The Wedding Snatchers

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Read – "The Wedding Snatchers" (January 16, 2025)

Hosted by Jo Marie Payton and Naomi Osaka, part of the Loud Speakers Network

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1. Black Excellence: Honoring Jewel Rogers as Nebraska’s Poet Laureate

Timestamp: 01:35 – 03:58

Jo Marie and Naomi kick off the episode by celebrating Jewel Rogers, recently appointed as Nebraska's new Poet Laureate. At 27 years old, Jewel makes history as the youngest and first Black American to hold this prestigious position in the state.

• Background and Achievements:

  • Jewel Rogers began writing poetry in sixth grade and has since performed at numerous schools, conferences, and public events.
  • She is a three-time nominee for the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Award and a three-time TEDx speaker.

• Impact and Responsibilities:

  • In her role, Rogers will travel across Nebraska for five years to promote poetry reading and engage youth in the arts.
  • Naomi humorously remarks, “America, not sure where that is on the map right now” ([02:58]), highlighting the duo’s playful banter.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Naomi: “Jewel Rogers, only 27. The year that I felt like, oh, let me be grown. But again, this isn't about me. It is about Jewel.” ([03:21])

2. Hot Talks: The Devastating Los Angeles Wildfires and Their Aftermath

Timestamp: 03:58 – 16:36

The hosts delve into the recent wildfires wreaking havoc in Los Angeles, emphasizing the disproportionate impact on different communities.

• Scope of the Disaster:

  • Over 105,000 people are under evacuation orders with 16 deaths confirmed.
  • Significant property loss affecting both ordinary residents and celebrities alike.

• Community Response and Inequality:

  • Jo Marie highlights the misconception that everyone in LA is affluent, asserting, “most of the city is not millionaires” ([08:35]).
  • They discuss the varying levels of support and the emotional toll on individuals, including celebrities like Beyoncé, who deferred announcements out of respect for those affected.

• Personal Reflections:

  • Naomi shares a poignant moment: “I saw a video of a man who for days just did not know where his dogs were or if they had even survived.” ([15:00])

• Notable Quotes:

  • Jo Marie: “Trust Ameca Auto Insurance. Amica. Empathy is our best policy.” ([00:29]) – Referencing earlier content.
  • Naomi: “You just know his mama found like $540 rolled up in his sock drawer somewhere and he had already spent 60.” ([46:35])

3. Legal Drama: Drake’s Defamation Lawsuit Against Universal Music Group

Timestamp: 16:36 – 32:11

The conversation shifts to the highly publicized legal battles involving major music stars.

• Jay-Z’s Lawsuit Withdrawal:

  • Jay-Z has withdrawn his lawsuit against Universal Music Group and Spotify, which alleged they conspired to inflate the numbers of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, "Not Like Us."

• Drake’s Defamation Case:

  • Drake has filed a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group, accusing them of spreading false and malicious narratives through the song "Not Like Us."
  • He claims the song contains anti-Semitic lyrics aimed at undermining his Jewish heritage, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.

• Analysis of Lyrics and Intent:

  • The hosts dissect the song’s lyrics, debating whether Drake’s allegations hold merit. Naomi argues, “Not Like Us has nothing to do with Jews. Not one fucking thing.” ([27:37])
  • Jo Marie challenges the validity of Drake’s claims, questioning the intentionality behind the alleged anti-Semitism.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Naomi: “She doesn't really have to. The court does that.” ([34:37])
  • Jo Marie: “You can’t. You thought this was the way.” ([30:37])

4. Listener Letters: Navigating Friendship Betrayal and Toxic Relationships

Timestamp: 38:23 – 57:24

The duo addresses heartfelt listener letters, offering advice amidst candid and often heated discussions.

A. Shelly’s Wedding Snatchers Dilemma

• Situation Overview:

  • Shelly attended her best friend Micah’s Nigerian wedding as a bridesmaid, where she was instructed to bring cash for traditional ceremonies.
  • Upon discovering her money was missing, Shelly suspected Micah but later learned the true culprit was a 10-year-old caught on camera.

• Conflict and Resolution:

  • Miscommunication and heated accusations led to the end of Shelly’s long-standing friendship with Micah.
  • Jo Marie advises, “I don't think you can come back from this. I don't think you can.” ([42:36])
  • Naomi suggests making a heartfelt apology, even if Micah remains distant, to seek closure.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Naomi: “This is over, sister. I actually don't think you can come back from this.” ([42:36])
  • Jo Marie: “Black people don’t play about being accused of being a thief.” ([47:00])

B. Bibi’s Toxic Breakup Experience

• Situation Overview:

  • Bibi endured a toxic two-year relationship where she handled all household responsibilities, leading to emotional exhaustion and eventual breakup.
  • Despite her efforts to move on, her ex-partner continues to harass her attempts to sever ties.

• Advice for Bibi:

  • Jo Marie recommends boundaries and emphasizes the importance of removing physical reminders of the ex to facilitate healing.
  • Naomi concurs, advocating for complete disengagement to prevent falling back into the unhealthy dynamic.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Jo Marie: “I’m not sharing custody of that. But I can see how you would really miss the dog.” ([53:17])
  • Naomi: “Set it to play. This is an alarm. The feds are on the way.” ([61:14])

5. Additional Discussions: Critique of Hollywood Adaptations and Public Figures’ Controversies

Timestamp: 32:11 – 86:06

Beyond the main topics, the hosts engage in fervent debates on various pop culture issues.

• "Until Dawn" Movie Adaptation:

  • Expressing disappointment, they argue that the upcoming film bears little resemblance to the beloved video game, criticizing Hollywood’s tendency to diverge from original material.
  • Jo Marie vehemently states, “This movie ain't got a goddamn living fucking thing to do with the game.” ([65:05])

• Aubrey Plaza’s Instagram Deletion:

  • The hosts condemn public harassment directed at Aubrey Plaza following her husband’s passing, emphasizing the lack of empathy and respect from fans.
  • Naomi comments, “We don't have monthly meetings or dues.” ([73:17])

• Carrie Underwood’s Political Stance:

  • They criticize Carrie Underwood’s decision to perform at the inauguration, accusing her of supporting toxic political figures.
  • Jo Marie asserts, “I don't have to support you because I believe in your right to make your own decisions.” ([76:09])

• Notable Quotes:

  • Jo Marie: “Hate y'all.” ([80:22])
  • Naomi: “Stop saying woke when you really mean not racist.” ([81:12])

6. Final Remarks and Announcements

Timestamp: 86:06 – End

Concluding the episode, Jo Marie and Naomi promote upcoming shows, merchandise, and encourage listeners to stay connected via social media.

• Upcoming Events:

  • 12-Year Anniversary Show on February 15th in New York City ([84:45]).

• Merchandise and Support:

  • Listeners are directed to purchase merch at shoptheread.com and support through Patreon.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Naomi: “Make sure you go to thereadlive.com for tickets because it can’t wait.” ([85:27])
  • Jo Marie: “Thank you so much to everybody who reached out last week.” ([85:44])

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Highlights:

• Jewel Rogers’ groundbreaking appointment as Poet Laureate.
• Los Angeles Wildfires and their uneven impact on communities.
• Drake’s Defamation Lawsuit and the controversy surrounding "Not Like Us."
• Listener Stories reflecting themes of betrayal and toxic relationships.
• Critical Take on Hollywood’s adaptation practices and public figures’ controversies.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Naomi on Jewel Rogers: “[03:22]”
• Jo Marie on Drake’s lawsuit: “[30:37]”
• Naomi on Shelly’s situation: “[42:36]”
• Jo Marie on Hollywood adaptations: “[65:05]”

This episode of The Read provides a blend of cultural commentary, legal analysis, and personal storytelling, delivered with candidness and humor. Listeners gain insights into Black excellence, the challenges faced during natural disasters, and the complexities of interpersonal relationships, all while navigating the often tumultuous landscape of pop culture and celebrity news.

Transcript

[A]

Your boyfriend took our money in. Dicks.

[B]

From producer Issa Rae.

[A]

How we gonna make $1,500 by 6? You bought this? Okay, now you want a loan. Don't do it. I've never seen a credit score this low. What if we combine our scores?

[B]

Kinky Palmer is having one of them days.

[A]

First the rent and then Alomo's trying to kill us.

[B]

SZA is having one of them days.

[A]

He showing cheat and steal on the same day. Alyssa, run.

[B]

Damn. One of them days. Directed by Lawrence Lamont. Now playing exclusively in theaters. Rated R. Under $17.90aminute.

[A]

Without faring at Ameca Insurance, we know it's more than just a car. It's the two door coupe that was there for your first drive.

[B]

The hatchback.

[A]

That took you cross country and back, and the minivan that tackles the weekly carpool for the cars you couldn't live without. Trust Ameca Auto Insurance. Amica. Empathy is our best policy.

[B]

Back to the show. I am Jo Marie Payton.

[A]

And I am Naomi Osaka. And this is the Read. Thanks for coming back.

[B]

Thank you. It's January. Mid January in fact. Lots going on. Can't believe time is moving this quickly. Why don't we jump into some black. Excellent.

[A]

Okay. Love that.

[B]

Black excellence this week is going to Jewel Rogers. She's been named the new poet laureate. Poet laureate, sure. Yeah, Poet laureate, That's it. Of Nebraska. A poet laureate is a poet who's been appointed by government or some other organization. It is their responsibility to move promote poetry, which usually includes composing and reciting poems for special occasions. The only reason I know what this is is because of the Golden Girls and a very funny joke in which it is featured. Back to Jill Rogers. She's 27 years old and is now the youngest and first black American to hold the position in Nebraska. Which honestly, America, not sure where that is on the map right now.

[A]

How American of you.

[B]

But shout out to Jewel. In this new role, Joel will travel Nebraska for five years promoting poetry reading and youth engagement, which I love. She began writing poetry in sixth grade and has performed at various schools, conferences and public events. She's the three time Omaha Entertainment and Arts Award nominee and a three time TEDx speaker. Speaker. That girl.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Jewel Rogers, only 27. The year that I felt like, oh, let me be grown. But again, this isn't about me. It is about Jewel. Congratulations. Yes, congratulations to you, to Nebraska, to poetry, and to the promotion of poetry and the arts. Specifically with, with you. Because Lord knows they need all the help they can.

[A]

They can get Yes. A black woman is the state's poet. How. How beautiful for y'all. Congratulations again.

[B]

Okay, let us get into some hot talks. Not much on my mind this week. I'm here in the beautiful city of Los Angeles. If you haven't heard, a few hell mouths have opened up in the. In the city.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

A little bit of hell here, little bit of hell there, a little bit of hell over here.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's been pretty insane. Palisades over on Sunset. I don't know how to pronounce the name of that, like, pretty black neighborhood. Al.

[A]

Aladena. Yeah, I'm pretty sure.

[B]

Just awful. Just ridiculous. And of course, in the midst of a lot of tragedy and wellness, there have also been people who decided, oh, let me be crazy. So there's a lot going on, and unfortunately, a lot of people are in really unfair and tragic predicaments because over 105,000 people are under evacuation orders.

[A]

Jesus.

[B]

16 deaths have been confirmed. Lots and lots and lots of people lost their homes. The wind at the time did not make it much better, Right?

[A]

Made it much worse, actually, for a lot of people.

[B]

Yeah. Made it unfathomably worse. But it feels like, you know, the city is sort of calming down in the madness regard anyway. You know, I guess in. In that regard, I just mean, like, the trash is getting picked up. I don't know.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Like, the city is open for whatever air quality is trash. You girls. So masks. We've talked about this, and I know that y'all hate them, and you feel like masks are prison. Y'all, this air quality.

[A]

Right? Y'all want to breathe that. Okay. Okay.

[B]

And, like, just because you. Maybe you didn't live right next to the fire, like, air go all over the place. Air is all. It's everywhere. And so, you know, there's a reason why your apps may have been like, hey, this air quality is not just bad as dangerous. There's a reason why people have been saying, hey, maybe we're a mascot. Homes, as well as all sorts of products inside of homes have gone up in flames. And that's what you've been breathing in, right? I was watching somebody, like, the day after the, like, big, big fire in Hollywood or whatever. I woke up and looked out my window, and I saw somebody got here, would walk away, his baby in a stroller, no mask on his face, nothing baby's face. I was like, oh, polluted lungs for you and your child.

[A]

Cool. I know Every library in LA has N95s available if you happen to not have any for whatever reason. But yes, please do. It's the whole situation out of LA has been surreal to watch, you know, from television and social media and through the people I know who live there. Just seeing people be evacuated, seeing how many people's homes have been lost, seeing how many of you are so callous and cold blooded because you think everybody in LA is rich, which is just so far outside of the reality. And it's just nothing funny about what is happening. I just don't understand y'all really.

[B]

But yeah, it's been, especially in Hollywood, so sad because like there are the Hollywood Hills and then there's Hollywood Hollywood. And with all due respect, Hollywood Hollywood.

[A]

Is the hood work.

[B]

So a lot of people in that part, in that area and lots of other areas are not nowhere near rich.

[A]

Right. So which is the case for most of the city, like most of the city is not millionaires. And even. I'm going to hold yalls hands when I say this. Even very, very rich people can be sad because they lost their homes.

[B]

And that's okay.

[A]

Everything cannot be replaced. Some things are actually priceless and even rich people will be mourning. Of course. They have very different needs. Nobody's saying start a GoFundMe for, you know, fucking John Legend or Beyonce. But you know, if Ms. Tina lost her home in Malibu, boo, it is okay for her to be upset about that. It's okay for Spencer and Heidi to get on, you know, TikTok talking about how hard it is to have lost their shit.

[B]

Like what fucker?

[A]

Spencer, you remember from like 20 years ago, the, the hills have.

[B]

No, Absolutely. I watched that show and you didn't.

[A]

No, I didn't. Right. I, I only know about them because Spencer went viral for crying because people have been streaming Heidi's song from like 2004 and to help them, you know, financially just to, you know, send them a few cents or whatever. And I guess it's adding up. You know, all those girls had a song out. Everybody put out at least one together. Remember Paris Hilton and Stars are Blind Death.

[B]

Paris Hilton's making music again now.

[A]

Oh, that's right, she is. She's DJing. And she, she was on that song with Meg. Or didn't she do that?

[B]

Well, Meg was on her song.

[A]

Meg was on her song and I like that.

[B]

So yeah, her music's not bad.

[A]

Um, but anyway, I just.

[B]

Yeah, you have your, your point. Like even the Hollywood girlies, it's fair for them to be like, wow, we have nothing in this sucks.

[A]

Not you Know, not saying to go in your purse, but just a. Just think about how you would feel if you went to work and then at 2pm your home was gone.

[B]

Yeah, but the prior point is, like, still, like, a lot of you are confused and they're. There's that, but there are mostly people just like yourself who now have nothing and nowhere to turn.

[A]

Right?

[B]

So chill out. Like, I saw, like, when Beyonce posted that message, that was like, hey, the announcement's getting pushed back out of respect for, you know, people going through it. I saw some people in the comments like, oh, girl, no, you could have still. And I was like, let me just go ahead and not in. Involve myself with this.

[A]

Yeah, it's actually something wrong with you.

[B]

Everybody is crazy. Every single one of y'all is wrong. That lady could have been announcing vegan crab cakes again. And listen, I don't. You don't even know. Shut up. Shut up. Shut the fuck up.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah, thanks. Really being ridiculous about some of these cancellations and delays and things of that nature, like, whatever.

[B]

First of all, two bags packed in the. In the closet.

[A]

There you go. There you go.

[B]

Hello, baby.

[A]

Think about it. Think about how many people who work with or for or around Beyonce have been affected by this and that. Just. Just. I just don't understand the selfishness that I'm seeing with regards to people and, you know, stuff like, you. You can wait for Beyonce. You can wait another week or two for Beyonce to announce tickets to this tour that you then gon about resellers and all that. Like, you can wait. You can wait. It is not life or death, whatever Beyonce was going to announce to us. So just, you know, if we could all log on and just carry with us a scoop of humanity. Just remembering that these are human beings you're talking to and about. Not even the celebrities. I'm talking about the regular everyday people where y'all. Like, I'm supposed to feel bad for y'all. This house is worth 1.2 million. No, the land is worth 1.2 million. The location is worth 1.2 million. The house itself would be $30,000 in Kansas. So let's just. Let's just all be. These are real people who are having to rebuild their lives and fight with insurance companies, and we all know the special hell that that is.

[B]

I'm not even gonna get started, so.

[A]

Maybe just, you know, send a thought or prayer, donate something, go into your pocket if you have it, and otherwise be. Just be glad it's not you if you can't do nothing. Else. Jesus.

[B]

If you can't do nothing else, why don't you, if you're in a home right now, hug a wall. Okay, okay. Why don't you lay down on the ground and make some. Some imaginary snow angels, some shit? Why don't you be grad grateful for the motherfucking four walls on the ceiling that you got, bitch? Instead of being online complaining about what you don't have while motherfuckers are walking around with empty arms because they have no home left. And a few things that they did have in their arms, niggers were robbing them for it. They have nothing. They have nothing. And here go Beyonce trying to be a half decent person. And you talking about something. I'm sorry.

[A]

You could have told us earlier than this.

[B]

Why take a flaming bus to Hades with the air condition off?

[A]

It is an announcement. Y'all are acting like it's life or death. Like, come on, I've got to catch a grip. Like, come on, it's getting ridiculous. You girls. I think we're getting.

[B]

That lady better be giving out organs because I don't understand what the fuck. Like, you already know what time it is and y'all bitches can wait.

[A]

Yeah, you can. The fuck you can wait. You really, really can. A little gratitude goes a very fucking long way here, people.

[B]

Fans waiting for that announcement. And now like, well, I forgot an announcement was coming because, listen, I don't know what my life is anymore.

[A]

I checked the Instagram right before I play wordle as my nighttime routine.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I saw the announcement and I said, makes sense.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I was like, oh, yeah, double tap. And went on about my night. I just don't get y'all.

[B]

I don't know why I looked at the comments. That's where I up.

[A]

Oh, God. Sending a lot of love to everybody affected. What really got me was the people who were like, you know, first of all, my bitch ass employer made me come into work. Even though what I am doing is not essential. It has nothing to do with, like, helping people right now. But then while I was at work, my area was under an evacuation notice, and now I can't go back and get my pets or something like that.

[B]

What?

[A]

I saw a video of a man who for days just did not know where his dogs were or if they had even survived. And then the dog, like, came running up to the fence or something when the news lady was there, and he just absolutely lost his mind. And I'm just weeping because I can. I cannot actually imagine me being away from my Apartment. Leaving Lainey at home, like most pet parents do. And then something happened and I cannot legally physically go get her. And she just might be dead. Like, what?

[B]

What?

[A]

Yeah, I'm glitching out just thinking about it.

[B]

So, yeah, I don't even. I genuinely don't know what I would do.

[A]

The people, the.

[B]

Probably break the law, right?

[A]

I mean, like, so I'm gonna have to find a way to forward roll my ass into this fire anyway. Like, I'm getting my baby. Getting my baby.

[B]

What, like me and Link in a jail cell, right?

[A]

They'd be like, well, you're going to prison. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

[B]

Yep. It was.

[A]

Absolutely. And tuck my baby. My front pocket. Thank you very much.

[B]

Touch this Bjorn, if you want to.

[A]

And you know, I got two of them.

[B]

We're both going to jail. Don't give a. Oh, Lord. Let's talk about lawsuits. Jay Z's filed a motion to dismiss the ongoing lawsuit against him where a woman alleges he indeed sexually assaulted her when she was 13. He received permission to follow the motion to dismiss from U.S. district Judge. The request claims are a series of inconsistencies in the woman's account, which we have talked about. I feel like we have talked about this motion to dismiss.

[A]

Did we? I thought this was new. I think his lawyer has filed a bunch of different stuff.

[B]

Yeah, but we'll see what happens with that one.

[A]

Yeah, we'll see.

[B]

Trey Songs has asked the judge to overturn an $11 million judgment, alleging that it would essentially. You can't pay it. He's attempting to have it thrown out. He was sued for battery, alleged battery in 2021 in Las Vegas. We talked about that briefly. After Trey didn't respond to the. The suits, the judge entered a default judgment for $11 million. Now Trey is claiming he didn't even know about the lawsuit until fans reached out on his Instagram to extend support.

[A]

I know you lying.

[B]

Get it? Your lawyer now he's requesting, right? What? He's requesting a day in court, everybody fired. He's requesting a day in court to defend his honor as the quote, the enforcement of this default judgment will be devastating and ruin his life.

[A]

Okay, well, sure. I'm sure it would. I also could not pay no 11 damn million dollar judgment. But I have a lot of questions as to how you know this. I don't. I don't understand how this judgment came to be. And nobody on your legal team, like, how. How did you. How were you not made aware of this? It's just, I'm just so confused about this.

[B]

If he has a legitimate reason that he didn't respond and was not aware of this lawsuit, I feel like he should be able. Like a judge should be able to.

[A]

Say if it made sense.

[B]

Right? But that's what I'm saying. Like, if we talked about this. Cause I remember talking about this, then.

[A]

How did you not know? Right? This is what I'm saying. How can it be?

[B]

So you had court and all of this other stuff before we all talked about it.

[A]

It's not making sense.

[B]

We'll see what happens. But, yeah, I'm sure $11 million is crucial, especially since I don't think Trey Songz has made music in ages, especially after all those rumors about his, you know, sexual behavior.

[A]

Right. This is not the first time he's been involved in, you know, a story like this. So I'm not particularly sympathetic. As far as I'm concerned, you should have to pay the whole 11 million and, you know, gonna get to it. But maybe they will adjust it just so that whoever is the. The beneficiary of this money actually does get something. Because otherwise it might just be held up with attorneys and going back and forth and, oh, I can't pay it. And like, okay, well, you know what? Just put something on it then. Just give a. Just give her, like, 5,000amonth in maybe for the rest of your life.

[B]

And.

[A]

Just see, don't that handle it? It ought to. Your boyfriend took our money in. Dicks.

[B]

From producer Issa Rae.

[A]

How we gonna make $1,500 by 6? He bought this. Okay, now you want to loan. Don't do it. I've never seen a credit score this low. What if we combine our scores?

[B]

Kinky Palmer is having one of them days.

[A]

First the rent, and then our Lomo's trying to kill us.

[B]

SZA is having one of them days.

[A]

He showing cheat and steal on the same day. Alyssa, run.

[B]

Damn. One of Them Days. Directed by Lawrence Lamont. Now playing exclusively in theaters. Rated R. Under 17. 90 minute without parent. When we're trying to make progress, life's curve balls often feel like taking one step further forward and three backflips back. A chime checking account makes financial progress easier with features like no maintenance fees or getting paid up to two days early with direct deposit and with fees in everything. And I mean everything. Concert tickets, airlines, movies, every video game. It's just like their fees and everything. And with Spot Me Chime will spot you up to $200 when you exceed your balance. Sickening eligible members Also get complimentary boosts to temporarily increase a friend's Spot Me limit. And when you give a boost, your friends can boost you back to temporarily raise your limit. Friendship make progress towards a better financial future with Chime. Open your account in two [e-mail] the read. That's chime.com the read Chime feels like progress. Banking services and debit card provided by the Band Corp. Bank NA or Stride Bank NA members. FDIC Spy. The eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply. Boosts are available to eligible tribe members enrolled in Spy Me and are subject to monthly limits. Timing depends on submission of payment file fees apply at out of network ATMs. Aubrey Graham has withdrawn his lawsuit against Universal Music Group and Spotify. The lawsuit claiming that they conspired to artificially inflate the numbers of Kendrick Lamar's diss track Not Like Us. Great song.

[A]

Great song.

[B]

Drake is now instead suing UMG for defamation of character.

[A]

I knew it. I knew he wasn't just gonna, you know, take this back and be done with it. I knew it.

[B]

Yes. Yes. He's filed the defamation case just this morning in a federal New York City court. He's suing Universal Music Group for spreading, quote, false and malicious narrative. In the suit, he claims or he calls Kendrick's Smash it.

[A]

You don't have to do that.

[B]

And it's a great song. It is filled with inflammatory and shocking allegations.

[A]

Like when you say he. Never mind. Oh, never mind. Let me shut up. Let me shut up. Let me shut up. Let me shut up.

[B]

No, do you have something like.

[A]

I'm just saying it was all good when you had allegations and made little cute remarks, sly remarks and things like that about Kendrick and the state of his marriage and. And, you know, whether he is abusive or somehow other such, you know, type of behavior within the context of his relationship and the whole family, sleeping with white women, you know, saying that another man was the father of Kendrick's baby. You know, it was all cute and good when you did it. Okay. All right.

[B]

That's interesting.

[A]

Did you see this?

[B]

He says that the song was a gold mine for you.

[A]

I wonder, does it hurt to admit that? Your honor, unfortunately, number one for seven months out of the year, probably.

[B]

And he says that they had an ulterior. An ulterior. That word always beats my ass. Ulterior financial motive in promoting it. I don't think it's ulterior financial. No, it was just a blatant. Right.

[A]

I think it was a blatant financial.

[B]

Yeah. This song Makes money. We like it. Money. More of that?

[A]

Yes. That's what record label are streaming it. They're buying it. It can't leave number one. Yeah, we. This is the goal of the record label.

[B]

Like you would know that too, since you have artists but you don't promote them. Drake claims his label was doing everything it could to pump up Not Like Us because it knew that it would devalue his music and his brand, and therefore gives Universal Music Group leverage in the future with its contract negotiations. As far as Drake is concerned, Drake's last UMG contract, signed in 2022, was worth a reported $400 million. So I suppose he's worried that they will come at him next time with 200 million. How awful that would be.

[A]

You might have to sell a house or that jet. Oh, no. Oh no.

[B]

Maybe some jet fuel. That's probably expensive.

[A]

All right, Girly pop.

[B]

He claims UMG attached the label chart topper to Not Like Us despite knowing that title was based on fraudulent data. Girl. It's also very clear that Drake is mindful of what's going on. And I'm reading this from tmz. It says he's very mindful of super bowl coming up, so the song could be performed on that massive stage which he calls, quote, one of the most significant and viewed cultural events of the year. Okay, so back to the point of, like, whether or not it stings to admit this.

[A]

This is a lawyer, right? Of course. But he was just like, get. You know, in that exact voice. Did you see the part about. About the song being anti Semitic?

[B]

Wait, hold on. Let me get it. Like, let me see if that's there.

[A]

That's.

[B]

Wait, no, I don't see that.

[A]

Wait, hold on.

[B]

Interesting. Drake isn't going directly after Kendra. Well, he never was. He can't. The lawsuit is not about the artist who is incidentally, umg. Where is. Wait, hold on. He said the song is anti Semitic.

[A]

So I saw on esteemed media outlet hotnewhiphop.com word that it says here. Drake also suggests that Not Like Us is allegedly anti Semitic, furthering the recordings.

[B]

Literally. The first website that came up work.

[A]

Furthering the recordings refrain that Drake is not like us. The recording alludes to Drake's Jewish heritage, saying that Drake is not a colleague, but a colonizer.

[B]

No Diddy.

[A]

Wowzers. Get him out of here, man.

[B]

He did not try to pull the anti semi card.

[A]

Not Like Us has nothing to do with Jews. Not one fucking thing. What?

[B]

Okay. That is so insidious. That is so poisonous. And incredibly dangerous.

[A]

Ooh, ou, oui. Well, you know, in this time of a very pro. Well, this country. When has this country not been pro Israel? Israel is its little, you know, baby, that it funds and supports.

[B]

Yeah. But now than ever, you really should.

[A]

Not play with anti Semitism because there is real antisemitism. And this is not that.

[B]

And this is not it. Yikes.

[A]

But this is what I'm saying. I think they threw it in there because there's a very pro Israel attitude going around, at least amongst the.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

The ruling class, maybe not so much amongst the rest of us. And so this is like, oh, antisemitism. Oh, they hate Drake because he's Jewish.

[B]

That's what I'm saying. It's so. It's just really venomous in the sense that the intent there is to capitalize off of that tone and just be like, hey, he's also coming for the Jews. Like, everybody is right now. And it's like, that's has. No. It's about you being far more tapped into your whiteness and using black culture as a costume. And not just black American hip hop culture, black Caribbean culture, black South American culture, black, like, African culture, British, all.

[A]

Of this Japanese, detailed in the song. All of that is word into the.

[B]

Lyrics, word after word after word. And each one of them, and none of them meant, you suck for being Jewish. Like, you're not like us because you're a Jew. What?

[A]

Again, most black Americans don't even look at white people like that. I'm gonna tell you right now, we don't. I'm gonna be so real with you as a black girl from Oklahoma. I promise you, most black Americans look at y'all and see white people. Unless you got the yarmulke and the Shirley Temple curls on the side of your head, we probably cannot even clock Jewishness. We simply don't. Especially where I'm from, we. Everybody is homogenous. Okay? All the white people are Christian. We don't even. We don't even slice and dice y'all up into different categories like that. So I'm still so confused as to what Drake was really thinking. Like, you can't. You. You thought this was the way. Accusing Kendrick of being anti Semitic because they. But meanwhile. Meanwhile, he's talking about. I mean, he literally laid out how you went to Atlanta and how you go to different Atlanta rappers just to get your money up, steal from the culture, play around in the culture, but you not really of the culture. That is what it is. You're not like Us.

[B]

Yes. That's what the colonizing is.

[A]

Right? This is like what being Jewish has fuck all to do with it. And he knows that. He does. But I think they saying anything.

[B]

Did Jewish people even colonize any place like that?

[A]

Well, don't.

[B]

I mean, I'm sure, like. I mean, American, like, I don't know. Let me be quiet.

[A]

I don't think I. I think that's less of. I. I think this is just them trying to say anything that they think will stick and be successful, and so they throw that in there.

[B]

But no girl Jewish people colonizing. Like, I get it, but just because.

[A]

You'Re making fun of Drake doesn't mean you're being anti Semitic. It's not. It's not anti Semitic to make fun of you.

[B]

Like, that Gun is not talking about the Gaza Strip.

[A]

And it's so blatant. Like, I don't. This is just.

[B]

No, it is.

[A]

It's like lost for words. How fucking.

[B]

It's almost like a little. What is those? Are those. It's like the little golden book series.

[A]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. With the little golden spine.

[B]

It's almost that easy to. It's not super.

[A]

I feel, like, complicated.

[B]

You know what I mean?

[A]

It's absolutely laid bare in the song itself.

[B]

I feel like the meaning is pretty much right there.

[A]

He's.

[B]

Especially that one, which wasn't even, like, let me really get into some dis shit. Not like, this is just a song to dance to and stuff. And then, by the way, you're a colonizer. And please don't. If you have, like a younger sister or something like that, please don't let them talk.

[A]

Oh, yeah. I mean, the pedophile shit. Definitely. Oh, he definitely called you a pedophile. Explicitly. Definitely did do that. That you could. You can argue about, you know, umg. Promoting the quote, unquote. You said false narrative that you're a pedophile. Like that. Sure. Because that is blatantly in the song. But this baby. White boys will do anything. This is why they call you White boy. This is a very white boy thing to do. It's anti Semitic to make fun of me, you guys. I'm Jewish. That's not what that means.

[B]

I. I'm.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay, girl. We'll see how that goes. No, that's the boy.

[A]

Oh, all right, all right. Nope. Let's move on.

[B]

That's the boy. Oh, Drake, you'll be all right. You'll be okay. Don't worry about me.

[A]

Not this baby voice.

[B]

It's okay. You'll Be all right. I think I'm done. I don't really give a. Angel Reese is on the COVID of Vogue. She looks gorgeous. Chance the rapper and his wife are getting divorced. Or that's solidified or settled. The judges granted Megan Thee stallion a five year restraining order against Tory Lane.

[A]

Amen.

[B]

Having people harass her from jail.

[A]

Amen. Amen. Amen.

[B]

And Tasha K still don't have Cardi B money and she want her to leave her alone. Okay.

[A]

It's like, wait a minute. Tasha want Cardi to leave her alone.

[B]

Tasha K. Is accusing Cardi B of trying to ruin her financially and sabotage career. Tasha K. Is claiming Cardi B tried to interfere with her bankruptcy case in 2023. Cardi B asked the judge to tosh her bankruptcy case out. She questioned whether Tasha K. Was actually too broke to pay her.

[A]

Oh, okay. Oh, okay. So Cardi saying, no, you're not bankrupt. You need to give me. Wait a minute. So accusing. Accusing Cardi of trying to financially ruin you is ridiculous because. Yes, that's the entire point. Yeah, that's what she was doing the entire point.

[B]

She ain't a judging over it. That's. That's.

[A]

I just saw it. It said she's trying to bully her financially. Um, well, sweetie, this is what happened.

[B]

She doesn't really have to. The court does that.

[A]

Right? This is what happens when you owe people money. Like, how is this like, when you.

[B]

Lose a lawsuit and you owe people money?

[A]

Right.

[B]

They don't typically have to say anything to you.

[A]

She's trying to ruin me. Why? By saying that you not really bankrupt. You might not be. I have no idea what your money is looking like, ruining your career. What did you do other than get on YouTube talking about other people? Was that really a career? And are you. Can you not still do it or do you just have to tell the truth now?

[B]

I mean, I'm sure it is. It's far more complicated now. And I'm sure she like, I didn't really watch her. Her show like that, but I'm sure that she had, you know, like ads or sponsors and stuff. So maybe she gets less of them now or something. I don't know. I'm sure that has affected her. Her cash. That I ain't, man.

[A]

I feel like all of this goes back to you and the decision you made to lie about that lady and her children. It ain't too many people play about their kids. So, I mean, it's looking to me like the consequences of your own actions are beating your ass way more than Cardi is.

[B]

50 Cent probably don't care. People don't play about their kids. Oh, Brian McKnight. Brian McKnight plays by his Monique.

[A]

Not you name it. That white woman who left her disabled son in the LA fires and flew to Bora Bora.

[B]

You are fucking lying.

[A]

Oh, you didn't see that? Did an interview and everything. Child. Meanwhile, I saw a story of a black father and son. The son had cerebral palsy and the father stayed with him even though the son couldn't evacuate. And so they both died.

[B]

That's it for the hot tops this week. We're gonna go ahead and we're gonna take a break and come right on back.

[A]

Welcome to Nada Yada island next on Nadia Yada Island. I knew I deserved so much more, so I left. I finally switched to Metro and got what I was looking for.

[B]

Get one line for only 25amonth with autopay. Just bring your phone to Metro and experience all the data you want on the largest 5G network. That's nada Yada Yada Only at Metro by T Mobile.

[A]

First month is $30. Bring your number and ID offer not available if with T Mobile or with.

[B]

Metro in the past 180 days. Hey, are you tired of figuring out what's for dinner night after night? Especially on those busy weekdays? Which is girl, all of them. Well, get dinner done the easy way. Thanks to HelloFresh, it's easy to find time to eat with 50 wholesome hassle free meals to choose from each week delivered to your door. And HelloFresh's new ready made meals go from the fridge to your fork in just three minutes. The same high quality ingredients, restaurant worthy flavor you expect from hellofresh just with none of the work. In fact I've used HelloFresh recipes for a couple of years now and not only are the recipes like really good and they give you everything you need, it actually just by virtue of using it has kind of taught me how to cook things on my own now. So even without needing the recipe I can be like oh yeah, I can make such and such and such and such now because I know how to use it because I've done it a bunch of times. Get up to 10 free meals and a free high protein item for [e-mail] the Read 10 FM 1 item per box with active subscription free meals applied as a discount on first box. New subscribers only. Varies by plan. That's up to 10 free meals at HelloFresh. Just go to HelloFresh.comRead10FM foreign. We're back, and it is time for listener letters.

[A]

Yes, it is. Send your questions to Ask the [e-mail]. we may read them aloud on the show. Our first letter this week comes from Shelly, who says, I have a dilemma that's been sitting heavy on me, and I'm hoping you can help me figure out if I've ruined one of the most important relationships in my life.

[B]

Probably.

[A]

A few weeks ago, my best friend Micah invited me to a wedding as his plus one. We've known each other since high school. Me too. And never mind. I'm about to get too deep in somebody else's business. So, anyway, we've known each other since high school, and since then, we have been very close. The wedding was a big Nigerian one, and Micah told me to bring some cash for part of the ceremony where guests spray the couple with money. If you've never been to a Nigerian wedding, they are so lit.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So fun. Oh, my God, they look.

[B]

Everybody's dressed.

[A]

They are an incredible time.

[B]

Food.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

How is a bridesmaid? I was a bridesmaid in my friend Terry's wedding. Literally, our job was to go pick up all the money that niggas was throwing at her. I was like, I was born in the wrong culture. What the fuck do you mean?

[B]

Not. They gave you the security guard strip club job?

[A]

Essentially, they were. I mean, you know, we had go.

[B]

Out there with them buckets.

[A]

Many duties. But yes, during that part, the bridesmaid's job is to collect her.

[B]

I would live. That's fine.

[A]

Okay. So Shelly says yes. I hit the ATM and took out $700, planning to spend 100 and keep the rest for emergencies. The wedding was amazing. But at some point during the night, I went to grab my purse and happened to open the zipper where I'd stashed my cash, and it was all gone. I panicked and went to Micah, but he brushed it off. I get it. Because I guess he didn't want to kill the vibe at the wedding. But I couldn't just let it go. So I started asking around. I even asked the videographer if he had caught anything on camera, but nothing. The night dragged on and my mood was off, and eventually I left to crash at Micah's place. He came home at 5am drunk and passed out on the couch. While I was trying to get him comfortable, I felt an envelope which had cash in his jacket pocket.

[B]

You are lying. You're a lie. You're a lie.

[A]

You're a lie. I don't know why, but I took it out and I felt the need to count it. And it was exactly the amount I was missing. And all in twenties, just like mine.

[B]

No.

[A]

The next day I asked him about it. He said it was his own money. And just coincidentally, he also had $600. But when I didn't let it go, he got so angry and defensive. I had never seen him like this, but I was even more angry. At one point, he said, you've been staying with me for free for two weeks. Consider that your $600 contribution. And then threw the envelope.

[B]

So you did take it?

[A]

No. That's what he said. Hold on. Then he threw the envelope with the money at me. Now, to me this felt like a confirmation. Just like it did to you.

[B]

Oh, dude. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

[A]

But I left the money on the ground and left. I was hurt and angry and said things that I know I probably shouldn't have, but I didn't care. Then I left and booked a hotel room and noticed that he blocked me on everything. A week later, the videographer who had been flirting with me at the wedding reached out with proof of the real thief. A 10 year old caught in the background of a photo pulling cash from my bag. The kid's mom returned the money, but now I'm stuck in this awful place. I was wrong to accuse Micah, but he also didn't handle things well. Now I've lost my best friend and I'm not sure if I can fix it. Do I reach out and apologize or has too much damage been done? I know he knows the videographer, so the likelihood of him knowing that who really what really happened to my money is high. Thanks, Shelly. Well, Shelly. Well, Shelly was feeling very suspicious. I mean, it is quite the coincidence that he also had 600.

[B]

That is a wild coincidence.

[A]

It is, but for it to. I think this one's over, sister. I actually don't think you can come back from this. I don't think you can.

[B]

I think you can.

[A]

I. If I were going to take. I wouldn't even be willing to. If I were Mike, I would not even be willing to speak to her no more.

[B]

How long have you been friends?

[A]

Since high school. I don't know. We don't know how long ago that was. She doesn't say how old they are, but, you know, that could be 20 years.

[B]

Get over it. I think that you need to, like. I think that you need to make a big girl apology.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I think when I say that, I mean, like, probably something more than just words. I think you should make some sort of an effort that should come with the expectation that it, that there won't be a response. You know, I think you should just put out whether it is a letter, an email delivers, you know, some, a presence with a card or something to just, you know, apologize, try to make an effort and leave it at that. And hopefully time will pass and you guys can have a conversation or you can maybe apologize some more and just hopefully he'll understand. Because I think after cooling down and receiving like an apology from you, like a heartfelt apology, I would hope that he is level headed enough and respects, you know, the length of your friendship to be like, this is an honest misunderstanding. Like, I didn't need to be accused of this, but I can kind of understand a why you're pissed. $600 being taken from you is crazy. And the, the misconception or, you know, misunderstanding is wild.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But if not, you know, lesson learned, go ahead and move on from that situation. But it's just like, I don't know. I don't know how I would feel if I was in Shelly's position.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like if I had, if he had come home and he had a pocket with an envelope just like mine and money just like mine and the bills just like, like I don't know how I would feel.

[A]

Well, I'm not the envelop.

[B]

I'm thinking, I'm forgetting, nigga, they weren't at, you know, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure. Everybody had cash to throw. Why wouldn't he have a bunch of cash on him? Like that was the, the point.

[A]

Right?

[B]

Yeah, I'm forgetting that part.

[A]

Yeah. It, it for me, it's the fact that you asked him about the next day, he said, oh, that's my own money. I just also happen to have, you know, $600 or whatever you said. At that point, I didn't let it go. He got angry and defensive and I didn't care because I was even more angry. And I think it's very interesting, Shelly, that you told us what he said, you know, about you've been staying with me for free for two weeks. But then you said, you know, I was hurt and said things I know I probably shouldn't have. But you didn't tell us exactly what those things were. And depending on how terrible they are, he might be even less willing to hear you out. Like if you said, because like, bitch, if I'm already innocent and then you don't believe me. You supposed to be my best friend since High school. You don't believe me. You really think this grimy shit of me to the point where you arguing, screaming mad at me in my own home and saying like, we don't even know what manners of terrible thing.

[B]

Sure, yeah, that's true.

[A]

You might. You might have just fucked this.

[B]

You're saying in my house. And like, that's a great point. I don't know what I would do in friends position either, Micah. Yeah, because, like, I would post that picture.

[A]

I would post drunk if I was Micah. I would post the picture with the little boy in the background stealing the money out the purse. I would post that on my Instagram probably every day for a month. I would post it on my grid and then repost it in my story every day.

[B]

And then you have to fight his mama.

[A]

I don't give a damn. Vindicated. Vindicated. Black people don't play about being accused of being a thief.

[B]

No, that's a. That's a. That's. That's. And it's like, you're my best friend and you think that I would steal from you.

[A]

I invited you to this wedding to steal your money. Be serious.

[B]

And we. We're staying together. Why would I take your money and then come home with it? Yeah, that one might be a dub.

[A]

Yeah, it might be. But I do think you had a very, like, your suggestions are very good as far as, like, trying to repair. And maybe y'all can, but I won't be surprised if he's like, actually fuck you again. Especially depending on the things you said when you were so mad and didn't.

[B]

Even care that you left out. But I think regardless of whether you repair that relationship or not, you should just make a nice apology and stuff. Cause that had to hurt.

[A]

Right? Right. But I actually. I feel more sorry for Micah than I do for you, actually.

[B]

Yeah, I kind of do too.

[A]

Opening my home to a bitch who then accused me of taking from her. You've been living with me for two weeks and you accuse me of taking from you a I've known since high school.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

All right.

[B]

And I mean, he lost his best friend too.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And she friend who accused him of.

[A]

Being right and said, we don't even know what terrible things to him. So, yeah, reach out because it's the right thing to do. Apologize because it's the right thing to do.

[B]

Exactly. Not because you want. I mean, you want your friend to friend Magma. I think you should apologize because it's the right thing to do. That sucks, man. Fuck kids.

[A]

If you take Away nothing else from this letter.

[B]

Let it be.

[A]

You know, children are really a problem.

[B]

Pay the money back. I need you to pay the money back and Whoop him on FaceTime. I want to see the whooping because.

[A]

You just know his mama found like $540 rolled up in his sock drawer somewhere and he had already spent 60.

[B]

I was going to say seven dozen packs of now later. Where did this Costco box of Airheads come from? Nigga, you dumb bitch.

[A]

That nigga been going to sonic balling out getting all kind of candy and shit in his flesh.

[B]

Where the fuck did you get all these robots coins?

[A]

Oh, God. Okay, don't have kids. All right. Our last letter comes from Bibi, who says. Hey, y'all. I had a terrible Christmas that became the breaking point for my two year relationship. My partner insisted on hosting a party, but left all the work to me. The cooking, cleaning and entertaining. While ignoring me completely because I'd asked her to clean up earlier. She says holidays are hard for her and despite my efforts to give her words of affirmation, hugs and kisses throughout the day, me asking her to clean up was a trigger for her. I felt unappreciated. So I left after cleaning up after the party, cried by the river and drove to my mom's house. Over the next three days, with my family's support, I moved out of what I now realize was a toxic situation. Her messages have been a mix of minimizing my efforts, calling me selfish, and then pleading for me to come back once she realized I was serious. It's been three weeks and I've been clear that I don't want to reconcile. But she continues to message me, saying that she's doing the work. She keeps on asking to meet up, and she even showed up uninvited to my new apartment, to which I did not answer, despite her ringing my doorbell for 40 minutes.

[B]

So doing what works.

[A]

Side note, 40 minutes ringing my doorbell. You're okay. Anyway, I've stayed firm.

[B]

I'm calling a lot.

[A]

Literally. Literally like this. I don't even want to be that girl, but get away from my door. Like if you don't security, somebody coming to see about you. Okay. I've stayed firm, even leaving her a voice message saying no amount of work can repair the hurt and unappreciation that I felt. It's hard because part of me wants to believe her promises to change, but I also know the pain I felt was real and can't be undone. For over a year in our relationship, I was the Only one. Cleaning, cooking, and keeping our pets alive. I know you like Houseway, but when you've been in the pot so long, it's easy to not notice when the water is boiling. And I have the good old eldest child caretaker syndrome. Yesterday, she reached out asking me to watch her dog, which feels like another excuse to see me. How do I stay strong in my resolution and navigate breaking up with someone like this? Am I wrong for cutting things off completely? Even though she says she's trying, I also really love and miss her dog. She taught me a lot during our relationship, so I hesitate to call her an awful person, but she has a lot of trauma to process that got lashed out onto me. She's smart and well loved in her community, but I also recognize. Recognize that the community isn't experiencing her 247 like I did. Love this show. Thanks in advance, Bebe. Man, you know the dog thing. Since I got Lainey, I feel like I have just completely shifted. I just understand so much now. Damn the attachment problems. Not you. Not. And let me be so clear. Not you dykes breaking up, talking about y'all sharing custody over a dog. Not that bullshit. Not that.

[B]

Damn.

[A]

Pick an owner for the dog. Stop inventing an excuse to see your. Your girlfriend, your ex girlfriend on a regular basis.

[B]

Custody of a dog.

[A]

Dykes.

[B]

So actually, straight couples do it too, which I.

[A]

Unless. No, I'm sorry. The dog is almost always one person's dog. Unless y'all were together. Y'all weren't even together that long. Y'all was together for two years. It's her dog. You said that.

[B]

No nigga's house.

[A]

I don't care how long I date somebody from this point. Going forward, Lainey is always my dog. We're not. I'm not sharing custody of that, but I can see how you would really miss the dog. And so this whole. Can you watch her be like, oh, okay, I might actually fold. I might. I might, I might. I understand that, but I think you should not. I think you should resist. Yeah. Resist that. That urge as much as possible. How do you stay strong? How do I stay strong in my resolution and navigate breaking up some with someone like this? I think you're gonna have to continue to ignore the hell out of her. I have.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I don't know if this is just a same sex situation, but most of my exes have a hard time moving on after our relationship ends. Unfortunately, I've been through this a lot where bitches just pop up or K. I actually got a whole nother phone like 8 years ago after a relationship ended. Because that nigga would not stop calling me. That's why I have two phones now. So I think you. I think the best bet here is to just continue to ice her out. You cannot give her. Yeah, anything, one crumb of attention, this bitch gonna think she have her foot back in the door.

[B]

Yeah, I completely agree. That's the only thing I could think of is, is just ignoring and also removing things that bring them up whenever possible, like the thought of them or memories or whatever. Like, you really kind of have to rearrange things in your immediate life that are connected to her or immediately bring up her. You know what I mean? If there are things in the house that maybe, you know, gifts you still have that remind you of her, pictures, whatever. Like, you have to just remove all of that stuff from your space and ignore her when she tries to reach out until you get to the point where that kind of stuff doesn't affect you, tempt you, or have a hold on you as much anymore. Because this is how. That's how people easily fall back into situations that they know they ain't supposed to be in. And she's just, you know, waiting for you to do so. So you kind of have to be the one to set the boundaries and be firm with them.

[A]

Yeah, I agree. And I'm glad your family is so supportive. Use them. Use your family for, like, reinforcement here and take advantage of the support that is available to you in that way. Because, you know, breakups are hard. And even though, you know, you describe the situation as toxic, I'm sure you did still have very deep feelings for your partner. And so we have these moments of weakness. Even if the breakup is your idea, there's definitely these moments of, damn, I missed that. Like you, you know, you might be in a space where you feel like, let me just call her right quick. And knowing that there's somebody else in the house, your mama or sister, somebody to be like, ah, shut that stupid up. Don't. No, no, no. Remember how she threw a fit and didn't talk to you all day on Christmas because you told her to go dust. So me as a sister like, you really finna call the girl who said she who just straight up iced you out on Christmas because same, you said, guests are coming, could you shovel the porch? She took that personally.

[B]

And I do with that can be me energy.

[A]

Cause baby telling me that you being asked to clean up is a trigger. I'm not going to argue what your triggers are. Sure it is. But that's a trigger. That's incompatible with a relationship with me.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That'S a trigger I can't work around. If being asked to clean up is a trigger for you, then I'm going to expect you to be proactive and simply keep everything clean so that nobody ever has a reason to ask. I'm not trying to make too much light of it, but we're all adults here. We're living in an adult world. We have adult responsibilities. All of the housework cannot fall to one person. That's going to do nothing but build resentment and anger and can reinforce this dynamic that you, bb, have already identified as toxic. So it's. It's going to be a no.

[B]

Think of T. Sanders. If it involves filth, it doesn't involve me.

[A]

And do you know, since you brought that up, those videos come up on my for you page all the time.

[B]

Good.

[A]

Oh, man, I have been. TikTok is dying on Sunday and I have been living on that bitch. I have been living on it. I just spent hours on TikTok now soaking it all up. I don't think I'm gonna download the new Chinese app, but maybe they making it look good, but also, I don't know what's in them terms and conditions. Yes, it's called red something.

[B]

I'm gonna go get a big fat back TV and red nose. I'm over it, I'm over it. I'm over it. And I don't like that name.

[A]

Well, so I'm not downloading it because I cannot read the terms and conditions. Like, they're not in English, so.

[B]

Oh, they're only in China.

[A]

I'm not finna. Right. I'm pretty sure they're only in Mandarin, so I'm not even finna sign up for that because I've seen so many tiktoks of people being like, you know, pov, Chinese government calling me in two weeks because I agreed to sign up for the army when I downloaded this.

[B]

Fair.

[A]

So, like, I don't know what I'm agreeing to. I might tell these people any fucking thing. I cannot read not one word of y'all language.

[B]

So you get a big manila envelope in the mail two weeks later that says, we see you've agreed to no longer be black or free, um.

[A]

Because you want to post your little dumbass seven second videos. No, but I do. I think there are things in there like you have to agree to. To hear by the Chinese constitution and, you know, their. Their way of life, their values or whatever else reflected in the content that you post on the app, Stuff like that. So, I mean, I don't know. Point being, I have been living on TikTok over the past week or so, just soaking it up before the government takes away a significant source of joy for me, and I don't remember why.

[B]

Thank God.

[A]

I'll be fine with that. Okay.

[B]

Oh, we were talking about it at the end of the other letter.

[A]

Well, so good luck. Bibi. This is. I think. Yeah, just block this person if they're not already next time they show up at the door ringing the bell continuously again, you know, you don't have to pretend you're not home. Just don't answer the door. And if they stay, call somebody to have them removed, but do not speak directly to this person again.

[B]

You should hide a little speaker in the bushes or something. The next step, set it to play. This is an alarm. The feds are on the way. You know, just like, something.

[A]

You can do that with, like, cameras? Yes, you can do it. Yeah, like the doggy cams. You could just stick it.

[B]

That's what I would do.

[A]

Back away from my fucking property, you psychotic bitch.

[B]

The camera has detected a facial recognition that has been listed on our get the away from us database.

[A]

Yes. Okay. Good luck, Bibi. If you have a question for us, send it on over to AskTheRead gmail.com. we'll take a quick break and be right back.

[B]

Hey, y'all. I don't know about you, but maybe this dating app fatigue thing the Internet is talking about is real, Because I'm tired from swiping this way to that way. How many likes are too many likes? Is that the bubble you tap? Should I send a message? I'm nervous. Oh, they sent a message. It's two words. Well, I don't know how to respond to that. It's too much. It's too much. And a lot of dating apps are all about pursuing someone else. But there's one that's carved out a space for you to find yourself. Field on field, an app where curious people come to connect. You have the breathing room to explore your own desires and go on a journey wherein the person you discover is yourself, you, friend. Because if you can't love on you, if you can't know all about you, if you can't get into you how anybody else supposed to, right on field, you have options, maybe more than you even think. With 20 plus sexuality and gender identities to choose from, you have the freedom to explore who you are and what you like in ways that you've never even imagined. Plus, there's no pressure to swipe. If you happen to skip someone's profile, you can always go back or undo a dislike, all at no extra cost. If you're looking for friends, connections, all kinds of things and all kinds of forms, Field is the place to do it. So download Field, that's F E E L D, get it on the App Store or Google Play. Go have some fun, meet yourself and maybe some fun. This podcast is sponsored and brought to you by Squarespace. Squarespace is the all in one website platform for entrepreneurs to stand out and to succeed online. And boy, y'all are hitting all kinds of licks these days. So for your brand new Courtesy of TikTok Co. Puppy socks and kitten hats, you're going to need a place to house that information and product. And you can get 10% off your first purchase of a website or [e-mail] there introducing Design Intelligence from Squarespace combining two decades of industry leading design expertise with cutting edge AI technology to unlock your strongest creative potential. You don't even have to do the work. Squarespace is ready to do the work for you. Okay, so all you have to do is just crochet them puppy socks and let Squarespace do the rest. Check out squarespace.com for a free trial and when you're ready to launch squarespace.com3 to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or a domain, let them know we sent you. All right guys, we're back. It's time for the read. I will take it away because I have just one and it isn't a big deal unless you, I guess like video games and scary ones. There is a film coming out this year called Until Dawn. Until dawn is a film adaptation of a horror game that came out in 2015 and was remade last year. The game is made by Supermassive has gone on to make loads and loads of cinematic choose your own adventure horror games. Until dawn is probably their most famous and maybe their best one. It's a game where it's kind of like Life is Strange Crystal where you have like choices you make.

[A]

I do love that game.

[B]

Different endings, but since it's the horror horror story, different characters can die or you know, you can try and keep them all alive until the end. You get whatever, whatever, that kind of thing. Without spoiling too much of it, the original until dawn game takes place on a snowy cabin over the course of one night where a group of friends are falling victim to a mysterious killer. And then about Halfway through, it transforms into something even crazier. It's so much fun. One of my favorite scary games. So when they announced that they were making a movie for it, I was like, yay, we'll get to watch until dawn as a movie. And then recently, maybe a week or so ago, I read that they said, you know, the film will have a new cast of characters. Characters and a new story. And I said, fuck. Yesterday, they released a first look for the until dawn film. This movie ain't got a goddamn living fucking thing to do with the game. Besides the name until dawn and the fact that Peter Stormare is in it playing somebody completely different, it has like. I don't understand. Hollywood. Hollywood, Hollywood. I don't understand why y'all keep fucking doing this. I. I think the writer in this first look said something like, we wanted to give fans of the game something that was different. We wanted to just make something. So it wasn't like you were just experiencing the same story as the game. That's what we wanted. We wanted to experience the story of a game. That's what a fucking adaptation is. It's when you take the thing and you adapt it for a different medium. If you take the thing and make it another thing, it's not adapting any goddamn thing. This doesn't have shit to living do with it. Okay? In this first look, they explain that in the story, which takes place, I guess, in a cabin in a valley in the middle of the damn day. So the setting, different characters, different. Then it's like some shit where they find. They start dying, but then they wake up, they reawaken after their deaths and realize that they have to, like, solve some sort of mystery where they keep dying and reawakening in different ways. Before Dawn. That is a movie called Happy Death Day.

[A]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. The Purge.

[B]

What the fuck are y'all talking about? That's not even a mechanic in the game. Because I think the director was like, you know, well, the characters in the game, they have multiple deaths. There's all kinds of different ways that they can die. Yeah. And you find the different ways when you finish the game and maybe play it again. You can't rewind time. There's no you die and come back mechanic in that game at all. So even that has the fuck nothing to do with Until Dawn. The only thing that this has in common with until dawn, the game, is the name of it. I don't understand what did. Like. And this is something I've seen done, like, countless times, especially with film and television, where they're like, yeah, we're gonna take this incredibly popular, successful IP and just change it from the root to the branches and leaves. We're just gonna make it completely different because y'all. And it has never worked. It has never worked. It has never worked. Especially in a game with until dawn that has so much replayability. The 2015 game, many of us who are fans of it played it, like, a dozen times to see all the different interactions, all the different deaths, see all the different things or whatever. So what makes you. And then you re released it last year, and fans played it again. So what made you think that we wouldn't want to see that story? We've played 20 times, happily as a film. I hate each and every living one of you bitches. This went from a movie that I was ready to see hype about first weekend to I don't even know if I'll watch this bitch when it streams.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

I hate y'all. And I don't understand why the people who make movies and greenlight movies are permitted to do so. All you ever do is, like, remake garbage after garbage, make sequels to shit that don't need no motherfucking sequels. And then when you do have half of an original idea, instead of just calling it Hourglass or something, you're like, oh, people love Until Dawn. It makes a whole bunch of money. Let's just call it Until Dawn. Because people will come see this movie just because. And then hate it. Who cares? We'll still have their money. Fuck y'all. I'm not seeing a goddamn thing. And, bitch, if you're listening to this podcast right now and you happen to be a fan of until dawn and heard about this movie or are about to hear about this movie, don't go watch it. It looks like trash. It has nothing to do with the fucking until dawn movie. And if you want to see a movie where a bitch gets killed and then wakes up and wants to know why, go watch Happy Death Day or Happy Death Day two. I'm done, dumbasses. Also, LA County, Y'all need to figure out these Amber Alerts because I have never, ever, ever had an Amber Alert, only to get another one five minutes later. That said, disregard that Amber Alert. I've never seen that. I've never seen Disregard that Amber Alert. It wasn't for you. Never.

[A]

I think they sent it out to the whole county mistakenly.

[B]

The whole county? County.

[A]

Yikes, sister girl. You don't see how that would be a problem? Oh, no. Oh, man. Okay, well, so, first of all, everybody who has been on Ivory Plaza's Instagram harassing her in one way or another since her husband died, what have they.

[B]

Been doing to my Queen?

[A]

So I. So Aubrey Plaza has deleted her Instagram account. As we all know, her husband died, I think, a couple of weeks ago or maybe right around Christmas, and apparently y'all swarmed her Instagram comments, talking about, oh, my God, Queen, you're single now. Oh, my God, Aubry, give me a chance. Oh, my God. Like. Like, basically, you know, thirsting after her and making her hate this planet. Her new status. Like, a thing to. To joke about. Like, I. I don't know. I. Yalls brains are broken. Yalls brains are really fucked up. It's that or asking or accusing her of, like, having something to do with it. Oh, you did such and such to, like, push him over the edge. Why you didn't prevent this. Why you. Blah, blah, blah. Like, it's. It's been a combination of y'all being absolutely fucking terrible to the point where that girl deleted her Instagram so that you were forced to stop. And so, as always, it's not enough of y'all getting your shit rocked for the way you act online and fuck every last one of you who felt like this was an appropriate or okay thing to do to someone who is clearly in mourning. Like, it's just. This goes back to what we were saying earlier about, you know, making fun of the people who lost their homes in the fires. Have you considered that you could just log off and not be a terrible goddamn human being? Like, you could just not do that. Just consider that, please, the next time. Also, Carrie Underwood. Wow. I guess we all knew this day was going to come.

[B]

Jesus. Not your Underwood.

[A]

My.

[B]

You're Underwood.

[A]

I mean, the thing about it is, of course, of course, I always knew Carrie Underwood was, like, a Republican conservative. Of course I knew she was a Trump supporter. But for her to come out and confirm it, slam her dick on the table, say, yes, I'm singing at the inauguration. And if you mad about it, be mad. Some bullshit about, you know, the country needs unity right now, and, oh, yeah, he'll do it just so. Right. Right. The country needs to be unified. And you think this is. Sweetie, we need to be unified because it's people like Trump that are destroying the lives of regular, everyday citizens like you.

[B]

He did this. What made you think he would unify.

[A]

Him being hateful, girl, like, he's been okay, so, you know, that's. That was. That was really it for before he cheats for Miss Chakota for. It's sad because I've been a huge Carrie Underwood fan from day fucking one. Day fucking one, for good reason. But I simply can't abide this. And I saw a lot of comments of like, well, I hope y'all give her the same treatment y'all gave Chrisette Michelle. It ain't even a question, baby. It's nothing for me. It is absolutely nothing for me. But while I was looking up, you know, getting the details of this story, which is basically just her doing it, and then the statement from her people, I also learned that the Village People will also be performing. What? Yes. They went from asking him not to play YMCA at the rallies to saying, oh, Trump playing YMCA has caused our streams to go way up, and now we're making money. So they will now also be performing Lee Greenwood, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flats, Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, Rascal Flats, Billy. Well, these are not surprising, and apparently.

[B]

According Village People is probably the most surprising one yet.

[A]

According to the Wall Street Journal, they will be having a crypto ball to celebrate Donald Trump and his support for cryptocurrency. And Snoop.

[B]

Wait a minute.

[A]

Snoop Dogg is expected to perform at.

[B]

Okay, what the fuck? A lie is a crypto ball.

[A]

So a bunch of different crypto companies are having a ball. It will be at the DC's. At DC's Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. Tickets started at 2,500. Those are already sold out. Only the $5,000 tickets remain. It is hosted by BTC, co hosted by Stan with Crypto Exodus, Anchorage Digital, Kraken. Sponsorship comes from Coinbase, Sui, Mistin Labs, Metamask, Galaxy, Ondo Solana. It's a lot. It's a lot. It's a lot. But apparently Snoop is performing at that. However, you know, this. This list of celebrities who I am disgusted by is not even all that I came here to talk about again. It was. It was fuck Carrie Underwood specifically and primarily. And then, of course, the View talked about this decision of Carrie's to sing at the inauguration. And Whoopi Goldberg spoke up and said, I stand behind her. Not, she's not a Trump supporter. She made that clear. Not a fan of Donald Trump, but she supports Kerry's decision to perform at the inauguration. She said, if I believe I have the right to make up my mind to go perform someplace, I believe they have the same right. So I have to support her. It doesn't mean I'm interested in watching. I won't be watching. But that's me now. I'd just like to say, as respectfully as possible, standing behind somebody and believing they have the right to do something are two different things.

[B]

Right?

[A]

Yes. I believe you have the right to go perform anywhere you have been invited to perform. Yes, you have the right. Of course you do. But I don't stand behind you in your decision to go support a racist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, all around terrible ass wipe of a human being. No, I do not. I do not stand behind her. That's two different things. I don't have to support you because I believe in your right to make your own decisions about your life. I believe in your right to make decisions for yourself. Because I believe in my right to make decisions for me. Yes. That doesn't mean that we support each other's decisions. It means that we support the right to autonomy. Yes. So I'm not sure why Whoopi Goldberg, who has been on this planet a long time, is conflating those two things as if they are the same. They are not.

[B]

Furthermore, if you aren't interested in watching it, you don't like the president. How are you supporting?

[A]

What is there to support? Right? I stand behind her. I have to support her. You don't. You don't and you aren't. Right. You don't and you're not. So then what are you saying again? Two different things. Two different things. She compared it to the MSNBC hosts, you know, meeting with Trump after the win, after he won, and how.

[B]

That is not the same thing.

[A]

People were. Well, first of all, those people work in news, but she's, you know, she was basically like, you know, they felt like they did what they needed to do, and so I have to stand behind them. You just don't have to. That was the thing.

[B]

Right?

[A]

Journalists are supposed to have a certain degree of, like, neutrality here. This whole meeting with Trump at Mar a Lago to go rub elbows and all that is problematic, depending on who you ask and why, but especially for Carrie Underwood, who has nothing to do with politics at all. You literally could just sit there and sing Monday Night Football like you have been doing all this time, and that would be fine. Like your job has nothing to do with politics at all. You inserted yourself into this arena and so to say, oh, well, I support her, right, to do what she wants to do, so I have to stand behind her. It's just foolish. Yes, she has the right, obviously, but I don't support it at all. And then the other one, the bitch on the View who used to work for Trump was like, I just hope this means that we're coming to an end of this cancel era where we want to get rid of people and ruin their livelihoods because we don't like their politics. And if you don't like what Carrie's doing, you can just complain by not streaming her songs and not going to her concerts before you white devils caught ahold of it. That's exactly what cancel means, right? It means me personally, I am not supporting you financially. I don't see it for you. That's exactly what that means.

[B]

I hate you.

[A]

Stop using our fucking words.

[B]

I hate you.

[A]

I just hope we're past the era of canceling people's livelihoods. And if you don't like it, just don't listen to her songs or buy tickets to her shows. That's how I know you don't know what cancel means.

[B]

It was just because I didn't like it, I was going to buy tickets to her shows and go, what are you talking about? Are you stupid?

[A]

It was never some institutional cancel cancellation. It was never. It's. That's never been what it means.

[B]

We don't have monthly meetings or dues.

[A]

Such and such. If I say such and such is canceled, I simply don't with them. I don't support them. I don't see it for their career or what they're doing. That's it. Yeah, I used to and now I don't. That's what it means.

[B]

Mind your business. And not black business.

[A]

Stop saying woke when you really mean not racist. Stop saying di when you really mean nigga.

[B]

Yeah, but you won't.

[A]

What do you think cancellation really means? It's these specific people saying, I don't fuck with you. Canceling by canceling. That's what you just said.

[B]

A lot. A lot of the people in those positions who use it are specifically using it for the truly mouth mongrels who live in the country who don't understand any of this. It's just. It's dog whistling, you know, it's keywords to, you know, piss people off.

[A]

Yeah, well, it was quite stupid. You literally said, very dope. Don't cancel people, just cancel them. Okay, dumb, but yeah, that's a. That's a mighty you to all of y'all. And Snoop, I really got my eye on you. My. What is this about? What's this? What's this? Crypto ball? No, nevermind. What am I talking about?

[B]

When I saw that nigga performing Gin and Juice at the Game Awards, I knew.

[A]

I don't even I don't even know what I'm asking. Because of course, Snoop's thing is somebody probably reached out and said, we got $3 million for you if you'll come flat out.

[B]

Easy, easy. What do you mean?

[A]

What might actually save him is I don't think Trump is going to this ball. I think they just are having it. It might even be officially sanctioned, but I'm not sure that Trump is actually going to be there. And so if there's anything that saves Snoop from the Negro court of public opinion, it might be that. But I'm still looking at you crazy. My nigga taking any dime from them people I don't fuck with. But Carrie, girl, I mean, it's been real. It's been real. Had a great time. Them 20 years you gave me had fun, but that's it for me. That's it. We have nothing else to talk about. There's just.

[B]

I just threw my Louisville slugger out the window, man.

[A]

You just can't with white country artists. You just know that this is always waiting. It's only a handful.

[B]

I have to just.

[A]

It's only a handful.

[B]

Hope for the best.

[A]

Yeah, but the rest of them. Oh, Miley told us about her daddy and I guess maybe now y'all know, but.

[B]

Oh, yeah, I guess.

[A]

Here we go. And yeah, that y'all. That inauguration is on Monday. I will be taking my child to daycare and aggressively not watching the television. That's what I will be doing. That's what I should again. Yes. And that will wrap up this week's episode of the Reading. Check us out on social media at this is the Read. You can find our merch [e-mail] this.

[B]

Nigga said not like us is anti Semitic.

[A]

Tickets are available for our 12 year anniversary show on Saturday, February 15th in New York City at thereadlive.com Drake said that the chorus of not like us is anti Semitic because, I mean, you didn't think maybe the pedophile part was the part that's not like us and not the Jewish part. Like, why would it be the Jewish part and not the black Jewish people anyway? Y'all just be saying.

[B]

Or non black Jewish people who would be like saying shit, it's you, Aubrey.

[A]

It's you, girly Pop. It is.

[B]

It's me. Patreon.com Kid Fury. We've got Lego building, we've got Fury spots, we've got movie reactions, we've got all kinds of discord. We've got Spotify plays, got all kinds of fun [e-mail] Kid Fury. Go and join now. Make sure that you check me and my friend Crystal out live in New York City next month for our anniversary show. I forget what number I think 12 or 13. One of the girls, 12, I think.

[A]

I just did the promotion for the anniversary.

[B]

The show's old so we're gonna celebrate that on the 15th of February. Make sure you go to thereadlive.com for tickets because it can't wait.

[A]

All right. Yeah. 12 years of doing this and we are just so grateful that y'all continue to invite us into your homes and cars when your children are not around. Thank you so much to everybody who reached out last week. Sometimes when they are with kind and support, things to say really meant a lot to me and yeah, I guess that'll wrap up the show. Take care of yourselves, etc.

[B]

Etc.

[A]

We'll see y'all next week.