Mailbag for February 9, 2024
A vanity update, Austin Butler's beauty privilege, Tom Cruise not directing, Dakota Johnson's insane style and energy, a JT karma request, award show coverage process, and the costs of photo licensing
Dear Squawkers,
A vanity update to start this mailbag. One of the first newsletters I posted here at The Squawk was about my injectable schedule - that was back in early September and I was getting ready for the Toronto International Film Festival and late on my Botox schedule. Or, rather, my Xeomin schedule because my dermatologist, Dr. Hanna, switched me over from Botox and Dysport to Xeomin and if you missed that post, you can click on that link above for the background.
Anyway, guess what? I’m late again and am actually going in to see Dr. Hanna today. So it’s been six months and the progress report on Xeomin is that it held up. Having now tried all three options, in my case, Xeomin lasted longer.
I should mention, however, that it may have been helped by a new non-invasive treatment I started doing at Dr. Hanna’s clinic, the first time at the end of October, before our trip to Asia, and the second two weeks ago. It’s called Clear + Brilliant, a laser treatment. And here’s how much I love it: it hurts, and I still willingly go in there.
The way it works is first they put numbing cream on your face for half an hour. Then they come in with the laser which feels like electric zaps – I won’t lie, this is not pleasant, next time I get it done I think I’m going to pop an Advil first – and I get two arounds of the zapping all over my face before the cooling gel comes on for 10 minutes and then we’re done.
There is a lot of redness immediately afterwards, this is what I looked like, and I admit, I was kinda scared – because I look crazy.
Hour by hour though, the redness subsides. By the time I woke up the next morning (a Saturday) it just looked like I’d gotten some sun the day before. On Sunday there was no redness, and my face was slightly tanned, a nice glow. On Monday, my skin started to feel a little rough which is what’s supposed to happen because the dead skin cells are coming to the surface and getting sloughed off. But not so rough that makeup is a problem. The roughness was completely gone by day eight and from there it’s just even tones and brightness and amazing texture. I am fucking obsessed with it and before you ask, yes, I paid full pop for it and no I am not getting paid to talk about it. It’s just that some of you have asked that I share this information so I’m sharing. If, however, you don’t care, great, you do you.
Time for questions!
Question from Bri: I feel like Austin Butler is the weak link in the fashion for the Dune press tour. He seems like he’s still dressing as/for Elvis?
Lainey’s Answer:
Austin Butler reps Saint Laurent and his style really is just… Saint Laurent. Have you seen his ad? The way he dresses is basically this ad which is hilariously cheesy, especially the voiceover, but also, look at him. It’s demented how beautiful he is. Also, there’s a very brief shot of him dancing, but only from the shoulders up, and I don’t know if I want more or less of it.
Anyway, there’s not much range to Austin’s style, and I’m not sure we’re going to see him stretch because…
With Austin (and I say this as someone who likes him a lot, he's really nice), this is beauty privilege. Not unlike, say, Brad Pitt's beauty privilege (but less allegedly abusery). The other members of the Dune Fab Four are beautiful, of course. OBVIOUSLY. But Austin has white blonde man privilege which is the ultimate privilege. Zendaya is a Black woman who was once mocked for her dredlocks and who, in a previous time, would not have had the opportunity she has now and she’s well aware of it. Florence Pugh is short and has talked about how her body type - and I'm not saying she doesn't have a beautiful body because she does - doesn't conform to the tall thin standard. And Timothée Chalamet is a theatre kid from NYC who, while stunning, isn't in that all-American blonde, blue eyed category that Austin occupies. The other three put in the effort for their looks because before they became this famous and popular, they had to try, they know what trying – where physical appearance and clothing is concerned – feels like. And also, they enjoy it. Austin may have not always been famous, but he was always gorgeous. I offer my evidence: here he is just casually leaning against the car talking to Vanessa Hudgens while pumping gas in 2012. STOP IT.
But I also wonder if Austin might have a little of that Jacob Elordi thing, that hot guy burden passed down from the likes of (younger) Leonardo DiCaprio and Ryan Gosling, where they want to be taken seriously SO badly that they deliberately don’t want to be perceived as attractive. There’s a thread of this energy in his new Esquire profile but, fortunately, Austin doesn’t fall into the cliché of shitting on his previous teen work like Jacob. Austin isn’t embarrassed about it, but there’s also not a lot of fun in this piece either. So where clothes are concerned? It could be intentional in terms of image management and strategy: look stylish but not flashy. And that’s a shame. Because look at him in this white pinstriped suit! This is what we’re missing on the carpet!
Sarah’s answer:
Have we considered he’s just not an outfit girl? He’s landed on a silhouette that emphasizes his assets—tall, slim, good shoulders—but he’s staying well within that comfort zone. For almost 20 years I’ve been bitching about dude stars and their boring banker suits on the red carpet. Is, perhaps, Austin’s more fashion forward but somehow still basic style the new version of the banker suit? But pretty privilege is real, and he doesn’t have to work hard to look good, that’s true.
Question from kaari: Why hasn’t Tom Cruise directed? He seems so involved in every detail of his movies it seems weird he hasn’t just taken the reins. Especially for something like Top Gun: Maverick where he literally introduced the film in the theatres. Is this a case of him knowing his limits?
Sarah’s answer:
I don’t think it’s about limits with Tom Cruise. I don’t think he has limits. Like if we ever find out aliens walk among us and Tom Cruise was an alien the whole time, I would not be surprised in the least. I think it’s more about resource management. Tom Cruise could certainly direct a film, and he’d probably be a damn good director. He cares so much about the audience experience, he has a knack for storytelling, he’s a great collaborator—all traits of good directors.
But when you direct a film, it is your entire life for YEARS. As a producer-star, Cruise can multitask, he can balance several projects in various phases at once. Directors cannot do that, they can’t take their eye off the ball with the film they’re currently making. For instance, the first film Christopher McQuarrie and Cruise made together that McQuarrie directed was Jack Reacher in 2012. Since then, McQuarrie has directed three films, and he’s currently at work on his fourth feature in 12 years (all Mission: Impossible). At the same time, Cruise has made 11 films, currently working on his 12th in the same 12 years.
It's a volume game. Tom Cruise can do more as a producer-star than he could as a director, and Tom Cruise will always do the most.
Question from Kathleen: That black netted dress (jumpsuit?) over a leotard on Dakota Johnson looks INSANE on her! My God is she a sight to behold. She seems to have an “it” factor unlike many of her peers, and while her personality has rubbed me the wrong way, she definitely has a “no fuck to give” vibe and it kinda works. Do we think she’s an entitled nepo baby or family artist (can’t remember the term coined last week 😅)?
Lainey’s Answer:
You’re right, Dakota Johnson has looked stupidly amazing on this Madame Web press tour – and so many of the looks have been body-ody-ody, right?! I’m not saying she was a modest dresser before and suddenly changed her vibe, but I also feel like she’s leaning into the tight and the exposed right now which says to me that she’s feeling herself, and I’m not mad at that.
As for her personality and attitude and whether or not she’s an entitled nepo baby, Sarah mentioned in the comments under your question that she’s more of a generational talent given her family background up to her grandmother, Tippi Hedren, and I don’t disagree, but I also don’t think that nepo or generational has anything do with her image and why she appeals to people. It’s really … just how she presents herself.
Dakota is sexy – actually sexy, like did you know she has a sexual wellness company? Back in December, she told the Washington Post that:
“I’m starting to feel now like this is part of my life’s work. Sexual wellness, awareness, female sexuality, women’s rights, women’s reproductive rights. This is part of [the] work in my life that I’m here to do. I grew up being told that my body was sacred and beautiful and special and to be protected and to be cared for. I think it’s so important to be able to talk about sex and our bodies and sexuality and gender freely, without fear, without any kind of stigma. And still also keep ourselves sacred and hold ourselves in our bodies in high regard and keep ourselves precious. And maybe that’s a form of self-love.”
I wrote at LaineyGossip earlier this week, in a post about Drake, that sexuality and nudity is weaponised against women and that while, of course, we should prosecute and eliminate the motherfuckers who are doing revenge porn, the bigger work is to attack the stigmas that make it possible for them to use women’s bodies and their sexuality against them. It’s impossible to get rid of assholes forever. But it is possible to take away their bullets, to make it so that there is no longer shame involved when women are sexual or naked.
To go back to Dakota, she rose to big fame by getting naked and doing love scenes in three majorly hyped movies. And they were bad movies. But that career choice hasn’t worked against her. Her nudity wasn’t a liability. She wasn’t shamed for it – I mean some people might have tried to shame her, but she stepped out every day on that press tour, unembarrassed, not apologetic, not sheepish, not small… but proud. And cool. So fucking cool. Like it was almost shrug for her. It seemed like it was no big deal, whatever, she took her clothes off a lot in a movie, and it was her choice, end of story.
I didn’t consider it enough then, how chill she was, but when I look back on it now, that’s how I remember it, and I think that has a lot to do with why she’s popular, why women respond to her. Understanding, of course, that as a white woman of privilege, she has an advantage over women of colour who may find themselves in the same position, with the same mindset, but might not have the luxury of being able to nonchalantly keep it moving without continually being sexualised. In this case, can two things be true: can we appreciate Dakota Johnson for being so unencumbered by her sexuality while acknowledging that inequality still exists for others who aren’t as privileged?
But that’s just one part of her no fucks to give personality. There are layers to her carefree appeal. And another one of those layers is her mischief. Like how she’s admitted that she sometimes lies randomly in interviews. Remember, she went viral for the limes. And it wasn’t necessarily about the limes but about the naughtiness – pop culture right now loves an irreverent bitch, someone who is a bit of a rascal, and this is Dakota’s energy.
Finally, I don’t think we can underestimate the Ellen thing and how that added to Dakota’s allure. If we’re talking mischief and mayhem, there is no better example than when Dakota brought down Ellen DeGeneres. I know COVID has destroyed our memories, but it happened in November 2019, Dakota was on Ellen’s show to promote a movie and Ellen tried to give her shit for not inviting her to her 30th birthday party and Dakota was like…no, ma’am, let me tell you about yourself, Ellen, and proceeded to fucking decimate her on her own show. Because Dakota did invite her, Ellen just didn’t show.
Social media was already losing their minds over Dakota dunking on Ellen. Because it was the way she dunked –in slow motion, she spoke the way she always does, like she just woke up, like she has the lowest blood pressure ever recorded in human history. It was the most casual “well, actually” you have ever seen, a Hall of Fame moment.
But that was just the beginning!
The interview sets the internet on fire. And the internet begins an investigation. People were already mad about Ellen hanging out with George W Bush, but then they realised, after Dakota called her out, that Dakota’s birthday party happened on the same weekend that Ellen was with GWB, which the internet interpreted to mean that Ellen would have rather hung out with him than with their newly crowned bad bitch Dakota Johnson.
So this was late 2019. Four months later, in the early weeks of COVID in North America, this tweet thread blew up:
Because of what had just happened with Dakota, people were much more willing to finally believe that Ellen isn’t as nice as she was purported to be. And, well, I think you know the rest. So while this may not be an openly acknowledged connection, while the culture may not be entirely conscious of how the Ellen situation shaped their perception of Dakota, it’s totally there in the background, adding to her aura. And if we want to bring this thing back full circle, yes, Dakota’s nepo or generational status was absolutely a factor in her fearless approach to Ellen that day.
Question from Betts: Okay, if LG got to wish some celeb gossip karma into the universe, what would you all wish for Justin Timberlake? For me, I’m thinking … massive flop either via music or film that his next endeavor has to be self produced (and is equally terrible); *NSYNC publicly breaks with him, has a massive music residence with Britney has a surprise guest star; Jessica leaves him and immediately gets better acting gigs; and JT is left to shill some product like Beano or Viagra to pay the bills. Basically, a lifetime where he can no longer prop himself up on others and is forced to engage in his own mediocrity daily.
Sarah’s answer:
Betts, I love the energy you’re bringing to this question and potential karmic scenario, but…that isn’t how the world works for white men who have already obtained an unholy amount of success. Doubly so, because no one else in NSYNC has the juice to squeeze Justin. He needs the group boost to fix his image and his musicality, sure, but they came when he called, not the other way around. As much I want to say, “Everyone realizes he’s a hack and he goes bald,” I am pondering what a karmic serve to JT might look like, and it’s this…
Britney never goes away. Janet never goes away. They’re always there, visible in his rearview. Any time he is brought up in conversation, one or both of these women comes up, too. That they haunt him, and he can never escape his past with them. And that he never connects with the youths, because if you can’t connect with the youths, you are irrelevant. He will continue to make music, but he will never again reclaim the place in pop culture he once held. It’s death by a thousand cuts, just a slow fade into being a remnant of the 2000s people mostly remember for his shameful treatment of the women in his sphere. And he goes bald.
Question from Lo: Related to the above about Celine/Taylor, would love to see how Lainey and the team prepare their analysis to one of these major and controversial award show moments, and what their email inboxes are like after the post goes up!
Sarah’s answer:
My example is The Slap, because I ended up covering that. During a big award show, we’re in constant contact, even if we’re live-chatting here on The Squawk, we have a WhatsApp going for anyone participating in the coverage. When The Slap happened, Lainey and I were texting in a flurry, going through all the emotions in the real time, and then, after the show ended, we have a Zoom call with anyone contributing coverage of the event. On that night, it was Lainey, Duana, and I, and we probably wasted an hour just talking about that. But that’s helpful for me, I organize my thoughts best when I can talk things out. So that night was relatively easy, since I got that conversation time with Lainey and Duana, who both asked questions and brought up points that helped me refine my own perspective.
Lacking that, it’s a lot of texting and emailing, maybe asking Lainey to review a draft before I commit to the bit, and I do whatever research is necessary. Is there an interview or piece of historical writing relevant to the topic? Whatever hot take I have, I run it through Google to see if anyone else has addressed the same subject. Inevitably, someone else has, and I can read their work and reflect on it, see if it strengthens or challenges my position, if I can incorporate outside opinions to better make my case. At the end of the day, it’s just my opinion on a happening, but I try to put together a well-reasoned argument and consider all the angles and ramifications, because pop culture is, ultimately, a mirror of society, and we can learn about ourselves from studying pop cultural events.
As for the email after, eh. I’m pretty good about not reading stuff that is obviously going to be negative or hateful (you can see it coming from the subject lines alone). Doing standup comedy, even as briefly as I did, really helped with developing a thick skin for heckling. Although, men are being very normal about my negative Masters of the Air review this week, let me tell you how extremely normal they are being. So normal!
Another Question from Kathleen because she is the Chosen One this week!
I am curious about photo availability, as you referenced in the Argylle post today. As a longtime reader, you have mentioned a photo budget in the past (and Jacek watching the LG wallet, if you will) and paying ethical photographers, but I am curious to know how that process works. Do you have a certain budget every month? Or are you only able to have a certain number of photos per subject over a certain period of time?
Lainey’s Answer:
Jacek might jump in here, but this is basically how it works: we subscribe to a number of photo agencies and that subscription gives you access to a certain number of non-exclusive photos a month. Non-exclusive means that more than one agency was there taking pictures of the celebrity. None of those packages includes exclusives though. For exclusives we contact the agency rep directly and ask what the rate is on those particular images. Emily, our site manager, is usually the one doing that and before she gets back to me and Sarah on the cost, she’ll run it through Jacek. If he approves it, she’ll come back to me or Sarah and say we’re good to go. But sometimes we’ll get a note from the accountant, aka Jacek, and it’ll read like this: how much do you want it, does it really mean that much to you? At which point I’ll get flashbacks to my parents questioning me over a purchase when I was on an allowance. And then I’ll have to think about it like a grownup and make my case.
(Note from Jacek: that’s when the rates are higher, like for those Callum/Dua shots we posted a couple of weeks ago, but even I knew how hot those were, and the rates we’re quoted will obviously reflect that. I don’t go DAD on this stuff all the time, but we also can’t buy every exclusive photo we like or we’d go broke. That’s when we’ll just link to a publication that has them).
To get really inside baseball though – photos are a big part of the expense of running LaineyGossip.com. We have a lot to say about outfits, about candid celebrity moments, and you, our loyal readers, are accustomed to reading our thoughts and we are so grateful for that. So in a perfect world, we would like to continue being able to cover those costs to support our content. However, while they are a significant expense, photos are not our biggest expense. Our biggest expense is compensating Emily, Sarah, and the writers, and we would like to think that by our industry standards, we pay fairly. And on time. I mention the timeliness because in online publishing, as volatile as it’s become, writers are not often paid for months after they turn in their pieces. Most freelancers have experience with having to wait quite a while for their cheques. Please know that I’m not trying to throw shade on any other publishers – in fact, quite the opposite. It’s really, really hard for online publications right now. As Jacek has shared before, ad rates are shrinking, and people are ad blocking and corporations that bought up websites are more worried about their shareholders than the people who are actually creative and do great research and produce great articles. And now they’re downsizing or shutting down websites and those talented people are out of jobs, so I get it, I get why there are difficulties and delays.
(Note from Jacek: and I’ll also throw the big tech platforms on the blame pile, who squeeze publishers even more by couching their decisions (for instance, regarding data sharing) as “we’re concerned for your privacy”, but in reality it’s all about cutting the legs off their big tech competitors and the ad rates they can charge by not being able to target users as effectively, which trickles down to the rates that publishers are paid. That’s a pretty cynical view, and there was definitely a need for internet users to have better control over their data and browsing habits, but the degree of dysfunction and competitive knee chopping in this industry by the big players is astonishing).
We are a small business. Jacek’s job is to make sure that the writers on our team can write what they want to write so that you can read what you want to read, while running a lean ship and keeping it afloat. So to go back to your question about photos – we will keep trying to post as many photos as we can going forward but honestly? If there comes a time when we have to choose, I would probably choose more writing, less photos, because I think? believe? hope? that you, our supporters, come to LaineyGossip for the conversation and not the pictures.
And THAT is why we so appreciate that you have decided to subscribe to The Squawk! As we said when we launched, a paid subscription to The Squawk helps us continue our work at LaineyGossip and gives us a way to directly connect with you in a safe and fun environment. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Keep squawking and gossiping,
Lainey and Sarah
Adding that besides Lainey being a supportive and encouraging editor, her professionalism has also spoiled me completely. My instinct is always to take any pitch I have to Lainey first because I've had just enough bad experiences elsewhere to appreciate what I have here. It's rare in this business.
Holy shit that photo of my zapped face - i have never seen it this size, i just scared myself