Welcome to the Academy, Jacob Elordi!

The new class of the Academy of Motion Pictures is here—and everyone, please get out of the way for Jacob Elordi.

Elordi has had quite this year: After splintering from the Sam Levinson school of acting, he manifested a role in a film by one of his favorite directors (Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein), and got nominated for an Oscar, AND was the Heathcliff of Margot Robbie’s dreams in Wuthering Heights, AND is traversing the world with new GF Kendall Jenner, AND AND AND has now been invited to join the Academy of Motion Pictures. Basically, he took the Timothée Chalamet Substance and can’t stop winning at life. 

Joining Elordi on the list of future Oscar voters are Jenna Ortega, Julia Garner, Teyana Taylor, Josh O’Connor, Mia Goth, Jon Bernthal, the Safdie Brothers, and more. These actors have done their time in indie films, blockbusters, and Netflix shows (and, for Elordi, Euphoria), and now are deservedly earning their spot at the voters’ tables.

“We are delighted to invite this remarkable group of film artists and professionals from around the world to join the Academy,” said the Academy CEO and President in a statement. “Through their commitment to filmmaking, this year’s exceptionally talented class has made significant contributions to our global movie industry.” Elordi in Saltburn was indeed a significant contribution to our global movie industry.

And more good news for the world of cinema—of the 529 new invitees of actors, directors, cinematographers, film executives, and more, 42% women, 56% from underrepresented communities, and 53% drawn from 60 countries outside the United States, which marks significant progress in bringing equity to the historically white male-washed award show. If all new invitees were to accept, the academy would consist of 10,338 voting members: 36% of whom would be women, 25% from underrepresented communities, and 22% international. Still a ways to go, and unfortunately, Elordi’s invite isn’t helping that statistic. 

Anyway, by pure coincidence (or maybe exactly as the stars were meant to align), today is Elordi’s 29th birthday, which I discovered via social media, NOT because I am a stalker. Earlier this week, Elordi and Jenner were spotted visiting his home country of Australia ahead of his birthday, looking very chic, I might add. This vacation comes shortly after they were spotted on vacation in Japan, which came shortly after they were spotted on a getaway trip to Hawaii. Ya know, God might have her favorites.

So, happy birthday, congratulations, welcome to the club, safe travels, all of the above!

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• Charli XCX wants to f*ck your dad! [Spotify]
• Tyra Banks’ ice cream brand SMIZE removed AI models from its Instagram after being questioned by [Entertainment Weekly]. 
• Gillian Anderson and Hannah Einbinder covered in fake blood, everyone. [Twitter]
• Tom Cruise is teaching Millie Bobby Brown how to fly. [People]
• Olivia Wilde denies the rumored screaming match with Florence Pugh on the set of Don’t Worry Darling. [The Cut]
• A 3rd ex-employee has entered the Kylie Jenner housekeeper lawsuit series. [TMZ]
• Somebody buy Luca Guadagnino’s movie about Sam Altman starring Andrew Garfield, so I can watch it. [The Hollywood Reporter]

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