The internet is absolutely adoring one third-grade teacher’s incredible across-the-court basketball shot, which brought her nothing but net, instant internet fame, and winning a bet to buy all her students a round of hot cocoa.

The shot in question, originally posted on the Instagram page for Holy Trinity School in Washington, D.C., soon made the rounds on the internet via reposts on Twitter where Ms. Fitz — or Kathleen Fitzpatrick, to be more precise — was given her moment in the limelight. Check out the post for yourself right here.

Surely, there must be more going on here underneath the surface than your run-of-the-mill school teacher scoring big, out of the blue? Indeed, it turns out Fitzpatrick is actually a former Rutgers University basketball player, USA Today reported. And you better believe Fitzpatrick’s alma mater was quick to heap praise on their Scarlet Knight alumna.

We’re glad to see Fitzpatrick made the shot, rather than losing the bet and having no obligation to get her students a mug of hot cocoa as promised.

As one user pointed out, this is about the billionth reason we can think of to give teachers across the board an enormous raise.

It’s clear from that follow-through, Fitzpatrick has dabbed on plenty of would-be basketball opponents in the past, as one user pointed out.

Even comedian Adam Carolla had to give it up, calling Fitzpatrick is the Steph Curry of teachers.

And by the way, if you’re like Carolla and want to cover the kids’ next round of hot cocoa, the school stated on their Instagram post they do accept monetary donations to help aid kids’ financial aid and scholarship funds. The link to donate is right here.

If you’ve been wondering what Grimes has been up to since she broke up with the richest person in the world, well, wonder no longer. The video for her new song, “Player of Games,” released on Dec. 3, has just dropped, and it’s a lot.

The video is an esoteric mashup of sci-fi, fantasy, and anime imagery features. It sees the singer locked in combat, both virtual and actual, with a sinister-looking armored figure whose helmet bears more than a passing resemblance to the Witch King from Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King right down to the complete lack of human features underneath.

The singer, born Claire Elise Boucher, and also known as simply “c” – after the variable for the speed of light- conceptualized the epic video herself. Anton Tammi, who handled photography and art direction on The Weeknd’s After Hours album, directed the video. Grimes debuted the video all the way back in July during a DJ set. It’s presumably the first single from the singer’s upcoming album, Book 1.

As for the content, well, it’s something of a smorgasbord of geeky genre-related influences opening with a fantasy-inspired scene that feels more than a little like something out of JRR Tolkien’s work. Grimes is an obvious fan of The Lord of the Rings; the singer sports several tattoos written in Tolkien’s elvish language, Quenya. After a game of chess with the aforementioned knight, things progress to actual swordplay and then onto out and out lightsaber contact – although the way the singer and her opponent handle said light blades shows they do not operate in the same manner they do in the Star Wars movies. Unless there was a deleted sequence featuring some massive and painful laser scarring.

Perhaps more intriguing is that a great deal of the imagery in the video inverts the common “knight in shining armor” trope. Instead, we have a dark knight in scarlet robes literally playing games with a woman he later fights and ultimately kills, both symbolically and actually. Freud much? No one can say how much the artist’s IRL love life influenced her artistic vision, but with lines like:

“Baby
How can I compare
To the adventure out there? Sail away
To the cold expanse of space”

well, she’s probably not talking about Jake Gyllenhaal.

A family in Pennsylvania is trying to raise awareness about a viral TikTok challenge they believe may have resulted in the death of their ten-year-old daughter. Nylah Anderson attempted to participate in the “Blackout Challenge” while alone in her room, according to reports from ABC 7.

The so-called challenge had users holding their breath until they passed out, each trying to go for longer and longer to try and get their own piece of internet fame. While searching for the challenge now leads to a page informing users to “Learn how to recognize harmful challenges and hoaxes,” this change came too late for Nylah’s family.

“She was a butterfly,” says Tawainna Anderson, the mother of Nylah to ABC 7. “She was everything. She was a happy child. I’m so hurt. This is a pain that won’t go away. It’s at the top of my throat. I am so hurt.

Make sure you check your kids’ phones. You never know what you might find on their phones. You wouldn’t think 10-year-olds would try this. They’re trying because they’re kids and they don’t know better.”

While the challenge originally spawned and found popularity back in the 90s, known by names like “the choke challenge” or “the fainting game,” the blackout challenge recently saw a resurgence on the platform. In June, a 9-year-old Colorado boy named LaTerius Smith Jr. also died in similar circumstances.

A representative from TikTok told the New York Post, “This disturbing ‘challenge,’ which people seem to learn about from sources other than TikTok, long predates our platform and has never been a TikTok trend. We remain vigilant in our commitment to user safety and would immediately remove related content if found. Our deepest sympathies go out to the family for their tragic loss.”

Our thoughts are with the Anderson family during these challenging times,

All a company could ever hope for is for one of their commercials to go viral online over four years after it was originally released, right? Well, with just how bizarre Cup Noodles got with its previous “Hungry Days” campaign, it’s no surprise that anime fans might have dug up one of the old commercials.

The impressive CG effects and animation in the commercial for the instant ramen product are not only impressive enough to garner over seven-thousand upvotes over on Reddit but also absolutely baffle everyone who watches it. With the intense Aerosmith music in the background, we can’t help but wonder who thought a fully 3D animated apocalypse scene was the best way to sell their products.

Many fans of anime pointed out how the CG used for a commercial was better than some seen in professional productions, wishing the animators for the project could work on something else.

As one user pointed out, the video isn’t even the beginning of just how strangely intense commercials for the company can get over in Japan.

Of course, sometimes they go for a downright wacky angle over anything remotely normal as well as another user shared.

But hey, is it any worse than Arnold Schwarzenegger hand pounding out every single noodle put inside their cups? Yes, another user helped show this was a real commercial back in the 90s.

But seriously, would you watch a full anime of the “Hungry Days” caliber if Cup Noodles were to produce it?

As 2021 comes to a close, it’s only natural to take a look back at the year that has led us to our current moment. Thankfully for content creators, their fellow TikTok users have found a fun new way to commemorate the end of one year and the start of another.

For several years, TikTok has been responsible for dozens of viral trends, and this year TikTokers have upped the ante with a new influx of creative posts that have turned new songs (as well as some old ones) into videos focused on certain aspects of their lives. One of the latest viral trends is known as “16 Missed Calls.”

What is “16 Missed Calls?”

“16 Missed Calls” is actually a track by R&B singer Brent Faiyaz that many TikTokers are using to narrate people’s stunning transformations / glow ups. A typical TikTok video using the song usually shows a throwback picture of the user and then incorporates overlay text to highlight the lyrics “16 missed calls later” before their “glow up” picture or video appears.

Who is Brent Faiyas?

If you’ve never heard of the popular R&B singer Brent Faiyas ⏤ whose real name is Christopher Brent Wood ⏤ he rose to popularity through his songs on SoundCloud in 2014. During his career, the artist has created several hit songs, with his EP “F*ck The World” making it to the US Billboard 200. He’s even snagged himself a feature with Drake on the song “Wasting Time.” Now, capping off the end of 2021, Faiyas’ song “16 Missed Calls” has become a TikTok sensation.

So what exactly is the “16 Missed Calls” trend?

The trend is basically a new way for TikTokers to post their “glow ups,” but with a key difference. It’s purposely aimed as a symbol of spite and revenge. 

As part of the trend, users feature older, less-attractive photos or videos of themselves and add the caption text “You’re not my type” to insinuate that they’ve been rejected by a person (real or imaginary) for not being their type. That’s usually followed up by a black screen with the overlay text that reads “16 missed calls” as a brief intermission before revealing “after” photos or video clips meant to convey the sense that they are much more attractive than they were previously.

How to do the “16 Missed Calls” trend on TikTok

If you’re looking to make some people jealous or simply want to join in the fun, you first have to find some photos or video clips that showcase you in a less glamorous light. Then compile the most current pics and video clips where you are the most “glowed up” for your “after” presentation. Then all you need to do is follow these steps.

• Open the TikTok app and select “16 Missed Calls” from TikTok’s music library or download the song to your Sounds.
• Select a photo or video from the gallery you wish to add first by using the slideshow effect available on the Effects tab.
• After selecting your sideshow, follow them up with a “16 Missed Calls” image screen and add text that you can get to appear in the rhythm of the “16 Missed Calls” verse. 
• Then incorporate your glow-up pictures into another slideshow and set it to the Brent Faiyas track. 

You can also use a video editing app like InShot. Basically, all you have to do is:

• Open the Inshot Video Editor and create a new project in 9:16 ratio. Then import the first photo and 3 to 5 images you need to add at last. Also, you need to add “16 Missed Calls” to the timeline as well.
• After that, adjust the images according to the song lines. Adjust the first photo duration to 0.3 seconds and type “Sorry, you’re not my type” using the typing tool. You can add the lyrics as well without any trouble. Then you just have to adjust the duration of the photos to 0.2 seconds in your next slideshow and you’re done.

There you have it! Now you’re ready to show all the haters how much you’ve grown since the last time they saw you. But remember, this is supposed to be friendly fun, so try not to take it too seriously. Whether you’ve experienced an actual glow up or not, we’re all beautiful, and that validation needn’t come from someone else.

Photo via sisijjj1/TikTok

TikTok is driving more and more of today’s trends, in entertainment and comedy as well as in fashion, makeup, and style. Many of the video-sharing app’s most popular trends involve dancing, thirst-trapping, or attempting a dangerous stunt, but the app is also behind a new fashion trend that is blowing up among users. The noodle hair trend has been spreading rapidly on the app, thanks in large part to a few high-profile celebrities, inspiring copycats and prompting questions about how to achieve the look.

What is the noodle hair trend?

The noodle hair trend has appeared in popular culture before, but often by another name. On TikTok, it is goes by “noodle hair” due to the resulting hairdo’s similarities to the tight curls of a ramen noodle. Multiple hairstyles have the potential to fall into the “noodle hair” category, but the most popular style sees people rocking numerous tight, twining curls. In some cases, these curls are then bleached or given highlights to make them pop.

The TikTok fashion trend has been around for months, but tends to pick up steam whenever pro footballer Cristiano Ronaldo rocks the ‘do. His hair has been lovingly referred to as “the spaghetti” by fans for years, and is largely seen as the inspiration behind the trend eventually reaching TikTok.

Who’s doing it?

Noodle hair is genderless, which is great news for anyone looking to try out the style. Several high-profile celebrities have rocked noodle hair over the years, the most popular of whom are probably Ronaldo and Taylor Swift. Swift’s hairstyle changes from time to time, but one of her most iconic looks sees her sporting long, tight curls past her shoulders.

This is another version of noodle hair, though it may be more accurately compared to cellentani noodles than ramen. Swift’s early look often saw her sporting waves of bouncing curls down her back, a style that falls perfectly in line with the noodle trend. Her early stardom style has inspired a number of creators to try out something similar, and is one of the culprits behind the noodle hair trend’s rise on TikTok.

On the platform itself, numerous people are trying out the trend. Male creators often toss in the added touch of highlighting their curls to make them look even more like an un-sauced pasta dish, while most female creators simply let their natural curls shine. Regardless of how, exactly, they tackle the trend, quite a few TikTokers have made an attempt at noddle hair.

How to achieve the noodle hair look

Creators looking to attempt the noodle hair trend have a few options. Not everyone who identifies as a noodle head has curly hair, which is great news for the chronically straight among us. In order to achieve a noodle hair look with straight hair, however, blonde locks are all but required.

The bleaching process is not always necessary for the noodle hair trend, but it really helps with the aesthetics. Noodles are typically a creamy yellow color, which means that blondes will always be the most successful at achieving this look. It is at its most successful among those who highlight or bleach their hair to give it the perfect noodle-colored boost.

Other tricks to achieving that perfect noodle look include piling one’s hair atop their head, Justin Timberlake style, or by loosing individual “noodle” strands from an updo to highlight one’s features. These looks help to accent the noodle-ish quality of your hair. A number of products can also help to boost any noodle-like qualities your hair may already have, aiding in goals to achieve that perfect pasta style.

2021 marks 20 years since the Harry Potter franchise first premiered in theaters, and, though it’s coming a little late, an anniversary special that’s set to reunite the cast of the beloved eight-part film series is on its way to HBO Max this New Year’s Day. We first found out about the much-anticipated reunion earlier this month, and today this first proper trailer has unveiled a taste of what we can expect from what promises to be an unmissable nostalgia ride.

Titled Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, the special brings the cast together at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London. The press release promises an “enchanting making-of story through all-new in-depth interviews and cast conversations, inviting fans on a magical first-person journey” through the legendary franchise that began with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in November 2001.

First look at ‘Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts’

• 

• MORE FROM THE WEB

Click to zoom 

Those taking part in the special will include Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid), Ralph Fiennes (Lord Voldemort), Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy), Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley), Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley), Alfred Enoch (Dean Thomas), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), and Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood).

However, the highlight of the reunion is obviously the chance to get the Golden Trio themselves, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), back in the same room. Specifically, the Gryffindor common room, as this trailer teases the stars back together in the familiar halls of Hogwarts after so many years.

The trailer for the reunion comes hot on the heels of the first trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, which dropped earlier this week ahead of the movie’s release next April. As for the Harry Potter anniversary special, don’t miss it when it arrives on Jan. 1 on HBO Max.

It may be hard to believe that an app as usually innocuous as TikTok could force the hand of a major government agency but it has somehow happened.

A TikTok video allegedly inspired a challenge to commit acts of violence at schools on December 17th across the United States, and after videos about the potential danger began to spread across TikTok using hashtags like #december17, even the DHS felt they needed to comment publically on the subject as many parents and children were wary of going to school on Friday.

“DHS does not have any information indicating any specific, credible threats to schools but recommends communities remain alert,” the DHS said via Twitter.

While the rumors of violence have skyrocketed, it seems neither the Department of Homeland Security nor TikTok themselves has been able to find credible information about actual threats. The TikTok Communications Team commented on the situation on Twitter.

“We handle even rumored threats with utmost seriousness, which is why we’re working with law enforcement to look into warnings about potential violence at schools even though we have not found evidence of such threats originating or spreading via TikTok….

Local authorities, the FBI, and DHS have confirmed there’s no credible threat, so we’re working to remove alarmist warnings that violate our misinformation policy. If we did find promotion of violence on our platform, we’d remove and report it to law enforcement.”

Despite TikTok’s claims of removing videos about December 17th, an entire discover page for the rumor exists, with videos about it having already gotten over 79.3K views. While no major violent acts seem to have been reported yet at United States schools, we can only hope both the Department of Homeland Security and TikTok are correct so students can stay safe throughout the day.

TikTok is a platform with an abundance of content, with thousands of new clips uploaded each day. The app’s popularity means that many creators are able to establish a core following that regularly tunes in to see their new content.

For many of these creators, TikTok is simply a hobby, but thanks to Creator Next, that hobby can become a handy way to make some extra money on the side, or even become their main source of income.

Here’s everything you need to know about TikTok’s Creator Next program.

What is Creator Next on TikTok?

TikTok’s Creator Next program is a great initiative to help content creators monetize their content and take TikToking to the next level.

Members of the Creator Next program have access to a handful of unique tools that other users won’t be able to take advantage of. These include a Creator Fund that will reward creators for putting out content and a TikTok Creator Marketplace where brands and creators can collaborate. Other features include LIVE Gifts, Video Gifts, and Tips.

To get access to the TikTok Creator Next program, you’ll need to be 18 years old or above, meet the minimum follower count for your specific region, and have at least 1,000 video views in the past 30 days with at least three posts. You’ll also need to have good Community Guidelines standing on your account and not be a business account.

If you meet this criterion, then you can pursue TikTok’s Creator Next program and start making money for your content!

via Instagram

While some may say no publicity is bad publicity, we have to wonder if that’s true for this Twitch streamer. Known online as Fanfan, Fiona Fan is a twenty-one-year-old woman from Vancouver, Canada, who mostly goes live under the “Just Chatting” category on the platform.

While she normally just talks about her life or whatever news is happening on a given day, she recently decided to tackle a more divisive topic — obesity. In a clip that has now gone viral, Fanfan said:

 “When you go to a hotel, and they have a roped-off area for smoking, a dedicated smoking area, why don’t they f***ing have that for obese people? I know they don’t have that for heroin users, but why do we not shame people who are morbidly obese? It’s bad for them!”

It comes as no surprise that many people were furious at the comments. A post of the clip on /r/LiveStreamFail not only garnered over two-thousand-six-hundred comments but also became one of the most popular posts on the entirety of Reddit on Wednesday.

Several people suggested that Fanfan needed to be roped off in her own special area for the terrible take.

Several other users pointed out that fat-shaming has actually been linked to increased weight gain. Obesity expert Leslie Pristas discussed this during an interview with St. Vincent Charity Medical Center.

“Experiencing the shame and stress that comes with weight stigma can trigger biological processes that actually make you gain more weight. Which in turn puts you at-risk for experiencing more weight stigma,” Pristas said. “Shame leads to increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can stimulate appetite, and increase risk for depression and anxiety — both of which contribute to unhealthy eating habits.”

Fanfan did offer a response after the clip gained notoriety online, but it didn’t defuse the situation as she seemed determined to defend her previous comments.

“The whole thing that I was saying was that we should not be glorifying people who are morbidly obese, which makes sense, doesn’t it? We should not be seeing someone who has health problems because they ate themselves until obese and call them brave. I stand by it.”

We’ll just have to wait and see if this affects Fanfan’s Twitch following after she’s generated so much controversy online.