Welcome to Social Buzz, a daily column looking at what’s trending on social media platforms. I’m Caitlin Fichtel, an editor on Bloomberg’s Breaking News team, which monitors everything from company statements to tweets from some of the most prominent people in the financial world. Here’s your daily look at what the internet is talking about.
(Bloomberg) — Welcome to Social Buzz, a daily column looking at what’s trending on social media platforms. I’m Caitlin Fichtel, an editor on Bloomberg’s Breaking News team, which monitors everything from company statements to tweets from some of the most prominent people in the financial world. Here’s your daily look at what the internet is talking about.
Vice Files for Bankruptcy
Vice Media LLC filed for bankruptcy protection and struck a deal to sell itself to creditors, a precipitous fall for the media upstart that once boasted a $5.7 billion valuation. The developments cap a tumultuous few months for the firm, which began as an alternative magazine in Montreal nearly three decades ago and captured the attention of young viewers globally with documentary-style videos. It shared a Pulitzer Prize in 2020 and multiple Emmy wins for Vice News Tonight.
Read more: Seven Firms File for US Bankruptcy in One Day as Credit Tightens
China Sentences 78-Year-Old US Citizen
China has sentenced a 78-year-old American passport holder to life in prison on spying charges, as the world’s No. 2 economy prioritizes eliminating national security risks. John Leung, who is also a Hong Kong permanent resident, was sentenced in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou on Monday, according to the court’s official WeChat page. In addition, some 500,000 yuan ($71,808) of Leung’s property was confiscated, the report added.
Fanatics Buys PointsBet
Fanatics Inc. has acquired the US operations of PointsBet, helping accelerate the team apparel company’s push into the sports betting market. Fanatics is paying about $150 million, according to a statement. The deal doesn’t include PointsBet’s business in Australia, where the company is based, or Canada.
The Artist Formerly Known as ‘The Weeknd’
Popular singer The Weeknd is going back to his real name Abel Makkonen Tesfaye and has begun to update his social media accounts to reflect the change, CNN reported. “It’s getting to a place and a time where I’m getting ready to close the Weeknd chapter,” the singer said in an interview with W Magazine. “I’ll still make music, maybe as Abel, maybe as The Weeknd. But I still want to kill The Weeknd.”
Grizzlies Suspend Morant
The Memphis Grizzlies suspended Ja Morant from all team activities after a video circulated online showing the player holding a gun, ESPN reported. Morant was suspended two months ago by the NBA for a similar incident.
Terminal users can sign up to receive this daily piece in their inbox by clicking here.
–With assistance from Gerry Smith, Amelia Pollard, Graham Starr, Colum Murphy and Kari Lindberg.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2023 Bloomberg L.P.