Hello friends!
I am back stateside and, frankly, not that psyched about it.
I, like many of you, am gutted and devastated.
Knowing what was going to happen with Roe didn’t stop me from being brought to my knees, weeping.
The thing is, we were never hysterical. We were never overreacting. We were fucking terrified. And now it’s here. That motherfucker Clarence Thomas has also made another thing we’ve all known clear as day: They are coming for all of it—and they’re just saying what we’ve long known out loud and on the record now.
The court also did some fucked up shit re: guns and Miranda rights. So it’s a real good time here in America where a state can tell me what do with my own fucking body but can’t regulate guns.
Take me back to London. Please.
As I always say when things like this happen (which is way too often in this country of ours), I will leave further discussion to the people who are far better schooled in it than I and try to offer, perhaps, a brief moment of reprieve with my nonsense.
My old friend Elie made this important point—and is a GREAT follow for legal and political commentary—and I second it wholeheartedly. I hope more men start shouting from the rooftops, too. Abortion is healthcare and it does not just impact people who can carry babies.
Also:
Now I will move on. (But it’s very okay if you don’t want to right now. Feel however you’re feeling.)
First, a huge congrats to my fellow Dukie Paolo Banchero who went #1 in last night’s NBA draft when were were out here thinking he was going #3. I believe it had something to do with all the Prince vibes in his suit.
Second, a thank you to my friend Allie, who coined the subject line of today’s post when I texted her that I had bought a ticket on the front pitch for Harry’s second night at Wembley the morning of…because of COURSE I did. More on that later.
I’ve been spending the time since I got back trying to re-engage with the work that pays my way to concerts and catching up on all my shows and whatnot. And also going slowly insane because Insta keeps giving me a message notification on the WHN account but there are no new messages and as a person who operates at no red dots/notifications levels at all times…this is a maddening situation. But I digress.
On tap this weekend: Loot with Maya Rudolph and the new season of For All Mankind on AppleTV+ and a dash of the latest Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip, for starters. I’ve also got to see Elvis and Marcel the Shell ASAP too.
An Elephant Never Forgets
I basically didn’t watch TV for 10 days last week (AHHHH!!!) and tried to engage less on platforms that were not Instagram (I can only do so much!) but I did find extreme joy in Elephant Twitter last week while poolside in the Hamptons.
ICYMI:
Twitter did its thing and I was beside myself.
philip lewis @Phil_Lewis_
Elephant kills woman in India and returns to trample on her corpse at funeral after lifting her body from pyre as family performed last rites https://t.co/k7MYUkAc06
J. Skyler @jskylerinc
WAIT. HOW DID THE ELEPHANT KNOW THE DATE OF THE FUNERAL?
There’s so much more that came from if you just go on Twitter and search elephant funeral. Enjoy.
The Whole Clique Snapped
Bey is back. She’s sleeping well at night. She’s on a new vibration. She’s advocating us all to quit our jobs and meet at a club in the ‘90s. She’s sampling Robin S's “Show Me Love.” She’s giving us a summer anthem we can all dance to. I was welcomed back to JFK with the early drop of “Break My Soul” and frankly that’s the only to do it.
For it all, we thank you.
This tweet continues to make me lol days later.
Bey Twitter is just always so good.
I’m getting a lot of confusing advice from my favs though. Beyoncé wants me to release my job and Harry doesn’t want me to go broke. What’s a fangirl to do? JK, the answer is give them all my money of course. And try to turn my obsessions into a full-time job. This seems like the only way.
Speaking of obsessions, Blondie’s out here wreaking havoc on my soul once again with a new song, “Carolina”. Taylor wrote it for the film adaptation of Where the Crawdads Sing and it was teased in the trailer. But now we’ve got the full tune in all its haunting entirety.
Here’s what she had to say about it:
About a year and half ago I wrote a song about an incredible story, the story of a girl who always lived on the outside, looking in. Figuratively and literally. The juxtaposition of her loneliness and independence. Her longing and her stillness. Her curiosity and fear, all tangled up. Her persisting gentleness… and the world’s betrayal of it. I wrote this one alone in the middle of the night and then @aarondessner and I meticulously worked on a sound that we felt would be authentic to the moment in time when this story takes place. I made a wish that one day you would hear it. ‘Carolina’ is out now 🥺
As I said on IG, before my rights were stripped away: “Taylor’s “Carolina” and Harry’s “Carolina” couldn’t be more different. But I love them both as much as I loved going to school in Carolina.
Magical Mystery Tour
Speaking of Harold*, six years ago this week he signed his solo record deal and now he’s fresh off selling out back-to-back nights at Wembley Stadium. What a run, British fruit man. What a run.
You can listen to lots of fun (hopefully!) details about my trip on this week’s pod. (Also if you have not watched The Summer I Turned Pretty on Amazon, please do so immediately. It’s so wonderful and the music is BEYOND. I put most of the songs from the series onto a playlist of the same name on Apple in case you’re interested. There is lots of Taylor + other amazing goodness.)
*For non-Coven of Psychos members, Harold is a fandom term of endearment and not actually his name. This motherfucker was legit given the name Harry Styles at birth.
I won’t completely repeat myself but let me just say that singing and dancing and vibing with 90,000 people while this man does his thing is quite literally magical and mystical and life-affirming. So much so that I decided to go back for seconds on Sunday night, from down on the pitch, twirling around with all my young, gorgeous, kind friends. I ended up going with my friend Beth, who I met right here through a Substack writers program. She lives in London, but is also from Indiana and we have so much in common. It’s WILD. I turned another one, Coven! This was also our first time meeting IRL and not on a screen, so that was pretty epic too.
She wrote about the experience here and I just love that I got to share it with her. Also, check out her v. cool Curious Minds Substack. (You’ll hear another friend from our group on next week’s pod!)
Some highlights in no particular order from both nights:
Pre-show singalongs with the entire crowd belting out Queen and Spice Girls
His outfits. Duh. Heart overalls N1 + extremely riiiiiiiche looking sequin top and white pants N2. And yes, I’m probably going to cave and get a pair of the Gucci x Adidas sneaks. They’re sooooooo good.
The crowd’s fabulous looks. A Harry show never disappoints…and leaves a trail of feathers in its wake.
I used this very excellent company, Seat Unique, for our N1 tickets and they even upgraded us to a better package that included 100 level seats and access to a super fun hospitality room pre- and post-show. Gwen and I got to meet up with our old friend Amy and her husband and kids. I continued to dance my face off + ofc bonded with their tween daughter over our shared interest in the British man. As you can tell from this video, I was having an absolutely terrible time.
TWO RAIN SHOWS! He got himself wet for us twice!
H paying tribute to the late great Freddie Mercury with his own vocal improvisation crowd call outs. “Since we’re at Wembley…” and all. Nobody will ever do it quite like Freddie, but it was fun as hell.
When he was taking it all in and getting choked up…an angel and a devil, this one. My savior and my killer. (Also, he did this new barking thing in Manchester and now the crowds are doing it every night lol. You can hear it in the second video.)
The way Satellite goes SO HARD live. Though of course I wish I could have heard Little Freak + Daydreaming + Grapejuice, I feel like they could make it onto setlists at the mini-residencies. Especially since he has already toured Fine Line here, which he has not in the rest of the world.
A collective cry and sing during Matilda each night with 90,000 people. I mean, even Sarah got choked up.
I mentioned this on the pod but on N2 I was sort of crying, thinking about how many young people there might be in a situation like that and maybe they didn’t feel so alone anymore—and a sweet lil teen dream just walked over and put her arm around me to give me a hug. And then we swayed and sang together. That’s just a totally normal thing that happens at Harry shows—and it was so cool to experience the energy down on the pitch where you could really move around and dance and hug at will. Very dancing to the Dead on the lawn at Deer Creek vibes for me. Everyone is just looking out for each other and you feel so safe, both physically and emotionally. Also, we were shoe twins.
TPWK conga line. Always. I was in this on Sunday night. IT WAS AMAZING. As I said on the podcast, the pulse of your life does not need to weaken as you get older. Jump right on in, babies!!!!!
Another glorious coming out on N2, which you can hear a clip of on the pod. “You’re officially gay, my boy!!!!” Again, this is the safe space of Harry shows where you can be whoever you want to be and know that you are loved and accepted.
Obvs I did not see this with my own eyes, but Niall and Gemma (Styles, Harry’s sister) together pleased me greatly.
This happened in Dublin the other night, but I had to throw it in for my Psychos. IYKYK. This cheeky bugger with a classic banana callback.
One last thing, even though I could go on forever and ever. Especially on a day like today when I want to forget about the reality of the world and live inside this magical space. Honestly, I think it might be time for H to initiate full cult protocol. Let’s all move to Eroda and start a new society built on music and kindness and fruit and boas. And edging 😉. We’ll have every profession covered and look chic as fuck at all times. I’m in—and I know quite a few others who are ready to go at any moment. I loved this post from his creative director, Molly Hawkins, today and also feel it in my bones. Thanks H + crew + everyone who makes the arena or stadium feel like the only place you ever want to be.
On the 6
I honestly didn’t know I could love Jennifer Lopez more and then I watched Halftime, her Netflix documentary. It’s really great and absolutely inspiring to watch her work ethic and drive. I also got super pissed all over again about the Hustlers snub.
There are so many amazing moments, both big and small. And yes, Affleck appears. But there was a particular conversation that really resonated with me. It was with some exec named Ricky from the NFL and it so mirrored a few not-so-fun calls I’ve had about my own creative work and the WHN brand. I felt that deeeeeeep in my soul, even though I’m not operating on a level like J. Lo.
But I felt validated beyond measure. Fighting for what you know to be right for your brand and your vision is not always easy and I apologize way too much for it sometimes, especially as a woman. But I KNOW what it needs to be and I do have high expectations for people, but I don’t actually want to fight…just like J. Lo. But that look on her face after the call, I know that one too. Whew.
I just love her so much. Benny Medina still gives me icks though. I don’t think that’s ever going to change.
Oh, and…
I am EXTREMELY into the vibe of this house … Brad Pitt content is always welcome in this house … Nobody cares about Teddi Mellencamp and we certainly don’t need to know about her son’s exposure therapy for his fear of elevators. WHAT ARE WE DOING AMERICA? … Damn right this is true … To me, this is a perfect tweet … Shiloh is so grown up and a fantastic dancer … Beanie Feldstein got engaged. Yay Bean! I just love this whole family so much … On top of everything else, women are also facing a possible tampon shortage. Get me the fuck off this ship!!!!
Until next week, here is a photo of Justin Timberlake and his anti-vax/friend of RFK Jr wife that caused a level of secondhand embarrassment in the core of my being that I may never shake. He looks so absurd. ICYMI this isn’t the first time he acted the fool this week. Don’t get me wrong, I went hard for his early solo stuff but I also find him to be one of the more insufferable famouses we have. Imagine sitting next to him at a dinner party. Ew. Also, how jealous do you think he is of Harry’s current career situation…in music and in film? I feel like the limit does not exist.
Hang in there. We’ll get through this hellscape too. I love you all.
xA
“He got himself wet for us twice” when I tell you I GASPED! Icons- love seeing you two together!
Love seeing the beautiful photo of you Abby and Beth! Fab Substack friends. Looks like a blast.