The Internet is never short of controversy and this week we look back at some of the hottest topics to fill our feeds. Between BTS striking up a partnership with Google Gemini and attending a Chris Brown concert, Nicholas Hoult drawing criticism for joining the upcoming Harry Potter reboot as Gilderoy Lockhart, and Selena Gomez’s mental health startup Wondermind being sued for fraud, this week’s subjects are wading in some hot water.
BTS Sings AI and Chris Brown’s Praises
It’s been a bit of a rough week for ARMY. On Friday, August 7, Google and BTS released an ad to promote the tech giant’s artificial intelligence model, Gemini, which left a bitter taste in the mouths of fans who are critical of generative AI. “[The] Gemini ad is way scaled back compared to other celebrity endorsements. Still an AI-normalizing move, and I’m not impressed. This is Google wanting to cutie-fy itself using BTS,” said one fan on X.
The seven-piece also drew flak later in the week when member j-hope posted an Instagram story showing him and fellow rapper RM at Chris Brown and Usher’s Toronto concert on Wednesday, August 12. Fans have come to the boys’ defense, saying that they might not have been aware of Brown’s myriad assault cases, including the domestic violence case lodged by singer Rihanna in 2009 and the alleged rape of a woman on Sean “Diddy” Combs’ yacht in 2020. But others suggest that the BTS members are not so naive or ignorant.
Nicholas Hoult Joins HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series
In other news, British actor Nicholas Hoult is the latest to join the cast of HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series — and the latest to receive backlash for it. The show, which is still in development, has been the subject of criticism since it was announced in March. While Potterheads have sounded their excitement for the TV series, other audiences aren’t so eager for the reboot, finding the Harry Potter franchise unnecessary after eight films, a West End play, and a dedicated Wizarding World in Universal Studios’ theme parks.
But at the center of all the backlash the franchise has received is its author, J.K. Rowling, and her transphobia. Rowling’s remarks against trans people have lost her readers and even prompted the original Harry Potter golden trio — Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint — to distance themselves from the writer. So fans of Hoult didn’t hold back in expressing their disappointment over news that he had been tapped to play Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, which they see as a career misstep after gaining even more popularity for his performance as Lex Luthor in the 2025 box office hit Superman.
Selena Gomez and Wondermind Face Fraud Raps
On Thursday, August 13, a lawsuit was filed against Selena Gomez, her mother Mandy Teefey, and Wondermind co-founder Daniella Pierson for allegedly defrauding and breaching contracts with investors of the failed mental health startup. Plaintiffs state that they had invested almost $1.2 million in Wondermind after being informed that it had the leadership, partnerships, and advertising deals to function properly, but that a 2025 report by The Cut showed that the business had fallen apart. Forbes also reports that the complainants were told that Pierson “misappropriated” investor funds.
According to The Cut, Wondermind was gravely mismanaged. While Gomez, Teefey, and Pierson all banded together in 2022 to “destigmatize” mental health through a website, movies, shows, and podcasts, personal tensions between Teefey and Pierson, reported to be co-CEOs, got in the way of business operations. Pierson allegedly thought that Teefey was “unable to deliver” anything she’d promised, while Teefey thought Pierson was riding on the coattails of Gomez’s fame. By early 2025, employees stopped receiving their paychecks on time, and the company had failed to produce anything more successful than one mental health podcast, The Baggage Drop.
Frequently Asked Questions
BTS members j-hope and RM drew criticism after j-hope posted an Instagram story showing them at Chris Brown and Usher’s Toronto concert on August 12. Critics pointed to Brown’s history of assault allegations, including the domestic violence case Rihanna filed against him in 2009 and an alleged rape aboard Sean “Diddy” Combs’ yacht in 2020, with some fans arguing the members should have known better than to publicly support him.
Yes, Google and BTS released a promotional ad on August 7 to promote Gemini, Google’s artificial intelligence model. The endorsement was criticized by fans who oppose generative AI, with some calling it a move to soften Google’s image using the group’s popularity.
British actor Nicholas Hoult has joined the cast of HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV series as Professor Gilderoy Lockhart. The casting news drew backlash from fans, partly tied to ongoing criticism of the franchise and author J.K. Rowling’s remarks against trans people.
On August 13, investors filed a lawsuit against Selena Gomez, her mother Mandy Teefey, and Wondermind co-founder Daniella Pierson, alleging fraud and breach of contract tied to their mental health startup, Wondermind. Plaintiffs say they invested nearly $1.2 million based on misrepresented claims about the company’s leadership and partnerships.
Wondermind, co-founded by Selena Gomez, Mandy Teefey, and Daniella Pierson in 2022, reportedly fell apart due to internal conflict between Teefey and Pierson, who served as co-CEOs, while Gomez distanced herself from the company. By early 2025, employees were receiving late paychecks, and the company had produced only one successful project, the podcast The Baggage Drop, before facing the fraud lawsuit.
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