hardblazesong

[hardblazesong]

The present and the past in 2 minutes…

I've been going through all posts from last night and thank you to everyone who contributed and shared pics and short clips... Once again it's amazing how many skilful women we have on our side of the fandom.

Since we had some hard times lately, I've decided not to dissect every second of last night's event, dwell on the weird and awkward moments, especially since one moment caught my eye and stood out.

It's the part of the panel where wifey needed to say a few words about the real man in her life, her calm center, her biggest supporter, her partner on and off-screen (thank you @caitsamuniverse for all your posts today) and almost immediately it took me back to when they started this OL journey, some of the first interviews where Cait praised Sam. Not so much for the praise itself but that moment from last night, as brief as it was, felt like I was watching them... She was soft and emotional and he was his usual cheeky self and it was so wonderful to see that.

Putting aside another shot in the mist from her glam squad, putting aside cringy questions from the red carpet or the fact that they seemed awkward (putting all emphasis on seemed), for that brief moment (aside from the photos that a lot of you posted of SC together) this was one palpable moment in time, after waiting so long to see them in the same place together, where they were completely and truly them. Since we did wait so long and we finally saw them together, in person, let's just focus on the good and there really were good moments.

So, I made a short video of what I saw and of what it reminded me of. The present and the past, almost 10 years in between those moments and nothing has changed. And that warms my heart and I guess that's all we wanted. To see them and to see they are still THEM. AND THEY ARE.

I hope you'll enjoy my little montage. 😊🥰💙💚

[hardblazesong]

THIS POST IS FIVE YEARS OLD AND I AM STILL PROUD OF IT.

The time has come Shipsters to write a lengthy post. So here it is.

I am busting out the Marlboro Southern Cuts for this, so, be prepared for a lengthy ramble through my mind. First, some introductory notes for those of you who have not DM’d me. 

I am a 53 year old Bisexual Female. This is only relevant to comments later in the post or I likely would not be sharing it on this blog. I am also a Disabled Veteran, and while that is not relevant to anything further, I am proud of it, and it does explain the inordinate amount of time I have on my hands to write these kind of things. 

I am retired from a lifetime of work in multiple jobs, including ten years of Consulting on Business and Technology. I have been a student of human nature for most of my life. I am, in Jungian terms, an Introvert/Extrovert. Having been an actor, stage manager, costumer and director, who comes from a family of actors, I feel I can comment on that as well. I also am a writer. I am a bit rusty on this type of writing however, so, forgive me if it creaks along. I do hope you, if you read this whole piece, bless you, understand that it is off the cuff and not really intended for critique as to style or content, It is meant to just put my thoughts out there.

Now, to the reason for the post. I want to address the clusterfuck that this fandom is, the ways I would address some of the issues and my overall feelings about S/C the ship, shipping in general and the nature of actors. So, with those hats listed above on, here we go….

This fandom is toxic. There is no turning back from what has happened. There will never be a happy place for everyone again, if there ever really was. This is the reality of the Social Media age. This is the brutal truth of everything posted lives forever. This is the ugliest fandom I have ever seen. That is remarkable in that I have been around a very long time, fanning many different things and people. I have been active on the internet for twenty years, so that is really a dreadful label to put  on a group of people, but believe me, we have earned it. Congratulations Outlander fans, you lose the fandom award for “best fans ever”.

How did this happen? Well, factions mostly, with supplied fuckery, insecure actors, incompetent handlers, nearly archaic business models, and ridiculous sums of money thrown in, just to rile up the masses. Never for a moment forget about that filthy lucre, because you better believe it IS the be all and end all of Hollywood. Oh, and if you believe that there is an actor on this planet who doesn’t want to be famous or is a true introvert, I weep for you naivete and wish you nothing but the best holding on to it.  

Let’s break down the factions for a bit just to clear that from the table. F1, F2, F3 seems to be the easiest way to do this.

F1-the book readers who fanned and discussed long before anyone else came along. Subsets include: Diana worshippers, Diana tolerators, Diana haters, Diana imitators, Diana should haves, Diana could haves, Diana wills, Diana won’ts and finally my favorites: Actually write better then Dianas.

F2-the show onlies who came along starting with the production/casting news and stayed or left based on the show alone. Subsets include: Love the shows, Hate the shows, Love the show and anything associateds, Hate the show but love the casts, sorta like the shows, sorta like the actors, sorta want to stick arounds even though Starz is ridiculous, hate RDMers, etc…really too many to list. 

F3-the all important bothies group. I could spent countless hours naming the subsets here and putting them up on a white board and drawing connections but here is where the money is folks. These are the people that bought over 25 million books, that spend their money on cable, that support in multiple ways, charities, conventions, memorabilia, various social media streams of income. Here is where the vast majority of Shippers, Antis, and Neutrals live. Here is the group most assuredly taken advantage of in any way possible. This is the group that gets pushed or pulled to suit the needs of Big Business. Most people in this group are normal, everyday type of people who willingly go along with whatever occurs because their needs, while oftentimes delayed, eventually get met in some fashion and so the money keeps rolling in. 

F4-Trolls and the associated disenfranchised or purchased for profit motives or hopelessly ill or hopelessly deluded. Not really a money stream to be depended upon, but definitely a SM presence and a useful tool in a multitude of ways. Flames that burn high enough draw attention. They keep the conversation going when nothing else will. Throw them a bone now and again to get them salivating and watch that fandom jump. Most of the incompetent advisors and handlers really don’t understand this group because insanity is hard to control but they will also throw scraps when necessary.

Is it any wonder that this fandom was fractured from the start? This doesn’t begin to cover what went on, it’s just a base for the pyramid. The next level contains the subsets that formed their own associations. some fluid between Fs. Here we really see the SamOnlies, the CaitOnlies, the Mommies, the Fandom Police, the Deniers, the Enablers, the Accusers, the Peacemakers. The rapidly festering illness that is taking hold floats all around. Sadly the vast majority of these people are women who ought to know better, but for an incalculable amount of reasons don’t. Some of these people are just finding their feet on SM and love the perceived power inherent in that and so are letting the better angels of their natures take a backseat to the demons that niggle away at them, and some of them are just stupid, ignorant, attention seekers.

On to the heart of the matter. Sam and Cait. Actors with philanthropic tendencies. Generally thought of as good people, good actors, and if nothing else, the very best of friends. Oh that it were that simple, that pure or that classy. No it’s not. Nothing ever really is. I admire the kindheartedness of many who believe it to be so, but don’t respect the sellers of the blinders needed to buy what is being sold. 

Actors Act. That is their job, likely their greatest passion and deepest need. Sure they are capable of great loves, great intentions, good deeds and all the other things that make life worth living. They also are liars, by the very nature of what they do. Lying too harsh a word? Sorry, but pretend is too childlike for those with any real talent. Liars are telling you a story, hoping to sell it to you with their actions and their emotions.  Perhaps it’s a little white lie or a whopper, but it is a fabrication, an untruth, a show. Through study, practice, hard work, with luck, perhaps talent, and timing, they are able to make you believe the lie, for generally however long it takes for the show to go on. Actors who live their lives in this culture we have now, generally never completely let their guard down in any public way. They are always “in character” in one way or another. The deep rooted insecurities of the profession, the people involved in extraneous ways and their own substantial egos won’t let them truly present themselves as the human beings they are. Many a fine actor has descended into madness, addiction, death, because they can’t turn it off, never knew how or don’t want to. There are many perks, but just as many pressures and some were just not built for the strain. Now add in that fame factor, the money monster and aging. Time and Fame are fleeting. Recognition for ones work is nice, but the money is the icing on the cake. Hell, it’s probably 2/3rds of the cake too if I am being honest. Yes, they are artists, but honestly do you think any artist sets out to stay poor and struggling? Have you ever been poor? I have. It sucks. 

Along comes Outlander and two “relative unknowns”. That is a bit disingenuous because they were both actively working prior to the show, but it has that lovely “a star is born” quality to it, and most are a sucker for that. So, TPTB were happy to sell that. Sam and Cait were surely on board for that meeting. Hey kids, we are gonna put on a show and oh by the way, you two are so pretty and cute with each other, work that into the “we are so happy and humble and our fans are the greatest act” would you? Then that oft spoke of chemistry became apparent to all and sundry before the show even aired. Oh my, a goldmine in the making. It certainly didn’t hurt anything that the affection between them likely was genuine and they really were flummoxed by the attention they attained so quickly. No one but the two of them really understands what it was like for them to be in that bubble together, at nearly the same age and stage of their careers. If they hadn’t leaned on each other, hadn’t formed a relationship of some kind, hadn’t sold said relationship at every opportunity and manipulated it for whatever reason they do, we wouldn’t be having this discussion. So mostly, kudos to them for a job well done, on multiple fronts, but it has not been perfect by any stretch of the imagination. 

Sam, I have often speculated on his sexuality, without judgement, needed to be presented as a single, heterosexual man. Wasn’t so important that Cait be sold as a single, heterosexual woman. It actually enhances the fanbase if she can be sold as a possible bisexual. It’s not like we are saying that the vast majority of the fanbase are conservative Christians. Sex sells, go with the most profitable options. Let the Sam is gay rumors float around without addressing them. Any attractive male actor is going to get tagged that way, and it will draw a certain segment.  Let the paps and fans throw some girls into the mix. No one threatening to the budding are they or aren’t they crowd though. No Cait clones. Sam you like blondes? OK. No one above D level status either, or it could distract the fans too much. Cait? Do whatever you like but keep it on the very downlow. We already have to sell you in the show as a woman in love with two men. We don’t want you looking desperate in any way. Perhaps a long term low key thing will work to keep the rumor mill in check. Maybe not, but it’s worth a shot. OK kids, let put on a show and the money will eventually flow. Oh, by the way, could the two of you roll out your charity endeavors as well? We know you both support things in real life, so be sure to let that be known. Do try not to be too political, what with the world as it is an all, but don’t be ostriches either. Oh, and sorry but PR says you have to sign these non disclosure contracts as well, and just so you know, there really is a morality clause but we don’t spell it out too clearly because that is what lawyers and loopholes are for. 

Then we got the show, and low and behold, a hit. That goldmine sure is bigger then any of us hoped for here at Starz/Lionsgate/Tallship/ etc…These fans are so nice, they bring things, they say nice things on SM, they send things and most of them love the adaptation and isn’t funny how much they like us together offscreen? Wow, guess we should keep on selling that too. What’s that you say? Some are panicky that we may be too close? Why? Oh, they think if we become a couple that we will eventually break up and ruin the show or something. Can’t have that, then the money will stop. What should be done? Nothing? Carry on as before? Ambiguity is best? Alrighty. Can I throw a bone to the shippers we have acquired along the way?  But what about the ones who don’t like us as a couple? Jeebus it’s getting harder to navigate these waters, why didn’t anyone prepare us for this part of it? What do you mean you just have to live it? Is that part of the contracts? oh.

Time for the intervention of the Troll Brigade, always lurking, but finally ready to find a way to break into the discussion. Mistakes were made here, not of epic proportions but enough that things began to crack around the edges. Threats were made, feelings were hurt, fans ran away, friends side eyed, Most importantly fingers began to be pointed. Advisors began to whisper in ears. Which group could likely take being battered the best to deflect attention from anything not fitting the needs of TPTB? Well, like all shows and fandoms, we have this pretty vocal shipper group. Nothing really wrong with shippers, they certainly like to promote, chatter and fangirl. Mostly harmless, although like any group of a like size, there will be some unstable ones. There is also a group of fairly rabid antis to consider. The neutrals can’t really be bothered to take the heat and would likely just walk away then take abuse. So, shippers it is then. Sorry ladies, but the writing was on the wall from  before last summer that some group would have to be sacrificed for the perceived greater good. 

It all went down hill from there. It hasn’t hit bottom yet. What can be done now to retain them or swap them to the neutral camp? You are seeing it unfold. Does this mean shipping S/C is dead? Of course not. Just backed into a corner, where hopefully, they will still fangirl, discuss, and spend money. Anytime they need more discussion or pap press or SM flare ups you can bet Shippers will be addressed in some manner. Too much money has come from them to let them go entirely no matter how Sam and Cait actually feel about them. They are a natural part of fandom, there will never be a time when they are gone completely. TPTB are counting on that. Only that F4 crowd really want them gone. 

Yes, I still count myself among the shippers. No, I don’t care if they have SOs or if their sexulaties preclude them being an actual couple. Yes, I will watch S3 at least. No, I don’t think it will go beyond S4, the material is not strong enough. Yes, I like passages of books after S3, but not the whole books. I am in F3. I have never harassed anyone about S/C, never commented on MM’s stuff, don’t follow her, am not a fan of hers, and frankly do not care whether or not Sam is dating her. It is not my job to be her fan, promote her or protect her. Nor is it my job to worship Sam and Cait, support them or protect them. I am not here for that. I do believe that there are some very talented, genuinely funny, and awesome women in the Shippers lane. I don’t pay attention to the antis, nor do I comment on their antics to them on Twitter. I do discuss them here, but only in a general way. I find the neutrals to be just that and respect they don’t want to get involved in flame wars. I have actually been saddened by the descent of Shitner, couldn’t care less about Camuso, and they, Purv and BG will face their own Karma. Not my circus, not my monkeys. 

Sam and Cait will fan the flames themselves now, no matter what they do. Until the time comes when they move on from the show, they are in a no win situation as far as some faction of the fandom goes. They likely don’t care. They are getting paid no matter what happens. If one of them cracks, my money is on Sam, he has charm and talent to spare, he will likely recovery in some fashion. He has MPC to pay him if he keeps that going. That’s right, not all the funding goes to charity, remember that. They will both getting acting gigs following Outlander. Life will go on. Much love to you Shipster Sisters, carry on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoXLKgX0MgU

[hardblazesong]

During a visit to the Ukrainian Cultural Centre yesterday, Prince William said: “Everyone is horrified by what they are seeing. The news every day, it’s almost unfathomable. For our generation, it’s very alien to see this in Europe. We’re all right behind you.” Watch here👇🏻

Cr: @/LizzieITV

See? Stop reacting and mocking and being offended without HAVING THE WHOLE INFORMATION.

[hardblazesong]

How many celebrities are their authentic selves ? Who decides if they have to do these pap walks or not ? Its sad they have to resort to something like this to be noticed.

Unless you're personal friends it's impossible to know how close their public persona is to who they are behind closed doors. There are also celebs who call the paps on themselves because they want the boost. Anyone from an agent or manager all the way up to a studio high-up can decide to stage one for any number of reasons I already touched on. The most important thing to remember is social media isn't real life. Tabloids aren't real life. Lots of celebs get caught up in it all and "change" with the fame&money, I'd be lying to say otherwise. Then there are plenty of others being manipulated by their bosses/reps/etc. Then there are those who manage to make it big without either of those happening and they're awesome :)

Right now trending and having a boatload of followers is often more important than talent and credits, and it's commonplace for audition breakdowns to say the actor must have at least X number of followers on instagram to be considered. I've spent hours talking to friends from my level up to series regular supporting role in feature films and we all hate it, but finding the balance is a necessary evil now if you want to remain relevant and be considered for jobs.

And then once you are contracted, depending on the terms of that contract, the studio basically owns you for the duration. And that's all I'll be saying about that.

[hardblazesong]

Sam just started a live with reservebarspirits… I guess they deliberately left the womans bag in the back or maybe not?

🤓🤓

[hardblazesong]

Lol I like how the Drew Barrymore program the first question is “are you single Sam? It’s for the fans!” RIGHT after this article comes out 😂 like wtf is happening, he’s 41 and they are marketing him like a 20-something year old playboy

That question never gets asked in his interviews then it spontaneously drops out of the clear blue sky proceeding 'the kiss' 🙄. But even after the pap walk and kiss, Sam will not give a straight answer and say "yes I'm single". He engages in non committal double speak. The reason is pretty obvious to anyone who has two brain cells that can be rubbed together.

[hardblazesong]

I was wondering if these staged PR pap walks is Starz idea or is it the scheme from the Viewpoint PR team? Or is it an agreed upon thing where both sides feel that it's a win-win?

I would say it could depend on what's driving it. For example, Starz has parameters for when something is required; "Fix it" and it is up to ViewPoint to execute on the how. Jennifer Allen falls back on the fake girlfriend because it works as I pointed out in a post yesterday. Or the quick article after Sam said "we are together and we do work together and things are pretty good" and within hours there was a "he didn't mean it like that" article.

In this case, you have a new season starting and you also have the accidental appearance of Bob (blond older baby).

Interesting that he emphasized he was single in the Drew Barrymore show, which was taped around March 3rd, I believe. Before the pap walk but after Bob.

Just like a good defense attorney, they are trying to create reasonable doubt (or unreasonable in this case).

[hardblazesong]

This is the first and last time I'm talking about the Vanity article, so please don't send me any more DM's on this topic.

The article was written at the same time as all the other "nice" articles (LA Times, Irish Tatler, etc.), namely during the time at the height of the Belfast promo. So why are we still surprised? I assume that Cait's PR department thought of something to launch such an interview.

There are actually only three reasons for me why this was initiated:

1. To distance the person Caitriona Balfe as far as possible from OL and especially her co-star Sam Heughan, in order to increase her acting performance in Belfast and her chances to win an award.

2. To put pressure on the OL executives, to have a better position in possible contract negotiations for (money, production, direction). Season 7.

3. To create an explanation for the change of her personal circumstances after the Oscars or after the end of OL. I'm pretty sure that point 1 didn't work. To now communicate to the masses a rumor, that has persisted for years, but has only been discussed in a very small circle of fans, is not really logical.

I'm sure, that many (especially new OL fans) who have not been involved with SC's private life before, have only now become aware of this issue.

It's like Tesla having quality problems with the steering wheel of their cars, which has already caused some accidents, and instead of just writing to the affected customers to keep the issue as small as possible, their PR department places articles in the media, which leads to an unpleasant issue that only affects a few, suddenly becoming a top issue for everyone.

Sometimes keeping quiet is simply the surest way, to take the wind out of a subject's sails. About point 2: Not a single positive word about OL, except for what opportunities the series has given her. On the contrary, many negative statements.

Again, I'm not sure that this will achieve the desired result.

In Germany there is a saying " Don't bite the hand that feeds you" and currently OL is her main source of income, not to mention the fans who buy her products/films and whom she has additionally offended.

It remains to be seen, whether all this will have a positive effect on her award chances or her further projects outside OL. Again, in many situations, the rule tends to be,

"To talk is silver, silence is gold".

Point 1 and point 2 are therefore for me

The only plausible explanation that would explain this dilletant approach of Cait or her PR agency, brings me to point 3, about which I would rather not say anything.

But one thing is for sure, if my company's PR department did a job like this, they would have been fired a long time ago.

[hardblazesong]

This answer right here explains my comment below. She is boring, trying too hard, and no longer worth the attention I have given her for years. Stan's, stay in your lane, I am mostly feeling this about Sam as well.

Isn't the real reason people are criticizing the article because she made it clear Sam is not her sons father and she is married to Tony? Isn't it okay she said she wanted to direct? Didn't Sam say that as well in an interview? Isn't it true if you are biased against her you are going to dislike the article in someway no matter what? Isn't Outlander small potatoes, and this for mainstream fans beyond the show, so they will know the truth?

I debated just deleting and blocking this because there's obviously an agenda and I've got a busy day. And it’s Maestro on this blog.  He hasn’t earned a first-name reference.

First, other than the ridiculous discussion of Tumblr's observation that the bed sheets are the same, (hello Barbra Streisand effect), there was actually nothing new in that article and your bias reads implication as statement.

Second, I answered anons about directing more than once yesterday that I thought she should ask to direct and doing so on her own show is where actors usually start and makes perfect sense. But you don't do that by trashing your employer (I actually accidentally typed former employer) in a big cover story. And you don't contradict yourself by saying that she was supposed to direct a S6 episode but then her own circumstances combined with Covid made that impossible. S7 has 16 episodes and I would imagine not all are storyboarded with enough detail at this time to hire directors so she should still have her team negotiating on her behalf. She would NOT be getting this cover without Outlander, period.

She GPS'd fans to her wedding location and yet none showed up to hassle her. Lynette RIce's team called the Church (or pretended to, I think the quote from the church secretary was pre-planned just like everything else). There is no PI that anyone I talk to knows about. Yet, those crazy, crazy fans. Newsflash, have you ever met a militant Cait stan? They are the ones who make it hard to be a fan, not shippers who, with some exceptions not condoned by other shippers, stay in our own lane.

I want to like Cait, I really do. (Or I did, now I dgaf.) It took me awhile to warm up to her in S1 because I thought she was a weak, obviously green actress and I noticed she wasn't' working hard to engage fans. I started to really like her in S2-3, both as an actress and as a smart and funny person. I saw her in person at S4 premiere that Friday when Sam just got back from Bloodshot shooting and I noticed two things. One-She's much more beautiful in person than she is in pictures. Two-she glows in Sam's presence. I mean visible halo. But I hate the way she goes after segments of fans because it is the fans who decide who is in what segment and broad-brushing abounds. Her comments do nothing but divide. And I don't think she cares.

By the way agenda anon, every mainstream fan I've ever run into lights up at the mention of the possibility of SC being together. Every.single.one.

This isn't about Outlander as much as it is about Caitriona and her team wanting to be validated in the acting community as more than just a retired model who wanted to act. This was a perfectly orchestrated VF cover , (likely negotiated by Branagh's crackerjack team) so that she was in the mainstream right as SAG and Oscar noms are being evaluated. Belfast only made $7M but Branagh stands to make a killing on streaming rights and awards will help him.

She tried to check every "I'm just like you" box to the actors voting for SAG. She tried to check the diversity box too for GG and Oscar voters. (That was disingenuous.  Crew likely can't be helped due to demographics but Outlander has had several female directors-they are usually the best episodes.) Remember both GG and Oscar committees have been slammed in recent years for lack of diversity.  Groveling 101.

She just came across as trying too hard and she has always been a bad print interview. The VF cover was planned and executed to be exploited by Team Cait so that JustJared (in the pocket of Starz) was right on the case to highlight those crazy fans, E News was right on the case to spotlight the directing issue and Cait stans are tweeting at Matt and Maril. I just saw an ET Canada headline (also in Starz' pocket) about those crazy fans. Her team knows Outlander brings clicks and awareness. The websites are only too happy to oblige because clicks bring money.

As far as her team is concerned; win-win. Cait gets several news cycles out of this for her awards groveling and the narrative gets a blowjob.

[hardblazesong]

Perfect

Your posts were quite informative and now I’m wondering were there only two choices for VF article? Take the high road and promote her charities and talk about her accomplishments, or dish the dirt, throw shade and people under the bus to get buzz in tabloids before awards season? Does this attempt to get attention seem desperate? I was wondering if her age is a factor. Does it seem like she’s taking the now or never approach, damn the consequences? Isn’t this a really risky strategy that could end badly for her?

We had a quick discussion in the comments of one blog regarding your last question. She's a 42-year old, late-to-the-party actress looking for validity. Is she looking past the Outlander commitment to the future and feels it is a risk worth taking since they won't fire Claire?

Others have pointed out that several castmates and many other actresses who have wanted to expand to producing and/directing their work, have done that with other projects. They didn't wait for it to be handed to them, they did it. I think the fact that she optioned the rights to a book to potentially write, get funded, cast, produce and even direct a project would have made her far more interesting.

Instead it made it seem like their strategy was appeal to certain groups using the lowest common denominator.

Grovel to SAG voters by knocking nosy fans and tough studios just like her fellow actors (the seasoned and smart ones would tell her ignore it)

Grovel to GG and Oscar voters by claiming she is all about diversity (and of course she included Sam in that comment too) because they have gotten dinged for diversity problems recently.

Grovel to click-hungry entertainment tabloids by adding something salacious and in some cases not quite accurate about crazy fans and nudging them to broadcast it to extend the news cycle.

[hardblazesong]

LOL

It's a bit crazy that your big awards debut article has so little about your actual accomplishments in acting but an entire section about the sheets of Tumblr and the co-star you've never has sex with. The fuck?

Lol! Perfect sum up. A nice, normal, organically evolving bond of friendship with her costar from 2013 forward and things could have been different. We could have had a sweet article about how her husband has consolidated his two lucrative careers in music producing and talent managing to focus on music managing 🙄. I’ll say again, if you catch me once or five or ten thousand times in your living room wearing a Hamburglar mask and stuffing your best jewelry into a sack, whose fault is it that no one believes me when I pout and yell “I’m not a thief!”

[hardblazesong]

Comments are priceless. Frankly, I am pretty over her. I am also pretty over him. I find them boring now. Sorry, but I just don't give much of a damn anymore.

We started with Vanity sirloin and finished with JJ hamburger...😂😂😂

[hardblazesong]

Do you think any of the statements made by Cait in this new interview are strategic? I know the antishipper ones are but I mean more of the ones regarding OL and her directing hopes and how her and Sam have pushed for more equality. I can’t figure out how she thought that was a good idea. I mean, she’s far passed from when she even pretended to care about fans, but she’s not usually this dense about those she works with. I stopped reading a lot of her interviews as of late with how off putting she’s become but when I did keep up with her she was always super complimentary of everything and everyone involved in the show. “I’d hoped to direct this season but unfortunately it didn’t work out with covid and my pregnancy”. “Sam and I tried to get a more diverse crew, but we really are lucky to work with such great people and hopefully as film continues to thrive we can incorporate different cultures and people in more aspects of film and tv making”. Quotes not from her, to be clear. Just samples of what could have been said. There are tons of ways to say what she said without saying it the way she said. Even though I’ve lost a lot of respect for her, I think Cait knows that too. So what’s the deal with the tone in this article towards the OL team?

If these sentiments had come during a Twitter Q&A or an IG Live I'd say that was Cait being Cait, lashing out when she's cornered the way we've all seen her do. But a print article? Some quotes but a lot of filler too? I don't pretend to know the bts workings of print journalism and PR but I'm suspicious of every word they utter. I don't know the rules but I sense a game. It's just so frustrating that shippers always end up in the discard pile.

[hardblazesong]

So right Mama. Why can’t they just try and act normal? Is it really that hard? It doesn’t look right to have Sophie in the video and Duncan, but not Cait.

Only to us. To a million casual fans it's just Sam in a kilt toasting the new year for ten seconds with his whisky and omg! that's the guy who played Murtagh! and the girl in yellow looks familiar too!

[hardblazesong]

Yesterday...

Netflix and Chill? 🤔😜

Cait followed Adam McKay, "Don't Look Up" writer-director...

And a few hours later Sam liked this post about the movie...

The "coincidences" keep happening... 🤪🤣

[hardblazesong]

Real artists obviously don't want to ruin the process by having real feelings love or hate for costars in the case of Kristen and Rob it's all clear now any supposed romance was fake to sell the film. Thanks for the great parallel to Sam and Cait. Their fake romance in bts, RC and few photos shoots, was all to sell the show. Same thing. Great post to make it clear. Not now or never were together.

I normally just block foolish things like this, but this award-worthy level of ridiculousness actually made me laugh and I thought I'd share. Congratulations you've used your reading comprehension problems to loop all the way around to your obsession problems of certain couples not being interested in each other. It's like your personal game of troll twister.

She said it was real. A lot of interviews have been given since the movies aired and the story has been consistent. They were attracted to each other, dated in a way that one could back then, and the movie studio didn't want it to happen and went out of their way to discourage and hide it. And we also know from those who are in the fandom, that the Twilight fandom had trolls trying to discourage it. Just like you. And just like you're doing now. Gee I wonder who fits that description.

@tpquill outlined everything that went on in that fandom quite nicely in the comment section of the last ask I received about this subject.

There are dozens of "real artists" out there who fell in love as co-stars. We've already listed several over the years and a quick Google search will help you find the rest.

Apparently, nobody loves you like that so you've spent more than a decade obsessed with female co-stars not falling in love with their male co-stars because that kills your fantasy.

I hope the new year brings you a real person to love, so you can stop being such a pathetic troll. Or maybe a subscription to Master Class can help you find a new hobby. I think they've extended the buy one gift one until tomorrow.

[hardblazesong]

The Anna P show is fiction, not fact. Fiction.

Struck a nerve, did I? I never said the actual plots in that particular show are real. I said, that THEY said, that this is the type of sordid, salacious stuff that happens. The type of stuff that has happened for years, social media just makes them have to respond faster. But the speed of social media also helps publicists shift the narrative faster. In the Guilty Pleasure book, they showed very similar tactics, and the authors ( one tabloid writer and one Hollywood publicist) said it was all true except they changed minor things or combined situations so that people couldn't figure out who the celebrities were.

Remember when Cait was doing promo for Money Monster? She played a publicist. And one interview they asked her if she could ever be a publicist and she said no, because I'm a terrible liar. Not no, because the hours are terrible and it's very stressful. Her association with being a publicist was having to lie for a living.

Wake up. Much of what you see or read about celebrities isn't the truth. It's what they want you to think the truth is. Some cases it's because they can't say the truth. In other cases it's because they just want privacy.

PS I started a new episode. The phrasing they use in the bumper is that the celebrity culture is highly manipulated, sordid and salacious. Keyword- manipulated.