Men's Journal's Blog, page 125
May 1, 2025
Groundbreaking ‘90s Singer Who ‘Feuded’ With Katy Perry Dead at 66
Jill Sobule, the memorable voice behind the 1995 folk-pop hit “I Kissed a Girl,” has died tragically at the age of 66. According to TheWrap, Sobule died in a house fire on Thursday morning in Minneapolis. She was 66 years old.
While Sobule may not exactly be a household name, her 1995 hit was a truly groundbreaking tune. Sung from the perspective of a woman who has kissed another woman for the first time, and clearly enjoyed every second of it, the song is widely considered the first true openly gay song to notch a place in Billboard’s Top 20.
Related: Lead Singer of Famed Rock Band Dead at 66
The lyrics—which include lines like “I kissed a girl for the first time,” “And then I felt your hand above my knee,” and “Kissed a girl won't change the world, but I'm so glad I kissed a girl!”—may not sound like a particularly wild admission from a woman in 2025, but the world (yes, even the music world) was a much different place 30 years ago.
At the time, the AIDS epidemic was still raging and the military, via Bill Clinton, had recently implemented what came to be known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Even popular culture, which was two years away from Ellen DeGeneres coming out on the fourth season of Ellen and five years away from the first gay kiss between two teenagers on Dawson’s Creek, was not exactly a safe space. Which made Sobule’s upbeat, peppy tune rather daring—with a totally ‘90s music video that featured Fabio as Sobule’s (heterosexual) love interest.
In 2009, after Katy Perry released her own song titled “I Kissed a Girl,” Sobule offered a profanity-laden statement about Perry’s song to The Rumpus, saying: “F**k you Katy Perry, you f***ing stupid, maybe ‘not good for the gays,’ title-thieving, haven’t heard much else, so not quite sure if you’re talented, fucking little sl*t.” She later clarified that the "feud" was all meant in jest, and that she very much welcomed being displaced as America’s “I Kissed a Girl” Girl.
Over the course of her near-40 years career, Sobule—who identified as bisexual—released eight studio albums, four EPs, and one greatest hits album. In 2022, she created an autobiographical musical stage play titled F**k 7th Grade, which earned a 2023 Drama Desk Award and was a New York Times Critic’s Pick.
Sobule was scheduled to perform on Friday night at Denver’s Swallow Hill Music’s Tuft Theater. Instead, TheWrap reports, an informal remembrance will be held for the artist.
“Jill Sobule was a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture,” said John Porter, the singer-songwriter’s manager, in a press release. “I was having so much fun working with her. I lost a client and a friend today. I hope her music, memory, and legacy continue to live on and inspire others.”
April 30, 2025
Beloved Clothing Store Is Closing All 354 Locations in the U.S.
A beloved clothing store is closing all 354 locations nationwide.
According to USA Today, all of Forever 21's 354 "leased stores in the U.S. are to close by May 1," and some already started closing in April.
"Forever 21 is one of the most recognizable names in fast fashion. It is a global brand rooted in the U.S. with a strong future ahead," Jarrod Weber, global president for lifestyle at Authentic Brands, told USA Today in March.
"Retail is changing, and like many brands, Forever 21 is adapting to create the right balance across stores, e-commerce and wholesale," he told the news site.
According to CNBC, Forever 21 "blamed fast-fashion e-tailers Shein and Temu for its demise."
The company "is expected to cease all operations in the U.S. and has already begun liquidation sales at its more than 350 locations," CNBC confirmed.
"After careful deliberation, we have made the decision to file for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code," a notice on Forever 21's website says. "We are deeply grateful for the support you have shown us over the years, but rising costs and increased competition from abroad have made our current business model unsustainable."
The website statement added: "In connection with the filing, we are beginning the process of closing a number of stores across the U.S. Importantly, however, our stores will remain open for the time being and we will continue to fulfill customer orders placed online. We also will continue to honor customer gift cards and store credit through and including April 15, 2025."
The company added, "All sales both in U.S. stores and the U.S. website are now final. Accordingly, we will no longer be accepting returns or exchanges. Additionally, at this point, we are no longer offering new gift cards or credit cards."
The statement noted that the company will still have international stores. "This process applies only to Forever 21’s operations in the United States. Forever 21 stores outside of the U.S. will continue to operate business as usual," the statement says.
Prices Are About to Jump—Here’s What 7 Major Companies Announced
Just days after rumors surfaced that Amazon might show customers how much Trump’s new tariffs add to the cost of imported goods, the fallout is already beginning—and it’s hitting your wallet. While Amazon backed off the idea, calling it a “plan that was never approved,” several of the biggest companies in retail and manufacturing say consumers should prepare to pay more—starting now.
Major companies are preparing to raise prices. While some brands have already made changes, others say the impact will roll out in the coming weeks, affecting everything from electronics to groceries.
Buzzfeed reported that brands from tech to toiletries are bracing for impact, and for many, the only solution is passing the costs on to you. Here's what to expect:
Best Buy says electronics prices are poised to climb. Even though the company only imports about 3% of its products directly, CEO Corie Barry noted that “vendors across our entire assortment” will likely raise prices. Translation? Expect to pay more for everything from laptops to headphones.
Related: US Technology Company Shows Shocking Reality Of Tariffs Costs
AutoZone is also signaling trouble. CEO Philip Daniele didn’t mince words: “If we get tariffs, we will pass those tariff costs back to the consumer.” With virtually no car built using only U.S.-made parts, this could hit drivers everywhere.
Procter & Gamble—the maker of Tide, Pampers, and Crest—is planning price hikes as early as July. Their CFO confirmed it: tariffs are forcing their hand.
Related: National Grocers Association Issues Bleak Warning Over Tariffs
Even trendy brands aren’t immune. Adidas has warned of across-the-board increases, although the company admits it’s still trying to gauge the full cost. Meanwhile, Nintendo delayed pre-orders for the upcoming Switch 2, citing tariffs. Accessories are already seeing price hikes.
Yes, even luxury is getting squeezed. Rolex is raising its prices 3% starting in May.
Related: Major Carmaker Announces Disappointing News Amid Tariffs
And Target—a bellwether for middle America—is trying to cushion the blow by holding down prices on basics like $5 tees. But that means strawberries, avocados, and other essentials could be headed higher.
Tariff season has arrived, and companies say rising costs will likely be passed on to consumers.
Elon Musk’s Tesla Throne in Jeopardy as Board Seeks New CEO
Tesla’s board is reportedly shopping for a new CEO behind Elon Musk’s back—and it’s not because the stock is crashing. It’s because Musk may be spending too much time in Washington, not Silicon Valley.
According to a new Wall Street Journal report, Tesla directors began quietly contacting executive search firms over a month ago to find a possible successor to Musk. While the electric vehicle pioneer has long been the face (and driver) of Tesla’s innovation machine, his growing entanglement with the current administration—leading the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—has alarmed investors and sparked internal concerns.
Musk recently promised to reduce his time spent with the federal government and recommit to Tesla. But sources say the board, which includes Musk’s brother Kimbal and Rupert Murdoch’s son James, isn’t convinced that’s enough. Sales of Tesla’s aging vehicle lineup are slumping, competitors are catching up, and Musk seems more focused on rolling out humanoid robots than affordable electric vehicles.
Related: Elon Musk's Cybertruck Gets More Bad News
Meanwhile, vandalism at Tesla showrooms and charging stations across the U.S. and Europe has surged as backlash grows against Musk’s alignment with far-right politics in Europe and America.
Board members reportedly asked Musk to reaffirm his Tesla commitment publicly, but it remains unclear if he knows about the CEO succession planning—or if he’s even willing to step aside. Tesla and Musk declined to comment.
The board’s internal politics also face scrutiny. Critics argue that Chair Robyn Denholm, hand-picked by Musk and defending his massive pay package, isn’t truly independent. Investor activists have long accused the board of enabling rather than overseeing Musk’s erratic behavior.
Related: Cybertruck's Future in Jeopardy After Elon Musk's Tesla Announcement
Tesla is approaching a defining moment. It’s no longer just an electric car company. It’s betting big on AI, autonomous taxis, and humanoid robots. But with Elon Musk increasingly entangled in politics and spread thin across his empire, the company’s direction feels uncertain. Whether the board can refocus Tesla’s vision—or whether Musk’s distractions have already pushed it off course—could determine the future of one of the world’s most valuable tech brands.
One of World's Top Airlines Announces Bad News
One of the world's top airlines is already seeing a negative impact because of the tariff wars.
The CEO of Korean Air did not hold back when asked about the looming impact of the tariffs.
“We’re already seeing the downturn in passenger volume between trans-Pacific (routes) and also to Europe,” CEO Walter Cho told CNN. “It’s subtle, maybe 5% compared to last year, but it has some significant impact to our business.”
According to CNN, the airline could lose $50 million to $100 million a year if "passenger levels" don't pick up for the rest of the year.
“Korea’s economy is in between the US and China, and we depend on both economies as well, quite a bit,” Cho said to CNN.
“We are bracing for the impact we’re looking at. I don’t expect this year to be great for the Korean economy, and we are looking at our costs as we speak. But I hope, I hope I’m wrong,” he added.
Tariffs aren't the only culprit for sluggish passenger volume, he said, citing increased competition.
According to Airline Ratings, "Korean Air won the Airline of the Year 2025 for its exceptional focus on passenger comfort, particularly in Economy Class, where it maintains industry-leading seat pitches of 33–34 inches on wide-body aircraft."
The CEOS of many major companies have joined Korean Air in voicing concern about the impact of tariffs. They include companies selling household products, shoes, cars, and other items.
Brand Finance reported that Korean Air's brand value has increased 33% to $2.6 billion, so there's some positive news for the company, also. Korean Air "climbed two positions to rank 17th among the world’s top 50 airline brands in 2025," that site reported.
Bill Belichick Family Member Takes Aim at His Girlfriend
Bill Belichick's daughter-in-law has weighed in on the controversy surrounding his girlfriend Jordon Hudson and her behavior during his CBS Sunday Morning interview.
Jennifer Schmitt Belichick, who is married to Belichick's son Steve Belichick, posted the comment on an Instagram post, and she didn't take Hudson's side.
"The Belichick interview is being blown out of proportion," the original post reads.
In it, former New England Patriots players Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski defended Hudson in the April 30 episode of their Dudes on Dudes podcast. Edelman said that Hudson interjected during the interview "just like any PR person would jump in when there's an unnecessary question."
Comedian Nikki Glaser then jumped in, also defending Hudson. She responded in the comment thread, "100% this. She’s acting as his publicist. Publicists do this during interviews. People are out for blood."
That's when Schmitt Belichick decided to weigh in, taking aim at Belichick's much-younger girlfriend. Steve is one of his kids with his ex-wife.
"Publicists act in a professional manner and don’t 'storm' off set delaying an interview," she wrote.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jules (@dudesondudes)
Another person then responded to Schmitt Belichick, writing, "Safe to say you don’t approve? Lol." Wrote another to Schmitt Belichick, "Preach (but also save him)."
Belichick's daughter-in-law's Instagram page is set to private.
Her comment appears to be a response to a report by TMZ Sports, which reported that Hudson "stormed out of the room" during the interview Belichick gave to CBS about his new book, delaying "shooting for 30 minutes."
The controversy over the interview started when CBS shared a clip showing Hudson shutting down a question about how the pair met (they've said previously that they met on an airplane).
“We’re not talking about this,” she said in that clip, according to Page Six.
Bill Belichick has defended Hudson in a lengthy statement, according to Page Six. He alleged that CBS had promised to focus on the topics in his book and then veered into areas that were not agreed upon instead.
“She was not deflecting any specific question or topic but simply doing her job to ensure the interview stayed on track,” he said of Hudson, according to Page Six.
According to People, Steve Belichick married Jennifer Schmitt in 2017, and they have four kids together.
Related: Bill Belichick's Girlfriend 'Stormed' Out of Major Interview: Report
Ben Affleck Reveals Tom Brady's Role in 'Greatest Day' of His Life—Aside From Children's Births
Ben Affleck has been making the media rounds of late to promote his new film The Accountant 2, the sequel to a movie from nearly a decade ago that was very popular among fans and one that again also stars the great Jon Bernthal.
After Affleck dropped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! last week and subsequently shared that his three teenage children routinely roast him for his questionable movie roles, noting that 13-year-old son Samuel called Armageddon "stupid," his April 30 appearance on the New Heights podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce held a completely different vibe.
This one was all about the 52-year-old Affleck and how Tom Brady once delivered him the greatest day of his life—aside from the births of his film-critiquing children, of course.
Ben Affleck played in the Super Bowl with Tom Brady ... sort of
— New Heights (@newheightshow) April 30, 2025
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW: https://t.co/v7h3RmyKFk pic.twitter.com/B2JUIrK20Q
After finding himself vacationing in the same spot as Brady, the Oscar-winning actor would soon find himself having a catch with the legendary NFL star, widely considered to be the greatest quarterback of all time.
"I don't know if they have a name," Affleck began after Jason Kelce asked him what type of routes Brady had him running. "But like, I'm sure I disgraced every receiver that's ever run a route, but to this day, aside from the birth of my children that was the greatest day of my life."
So go ahead and toss aside that Academy Award he won in 1998 for Good Will Hunting because apparently the only tosses that matter to Affleck are football passes from "TB12," the man responsible for bringing six Super Bowl titles to the actor's favorite NFL team, the New England Patriots.
Affleck went on to deliver the details of what clearly proved to be the peak moment of that fateful day.
"The greatest moment of that experience was he's like 'Okay, come here.' I get to him and he's like 'It's the Super Bowl, fourth quarter, we have 23 seconds, it's fourth and 18,'" a fired-up Affleck explained.
With the table having properly been set, an increasingly energetic Affleck vividly described the result of his once-in-a-lifetime experience with an apparently equally intense Brady.
"It was amazing, dude," Affleck continued. "He [Brady] goes 'And just run straight, don't turn around, I'm gonna get you the ball in the end zone.'"
Related: Tom Brady Reveals Striking New Watch After Sporting $740,000 Timepiece at Super Bowl
"And I'm wondering, when's this ball going to show up? And I look, I just feel like right out in front of me. And it was a little far for me, I think he probably adjusted back and it was still not far back enough, you know what I mean? And I reach out and I have to go arms [fully] extended, I f------ catch the ball."
After a hilariously enthusiastic "Let's go!" celebratory reaction from Jason Kelce, Affleck went on to say he called everybody he knew after making the seemingly improbable catch and referred to what was obviously a special moment in time with Brady as "the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me, and I lived a full life of dreams."
Now, there are lots of people who enjoy sports and then there are sports fans like Ben Affleck who mark a chance encounter with Tom Brady and a football as such a significantly everlasting life experience that it officially takes a backseat only to the birth of his children.
The Accountant 2 released in theaters nationwide on April 25 and currently holds outstanding reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
Related: Ben Affleck Shares Funny Story About His Kids Roasting His Movies
'MobLand' Star Annie Cooper Unpacks Her Character's Shocking Fate
The stakes of MobLand are now officially explosive. In the fifth episode of the twisty Paramount+ crime drama, the very end revealed an event that will almost certainly redefine the entire trajectory of the series. But how did we get here? And does the shocking ending of Episode 5 really mean the end for one specific character? Actress Annie Cooper, who plays Vron — the matriarch of the Stevenson family — tells Men's Journal that because she's such a fan of Guy Ritchie, that even if this is the end, "Doing this show was a dream." Spoilers ahead.
At the end of "Funeral for a Friend," despite Richie Stevenson's (Geoff Bell) stern warning to Conrad (Pierce Brosnan) and the Harrigans, it seems that some semblance of peace between the two crime families has been achieved. Harry (Tom Hardy) and Kevin (Paddy Considine) didn't need to start shooting, and nobody pulled the pin of a grenade. And yet, in the final moments, when Vron (Cooper) gets into her car, it explodes. It seems Maeve (Helen Mirren) has exacted her revenge on the Stevensons, almost right after the delicate truce was struck.
"She was playing with fire, right?" Cooper tells Men's Journal. "But yeah, an explosive ending for Vron to say the least. But she did give Maeve a piece of her mind before the end."
Cooper also reveals that it wasn't always clear to her at what point in the story her character would walk into an exploding car, and she's loath to confirm if her character is indeed and in fact dead. "I mean, did she survive? I don't know."
Related: Review: 'MobLand' Gives Tom Hardy His Best Role Yet
At this point in the series, it's easy to see the Stevensons as the victims of the cruelty of the Harrigans, even if the Harrigans are, in theory, the family we're supposed to be rooting for. "I love Vron, she's the matriarch of the Stevenson family, and she is tough," Cooper says. "She is assertive and she's unfazed by violence. But, it doesn't get worse than her situation at this point. She's just lost her only son, and it's also having one of the Harrigans having something to do with it; it's bad blood."
Cooper also points out that just because it seems that her character has just been blown up in a car bomb, there are a million ways she could still appear, even if Vron has been deceased. TV shows tend to have flashbacks, meaning there could be plenty more that we might see of Vron before the end.
And with five more episodes left in MobLand, there are still quite a few twists left in the series, and Cooper hints it only gets more intese from this point out.
"I mean, it would be nice to have seen a bit more of her in action, right?" Cooper says. "So let's see what happens."
MobLand drops new episodes on Sundays on Paramount+.3 Dead in Severe Weather Outbreak
Three people died in Pennsylvania as a storm system, which caused widespread damage across the central U.S. region early in the week, moved eastward and left thousands without power.
According to Pittsburgh Public Safety, emergency crews were dispatched to the 1000 block of St. Martin Street following reports of a man who had been electrocuted by downed power lines. The individual, whose identity has not been released, was declared dead at the scene.
In a separate incident, Allegheny Country Emergency Services confirmed a second storm-related death within the county, though further information has not been provided.
“A large swath of destructive wind damage was seen across our area as storms rolled through," meteorologists with the National Weather Service office in Pittsburgh said in a statement. "In some locations, straight-line winds gusted over 80-90 mph, stronger than many of the smaller EF-0 & EF-1 tornadoes we typically see in this region, but for a much, much wider area."
The third death took place at State College, where emergency responders were called to an area near a utility pole on University Drive.
According to the State College Police Department, a 22-year old man died after being electrocuted while attempting to extinguish a mulch fire and came into contact with a live electrical current.
“This tragic incident occurred during a severe weather event hitting the State College area, resulting in damage to many trees and utility lines,” police said in a statement. “Public works crews are working to remove debris, and First Energy is working to restore power to the many customers affected by the mass outages in the Centre Region.”
The Pittsburgh Public Safety Department also reported 911 outages due to the extreme storm outbreak.
Martin Scorsese Is Paying Tribute to Pope Francis as Only He Can
To Martin Scorsese, Pope Francis was a good fella.
The legendary filmmaker had the opportunity to meet the Pope several times over the years, and was understandably saddened by the news of his death on April 21, the day after Easter, at the age of 88.
Just hours after the pontiff’s passing, Scorsese issued a statement to Variety in which he stated that Pope Francis “[W]as, in every way, a remarkable human being.”
Related: The Rock Set to Star in Martin Scorsese's Wild New Hawaiian Mob Movie
“He acknowledged his own failings,” the Oscar-winner continued. “He radiated wisdom. He radiated goodness. He had an ironclad commitment to the good. He knew in his soul that ignorance was a terrible plague on humanity. So he never stopped learning. And he never stopped enlightening. And, he embraced, preached and practiced forgiveness. Universal and constant forgiveness.”
The Holy Father also made a fascinating interview subject.
As Reuters reports, Scorsese is at work on a new documentary about the Pope and his passion for creative expression. It will feature Francis’ “final in-depth on-camera interview,” which was a conversation between his papacy and The Departed filmmaker.
Currently titled Aldeas - A New Story, the project’s producers say that it will be “rooted in the pope’s belief in the sacred nature of creativity.”
The feature will reportedly highlight the work of Scholas Occurrentes, an international educational movement founded by Francis that encourages young people from diverse backgrounds to find innovative ways to affect positive change. It will also feature the work of Aldeas, an initiative under Scholas Occurrentes that focuses on the creation of short films that promote cultural understanding.
Francis spoke about the documentary before his death, calling it “an extremely poetic and very constructive project because it goes to the roots of what human life is, human sociability, human conflicts… the essence of a life’s journey.” A release date has yet to be announced.
Men's Journal's Blog
- Men's Journal's profile
- 1 follower
