology and confirming the team