6 chapters across the catalog
Mike Tyson's podcast interaction with Boosie Badazz is analyzed through the lens of Tyson being leveraged by his daughter to confront the rapper. Harvey Levin of TMZ is criticized for framing the confrontation as Tyson's daughter passing "courage" to her father. The segment argues that Tyson was used as a "concu-surf" to enforce a specific social narrative against Boosie's previous comments.
A brief discussion covers recent TMZ reports regarding Kanye West using snake emojis, which the media interpreted as a renewed attack on Taylor Swift. This is framed as a tactic to bring West "back in line" by reminding the public of his past controversies with a "lily-white" woman. The hosts suggest this is a recurring media play used whenever West becomes politically inconvenient.
Shortly before her death, comedian Joan Rivers told a reporter that "we already have" a gay president in Obama and referred to Michelle Obama as "transgender." Rivers, known for her deep ties to the LGBTQ community and show business, made the comments nonchalantly. The segment notes the media's silence on these remarks compared to the outrage sparked by less prominent critics.
Mary J. Blige faced significant backlash for a Burger King commercial where she sang about "chicken snack wraps." Fans and critics felt that an artist of her stature "selling out" to promote fast food was a blow to her legacy. The controversy, which trended on "Black Twitter" and TMZ, highlighted the risks celebrities take when their personal brand is used to market products that are perceived as unhealthy or stereotypical.
Dr. Oz and Dr. Drew provide commentary on TMZ regarding the mass hysteria surrounding COVID-19, urging healthy people to focus on protecting the elderly rather than panicking. They criticize the hoarding of medical masks by the general public and suggest that the population has been "primed" for this panic by entertainment products like the Netflix series *Pandemic* and the movie *Contagion*.
TMZ faced intense criticism for breaking the news of Kobe Bryant's death before his wife, Vanessa Bryant, and other family members were officially notified by authorities. While TMZ founder Harvey Levin defended the move as reporting a major news event confirmed by Bryant's camp, critics labeled the outlet's tactics as "parasitic" and "soulless." The outlet is accused of maintaining a network of paid informants in hotels and restaurants to secure scoops.
