Eating For Free

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We Forgive You Ariana Grande (Part Three) Aug 17, 2023

Show notes

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains long conversations about violence, terrorist attacks, suicide, drug use, and alcohol addiction.

As moral panic descends, let's be brave, and critically examine the mess Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater made of everything! In this week's third installment of our deep-dive series, we look into Ariana's modern pop culture moments and the events leading up to the Manchester bombing attack, as well as Mac Miller's death in 2018--both of which fundamentally changed her life, and her perception in the public media.

About:

Hosted by journalists Joan Summers and Matthew Lawson, Eating For Free is a weekly podcast that explores gossip and power in the pop culture landscape: Where it comes from, who wields it, and who suffers at the hands of it. Find out the stories behind the stories, as together they look beyond the headlines of troublesome YouTubers or scandal-ridden A-Listers, and delve deep into the inner workings of Hollywood's favorite pastime. The truth, they've found, is definitely stranger than any gossip.

You can also find us on our website, Twitter, and Instagram. Or buy our merch! Any personal, business, or general inquires can be sent to eatingforfreepodcast@gmail.com

Joan Summers: Twitter: @laracroftbarbie
Matthew Lawson: Twitter: @_matthewlawson

Sources:

Intro Clip/Interview [Zach Sang Show]
Watch Ariana Grande Fall On Stage [03/10/2015] [Billboard]
Ariana Grande Leaning On 'Scream Queens' Co-Star Lea Michele After Big Sean Split, 04/20/2015 [Hollywood Life]
ARIANA GRANDE: BIG SEAN'S 'BILLION DOLLAR P***Y' LYRIC The Final Straw, 04/24/2015 [TMZ]
Ariana Grande Issues Important Feminist Manifesto, June 8, 2015 [Vanity Fair]
ARIANA GRANDE Tongues New BF [Ricky Alvarez] … AND AN INNOCENT DONUT!!, 07/07/2015 [TMZ]
Ariana Grande faces California police inquiry over doughnut-licking incident, July 9, 2015 [The Guardian]
Twitter Slams Wendy Williams After Ariana Grande Body-Shaming Comments, Prompts Hashtag #CancelWendyWilliams, 08/14/2015 [E!]
Ariana Grande Speaks Out About Body-Shaming After Being Compared to Ariel Winter, November 2, 2015 [People]
Ariana Grande Blasts DJs for Sexist Questions: 'You Need a Little Brushing Up on Equality' 11/03/2015, [Billboard]
Ariana Grande spent this entire interview educating these lowkey sexist and homophobic interviewers! [Youtube]
Billboard Cover: Ariana Grande on Defending Female Pop Stars and Staying Away From Drama [05/19/2016] [Billboard]
Ariana Grande Had a White House Performance Turned Down After Donut-Licking Incident, 07/22/2016 [Billboard]
Mac Miller on How His Friendship with Ariana Grande Evolved Into More: 'Everything Just Happened Organically', 09/16/2016 [People]
Ariana Grande shuts down Ryan Seacrest's probing questions 09/16/2016 [Mashable]
Ariana Grande Pleads for Fans to 'Stick Together' After Donald Trump Wins Election, 11/09/2016 [Billboard]
Why Ariana Grande Feels Sick After Being Objectified by a Fan: "I Am Not a Piece of Meat" [InStyle]
22 dead after blast at Ariana Grande concert in Manchester [CNN]
Ariana Grande Reunites With Mac Miller in Florida After Manchester Bombing, 05/23/2017 [E!]
Ariana Grande Pens Powerful Essay After Manchester Attack: ''We Will Not Quit or Operate in Fear'', 05/26/2017 [E!]
How Ariana Grande became an unlikely pop hero: 'We are not objects. We are queens', 05/24/2017 [Guardian]
Ariana Grande Concert Raises $9 Million, Brings 'One Love' To 50 Countries, 06/04/2017 [Forbes]
Families of Ariana Grande Manchester Concert Bombing Victims Will Each Receive $324,000, 08/15/2017 [Billboard]
Ariana Grande Emotional in 'Dangerous Woman World Tour' Hong Kong Finale, 09/21/2017, [Billboard]
Ariana Grande Wrote A Beautiful Goodbye Note To Her 'Dangerous Woman' Tour, 09/21/2017 [MTV]
Folk hero: Ariana Grande Gave an Inspiring Speech at Charlottesville Unity Concert, 09/25/2017 [TeenVogue]
Four Months After Manchester, Ariana Grande Calls for 'Love, Unity, Peace, Gun Control' in Wake of Las Vegas Shooting, 10/02/2017 [People]
Ariana Grande Opens Up About Her Emotional Tour & Keeping a Healthy Perspective, 10/04/2017 [Coveteur]
ARIANA GRANDE & MAC MILLER SPLIT, 05/09/2018 [TMZ]
Mac Miller Reportedly Arrested For DUI, 05/17/2018, [TMZ]
Ariana Grande Calls Her Mac Miller Relationship 'Toxic' In Powerful Message, 05/23/2018 [MTV]
Ariana Grande's Ex Mac Miller Opens Up About Their Breakup and Moving On: 'I Am Happy for Her', 07/28/2018 [ET]
Mac Miller Dead at 26 of Apparent Overdose: 'He Was a Bright Light in This World' Says Family, 09/7/18 [People]
Ariana Grande Turns Off Instagram Comments as Trolls Blame Her for Ex Mac Miller's Death [People] (Same Day)
Ariana Grande 'Devastated' by Mac Miller's Death, Source Says (Exclusive), 09/07/2018 [ET]
Ariana Grande Was "Unbelievably Involved" in Supporting Mac Miller's Sobriety, Says the Late Artist's Friend [W]
Ariana Grande Breaks Her Silence About Mac Miller's Death, 09/14/2018 [Variety]
ARIANA GRANDE & PETE DAVIDSON MAC MILLER'S DEATH WAS BREAKING POINT, 10/15/2018 [TMZ]
Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber Manager Scooter Braun Talks Tough Times and Big Payoffs 10/28/2018 [Variety]
Ariana Grande on Grief and Growing Up, July 9, 2019 [Vogue]

We Forgive You Ariana Grande (Part Two) Aug 10, 2023

Show notes

As moral panic descends, let's be brave, and critically examine the mess Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater made of everything! In this week's followup to Part One, we look into Ariana's big-break moment and her debut commercial album to learn what turned the Nickelodean actress in the world's next big superstar.

Links:

Scooter Braun, NPR 2022: [NPR]
10 Fun Fitness Facts with Ariana Grande, February 29, 2012 [SHAPE]
Kristen Stewart & Ariana Grande Talk Breakups | Interview | On Air With Ryan Seacrest, November 13, 2012 [Youtube]
Ariana Grande Hosts Breaking Dawn Pt. 2 Premiere! | Interview | On Air Ryan Seacrest [Youtube]
Ariana Grande Talks Breakout Hit 'The Way': Watch New Music Video, 03/28/2013 [Billboard]
Seventeen cover girl Ariana's faced her share of tough times. Find out how she tuned out the haters and became a star, August 2013 [Seventeen]
Life Is Grande: Ariana Grande On Her Debut Album and the Thrill of Hearing Herself on the Radio, August 22, 2013 [Elle]
Q&A: Ariana Grande on 'Yours Truly' and Judging Miley Cyrus, September 11, 2013 [RS]
JUSTIN BIEBER LIGHTING UP In Possible Weed Smoking Pics, 10/07/2013 [TMZ]
Ariana Grande's Ex-Boyfriend Jai Brooks Accuses Her of Cheating With Nathan Sykes, 10/07/2013 [E! News]
Here's what Nathan Sykes looked like: [Ariana Grande Wiki]
Ariana Grande: 'I'm not comfortable being forwardly sexual', November 14, 2013 [Guardian]
Yours Truly, Ariana Grande [Reddit]
Ariana Grande: "Shadow of a Doubt" (2013 Cover Story): Ariana Grande has a pretty face and a golden voice, but the chart-topping sitcom star has a dark side, too. (Nov 05, 2013) [Complex]
Cover Star Ariana Grande Lets You See Inside Her Crazy, Charmed Life, 12/23/2023 [Teen Vogue]
Ariana Grande Says Her Twitter Haters Are "Evil As Hell", DEC 30, 2013 [Cosmo]
Naya Rivera Claims She Found Ariana Grande at Then-Fiance Big Sean's House, 09/13/2016 [Us Weekly]
Ariana Grande kept awake by 'loud frog sex', 07/21/2014 [AZ Central]
Ariana Grande Breaks Up With Boyfriend Jai Brooks—Get the Details! 08/04/2014 [E!]
Billboard Cover: Ariana Grande on Fame, Freddy Krueger and Her Freaky Past, August 8, 2014 [Billboard]

About:

You can also find us on our website, Twitter, and Instagram. Or buy our merch! Any personal, business, or general inquires can be sent to eatingforfreepodcast@gmail.com

Joan Summers: Twitter: @laracroftbarbie
Matthew Lawson: Twitter: @_matthewlawson

We Forgive You Ariana Grande (Part One) Aug 03, 2023

Show notes

As moral panic descends, let's be brave, and critically examine the mess Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater made of everything! In this week's episode, we dig into their careers and personal lives to seek...absolution? Forgiveness? Healing? A ponytail joke?

Sources:

The happy-go-lucky 25-year-old Jewish guy who plays SpongeBob on Broadway [Times of Israel] Before she was a superstar, Ariana Grande was a Florida Panthers superfan [Florida Sun Sentinel]
Ethan Slater Is SpongeBob SquarePants [WWD]
Rihanna to Star in 'Battleship' [People]
Jasmine Villegas, Sony-Epic Recording Artist, Celebrated Her 17th Birthday Presented by Solana Branding Company [CISION]
'Victorious' exclusive first look: Karaoke hijinks! Wisdom-tooth hijinks! [EW]
I Think we all sing [Youtube]
Ariana Grande: I Do Not Always Order a Grande at Starbucks [Time]
Ariana Grande Gets Smacked in Head With Angel Wings at 2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show: GIF [Us Weekly]
Bette Midler Apologizes to Ariana Grande for 'Whore' Comment [People]
Ariana Grande on 'Sam & Cat' Cancellation: 'I Used to Pretend to Be More Like Her' [THR]
Frankie Grande outs himself as a former Broadway star and Ariana Grande's brother on Big Brother Season 16. [Youtube]
ARIANA GRANDE Tongues New BF … AND AN INNOCENT DONUT!! [TMZ]
Ariana Grande Reveals Lessons Learned From 'Doughnut Fiasco' [ABC]
Getting to Know the Billboard 2015 Social Media Stars [Billboard]
The Big Brother Bromance Lives On! Frankie J. Grande Swoons Over Shirtless Stud Zach Rance at 54 Below [Broadway]
She goes Instagram Official with Mac Miller [Teen Vogue]
One Direction WORST POST EVER [Youtube]
Ariana Grande and Mac Miller Are Instagram Official [Teen Vogue]
Watch Ariana Grande Curl Up in a Ball of Embarrassment When Ellen Asks About Her Boyfriend, Mac Miller [Vulture]
Ariana Grande Perfectly Shuts Down Sexist Troll: 'I Think It's Time You Get Your Head Out of Your A**' [ET]
'A little more touch my body': Ariana Grande has a steamy affair with her bodyguard in music video for Into You [Daily Mail]
Ariana Grande speaks out about objectification after fan encounter [USA Today]
Ariana Grande's Saturday Night Live Performance Was a Triumph [TIME]
How Ariana Grande Became a Feminist Hero [E! News]
Billboard Cover: Ariana Grande on Defending Female Pop Stars and Staying Away From Drama [Billboard]
Nominated for a 2016 People's Choice Award [People's Choice]
Pre-Broadway Review: 'The SpongeBob Musical' [Variety]

About:

You can also find us on our website, Twitter, and Instagram. Or buy our merch! Any personal, business, or general inquires can be sent to eatingforfreepodcast@gmail.com

Joan Summers: Twitter: @laracroftbarbie
Matthew Lawson: Twitter: @_matthewlawson

Barbie Girls in a Barbie World (feat. Rashida Renée) Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

To get things started with a bang on our return from summer vacation, we brought on the most hotly discussed and begged for guest in E4F history: Joan's sister, the legendary fashion scholar and Barbie officianado, Rashida Renée! We talk Barbie, Barbie, Barbie, Barbie, and Barbie!

Links:

'Barbenheimer' Even Bigger Than Expected: 'Barbie' Soars to $162 Million, 'Oppenheimer' Jumps to $82 Million [Variety]
The Brain Behind 'Barbie': Inside the Brilliant Mind of Greta Gerwig [Rolling Stone]
How Barbie Came to Life [Time]
'This Is Not About Selling Toys': Mattel Bosses on 'Barbie's' Long Development, Needing a Female Director and More [Variety]
'This Is Not About Selling Toys': Mattel Bosses on 'Barbie's' Long Development, Needing a Female Director and More [Variety]
This Ken Is CEO: An Interview With Mattel's Ynon Kreiz [VF]
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling on Barbie and Kenergy [NYT]
What's Inside Ken's Fur Coat, and More Secrets from Barbie's Costume Designer [VF]

Breaking: Kyle Richards Divorces Emotionally-Unfulfilling Mauricio Umansky Jul 03, 2023

Show notes

We come back from our short-lived hiatus to bring you updates on possibly the biggest news story of 2023…

Links:

Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky Have 'Separated' After 27 Years of Marriage (Exclusive) [People]
'RHOBH' Star Kyle Richards and Country Singer Morgan Wade Fuel Romance Speculation With Matching Rings [Radar]
Weird Events Happening In The Last Week Before Split [TikTok]
PHOTOS: Here's Why Fans Suspect Kyle Richards and Mauricio Have Split as RHOBH Star's Bestie Morgan Wade Debuts "K" Tattoo Amid New Divorce Rumors [RealityBlurb]
Morgan Wade's Relationship: Behind the Scenes of Her Personal Life [ErraticHour]
Kyle Richards is almost 7 months sober amid body transformation [PageSix]
Allison Dubois Has Spoken [Instagram]

About:

You can also find us on our website, Twitter, and Instagram. Or buy our merch! Any personal, business, or general inquires can be sent to eatingforfreepodcast@gmail.com

Joan Summers: Twitter: @laracroftbarbie
Matthew Lawson: Twitter: @_matthewlawson

It's BibleGirl B*tch! (feat. BibleGirl) Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

This week we've got the legendary BibleGirl on to tell it. What exactly? Everything! Quitting drag, bulding a drag merch empire, the Target controversy, and the liberation of Britney, bitch!

Links:

Biblegirl Spills the Tea On Drag Race & Target's Pride Month Collab [Out]
BIBLEGIRL'S SLUMBER PARTY [Grizzly Kiki]
Meet BibleGirl: The Jewish Drag Queen People Love to Hate [Queerty]
Inside #FreeBritney: A Stan Movement to Help Their Pop Savior [2020] [PAPER]
Britney Spears supporter Biblegirl holds a sign outside a court hearing concerning the pop singer's conservatorship at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Wednesday, June 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) [KTUL]
Target removes some Pride Month products after threats against employees [NPR]
Michael on Twitter [Twitter]
FUTURE FRIDAY: RISING STAR – BIBLEGIRL666 [The Queen Zine]
Kesha and Dr. Luke settle defamation lawsuit over rape allegations [LATimes]

About:

You can also find us on our website, Twitter, and Instagram. Or buy our merch! Any personal, business, or general inquires can be sent to eatingforfreepodcast@gmail.com

Joan Summers: Twitter: @laracroftbarbie
Matthew Lawson: Twitter: @_matthewlawson

#DivaDownUpdates: Live From OceanGate Crisis Control Center Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

This is an emergency broadcast of the E4F #DivaDown alert system! Let's dig into the OceanGate submarine disaster: a step-son's feud with Cardi B/Blink-182, a CEO's dream of offshore oil mining, and capitalism's rapid response to endangered billionaires.

Links:

Everything You Need to Know About the Sub [CNN]
Greece boat tragedy: What do we know about the coastguard's role? [Al Jazeera]
Did migrants reject help before deadly Greek wreck, or beg for it? Coast guard, activists disagree [AP]
Everything You Need to Know About the Sub [CNN]
Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood and son Suleman: Who is on board Titanic sub? [BBC]
The Man Who Wants To Send Us To The Bottom Of The Ocean [FastCompany]
Cut off from the world in a freezing 22ft tube, no seats, one toilet and a single window to look out into blackness: The claustrophobic conditions inside missing Titanic vessel [DailyMail]
Diagram of of the ship's interior here
A CBS reporter who took a dive in the Titanic submersible said it got lost for up to 5 hours and that the mother ship shut off its internet so passengers couldn't tweet about the mishap [Yahoo]
The Lost Titanic Sub Didn't Even Have a Basic Safety Beacon [TheDailyBeast]
'Extreme danger': Ex OceanGate employee alleges firing for raising concerns over missing Titanic sub [ABC7NY]
OceanGate CEO was sued by couple claiming fraud months before Titanic submarine went missing [Independent]
Search for manned submersible focuses on area where banging sounds were detected [CNN]
OceanGate Main Offices [Twitter]
TITANIC RESCUE Brit. Billionaire Passenger's Stepson … ATTENDS BLINK-182 SHOW DURING RESCUE MISSION
Missing Titanic sub: Hamish Harding's stepson defends attending Blink-182 concert amid search [Fox 11 LA]
'Your stepdad is lost at sea!' California man whose billionaire stepfather is on missing sub asks OnlyFans model to SIT on him 30 minutes after pleading for prayers, as he triggers war of words with Cardi B over Blink-182 concert [DailyMail]
'You should be at home crying for him!' Cardi B SLAMS stepson of British billionaire aboard the missing Titanic sub for attending a Blink-182 concert after the craft disappeared [DailyMail]
Link to Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/jcoollaro/status/1671538569041543169?s=20
[Opoyi]
From EDM news site Exron Music: [Exron]
San Diego County sued for medical neglect of inmate at Vista Detention Facility [CBS8]

About:

You can also find us on our website, Twitter, and Instagram. Or buy our merch! Any personal, business, or general inquires can be sent to eatingforfreepodcast@gmail.com

Joan Summers: Twitter: @laracroftbarbie
Matthew Lawson: Twitter: @_matthewlawson

Shawn Mendes Slayed for Climate Change This Pride Month Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

Shawn Mendes SLAYED the wildfire smoke and secured that Pride Month coin on this week's episode! Elsewhere, Demi Lovato said they're sick of you all, Kim K sided with cartoon cops, and Lady Gaga munched on some controversial migraine meds. Listen now!

Links:

Kanye West serves sushi on nude women's bodies at 46th birthday party [PageSix]
'Milkshake' singer Kelis on rumored beau Bill Murray: 'Blessed, rich and happy' [PageSix]
Pregnant Stassi Schroeder wants to 'try' Ozempic after baby No. 2: 'It's like taking vitamins' [PageSix]
Shereé Whitfield Says Kim Zolciak Is 'Not Doing Well' amid Divorce: 'I Thought They Were Going to Be Forever' [People]
Irina Shayk 'threw herself' at Tom Brady at A-list wedding: 'She followed him' [PageSix]
Fans slam Shawn Mendes for teasing new single "What Are We Dying For?" with photo of NYC under wildfire smoke [PageSix]
Rachel Bilson has 'never faked an orgasm': 'Am I an a–hole?' [Page Six]
Lady Gaga slammed over 'cringey' ad for migraine drug: 'You don't need money this badly' [PageSix]
Demi Lovato 'got tired' of using 'they/them' pronouns: 'It was absolutely exhausting [PageSix]
Tiff from The Ultimatum is Now Selling Domestic Violence Support Group Sessions [Reddit]
Hulu Announces New Spinoff 'Vanderpump Villa' Following 'Vanderpump Rules' Scandoval Drama [UsMag]
Elon Musk seemingly trolls Megan Fox amid controversy over her sons' 'girl clothes' [Page Six]
Brandi Glanville's 'RHUGT' warning to Kristen Taekman: 'Lives will be ruined' if you call HR [Page Six]
See Kim Kardashian and North West's Characters in 'Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie' Trailer [ET]
Sex and the City's Kristin Davis on fillers: 'I have been ridiculed relentlessly' [The Telegraph]
Every Star Who Came Out as LGBTQ+ in 2023 [Just Jared]

About:

You can also find us on our website, Twitter, and Instagram. Or buy our merch! Any personal, business, or general inquires can be sent to eatingforfreepodcast@gmail.com

Joan Summers: Twitter: @laracroftbarbie
Matthew Lawson: Twitter: @_matthewlawson

Taylor Swift Invented Matty Healy In the Anti-Slay Torment Nexus Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

We're back this week and we mention it all! From Drew Barrymore's legendary crusade against tabloid media, Samantha Jones iconic return to SATC, to Joan's channeling of a demonic entity known at Matty Healy... Links:

Kim Cattrall's Samantha returns in 'And Just Like That' Season 2: HBO confirms to The Post [NY Post]
'Sex and the City' Costume Designer Patricia Field Dressed Kim Cattrall for 'And Just Like That...' Cameo [People]
And Just Like That… Patricia Field is back! Ex-SATC costume designer crashes show's set where Sarah Jessica Parker is filming - amid fashionista's continued friendship with star's nemesis Kim Cattrall [October 24, 2022] [Daily Mail]
Drew Barrymore admits she wishes her mother, Jaid, was dead: 'I cannot wait' [Page Six]
Drew Barrymore slams tabloids for claiming she wished her mother was dead: 'Don't twist my words' [EW]
Matty Healy alludes to Taylor Swift breakup, 'relentless' fan hate [Page Six]
MATTY HEALY CONTROVERSIAL PODCAST NO FACTOR In Split from Taylor Swift [TMZ]
'SHE NEEDS HELP' Wendy Williams' son Kevin Jr fears mom is near death and blames team for spiral as he breaks silence in first interview [The Sun]
Wendy Williams' Manager Responds to Her Son Kevin Jr.'s Allegations Amid Her Guardianship (Exclusive) [ET]
JUSTIN BIEBER DAD POSTS OFFENSIVE LGBTQ MESSAGE … 'Thank A Straight Person' [TMZ]
'VANDERPUMP RULES' TOM SCHWARTZ I'M TAKING A BREAK FROM SANDOVAL ... Haven't Spoken to Him!!! [TMZ]
'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Star Erika Jayne Is Not Dating Lawyer Jim Wilkes II [US Magazine]
EXCLUSIVE - 'This is really special coming at this time': Al Pacino, 83, breaks silence to celebrate 29-year-old girlfriend's pregnancy - after claims he demanded paternity test because she 'hoodwinked' him [Daily Mail]
Who Is Al Pacino's Girlfriend? All About Noor Alfallah [People]

About:

You can also find us on our website, Twitter, and Instagram. Or buy our merch! Any personal, business, or general inquires can be sent to eatingforfreepodcast@gmail.com

Joan Summers: Twitter: @laracroftbarbie
Matthew Lawson: Twitter: @_matthewlawson

Life After #Scandoval (feat. Shamira Ibrahim) May 25, 2023

Show notes

Our favorite guest, Shamira, is back to talk about where Bravo can possibly go after Scandoval, and how this drama has fundamentally changed the industry of reality television forever. Listen now!

https://shamirathefirst.com/

About:

You can also find us on our website, Twitter, and Instagram. Or buy our merch! Any personal, business, or general inquires can be sent to eatingforfreepodcast@gmail.com

Joan Summers: Twitter: @laracroftbarbie
Matthew Lawson: Twitter: @_matthewlawson