Billy Joel is facing backlash from critics who claim he is attempting to dictate his own history following his harsh dismissal of an upcoming feature film. 

The iconic musician publicly rebuked the independent cinematic project about his youth, labeling the endeavor as an improper attempt to capture his early career. 

Notably, award-winning editor and director John Ottman is attached to helm the production, which is scheduled to begin filming this autumn across Winnipeg and New York. 

A new cinematic project tracking the early life of Joel is officially moving forward, though it faces heavy opposition from the legendary musician himself.

Titled “Billy & Me,” the upcoming feature film is set to focus entirely on the singer-pianist’s formative years, capturing his journey long before achieving mainstream fame and releasing his defining 1973 record, “Piano Man.” 

The movie arrives on the heels of a two-part 2025 HBO documentary centered on the artist, titled “And So It Goes.”

However, the production lacks Joel’s personal endorsement, music catalog access, or life rights. In an official statement to Variety, a representative for the artist emphasized, “Billy Joel has not authorized or supported this project in any capacity, and any attempt to move it forward would be both legally and professionally misguided.”

How Fans Reacted To The Upcoming Biopic

The singer’s legal disapproval has done little to deter the public, with many music fans actively turning against his attempts to block the project.

Following the representative’s sharp statement, online commentators quickly accused the superstar of trying to control his own history, noting that he had already successfully established his preferred version of events through his recently authorized HBO documentary. 

“This is what happens when an artist can’t control the narrative– which he accomplished with the recent HBO documentary,” one user wrote.

“Unfortunately, him not wanting it to happen makes me actually want it now,” another commented.   

Furthermore, while observers acknowledged that the singer can easily withhold his music catalog, they noted that public figures cannot easily control general life rights.

“Billy and all of his reps know controlling life rights are pretty hard for public figures… But he definitely will have a stronger hand controlling the music,” a user noted. 

The ‘Billy and Me’ Biopic Is Officially In The Works

The growing support from fans for an unapproved project has highlighted the deep history behind this newly revealed biopic. The upcoming movie, “Billy and Me,” is officially moving forward with Oscar-winning editor Ottman set to direct the features of the legendary 77-year-old musician’s younger days. 

Screenwriter Adam Ripp is collaborating with Ottman on the script, which is scheduled to begin filming this upcoming autumn. 

The cinematic narrative will heavily feature these early dynamics, potentially exploring the complicated real-life history where the musician fell in love with Small’s wife, Elizabeth Weber. The tense situation initially fractured their friendship and preceded a period of severe personal struggle for the singer before they ultimately reconciled. 

Billy Joel Openly Discussed His Ongoing Battle with A Brain Disorder

The extensive media coverage of his musical history stands in sharp contrast to the very real physical challenges the musician has faced behind the scenes.

Last year, Joel opened up about a serious brain disorder that forced him to halt his touring schedule completely, wrapping up his final live performance at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut in February 2025.

The Blast confirmed that the legendary 77-year-old singer was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a neurological condition characterized by an abnormal buildup of spinal fluid inside the brain’s ventricles. 

Speaking candidly, Joel admitted that maintaining his equilibrium has become his single greatest everyday struggle, joking that his “balance sucks.” He went on to describe the constant physical sensation as feeling “like being on a boat,” though he reassured fans that he otherwise feels good.

Michael Jackson’s Recently Released Biopic Was Also Controversial 

The controversial handling of celebrity narratives is not unique to Joel, as major Hollywood biopics frequently alter real-life events due to financial and legal pressures behind the scenes. 

This reality is especially apparent in the production of the highly anticipated Michael Jackson biographical film.

The production of the movie, titled “Michael,” allegedly required a massive combined payout of $25 million for director Antoine Fuqua and producer Graham King to oversee significant changes to the script, as reported by The Blast.

These major financial adjustments were explicitly triggered by the unexpected need to cut out and completely reshoot various scenes that referenced the 1993 child sex abuse allegations made against the late pop icon. 

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 9 seconds ago

For the most part, I hate what YouTube has done to the modern state of film and TV criticism. For every diamond like Red Letter Media, there is plenty of rough like Cinema Sins (plot hole that’s not actually a plot hole? Ding!) and The Critical Drinker (the movie has a woman? Woke garbage!). The internet was designed to democratize information, but countless YouTube channels seemingly exist solely for dumb streamers to make dumber audiences even stupider until the modern state of film discourse has a collective IQ stuck at room temperature.

However, I’m still eternally grateful to YouTube for helping me discover films and TV shows from before my time. For example, I was only two years old when Miami Vice (1984) came out, so I never watched it growing up. I probably never would have watched it because, if I’m being honest, an ’80s cop drama didn’t sound like my cup of TV. But YouTube clips of the series convinced me how effortlessly cool this Michael Mann-produced show really was, and watching it kind of changed my life. It’s now streaming on Tubi for free, making this the perfect watch for anyone who likes police procedurals and wants something far, far better than another serving of NCIS slop.

The Ultimate Ridealong

The premise of Miami Vice is that two unconventional police detectives must team up as undercover detectives in sunny Miami Beach, Florida. The first detective is James “Sonny” Crockett, a gruff divorcee and former football star with more than a few quirks, including a pet alligator. The second detective is Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs, a street-smart ladies’ man from New York who comes to Miami as part of a case. There, he teams up with Sonny, forming arguably the weirdest and most charming buddy cop duo in television history.

It helps that the lead actors were dripping with charisma. Don Johnson brought a laid-back swagger to the role of Crockett that basically exemplified the ‘80s: he was colorful and casually cool, but in his relations with his ex-wife and children, you could tell there was a roaring river of hidden vulnerability. Meanwhile, Philip Michael Thomas portrayed Tubbs as the emotional rock of the duo, one whose confidence was as clear as his appreciation for the ladies. Miami Vice wasn’t always consistent across its five-season run, but these two actors always gave 110 percent to their performances and ended up defining an entire decade.

Sleek, Sexy, And Stylish   

When Miami Vice came out, it was like no other police procedural before it. The origin of the show was a two-word note written by NBC Entertainment head honcho Brandon Tartikoff: “MTV cops.” Showrunner Michael Mann took this idea to heart, and he did something that now seems unthinkable: he aimed this cop show squarely at a younger, MTV-loving audience. As such, the show is all about vibes and the rule of cool rather than boring detective work. As occasional Miami Vice director Lee H. Katzin once put it, “The show is written for an MTV audience, which is more interested in images, emotions, and energy than plot and character and words.” 

A big part of aiming for the MTV generation was having the coolest needle drops in television history. Episodes frequently featured long excerpts of killer ‘70s and ‘80s tunes that played out during extended scenes of atmospheric, visual storytelling, effectively transforming major segments of the show into a stylish music video. It’s a technique that works shockingly well from the very beginning. The first episode has our heroes driving to almost certain death while Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” plays and the camera lingers on shots of their beautiful black Ferrari as the detectives load their guns. It’s just the greatest scene, and one that instantly made me a fan of the entire series.  

One Smoking Hot Show

Another reason to check out Miami Vice is that it’s one of the most visually striking shows ever made. Under the guidance of Michael Mann (who later became one of Hollywood’s most stylish directors), the show was filmed in Miami, which aesthetically dominates (or “frame mogs,” as the kids say) so many shots that it’s practically its own character. Speaking of characters, the ‘80s fashion on display is mind-bogglingly wild, with bright colors that contrast with dark and dirty cases. Don Johnson deserves particular credit for somehow making combinations like a white jacket and light purple pants look like the coolest, most masculine ‘fit on the planet.

Finally, it’s worth watching Miami Vice to experience the groundbreaking series that changed how other major shows were made. For example, Dick Wolf was a writer and producer on this show, and he took the lessons he learned from Michael Mann to create Law & Order, spawning the most successful procedural franchise in television. In terms of influence, Crockett and Tubbs’ looks were so iconic that many still consider them the faces of the ‘80s. This includes Rockstar Games, which took countless cues (in terms of music, fashion, and so much more) from Miami Vice and its heroes to create their best-selling game, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

Are you in the mood to watch a police procedural that could turn into a music video at any minute? Got a hankering for a show filled with the coolest tunes and the absolute hottest people? Or maybe you just want to experience Florida in the safest possible way: from hundreds of miles away, in the comfort of your living room. Whatever your motivation, it’s time to ring up your partner and grab the remote. Together, you can do a ride-along with the world’s wildest detectives on Miami Vice, currently streaming for free on Tubi.

Latto has shared more baby bump photos, and some social media users think she’s sexualizing pregnancy.

RELATED: New Mom Energy?! Social Media Thinks Latto Gave Birth After Mother’s Day Video Seemingly Featured Baby Sounds

Latto Shares More Baby Bump/Pregnancy Photos

On the evening of Tuesday, May 19, Latto took to Instagram to share a carousel of photos from an apparent maternity shoot. In the photos, Big Mama posed on a fluffly bed while wearing an all-white bra and underwear set adorned with chiffon ruffles. Furthermore, she captioned the post, “5/29🪽,” acknowledging the date of her forthcoming album.

Check out the pictures by swiping below.

Some Social Media Users Think She’s Sexualizing Pregnancy With Her Baby Bump Photos

Social media users slid into TSR’s comment section with reactions to the photos. Some appeared to think that Latto is sexualizing pregnancy.

 Social Media Users Continue To Wonder If The Rapper Gave Birth

As The Shade Room previously reported, social media users began speculating that Latto may have given birth earlier this month. Around Mother’s Day, a video was shared via her foundation, Win Some Give Some’s, Instagram page, and it showed her sitting in a rocking chair as apparent baby coos could be heard in the background.

On Wednesday, Latto returned to her social media to share a clip of her signing album inserts. Furthermore, the lullaby music that played in the background appeared to signal to fans that her little one must indeed be here.

RELATED: Congrats! Latto Shares Personal Footage Showing Her Pregnancy Journey As 21 Savage Makes Cameo (WATCH)

Kacey Musgraves is catching heat online after fans criticized the lack of inclusive sizing in her new Walmart clothing collaboration. The country star’s newly launched Kacey Lee collection, created in partnership with denim brand Lee, officially dropped Tuesday and features more than 100 pieces ranging from women’s and men’s fashion to swimwear and pet accessories. But despite the affordable price points and Western-inspired aesthetic, the collection quickly sparked backlash after shoppers noticed limited size availability.

Much of the criticism centered around the collection’s sizing, which reportedly tops out at XXL for most tops and size 18 for bottoms. Social media creator and self-described “fat activist” Megan Ixim, who goes by @msgiggles, called out the collaboration in a video shared with her Instagram followers. Ixim said she was disappointed to discover that plus-size shoppers could not purchase most extended sizing in stores, while only select styles appeared available online.

According to listings on Walmart’s website, sizes larger than XXL appear to be primarily limited to portions of the swimwear collection, including select tops, bottoms, and one-piece swimsuits available in 2X and 3X via delivery.

Ixim argued the limited availability felt especially frustrating given Walmart’s established plus-size customer base and dedicated in-store sections. She also pointed to Musgraves’ previous collaboration with Reformation in 2024, which faced similar criticism over limited extended sizing.

Musgraves Responds To Growing Backlash

As criticism surrounding the collection spread online, Musgraves personally stepped into the conversation. Commenting under Ixim’s original video, the singer denied having control over the sizing decisions. “Hiii not in my control at all. Sorry you’re disappointed. Hope this helps!” Musgraves wrote, adding a pink heart emoji.

The response immediately sparked another wave of debate online, with some critics accusing the singer of sounding dismissive. “The way this response could have been respectful, but she went out of her way to make it rude,” one user wrote. “The ‘hope this helps’ is so lacking empathy. What is that comment supposed to help with?” another asked.

Kacey Musgraves Celebrated Collection Launch With Surprise Walmart Stop

Amid the buzz surrounding her new fashion line, Musgraves also hit the road to celebrate the launch in person. On Tuesday night, the Grammy winner surprised fans with an appearance at a Walmart Supercenter in Franklin, Tennessee, where she greeted shoppers and celebrated the debut of her exclusive “Kacey Lee” collection.

Fans who purchased pieces from the collection, along with copies of Musgraves’ new album, “Middle of Nowhere,” had the chance to meet the singer and score autographs during the event. One attendee, Jasmine Gaetano, praised Musgraves’ latest music, explaining that the album resonated with her personally. “I actually am, but I’m a newer fan, so this album that she did really pays homage to Mexican American music, and so I appreciate that, but yeah, I love her music,” Gaetano said.

Musgraves Says ‘Kacey Lee’ Felt Like A Natural Fit

Despite the controversy surrounding sizing, Musgraves has spoken enthusiastically about the inspiration behind the collection and why the partnership felt personal to her. In a release announcing the collaboration, the singer revealed the project held sentimental meaning, beginning with the fact that “Lee” is actually her middle name.

“The idea of this capsule excited me, not only because my middle name is ‘Lee,’ but because it feels very nostalgic,” Musgraves shared. “I grew up wearing Lee and I wear a lot of denim, vintage tees and workwear, so this partnership felt like a natural fit.”

The country star also said she was heavily involved in shaping the designs, looking for ways to weave pieces of her personality and even her songwriting into the collection. “I loved collaborating on the designs and finding ways to incorporate my lyrics and elements of my personality,” she explained.

For Musgraves, the goal was simple: create pieces she would genuinely wear herself. “The goal is always to design pieces I would personally wear, and I know y’all will love it as much as I do,” she said.

Kacey Musgraves Is Also Entering A New Music Era

The launch of Kacey Lee comes during a busy moment for Musgraves professionally. The collection arrived alongside the release of her newest album, “Middle of Nowhere,” which dropped on May 1 and marks the seventh studio album of her career.

Musgraves also recently announced a supporting U.S. tour, which is set to kick off on August 20 in Chicago before wrapping on October 27 in Seattle.

Tom Cruise’s War of the Worlds is now streaming on HBO Max, where it is currently the 7th most popular film.

By Phillip Moyer
| Published 37 seconds ago

Tom Cruise is known for a lot of things: the Mission: Impossible spy film series, the Top Gun movies, and his role in A Few Good Men, to name a few. However, his effects-heavy 2005 blockbuster, War of the Worlds, fell off the radar soon after its release. It deserves better.

The movie is an adaptation of the 1898 book of the same name by H. G. Wells, detailing an alien invasion of Earth using tall tripod-like war machines. The film generally follows the book’s plot, though it does so in the modern era, with humans using modern technology to fight the aliens rather than late-19th-century artillery. It uses Tom Cruise’s everyman character, Ray Ferrier, to show the destruction and futility of the fight.

There had been several adaptations of War of the Worlds before Tom Cruise starred in the 2005 version. This includes a 1953 film and multiple direct-to-video films released in 2005 to capitalize on Cruise’s movie. The most famous adaptation was the 1938 Orson Welles radio drama that convinced some listeners they were hearing a newscast rather than a fictional story. 

Audience And Critical Reception In 2005

Tom Cruise’s take on War of the Worlds was fairly well-received when it was released, earning more than $600 million on a $132 million budget. That made it the fourth-most-watched movie of 2005 and should have guaranteed War of the Worlds a permanent spot in the public consciousness. That didn’t happen.

It also earned generally positive (though not enthusiastic) reviews. There were complaints about some elements of the film’s plot, including the unexpectedly positive ending that didn’t seem earned. While part of this comes from the original book’s plot, the fact that everyone Ray Ferrier loves gets through the apocalyptic war unscathed was almost enough to take viewers out of the entire experience.

Why Tom Cruise’s War Of The Worlds Has Been Forgotten

After the film left theaters, it almost disappeared from public consciousness. Tom Cruise went on to star in Mission: Impossible III the next year and continued on as if his War of the Worlds had never happened. 

The movie is relentlessly bleak, emotionally cold, and built around panic rather than wonder, which made it hard for audiences to revisit the way they revisited films like Jurassic Park or Independence Day. Tom Cruise’s increasingly bizarre public image during the film’s release also poisoned its long-term reputation. The Oprah couch-jumping era, which was around the same time, became inseparable from the movie itself.

Most importantly, 2005 was one of the last years where studios could still brute-force gigantic box office numbers through sheer event marketing. War of the Worlds was sold as mandatory viewing, but not as something people would build fandoms around afterward. It made money because everyone showed up opening weekend. Then almost nobody talked about it again.

 Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire were also released in 2005, as were Batman Begins and The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Those movies simply overshadowed it. They had a larger cultural footprint. Tom Cruise’s star power helped bring people into theaters, but it didn’t help keep the film in their minds after they left. 

Baby Arrow is continuing to warm hearts less than a month after his mother, Jada Wallace, announced his birth! This is the third time the new mommy has shared a look at her and Chris Brown’s son. She also posted him on Mother’s Day, revealing his name and full face. Still, fans are losing it at the newest look at Breezy’s fourth child and second son. Even Brown’s mother weighed in on the adorable photo.

RELATED: See The Sweet Mother’s Day Messages Shared By The Mothers Of Chris Brown’s Children (PHOTOS)

Jada Wallace Shares Sweet Photo Of Baby Arrow

On Tuesday (May 19), Jada Wallace surprised her timeline with another glance at her new motherhood chapter. She shared a close-up photo of Arrow, seemingly asleep, lying on a white blanket. He was dressed in a blue long-sleeved onesie and it appears he’s still rocking that “newborn perm.” She captioned the photo, “AKB,” referring to his name. While we know the A stands for Arrow and the B for Brown—from his daddy, Chris—it’s unclear what the K represents.

Breezy’s Mom & Fans React To New Look At Chris Brown’s Son

In the comment section of The Shade Room’s repost, the new photo of Arrow drew in nearly 2,500 reactions and more than 57,000 likes. Meanwhile, on Jada Wallace’s page, the post got over 44,000 likes and at least 1,300 comments. At this time, either posts don’t appear to have a like or comment from Chris Brown.

Chris Brown’s mom Joyce Hawkins commented on Jada Wallace’s post, writing, “AWWWWW!!”

@bree.lanyae wrote, “Omg he looks like his big brother 😍😍😍😍😍.” 

“He looks like a cute little baby doll 🥺❤️,” @tamaramariexoxo said.

“ATP @chrisbrownofficial your babies are made in the lab because ain’t no way allllllll of them look just like you? Like how have you not lost not 1 outta 4 battles??? 😂😂😂😂😂😂. I need to know the trick because I’m loosing over here,” @blessed_n_beautifu_diva said.

“Every pic you’ve posted, i’ve been seeing his dad. but this angle is all you! how cute fr. 💞,” @shelovescmb wrote.

“Thank you for sharing your Adorably Precious Son 🏹💙 with us!!! God bless him always 🙏🏽 ❤️,” @romariv317 said.

@mama.blossoms.faith added, “He looks like the both of you equally 😍 Such a handsome baby 🫶🏽.” 

“Awww him so adorable! Look at them cheeks 😍😍😍😍😍,” @makeupbyshack wrote.

“🥹🩵😍 he definitely got his dads nose and looks like his brother Aeko,” @holl1.weed_ commented.

Chris Brown Recently Celebrated Another Co-Parent 

And Jada Wallace is giving the internet baby fever, her son’s father turned heads for spending time with his first son…and the child’s mother. Over the weekend, Chris Brown went viral after footage showed him standing near son Aeko at a birthday celebration for Ammika Harris. He hasn’t addressed why he was there, internet reactions to his presence or whether he dropped a bag on a birthday gift. It’s also unclear how long he stayed for the event. And Ammika shared a recap of the celebration that didn’t include Breezy in any of the photos.

Still, that didn’t stop fans from tossing around speculations about her and Chris Brown’s current status and name-dropping his other co-parents, Jada Wallace and Diamond Brown. Other reactions highlighted how close Ammika and Brown’s ex-girlfriend, Karrueche Tran’s birthdays are—one day apart to be exact. A few fans even noted that Ammika and Brown were matching each other’s fly at the birthday celebration.

RELATED: Hol’ Up! Social Media Is Mentioning Jada Wallace After Video Shows Chris Brown & Son Aeko Celebrating Ammika Harris’ 33rd Birthday

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 11 seconds ago

After James Gunn’s Superman became last summer’s biggest movie and the most successful solo Superman movie ever made, all but the most cultish Snyder Bros had to admit that the nascent DCU improved on the failed DCEU in almost every way. James Gunn’s Superman presented its title character as a flawed icon of hope, one who seemed the deliberate antithesis of Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel. Moreover, his real superpower was clearly optimism, which had an infectiously wholesome effect on the audience. “Isn’t this more fun to watch,” we thought, “than seeing Batman hit him with a grimy bathroom sink?”

Unfortunately, there are early signs that the DCU may make some of the same unforced errors the DCEU made. For example, Lars Eidinger will be playing Brainiac in the upcoming Superman: The Man of Tomorrow, and he recently told The Hollywood Reporter a bit more about his bionic Big Bad. “Brainiac is described as the incarnation of Satan,” he said.

If that is true, then it would position Superman as a Jesus-like figure, destined to defy and ultimately defeat his satanic foe. That sounds neat on paper, but it also echoes the most uncomfortable part of the DCEU: Zack Snyder’s bizarre insistence that Superman be Jesus Christ in a cape.

Could It Be…Satan?

In his interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lars Eindinger didn’t give too many details about Superman: The Man of Tomorrow or the supervillain he is playing. He simply said, “Brainiac is described as the incarnation of Satan. I find that almost Shakespearean.” That’s high praise coming from this particular actor: if you didn’t know, Eidinger is most famous as a theatre actor, one who has received the most acclaim for his performance as the title character of Hamlet. Therefore, his description of Brainiac as Satan may be his own florid description, or maybe he’s quoting a throwaway bit of characterization from writer/director James Gunn.

Still, taken at face value, the idea of Brainiac being a symbolic Satan has me worried for Superman: The Man of Tomorrow. Not because it’s innately offensive or anything; in fact, if Gunn can come up with something interesting to say by Christian-coding his summer tentpole blockbuster, I’d love to hear it. But, with respect to Lex Luthor, the primary appeal of this sequel is seeing Superman fight Braniac. You don’t have to have gone to Sunday school as a kid to know that if Brainiac is Satan, that would, biblically speaking, make Superman Jesus. Unfortunately, DC has an awful history of turning its most famous superhero into a hackneyed Christ metaphor.

So Help Me, Jesus

In The Man of Steel, we see Superman strike multiple poses (like when he’s flying) that make him look like he’s being crucified. He is 33 years old in the film, making him the same age Jesus was when he struggled with the fact that he had to die to save the world. Obviously, Superman later did die to save the world when he defeated Doomsday, but not before receiving a spear wound to his side, Christ-like. Inevitably, he was also brought back to life after his noble sacrifice, cementing his weird onscreen journey as a superhero version of Jesus. 

Even by itself, this was a hack, over-the-top metaphor that made it hard to take Henry Cavill’s Superman seriously. Additionally, the metaphor clashed with so many other aspects of the character. If Superman is Jesus, why can’t he find another way to stop Zod but kill him? If he is a Christ figure who joyfully dies to save humanity, why does he seem downright bored saving people at the beginning of Batman v. Superman? For that matter, what’s up with Superman becoming a global tyrant if Lois Lane dies? Snyder treated his favorite hero more like the Joker, implying that super-Jesus is just one bad day away from going super-crazy.

Too Early To Crucify Anyone

None of this is meant to trample anyone’s faith, of course. But it’s just a little uncomfortable seeing Superman deciding to suit up while getting a pep talk in a church, beneath a stained-glass image of Jesus.

Decades after Alan Moore’s seminal Watchmen reminded us how terrifying an American god would actually be,  Zack Snyder comes along to say it’s cool as long as he looks good and gets to do a little murder every now and then (you know, as a treat). Worse, the director does it in a way that arguably cheapens the character while insulting Jesus, someone whose onscreen analog can only defeat his biggest foes by outright murdering them. 

So far, though, fans must just have (ahem) a little faith in James Gunn. In Superman, the title character was kinder, gentler, and infinitely more human than his DCEU predecessor, and it would be downright odd if all of that changed in Superman: The Man of Tomorrow. With any luck, the next movie will be another successful entry in the only franchise that can truly give Marvel a run for its money.

If I want more than luck, though, I may just have to pray on the matter. Any suggestions on who I should pray to, though? Because that big, out-of-work guy in the flag-colored pajamas looks pretty pissed at the idea of helping anyone.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 2 minutes ago

Star Trek is often seen as a left-wing franchise. Thanks to cutting-edge technology (including replicators that can make anything you need), this moneyless society is often considered the embodiment of the old meme “Fully Automated Luxury Gay Space Communism.” With that being said, Trek has a far larger number of right-wing fans, and this often leads sections of the fandom to ask a simple question: “Why do conservatives watch Star Trek?” After trawling old messageboards and subreddits long enough, I found a tentative answer.

The general consensus online is that liberals like Star Trek for its emphasis on diversity and its portrayal of different groups coming together to solve problems through diplomacy and cultural understanding. Meanwhile, conservatives allegedly like Trek because they see Starfleet as a symbol of America and enjoy watching captains warping in and saving otherwise helpless alien societies (basically, world police on a galactic scale). As you might imagine, the internet considers these positions to be polar opposites. But Star Trek is all about Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations, and, in an ironic twist, the franchise has proven that both liberal and conservative readings of its text are, more or less, correct!

Is Star Trek Left-Wing?

It’s not that hard to see why many consider Star Trek to be a left-wing franchise. Characters like Kirk and Picard have frequently insisted that their futuristic society has moved beyond the need or desire for money (this is largely thanks to the replicator). In this way, Trek thoroughly rejects capitalism, and writers go out of their way to mock 21st-century-style greed. The best example of this is the Ferengi, who are explicitly portrayed as a caricature of capitalist culture and, accordingly, always turned into the butt of the joke.

Star Trek also fully aligns with diversity, both in the stories (again, the future is all about IDIC) and its casting. Back in the ‘60s, The Original Series made Nichelle Nichols into an international icon, and she stayed on the show after Martin Luther King, Jr. told her that what she was doing (being a prominent Black actor during the Civil Rights era) was just as important as marching in the streets for freedom. Trek continued to emphasize diversity in the decades since, with the inclusion of more prominent Black characters, gay characters, trans characters, nonbinary characters, etc. 

Finally, Star Trek often rejects prominent conservative values. Not only is Christianity practically non-existent in this franchise, but religion is often portrayed as a dangerous tool used to control others (like Kai Winn trying to force the Bajoran gospel in the classroom). Exceptionalism is more or less non-existent, with characters like Spock reminding us that no one person’s life is worth more than saving the lives of others.

Trek also rejects the notion of cowboy diplomacy: Kirk spends a lifetime shooting at Klingons and resents them for killing his son, but in The Undiscovered Country, he realizes the importance of laying his weapons down, forgiving his enemies, and using diplomacy to create a better future for billions of people.

Is Star Trek Right-Wing?

Star Trek still has great appeal to conservative audiences. For one thing, Star Trek has always stressed the importance of hierarchy, which is part and parcel to right-wing thought. We know exactly who’s in charge at all times, and that chain of command is frequently portrayed as vital to everyone’s survival.

Speaking of which, Starfleet is (despite the nominal emphasis on science and exploration) clearly the embodiment of Federation military might. Notably, we haven’t gotten any Trek series focusing on random space hippies; instead, we keep getting shows and movies focused on heroic military officers fighting hostile nations, terrorists, and other extremists, which clearly appeals to conservatives.

While Star Trek acknowledges the importance of diversity, the vast majority of the crew in any show or film are human. This is even lampshaded in The Undiscovered Country, in which the Federation is described as “nothing more than a homo sapiens only club.”

In general, human characters are easier for audiences of all stripes to relate to, but this arguably appeals more to conservatives. Not only does this franchise prominently feature tribalism, but it presents tribalism as necessary: now that humans have all united together, we have an easier time helping everyone in the galaxy learn and grow thanks to our superior wisdom.

That leads to the final point: Star Trek really is mostly about humans (most of them straight, white, and male) warping around the galaxy and solving everyone’s problems. In every alternate universe where Starfleet doesn’t exist (the Mirror Universe, the alternate reality of Picard Season 2, even the changed future in “City On the Edge of Forever”), the entire galaxy goes to sh*t. If you accept the premise that Starfleet is a stand-in for America, then the franchise has spent the better part of a century showing how everything falls apart without the United States intervening. Honestly, is it any wonder that conservatives love this message?

Shaka, When The Culture War Fell

What does all of this tell us about the political divide of the Star Trek fandom? That it is, on a pretty literal level, completely useless. Not because fans shouldn’t argue about their favorite media; heck, the entire internet was built on trivial fan debates! But Trek is the literal embodiment of its values, and with Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations, it can mean (wait for it) infinite things to infinite people. It can be a liberal show, with its emphasis on diversity and socialized everything creating a utopia. And it can be a conservative show, with its emphasis on protecting that utopia through military might and strong leadership.

Will this keep people from arguing about politics in Star Trek when they hop online? Probably not. But maybe it will soften the discourse a bit when both sides learn that their favorite franchise isn’t simply one thing. Trek is bigger than all of us, and its values are correspondingly complex. That’s a good thing, of course: we can always come back to our favorite shows and movies to uncover new meaning. If all you’re watching Trek for is to find something to scream about on the internet, though, you need to take William Shatner’s controversial Saturday Night Live advice to heart and do one thing right away: get a life!

Victoria “BroRilla” Woods is sharing some words and goin’ OFF after Tommie Lee reacted to her rockin’ a 30-inch wig.

RELATED: Big Mama, Please! Victoria “BroRilla” Woods Seemingly Shades Latto’s Retirement Announcement (VIDEO)

Victoria “BroRilla” Woods Rocks A 30-Inch Wig

Last week, BroRilla shared a joint reel showing herself picking up and rocking a 30-inch glueless wig.

“Brorilla came by and picked up the infamous 30 inch Kim-K Glue-less Unit and broooooooo doesn’t she look stunning #memphisgirlies #901 #901memphis,” the reel was captioned.

Apparently, BroRilla found time to install the unit and took to Instagram on the evening of Tuesday, May 19, to show off the results. Bro shared a carousel of photos showing her rocking the 30-inch wig, many of which appeared to be taken while she was sitting on a kitchen counter.

Check out the photos below.

Tommie Lee Reacts To Her Rockin’ A 30-Inch Wig Alongside Social Media Users

Reactions rolled in via The Shade Room’s comment section. Many came from social media users.

However, Tommie Lee also shared a few words:

“This gettin weird!”

BroRilla Goes OFF On Tommie Lee

BroRilla peeped Tommie Lee’s comment and returned to Instagram to share a clip. In the clip, she called Lee “old” and “ugly.” Then, she appeared to share words about Lee’s time on reality TV and her apparent tussles.

Watch the NSFW clip here.

From there, BroRilla shared a screenshot of her researching Lee’s age.

Then, she followed up by sharing a photo of Lee and speaking about her appearance.

RELATED: BroRilla FrFr! Victoria Woods’ New Hair Has Fans Saying She Looks Like An Early-Career GloRilla (VIDEO)