Swift, Kelce, and ESPN's Name Problem

Swift, Kelce, and ESPN's Name Problem

Taylor Swift made a courtside appearance at Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday (May 23), sitting alongside fiancé Travis Kelce as the Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the New York Knicks at Rocket Arena. The pair were spotted in the first quarter and shown on the ESPN on ABC broadcast. Play-by-play announcer Mike Breen acknowledged them as "Travis Kelce and his fiancée," while analyst Richard Jefferson referred to "Travis and his girlfriend." Analyst Tim Legler then asked who was getting married, apparently unaware of the engagement. The broadcast trio never said Taylor Swift's name at any point, despite showing the couple on camera multiple times. The omission drew immediate backlash online.

Gobble's Take: Three broadcasters. Multiple camera cuts. Zero mentions of her name. The internet noticed.

Source: Billboard

Cannes, a Porn Yacht, and a Fake Front Page

Popbitch notes that this year's Cannes Film Festival has run quieter than usual, with a thin Hollywood presence keeping red-carpet coverage muted. To fill the void, the newsletter reaches into its archives: a Swedish porn company called Private sailed to Cannes on a disused car ferry and hosted a party on it. Matthew Wright, then Daily Mirror showbiz chief, rang up their press office to get himself and other journalists on the guest list. He then added Noel and Liam Gallagher's names to the story. The next day the Mirror ran a front page described as "a masterclass in how to invent a cover story out of absolutely nothing." The resulting headline: "OASIS SNUBS PORN PARTY."

Gobble's Take: A porn party, some uninvited Gallaghers, and a front page built on nothing — exactly the kind of story Cannes was made for.

Source: Popbitch | Substack

Cannes, Velvet, and a Bidding War

Demi Moore and Jordan Firstman's directorial debut Club Kid energised the opening weekend of the 79th Cannes Film Festival. Distributors including A24, Mubi, and Netflix are reportedly locked in a "furious bidding war" to acquire it. Bronwyn Cosgrave frames Cannes as the start of the red carpet's new year — the point where the cycle resets and the season properly begins.

Gobble's Take: Cannes exists to launch films. When it also launches a bidding war, everyone gets a better story.

Source: Cannes Glamour - Bronwyn Cosgrave On Fashion

In Case You Missed It

Yesterday's top stories:

• Post Malone is bringing The Big Ass World Tour to Australian and New Zealand stadiums this October
• For All Mankind delivers Season 5's most important moment ahead of the finale