the double text #3
Back where we started from.
Hey, and Hi babes,
I hope we’ve all been hanging in okay as we continue to lounge in Pisces season, which asks us to continue to rest and recover even if we’ve had machinations to climb a mountain.
Suppose you’ve been having dreams, weird or happy, adventurous or scary, or even slices of reality that feel more than vivid. In that case, I can only recommend journaling about them cuz, well, it’s what I’ve been doing, and it’s a tried and true method that aids in the process of release. I’ll have more on this later, but right now, I’m still meditating and answering some questions of my own, and it’s a lil too early to share.
Light and quiet arguments may be brewing, so do your best to figure out how you can communicate clearly to allow others to do the same and to prevent an explosive episode. If you find they’re unable, cut the cord like the Fates.
Also, there are no weekly individual horoscopes for the star signs today. I’m thinking about how I’d like to reform that section of the newsletter since many of you have been asking for personal readings, so I’m shifting to accommodate that instead of a bite-sized version. I’ll keep you posted on that, and if you absolutely love your weekly horoscope and don’t feel like you can live without it — let me know in the comments.
Why would they do this to Wendy Williams?
The Hollywood Reporter interviewed the documentarians who created and produced Lifetime’s “Where is Wendy Williams?”, a documentary centering on where she’s been and released in a two-night event over a weekend in mid-February. Just after the release of the film, news that Wendy had been diagnosed with dementia and aphasia hit the headlines. Then, the discourse began about Wendy’s vulnerability and the ethics surrounding the development and filming of this project. Clips from the doc have spread like wildfire on social, and I don’t think it’s necessary to link them here because, well…
It’s not entirely clear when the documentarians became aware that Wendy was afflicted, but it seems they were aware long before they could confirm it, having suspicions of their own, and long before the doc was picture-locked and released. With that in mind, their admission that they ‘never would have filmed’ had they known falls more than a little short for me.
Though I’ve not seen the documentary and am undecided on whether I’ll watch it,
advises in his latest note that we shouldn't— I think the interview by The Hollywood Reporter, at the very least, is worth the read.Here’s why: The documentarians can’t help but give themselves away - admitting how uncomfortable and inappropriate filming became along the way. The thing is, when people are guilty, they just can’t help but tell you all about it. So their decision to continue filming despite questioning if they should was obviously in their own self-interest given how far along the project had progressed, and the time they’d invested.
When we create, we have a moral responsibility to do it ethically and responsibly, which is why this dialogue surrouding the development of the project should be critically assessed for all our processes and how we tell stories. Ensuring that subjects who are vulnerable are protected and not exploited should be the minimum.
“Confidence, Cohen” -Anna Stern
It’s safe to say that the first boy I ever loved was Seth Cohen. He was funny, charming, had great taste in music, and self-described as a little awkward but hardly to me since his inner monologues were confirmations that gave way to the peaks and valleys of the way the mind can jog. Maybe it was a little weird how he loved Summer Roberts, but back then, in the early aughts, all the girlies hoped the cute boy with curls secretly loved them from afar, myself included in this.
Photo credit: Warner Bros / Courtesy Everett Collection
The O.C. was a first love of mine even beyond Seth, the Cohens, and, needless to say, my affection for Peter Gallagher, depending on the volume of his hair swoops. Yes, fine, I loved Ryan, too, but I also loved LUKE (“Welcome to the O.C, bitch!!”) and obviously his gay dad!!! Like, did I impulsively move to California (2019-2021) because I watched this show as a teenager? Maybe??
I remember one summer (the season, not the character), reruns would play on Oxygen, and I laid on the couch in 3-6 hour blocks. My mom would wander into the living room to ask me if I was depressed — almost daily — and I would truthfully answer, no (yes), I was just living in The OC!! Plus, at the time, it was 104 degrees outside in Texas, so it seemed apparent [to me] that I was trying not to die of heat stroke.
There is art about this show’s development and a testament to the writing that continues to hold viewers’ attention decades after the chaotic, emotional, strange, and insane characters came to a crashing halt after four seasons. The way they killed Marissa and the toll it took on Summer will haunt me forever. It is a far-from-perfect series; I have notes and questions remaining, but here are some answers to what went down behind the scenes from the Teen Queens who spoke on the Call Her Daddy podcast, shedding light on the real-world turmoil during filming.
We've been on the run
Driving in the sun
Looking out for number one
California, here we come
Listen to Mischa Barton talk about Marissa Cooper and Rachel Bilson talk about Summer Roberts. Warning: It’s triggering and upsetting.
If you’d like to remain in your feels, here is the incomparable funeral procession of Caleb Nichol, the O.G. callous, absent rich daddy of all daddies that somehow charmed yet ruined us, with the greatest song of all time, “Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heap.
Reesa Teesa’s TikTok Tale
Last week, TikTok creator Reesa Teesa released her 50-part series, “Who TF Did I Marry?!?!” which sent shockwaves through our algorithms. Reesa was still uploading all the videos when the algo started serving me her content, and because I continue to be chronically online, I jumped in right away.
My little cousin and I were immediately floored by the web of lies this woman says she experienced. I think if you’ve ever been lied to in a relationship, it’s easy to connect with her story, and despite the number of red flags I’ve collected on my own lil path littered with crappy exes, just like Reesa, the only person who can pull you out of your hell hole is yourself. I mean that. If you are not ready to move forward, you will stay in the loop - from Reesa’s tale, she remained in the loop until she finally pushed the red escape button.
While you should definitely go listen to Reesa in her own words on Tiktok, I also wrote a recap of parts 1-50 if you’d prefer to read it. I cannot imagine we are stopping here, as her ex is now coming out of the woodwork to dispute her claims and now insists that she’s the liar.
But I’d love to know—where were you when Reesa Teesa broke the internet?
What did she say????
Read this astute article by writer and poet, Maria Santa Poggi, where she dissects How ‘She’s Not a Girl’s Girl’ Became the Worst Insult for Elle.
This is a sharp, accurate depiction of girlhood and all the ways women are pulled apart with the current glossary of terms floating throught zeitgeist.
I cannot tell you how critical this piece is, and all the ways I personally felt pushed or shoved into various spaces in each decade of my life, in an attempt to connect with peers, and finding a sense of acceptance while navigating the intensity of just trying to exist.
Read it here.
Photo Credit: Elle USA
Community News
Lastly, I’m starting a writing club that will meet Wednesday mornings on Teams from 7am-8am ET. It’s for accountability, and also, because I don’t have any coworkers and I’d kinda like some. But I don’t want to talk!
It’ll be a silent meeting, so we can all focus on the writing we so desperately need to get done.
Again, claiming my favorite number entirely separate from Taylor Swift, we will start on March 13th. This section is called Hello, Writers, and I’ll be sure to send you some more details on how it’ll work as the date gets closer. So mark your calendars because in 12 days, WE RIDE. (Also, if you have alt time suggestions, hit me up asap and we can discuss. I want this to work for *us*)