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, former Twitch collaborators found themselves embroiled in drama, the biggest kids’ show on YouTube headed for the cinema, and the hottest Gen Alpha meme of the moment inspired fast food deals.
Creator commotion
Mizkif sues Emiru and Asmongold for defamation amid bitter OTK feud. The disgraced streamer says that inaccurate sexual assault allegations against him ruined his reputation, and he’s suing former colleagues who (according to him) fanned the flames of that rumor. The legal action is one part of the widespread fallout that has occurred after Emiru was assaulted by a fan at TwitchCon.
Subscribe to get the latest creator news
Jesser will be “honorary commissioner” of the rebooted 2K league. The relationship between the NBA and creators is as strong as ever, which means it’s the perfect time to relaunch a video game gauntlet that features the most popular basketball sim. Jesser will make a fine commissioner — and you can bet that this won’t be the last you see of him this NBA season.
Amid a government shutdown, Keith Lee shares his SNAP story. As millions of Americans fear the loss of crucial benefits, TikTok’s favorite foodie is showing his support. Lee knows what it’s like to rely on SNAP, so he’s calling on food brands to donate goods to the families that are currently at risk.
Events and happenings
Creator Camp rolls out a “red carpet in the woods.” That’s the name of an outdoor film screening that will take place in Yosemite National Park. In partnership with Rivian, FUJIFILM, and Epidemic Sound, Creator Camp will gather 100 internet-famous filmmakers for the premiere of the film Two Sleepy People — and that will only be the start for this ambitious project.
After KPop Demon Hunters success, Netflix is bringing Stranger Things to movie theaters. The streamer’s K-pop sing-along ended up becoming one of the theatrical events of the year. For a follow-up, Netflix is putting the final season of Stranger Things on the big screen. The screenings will coincide with the premiere of the ultimate episodes, which will drop on New Year’s Eve.
Games Done Queer raises $51,000 for Lambda Legal Fund. For the first time, Awesome Games Done Quick expanded its speedrunning series with an event specifically for and by queer runners. The strong response to the LGBTQ+ festivities shows that there’s still room to expand the burgeoning world of fast-paced gamers.
Pop culture minute
CoComelon: The Movie is coming out on February 26, 2027. Animation takes a long time to produce, so CoComelon devotees will have to wait more than a year to catch the franchise’s big screen premiere. In the meantime, there are thousands of hours of CoComelon content to discover on the internet, so I think the kids will find a way to pass the time until 2027 rolls around.
Buckle up for The Great American Golf Adventure. Portal A teamed with GMC and the golfers of Good Good to produce a sponsored series that will feature “the most rugged round of golf imaginable.” I can’t even get a birdie in putt-putt, so I don’t think I would stand a chance on custom-designed holes in the Wyoming wilderness. Luckily for Good Good, they’re actually good (good) at what they do.
Where are the KPop Demon Hunters toys? That’s the question Bloomberg is asking after discovering that Netflix’s KPop product line isn’t expected to ship until 2026. If they had only gotten their act together before October 31, they could have made a killing on the Rumi-colored hair dye everyone needed for their Halloween costumes.
Food meets memes
Domino’s and Pizza Hut are both offering ‘6-7’ inspired savings. Gen Alpha brainrot has officially made it to the world of fast food. A discounted Domino’s pizza is a tempting offer, but I have to give credit to Pizza Hut for putting the decimal point in a more appealing position. 67 cents just sounds like a better deal than $6.70, but I think there’s a good chance the ‘6-7’ kids will flock to both businesses.
The Rizzler wants you to buy his “Rizzwich.” That’s the name of a new menu item you can order at Hardee’s locations. Creator consumables are great and all, but I can’t stop laughing at the picture of The Rizzler looking contemplative in his chef’s toque.
Panera teams with TikTok mixologist Whitney Leavitt to add “Dirty Soda” to its menu. First, the fast-casual chain adopted a “Roman Empire menu” to keep up with TikTok trends. Now it’s dipping into that well once again with some help from Leavitt. Panera, you’re so extremely online right now. Go touch lettuce.
The internet is a strange place
How’d we let Madame Web become the biggest thing on streaming? Movies that fizzled out at the box office are roaring to the top of the Netflix charts. A note to studios: Just because streaming audiences appreciate “so bad it’s good” flicks doesn’t mean you have to keep making them.
A YouTube staffer ended up with a key role in the new Bruce Springsteen biopic. Mike Chivaro, YouTube’s Manager of Music Content Operations, has old-school sideburns and some skills on the bass guitar. That was all Deliver Me From Nowhere casting directors needed to see: They put Chivaro in their movie as Garry Tallent, the bassist from Springsteen’s E Street Band. Not bad for a suit!
A man helped pay for his wedding by putting ads on his tuxedo. Look, weddings are really expensive, so I understand the desire to recoup some costs by selling the groom’s duds as advertising space. If the happy couple wants to make big-time revenue, all they need to do is walk down the aisle to the tune of the O’Reilly Auto Parts jingle.
