This week in pop culture—November 7

Adele facing backlash for “SNL” sketch

Internet Photo.

On Oct. 24, Adele, Kate McKinnon, and Heidi Gardner participated in a sketch on “Saturday Night Live” that was intended to mock sex tourism. 

The sketch titled “Africa Tourism” showed the three ladies portraying white divorcees encouraging viewers to travel to Africa, with the use of sexual innuendos such as “massive bamboos.” Adele could be heard saying, “I found such a deep, deep connection here,” while in the background, Black men could be seen arm in arm with, and carrying, white women. 

Social media users clapped back, calling the skit “tone-deaf, insensitive, and inappropriate.” Others acknowledged the skit encourages stereotypes about Black men and fetishizes them. 

During the sketch, Adele was seen constantly breaking character and laughing. This was met with a positive response, another Twitter user wrote, “The Africa skit I didn’t like but Adele losing character is comedy.” In fact, viewers love seeing actors break character so much that there are YouTube montages dedicated to it. 

On Aug. 30, the British songstress created controversy when she posted a photo to her Instagram page of her hair styled in Bantu knots — a traditional African hairstyle — and sporting a bikini top with the Jamaican flag printed on it. She wore this to the Notting Hill Carnival — an annual event that celebrates Caribbean heritage. Many social media users called out Adele for cultural appropriation, one person tweeted “she showed up looking like a caricature of what’s supposed to be Black culture.” However, others came to the singer’s defense and said she was merely celebrating Caribbean culture. 

Drake x Nike is here

A look from the Drake x Nike merch collaboration "Certified Lover Boy". Internet Photo.

The Canadian rapper has just dropped his collection with Nike. 

The collection, aptly titled “Certified Lover Boy” features the pink and black bomber jackets Drake wore in the “Laugh Now Cry Later” music video, a white baseball cap with a lipstick stain on the bill, and a white tee with a picture of cupid sporting a ski mask. 

The collaboration is a merchandise collection for Drake’s upcoming album, “Certified Lover Boy.” The 34-year-old has announced that the album is set to drop in January, 2021. 

The collection is available for purchase on Drake’s website, drakerelated.com. However, if the item you were eyeing is sold out, you can always buy it for triple the price from a reseller. 

Escape with Harry Styles in “Golden” music video

Internet photo

With a pandemic continuing to loom over us and the stress that comes with having hit the halfway mark of the semester, we could all use an escape. Thankfully, Harry Styles has answered our wishes. The 26-year-old singer recently dropped his music video for his single “Golden” off his sophomore album, “Fine Line.” 

In the video, Styles can be seen running along the Amalfi Coast of Italy. He then can be seen swimming and riding around in a convertible. 

Styles has provided us an opportunity to escape reality for a moment, even if it is only for three minutes. Thank you, Harry.