Happy Monday!

I have the latest trending topics for you today, including the sweet little critter they call Jimothy. I’m not usually moved by viral animal content, but he really got me. 

Also in this edition, we have the latest redpilled update from the Love Island USA franchise (unfortunately it continues) and news about Fenty Beauty’s iconic product from the Golden Age of Beauty YouTube.

Every now and then, a phenomenon hits the internet in a way that will remind you of times of yore. This weekend was one of those moments. 

Indeed, people became enamored with a short-spined raccoon named Jimothy that looks like something out of a cryptid forum. He is round and compacted, with a build akin to a perpetually frightened cat. It’s the stuff of local legend. 

And Jimothy’s sweet stature has fueled X for days, as newfound fans of the little critter have been creating fan art and waxing poetic about how much they love him. As trite as it seems, there’s something endearing about how people go crazy for the latest viral cute animal. We haven’t really had a sweet creature rock the internet since Moo Deng, which was two years ago. And even she fell victim to online hate quickly.

It’s just a wholesome time whenever the internet starts loving an animal, allowing for a brief respite from the drama and shock jock shenanigans that typically dominate our feeds! It helps that there are so many different angles and shots of Jimothy from the time he was being trained by his mom as a little cub to his whereabouts today. 

This time, it’s Love Island USA season six alum Kenny Rodriguez, who went on The Journey Podcast to give his side of the breakup with JaNa Craig. He claimed that she was verbally abusive toward him and that he was checked out of the relationship for months by the time that they were on Beyond the Villa. 

For an hour and a half, he discussed the end of their relationship, how he handled fame (poorly), and his mental health. Something he didn’t share? What exactly he said about Craig, who had reportedly found racist texts about her in his phone.

Following their breakup last July, Craig posted on her Instagram Story: “Search keywords like ‘I don’t like black women, I thought I could get more money from this, I’m faking this relationship, going on the show would be for clout, I can’t wait to be done w this so I can f*** hella b****es.’”

While Rodriguez put a lot of emphasis on how Craig impacted his mental health, he glazed over how his alleged racist remarks impacted her. In fact, he claimed that he only made “a statement where I generalized.” He did not say what that statement was and of course this random male podcast host did not press him. 

“I did say a statement where I generalized,” Rodriguez said. “And I take full accountability. It doesn't represent the person that I am, and I take full accountability for it. But I've dated black women before. I have Black ancestry. I'm Dominican. You know, half of my family is dark skin. So, there was never a problem with race. The problem was with how you were treating me.”

In response to the video, Craig had called out Rodriguez for sending her a cease and desist for discussing the relationship while going on a podcast to tell “straight fucking lies.” She also said she was going to get her lawyers involved. 

“I think you should give me permission to drop all the text messages,” she said. “Why don’t we start there?” 

Their season six castmate Kordell Beckham chimed in to defend Craig and criticize Rodriguez, writing “We not even gon get on how you sat on that podcast and lied the entire time, but what we not gon do is lie like I condoned anything you did/said. After YOU called me I got on that ass and we haven't spoke since. Shout out my sis Jana love you for life girl.”

It’s unclear what Rodriguez thought this podcast appearance would do. But if the newfound fanbases for this year’s redpill-adjacent contestants are any indication, he will likely have a lot of defenders in the manosphere.

After breaking boundaries in the beauty community back in 2017 with its extensive shade range, Fenty Beauty is retiring the foundation that started it all: the Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation. 

This was during the peak of the mid-2010s beauty YouTube era when the blueprint for beauty was becoming more diverse and the demand for more inclusive complexion product shades was high. To this day, new beauty brands still struggle with inclusivity, but Fenty Beauty set a new standard.

The impact that this foundation had in the beauty industry will never be forgotten. However, I’m not surprised that the product is being discontinued. It’s a matte, full-coverage foundation, which was perfect for the full glam that was in vogue at the time of its release. But today? People prefer more natural looks, favoring more skincare-infused face makeup.

Still, it’s the end of an era! The brand posted a tribute to the product on their Instagram, saying, “As we prepare to retire Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation, we’re reflecting on the moments that made it more than a product.​ The reviews. The stories. The “finally found my shade” moments. For nearly a decade, you’ve shared your feedback, trusted us with your routines, and helped shape the future of complexion products at Fenty Beauty.​”

If you happen to be a fan of the foundation, it’s 50% off on the site until it’s gone.

Every Monday letter gets a playlist. I’ve just been playing hot evil girl anthems on loop, lately. Here’s a maneater playlist to aspire to <3

In this week’s playlist:

Other things I want to share with you.