Tag: Fun-Interesting

Taylor Swift, Cara Delevingne, Kaia Gerber & The Media’s Construction of ‘Reality’


by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

Let me begin by saying I just don’t care one way or another if Cara Delevingne and Kaia Gerber are dating. I will admit that the such a prospect does make my eyes bug out a little bit, that’s not the point. What those two fine, fine women do with their bodies is their own concern.

What bugs me is how the celebrity news business seems to be pulling a fast one on us about what is “real.” This is kind of late, but something about this photo and how it was presented at the time it was released really bothers me.

“We’re just friends.”

Ok, so, this photo is of a two-person cardigan that Taylor Swift gave Cara Delevingne and Kaia Gerber upon the release of her fan-service album “Cardigan.” So far, so good. What bothers me is at the time there was zero indication that this was anymore than just “two friends” getting a kooky gift from their equally famous friend Taylor Swift. I will admit that maybe this is far more well known in New York City than I realize and if that’s the case, I’m sorry. But relative to my media intake, there’s been not even a Entertainment Tonight allusion to this couple’s existence.

It’s almost as if celebrity media simply did not want to do anything to let us know that, uhhhhhh, those two aren’t just friends. It reminds me of how The New York Times was famous back in the day for various wink-wink nudge-nudge euphemisms for “gay.”

This brings up the issue — why does this even matter?

It matters to me because it’s the duty of journalism — even celebrity journalism – to provide context. The couple is out enough that they’re wearing a two-person cardigan, for Christ’s sake, why not just ship them to the public? It’s shit like this that makes people not trust the media.

There must have been some way to simply state the obvious about the picture — Taylor Swift gave a two-person cardigan to Cara Delevingne and Kaia Gerber who are in a romantic relationship. But I guess the reasoning is, being out among the 1% is different than being out with the hayseed rubes of middle-America so celebrity journalists, in a sense, are protecting the couple. I’m probably stumbling across some sort of queer theory concept of how different the concept of being “out” is among different parts of society.

Anyway. It’s just annoying.

But, as I keep saying, I wish the couple well (if they’re even still dating.) I just had to vent a little bit about that picture.

Wait What? We Have To Talk Again About The Prospect Of A Kaia Gerber – Cara Delevingne Relationship


by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

I’ve already written some about this some time ago, but the lingering possibility that it happened puts such a smile on my middle-aged face that I have to write about it again. And, I just have to laugh, and laugh and laugh that this thing has happened. It’s one of those value-free fun-interesting things that I always look for.

First, some context.

In the fashion world — and among the wealthy elites in general– same-sex relationships (especially between women) are so commonplace and treated with such indifference that one can come across as something of a hayseed rube for even pointing them out.

Meanwhile, Cara Delevingne seems to have something of a reputation as a lesbian lothario.

Now, let’s look at this picture:

Taylor Swift’s gift to the..couple?

Looking for that picture, I found a surprising number of OTHER pictures online that pretty much prove these lovely ladies are, in fact, dating. It blows my mind. I mean, Cindy Crawford is an icon for the ages. And it breaks my poor old middle-aged brain to think her daughter is dating Cara Delevingne.

I guess the real interesting thing about them dating is not so much that they’re dating as is how it isn’t a bigger deal. Pictures like this are presented without a cocked eye or comment. I guess what rubs me the wrong way is the media is being a bit disingenuous by not shipping these two in a more overt manner. Wouldn’t it help the cause of gay rights if they did? I guess celebrity news editors assume we’re all idiots and can’t handle something so surreal, even if it’s pretty self-evident that it’s happening.

I haven’t really kept up with the couple, so they may have broken up by now. And throw in how Margaret Qualley of all people was seen hanging out with couple and the plot thickens. That REALLY blows my mind at the “mathematical possibilities” as they say in Annie Hall. But that may be me just being a dirty old man. But there is the Delevingne factor in that particular potential flesh sandwich.

I’m wrong all the time, so take that into consideration.

But I wish the couple well.

Kaia Gerber is only 19 and she’s probably sowing her wild oats, which is her right. She dated Pete Davidson — as did Margaret Qualley! — so maybe she’s just bouncing around available hot people for fun.

Have fun, Ms. Gerber. You’re only young once.