New Rory & Mal – "Best of Rory & Mal: Week of 12/8"

Release Date: December 14, 2025
Podcast: New Rory & Mal (iHeartPodcasts and The Volume)

Episode Overview

This "Best Of" episode compiles highlights from the week of December 8, as the hosts bring their signature humor, candid takes, and unfiltered debates on viral moments, celebrity misadventures, and the wild world of internet fame. The show pivots between dissecting trending pop culture, exploring the blurred lines of content creation, and sharing personal memories with a mix of nostalgia and irreverence.

Major Discussion Points & Key Segments

1. Busta Rhymes vs. the TikTok Creator at Art Basel

(03:48–09:56)

• The Incident: A TikTok creator at Art Basel asked Busta Rhymes for a photo and called him "Tracy Morgan," clearly or perhaps playfully—leading to Busta's stern reaction.

  • Hosts debate whether it was a trolling attempt or an honest confusion.
  • Discussion on respect for legends and the challenges of viral content culture.

• Impersonation in Content: The hosts reflect on influencers who blur lines between jokes and disrespect:

  • Host 1: "I like what Busta did, cuz I do think these young kids can't just run around and get away with disrespecting people that have put in so much iconic work. You need to show them some form of respect." (04:22)
  • Quin: Busta and Tracy Morgan only resemble each other superficially; social media stunts often cross the line.

• Personal Analogies: The hosts swap stories about being called other celebrities (Paul Wall, J. Prince).

  • Mal: "If a white TikToker walks up to me like, 'Yo, J. Prince, you changed my life,' what you gonna say?" (07:26)

• Content Creation Annoyances: The exhaustion celebrities feel with always being on display for viral moments.

  • Host 2: "People don't ask for autographs no more. People want content with you. It's not—don't sign shit. I don't want Buster's autograph. Please, get this fucking 20 second clip, so I can go viral on TikTok real quick." (10:19)

2. Streaming Culture, Kai Cenat, and the Streamy Awards

(16:19–24:56)

• Streamy Awards Recap: Shout outs to BlackBoy Max and Kai Cenat for their wins.

• The Marathon Stream Dilemma:

  • Praising the mental fortitude required for 24/7 streaming, especially at Kai Cenat’s level.
  • Host 2: "I always thought, like, when Kai was doing all that, I was like, how is this guy—how is he dealing with this mentally?... I just don't know how somebody is able to do that." (17:18)

• Fan Engagement: Viewers are just as wild for sticking through marathon streams.

  • Host 1: "Shout out to the fans. You guys are watching that the entire time, which is fucking crazy." (18:11)

• Jokes & Stand-up Flops at the Awards:

  • Mal gives props to Lil James for calling out a tasteless Diddy joke aimed at Kai Cenat during the awards.
    • Mal: "People gotta understand like jokes—stand up comedy ain’t for everybody. Off-the-cuff comedy ain’t for everybody." (20:57)
  • Funny on stream ≠ Funny on stage; the guys remember Twitter comedians who flopped on TV.
  • Discussion about racial dynamics and context in comedy, sparked by the joke about Kai and Diddy.

3. Matt Barnes’ AI Catfishing Extortion Scandal

(30:56–41:35)

• The Story: Matt Barnes allegedly sent $5,000/month to someone running a fake AI model’s profile under threat of a public pregnancy claim, when in fact he never met them in person.

  • Host 1: "How do you get extorted by a robot?" (30:54)
  • The hosts question the plausibility—Barnes’ panic likely stemmed from prior public relationship issues.
  • Confusion as to why you’d pay up for a claim by someone you never met.
    • Host 1: "Wouldn't he know that this was fake because he never fucked the robot?" (33:08)

• Catfishing in the Modern Era:

  • Others share stories of Instagram models/accounts managed by partners siphoning money from thirsty fans.
  • Referencing Manti Te’o’s infamous fake girlfriend saga.

• Lawsuit Woes:

  • Matt Barnes is suing infamous blogger Tasha K for spreading the AI extortion story; debate over defamation.
    • Mal: "That's defamation. That wasn't true...as a journalist, you didn't do your research."
    • Tasha K’s bankruptcy means unlikely financial outcome for Barnes.
  • Tasha K’s long history with celebrity lawsuits (notably Cardi B).

4. Diddy Documentary Fallout and 50 Cent’s Involvement

(43:27–51:02)

• More Damning Footage?: 50 Cent claims over 100 hours of unreleased, even more incriminating footage relating to Diddy exist, far beyond what appeared in the "Reckoning" docuseries.

  • Host 2: "For 50 to say the footage that's on there...it leaves no more room for people to say, this is false—if you see the rest of the footage, it's pretty clear cut." (44:14)
  • Speculation as to why 50 hasn't released it (rights, quality, more interviews needed, legalities).

• Snitching Debate:

  • The crew pushes back on critics calling the doc "snitching."
    • Host 1: "I also don't fully understand snitching rules. I just feel like telling about somebody abusing women isn't snitching." (49:27)
  • Everything in the doc is based on public depositions and court records.

• Diddy in Jail:

  • Talks of Diddy (Puff) being spotted in prison with Sebastian Telfair, and how celebrities leverage influence for more comfortable jail stints.
  • Effects of incarceration on artists rumored to struggle with substance abuse (reference to Young Thug).

• Documentary Bias:

  • Mal and Host 1 debate whether Puff or 50 could ever deliver a biopic or series that truly gives a fair account; both doubt it.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "You need to show them some form of respect… but he kind of looks like Tracy Morgan."
  — Host 1, on the Busta Rhymes incident (04:22)

• "I liked how Buster reacted. I get it. I liked it."
  — Host 1, on defending Busta Rhymes for checking the TikTok troll (04:58)

• "Everybody wants content with you. It's not—don't sign shit. I don't want Buster's autograph. Please, get this fucking 20 second clip, so I can go viral on TikTok real quick."
  — Host 2, on the shift from autographs to viral moments (10:19)

• "Stand up comedy ain't for everybody. Off-the-cuff comedy ain't for everybody."
  — Mal, criticizing bad jokes at the Streamy Awards (20:57)

• "How do you get extorted by a robot?"
  — Host 1, baffled by Matt Barnes' ordeal (30:54)

• "That's defamation. That wasn't true...you didn't do your research and you're spreading misinformation."
  — Mal, on Tasha K’s reporting (42:00)

• "If you see the rest of the footage, there will be no more—there will be no more 'paint this narrative.' It's pretty clear cut."
  — Host 2, quoting 50 Cent on unreleased Diddy documentary footage (44:14)

• "I also don't fully understand snitching rules. I just feel like telling about somebody abusing women isn't snitching."
  — Host 1, (49:27)

• "I'm Diddied out right now."
  — Host 1, expressing fatigue over the endless Diddy discourse (47:22)

Other Memorable Moments

• Autograph Nostalgia: The hosts reminisce about a time when getting an autograph was exciting, with Mal sharing stories about acquiring Styles P’s autograph growing up and regretting not asking Kobe Bryant for one. (13:01–14:18)
• Meta Commentary: Constant jabs at the cyclical nature of viral drama and content, with the hosts always bringing conversations back around to their own lives or generational differences.

Final Thoughts

This episode shows Rory, Mal, and friends at their best—hopping between viral curiosities, pop culture analysis, and self-deprecating humor, all while keeping it real about celebrity, fan culture, new media, and social dynamics. The banter is sharp, relatable, and self-aware, mixing outrage, laughter, and critique in classic New Rory & Mal style.

Note: Timestamps refer to segments as per the transcript for those who want to jump right to specific highlights!