ITNTW: Who run the world? Gen Z Girls!

Gen Z female celebrities have dominated news headlines this week, delivering both drama and entertainment. From Molly Mae and Tommy Fury calling it quits to Sabrina Carpenter’s much-anticipated ‘Short n Sweet’ album release, there’s been no shortage of buzz.

Molly Mae

Renowned for her luxurious online persona and high-profile relationship with boxer Tommy Fury, Molly Mae first captured public attention as a contestant on the popular reality show Love Island UK, where she met Tommy. The couple’s relationship, which spanned five years and included the birth of their daughter in early 2023, has been a social media obsession for millions of fans.

So it was no surprise that the internet was ablaze with the news that Molly Mae and Tommy Fury have officially called it quits. While the breakup shocked some, many were unsurprised, given the multiple cheating allegations that had plagued Tommy Fury in the lead-up to their separation. Despite repeatedly denying the cheating allegations over the years, Molly Mae and Tommy Fury have often found themselves at the mercy of relentless online speculation. In today’s digital age, where social media reigns supreme, secrets are hard to keep, and this couple’s private life has been no exception.

Now that they’ve officially parted ways, Molly Mae has taken to YouTube to express her gratitude to her fans for their support. However, she made it clear that she won’t be discussing the details leading up to their breakup, leaving the internet speculating. And with the couple’s tumultuous history, we can only assume what really happened.

Chappell Roan

If anyone knows how to become an overnight sensation, it’s American singer-songwriter Chappell Roan, skyrocketing to fame after the release of her single EP Good Luck Babe. Fans quickly fell in love with her bold queer persona and brought renewed attention to her album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, released in September of 2023 including smash hits such as Hot To Go and Femininomenon. 

Her rise to fame began as the opening act on Olivia Rodrigo’s tour, and earlier this year, she dazzled the crowd during her first-ever Coachella set. Her performance, complete with striking costumes and her signature red hair, captivated audiences and earned her a rapidly growing fan base. However, with her newfound fame has come a series of controversies that have put her public image under scrutiny.

Numerous allegations have surfaced accusing Chappell of being rude to her fans. Many have taken to TikTok to share distressing encounters, from being yelled at for not being able to do her iconic HOT TO GO dance to receiving cold stares when offering compliments. Adding fuel to the fire, she recently cancelled shows in Paris and Amsterdam, only for fans to discover she was still set to perform at the VMAs. This led to a wave of criticism, with some accusing her of prioritising award show rehearsals over her fans and labelling her as unprofessional.

Amidst these allegations, questions have arisen: Does Chappell want the level of fame she has achieved?

Chappell addressed the backlash on social media by calling out what she described as ‘predatory behaviour’ from some followers, including stalking and online harassment. The 26-year-old also stated firmly that she doesn’t ‘owe a mutual exchange of energy’ and shouldn’t have to interact with fans in public if she doesn’t want to. This statement was not taken lightly by fans and has only added fuel to fire. 

Whatever Chappell’s next career move may be, it’s clear she might be in need of some good media training if she hopes to keep her fan base strong. 

Sabrina Carpenter

From child Disney star to pop music icon, Sabrina Carpenter’s career path is one we are too familiar with. And it seems 2024 has been her year. Coming off the back of a successful tour opening for Taylor Swift, she then played Coachella where she debuted her single Espresso. Upon release Espresso headed straight to number one, only to be overtaken by her second single  Please, Please, Please. Both songs sent fans into a frenzy over her bold, feisty lyrics, suspected to be written about her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Barry Keoghan. 

This week, Sabrina dropped the rest of her Short n Sweet album, and it’s quickly becoming a fan favourite. The album has even earned the cheeky nickname “Ovulation Album” from her dedicated listeners. Among the tracks, the one that truly set the internet ablaze is the opening song, Taste. The song’s music video, starring Jenna Ortega currently has 37 million views and it’s safe to say fans are obsessed. With its gory visuals, inspired by various classic horror movies combined with raunchy and humorous themes, Sabrina has cemented herself as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. 

So what’s the magic behind Sabrina’s continued success? PR of course!

Sabrina knows how to create a viral moment and capitalise off it. On tour with Taylor Swift, Sabrina’s outros to her hit song nonsense became TikTok sensations and always had fans eagerly waiting to see what raunchy lyrics she would rhyme her next destination with. She has also dabbled in her fair share of collaborations, suitably partnering with Blank Street Coffee to promote her single Espresso and more recently having her own Bratz doll created based on her character in her Taste music video. 

Sabrina has also utilised her own social media channels to grow her platform, posting regularly and interacting with fans on all kinds of posts from covers of her songs to memes, she knows how to engage her audience. The singer was also the first user to try out Instagram’s newest music feature, allowing you to pin a song to your profile, it was through this that fans were granted a first taste of Taste. Some sources have even begun to speculate that her relationship with Saltburn star Barry Keoghan is purely a PR stunt. Whether this is true or not, one thing’s for sure – Sabrina has us all wrapped around her finger. 

Written by Michelle & Victoria – PR & Influencer Coordinators @ InsideOut PR