Pop Culture Primer 12.16.24

I’m done with work for the year, but never fear, I won’t leave the five of you who read this high and dry. Here’s what’s going on in pop culture (a little abbreviated because let’s face it, we’re all kinda slacking off this week).

He Put a Ring on It

I’m gonna be honest, I don’t know much about Benny Blanco. I guess he’s a music producer? Famously? I, myself, never heard of him until he was linked to singer Selena Gomez.

In December of 2023, Gomez confirmed she had been dating Blanco for six months, and now, in December 2024, the pair announced their engagement. Taco Bell was involved, and I’m not sure if that was hashtag spon con or if they just really want to Live Más for better and for worse.

I have to say, he’s not a looker, but Gomez looks genuinely happy with him, so for that, I raise a glass to the pair. May they last longer than most Hollywood couples.

Sweeney-Gate

Sydney Sweeny is a certified hottie, and men took to Twitter this week to try gaslight us all into thinking she isn’t.

When photos of the star at home leaked this week, men online were apparently “disgusted” at how a woman looks when she doesn’t realize she’s being stalked by the paparazzi. She was wearing a bikini, and of course, wasn’t red carpet ready, but I’m willing to bet plenty of women would kill to look like that.

Tell us you’ve never had a girlfriend without telling us you’ve never had a girlfriend, boys. Grow up.

Is Paul Mescal Gracie Abrams’s Joe Alwyn?

If you understand that question, congratulations on reaching unprecedented levels of celebrity knowledge brain rot.

Abrams was the musical guest this week on Saturday Night Live, and with her boyfriend, Irish It Boy Paul Mescal, attended the afterparty.

Taylor Swift fans, however, took to social media to proclaim that the way Mescal hurried Gracie away from fans and photographers was similar to how Joe Alwyn would act with Swift, and, as we all know, girlie is an outdoor cat and lives to be seen and greeted.

After all, Mescal was famously in the “Tortured Man Club” group chat with Alwyn and Andrew Scott

Does this bode poorly for the couple? Is Mescal trying to dull our girl’s shine? Only time will tell.

That’s all for this week! If there’s anything specific you want me to cover, feel free to shoot me an email!