It's Monday and a 60-year-old man is going viral after his emotional support alligator named Jinseioshi was denied entry to a Walmart. Guess they didn’t like Jinseioshi’s snazzy little coat…

Today’s News

BUZZFEED COMEBACK

BuzzFeed's flagship YouTube channel is back with a "bold new programming slate"

The relaunch: After hosting no new uploads for over a year, BuzzFeed Video is back. New York-based media company BuzzFeed is relaunching the channel that once served as its flagship YouTube hub.

BuzzFeed has a strong head start as it works to rebuild its YouTube presence, having amassed nearly 20 million subscribers since its inception in 2011. The channel is rolling out four new and returning series, plus occasional one-offs and specials designed to entertain both longtime fans and newcomers.

The timeline: A decade ago, BuzzFeed was one of YouTube’s most prolific channel owners. A cast of homegrown stars powered original programs across categories like food, travel, comedy, and multicultural studies.

Most of those stars have moved on (you can catch former BuzzFeed employee Quinta Brunson on Abbott Elementary and Safiya Nygaard, The Try Guys, and many more on on their own successful YouTube channels), but BuzzFeed has reconfigured its approach to stay competitive in a changing media landscape. The company has some resources to execute a new plan, too. CEO and co-Founder Jonah Peretti sold off Hot Ones producer First We Feast last year for $82.5 million, giving the company cash for its YouTube relaunch.

The slate: BuzzFeed has long been associated with Millennial culture, and it still has that demographic in mind. Shows like Mom in Progress depict relatable situations for parents of young children.

At the same time, the channel is rolling out programs catering to a younger demographic. And That’s Why I Walked Away explores the Gen Z-coded topic of creator burnout, while Feed Feud pits generations against one another in an internet trivia battle.

Now that the relaunch is underway, BuzzFeed is also reaching out to collaborate with its former stars. Years after becoming an independent unit, The Try Guys reunited with their previous employer to wax nostalgic (while playing with some puppies).

HEADLINES IN BRIEF 📰

• UPROXX CEO and founder Jarret Myer tells us why Swifties rule the fandom world—and how creators, even though they’re not megabillions pop stars, can still utilize that buzzing energy in their own fandoms. (Tubefilter)

• PIXEL.IA, a new creator event in the French Riviera, brought together filmmakers like The Man in the High Castle creator Franck Spotnitz and Brotherhood of the Wolf director Christophe Gans to tell creators their thoughts on creativity in the age of AI. (Tubefilter)

• Caleb Hearon says it’s all good with MrBeast. In a recent episode of Mythical Kitchen, the comedian creator said that after the whole Rolling Stone thing, MrBeast gave him a call and personally apologized. Hearon’s take on the original diss? “I legitimately thought it was funny.” (Dexerto)

• Wondering why you’re seeing a bunch of Saddam Hussein supercuts edited into soccer TikToks? It’s darkly comedic visual shorthand for pointing out players that ruined fans’ weekends with bad games—the sort of shorthand only our extremely online existence could crank out. (Mashable)

INFLUENCER ISLAND

Reality stars are becoming influencers, so Tinder is turning influencers into reality stars

The campaign: A new dating show set on Ibiza portrays the dating lives of attractive singles, and no, we’re not talking about Love Island. Tinder has recruited a cast of influencers for Double Date Island, a sponsored web series tied to a new app feature.

The stars of Double Date Island — including TikToker Carmie Sellitto, musician Spencer Elmer, and fashionista Ellie Smith — go on dates in pairs. That’s the same setup as a Double Date Mode that’s now available on Tinder.

The match: By adding Double Date Mode to its flagship app, Tinder parent company Match Group is hoping to provide an experience that makes the average Zoomer feel more comfortable. Many members of Gen Z are burned out by app-based dating. Will the option to set up double dates invigorate them?

The casting: The creators who are vying for one another’s affections on Double Date Island are certainly not the first influencers to enter the reality TV sphere. Becoming an influencer now seems to be the primary goal for many reality stars, much to the chagrin of those who appreciate the shows for what they are.

If Taylor Frankie Paul can become the first established influencer cast as the lead of The Bachelorette, then there’s room for a creator version of Love Island. You can catch the branded experiment unfold on Tinder Europe’s YouTube channel.

HAVE YOU HEARD?

This week’s creator industry news, all in one place

Each week, we handpick a selection of stories to give you a snapshot of trends, updates, business moves, and more from around the creator industry.

Creator Commotion

• MrBeast has more lobbyists in North Carolina than several major corporations. A post on X revealed some of the individuals — including former Republican State Senator Tom Apodaca — who are lobbying on MrBeast’s behalf in his home state. Given the amount of finances and legwork that goes into a typical MrBeast upload, his desire for close relationships with local government officials makes sense.

Agency Dealings

• Joely Live signs with WME. The host of Pucker Up — a sour candy-themed take on Hot Ones for Gen Alpha — has a new deal. “Pucker Up is just getting started, and the best is yet to come,” Joely told Tubefilter. “The team at WME truly understands the vision and the amazing Pucker Up community, and together we’re ready to take things to the next level. Can’t wait for this next chapter!”

Movers and Shakers

• Roblox finds an exec to oversee its growing crop of ad partnerships. As the sandbox engine expands its network of branded worlds, it has brought on Mike Schoelch as its Head of Agency Partnerships. So if we do end up with a Roblox Adpocalyse, we know who will be charged with resolving it.

The Biz

• Logan Paul’s investment in a massage company is his sweet Aescape. Given the abuse Paul endures in the WWE ring, he could use a good massage. That’s why he’s joining Aescape — a service for booking customized massages — as an investor and partner.

The Internet Is a Strange Place

• Is “the great lock-in” Gen Z’s new autumnal tradition? Zoomers are seeing off summertime fun and getting ready for a full season of hard work and personal growth. I appreciate the bootstrapping attitude of today’s twentysomethings, though I think I’ll stick with the much simpler fall tradition that I know and love — decorative gourds everywhere.

Check out the rest right here.

📺 WATCH THIS

The only VMAs opinion that matters

The man, the myth, the legend: Every major celebrity event is chock-full of ~lewks~ and for years, MacDoesIt has been here to give his brutally honest opinion of every seam, snip, and super-sized heel crossing the red carpet. (He’s also not afraid to strut the catwalk himself, especially when there’s bad Halloween costumes to try on.) At this year’s VMAs, things got extra wild, with a full-on KPop Demon Hunters moment, a Justin Bieber doppelganger, and much more.

To give you a little spoiler, Mac’s ultimate takeaway is, “Was there just this huge memo to dress like the redcoats are coming?!?” Make of that what you will.

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Today's newsletter is from: Emily Burton, James Hale, Drew Baldwin, Sam Gutelle, and Josh Cohen.