swarm

Donald Glover Recounts Fan Asking Him To Sleep With His Girlfriend

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Swarm is Donald Glover’s latest project, and it’s taking social media by storm following its premiere on Amazon Prime Video earlier this weekend. The show specifically explores celebrity stan culture and what happens when it goes too far. Seeing as the actor – also known by his musical moniker, Childish Gambino – has spent a fair amount of time in Hollywood, he’s no stranger to obsessive followers going above and beyond to get his attention. In fact, the Atlanta star recently revealed that a fan once asked him to have sex with his girlfriend.

“There was one time after a show, a guy asked me to sleep with his girlfriend,” Glover recalled. When presumably asked if he took the fan up on the offer, the multi-talent jokingly replied that he was busy at the time. He later followed up by saying, “I was like, ‘I don’t know if this is a good idea.’”

Glover’s Take On Stan Culture

As it turns out, Glover isn’t the only member of the Swarm team who has had an unusual encounter with an over-enthused fan. Damson Idris, who plays Khalid in the popular new series, also had a story to tell. “Someone once ran up to me and began to let me know exactly why we’re married. Why we have a bunch of kids together, and the food I ate that morning with her,” the actor recounted.

While the seven-episode project may be a serial killer satire, it focuses on the same type of toxic attachments that lead to celebrities having these types of run-ins. Swarm follows Dre, played by Dominique Fishback, a fan of singer Ni’Jah who is clearly based on the real-life music icon Beyoncé. It explores how the main character’s parasocial relationship with the vocalist sends her to strange and dark places.

Amazon Prime Video’s Swarm Trailer

The show has an all-star cast that features the likes of Billie Eilish and Chloe Bailey (who made waves thanks to her steamy sex scene with the English actor in the first episode). In the clip where Gambino and Idris were asked about their wildest stan experiences, their co-stars all shared things that they believe deserve to have stans. The R&B singer said she believes The Karamo Show and Legos were underrated. As for Fishback, she feels as though Brooklyn deserves more love. Nitrine, on the other hand, believes that New York pizza is stan-worthy. Have you turned into Swarm yet? Tell us in the comments below.

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Childish Gambino Returns On “Sticky” With KIRBY From “Swarm” Soundtrack EP

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It’s been out for less than 24 hours, but already, Donald Glover’s Swarm series is the talk of the internet. All seven episodes are currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video, and have earned both an 80% audience and critics score so far on Rotten Tomatoes. Viewers obviously can’t stop reacting to the wild sex scene between Chloe Bailey and Damson Idris in the first episode, but the show’s soundtrack is gaining plenty of attention in its own right as well.

Those who have already watched Swarm know it centres around a young woman with a serious obsession for Ni’jah, her favourite pop star. It reflects some of the lengths stans currently go to for artists like Nicki Minaj and Cardi B online, though our lead character, Dre (played by Dominique Fishback) takes things further than most people would ever dare. The singer’s presence is notably similar to Beyoncé’s, though she’s actually voiced by independent artist KIRBY.

KIRBY and Childish Gambino Bring Ni’jah to Life with “Sticky”

Before working on Swarm, the Memphis-born songwriter worked with stars like Jennifer Lopez, Timbaland, and Brandy. She helped write “FourFiveSeconds” by Rihanna, Kanye West, and Paul McCartney, as well as Queen B’s “Die with You.” Her first solo album, titled Sis, arrived in February 2020 and had two tracks featured on the fourth season of Issa Rae’s Insecure.

KIRBY’s name was kept relatively quiet within the industry before, but after this new project, she’s certainly going to be high in demand. It remains unclear if we’ll see Glover’s new TV series return for a second season, though fans are already expressing their desire to hear more from him and the rising female star. Other songs emerging as favourites on their new EP so far are “Something Like That” and “Agatha.”

Stream Childish Gambino and KIRBY’s “Sticky” on YouTube above. Afterward, read more about Swarm‘s infectious soundtrack here. Make sure to check back later this weekend for more release recommendations on our R&B Season playlist update.

Quotable Lyrics:

Out in my country, you’re on your own
Porch and the palm trees, you’re all alone
Sunlight is watching, so watch your back (Your back)
Don’t look back
I’ll come and find you, stay on track

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‘Beyhive: Don’t Kill Us,’ Donald Glover Asked At The Premiere Of The Beyoncé-Inspired ‘Swarm’

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Donald Glover Childish Gambino Beyonce Lion King Premier 2019
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Between the bee-inspired name and the focus on obsessive fans, it seemed pretty clear from the get-go that Donald Glover and Janine Nabers’ new series Swarm (which just released on Amazon Prime Video today, March 17) was inspired by Beyoncé and her enthusiastic fan base, known as the Beyhive. Glover (aka Childish Gambino) means no ill will, though, and actually took a moment to address Bey’s fans in regards to the show.

In a clip from the Swarm premiere event in Hollywood earlier this week, Glover spoke to the audience, saying, “I am so happy that you guys are here, able to enjoy this, and uh, yeah… like, um… Beyhive: don’t kill us. It’s not that bad. It’s actually, like, pretty cool.”

There are probably no hard feelings between Glover and Beyoncé over the show, and if you’ll remember, the two actually have a history together: They voiced Simba and Nala, respectively, in the 2019 remake of The Lion King.

Meanwhile, Swarm took over the internet in the hours after its release for multiple reasons: Chlöe has an NSFW sex scene minutes into the first episode, Billie Eilish plays a kiss-happy cult leader in a different episode, and another moment nods to Halsey and Michael Jackson.

Donald Glover’s Craziest Fan Interaction Involves A Man Asking Him To Sleep With His Girlfriend

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Donald Glover Writers Guild Awards 2023
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Donald Glover, also known by his music moniker Childish Gambino, is back in the spotlight. The singer, producer, actor, and comedian’s latest television series via Prime Video, Swarm, is all the rage on social media. Not only does the series have its own original soundtrack, but it has been a gem of hilarious online memes. The series has even spawned a few social media spats (thanks to a not-so-subtle jab at singer Halsey), but it also gave us Billie Eilish’s debut acting role and co-star Chlöe’s first on-screen sex scene.

The series, based on stan culture, might have actually been inspired by a few not-so-normal interactions Glover himself has had throughout his career. While attending the premiere event for Swarm, when asked by Prime Video about his craziest fan interaction, his answer did not disappoint.

“There was once after a show, a guy asked me to sleep with his girlfriend,” said Glover. Although the follow-up question was not included in the video, it is safe to say the interviewer asked something to the effect of, “Well, did you?” Glover jokingly answered, “I was busy,” before adding, “I was like, ‘I don’t know if this is a good idea.’”

Watch the clip below.

Swarm is streaming now on Prime Video.

Paris Jackson Jokes About Halsey, Race, & Blackness In Donald Glover’s “Swarm”

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People are storming the internet with reactions to Swarm, and they can’t get over Paris Jackson. The celebrity daughter of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe has come into her own as an adult, and she’s expanding on her entertainment career. She’s a talented musician and has built her acting résumé bit by bit, leading her to a role in Donald Glover’s Prime Video feature. The series is the talk of social media as first takes are being shared far and wide. Damson Idris and Chlöe’s sex scene is a hot topic of conversation, but Paris’s inclusion also has tongues wagging.

The first episode already shows that Swarm has all the makings of being Glover’s next hit. Jackson portrays “Hailey,” a woman who works at a strip club and goes by the moniker “Halsey.” During a scene, Hailey tells Dominique Fishback’s character “Dre” that she had to leave her last relationship because her partner didn’t like that she was Black. Dre didn’t know Hailey was a Black woman and questioned her about it. Hailey further reveals that her father is half-Black, which is why she chose her stage name. In real life, both Halsey and Jackson have addressed their racial identities as biracial women. Many also thought this scene was a jab at the singer.

Paris Jackson & Chlöe Relate To ‘Swarm’

Swarm is a take on the dark side of fandom, and Glover has explained that the series was inspired by the BeyHive. Eminem coined the term “Stan” decades ago, but it has carried on as fanbases have only intensified. Chlöe, who stars as the lead character’s sister in the series, knows all too well how those fans can be supportive and pestering. In her interview with Screen Rant this week, Chlöe talked about relating to Swarm and the core theme of the show.

“Well, I need the stans and so does my sister. The ones who are the ride-or-dies and fighting for us and defending us and buying the albums and things like that. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here,” said the hitmaker. “What I think is really special about the show is that when people actually get to watch it from the surface, that’s what it seems like it’s about. But it’s really a show about mental health, and a story of sisters, and what happens when one doesn’t have the other; the lengths that she goes to honor her sister and to protect her and to fight for her.”

A Mental Health Message

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 14: (L-R) Dominique Fishback, Donald Glover, Chloe Bailey, Janine Nabers, and Damson Idris attend the “Swarm” Red Carpet Premiere and Screening in Los Angeles at Lighthouse Artspace LA on March 14, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for Prime Video)

“That’s what this show really is about, and that’s what truly drew me to it. Because mental health is a serious thing, and it’s real. We all have our different ways of expressing ourselves, and Dre does [in an] interesting, demented way. But her heart has good intentions.” Check out Paris Jackson above.

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Chlöe Credited Her ‘Swarm’ Sex Scene Partner Damson Idris With Making Her Feel Comfortable For Their NSFW On-Screen Action

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chloe
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Viewers streaming Donald Glover’s heavily anticipated stan culture satire Swarm were greeted with an unexpected sight as the show started streaming: pop star Chlöe‘s first-ever sex scene. While the singer has openly flaunted her sexuality in music videos for singles like “Have Mercy” and “Treat Me” (and fielded complaints about it online), this was her first time having simulated sex on camera and she credited scene partner Damson Idris (of Snowfall acclaim) with helping her overcome her initial nerves.

In an interview with Deadline at SXSW earlier this month — which has since resurfaced, for obvious reasons — Chlöe explained why she was nervous to film the scene in the first place, despite her sometimes racy image, and how Idris helped her feel more comfortable during filming.

“As open and liberal as I am about my body, I was very scared because I haven’t had that many partners,” she recalled. I’m not like that—like that sexual and open. Damson made it really comfortable; you know, there were limited people on set. It was a closed set.”

Damson kept things light, which helped her ease into what might otherwise be an embarrassing situation.

“We literally had a bouncy ball in between us, and you know, we were making a joke out of it, so it took all of the nervousness away from that,” she said. “I have to give a lot of kudos to him as a man for making me, as a woman, feel comfortable literally being raw and naked.”

The singer wasn’t the only one drawing attention during the show’s first season. Billie Eilish received praise for her acting (and smooching), while fans were gagged at a Halsey joke delivered by Paris Jackson. Meanwhile, Chlöe is also booked for some lighter fare onscreen; her gospel-inflected comedy Praise This is due to hit Peacock on April 7 (talk about RANGE). She’s also dropping her debut solo album In Pieces on March 31.

Swarm is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Donald Glover’s Hot New Show ‘Swarm’ Takes A Shot At Halsey Via Paris Jackson

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halsey's black???
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The first episode has only been out for a few hours, but it looks like Donald Glover’s new show Swarm is already the internet’s favorite show to dissect, discuss, and debate. He might just have another hit on his hands. Fans have been enamored with the acting of the show’s stars like Billie Eilish, flustered by co-star Chlöe’s first-ever sex scene, and grooving to the psychedelic soundtrack, which features new Childish Gambino tracks like “Sticky.”

Another moment that has viewers gagging is a joke in the show in which Paris Jackson compares herself to Halsey. During a conversation between Jackson’s character Hailey and the show’s protagonist, Dre, portrayed by Dominique Fishback, Hailey mentions that she had to “run away” from a relationship because her partner didn’t like that she was Black. Of course, we’ve all seen Paris Jackson (who’s had to address this topic in the past in real life), and Dre is understandably a little thrown by this assertion.

“You’re Black?” she asks incredulously.

“Yeah,” Hailey replies. “My dad’s half.”

“Half what? Black?”

“Yeah,” Hailey says, winding up for the pitch. “That’s why my stage name’s Halsey. You do know who Halsey is, right?” Here’s the clip:

I’ll give you a minute to process Halsey being Black, in case that’s a revelation for you (Halsey’s father is Black, while her mom’s Italian). Honestly, it’s a pretty good joke, playing on a shared attribute between Halsey and Paris, as well as a discussion that both have had to have probably more times than they want to remember.

Meanwhile, it’s clear that Swarm is already becoming the next Euphoria, which may owe to its satirical premise of an out-of-control, serial-killing stan of a famous pop star. The funhouse mirror version of fan Twitter is, of course, already fan Twitter’s favorite new toy, and you can check it for yourself now on Amazon Prime Video.

Childish Gambino And Ni’jah Share The Eerie ‘Sticky’ From The Hyped-Up Show ‘Swarm’s Soundtrack EP

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Actor and producer Donald Glover tried his best to walk away from his music persona Childish Gambino, but there’s still work to be done. The triple threat hinted that a new project was on the way during his appearance on Kimmel, but fans were in for a treat that new music was just the tip of the creative iceberg. In addition to the new music, Gambino released a new Amazon Prime Video series, Swarm, starring Chlöe and Dominique Fishback.

As with any great film or series, an original soundtrack is necessary, and Gambino released a full EP to accompany Swarm.

Childish Gambino and KIRBY lend their voices to singer Ni’Jah’s track “Sticky,” which serves as the lead single from the soundtrack. Heard in the series trailer, “Sticky” immaculately lays out the plot of a woman sick obsession with a pop star. Co-produced by Dylan Wiggins and Michael Uzowuru, the song is eerie in all of the same ways the series is.

The second verse of the song drives home the level of discomfort Cambino wants you to feel as you dive into this piece, as he and KIRBY sings, “I got a gun, I got the strap, I got the door locked / I gotta run, they in the back, “Hello” and the door knock / Lock on the car ‘Beep, beep’ / Blood on the bar, leak, leak / Cops finna come, sweet, sweet / Hoe, I look good, tweet, tweet / Hope I don’t get no blood on top of my weave / Ain’t got no beatin’, they ain’t no apostrophes /And I got my mask on (Hey) / Still twerk *ss to sad songs / Gotta keep the joy alive.”

Listen to the full track above and the full EP below. Swarm premieres today (March 17) on Prime Video.

Chlöe’s NSFW Sex Scene In ‘Swarm’ Has Thrown The Internet Into A Frenzy After The Show’s Premiere

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Chloe Swarm Premiere 2023
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Warning: spoilers for Swarm are below.

After it premiered at midnight last night (March 17), Swarm has taken over the internet. The new Amazon Prime Video series from Donald Glover and Janine Nabers is notable for a number of reasons, including a recently revealed appearance from Billie Eilish. She’s not the only music star in the show, as Chlöe also has a role, and there’s one scene in particular that is making waves online: the sex scene.

We won’t share it here (it’s easy enough to find, though, either via clips on Twitter or in the actual show), but for about 30 seconds in the first episode’s opening minutes, Chlöe and Damson Idris’ characters (Marissa Jackson and Khalid) have sex with each other as they talk dirty and make sexual noises. Partway through, Khalid notices Dominique Fishback’s character (Andrea “Dre” Greene) watching them from the doorway, but he continues and even flashes her a smile before Dre walks away.

Naturally, the explicit scene has drawn so many reactions on Twitter.

In a recent Deadline interview, Chlöe spoke about filming the scene, saying, “I remember when I first read the script, I was like, ‘Oh, this is insane, this is incredible,’ and I cried, and then I realized, ‘You gotta do that sex scene, girl.’ And as open and liberal as I am with my body, I was very scared because I haven’t had that many partners, I’m not like that… that sexual and open. […] Damson made it really comfortable. You know, there were limited people on set, it was a closed set. We were laughing in between. We literally had a bouncy ball in between us. […] I have to give a lot of kudos to him as a man for making me as a woman feel comfortable being literally raw and naked.”

Find some more reactions below.