The Read: “Meat Lovers” (Nov 25, 2025)

Podcast: The Read
Hosts: Kid Fury & Crissle West
Episode: "Meat Lovers"
Date: November 25, 2025

Episode Overview

In this hilariously incisive episode, Kid Fury and Crissle West return with their signature blend of pop culture commentary, Black excellence spotlights, shade, and unfiltered advice. From their ever-adoring Beyoncé stanning to deep dives on B2K reunions, celebrity drama, and the everyday absurdities of grown-up friendships, this episode delivers all the laughs and “can you believe?” moments the duo is known for. They also explore topics like parenting while divorcing, the state of queer family acceptance, and the eternal struggle of casting non-singers in movie musicals.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland Rave (01:05–04:12)

• The show opens with over-the-top worship of Beyoncé’s latest racetrack appearance.
  • Kid Fury: "I am aspiring to sit as high and confident as Beyoncé’s breasts." [01:05]
  • Crissle: “It’s the whole fucking body for me. Can we breathe? Can we breathe?” [02:36]
• Kelly Rowland receives her own flowers, with Crissle raving after seeing her live: “Just don’t make no sense for her to be as beautiful as she is.” [03:40]

2. Black Excellence: Blake Cameron James (04:12–08:37)

• Kid Fury highlights young actor Blake Cameron James from “Welcome to Derry,” describing a sweet scene centered on Black joy and science.
  • Kid Fury (paraphrasing the show): “To you, I might smell like a stink bomb, but maybe I’m covered in stardust.” [06:01]
  • Commentary on how rare it is to see nuanced Black childhood experiences in period dramas not focused on tragedy.

3. Hot Tops: Pop Culture Run-Down (08:37–69:48)

a) Iyanla Vanzant Returns… to Recap Herself (08:37–15:04)

• Iyanla’s new OWN series is revealed to be a rehash of old episodes with added commentary.
  • Crissle: “It’s just her recapping all of you. Arianla, fuck you. I was excited. I thought this was new stuff.” [11:25]
  • Both hosts joke about therapy versus TV spectacle, and the “legend” of Iyanla’s reality TV methods.

b) B2K Reunion (?) and Boy Band Dynamics (15:04–21:17)

• New B2K music is teased; the hosts question the viability and artistic motivation behind it.
  • Crissle: “I feel like if you’re a fan of B2K, there is just no way you’re gonna be a fan of new B2K music.” [17:33]
  • Kid Fury compares Omarion to “Nicole Schweppes Ginger Ale” as the group’s clear leader. [16:09]

c) Usher v. Brian Michael Cox: The Atlanta Restaurant Saga (21:20–29:46)

• Usher is suing his longtime producer over a failed restaurant loan.
  • Kid Fury: “You admitted that you used my money for other purposes than what I lent it to you.” [23:58]
  • Both hosts joke about Atlanta’s notorious “grifter” scene and restaurants as money pits.

d) Offset & Cardi B Drama: Public Shade, Private Pain (30:00–36:53)

• Drama over alleged social media posts, custody, and the challenges of co-parenting in public.
  • Crissle: “Somebody gotta be the grown one in this situation. Somebody gotta look out for them kids.” [35:24]

e) Toni Braxton’s Quiet Marriage to Birdman + Halloween Sidelines (41:13–48:10)

• Discussion on Toni Braxton’s secret marriage to Birdman, keeping private things private, and the recent viral Toni Braxton Halloween costume.
  • Crissle: “Of course you didn’t want us to know you were married to Birdman because, like, who would. Yuck.” [44:15]

f) Kandi Burruss Divorce News: Adulting Through Separation (48:10–56:58)

• Recent split between RHOA’s Kandi and husband Todd; on amicable co-parenting and breaking generational trauma.
  • Kid Fury: “That’s the way to do it. That’s the responsibility of parenthood.” [54:24]
  • Crissle: “You see how parents can split up and then still be cool and chill for the sake of the kids?” [51:27]

g) Summer Walker vs. “Pizza Hut”: Cheating Scandals, Petty Delivery Wars (57:30–69:25)

• The hosts dissect leaked audio, social media back-and-forth, and pizza deliveries amidst a cheating scandal.
  • Summer Walker: "Call me Ms. Pizza Hut from now on. I don’t give a fuck." [60:36]
  • Tori Bricks: “If I send some to her crib, it wouldn’t be pizza.” [65:08]
  • Crissle: “One thing about Summer she cannot read. It is not M-I-S-S dot. What the fuck bro?” [68:19]

h) Friendship & Adulthood, Passing the "Outside" Era (79:55–87:17)

• Listener question about maintaining friendships when lifestyles diverge (marriage vs. “outside” life).
  • Kid Fury: “You have to be a friend to have a friend.” [86:00]
  • Crissle: “People...to go out of your way to invite somebody who is just going to turn you down every single time. You’re not the only one with feelings.” [84:30]

i) Queer Family Trauma & Dating: Finding Love Anyway (87:17–99:20)

• Listener letter from a lesbian struggling with parents’ rejection and how it affects relationships.
  • Kid Fury: “Don’t let...your imperfect parents stop you from finding love, exploring love, and being your goddamn self.” [95:12]
  • Crissle: “You’re 24. ...The older you get, the more clear this will become to you.” [96:21]

4. The Read: Listener-Submitted Rants (101:15–117:14)

• A powerful letter from “Grim,” eviscerating her abusive brother with scathing, creative curses and a call for accountability.
  • “I hope you drop the last of your weed in the carpet as you’re rolling your last blunt.” [103:17]
  • Both hosts salute her healing and wish the brother “all the worst luck in life.”

5. Big Reads: Hollywood Must Stop Casting Non-Singers in Musicals (108:31–117:14)

• Listener Rashad vents about Wicked casting Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh (“a very bad singer”) instead of Broadway legends like Sheryl Lee Ralph.
  • Kid Fury: “I was just very—and I still am—confused with that choice.” [114:22]
  • Crissle: “She was in the booth countless times not being able to sing. Why didn’t somebody say...we’re gonna have to send you home?” [113:46]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Beyoncé:
  “They’re saying hello.” —Kid Fury on Beyoncé’s “perked” body [02:33]
• On nostalgia comebacks:
  “We’re going to reheat the same nachos until they stop paying for tickets.” —Crissle, on B2K [18:48]
• On friendship transitions:
  “To have a friend, you have to be a friend.” —Kid Fury [86:00]
• On Summer Walker’s drama:
  “Why would I ever want to be main? Look at your life. This must be so stressful for you.” —Summer, via Kid Fury [64:14]
• On divorced co-parenting:
  “Children well-adjusted.” —Crissle, summarizing Kandi & Todd’s example [52:20]
• On queer family trauma:
  “It's just so baked into our experience to have parents that suck to one degree.” —Kid Fury [91:18]
• On movie musical casting:
  “Please make it stop. Love, Rashad.” —Listener’s plea for only casting legit singers in film musicals [109:44]

Tone & Style

• Unapologetically Black, Queer, and Hilarious: The episode’s language and references are as irreverent and sharp as ever, with plenty of cursing, inside jokes, and pop culture riffs.
• Vulnerable Where It Counts: In discussing family hurt, divorce, or therapy, both hosts deliver sincerity and tough love alongside the laughs.
• Pop-Literate and Shady: Every news item is filtered through the lens of decades of hip-hop/R&B fandom, especially when “clowning” reality TV stars or aging boy bands.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Beyoncé Banter & Kelly Rowland Praise — 01:05–04:12
• Black Excellence (Blake Cameron James) — 04:12–08:37
• Iyanla Vanzant Recap Mockery — 08:37–15:04
• B2K Reunion — 15:04–21:17
• Usher v. Brian Michael Cox — 21:20–29:46
• Offset & Cardi B — 30:00–36:53
• Toni Braxton’s Private Life — 41:13–48:10
• Kandi & Todd Divorce — 48:10–56:58
• Summer Walker/Pizza Hut Saga — 57:30–69:25
• Listener Letter: Friendship & Adulting — 79:55–87:17
• Listener Letter: Queer Family Trauma — 87:17–99:20
• Passed Reads (Abusive Sibling Rant) — 101:15–106:56
• Hollywood Casting (Wicked Rant) — 108:31–117:14

Summary Takeaways

• The Read is still podcasting gold: plenty of “reads,” pop references, and heartfelt listener advice.
• The hosts continue to balance levity and truth, especially when critiquing the entertainment industry and handling tough audience questions.
• Despite evolving adult priorities, friendships can be maintained with intention and flexibility—a recurring theme this episode.
• Family wounds linger, but found family and healing are within reach.
• Never trust a musical with non-singers in lead roles—Rashad (and musical theater fans everywhere) beg Hollywood to do better.

Original, memorable, and always on time with the tea, this episode is The Read at its best: a gonzo mix of shade, sincerity, and Black pop culture wit.