Earlier this week, Kendall Jenner extended her family's stellar streak of Internet breaking when she appeared bare-breasted in the pages of Love magazine. But if you thought Kylie would let her big sis hog all the attention, you are sorely mistaken. Yesterday, at approximately 3PM PST, Kylie Jenner uploaded an image to Instagram displaying her brand-new dreadlocks.

The Kardashian/Jenners have yet to release a statement confirming the veracity of these dreads, so at this point, all we know is based on the below photo. It appears that Jenner either has real dreads or she stumbled on John Travolta's Battlefield Earth wig. Based on her caption (it says "dreads") our gut tells us they're legit. Kylie also appears to have taken up amateur photography, and already has her own fully equipped, state-of-the-art dark room. No wonder her selfie game is so on-point. 

On a completely superficial level, Kylie looks pretty cool with dreads. On a more relevant, political level, though, this is a hairstyle with an important cultural history—a culture of which Kylie most definitely doesn't belong. The fashion and beauty world loves to appropriate hairstyles in this way, which we saw last fashion week when cornrows and baby hair were called "new" and "edgy" when they showed up on white models. While Kylie's far from the first person to appropriate dreadlocks, this is a great moment to point out that hair, for a great many people, can be an extension of politics.. Many writers have previously called into question the practice of white people having dreadlocks, and the conversation is a hot one amidst POC beauty blogs. Since this author is not a POC, here is The Root's articulate perspective on the issue, which is: It's a complicated topic.

Then again, who has time for second thoughts when there are so many selfies to be taken? 

 

Dreads

A photo posted by Kylizzle (@kyliejenner) on Feb 6, 2015 at 3:13pm PST

Remember the name Cameron Grey. The aspiring rapper got the opportunity of a lifetime Saturday, when he ran into Kanye West outside the House of Blues in L.A. Grey pleaded with Kanye to let him spit some bars, and an usually sunny West obliged, as his entourage — which included an enthusiastic Justin Bieber — looked on. While the visibly nervous rapper's skills weren't particularly impressive, the sheer gumption on Grey's behalf is what startles here. 

Think about it from his perspective. Based on Grey's website, he takes this rap thing pretty seriously (he's not half bad, either). The goal for any young artist is a record deal, and what better way to land one than with an impromptu audition for a label head. After all, it was only ten years ago when a young, upstart rapper named Big Sean freestyled for Kanye at a Detroit radio station, and well, look how that turned out. It's unlikely that Kanye was blown away by what he heard, but you can tell he was wildly impressed with what he saw: A hungry kid with a ton of guts. 

The video ends with West making an informal offer to Grey for an assistant position before the two hug it out, as Bieber flips out in the background. So yeah, this one's a must-watch.

Charli XCX is one of our favorite living musicians. Aside from being a recent cover girl, a rock-and-roll rising goddess, and an altogether stunning individual, she also makes some pretty incredible tunes, too. One of the things that we love the most about her is that she is a true individual—and refuses to bend to the super-skin tight, cut-outs and sequins Grammys style. (We love The Grammys. It's just is the drunk aunt of awards shows.)

So her Pepto-hued Moschino suit, with some pink fur-trim, is certainly a lewk—and it channels her retro-glam vibe she's been working since she first hit red carpets. However, on Twitter, it seems to be dividing fans, with some saying she looks a little bit like a caterer from Party Down (...or another Lizzy Caplan vehicle, her character from Mean Girls.)  Either way, it's great to see an original on the red carpet, even though it might not be exactly what was expected. 

Last week Vulture asked Sia to please show us her face. Her response? Oh, hell no. The "Chandelier" singer walked Sunday's Grammy red carpet wearing a giant, face-obscuring wig, and was accompanied by Maddie Ziegler, the 12 year old dancer and Sia's go-to proxy. Maddie was sporting a junior version of Sia's wig, and wore a black tuxedo to complement Sia's caped black jumpsuit.

The Aussie singer's desire to retain even the smallest shred of anonymity is a noble, but flawed one. She showed up mask-free at Saturday's pre-Grammy Gala, and as Vulture astutely pointed out, her constant hiding only makes us want to see her more. Sia is performing tonight and is up for numerous awards, so it will be interesting to see what approach she takes should she take the stage to accept an award. Hopefully her new friend Shia LaBeouf lent her his paper bag.

Taylor Swift audience reactions are always the highlight of any awards show she attends, but at the Grammys tonight, we got a fun new offshoot courtesy of Pharrell: The reaction to the Taylor Swift reaction. An eagle-eyed viner named Brendan Jordan captured not one, but two instances where Pharrell can be seen giving T-Swift some legendary side eye. What's his problem? Is it her unbridled enthusiasm? Her goofy dance moves? Whatever it is, he looks the opposite of the song that just won him Best Pop Solo Performance.   

Okay, we know: Tonight's show was about the music. But can we please take a minute to talk about the crazy-amazing beauty looks that happened? We're not used to seeing such rad, weird-in-the-best-way hair and makeup on the red carpet, where stars are infamous for playing it safe (read: boring). Tonight, though, on the night where musicians can stretch their legs and hues creatively, we were not bored. From a newly lavender 'do to the braid crown we'll be talking about for the next year, there was no shortage of rad-lady inspiration. Click through to see what we mean...because if you can't rock a great 'do on Grammys night, when can you? 

Tonight at the Grammys, Kanye West paid tribute to, well, himself. In a nod to that time he infamously interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for Best Video at the 2009 VMA Awards ("Imma let you finish" and all that), West marched up on stage when Beck upset Beyonce for Best Album of the Year. It was a pretty great joke, one that Beck probably wasn't in on and it's nice to see that Kanye West, who has the reputation of taking himself too seriously actually doesn't. So meet the new Kanye everyone. He's the same as the old Kanye, except he doesn't care about award shows anymore.  

And here's Jay Z's perfect reaction:

If tonight's Grammys is any proof (and we think it definitely is), we're about to have a major hot-women-in-suits moment. But menswear-inspired couture wasn't the only thing that caught our eye on the red carpet this Grammys' evening. As is Grammys wont, there were sheer cut-outs galore, as well as more pared down, structural gowns that were still anything but expected in their simplicity. Also, did you see Rihanna?! More on that, later.

It's probably not an accident that our favorite artists were the ones that wore the most interesting outfits, but hey: Good taste is why we love 'em. Check out the gallery for some majorly cool takes on red-carpet fashion. Old Hollywood glamour it is not—but that's not what Grammys night is for, anyway. 

The normally celebratory Grammys took a serious and important turn when President Obama appeared on screen to bring awareness to the White House's "It's On Us" campaign, aimed at ending violence against women. In the pre-recorded message, Obama reminded the audience, and us, that it is no one's responsibility but our own to put a stop to this extremely urgent problem. The facts, he reminded us, are sobering. "Nearly one in five women in America have been a vicitim of rape, or attempted rape," he says. "And more than one in four women have been the victim of domestic violence." He said this while Chris Brown, who attacked Rihanna on the eve of the Grammys in 2009, sat in the audience. On As many people on Twitter pointed out, Brown wasn't the only perpetrator of violence against women in that audience, and they're right. But Brown and Rihanna are both very famous, and for better or worse, theirs is the defining incident of this plague. 

After Obama spoke, domestic violence activist and survivor Brooke Axtell took the stage and delivered a blazing spoken word performance. "After a year of passionate romance with a handsome, charismatic man, I was stunned when he began to abuse me," she told the crowd. "I believed he was lashing out because he was in pain and needed help. I believed my compassion could restore him and our relationship. My empathy was used against me...My compassion was incomplete because it did not include me." It was chilling, heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring. She continued: "If you are in a relationship with someone who does not honor and respect you, I want you to know that you are worthy of love. Please reach out for help, your voice will save you. Let it part the darkness, let it set you free to know who you truly are: valuable, beautiful, loved." 

Following Axtell's speech, Katy Perry took the stage and delivered a performance of "By the Grace of God," in what was essentially the opposite of her Super Bowl halftime show. You can watch all three videos below, and for more information on how you can help stop domestic violence, please visit the website for It's On Us and follow Brooke Axtell on Twitter.

What happens when a 15-year-old girl wants to have sex? Or at least brings her body and sexuality into the cultural discussion? For instance, when Willow Smith asked us to imagine her naked—intentionally, wearing a shirt with a naked body etched upon it—what is the most appropriate reaction? As many have pointed out, she is only 14, but sexual identity and the awareness of the self as a vessel of sexuality doesn’t kick off the second one turns 18.

This may be why Diary Of A Teenage Girl is Sundance’s most challenging film. Fortunately, it already has a buyer, but when leaving the film, I overheard one distributor say didn’t know how to market a movie about a 15-year-old who wants to have a lot of sex—and he couldn’t tell if he had that reservation as a business person, or as a father. The film opens up with a slow motion shot of a young girl, played exceptionally by Bel Powley, strutting confidently through a park in San Fransisco, in full ‘70s garb. The shot zooms in on her butt, showing those iconic, pocketless bell-bottom jeans, as she tells us that today, she had sex.

Minnie Goetze is a 15-year-old girl who lives in liberal San Francisco, born to a liberal mother (Kristen Wiig) who has a slacker boyfriend who Minnie has decided, within the first minutes of the film to seduce—purely because he is the first guy who has ever paid the slightest attention to her tits. As moviegoers, we know this means trouble. As humans, we know this means heartache. But for filmmaker Marielle Heller, this doesn’t mean catastrophe, or a hand-holding resolution in which we are all taught a lesson. And, without giving too much away, this movie isn’t interest in proselytizing, telling us about the dangers of TEEN SEX (in all caps).  “That was our goal: to approach this as humanly as possible and to show complete characters and really complicated relationships without judging them,” says Heller. 

Minnie, like immeasurable girls before and after her, conflate physical intimacy with emotional intimacy. But, she also doesn’t. While her first sexual experience leaves her with stars in her eyes, she also recognizes herself as “horny,” a word she uses plenty, especially when Heller’s vision sends us into a cartoon-filled world where Minnie envisions herself as a monster slut, eating and discarding the men she seduces. Yet, aside from one obvious and admitted misstep, she never apologizes for her lust. Bel Powley, who plays Minnie, considers it from a practical standpoint: “The amount that she wants to have sex or the amount that she feels horny isn’t an issue. That’s normal to everybody. But this may be the first time that anyone has said it.”

That may be true. When thinking about the past fictional examples of sexually motivated teen girls, there are plenty of examples of broken creatures who turn to sex because something is “wrong” with them. Sure, Minnie has loads of issues, like being kind of a bad student and drug use (“Well, that’s the ‘70s!” says Powley), but director Heller doesn’t want her sexual appetite to be one of them. 

One of the more daring elements of the film is Alexander Skarsgard’s Monroe: Minnie’s mother’s 35-year-old boyfriend who is in an affair with Minnie. But, a result of Skarsgard’s charming smarminess, he’s pretty hard to hate. As he tearfully says, he has feelings too. “There were moments where their connection was stronger than he had with the mother (played by Kristen Wiig). There were also moments where I felt like I was 15 years old, I felt we were falling in love for the first time,” says Skarsgard. “Then he’s drawn out of that, thinking, ‘Wait a minute. I’m a grown man.’ I don’t think it was as simple as him falling in love.” The underlying, reoccurring theme of the film was the removal of shame and stigma in sex—even though we, as modern audiences, understood there was something predatory and dangerous between Monroe and Minnie’s relationship. But it was not one without agency. 

“I remember being that age and feeling incredibly discredited and discarded, when I felt like a full-grown human who had my own thoughts and feelings about myself and my world,” remarked Heller. “I knew how to conduct myself, but I felt like the world viewed me as a child who didn’t have agency. I remember feeling furious about that. It made me feel like I wasn’t a complete human, in the way that my male counterparts didn’t have.” The males that are Minnie’s age in the film—of which there are two prominent ones—are one-dimensional and quickly subsumed by Minnie’s sexuality. And in the end, Minnie doesn’t pay for it, which, along with her relationship with her mother’s boyfriend, was a big part of the story for Heller. 

“That was obviously our goal: Approach this as humanly as possible and to show complete characters and really complicated relationships without judging them.” Which may be pretty controversial. Minnie is a child, technically and in the eyes of the law. But, at 15, most young women have at least considered the possibility of sex, and the realization that one day (dear Goddess) they may have it. But Skarsgard notes that this desire never makes it to the big screen. "Why has this not been done before? Why have I seen 25 coming-of-age stories about boys that are addressing their sexuality and being honest about what they are going through, that I can connect to, but I’ve never seen this with a girl as a protagonist. With a girl, it is always so polished. It’s always so ‘cute,’ in the most Christian way — you don’t think about sex, you think about marriage.” Spoiler: The only time, inTeenage Girl, that Minnie thinks about marriage, she totally balks.

So, to return to the original question: How can we, as viewers, watch a teenage girl explore herself sexually with a man—much less a 35-year old man—without alienating the audience? According to Marielle Heller, it is time for us to realize that a teenager may indeed be horny. “This is not a character who is feeling shame about her experiences. She is exploring, and curious, and honest. She is not stepping back and judging herself. Hopefully we presented it in a way where the audience can go along that journey without going into the slut-shaming mode, because it is time for us to get over that.”  

Related Articles:
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8 Young Potential Breakout Stars From Sundance

Last night's Grammy Awards was pretty monumental: President Barack Obama spoke out against violence, Kanye showed us all that he is not only a genius, but one with an exceptional sense of humor, and the musical performances covered a wide range of genres (AC/DC, Katy Perry, Madonna, the FourFiveSeconds crew). And while watching the network television's calculated, over-produced version of it is all well and good, what gets us really excited is seeing it from the artists' perspectives. Call us products of the social media era, but during commercial breaks (and also particularly slow parts of the show), we were perusing our Twitter and Instagram feeds for the best of the #Grammys. 

Click through the gallery to see our favorite Instas.

First of all, what is Facebook? Open your phone. It's the blue one; the OG of Internet-based life-hyping, and it deserves your respect. Facebook is the crystal ball your mother uses to keep tabs on your life. Facebook is how you get away with forgetting to notify an important person of a major life event. It is also an information-gathering portal whereby you can learn a wealth of interesting things pertaining to the person you're dating. 

And yet: There are rules. One can't just "friend" someone before the first date. You're not friends yet. You're not anything more than potential catfishes. Proceed with caution at all intervals. Lest we forget that once your date lets you in, you've let them in. You also can't wait until you've been dating for an extended period of time. Think of the valuable resource you'd be wasting! For shame. 

You shouldn't be expected to navigate these mystifying waters on your own, though. You could run out of battery life for goodness sake. Hence, you may reference this comprehensive guide as its terms apply to you, so that you can know when the actual right time to add your date on Facebook is. 

1. Curiosity is present: This is going to take a date or two. One can't rush to snap judgments, nor can one spend seven dates figuring out this Rubix cube of a human being. Things move quickly in life. If you suspect a relationship might materialize, feel free to add this person on Facebook no sooner than the third date, but no later than fourth. This will allow you to verify facts, inspect genetic qualities of family, and thoroughly evaluate all seasons of their wardrobe while still falling in the zone of "I can just stop texting you back if I want to." 

2. Actual romantic feelings are present: Proceed with utmost caution. In the presence of the illusive "good" date, one must shelve one's curiosity in favor of actual manners. Adding a date on Facebook suggests a familiarity that is present during face-to-face contact. Without this, screen-to-screen contact may prove a bit awk. You must not add your date on Facebook until you hear these words and only these words in this particular order: "So, what do you want to do this weekend?"

3. You suspect your date is a vampire: If vampiric suspicion is present, please feel free to add your date as soon as two hours following the first date but no more than 27 minutes into the second date. In such extreme circumstances one wants as much information as is available. You need to know when they stopped showing up in their own selfies. Also there's the matter of living quarters. If they sleep in an inverted position from a rod in the closet, you're so going back to your place. See the intermediate chapter on supernatural courtship, section B5. 

4. Your date is hiding a secret twin: Did they return from the bathroom way too fast? Did they order you a martini when you've had nothing but red wine for the last two hours? Was that freckle there before? WAS IT? Toss all formality aside and dig in. Find evidence of twin, present it, exit. Screenshots will assist you in building a case in court, remember this. 

5. Your date adds you: Whaaaaaaat? This breaks from protocol altogether. If this person adds you on Facebook, you're on your own. We've never seen this behavior before and we find it suspect. This is very unorthodox behavior. Very unorthodox. Your date is probably some sort of unicorn. All those with equestrian skill should feel free to proceed, those without abort mission. 

6. Your date works at an app: Startup employees are the holy grail of laptop-based information gathering. This is one situation where you don't need Facebook. The internet is your Facebook. After you've completed step 1.7 by using your magnifying contact lens to learn their last name and DOB from when the bartender carded them, commit said information to memory; then, consume no more than two drinks, and return to the cave to engage in research. Google that shit. 

7. Your date doesn't frikkin have Facebook. Is your date 18? Are they actually 18 years old and only capable of communicating via (for f*cks sake) SNAPCHAT? If you must date someone who doesn't have Facebook, first make sure you haven't just imagined this date, and then, with great skill, get them to show you their Instagram. "Do you have any pets?" "Where does your family spend Christmas?" "Do you like to cook?" All reasonably photographable scenarios that have high odds of giving you a peek at the goods. And by goods we mean their Instagram account name. Once you have this, you may gather all information required using no more than a quick trip to the loo. Unless their account is set to private, in which case do not ever see them again. 

In an industry where trends change at lightning pace, having a discerning eye for timeless personal style is more important than ever. Your future self (& your wallet) will thank you for not falling victim to embarrassing fads. (Let's take a moment to remember the aughts' strange fashion trends; thanks Paris and Nicole!)

How would you define your style?

Minimalist tomboy-femme weirdo in a hurry. I like soft, structural items in shades of black and white that I can slouch around in. Uniquely cut pieces really appeal to me, like high-waisted pants and sack dresses. Mostly I try to let my lipstick do the talking, though.

 

What are your 3 favorite things on the NYLON shop right now?

Obsessed with this short checkered dress, these perfect anytime booties, and this statement ring. 

 

Who is your '90s style icon? 

Jane Lane!

 

What are some key pieces for your spring wardrobe? 

I'm stockpiling sack dresses, wide-legged pants, and crop tops for spring.

 

What is one item in your closet you can't live without? 

My leather jacket from Reformation. It makes everything better.

 

What your biggest style pet peeve?

Honestly, I hate having to wear things that aren't 100% comfortable. Basically if I can't eat a big lunch in it and still feel great, I don't want it on my body. 

 

How has working at NYLON affected your style? 

The '90s will never die as long as Nylon has any say in it, and I'm really into that! I've started wearing my combat boots with literally everything. 

 

 

In the vast realm of celebrity culture, it sometimes seems as if love and true emotional connections are made to be sterile and artificial (see: step-and-repeat couple photos). Perhaps that's part of why social media and receivers of pop culture are so fascinated with Shia LaBeouf and the beautiful, evasive being that is Sia and, most importantly, their collaborative relationship. After giving us the powerful "Elastic Heart" video and its touching behind-the-scenes story, LaBeouf and Sia came together once again at last night's Grammy Awards. And, because the two are artistic souls seemingly unconcerned with public perception, when announcing Sia's performance (with Maddie Ziegler and Kristen Wiig), LaBeouf didn't simply ramble on about Sia's career, but rather read a pink scrolled #LOVELETTER (as he describes it on Twitter).

photo via Shia LaBeouf's twitter (@thecampaignbook)

erik anders lang and sia // photo via getty images

"I feel like this may be strange to say this here. I love you so," recited Shia. "Punch me if I stop crying. I raise the white flag for you, defeated finally. If strength were made of broken pieces, you and I would always win. It is though and buildings and statues wink at us. I could squeeze you to zero. I'll never know another 'what am I going to do'. Punch me if I stop crying, and I'll do the same. Love, Erik."

As LaBeouf confirmed to Dazed after the awards show, the writer of the poem and the "Erik" in question is Sia's husband, Erik Anders Lang. (The two wed in August of 2014.) "I was a bridge," LaBeouf told the magazine. "It was a way of articulating the most intimate adoration and adulation on the most un-intimate of stages. Expressing what a wonderful artist and human being Sia is. From the one person who knows her best."

According to Us Weekly, LaBeouf and Lang worked together to surprise Sia. We're sure the poem hit Sia much harder than it did us (and we felt quite a few feels), but we'll never know how she reacted as she performed with her back towards the audience and cameras. It's wonderful when mainstream award shows get weird. 

Nicole Atkins' newest album, Slow Phaser, which was released last February, has been recognized as her most striking, experimental work to date. With its psychedelic/disco influences, her signature folk-rock sounds, and her haunting, soulful voice, the 11-track LP is a testament to Atkins' effervescent creativity. One year later, Atkins is still rocking out as usual, (see: her Letterman performance) and is now debuting a partnership with one of our favorite brands, Free People.

With her tousled, ombré hair, piercing eyes, and all-in-all badass music, Atkins is an obvious fit for Free People's unbridled spirit and aesthetic. And so the singer/songwriter has curated a collection of her favorite fringe-filled, tie-dyed dresses to wear on and off stage. "The sound of the music I like to make follows in the tradition of my psych sisters of the '70s like Grace Slick and Janis Joplin," she explains. "I'm glad that Free People makes clothes that gives a nod to not only them but also Alejandro Jodorowski who directed Holy Mountain and El Topo, hence the names of the dresses and why I picked them."

And because Free People is known for its cool girl styling, Atkins set up a laid-back photo shoot. "We did this shoot at Retromedia Sound Studio in Red Bank, NJ, while I was mixing a record for a new band I have with Jim Sclavunos of the Bad Seeds and Grinderman. I got my good friends photographer Lucia Holm and makeup artist Mandy Bisesti to come over and play dress up with the Free People dresses while the boys mixed drum tracks." Dressed in impossibly gorgeous pieces from Free People and rocking a '60s cat-eye, Atkins fits perfectly in the musical space, surrounded by drum sets, microphones, and records of other iconic performers.

About the dresses, she says, "I love how simple these dresses are, yet they're powerful in the simplicity. They make me feel like a 7 foot y'all bad ass bitch. Kind of like how Jim Sclavunos is in real life. I mixed the Holy Mountain Dress with a custom leather belt made by Jackie Ehrler of Queen of Hearts. She also made the blue geode fringe necklace. She's incredible."

Nicole Atkins will be playing on Tuesday, February 10 at Bootleg Bar in L.A. The deluxe edition of Slow Phaser is now available on iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play.

Check out the dresses and the rest of Nicole Atkins' shoot in the gallery.

The kind of made up war between Diplo and Taylor Swift seems to be over. Those are the vibes we're catching from this selfie the producer and DJ posted on his Instagram last night during Warner Music's Grammys after party at the Chateau Marmont. Diplo, you may remember, brought on the wrath of Swift's rabid fans and famous friends with his now infamous "Get Taylor Swift a Booty" tweet, but according to this photo, that's all in the past. 

Yes, that is Taylor Swift and Diplo seemingly enjoying each other's company, or at least pretending to do so for someone's sake. But let us not forget that it was Diplo who started this thing in the first place. Taylor Swift never publicly addressed Diplo comments or responded on social media. This is called taking the high road. Instead, she let Lorde do the trash talking. Some people are suggesting that Diplo's pic of Swift is actually unflattering, and that this a Machiavellian effort to insult her further. We disagree. Taylor Swift looks cute here, in the throes of that three-drink sweet spot where your buzz is starting to kick in and everything in the world feels right. 

When Beyoncé performed at the Grammys last night, audiences may have been expecting a powerful performance of her newest song, "7/11", or at least something more along the lines of glamour she had shown us in the past. Instead, she performed a strikingly honest and raw version of the gospel song, "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," accompanied by an all-male choir.

In a short documentary filmed during the rehearsal for the performance, Beyoncé explains why she chose to perform the song, why she chose an all-male choir, and what she hoped the song would do for audiences.

Beyoncé talks about her first introduction to the song: Her mother showed her Mahalia Jackson's version when she was a young girl. Even as a child, she could see how the performance had a healing aspect. She then shares, "My grandparents marched with Dr. King. My father was a part of the first generation of Black men that attended an all-White school. My father has grown up with a lot of trauma from those experiences. I feel like now I can sing for his pain. I can sing for my grandparents’ pain. I can sing for some of the families that have lost their sons."

Of the male choir, Beyoncé explains, "I wanted to find real men that have lived, struggled, cried, and have a light and a spirit about them. I felt like this was an opportunity to show the strength and vulnerability in black men."

In several personal interviews, some members of the male choir reveal the trials they endure simply for their race, sharing that "as a black man, you're viewed as a threat." This is a powerful message, especially in light of events like Ferguson and the death of Eric Garner. The documentary suggests that the ultimate desire for Beyoncé and the rest of the members of the choir in this performance was to use music "as a way to bring race together." Watch below.

Over the last few years, Zachary Quinto has cultivated one of the most elastic careers in Hollywood. Able to stretch his talents to reach both ends of the movie spectrum—from blockbusters like the Star Trek movies to tense indies like Margin Call—Quinto is very comfortable in other people's skin. (He's also comfortable in his own—the actor came out in 2013 without much to-do, and has since been a wonderful advocate.) Quinto, who'll be putting on his Vulcan ears soon to reinhabit the role of Spock in the third Star Trek movie, will soon be seen on NBC's miniseries The Slap, playing a man who, in a fit of rage, slaps his friend's child and must deal with the consequences. We recently caught up with the actor to discuss his current rom com, We’ll Never Have Paris and his cherished friendship with the original Spock, Leonard Nimoy. 

In We’ll Never Have Paris, Simon Helberg writes you in as the best friend, usually a sounding board for what’s going on with the main character. But you don’t seem to give a damn about what’s going on.
I certainly picked up on that aspect of what Simon had written and we worked together to find the degree to which Jameson tends to be disengaged, but also very present. He’s the kind of person who can operate on a lot of levels.

What about Simon and his wife and co-director Jocelyn Towne putting their own story on film?
I thought it was a really unique way to make a movie, which is to basically tell your own story, as Simon and Jocelyn are doing with this film. And really I imagine working though the last vestiges of trauma that were associated with the incident (of traveling to win back your lover) and everything that happened subsequently. I thought it was brave.

Theater, film, TV—it’s constantly changing. Is there a career paradigm you’re pursuing?
If I’m on a path consciously, it’s a path of good material and good people and engaging dynamics that work. Where that takes place is secondary. For me, going back to the stage is something that I’m already eager to do and committed to do. I started out in theater and didn’t do plays for many years because I was pursuing my career in Los Angeles. But I’ve been able to do that and have more experiences like that. I’m really grateful.

The Slap is such an unusual show for primetime network.
It’s pretty unique in its form. For NBC, a broadcast network to be telling this kind of story, which is subject matter I think a lot of people would associate with a cable network, and also it’s a limited series. It’s only eight episodes. It’s one of the coolest things I’ve worked on in a long time. I feel happy when I go to work. When I think about the show, I want to dive into the experience. That doesn’t always happen.

Any word on Star Trek 3?
I don’t know anything. I haven’t read a script. Justin Lin is directing, I read that. I’m waiting for them to get it together and give us a call, which I’m sure will be real soon.

What about changing directors?
I’m totally open to the change. I think we all are, but I’m sure there’ll be a period of adjustment for everybody. There’s a very commanding presence on a set and certainly on a set that we’ve built. It’s going to be a different landscape that I think all of us are capable of and eager to navigate with Justin. I look forward to meeting him at one point and connecting with him. They’re just getting their creative ducks in a row. He’s aligning with the writers and everybody’s just calibrating and it’s all in process.

Talk about your relationship with Leonard Nimoy.
My relationship with Leonard has evolved beyond any sort of comments he made on the movie or the character. We’ve become very, very close personal friends and his presence in my life has probably been one of the best things to come out of the Star Trek experience, beyond the other cast and the movie. It’s the one thing I never expected, that Leonard and I would become such close friends. I really respect him and admire him.

We are officially five days away from the release of what is sure to be the most seminal film of our time, Fifty Shades of Grey. That means that we have five more days to jam pack as many "50 [insert product name/statistic] of Grey" lists down readers' throats. So, here's another one for you.

Online retailer eBay has released a "Fifty States of Grey" list, which ranks the "sexiest" states. (Cue the "oohs" and "ahhs.") And since it's hard to rank "sexiness" on any scale—albeit a large one that encompasses different cities and demographics—this list seems like it's more fun than anything. Especially given the fact that these "findings" are based on the amount of camisoles, chemises, silk robes, flannel pajamas, footed pajamas, and cotton pajamas purchased from the site. All of these items were ranked from "frumpy" to "sexy" and, well, we can only imagine that footy pjs were at the top of the "sexy" spectrum, with lacy bralettes and sheer underwear on the "predominantly frumpy" side. (They probably weren't, though. Our personal preference isn't shared by many.)

In addition to this, eBay also released a list that implies that Fifty Shades has influenced buyers' spending habits. Apparently in the six months following the release of the first trailer, when compared to eBay sales the following year, Polo Ralph Lauren underwear sales increased by 129%, Eurocopter Helicopters sales increased by 86%, Agent Provocateur sales increased by 100%, and silk robes sales increased by 79%. 

Check out the sexiest states list and grey-hued infographic below.

The top five sexiest states, based on sales of camisoles, chemises, silk robes, flannel pajamas, footed pajamas and cotton pajamas**:

1. Hawaii
2. Wyoming
3. Arizona
4. Oregon
5. New Mexico

The five least sexy states:

1. Nebraska
2. Delaware
3. Connecticut
4. Maine
5. Indiana 

Today is...

National Extraterrestrial Culture Day! E.T. text home.

News of the Day:

+ Cinderella's glass slipper may be from the Fairy Godmother's fall collection, but we'd like to imagine it recreated by some of our favorite designers. Thanks to the release of the Cinderella live action film, nine designers have decided to redesign the famous glass slipper, including names like Jimmy Choo, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Charlotte Olympia. These designs are ones that we would never want to lose at a ball.

+ Beyonce AND Jay-Z for a joint album? Our heads would explode and it would prove the existence of God. And producer Details implied that it may be in the works.

+ Even if you're the kind of person to hate everything about Valentine's Day, this video of tiny hamsters on a Valentine's date, complete with a gondola ride and plates of spaghetti a la Lady and the Tramp will melt your frozen heart.

+ Kit Neale's limited edition Coca-Cola collaborative collection has launched. For those who can't make the trek to the New York or San Lorenzo store locations, head on over to the site to purchase.

+ In case you needed any more encouragement to indulge in a glass of red, we got you covered. Researchers at several accredited universities have found strong evidence that suggests that grapes in the form ofred wine can help burn fat. So, it's been confimed: red wine is the nectar of the gods. Cheers!

Deal of the Day:

Free Two Day Shipping on orders of $75 or more at Need Supply Co. to ensure a gift for your sweetheart will arrive by February 14th.

Quote of the Day:

"Authentic love does not devalue another human being. Authentic love does not silence, shame or abuse." -Brooke Axtell, at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.

GIF of the Day: