VIRAL NEWS: ANTISEMITIC PROTEST, ARIANA DEBOSE RAP, & TEENAGE YOU.
A peek into the topics buzzing at Cassandra
Friday has arrived! And with it, the latest edition of our viral news roundup! The internet moves fast, so we at Cassandra try to move even faster and catch all the topics young people can't stop talking about. From anti-Semitic protests at Broadway shows to wholesome TikTok filters and a very interesting BAFTA performance, here are the top stories that have been making waves online this week.
NEO NAZI PROTESTERS RAIN ON BEN PLATT'S PARADE
On Tuesday, the line outside the first night of previews for the Broadway revival of the Tony-Award-winning musical Parade was disrupted by a group of anti-Semitic protesters that settled in front of the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre to heckle the audience waiting to go in. Ironically, the play, starring Broadway darling Ben Platt, is about one of the most high-profile antisemitic crimes in US history, the case of Leo Frank, a Jewish man wrongfully convicted of murder who was kidnapped from his jail cell and lynched in 1915. The protesters, that identified themselves as part of the Neo-nazi organization National Socialist Movement held signs accusing theatergoers of "paying money to go worship a pedophile," referring to Frank. Platt, who is Jewish himself, took to Instagram on Wednesday to express his sadness and outrage and to highlight how this is precisely the reason why this story is so necessary to tell.
TIKTOK TEENAGE FILTER HITS RIGHT IN THE FEELS
In lighter news, a new TikTok filter that makes users look like teenagers has taken the app by storm. The filter, which uses artificial intelligence to change facial features and skin texture, has been used by millions worldwide, #TeenageFilter currently has over 250 Million views. Some users have been sharing lighthearted videos of themselves using the filter to transform into their teenage selves, with many poking fun at their own awkward adolescent years. But this spotlight on the effect that time has on people's appearance has been emotionally rougher for other users. A few Millennials have used this tool to show their teenage kids how they used to look; others are using it to simply see their younger selves with a little more compassion. While some have reacted bittersweetly to the filter, many users have embraced it as a fun and wholesome way to relive their younger years.
ARIANA DEBOSE DID THE THING
We're sorry, it's too perfect of a title not to use it.
Finally, the 76th BAFTA Awards ceremony in London provided some internet-exploding entertainment this week, thanks to the opening performance by Broadway and Hollywood star Ariana DeBose. Between her stunning covers of "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" and "We Are Family," she released her inner theater kid and surprised us with an original rap —she was in Hamilton, after all— honoring the female performances nominated this year. Her delivery created such a polarized response that the segment became viral in minutes. Mainly the way she gave us the memorable line: "Angela Bassett did the thing." What started as unabashed criticism of the lyrics' randomness and overall performance —so much that DeBose deactivated her Twitter account— later evolved into giving the number a Camp icon status with people memorizing and recreating the very catchy song. Buzzfeed has even created a quiz to ensure you know the lyrics. Instant meme alert!