In what might be officially the most awkward moment of 2023—bar Ben Affleck’s insanely miserable face during the Grammy awards—fans have noticed that a smooch captured during the recent Jonah Hill and Lauren London rom-com was created entirely by computer-generated imagery (CGI).

You People was released on Netflix on 20 January and quickly began to trend online. It was predicted to be a big success among rom-com loving gen Zers, backed by a star-studded cast including Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Nia Long—alongside Hill and London. However, the flick that was set to explore “modern love amid culture clashes” has been bashed for its cringey moments and awkward approach to interracial relationships.

Moreover, the future’s not looking much brighter for the recent release. After having already heavily slammed the film’s writing, audiences’ attentions were then diverted towards a smooching scoop at the end of the movie. And considering one of the biggest critiques of the film had been the lack of chemistry between the movie’s two protagonists, this revelation shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.

Comedian and actor Andrew Schulz recently revealed the juicy lip-locking insight on his podcast Brilliant Idiots. Schulz, who stars in the film, stated: “I don’t even know if I should share this shit, but in the final scene, they don’t even kiss. It’s CGI. Swear to God, son.”

ayo is it true 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/hIsvHvZTJq

— mickey-L (@abraha_mikiele) February 4, 2023

The performer continued, “I’m there, I’m watching the wedding, and I see them go in for the kiss and their faces stop like this far.” Schulz then put his hands apart to show the distance that he had witnessed between Hill and London.

Pretty quickly after Schulz dropped the news, Twitter began to go feral, replaying the scene over and over to capture the precise moment where the two stars’ lips touch… or don’t touch? I’m no cinema expert, but it does look as though Hill and London’s faces mesh together in a very unnatural and artificial way.

One user hypothesised that London might be uncomfortable kissing Hill following her husband Nipsey Hussle’s tragic death in 2019: “Maybe [London’s] not ready for acting again cause this shit right here looks crazy and no one has time for it. I could tell she was a bit uncomfortable and unsure of herself throughout the movie.”

While another netizen reaffirmed others’ thoughts on the matter, stating: “They had no chemistry. There was an obviously notable lack of affection between a couple that’s supposed to be in the early stages of being in love. So it isn’t shocking that they would CGI the final kiss.”

They had no chemistry. There was an obviously notable lack of affection between a couple that’s supposed to be in the early stages of being in love. So this isn’t shocking that they would CGI the final kiss.

— Keisean Raines (key-sean + ray-nz) (@keisean_raines) February 5, 2023

That being said, isn’t that part of the job? You know—to act. Either way, it’s highly unlikely that You People will be making it into the Best Picture category at next year’s Oscars ceremony (unless it’s in the CGI kissing department of course).

Championed for her work ethic, dedication to music, iconic style and sheer talent, Beyoncé is one of this generation’s most esteemed performers. From running strict #MeToo checks on all of her employees to encapsulating gen Zers’ love of house music with her latest album Renaissance, Queen Bey has made a name for herself in the industry as a loyal protector of all things good and an extreme purveyor of compassion. However, considering her recent homecoming to live performance was at an exclusive event held in Dubai for industry insiders and celebrities, some of the Beyhive are beginning to question everything.

While there are many facets in regard to why netizens are criticising Beyoncé’s recent performance, the primary argument revolves around the artist’s decision to perform in a country where being gay is illegal—the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was voted the ninth most dangerous place for a gay individual to travel in 2021 by Forbes.

Secondary to this is the fact that some fans have noticed a sharp increase in global musicians prioritising private performances wherein there’s a serious financial or commercial incentive over supporter-orientated concerts.

Of course, it’s pretty plain to see that these two points are inherently connected. Why would Beyoncé perform in Dubai when she has an overwhelming queer fanbase? Perhaps it was the alleged $24 million in fees she was paid for her appearance?

According to The Guardian, the concert—which took place on 21 January 2023 and marked the singer’s return to live performance after four years—was due to mark the unofficial opening of the new exclusive luxury Atlantis The Royal hotel. “Select guests” had been invited to spend a weekend where “your dreams become your destination,” and witness a “once-in-a-lifetime performance.”

Those “select guests” ended up including supermodel Kendall Jenner, professional boxer Amir Khan, One Direction alum Liam Payne, along with countless other high budget celebrities and a cohort of industry professionals.

The performance itself practically broke the internet. While a number of internet users focused on the fact that Beyoncé’s daughter Blue Ivy joined her mother on stage to perform ‘Brown Skin Girls’ others pointed out the apparent lack of any Renaissance tracks on the set list. Either way, it wasn’t long before the leaked footage had flooded the media multiverse.

But almost as quickly as the clips spread, so did the criticism and commentary surrounding Queen Bey’s venue of choice. One user tweeted: “This [is] great. Wealthy and privileged people get to go watch Beyonce perform in the UAE. With no fear because the UAE would never harm them. Meanwhile it’s one of the worst places to be gay. You’re not an ally if you do this shit.”

This great. Wealthy and privileged people get to go watch Beyonce perform in the UAE. With no fear because the UAE would never harm them. Meanwhile it's one of the worst places to be gay. You're not an ally if you do this shit. https://t.co/EAECNgF7mV

— Justin (@mplscomicnerd) January 22, 2023

It was only last year, during the summer of 2022, that publications and supporters alike praised the artist for honouring black queer culture within the Renaissance album. And even far before that, Beyoncé’s been known to be a proponent of the LGBTQIA+ community.

As noted by Billboard, she’s been a fierce advocate for trans individuals, highlighted queer representation in her music videos, and has practically cited the community as her direct musical inspiration. You’d have to travel pretty far to find a gay club or drag queen event where ‘Partition’ didn’t feature heavily. Now, however, that loyalty is being called into question.

Some theorists have even considered the possibility that Beyoncé purposefully omitted songs from her latest album due to its close association with queer identity. This of course is pure speculation, still it’s powerful to consider the way in which fans have genuinely regarded the musical omission as a statement of erasure.

Posts prompting and upholding this sentiment include one user stating: “Beyoncé doing a paid for press tour in Dubai doesn’t sit well with me especially with the influences for Renaissance being queer ballroom culture and it’s illegal and a death sentence to be gay in Dubai, like?”

Another individual wrote, “Y’all know Beyoncé can’t perform any of those gay ass songs from Renaissance in DUBAI.”

While the online reactions to Beyoncé’s performance make a lot of sense, it should also be noted that there have been a number of white musicians whose fan bases are largely made up on queer individuals who’ve also performed in Dubai and who’ve not received such an explosive backlash.

It’s always the white gays that have a problem with Beyoncé. Gaga, Kylie, and more have already performed in Dubai but where was the outrage then? pic.twitter.com/YvYZmcLh08

— 𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚔 (@kingbeyshive) January 23, 2023

Either way, it’s clear that the Beyhive have been officially rattled following the performance. Beyoncé has not yet made a statement in relation to the criticism, and it’s unclear whether or not she will.

On top of all this backlash lies another, slightly subtler, criticism. This conversation pertains to the uprise in global celebrities—predominantly musicians—prioritising, or even accepting, private exclusive gigs for the ultra-rich.

These super-private concerts aren’t distinctively new, however, they are evolving and they’re directly changing and impacting the ways in which artists make their money. As reported by Rolling Stone, it’s now become commonplace that the top one-percenters worldwide are cherry picking A-list popstars for private weddings, birthday parties and corporate events. Whoever said money can’t buy you happiness, eh?

And it seems as though this isn’t Beyoncé’s first rodeo when it comes to indulging the desires of the ultra-rich. In 2018, the BBC reported that the artist had performed as part of the festivities at one of India’s most extravagant weddings. The singer was flown in by Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani, whose estimated personal fortune sits at approximately $47 billion.

While private gigs are in no way illegal or immoral, they can result in a disenfranchised fan base. And while I can’t imagine the Beyhive will be disbanding anytime soon, Beyoncé’s decision to take part in such an event has definitely ruffled the feathers of those supporters who are much more interested in ethos and equality than a paycheck.