Embedded Files
2025 Grammy Nominations and Award Ceremony Acknowledge Top Artists
Familiar talents continue to shine with a few new faces hitting the scene resulting in mixed reviews
By: Michael Russo
The nominations for the 2025 Grammy Awards were released on November 7, 2024. Following a highly decorated year for the Music Industry filled to the brim with notable releases, many artists are experiencing their banner year at the Grammys, making this one of the most exciting years for the awards show ever.
Notably, Beyonce received a whopping 11 Grammy nominations for her album Cowboy Carter. The album, which marked a stark change in sound for the R&B artist to country, was a massive critical and commercial success. These nominations include Best Country Song, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year for her #1 hit “Texas Hold ‘Em, as well as Best Country Album and Album of the Year. This increases her overall nomination count to a record-shattering 99 nominations.
Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter both received six Grammy nominations in their breakout year, with both artists getting nominations for Album, Record, and Song of the Year as well as Best New Artist. Chappell Roan experienced a meteoric rise in popularity this year following the release of her gigantic hit “Good Luck Babe!” and the rise of previous songs such as “HOT TO GO!” and “Pink Pony Club.” Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter, who was already starting to gain momentum off of the success of hits like “Feather,” exploded into the mainstream with the two mega-hit songs “Espresso” and “Please Please Please,” which absolutely dominated streaming services and pop radio over the summer. Another artist who had a banner year was Charli XCX, who earned seven nominations off the success of her album Brat, which spawned hits such as “360,” “Apple,” and “Guess featuring Billie Eilish,”all of which earned nominations.
Billie Eilish also had a massive year following the success of her album Hit Me Hard and Soft; she received seven Grammy nominations including Record and Song of the Year for her massive hit “BIRDS OF A FEATHER.” Taylor Swift also had a solid showing, earning six Grammy nominations for her album The Tortured Poets Department, which was the best selling album of the year and spawned global hits “Fortnight” and “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart.”
Following one of the most eventful years for hip hop music in recent time, the Grammy nominations in the Rap categories have become as significant as ever. Typically, hip hop does not receive as much recognition compared to other genres, but this year, many hip hop artists had a very strong showing at the Grammys. Doechii in particular had a great breakout year, earning 4 Grammy nominations including Best Rap Album for her mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal. Other artists who received nods include Eminem and GloRilla, the latter of whom also experienced a wildly successful year off of her song “Yeah Glo!” Biggest of all was Kendrick Lamar, who garnered seven Grammy nominations in one of his best years ever commercially. Five out of the seven nominations were for his global #1 hit “Not Like Us,” one of Lamar’s biggest songs ever and a diss track towards fellow rap artist Drake.
The Grammys this year are as competitive as ever and will take place on February 10, 2025.
UPDATE: Grammy Results...and the award goes to~~~
Beyoncé had the most nominations with eleven and further etched her name in history by winning both Album of the Year and Best Country Album for “Cowboy Carter.” This victory makes her the first Black artist to win Best Country Album and the first Black woman to win Album of the Year since Lauryn Hill in 1999.
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” was the other headliner for the night as he won five awards including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. With this achievement, Lamar became the second rap artist to win both awards after Childish Gambino in 2019.
Chappell Roan took home the award for Best New Artist, while Sierra Ferrell dominated the American roots categories, winning all four awards she was nominated for.
Doechii's “Alligator Bites Never Heal” earned her the award for Best Rap Album, thus becoming the third woman to earn this accolade after Lauryn Hill in 1997 and Cardi B in 2019. Despite having bronchitis and the flu, Doechii performed “Catfish” and “Denial is a River” live and squashed many lip sync rumors. 
Overall, the 2025 Grammy Awards showcased a rich tapestry of musical achievements, honoring groundbreaking newcomers and seasoned artists who continue to shape the industry’s landscape.
New Toys Join National Hall of Fame List
Industry welcomes back some oldies but goodies
By: Alison Palmieri
On November 12th, the Strong National Museum of Play announced their 2024 new inductees to the Toy Hall of Fame. Three new toys were selected to join a growing list of the nation's favorite games, gadgets, and collectables. They were… My Little Pony dolls, the Phase 10 card game, and Transformers action figures.
The Museum of Play has been cultivating their list since 1998. This year's toys will join the beloved list of items. Fan favorites include the teddy bear, Crayola crayons, Barbie, and Slime.
Anyone can nominate their favorite toy to be inducted. However, the ultimate decision is made with the advice of historians, educators, and other devoted individuals. The list of toys serves to memorialize toys that have sustained popularity and fostered creative play over a long period of time. They are judged based on four criteria: Icon Status, Longevity, Discovery, and Innovation.
My Little Pony
First released in the 1980s, My Little Pony is a line of miniature horse dolls that quickly rose to fame. The plastic horses come in over a thousand different colors and designs. They became beloved by children for their realistic designs and endless storytelling and fantasy opportunities. Now, My Little Pony even has their own TV show and endless other merchandise.
Phase 10
Phase 10 is a popular card game that combines elements of rummy and strategy, where players aim to complete ten specific phases in a set order. Each phase consists of different card combinations, such as sets or runs, and players must collect and lay down the right cards to progress. The game is played over multiple rounds, and the first player to complete all ten phases wins. Since its creation in the 1980s, Phase 10 has become a beloved family game. Today, over 4 million decks are sold each year, and the game is played in over 60 countries.
Transformers
Transformers is a popular toy and media franchise released in 1984. It features detailed action figures that can transform their shapes into vehicles. The Transformers come with an elaborate backstory, solidified with comic books and a Marvel Television show. The franchise includes not only TV shows and movies, but electronic games, clothes, and even its own cereal. Transformer characters like Optimus Prime and Megatron are famous worldwide.
These toys had to face tough competition to earn their spot. They outcompeted 12 other toys, including Apples to Apples, balloons, Choose Your Own Adventure gamebooks, Hess Toy Trucks, Pokémon Trading Card Game, remote-controlled (R/C) vehicles, Sequence, stick horse, and trampoline. They have now joined other toys in solidifying their spot in history.
My Little Pony dolls
Phase 10 card game
Transformers
America Loses Creative Inventor: "Unpacking" the life of Murray McCory
Where would we be without his ingenius invention of the backpack?
By: Olivia Coish
On October 7th, 2024 in Seattle, Murray McCory, the founder of the outdoor equipment company, JanSport, died at age 80. McCory’s signature invention of the lightweight backpack revolutionized school life for millions of students. His daughter, Heidi Van Brost, disclosed that his death was caused by complications of congestive heart failure, and that he passed in the hospital surrounded by his loved ones.
JanSport backpacks trace back to the 1960’s and 70’s when counterculture and creativity were on the rise. McCory was a student at the University of Washington when he entered a national competition to design a new product using just aluminum. The event was sponsored by Alcoa, the maker of the metal. Going into the competition, McCory already had initial complaints about the stiff, one size-fits-all wooden frames of traditional hiking backpacks. To rectify the problem, McCory developed a new frame using adjustable and lightweight aluminum. He also included a nylon pack with a water bottle pocket that helped McCory take first place.
Following the competition, McCory along with his girlfriend, Jan Lewis, decided to bring his creation to the market. The couple worked together by honing their skills. While McCory dealt with the designs and metal fabrication, Lewis planned patterns and was responsible for the sewing. For the first several years, the couple operated their business out of a spare room above an auto shop. To save money, they lived with Lewis’ parents and slept on foldaway cots in the JanSport workshop. McCory and Lewis dedicated most of their time to perfecting their invention. More often than not, the couple was seen taking camping trips to test their prototype.
In 1967, they founded the company, JanSport, which is named in honor of McCory’s girlfriend. The couple married two years later. As their market grew, McCory decided to expand the business by making snowshoes, a frame backpacks for dogs, and mummy-style sleeping bags. McCory was frustrated with bulky A-frame tents, so he embarked on creating a dome shaped frame that was both lightweight and strong enough to withstand winds. It was not long until dome tents were sold everywhere. With help from his cousin, Skip Yowell, who handle sales and marketing, JanSport was making more than one million dollars a year in revenue by the mid 1970’s. This is equivalent to about 6 million dollars in today's currency.
McCory’s backpack became increasingly popular at the University of Washington’s campus bookstore, and soon reached the markets of colleges all around the country. By the mid 1980’s, JanSport bags were being used in high schools, which encouraged other companies, such as L.L Bean, to partner with McCory. He spent decades designing equipment for various outdoor companies, and eventually sold the business in 1972 to K2 Corporation, a ski making company. JanSport is now owned by VF Corporation, which also owns North Face and other outdoor brands. As for McCory, the inventor returned to the outdoors in 1990 by moving to eastern Washington where he worked on recycling programs and oversaw a Rails-to-Trails project. His legacy is survived by his son, stepson, and five grandchildren.
Movie Version of Wicked Took Theaters by Storm
Wicked becomes one of 2024's Top 3 Highest-Grossing Movies in the Box Office
By: Sophiea Runlett
The long awaited movie adaptation Wicked (part one) has finally come out into theaters on November 22nd. This is the first out of two parts. The following part is expected to be released sometime in November of 2025. This movie is a musical and is based off of the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire. The novel has since turned into a Broadway musical and now, a movie. The premise of the film is the story of two witches, Elphaba and Glinda. The polar opposites start off as rivals, but the two soon form a friendship.
The film has themes of girlhood and friendship, but the main plot of it is to show how they form their roles as the good and bad witch. It is said that the movie is “exceedingly faithful to its state origins,” though, like any other adaptation, has its minor differences. The movie is rated 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 98% on Popcornmeter. All over the internet people are raving about the movie. Many positives reviews about the main actresses are being surfaced with people like Aisling Murphy saying, “Grande is exactly the right person to play Glinda, a soprano with impressive musical theatre chops and laugh-out-loud comic timing” and “When it was confirmed in 2021 that Cynthia Erivo would step into the role of Elphaba for the film adaptation, my heart fluttered. Maybe this would be an Elphaba that I could root for, a superb vocalist whose high notes wouldn’t screech against the demands of Schwartz’s melodies.”
The actresses speak very highly of the film and how proud they are of the outcome and experience. The movie has been so long awaited and globally viewers are not being disappointed. Marc Platt, Erik Baiers, and David Stone are the main masters behind the execution of the film. Through a long production process with some bumps in the road, the movie has been released into theaters. Based on the reviews it is clear that it has become a beloved film across the globe.
Ariana Grande as Glinda
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba
Rihanna Succeeds as Music Star, Pop Sensation and Businesswoman
Pop sensation, Rihanna, recognized as the best selling female recording artist of the 21st Century
By: Madyson Renna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty, particularly known as “Rihanna,” is an exceptionally popular singer, actress, and business woman. She is recognized as the best selling female recording artist of the 21st century by the Guinness World Records. In addition, she is also the second wealthiest person in the world. In 2005, Rihanna was discovered by Evan Rogers, an American producer, in her home country, Barbados. She was 16 at the time, when her demo was sent to Def Jam Recordings, where it was played to Jay-Z. This led to her rise to her fame.
Rihanna’s first hit song was “Pon de Replay,” which is the lead single from her album Music of the Sun, which was released in 2005. It peaked at number two in the United States, and reached top ten on the charts of a variety of European countries. Other songs of Rihanna’s that surely hit the spotlight very quickly were “Where Have You Been,” "Kiss it Better,” “Diamonds,” two songs with Calvin Harris, “We Found Love,” and “This Is What You Came For,” and many other songs reached the public eye. These songs were heard everywhere, and played in stores, parties, and many other places where the environment was active. Rihanna’s beats are infectious, and made people want to dance, and have the time of their lives. In total, Rihanna has made 8 studio albums, and they have all been successful, but the most successful was ‘Good Girl Gone Bad,’ that has sold over 2.8 million units in the United States, which received a two-times Platinum certification from the RIAA, making this her best selling album in the country.
In 2012, Rihanna started her acting career, and has played some major roles in Battleship (2012), Home (2015), Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017), and Ocean’s 8 (2018). These are some of the most popular movies and television shows that she has been in over the years. In Battleship, she took the role of Gunner’s Mate Second Class Cora Raikes. Rihanna has made it to the big screens everywhere on a number occasions throughout many decades. Whether it was doing the voice over in animated films, to starring with Anne Hathaway. No matter what genre of movies it was, Rihanna made an appearance, showing off her hard work and talent!
September 8, 2017, Rihanna launched her makeup line “Fenty Beauty,” which is famous for its broad variety of makeup across skin tones. The cosmetic line was created for women to make them feel beautiful, and worthy as all different types of makeup is provided. One of the most popular products is the Pro Filt’R foundation that everyone bought as soon as it was released. The foundation came in 40 shades and has become 50. Fenty Beauty’s other products that are the top makeup must haves are the glass bomb universal lip luminizer, killawatt freestyle highlighter, match six matte skinstick, stunna lip paint. These are products that were, and are still loved by many influencers around the world, that are known on TikTok, and Instagram. Fenty Beauty’s products are high end, and used by makeup artists. They are the best quality makeup, making sure it doesn’t make anyone breakout, or super sensitive to their skin.
Overall, Rihanna has made such a career and impact in the music industry, film making industry, and beauty industry. She continues to amaze people more each and every day.
Ancient Roman Monument is Marketed as Airbnb: Care to Rent the Colosseum?
Will the public be excited about or critical of the exploitation/innovative use of this historic structure?
By: Elaina Solimene
The Colosseum, one of the most famous landmarks in Rome, Italy, is now offering a limited time experience to enter the monument as an Airbnb. The Colosseum is an amphitheater from ancient Rome that was used to hold battles between Roman gladiators. The ancient monument is over 1,900 years old. It has damage in many areas from earthquakes and gradual weathering.
Airbnb is partnering with Paramount Pictures as the release of Gladiator 2 is bringing more interest and attention to Gladiators and Ancient Rome. If you are chosen to be a part of this experience, the stay is free. However, guests are required to pay for their own transportation and accommodations. This opportunity does not allow for guests to stay the night in the Colosseum, however, guests will be able to choose a three hour long experience for themselves and their party.
The experience will take place after dark and includes touring the Colosseum, viewing old shields and swords, watching gladiators fight, and more. The experience will not interfere with any of the daily tourism that the Colosseum already offers. The opportunity will provide food that may have been provided to the gladiators such as grapes, walnuts, and almonds. It is said that the experience will feel as if you are stepping back in time to Ancient Rome. This opportunity is open to sixteen guests and will take place on both May 7th and 8th, 2025.
There is controversy revolving around the intentions behind the decision. People are unsure if it is wise to let people come and stay in the Colosseum, as it may interfere with the monument’s protection and conservation. Many claim that using a monument as unique and old as the Colosseum would be considered a demeaning use of historical heritage. There is concern that the Colosseum being used as an Airbnb is just the start, and that before we know it, it could become more of an amusement park than a heritage site.
With this, Airbnb is facing backlash and criticism as the idea of the experience may cause harm to the Colosseum. People are starting to wonder if the event will be authentic to the history and background of the Colosseum, or if its purpose will be to simply entertain and excite guests. Others argue that the intent of the Airbnb experience is to enhance the cultural and historical heritage of the Colosseum.
Airbnb is utilizing their 1.5 million dollars in funds to help improve the Colosseum’s educational programs, and to help restore the monument. This money is a small sum of the 10 million dollar investment made by Airbnb throughout Europe in the past two years.
The gladiator experience provided by Airbnb is similar to other experiences created by the company such as staying at Shrek’s swamp, a Polly Pocket home, and a Barbie Dreamhouse. While there are controversies facing the experience, many people are excited by the anticipation of being selected to spend the night like a gladiator in Ancient Rome.
The Release of Gladiator Two Disappoints Viewers
Will poor reviews and small audiences sideline the making of a third movie?
By: Tessa Boisseau
On November 22, 2024, the long awaited sequel of the heavily awarded Gladiator (2000), was released.
Gladiator (2000) followed a former general of the Roman Empire, Maximus Decimus Meridius. During the film, he loses his family, house, job, and freedom; all taken by the evil, corrupt emperor, and is forced to become a gladiator, fighting in the Colosseum against other gladiators in mock battles. To free Rome from the emperor's reign of terror, Maximus kills the emperor in one of the games, freeing the people. However, he died in the process. The movie fell under the Drama and Action categories, and was widely enjoyed by people all over the world.
The first movie debuted on May 5, 2000. Gladiator (2000) won 60 awards out of 104 nominations, and 5 of those were Oscars. Some of these awards include, Academy Award for Best Picture, Golden Globe Award for best Motion Picture (Drama), and Academy Award for Best Costume Design. The movie scored an 8.5/10 on IMDB and an 80% on rotten tomatoes. Many considered the film to be perfect, or very close to it. The movie was described as, “A film that thrills, absorbs and grips” (IMDB review).
It's safe to say that the film made its way into many people's hearts as a favorite. This is no surprise considering that the budget of the movie was $103 million U.S. dollars, and grossing an income of $465 million U.S dollars. The sequel was nothing short of the first movie in terms of cost and profit. The movie had a budget of $250 million U.S dollars and grossed $368.4 million U.S dollars.
Even though the second film had such a large budget and profit, fans were still upset about the sequel. Gladiator 2 (2024) only scored a 6.5/10 on IMDB and a 72% on rotten tomatoes. Fans felt that it was an unnecessary sequel with poor writing, and that the whole film felt like a money grab with unenthusiastic writing. One review written by Forbes.com commented, “Gladiator II is a truly terrible film in almost every way imaginable.”
Across the board, fans felt like the sequel was a poor follow up from the well-thought out and meticulously planned first Gladiator. Fans took to social media to share their thoughts. One Reddit user stated, “It's a good movie, especially for today's standards, but it lacks depth, it lacks emotion, it lacks good dialogue…”(Reddit.com).
Gladiator 2 (2024) is available to watch on streaming service Paramount+ and at movie theaters globally. Gladiator (2000) is available to watch on Hulu and Pluto TV.
Take a Look at The History of "Black Friday"and How the Term Originated
Term has evolved: now describes hoards of bargain-hunting consumers flooding the stores
By: Matthew Campbell
Before "Black Friday" was a catchy phrase for sale prices and busy retail spaces, it was a founded concept of financial doom and disaster, only transforming into modern-day consumerism.
The first mention of "Black Friday" in print occurred in an American newspaper on September 24, 1869, and linked the day of "Black Friday" with financial ruin in America like no other. On this day, two of America's most notorious financiers—Jay Gould and James Fisk—tried to corner the gold market to their benefit. Ultimately, it backfired—like a marble rolling down the steepest side of a hill—and when they lost the advantage, the market crashed. Also, like a marble rolling out of control when it starts rolling, the financial market crashed, too, with upheaval at every turn. The intentions of "Black Friday" were to commemorate the day of confusion and the subsequent fallout from the stock market crash that left millions of Americans financially devastated. Yet it was in the mid-1900s that "Black Friday" became associated with the day after Thanksgiving.
In the 1950s, for example, police in Philadelphia referred to the mania that unfolded when suburbanites and tourists entered the city for the Saturday Army-Navy football game. Throngs of people in a stunned and excited frenzy created traffic jams, required police to work overtime without pay, and generated overall pandemonium. Yet, as the traders within the city started to acknowledge that the influx from the suburbs generated disposable income with which to spend, they created in-town pop-up sales opportunities. However, "Black Friday" was still associated with negativity.
In the 1980s, retailers nationwide tried to hijack the term and manufacture a new promotional campaign. "Black Friday" became synonymous with the positive—"being in the black" transformed due to the overwhelming numbers of holiday shoppers and businesses making more profits, and "Black Friday" was a commemoration of that additional revenue. The ploy succeeded—massive sales were promoted to ensure it became further entrenched as the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. Black Friday is a global shopping phenomenon.
The most extensive shopping day in the United States occurs on Black Friday. Even e-commerce merchants have "Black Friday" events as e-commerce grows—some associated with "Cyber Monday" or days after that continue the festivities. Other nations have gotten in on the action, adding their spelling versions to embrace their holiday shopping season jumpstart. Yet remnants of the madness of Black Friday exist too, with stores overflowing, people standing in checkout lines winding up and down aisles, and even fistfights. For many, this was all part of the equation, the desired effort for holiday shopping, but this was not to be confused with the shopping day that kicked off economic despair.
Taylor Swift Concludes Highly Successful Record-Breaking Eras Tour
Fans throughout the world enjoyed the musical phenomenon while events boosted local economies
By: Katharine Grudburg
On December 8th, 2024, Taylor Swift ended her worldwide stadium tour. After 149 shows, 51 cities, and 5 continents, Swift grossed $2 Billion. After over a 3 year gap between her “Eras Tour” and “Reputation Tour,” the concerts were a long-awaited celebration among fans. Within minutes of their release in November of 2022, tickets for the extravaganza sold out.
The tour opened on March 17th, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. Consisting of 44 songs from 10 different albums, the show was about 3.5 hours long. Each set of the show featured a different “era” of Swift’s career. Her outfits corresponded to each albums’ respective color scheme, ranging anywhere from bright pastels to dull neutrals. The stadium lit up with vibrant colors illuminating from the fans’ glowing bracelets. Fans from home tuned in to the excitement via livestream. This excitement continued almost every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night for 21 months straight. She visited the U.S. primarily, but also took stops in Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Canada, and Australia.
The tour closed in Vancouver, Canada. With the release of her album “The Tortured Poets Department” in April of 2024, her set now featured 11 different eras. She closed off the tour with her song “Long Live,” giving fans a bittersweet sentiment that this tour would be remembered. Swift also posted to her Instagram 3 days after the tour with the caption, “It was rare” -- a lyric from her song, “All Too Well,” that reflects on remembering the past.
The Eras Tour was not just a successful concert for Swift -- it was a life changing experience for thousands of fans. Swift’s tour stood out from the basic concert. Since the beginning of the tour, fans started a friendship bracelet project. In this, concert attendees would bring in handmade bracelets, usually relating to a specific song or album, and trade them with other people there. It quickly became a haven for fans to interact and become friends with people who loved the same artist as much as they did. This was not the only way fans had a part in the concert, however. They often took it into their own hands to add to the concert, such as shouting a certain chant in between lyrics or holding up their phone flashlights during a song written about Swift’s deceased grandmother. Fans even had the chance to interact with the pop star at every concert, one of Swift’s crew members would pick a lucky contestant to receive her black fedora during her performance of “22.” Both Swift and fans both took steps to make the concert special and unique.
As for Swift’s future, well that’s unsure. It is not certain exactly when her next tour will be, yet fans speculate that she will release new albums in the near future. For now, Swift and her fans are winding down from the almost 2 year long tour, yet this is just the end of an era -- the memories will last forever.
How Do We Explain the Sudden Rise in Popularity of Crumbl Cookies?
Is the flavor worth the 800 calories per cookie?
By: Zayna Saidi
With over a million cookies being sold daily, Crumbl Cookies, the gourmet dessert franchise, is quickly becoming one of the most popular and successful upcoming businesses in recent years.
The Crumbl company started with two cousins, Jason McGowan and Sawyer Hemsley, who strived to create what they deemed the perfect version of the signature chocolate chip cookie. Opening their first location in Logan, Utah, the cousins began sharing their version of the classic cookie with the public. Now, as their business rapidly expands, with over 1,000 national and international locations founded in less than a decade, people have grown to wonder how Crumbl has gained so much popularity in such a short amount of time.
The main factor to Crumbl’s success is their business model. Each week, the company presents their dessert lineup, usually introducing at least one new dessert flavor. Additionally, on weeks with national holidays, they sell cookies matching the theme of the occasion. With the exception of the chocolate chip cookies, which are always included in the weekly rotations, many flavors are not again seen for several weeks, and sometimes even for months. This clever design of a rotating menu results in customers feeling more obligation in returning weekly to try the new flavors and purchase their favorites before they are removed from the menu.
Also, the owners are dedicated to making sure that they consider each of their recipes to be perfect before selling them. Overall, Crumbl dedicates thousands of dollars to the production of each new flavor, involving the creation, reviewing, and re-working of each dessert prior to sending them into the weekly rotations.
This is not the only reason for the company’s sudden uprising. Crumbl’s brand is simple yet easily recognizable, with their pink box packaging allowing them to quickly become well known throughout the world. Furthermore, their use of social media has helped them reach a wider audience, as they now have millions of followers across a variety of platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more.
However, it has not only been a success for the business. Despite their efforts at perfecting each recipe, thousands of consumers have criticized their desserts for being too sweet, underbaked, lacking in flavor, and more. This, in addition to their prices, with a box of just four cookies averaging to $18, many believe that Crumbl is far overrated.
Despite the overwhelming amount of criticism they have received, hundreds of influencers upload weekly “unboxing” videos where they review each flavor. Although not all flavors are adored by consumers, the range of flavors that the company has produced over the years has resulted in at least one dessert that will bring a customer back for more.
Overall, the strategic marketing of the company has led them to major success despite the controversy surrounding if they are deserving of such fame. Although many may disagree with their popularity, the company still earns roughly 1.7 million dollars in annual sales, with the number only continuing to grow with each passing year.
Connecticut Resident Ilona Maher Experiences Great Success on Olympic Stage
Remarkable young woman with North Haven ties inspires thousands globally
By: Katharine Grudburg
North Haven High School’s very own Sally Maher, the beloved gym teacher, is a close relative to the Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher. Ilona is Ms. Maher’s first cousin once removed (the daughter of her cousin). Although Ilona grew up in Burlington, Vermont, the two got to spend family time together at gatherings in East Lyme, Connecticut.
Ilona Maher went to Burlington High School where her rugby career started. “Her mom would insist that she wore a bright pink scrum cap while playing so she could be noticed,” says Ms. Maher. Following her high school career, Ilona attended Quinnipiac University where she played rugby and studied nursing. During these years, she earned herself a spot on the inaugural collegiate rugby All-America team. This was only the start of her success. Ilona represented the United States rugby team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, then again in 2024 at the Paris Olympics. She helped her team win bronze, taking home the first ever medal for the United States Women’s rugby team.
After her boost of fame by rugby, Ilona’s popularity only continued to grow. She was selected for the 33rd season of “Dancing with the Stars” where she competed with her dance partner, Alan Bersten. Quickly, Ilona became a fan favorite. She was very vocal about her passion towards feminism. “She’s always advocated for people to embrace their body type, whatever it is. I think she’s a real positive role model for kids on and off the field. That’s one of the reasons she did ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ because it was completely out of her comfort zone,” says Ms. Maher. Fans didn’t just love her because of her bubbly personality, they loved her because she was true to herself. She was never afraid to express her emotions on the show, inspiring viewers to be content with who they are.
Ilona now has 8.2 million followers on Instagram and TikTok combined. She has been very active on social media, taking time to connect with fans. Ilona was selected as the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue model for 2024. She also runs a business of apparel called “Beast Beauty Brains,” expressing further how important it is for women across the world to embrace every part of themselves. Ilona has faced criticism for being a “bigger” woman due to her rugby-player build, yet she has always explained to her fans that it is important they embrace who they are.
Ilona has come a long way in a short amount of time. When asked her thoughts about Ilona’s success, Ms. Maher said, “It’s really cool. When she was young, she was really shy. She had some mean teammates in high school, so she chose rugby and that’s where she took off. She’s always been athletic, but I never really thought she’d go this far -- I don’t even think she did. She was always just a really down to earth kid.” Ilona’s fame is likely to keep growing from here. She has talent, fans, and a strong passion for what she does. Ms. Maher expresses that she only wishes the best for Ilona and her future career.
Olympic success fullfilled a dream for the young feminist and presented a platform to pursue other opportunities and enjoy life all the more.
Dancing With the Stars was an exciting adventure. Maher's sparkling personality quickly made her a fan favorite!!
Malala Yousafzai, a women's rights activist who recoved from a Taliban gunshot to the head for speaking out in support of girls' education, requested to meet the rugby player and Dancing with the Stars contestant because she was inspired by Ilona's story and advocacy for women.
The two connected nicely and were both honored to meet one another and share their similar mindsets on the importance of women's freedoms, rights and safety.
Actress, Blake Lively, Files Complaint Alleging Sexual Harassment Against Co-Star Justin Baldoni...Countersuit Alleges Bullying and Plot to Usurp Control
How will these allegations impact future careers of Lively, husband Ryan Reynolds, and Baldoni?
By: Avery Russo
Renowned actress Blake lively has found herself at the center of a legal battle with her recent co-star Justin Bladoni.
This complex legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni stemmed from their recent collaboration on the film adaptation of the novel, “It Ends With Us.” The film was an instant box office success, making around $350 million worldwide and gaining significant public attention. In December 2024, Blake Lively filed a complaint alleging sexual harassment and retaliation against her co-star Justin Bladoni. She claims that his behavior fostered a hostile work environment, and that he launched a smear campaign to harm her reputation.
In response to Lively's claims, Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Blake, her husband Ryan Renlds, and Leslie Salone, their publicist. He claims that Blake Lively was upset with his authority in the filmmaking process and attempted to gain control over the film with her demands and threats. Additionally, Baldoni denies all claims that Blake has made against him. He says that sexual harassment allegations are false and the alleged smear campaign did not exist.
These lawsuits have gained significant traction across the public. Social media has been in an uproar with people expressing their support for either Lively or Baldoni. Specifically, Colleen Hoover, the author of the novel that “It Ends WIth Us” is based on, has publicly expressed her support for Blake Lively. A multitude of actors have come to Lively's defense. According to People Magazine Lively's co-stars from the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005) have publicly expressed support for Blake. Together the stars, Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, and Alexis Bedel, have stated, “We are struck by the reality that even if a woman is as strong, celebrated, and resourced as our friend Blake, she can face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe working environment.” Gwynthe Paltrow, Amy Schumer, Jenny Slate and various others have also spoken out on behalf of Blake. Furthermore, representatives from Screen Actors Guild– American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Sony Pictures have come to lively's defense. While celebrity friendships and loyalties run deep, they should not contribute drama, cloud the real issues and distract from the matters at hand. Baldoni also has strong evidence that Lively contributed her own forms of coercion and bullying so the courts should be left to decide the outcome of the trial. In the meantime, millions will be watching as the lawyers battle it out in court.
The case is set for trial in March of 2026, where the two parties will present their respective cases. The public and entertainment industry continue to observe and remain invested in new developments on this big–name dispute. Stay tuned for a Spring follow-up.
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