Silence, Brand! 06.27.25

🦀 Anna Wintour's Vogue farewell + Lorde's album + yeehaw straw + Jonathan Anderson’s Dior debut + bacon avocado + Guadalajara face lift + RIP Tanner Martin + Blueberry Pie Oreos + plane yoga 🦀

howdy crabs

it’s one of those weeks where our team is split between:
“how is it only Friday?” and
“how is it already Friday?”

while perception of reality is up for debate, we can all agree that we have been Properly Fed™

here’s what’s on the menu:

+ Lorde’s album ‘Virgin’ is out
is it recession pop? don’t care. it’s so undeniably her in the best way

+ So is KATSEYE’s ep ‘BEAUTIFUL CHAOS’
[their caps, not ours, but we LOVE YELLING!!!]

+ not hyperbolizing when we say Jonathan Anderson’s Dior debut collection tore.
honestly, we were feeling a little skeptical about the hype,
but menswear might be saved

and that’s literally just from today.

how are we doing?
omg thanks for asking 🥰
still waiting on the call from American Vogue where they offer us (collectively) the role of EIC 🦀
(editors-in-crab, editor-in-crabs?)

we’ve been passing the time with some scrolling though and
believe it or not, mamacita, we have trends that aren’t love island themed:

three takeaways:
+ some of y’all need to lock in and listen:
we said “bacon avocado” NOT “can i get some head from ya?”

+ respect boundaries:
please don’t call us “twin.”
we’re crabs. we don’t look like you.

+go big or go home
nothing stops scrolls like an
🚨UNEXPECTEDLY LARGE ITEM IN BAGGING AREA 🚨

a challenge: survive one gut-wrenching “there once was a time” video without getting emotional.
personally, i’d rather be in a tornado right now, john.

we hope you’re in for a chill weekend, but don’t forget:
Wimbledon is next week
make sure to send a handwritten card to your one friend who’s really into tennis
(as is tradition)

and upon further inspection, it’s also july next week.
wtf 😀

stay vigilant

---

@thetinychefshowSOS Cheffers, please go to the link our bio to learn how you can help us keep Chef on social media. Tiny chefs cooking show has officially been cancelled (very unexpected) and without the support of a major network we need crowd funding to keep cookin’ over here. Yesh this es weal! We want to thank @nickelodeon for giving Chef two blamazing seasons and all the besties he made there. Chef wouldn’t want anyone to blame his friends over there, he’s just deeply sad he doesn’t get to continue hosting a show he adores. Please let cheffy know how much he means to you in the comments he’s really feelin this one.

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

---

we molted
we’re shinier now
and yes, there’s a paid tier.

freebies still hit on fridays, but paid subscribers get the full feral buffet and the kind of insight that probably shouldn't be free anyway.

🦀 TL;DR: support the crustacean brain trust or spend eternity as a fomo crab.

So You’re Running Your Best Friend’s Instagram While She’s on ‘Love Island USA’ (Cosmopolitan)
Cierra Ortega trusted her best friend MJ Hedderman with the keys to her Instagram kingdom while filming Love Island USA—and it paid off. MJ’s viral, meme-filled posts have taken Cierra’s account from 32K to over 600K followers, standing out from the usual promo fluff. Beyond just posts, MJ is shaping Cierra’s post-villa brand with humor, heart, and zero regrets about clowning a man named Nic. Social media management? More like friendship goals.

@mjheddermanI kept losing my train of thought MID SENTENCE

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

Lorde Launches a Revealing, Rebellious, Rejuvenating New Chapter With ‘Virgin’: Album Review (Variety)
Almost 4 months after Lorde began teasing her fourth studio album on TikTok, ‘Virgin’ is finally here. Fans (and crabs) have been anxiously awaiting to find out if Charli XCX’s Coachella declaration of a “Lorde Summer” would live up to the hype. Lorde has recently been candid about exploring her gender fluidity, and Virgin is far from subtle about this period of introspection, self-discovery, and newfound confidence, evident in both lyrics and its deconstructed, electronic sound. We’re already obsessed.

pitchfork

A post shared by @pitchfork

KATESEYE Release New EP ‘BEAUTIFUL CHAOS’: Stream It Now (Billboard)
We’ve been telling brand marketers to keep their eye on KATSEYE for a minute now. This global girl group has been dropping brand collabs left and right, and their contribution to the soundtrack of the summer also dropped this morning.
Need the KATSEYE lore? Benton breaks it down in this TikTok.

@heyimbentonKATSEYE summer? sounds gnarly. @KATSEYE @Urban Outfitters @Glossier @Joyba #gnarly

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

White House Posts 'Daddy's Home' NATO Supercut (NewsWeek)
The White House posted a cheeky montage of President Trump at the NATO summit set to Usher’s “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home),” leaning into a viral moment when NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte referred to Trump as “Daddy.” The video, which featured highlights of Trump with global leaders and emphasized his role in the recent Iran-Israel ceasefire, sparked mixed reactions online. Rutte later clarified the nickname was metaphorical, but the internet (and the White House) ran with it anyway.

@dailymailThe White House celebrated President Donald Trump's return from the NATO summit with a music video to Usher's hit 'Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home).' The montage video came hours after NATO chief Mark Rutte was forced to publicly backtrack after he appeared to refer to Trump as 'daddy.' Read the full story on DailyMail.com #trump #daddy #news #world #usa #america

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

Tanner Martin Announces His Own Death at 30 in Pre-Recorded Video, 5 Years After Colon Cancer Diagnosis (People)
Tanner Martin, a 30-year-old influencer who documented his five-year battle with stage 4 colon cancer, announced his own death in a moving pre-recorded video shared by his wife, Shay Wright, on their social platforms. The heartfelt clip came just weeks after the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, following a long IVF journey. In the video, Martin reflects on life, death, and gratitude, leaving behind both a message of love and a final wish to support his wife and daughter through a GoFundMe campaign.

@tannerandshayTanners heavenly message to you♥️ see the next video for his wish. May the Force be with You from our angel force ghost

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

TikToker Michelle Wood Before-and-After Facelift Photos Have Fans in Disbelief (E!)
TikToker Michelle Wood, 50, stunned viewers after documenting her $15,000 plastic surgery package—a facelift, forehead lift, lip lift, neck lift, and chin implant—completed in Guadalajara, Mexico. Her dramatic “before and after” has fans likening her to a young Amanda Bynes and calling the transformation one of the wildest they’ve seen. The buzz stems from both the drastic change and the relatively low cost, fueling debates about medical tourism and unrealistic beauty standards. Michelle says she barely recognizes herself, noting she finally has a visible eyelid, a fuller lip, and a renewed sense of confidence.

@michellewood165#facelift #lifeafter50

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

Um, here’s what plane yoga actually is and why you keep seeing people on TikTok doing it (The Tab)
A TikTok of passengers stretching together on a plane, now known as "plane yoga," has gone viral. It turns out the coordinated moves are part of a wellness routine led by the crew to help with circulation and stiffness on long-haul flights. Dubbed "air-robics," the trend is both baffling and oddly charming to viewers online.

@user1118383829333what in the air-robics is going on @easyJet

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

Enlarged Item
Go big or go home when showing off products or photos on a phone even by enlarging them for a dynamic edit. It’s super interactive and holds focus on what you plan to showcase to your audience. Super similar to the O’Bagel Big Product vid that we spotted on 6/20.

withgeorgy

A post shared by @withgeorgy

Pls don’t call me twin
TikTokers are using the line “please don’t call me twin, I don’t look like you” from the Gorgeous (Remix) as a punchy transition in beauty edits.

@vanillamacety @Bbabyigz for this cute transition

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

Get some head from em
TikTokers are lip syncing to a viral misheard audio where someone mistakes “headphones” for “can he get some head from ya?” The absurd misunderstanding is fueling skits, reactions, and chaotic reenactments.

@lizzza @lizzza ♬ original sound - Marquis Ferguson

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

Day vs Night Slideshow
TikTokers are hopping on a new trend that contrasts their polished, professional daytime look with their chaotic, unfiltered nighttime selves.

@alexandersaraviaawork-home life balance is important 😌 #foryoupage #fyp #fypシ #teachers #trend

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

There was once a time
TikTokers are getting wrecked over this emotional trend that contrasts a person’s present moment with a snapshot of what came before. One of the most gut-wrenching examples shows a single mom pairing a joyful photo with her daughter against footage of a gender reveal cake with her former partner.

@pookiequeen2025🥲🥲 #promomakanliburan #fyp #foryoupage #viral #blowthisup #buttherewasonceatime #makethisfamous #foryou #makethisviral #marriage #pregant #divorce #healing

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

Bacon Avocado
TikTokers are speed-running the phrase “bacon avocado” for laughs—until round two, when the video slows down and they swap in something totally unhinged.

@crazyjamjam_ @crazyjamjam_ ♬ original sound - jaime

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

“John, I’m in a tornado”
TikTokers love this viral audio where a woman calmly says, “John, I’m in a tornado,” mid-chaos.

@abcactionnewsWoman drives through tornado by Ulmerton Road between Belcher and 66th Street in Largo Florida

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

Dame Un Grrr
TikTokers are using the song “Dame Un Grrr” to show off their flirtiest poses, complete with playful purring and clawing.

@nataliethelovely_Replying to @ForShits of course you can! 🫶🏻 #trinoxadam #trend

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

North West Fit Check
ChrisTooSmoove met up with North West at Summer Smash to ask “How much does your fit cost?” and North replied with an “idk” to every question in this trending audio.

@christoosmooveHow much is your outfit worth? @Kim and North She pulled a YE on me 😭😭 #fyp #foryou #xyzbca #viral #christoosmoove

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

• Coca-Cola and Disney partner for a massive Star Wars campaign (The Drum)

• Sydney Sweeney Unveils Summer Baskin-Robbins Collaboration (Hollywood Reporter)

  sydney_sweeney

  

  A post shared by @sydney_sweeney

• The End of the Founder-Led Era (BoF)

• How trust became the new currency of brand growth (Fast Company)

• Emma Grede Partners With Coco Gauff and UPS to Mentor Emerging Entrepreneurs (WWD)

  ups

  

  A post shared by @ups

• Zillow just turned your real estate doomscrolling into a bedtime habit (Fast Company)

• Blueberry Pie Oreos Are Back After 8-Year Hiatus (People)

  oreo

  

  A post shared by @oreo

• Montblanc and Wes Anderson Reunite for Playful 'Let’s Write' Short Film (Hypebeast)

• Trixie Mattel Just Dropped a “Gay HBO Max Song” (Hollywood Reporter)

• 'Let Loose the Goose': Klook Launches Viral AI-Powered Travel Campaign (Skift)

• Spicy snacks are hotter than ever, and Texas Pete is tapping into 2025’s ongoing sensory marketing wave with the launch of a limited-edition "Yeehaw Straw" designed to spice up a summer beverage and lasso some attention at brunch.

texaspete

A post shared by @texaspete

Good Read:

• The End of the Founder-Led Era (BoF)

• How trust became the new currency of brand growth (Fast Company)

• The Aqua-for You Page (BoF)

• Are Spreadsheets the New Dating Hack? (PopSugar)

• TikTok is rolling out the “Content Check” feature, allowing users to use it up to three times per day (@ahmedghanem)

• Snapchat shares trend insights for marketers to tap into this summer (Social Media Today)

• Elon Musk is banning hashtags from ads on X/Twitter (Mashable)

Instagram

• Instagram is rolling out the “Repost” feature globally (@ahmedghanem)

• Instagram now encourages sharing Reels to #Threads to start new conversations, but Reels with music will be shared muted 🔇 (@ahmedghanem)

• Instagram adds colored backgrounds and emojis to notes (Social Media Today)

• Edits now allows direct sharing to Facebook (@ahmedghanem)

Good Read: What I learned after handing marketing to a Gen Zer (Fast Company)

• States can cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, the Supreme Court rules (AP)

• Gavin Newsom Sues Fox News for $787 Million for Saying He Lied About Trump Call (The Wrap)

• 2025 NBA Draft grades: Pick-by-pick analysis for Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, all first-round selections (CBS Sports)

  nba

  

  A post shared by @nba

• X/Twitter Announces New Original Program From the NFL to Boost Sports Engagement (Social Media Today)

• 2025 NHL Draft: How to watch every round this weekend (Yahoo Sports)

• NCAA considering proposal to allow college athletes, staff to bet on professional sports (AP)

• What’s agentic AI and what should brands know about it? (Vogue Business)

• After more than 7 years of development with nothing to show for it, Riot cancels the Minecraft-inspired sandbox RPG Hytale and closes the studio making it (PC Gamer)

• ​​Denmark clamps down on deepfakes by letting people copyright their own features (TechCrunch)

• I Tried Out Claude AI's New App Creator, and I Didn't Have to Use Any Coding (Lifehacker)

• SCOTUS porn ruling opens door to sweeping internet age verification (TechCrunch)

Good Read: Why We’re Opening Betting Sponsorships in Esports & How We’re Doing It Responsibly (Riot Games)

• Only Jonathan Anderson's Dior could make aristocrats feel innately cool (GQ)
  Perhaps the most anticipated runway show of the year, Jonathan Anderson’s Dior debut might have just saved menswear. It’s a fascinating blend of American normcore and British regency, and I truly was not expecting him to go so hard. The Rococo-inspired embroidery and pastel colours elegantly capture the current romantic cultural mood (oh, hello, Rococo Revival). Tl;dr get me in a pair of those cargo panniers STAT. [benton]
  

diet_prada

A post shared by @diet_prada

• As Anna Wintour Shifts Her Focus at Condé Nast, Vogue US Will Seek a New Editorial Lead (Vogue)

  databutmakeitfashion

  

  A post shared by @databutmakeitfashion

• Paris Fashion Week 2025 menswear shows: Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Karol G and more stars (USA Today)

  voguemagazine

  

  A post shared by @voguemagazine

• Frank Ocean Revived an Old Project (No, Not Music) (Highsnobiety)

  homer

  

  A post shared by @homer

• An Afro-Vegan Restaurant Makes a Flavorful Fashion Week Debut (Highsnobiety)

• It’s a Ribbon Salad Summer (Eater)

• ‘Fragrances Are the New Sneakers’: How Perfume Became a Teen Status Symbol (WWD)

• The Summer 2025 Swimwear Trend: Tankinis and Boy Shorts (WWD)

• Bold Beauty Looks Seen at the Men’s Spring 2026 Shows in Milan (WWD)

Fresh Catch: Hot dog nails are taking over TikTok this summer, with users flaunting tiny buns, ketchup, and mustard on their fingertips. The snack-inspired look is a playful seasonal favorite that keeps popping up on #NailTok. Nail techs are split about the craze; some celebrate the creativity while others argue it is too silly to be salon-worthy. [dayna]

@gabrielleg.raceHOT DOG NAILS i would also like to add that i have a hot dog painting in my bedroom and a hot dog doormat #hotdog #hotdogs #hotdogsummer #summernails #summernails2025 #nails #nailinspo #hotdognails #glizzy

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

Good Read:

• For Makeup that Performs, Look to Drag Queens (BoF)

• Can Korean Fashion Be as Big as K-Beauty, or K-Pop? (BoF)

• Did The Simpsons Just Kill Off Marge Simpson? Well, the Answer Is More Complex (People)

  

  @ruthyandthebrainRIP Marge. @The Simpsons millenials can’t catch a break. #margesimpson #thesimpsons join the family at Moe’s Tavern

  Tiktok failed to load.
  
  Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

• Kendrick Lamar Is Bringing the Grand National Tour to Latin America Without SZA (Billboard)

• Michael Bay, 60, Reportedly Returning For New Transformers Movie, 8 Years After $605M Disappointment (Screen Rant)

• Temple University Professor To Teach A Course On Kendrick Lamar (The Source)

• Nickelodeon's Stop-Motion Animated Series The Tiny Chef Show Announces Cancellation in the Most Heartbreaking Way (IGN)

  

  @thetinychefshowPlease let cheffy know your favorite dish in the comments so this video gets a little more reach! Thank you for all the love.

  Tiktok failed to load.
  
  Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

• 'Phineas and Ferb' creators spill the secrets of 'Squirrels in My Pants' and the show's other beloved songs (Mashable)

• Justin Bieber Defends Viral "Standing on Business" Video (E!)

• Glastonbury has its own ‘jail’ for rule-breakers, and it sounds like a strange place (The Tab)

• TikTok star Tanner Martin announces his own death from colon cancer in final video (Dexerto)

• Emma Stone breaks down her viral moment with Pedro Pascal and that bee (Mashable)

Good Read: I was on the infamous Poop Cruise and it was the ‘scariest thing I’ve ever been through’ (The Tab)

• Villain era unlocked!!! Such an authentic partnership showcasing an unlikely brand

@chargers@Love Island USA new bombshells have entered the villa 😌 #loveisland #chargers #nfl #prank

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

• Hard to say if this is a brand W or a brand L, but this song from Brisk Canada is an ear worm.

  

  @briskcanadablasting this in the whip ALL SUMMER LONG

  Tiktok failed to load.
  
  Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

---

@quesoscorpioqueso went to a chilis rave and got as many triple dippers as she desired ily @Chili’s Grill & Bar

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

Silence, Brand! is an internet culture and marketing newsletter compiled by unhinged brand marketing professionals—an elite army of internet idiots.

Thank you to this installment’s contributors: Ryan Benson, Dayna Castillo, Lenny Leithauser, Apple Xenos, Dejaih Smith, Benton Williams, and Janine Davis

🦀 Silence, Brand! is presented by LOUDMOUTH 📣

Are you a social media manager working with brands?
📲 We want to hear from you — [No, but like… we really do. We gotta stick together.]

Are you a business or agency that would love a customized, white-labeled digital culture roundup tailored to company and shareholder interests?
🚀 Hit us up and let’s make that happen :)