June sure did fly by but we packed a whole lot of pop culture news into it first! If you missed anything, we’ve got you covered.
Juneteenth
On Thursday, June 17th, the United States Senate unanimously voted to recognize June 19th, otherwise known as Juneteenth, as a federal holiday. This day commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. While the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, it was not until 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. Juneteenth is an important day for the United States not just as a holiday, but as a remembrance that there is still work to be done to ensure everyone is treated equally.
Loki
Marvel is at it again. On June 9th, Disney+ launched its newest show, Loki. It follows the God of Mischief after the events of Avengers: Endgame. In the show, an alternate version of Loki is brought to the mysterious Time Variance Authority, an organization that exists outside of time and space and monitors the timeline. Since its release, critics and MCU fans alike have praised the show and consider it to be the best Marvel show on the platform.
Pride
The month of June is celebrated as Pride month across the United States. Pride honors the 1969 Stonewall riots and works to achieve equal justice and equal opportunities for members of the LGBTQ+ communities. Many well-known brands have shown their support for the LGBTQ+ community during this month by offering “Pride Collections,” however some have taken it one step further by allocating any profits from a sale to LGBTQ+ organizations such as The Trevor Project, GLAAD, and the It Gets Better Project.
RED (Taylor’s Version)
On Friday, June 18th, Taylor Swift took to social media to announce her next “Taylor’s Version” re-record in efforts to own back her work after they were bought by Scooter Braun. It should be noted that June 18th is also Scooter Braun’s birthday so Ms. Swift gave him a nice birthday present. (#karma) Many fans speculated that 1989 (Taylor’s Version) was going to be announced following a social media post that dropped easter eggs resembling the album. But she surprised the world by announcing RED (Taylor’s Version) which will be released on November 19, 2021; just 22 weeks after the announcement.
SOLAR POWER
It’s been over four years since Lorde released her second album, Melodrama, which ended up being one of 2017’s most acclaimed albums, snagging a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. Since then, Lorde has remained quiet and fans have been patiently waiting for new music from the alternative-pop star. They can finally rejoice as Lorde released her new single which just so happens to be the same name as her upcoming album, Solar Power. The upcoming album is inspired by Lorde’s trip to Antarctica and is a “celebration of the natural world, an attempt at immortalizing the deep, transcendent feelings I have when I’m outdoors. In times of heartache, grief, deep love, or confusion, I look to the natural world for answers,” she penned in an email to her fans.
Stay Hydrated and Cool Out There
It’s about to get really hot out there and hey, we might even see some rain thanks to Monsoon season. Stay tuned for next month’s blog as we will give you a breakdown of all the latest news across the country and events in pop culture!
