Sideways from the heart of Bryan Adams

Cuts like a knife through a tofu slab

May 12, 2020

A prominent Chinese-Canadian activist says she is shocked, disappointed and angry about an Instagram post from Canadian singer Bryan Adams' official account that she and others say is racist.

bit.lyBryan Adams’s Instagram post draws rebukes from Chinese-Canadian organization, social media users | CBC NewsA prominent Chinese-Canadian activist says she is shocked, disappointed and angry about an Instagram post on Canadian singer Bryan Adams’s official account that she and others say is racist.

Vegan advocacy from Bryan Adams came with a side of accusing “fucking bat eating, wet market animal selling, virus making greedy bastards” for his Royal Albert Hall shows being called off. The post remained on Instagram after being deleted on Twitter—where Corey Hart trended as the belated winner of the 1980s Canadian rock rivalry.

The kids who aren’t alright

Angus Reid Institute @angusreidorg

We asked 650 Canadian kids how they've been feeling during the COVID19 outbreak. Most (71%) say they're bored. Notably, older children more likely to be angry, younger more likely to feel good and happy angusreid.org/covid19-kids-o…

More than half of the tweens and teens polled by the Angus Reid Institute say they miss their friends the most after two months without school, and also feeling bored and uninspired while trying to learn at home. And yet, a growing number of Canadian universities are confirming fall classes will primarily happen online due to COVID-19.

Doug Ford’s cherry-cheesecake-making distraction from rule breaking. A joke about his own baking prowess was part of the briefing where Ontario’s premier confessed his two daughters, who don’t live at home, came over on Mother’s Day. The admission led to more public confusion over the intention of physical distancing rules.

Things move faster in Florida

Restaurant Brands International has begun to transform the “dining rooms” of Burger King, Popeyes and Tim Hortons, while Starbucks Canada is gradually returning to business. Meanwhile, the expectation that the Toronto Blue Jays will be playing a shortened season in Florida accompanies a return of dine-in restaurants to that state:

Dunedin Blue Jays @DunedinBlueJays

We are continuing to keep our fans updated with the availability of our local restaurant partners as their hours are still changing! Please visit each businesses' website or social pages for more information. #supportlocal

“The Daily Essentials are not that essential.” Bell Media is producing CTV and TSN updates for Quibi, but its founder Jeffrey Katzenberg admits the timely content proved the least popular part of the short-video app. The point was raised in a New York Times interview, in which Katzenberg blamed COVID-19 for the rough first month.

Finally, a new Toronto TV star

Tory Lanez recently released the New Toronto 3 mixtape to liberate himself from what he felt was an American record deal that restrained the range of his talents. But then he started demonstrating them on Instagram. The pop-up rounds of Quarantine Radio turned into their own phenomenon, giving him new fuel to reach for the top:

Vulture @vulture

.@torylanez's IG Live show Quarantine Radio has become must-see internet TV — so much so that Tekashi 6ix9ine’s noisy return to social media began with a quick appearance in its comment section

vult.reTory Lanez Is the New King of RaunchAs “Demon Time” has emerged as a kind of makeshift strip-club VIP room for Instagram, Quarantine Radio is sort of like its “Howard Stern Show.”