It’s been an interesting week across pop culture and fashion, full of moments that made us pause, think and take note. Catch up on everything that mattered, all in one place.

Beyoncé Wears Custom Manish Malhotra at Cowboy Carter Tour in Paris

Beyoncé delivered a sartorial statement during the Paris leg of her Cowboy Carter Tour 2025, commanding the stage at Stade de France in a custom creation by Indian couturier Manish Malhotra. The look not only complemented her  performance but also marked a milestone moment for Indian design on an international platform.

The ensemble was an interplay of glamour and Western-inspired edge. A sleek black bodysuit, encrusted with crystals, was paired with thigh-high embellished boots and structured metallic detailing at the waist bringing together precision craftsmanship with bold stage presence.

Prada Spring/Summer 2026 Faces Backlash for Uncredited Use of Indian Kolhapuri Chappals

Prada’s Spring/Summer 2026 Menswear Show, held on June 22 at Fondazione Prada’s Deposito in Milan, is under fire. While the collection, designed by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, featured a range of soft, youthful silhouettes and minimalist set design, it was the footwear that grabbed attention online, especially from Indian audiences.

The flat, tan leather sandals with toe loops bore a striking resemblance to Kolhapuri chappals which is a traditional Indian footwear handcrafted in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. These chappals, protected under India’s Geographical Indication (GI) tag since 2019, are not just functional items but cultural artifacts passed down through generations.

Despite the obvious inspiration, neither the show notes nor the invitations made any reference to India or the artisans behind the original design. The omission has led to  criticism, with many accusing the luxury fashion house of cultural appropriation. People are pointing out how global fashion brands often borrow from South Asian aesthetics without acknowledging the communities they come from.

While some Indian users expressed pride at seeing a homegrown design on a global runway, the larger conversation centered on the industry’s persistent blind spot when it comes to giving credit where it’s due. This oversight feels tone-deaf and all too familiar.

All Seven BTS Members Complete Military Service, Fans Eager for What’s Next

BTS is once again dominating conversations worldwide, and this time it’s for a long-awaited reason. All seven members—RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—have officially completed their mandatory military service in South Korea. With Suga, the final member, discharged on June 21, 2025, after serving as a social service agent, the group’s chapter of enlistment has come to a close. Naturally, anticipation is at an all-time high as fans eagerly await what’s next for the global superstars.

Stray Kids’ Seungmin Joins Burberry as New Brand Ambassador

British luxury label Burberry has officially announced Seungmin of Stray Kids as its newest brand ambassador. In a statement released on June 17, the fashion house praised Seungmin’s individuality and creative spirit, noting that his bold presence in both music and fashion aligns seamlessly with Burberry’s vision.

Creative director Daniel Lee welcomed him to the brand, saying, “We’re excited to have Seungmin join the Burberry family. His distinct style and energy bring a fresh perspective to our ongoing journey.” Reflecting on the partnership, Seungmin shared, “Becoming a Burberry ambassador is truly an honor. The brand’s heritage and identity inspire me, and I’m looking forward to what we’ll create together.”

Also Read: Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend and the Politics of Pop Imagery

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In the days following the reveal of Sabrina Carpenter’s new album cover, the internet did what it does best. It reacted, dissected, and divided. Here we unpack the cultural tensions beneath the surface, reading the album art as a lens through which broader anxieties about power, femininity, and performance in pop culture come into focus.

In an era where pop feminism coexists uneasily with the commodification of outrage, cultural lines are being redrawn by the churn of online discourse. On the internet, where context is scarce and opinion is currency, anything can lead to a global debate. The internet can crown a feminist icon on Monday and call for her cancellation by Wednesday, all while parsing a single image. That tension between performance and power, irony and impact is at the heart of the controversy surrounding Sabrina Carpenter’s forthcoming album, Man’s Best Friend.

Unveiled on June 11, 2025, the cover art didn’t whisper for attention but demanded it. Sabrina Carpenter, on her hands and knees in a black mini-dress and stilettos, is shown with her hair being pulled by an unseen man. The second picture posted had a dog wearing a collar that reads, unmistakably, “Man’s Best Friend.” The visual struck a nerve and not just one.

The Outrage: Misogyny in the Name of Art?

For many, the image crossed a line. Critics called it “degrading,” “tone-deaf,” and even “dangerously close to abuse imagery,” pointing to the submissive pose and hair-pulling as problematic signifiers. In a time where conversations about gender, consent, and objectification are more talked about than ever, the cover was accused of glorifying the very power imbalances feminism fights to dismantle.

What stung most for some was the perceived trivialization of violence against women (intentional or not). Sabrina Carpenter’s sizable young, largely female fanbase only amplified concerns, raising questions about the messages embedded in pop culture’s most shareable content. After all, in the age of the algorithm, an image rarely comes with its intended context.

The Defense: Satire, Subversion, and a Pop Provocateur

Yet, to others, the outrage missed the point entirely. Supporters argue the image is a satirical send-up of how women are reduced, infantilized, and leashed (figuratively and literally) by societal expectations. Placed alongside the lead single Manchild, which skewers immature male behavior, the cover reads to many as a deliberate, exaggerated critique of the roles women are made to play.

Her defenders have compared her to artists like Madonna, whose 1980s provocations once drew similar ire but are now seen as landmarks of feminist disruption. Carly Simon even entered the fray, calling Carpenter’s image “tame” compared to her own controversial Playing Possum cover from 1975, and reminding critics that art and outrage have always danced closely.

What This Debate Really Reveals

More than a debate about one pop star’s choices, the Man’s Best Friend controversy highlights the increasingly fragile space where art meets activism, and where interpretation often overrides intention. It’s not just that the image divided audiences  but also revealed the divisions within feminism itself. On one side is a cautionary stance: artists have responsibility, and imagery matters, particularly when consumed by millions when many of them are young and impressionable. On the other is a belief in feminist autonomy, in the power of women to use even the language of submission to challenge the systems that created it.

These aren’t new debates but the speed and volume of digital culture mean they play out faster, louder, and with fewer shades of gray. As we all know the internet leaves a very little room for nuance. What might have once been an artistic provocation now becomes a 10-second flashpoint, judged not in essays or reviews, but in quote tweets and comment sections.

Between Empowerment and Exploitation

So where does Man’s Best Friend really land in the ongoing conversation about power, gender, and performance in pop culture? The answer depends largely on whether one interprets Sabrina Carpenter’s choices as a reinforcement of a long-standing power fantasy or a subversive attempt to expose and dismantle it from within. Perhaps the discomfort the image provokes is itself the point which is an intentional provocation meant to challenge viewers to confront the contradictions embedded in popular representations of femininity and control. Whether it ultimately reads as a misjudged gesture or a sharp piece of cultural critique, the cover has undeniably started a necessary dialogue about how these dynamics are communicated, consumed, and contested.

It also reveals a deeper generational and ideological divide that has become increasingly pronounced in the digital age. For younger audiences who understand irony, meme culture, and postmodern self-awareness, the image might register as a playful form of rebellion, one that knowingly exaggerates in order to critique. For others, particularly those more attuned to the realities of lived inequality and the ongoing struggles against gender-based violence, the visual treads dangerously close to territory that feels all too real and raw, regardless of artistic intention. As pop culture continues to collapse the distance between commentary and consumption, between performance and lived experience, Man’s Best Friend functions as a cultural litmus test, measuring not just our opinions about one artist’s creative vision, but our broader anxieties and expectations surrounding representation itself.

Whether the cover is ultimately embraced as a feminist statement or condemned as a lapse in judgment, its ability to provoke such wide-reaching discourse underscores a simple but powerful reality: even in 2025, a single pop image retains the power to disrupt, divide, and demand attention, revealing just as much about the culture interpreting it as about the artist who created it. 

Also Read: Your Wardrobe Might Be Reflecting a Recession

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From global icons trying something new to internet-breaking moments, here’s everything that had people talking this week. 

Netflix and Balaji Telefilms Join Forces for Long-Term Creative Partnership

Netflix has announced a long-term collaboration with Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms to develop a range of projects across multiple storytelling formats. The partnership aims to bring fresh, culturally rooted content to audiences, with an untitled series already in advanced development. The collaboration will span Balaji Telefilms, Balaji Motion Pictures, and Balaji Telefilms Digital.

NMACC to Host 3-Day ‘India Weekend’ Celebration in New York This September

The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) is set to bring a slice of India to New York City with a three-day cultural event this September. Taking place from September 12 to 14 at Lincoln Center, the event led by Reliance Foundation chairperson Nita Ambani will celebrate the richness of Indian art, culture, and heritage on a global stage.

Tom Felton Returns as Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Tom Felton, best known for his portrayal of Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter film series, is making a much-anticipated return to the Wizarding World and this time on stage. The actor is set to reprise his role as Malfoy in the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, marking his debut on the iconic New York stage.

Set 19 years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Cursed Child follows a new generation of Hogwarts students while revisiting beloved characters from the original saga. Felton’s return as Draco Malfoy offers fans a rare opportunity to see one of the franchise’s most complex characters evolve in a new medium.

Ed Sheeran Sings in Punjabi with Arijit Singh in New Track ‘Sapphire’

Ed Sheeran has taken his love for India a step further by singing in Punjabi for the first time in his new song Sapphire. Teaming up with Arijit Singh, the track blends Sheeran’s signature style with a desi twist.

The video, shot during his India tour, shows Ed exploring local streets, playing football with kids, and visiting iconic spots across the country. There’s also a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo by Shah Rukh Khan that fans loved.

Sydney Sweeney’s Limited-Edition Soap Featuring Her Bathwater Sells Out Within Seconds

In what might be the most unexpected collab of the year, Sydney Sweeney teamed up with Dr. Squatch to launch a quirky new product: a bar of soap made with her actual bathwater. Yes, you read that right.

The soap, cheekily named Sydney’s Bathwater Bliss, dropped online and vanished just as fast, selling out almost instantly. Fans rushed to get their hands on it, causing the website to crash within minutes of launch. The stunt has led to all kinds of reactions online, some amused, some amazed, and plenty of people still trying to figure out if this is peak celebrity culture or just a really clever marketing move.

Enzo Staiola, Beloved Child Star of Bicycle Thieves, Dies at 85

Italian actor Enzo Staiola, best known for his role as the young Bruno in Vittorio De Sica’s classic film Bicycle Thieves, passed away on June 6 at the age of 85.

Bicycle Thieves is widely regarded as a landmark of Italian neo-realist cinema. The film tells the poignant story of a father and son navigating the challenges of post-war society as they search for the father’s stolen bicycle, a vital tool for his livelihood. Enzo Staiola’s performance as Bruno left a lasting impression on audiences worldwide and remains an iconic part of film history.

Also Read: Your Wardrobe Might Be Reflecting a Recession

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