Each week, we handpick a selection of stories to give you a snapshot of trends, updates, business moves, and more from around the creator industry. This week, one creator-led gauntlet is getting the go-ahead, while another one is going under due to drama. Also, the Hawk Tuah girl is back.
Creator commotion
iShowSpeed and Jynxzi are hosting a six-figure celebrity Fortnite match. Speed took a break from his latest tour to announce a massive collab with streaming star Jynxzi. The two creators will put $100,000 on the line in a star-studded Fortnite battle royale. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a project like this, but the star status of the two hosts could make this the biggest celebrity Fortnite match ever.
Hawk Tuah girl Hailey Welch sold her X account. The anonymous creator behind a meme page insinuated that they paid $325,000 to take over Welch’s personal X page. Hawk Tuah had a longer run than most flash-in-the-pan memes, but it seems as if Welch’s 15 minute could finally be up.
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The host of a major skating channel is also a Scientology power player. Aaron Kyro’s Braille Skateboarding channel reaches nearly six million subscribers on YouTube, but his other claim to fame is more scandalous. According to The San Francisco Standard, Kyro is “SF’s most powerful Scientologist,” a distinction that has caused some turmoil for his skating brand.
Platform headlines
TikTok casts doubt on report of new U.S. app. Earlier this week, a blockbuster report claimed that TikTok is building a new, U.S.-only app called M2, which will satisfy the regulatory demands of the U.S. government. TikTok has since described the original report as “factually inaccurate,” but given the platform’s history regarding denials (and its ongoing reshuffle), I am going to take this latest claim with a grain of salt.
Telegram adds more monetization. The messaging app known for its end-to-end encryption wants to help its creators make some money. Revenue-generating features like checklists and suggested posts aim to add new revenue streams without sacrificing the high level of security Telegram users rely on.
Meta wants to amass all the best AI talent. The company formerly known as Facebook is backing a $1 million initiative that encourages U.K.-based developers to build AI-powered tools that serve the greater good. And if those tools are built using Meta’s LLaMa model, the result will be a jolt of goodwill for the platform.
Pop culture minute
Creator Clash 3 has been cancelled. The third installment of the influencer boxing event was derailed by drama involving co-founder Ian “iDubbbz” Jomha. After initially attempting to delay the fight series, the Creator Clash 3 organizers are now nixing the event, with full ticket refunds set to be issued.
Tinx is making “The Shift” to TV. The TikTok star scored an instant New York Times best-seller with The Shift, a book that invites readers to realign their perspectives on life. Now The Shift is heading to TV, with Kapital Entertainment and 3 Arts seeking a showrunner who can bring Tinx’s tale to the screen.
Michelle Khare says Emmy consideration “is a sign of a maturing industry.” In an appearance on the Digiday Podcast, the Challenge Accepted host claimed that awards consideration can be “an opportunity to attract talent who want to work on the show.” Actually winning an Emmy trophy could be Khare’s greatest challenge of all.
Movers and shakers
Lauren Glaubach is hunting partnerships for Pinterest. The digital pin board’s Chief Content Officer, Malik Ducard, has a decorated new lieutenant. Glaubach, who spent more than a decade at YouTube, has come on board as Pinterest’s VP of Global Content Partnerships. In addition, she will continue to serve as a pocket.watch board member.
Spotter’s new revenue chief is Walmart, Snap vet Jodie Stocker Kennedy. It’s a big moment for Spotter’s ad biz, and Kennedy is coming in to keep the numbers moving upward. Boosted by initiatives like the recent Spotter Showcase, the creator economy company has reported 63% year-over-year growth in its ad sales division.
Reach Agency brings in Lisa Tanner to occupy newly created role. The creator and social agency is hiring Tanner to serve as its EVP of Client Services. The plan is to scale up influencer marketing initiatives alongside brands like Unilever and Nestle.
The internet is a strange place
AI is running restaurants now. We’ve already seen artificial intelligence take over the role of the chef in some kitchens. Now AI is moving to the front of house to run a restaurant in Dubai — and it has social accounts to promote itself. The Singularity seems more imminent than ever before.
Steve-O is still doing Steve-O stuff (with help from WhistlinDiesel). Steve-O got his start on Jackass when WhistlinDiesel was just two years old. More than two decades later, the two are teaming up to try out a vehicle with triangular wheels. I can’t wait until Steve-O is 80 years old and still doing mad stuff on a regular basis.
Akon’s Wakanda-inspired city was not forever. The singer invested in a $6 billion Senegalese development inspired by Black Panther, but the local government is putting the kibosh on that plan. Maybe Akon’s next idea can be something on a boat.
