people can be so mean
A Stranger Crashing A TikToker's Big Moment At The Charli XCX Show, And More Of This Week's 'One Main Character'
Every day, somebody says or does something that earns them the scorn of the internet. Here at Digg, as part of our mission to curate what the internet is talking about right now, we rounded up the main characters on X from this past week and held them accountable for their actions.
Each day on twitter there is one main character. The goal is to never be it
— maple cocaine (@maplecocaine) January 3, 2019
This week, we've got Marques Brownlee's cash grab, lively debate about Chappell Roan's politics, Sam Altman's revolutionary note-taking method and a Charli XCX fan who became the internet's enemy number one.
Monday
Marques Brownlee
The character: Marques Brownlee, YouTube tech reviewer, newly-minted app guy
The plot: Brownlee, best-known for some brutal takedowns of bad products, has put out his very own bad product. The slap-dash smartphone wallpaper app, dubbed "Panels," demands a hefty $12-per-month fee for what amounts to be a pretty sub-par experience.
Even worse, it seemingly collects a lot of user data. People aren't happy.
And now - I'm so pumped to be launching this app! People have asked where I get wallpapers FOREVER, so this is the answer, now and forever: PANELS!@panels_art
— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) September 23, 2024
Available on iOS or Android https://t.co/sl7fitBKDt pic.twitter.com/b0u9h9Py6p
Part of building in public is getting mass feedback immediately, which is pretty dope. Almost exactly like publishing a YouTube video
— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) September 24, 2024
First thing we're doing is fixing the excessive data disclosures, as people rightfully brought up. For transparency, we'd never actually ask for…
The repercussion: In fairness, Brownlee quickly backpedaled on some of the worst parts of the pitch, but it's clear that this should have never launched in this state. We're certainly not against paying for art under the right circumstances, but we'll probably be sticking with Wallaroo for about $2 a month and a much better experience. Go back to the drawing board, MKBHD.
You can now spend $120/yr to get HD access to the exclusive “Orange” wallpaper https://t.co/hmpFcbcpva pic.twitter.com/fuTGq6s52M
— Jordan Arnold (@jordanarnold) September 23, 2024
LMAOOOOOO
— Luna - Whole - 🏳️⚧️ (@Lunascaped) September 24, 2024
Y'ALL SO LAZY OMG https://t.co/20NQsECZ0l pic.twitter.com/NEPhOTbYET
Crazy dunking on every new bit of hardware while creating this https://t.co/Wr8lm1BRZc
— Alim (@almmaasoglu) September 24, 2024
$11.99 subscription: https://t.co/YRIekf5Mjr pic.twitter.com/VcXJLOjYvZ
— ❄️ ody 🎄 (@_Ody_Ody) September 25, 2024
React native app, $50 a year for the full quality image, watch two ads to get the sd version, and an absolutely terrible privacy report.
— Trey M. (@DigitalTrey) September 23, 2024
Sorry Marques, but this is not it. https://t.co/VTYgGODW7n pic.twitter.com/75TWIgBLHE
Sounds familiar https://t.co/lmMZLYLRJG pic.twitter.com/vM3y15ywea
— paul (@hosecollector) September 24, 2024
Grant Brunner
Saturday
Chappell Roan
The character: Chappell Roan, pop star, divisive figure
The plot: Over the weekend, a cherry-picked comment made by singer Chappell Roan in a Guardian interview went viral and sparked a hell of a lot of debate on X.
Roan, who has seen a meteoric rise to superstardom this year, told the British newspaper: "There are so many things that I would want to change. So I don't feel pressured to endorse someone. There's problems on both sides."
Chappell Roan on why she hasn't endorsed Kamala Harris:
— Pop Flop (@PopFlopHQ) September 21, 2024
"I have so many issues with our government in every way... There are so many things that I would want to change. So I don’t feel pressured to endorse someone. There’s problems on both sides." pic.twitter.com/JrVU3G4Iyr
The repercussion: It's common knowledge that Chappell Roan is a fierce advocate of LGBTQ+ rights, but many saw her refusal to endorse the left-wing presidential nominee as a failure to truly support and protect that community.
Some X users even accused her of being a secret Republican.
Others, meanwhile, understood Roan's reluctance to endorse Kamala Harris when there are many decisions by the Democratic party that she doesn't support — she is, for example, an outspoken critic of Israel's war in Gaza, which the Dems are backing — and argued that the issue isn't as clear-cut as some are making out.
Roan herself eventually took to social media to clarify her statements, and reassure those in doubt that while she has no desire to endorse any particular candidate, she will not be voting for Trump.
Girl… be serious
— Cindereye⸆⸉ 🥥 (@CinderSable) September 22, 2024
“There’s problems one both sides” ONE OF THEM IS NARCISSISTIC COMPULSIVE LIAR AND A FELON
Keeping her publicist in my thoughts and prayers
— aevious (@aeviious) September 22, 2024
Chappell Roan’s ability to be an incredibly refreshing voice of reason one moment and then the most annoying, ignorant, humorless weirdo the next moment really should be studied. https://t.co/HMLGdVhoCv
— Andy Herren (@AndyHerren) September 22, 2024
we really are witnessing the Rise and the Fall of a Midwest princess aren’t we https://t.co/sEU0NdhYAT
— Colyn (@colynelliott) September 22, 2024
Chappell roan is an embarrassment to lesbians
— Maya Luna (@RealMayaLuna) September 22, 2024
You can't borrow from drag aesthetics and embrace your sexuality and then pretend the party that would criminalize our happiness is the same as the one who protects it. https://t.co/eHbbH2N9LS
“Chappell Roan reveals…” pic.twitter.com/LjjuxonVMs
— Giuseppe (@theJoeMichaell) September 22, 2024
shes incredibly brave to have a spine in a neolib dominated industry and shes right https://t.co/1msP0SpueO
— jules cancelled again (@imnotjuIes) September 22, 2024
all the gay liberals reacting to that chappell roan statement… get a life lol. people don’t like seeing babies blown to pieces and then get told that is must happen and that we’ll pay and provide the bombs for it. take it up with kamala! no one owes you fealty
— Mohammad (@MargBarAmerica) September 22, 2024
chappell roan is a vocal supporter of palestine so everyone saying she’s a closet republican for not endorsing harris needs to get their finger off the quote button and understand why a gen z who’s been in the spotlight for less than a year might not want to align with neolibs https://t.co/Zo9Y8RARVM
— frank costanza’s lawyer (@_carrrmen) September 22, 2024
the way chappell roan is just saying we need to hold politician’s accountable to higher standards and demand more from them instead of just accepting their actions and ppl are losing it like that’s not a completely common leftist take
— kenz (@sevreds) September 25, 2024
Darcy Jimenez
Tuesday
Sam Altman
The character: Sam Altman, OpenAI co-founder, huge note-taker, inconsiderate notebook owner
The plot: Altman has graced our column previously (the time he wanted to takeover the world with a trillion words) and a clip of Altman's appearance on the "How I Write" podcast recently raised eyebrows after he revealed some of his writing habits and preference for spiral notebooks — because ripping those pages out is much easier, and is something he does quite often.
Sam Altman's spent years refining his note-taking process. Here's exactly what he does. pic.twitter.com/vpIWkK7WYG
— David Perell (@david_perell) September 24, 2024
Altman also casually let it slip how he throws piles of crumpled paper on the floor, and waits for his housecleaner ("when our house cleaner comes in, you know, whenever,") to clear up the pile.
The repercussion: While Altman has been ridiculed many times since OpenAI went mainstream, his lack of media training and refusal to act human was something people couldn't forgive.
Ever heard of a trash can?
— Ryan (@RyanPolsley) September 24, 2024
the way people (particularly in tech) so vociferously dig for the "one neat trick" that sets wildly successful folks apart from the rest -- as if it isn't a lifetime of choices, lessons learned, access to opportunities, and serendipitous occurrences -- always fascinates me https://t.co/hsgKkhUWee
— James Rosen-Birch ⚖️🕊️ (@provisionalidea) September 24, 2024
Wow, Sam Altman takes notes? I'm shocked. Next you'll tell me he also breathes air and drinks water. Groundbreaking stuff.
— CigarVatos Gentlemen's & Women's .Club 🌹 (@CigarVatos) September 24, 2024
sell me this pen
— safetyBot 🍚⛓️ (@degenRobot) September 24, 2024
- start >$100B AI startup
- go on podcast
- rant about your note-taking podcast and the best "pens" & "spiral notebooks" https://t.co/Hvp90PeaGH pic.twitter.com/kJDseIu05Q
2 minutes to say “i write on paper with a pen” https://t.co/9gClgCpiQJ
— sophie (@netcapgirl) September 24, 2024
https://t.co/p203atbNwn pic.twitter.com/TE01PH4wJl
— TJ Parker⚡️ (@tjparker) September 24, 2024
Adwait Patil
Tuesday
Charli XCX fan
The character: Charli XCX fan, dancing intruder, excited person
The plot: On the NYC night of Charli XCX and Troye Sivan's "Sweat" tour, TikToker Kelley Heyer, who created the viral dance to Charli's song "Apple," performed the routine under a spotlight and surrounded by screaming fans. It was very much a Main Character moment for Heyer, so people watching the video online were surprised to see someone jumping in to dance alongside her.
Kelley Heyer the Apple dance creator is tonight’s Apple Girl at #SweatTourNYC pic.twitter.com/hPWHFhc7au
— 🤠 (@goldencompass13) September 24, 2024
The repercussion: Initial reactions to the stage invader, who was not known to Heyer, were extreme, to say the least. Sure, her briefly trying to grab Heyer's arm was a little weird and awkward — but some X users went as far as to say the girl deserved to be hit, while others resorted to cruel, fatphobic comments.
Thankfully, reason appears to have prevailed, with many people coming to the girl's defense. Even Heyer herself addressed the situation and called out those being nasty and abusive to someone who was just excited.
how do people lack this much social etiquette and awareness… how do you not notice she’s performing? why would you touch her? like, seriously what is wrong with you people?
— danisha carter (@danishacarterr) September 24, 2024
i really hope that girl knew her because why would you interrupt her moment like that… pic.twitter.com/vu5LNq0ti6
— senorita awesome (@qxytocin) September 24, 2024
why does she keep trying to fucking touch her omfg fucking move
— 부둥이 🐥 (@CROWTITSUA) September 24, 2024
That tweet about parents needing to tell their kids when they’re being annoying >>> https://t.co/KjXB8JEFmS
— bria celest (@55mmbae) September 24, 2024
she should be allowed to beat the other girl up https://t.co/TFnbqqrJyJ
— snoopy 🦦 (@lwtabiior) September 24, 2024
cant stop thinking about the other girl… there’s a whole life that led up to that point. a pattern of behavior, a whole psychology. I wonder when the first domino fell, the first butterfly wing flapped, so to speak…. https://t.co/gWsu194is8
— fulmiez (@fulmiez) September 24, 2024
Sorry but the other girl makes this an iconic moment that will live on in history https://t.co/ZTiwMUDcbo
— Rose Dommu (@rosedommu) September 24, 2024
No wonder gen z is afraid to do like anything cause if you commit a faux pas and someone gets it on video you get half of twitter calling you fat and a loser https://t.co/AkYw2pHcho
— 🌌 (@full_cure) September 24, 2024
“i would’ve beat her ass” “i would’ve shoved her” no you wouldn’t have. u have heart palpitations when u need to make a phone call https://t.co/DFWMY8VE8l
— mother earth 🫒 (@feminterrupted) September 24, 2024
I think you’re all having a massive overreaction to a girl who’s probably rolling for the first time in her life https://t.co/lXQYSzMbtH
— calamari c0ck ring 🦑 (@desivirgil) September 24, 2024
Y'all do not get to use my video as an excuse to be fatphobic and straight up vile to a stranger. I spoke to the girl who joined in and we are totally cool. I had the best time at SWEAT getting to do my dance in front of so many people. I love how much everyone loves the dance! https://t.co/s6lTy1GNaH
— Kelley Heyer (@kelley_heyer) September 25, 2024
@kelley.heyer My voice is shot from the concert but I just wanted to get this out there!
♬ original sound - Kelley Heyer
Darcy Jimenez
Read the previous edition of our One Main Character column, which featured an onstage scuffle, a baked abomination, everyone's favorite hippopotamus, a depressing childbirth announcement, a political correspondent who committed the cardinal sin of journalism and an eerie new city in Saudi Arabia.
[Image credit: @kelley.heyer]