Pop Apologists – Episode 295

Taylor Swift's Stalker, Gwyneth's NYFW Debut of GWYYN, + Priscilla Presley Memoir Bombshells
Released: September 24, 2025
Hosts: Lauren & Chandler

Episode Overview

This week, sisters Lauren and Chandler dive into some of pop culture’s most dramatic and unsettling stories: Taylor Swift’s vanishing stalker, Gwyneth Paltrow’s new clothing line debut at NYFW, bombshells from Priscilla Presley’s memoir, and some dark breaking news headlines. They also manage to keep their signature humor and wit alive, dissecting fashion disappointments, Real Housewives shenanigans, and true crime headlines with candor and irreverence.

Main Discussion Points & Key Segments

1. Taylor Swift’s Stalker: A Vanishing Threat

[07:50 - 14:00]

• Case Details: Chandler recaps chilling updates about Taylor Swift’s persistent and increasingly dangerous stalker, Brian Jason Wagner.

  • Wagner diverted Swift's mail to his address, falsified DMV records to link to her LA home, and sent disturbing messages calling Swift his “wifey.”
  • In July 2024, Wagner escalated to showing up at her house with a glass bottle, possibly as a weapon.
  • The most frightening recent development: Wagner vanished after missing a court appearance, despite a private investigator’s attempts to track him down.

• Implications for Swift: Lauren discusses how this threat shrinks the world for mega celebrities:

  “As they get bigger, really their world gets smaller and the number of people they can trust gets fewer and fewer.” [12:57]

• Security Concerns: They reflect on how even the best security isn’t foolproof, referencing Swift’s previous break-ins and the new “rolling black bulletproof screen” used at Chiefs games.

  • Lauren: “Her security has failed before, and I’m sure it’s top of the line.” [11:39]

• Memorable Quote:

  “It would be very unsettling if I was Taylor… to just not know where this obviously mentally unwell person who has it out for me is.” – Chandler [12:29]

2. Taylor Swift’s “Life of a Showgirl” Release Party & Fan Culture

[14:11 - 16:49]

• Lauren reads out Swift’s Instagram announcement for the “Life of a Showgirl” film event, noting its playful, hyper-fandom oriented marketing ("brush off that Eras Tour outfit or orange cardigan").

• Lauren admits: “I love the music, but the visual component to what Taylor does… sometimes can be hit or miss. I don’t watch every music video. It’s really about the songs for me.” [15:45]

• Both sisters express mild disappointment that fans are getting a lyric video/behind-the-scenes reel, not a full documentary.

3. Gwyneth Paltrow’s NYFW Debut of GWYYN Clothing Line

[19:01 - 26:48]

• Chandler describes the “homey” concept of Gwyneth’s new line: an NYFW apartment-setup event with goop-approved nibbles, racks of clothes, and a peach tablecloth.

  • “She was standing next to racks... alongside designer Sophia Minase… formerly from Maison Margiela.”

• Fashion Roast:

  • Lauren is “catastrophically” disappointed in the collection, saying Paltrow’s current style is “masculine and matronly… a lot of oversized midi A-line dresses, big cardigans, a lot of puff sleeves.”
    • “Do you… Are you inspired by her fashion?” – Lauren [21:13]
    • Chandler’s biting summary: “Ann Taylor does and has been, every season... Let’s give Ann Taylor some fucking credit.” [25:29]

• High Prices:

  • “It’s astronomical. It’s almost four digits.” – Chandler [23:07]

• Mission Statement Snipe:

  • “Gwen makes clothing for dynamic women who do it all…”
  • Chandler: “It’s like gobbledygook.” [25:50]
  • Lauren jokes: “What could be more man-repelling and hideous than that?” [25:58]

• Moment of Praise:

  • Lauren pivots: “Don’t sleep on the G Label… They make their sweaters in the same factory that makes Alaia knitwear, and I think YSL.” [24:48]

4. Priscilla Presley’s Memoir: Dark Revelations

[26:53 - 40:13]

• The sisters break down revelations from Priscilla’s bombshell memoir, including:

  • Meeting Elvis at 14, the complexity of her relationship, and her early pregnancy with Lisa Marie.
  • Abuse: “When Elvis found out about Mike Stone, Priscilla said that he… forced himself on her the way he imagined a karate master doing it. It left me with an unhappy memory of my last experience of sexual intimacy with Elvis.” – Lauren [29:12]
  • Elvis allegedly tried to have Priscilla’s lover killed.
  • Family Tragedies: Lisa Marie’s drug addiction, tumultuous marriages, allegations of molestation by Priscilla’s boyfriend, and Priscilla feeling sorrow but not regret over leaving Elvis.

• Chandler contextualizes the generational trauma:

  • “You say what you want to say about Elvis. I believe he groomed Priscilla. She was far too young… He was her formative relationship.” [34:41]
  • “Lisa Marie goes on to... marries... Riley and Ben’s father… It’s just, Priscilla and Lisa Marie had similar tragic things.” [34:39]

• Discussion of previous and current taboos, the wildness of mid-century celebrity culture, and ideas for future deep-dive episodes on families like the Presleys or Hearsts.

5. Bonus Pop Culture Hot Takes & Tangents

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City: Season Premiere Recap

[41:19 - 49:08]

• Lauren and Chandler roast the bleak Utah filming season, miserable RV cast trip, and manufactured drama.

  • Lauren: “The thing I will say is I found this episode to be completely entertaining even when the drama was totally contrived.” [43:41]

• Highlights include Bronwyn’s $4M necklace controversy, Whitney Rose’s business collapse (“very endearing… she admits failure” – Chandler [46:47]), and rumors around MLM activity in her businesses.

Kanye West’s “In Whose Name” Documentary

[51:36 - 55:21]

• Chandler summarizes: A new doc entirely from behind-the-scenes footage, no narration, following Kanye’s mental spiral from 2019 onwards.
  • “Some of the scenes are really hard to watch… his mental health completely unravel.” – Lauren [52:47]
  • The film is seen as sad, not redemptive. “You want to watch this documentary and see that Kanye is still there, but I don’t think we see that.” – Chandler [54:35]

David/D4vds & Celeste Rivas True Crime Case

[56:27 - 61:24]

• The hosts react to the disturbing news that indie singer David (D4VDS) is implicated in the death of missing 15-year-old Celeste Rivas.
  • Her remains are found in his Tesla. Both shared a matching “shhh” tattoo.
  • There are ominous online coincidences: a song called “Celeste,” lyrics, a music video of a body in a trunk, and social media posts.
  • The sisters express horror that David hasn’t (yet) been arrested and sympathy for the victim’s family.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Taylor’s security:

  “For me, I think about, like, when she goes out to dinner, immediately, you know, Discord chats… fire up… So you would think that this guy could very easily be in one of those chats.” – Lauren [09:40]

• On Gwyneth’s clothes:

  “These are all dresses I've seen at Talbot's. Ann Taylor. Not even the Loft, just Ann Taylor.” – Chandler [22:20]

• On Real Housewives drama:

  “The thing I will say is that I found this episode to be completely entertaining even when the drama was totally contrived.” – Lauren [43:41]

• On Priscilla Presley’s memoir:

  “As difficult as it was, I never regretted my decision to leave Elvis, but I never ceased to mourn it.” – Priscilla Presley (as quoted by Lauren) [29:12]

• On generational trauma:

  “I have a lot of sadness and sympathy in my heart for all the women in this family who were victimized… I don’t know how you’re a star, or the child of a star, and you totally turn out normal.” – Chandler [36:32]

Timestamps: Quick Reference

• 07:50 – Taylor Swift’s stalker case deep-dive
• 14:11 – “Life of a Showgirl” and Taylor news
• 19:01 – Gwyneth unveils GWYYN at NYFW
• 26:53 – Priscilla Presley memoir bombshells
• 41:19 – Real Housewives of Salt Lake City S5 premiere
• 51:36 – Kanye’s “In Whose Name” doc reactions
• 56:27 – D4VDS/Celeste Rivas crime story analysis

Overall Tone

Lauren and Chandler’s dynamic is as sharp and sisterly as ever—direct, incisive, sarcastic, but deeply attuned to nuance in celebrity coverage and sensitive topics. Between fashion industry dunks and true crime chills, they provide both escapism and a critical lens on pop culture’s darker underbelly.

For New Listeners

If you missed this episode, expect a deft mix of biting fashion commentary, pop culture recaps, deep-dive true crime, and frank, empathetic discussions of difficult issues—all delivered in the sisters’ signature, no-holds-barred style.