It's Sunday and here’s a handpicked selection of stories to give you a snapshot of trends, updates, business moves, and more from around the creator industry.

But first, does this politician look like MrBeast? After announcing his candidacy for the Wisconsin State Assembly, Brady Penfield drew comparisons to another wavy-haired young man.

PLATFORM HEADLINES

Platforms are donating funds, courting Gen Z, and making short-form feeds NSFW

The pledge: Twitch has pledged $100,000 to “Violence Protection Charity” as it attempts to make nice with Emiru. After failing to protect the streamer from an assailant during a meet-and-greet at this year’s TwitchCon, Twitch is making a six-figure contribution—a gesture toward repairing trust and addressing the safety of its creator.

The secondhand hub: Meta is turning Facebook Marketplace into the hot new social network. By adding comment threads and other social features to its virtual secondhand store, Facebook is catering to the Millennial and Gen Z users who see Marketplace as a cultural touchstone. Also, this is Meta we’re talking about, so AI-powered features are coming to Marketplace, too.

The short-form feed: Pornhub’s ‘Shorties’ are officially here. Last month, the leading adult video site announced that it would launch a feed that will resemble TikTok’s For You Page. Now, that collection of so-called Shorties has arrived, serving users who want to consume their adult entertainment a few seconds at a time.

The (alleged) Netflix fight: Will Jake Paul return to Netflix for a fight against Anthony Joshua? If the rumored December 19 bout comes to fruition, Paul will face one of his toughest opponents yet. For now, though, Netflix subscribers shouldn’t get too excited: Joshua’s promoter has said the negotiations are not yet done, so this could still end up as yet another cancelled Jake Paul bout.

CREATOR COMMOTION

Creators are opening theme parks, launching brands, and facing court battles

The theme park: MrBeast’s Saudi Arabian theme park has opened its doors. Beast Land won’t be a permanent fixture in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, but it will be open until the end of 2025. That seems like plenty of time to attract millions of MrBeast fans who want nothing more than to put themselves into one of Jimmy Donaldson’s extreme challenge videos.

The bail-out: WhistlinDiesel has been released on a $2 million bond after tax evasion charge. The YouTube star could face jail time after being hit with a single count of tax evasion. I know creators sometimes pay too much in taxes, but the man born Cody Detwiler allegedly have pushed it too far in the other direction.

The court battle: TikToker Brenay Kennard has been ordered to pay $1.75 million for “destroying” her manager’s marriage. After Kennard allegedly shacked up with manager Tim Montague, she found herself in the midst of a court battle thanks to Montague’s ex-wife Akira.

The family business: Identical twins Brigitte and Danielle Pheloung are seeing double in the fashion world. With a new brand called Phe Phe, the sisters are looking to leverage their sizable followings on platforms like Instagram.

The dance-off: Creators are getting more people invested in Dancing with the Stars. The show is seeing its highest same-day viewership numbers in five years, and TikTokers like Alix Earle are a big reason why. Who knew that an app original focused on dance routines could produce so many talented dancers?

AGENCY DEALINGS

This week in the digital media industry…

The signing: Matt & Abby have signed with Currents Management. In addition to running one of the biggest family channels on YouTube, the creator couple hosts The Unplanned Podcast. In other words, they’re operating in some of the most lucrative corners of the creator economy, so it’s no wonder that Currents wants to build on the duo’s success.

The international roster: UTA is stocking up its creator division in the U.K. The Beverly Hills-based agency is levelling up across the pond by signing Jack Edwards, Madame Joyce, and Lewis Goodall. Those newcomers will join the creators who are already represented by UTA’s London-based agents—a group that includes TikTok standout Madeleine Argy.

The new hire: Talent agency Buchwald has tapped a Verve veteran to lead its digital push. New hire Max Nagler will serve as VP of Branding and Digital. To any agencies out there that haven’t yet upped their investment in digital media: the time is now.

WATCH THIS 📺

Freddie Wong is taking fans on a tour of the Chinese restaurant menu

The culinary quest: Obsessing over small details is a very Freddie Wong thing to do, so the action filmmaker took viewers on an educational journey as he revisited “the secrets of the ‘90s takeout menu.” The goal is to create an authentic Chinese takeaway (and specifically one that looks "frozen in time from the nineties”) as a prop for his upcoming movie, Nail House.

We’re pretty stoked to have such a fun and eclectic voice back on YouTube—and we also love Chinese food, so watching this video was a win-win across the board.

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