Demure, Raygun and More August Memes and Internet Drama

I would also like to preface all my accomplishments with a “fuck you” to the haters and losers who doubted me, but unlike MegalopolisI actually have the receipts for four years of cyberbullying. Instead, the August 21 trailer allegedly used artificial intelligence to extract quotes from real The trailer was reportedly sourced from reviews that slammed director Francis Ford Coppola’s previous works, with critics reportedly quoting it. After a Vulture report (you’re welcome) pointed out the discrepancies, Lionsgate recalled the trailer faster than a Cybertruck and severed ties with the marketing consultant behind it, Eddie Egan. Deadline subsequently reported that an investigation revealed the quotes had been generated using AI, which is a lot more work than simply ending the film with, “If you thought this was bad, you’re wrong and we hate you.”

Why it’s a 2: While Megapolis is for the film nerds, we can all get behind the hate against AI — and the sooner Hollywood realizes that, the better.

Of all the memes to come out of the Olympics, Raygun’s break seemed like the most ridiculous — certainly not the one anyone expected to become a scandal. While the Australian breakdancer kangaroo-hopped her way onto Twitter feeds on August 9 for her somewhat bizarre dance moves (which ultimately earned the 36-year-old zero points), the conversation quickly turned. The moves were no longer funny; they were a slap in the face to the Australian breakers who were not selected for the Olympics. Perhaps that’s why an ultimately unsubstantiated story circulated that Raygun, whose real name is Rachel Gunn and who incidentally has a Ph.D. in breaking, had manipulated her way to Paris through corruption. She didn’t convict herself at the qualifying championship, as a now-deleted petition claimed, and she and her husband didn’t found the Australian Breaking Association. In an Instagram video, Gunn described the online hate as “devastating,” but what she lost in Olympic medals, she’s sure to make up for in Halloween costume inspiration for 2024.

Why it’s a 2: Everyone say “Thanks Raygun” for enduring international humiliation to put Australia back on the map!

On November 3, 2023, AJ+, Al Jazeera’s digital publisher, published “It’s Bisan From Gaza and I’m Still Alive,” a video report from Gaza filmed by then 25-year-old Bisan Owda. The footage was filmed in the final days of October, as Gazans struggled for food, water and survival in the face of the Israeli military’s response to the October 7 Hamas attacks. The eight-minute video was nominated for an Emmy, prompting an August 19 open letter from the Creative Community for Peace protesting the nomination, alleging that Owda is affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which the United States classifies as a terrorist group. The letter was signed by actors including Selma Blair and Debra Messing, but the Television Academy defended the nomination, saying it had found no evidence that Owda was with the group at the time. On Instagram, Owda continues to document life in Gaza under ongoing Israeli attacks.

Why it’s a 2: No industry has been untouched by the Gaza crisis, and Hollywood in particular has had a divided reckoning. Earlier this year, actress Melissa Barrera was fired from the upcoming Scream 7 after her public support for Palestine, while a handful of celebrities including Mark Ruffalo and Ramy Youssef used the awards season to publicly call for a ceasefire. This open letter marks the beginning of what looks set to be a similarly tense awards season.