beyond measure

m • fuck it and fuck jkr

[vaguemetanoias01]

super interesting to know you’d seen this coming since march! i assume it was post-vf? may i ask what were the signs that made you think so back then? thank you!

the minute VF happened, i knew we'd have an outing at some point. if you need to debut your gf, there's a narrative drive there (regardless of what we think the point is).

a friend (@latums) and i had figured april might be good timing because she was hinting at being off for a few days on her tat account, and i don't think it was confirmed whether hudson was filming atp. we figured they might've shown up at coachella just given the event is well known; hudson has been to festivals/raves before and everyone (influencers) practically only go for photos atp (i kid but also not really), so what a good opp to be seen out and about more organically.

clearly that didn't happen, and so our next best guess was CSAs after learning about him filming and because it'd be a controlled environment and all about hudson. but then met gala...... man. 🚬

also, when you also have to solidify to the public you have a girlfriend, that reiteration is going to happen again. there was no way they were going to have her in the background/never show up again. she'd have to pop up again eventually (that's why i'm personally confused about everyone being upset that she's with him. she was always going to be seen again - to what capacity was tbd). you don't go the lengths of making an intro to media, only to keep that person away for good.

1D will always be my largest frame of reference because i was primarily in that fandom back in the day. but if you were to go back and look at their history (specifically liam's or harry's, but moreso liam's because he had non-celeb gfs; biggest one was sophia smith), you'll notice that as soon as the gf was confirmed, they'd start popping up way more frequently and in a lot of pap situations.

do you also want to know what's really funny about liam's situation? him and sophia also had a very similar pap photoshoot on the beach, just in france instead of greece. they were on a yacht at one point, and other photos on the beach, and that's how we got this infamous, 'disrespectful' image. which makes everyone complaining about how hudson treats katelyn all too funny when i had to live through this.

vacation photos are also the easiest to capture relevancy with imo. go out and have fun, look like you're selling a good time, and then reduce having to plan something back home. idk the vacation photos are just a tried and true method for capturing stuff like this. even if the paps caught them and it wasn't a tip off, it's like "oh no! you caught us!"

[latums]

I think it’s funny people are now realizing their teams lurk pretty much everywhere. It would be prudent of them to do so. I’ve been saying this for months, since I first reached out to someone on here. People don’t realize how much the tumblr chatter travels to Twitter, thereby bringing attention to this corner of the internet once again. The chatter on tumblr is less reactive than Twitter, and I think it makes this space a bit more dangerous given how much awareness and knowledge people have on here with the closeting.

[a3n3g3el]

Chin up, trust !

[madamoisellemabry]

i do think there’s a world where ilya tells cliff marleau about the friendship plan and cliff is like “well if ur cover story is friendship than we need to make ur reputation with friends super gay king” and ilya is like “bro … you would do that … for us …” and cliff is like “no worries big dawg”. because like, hollander doesn’t do the gay for the homies thing naturally, but if roz has a reputation, it won’t be weird if he does it in public even if hollsy doesn’t reciprocate. cliff is a genius.

anyway, that’s how the internet spends a year speculating that ilya rozanov and cliff marleau have explored each others bodies. they are so all over each other and constantly tweeting gay shit about each other that ilya’s time with shane barely even gets a second glance. the first time ilya drags shane out to meet cliff, a photo gets posted on twitter and everyone is like “poor shane having to third wheel these two #ally”.

obviously shane is gnawing on furniture because he’s so jealous, but the plan does work. and when they get outed, cliff works it into his best man speech.

[swordbymyside]

[iressails]

please note hands on arse pushing down

[luins]

a lifetime to be noticed by him

[latums]

HW: on Being Asian and Queer

The potential struggle of being Asian and Queer, and how publicists control the narrative in the new media landscape led by niche communities and AI.

I know people wanted the Hudkate of it all to remain hidden or off to the side, because that’s what some famous male celebrities have done so in the past with their significant other. And, I’m aware of the infamous “she doesn’t want to be perceived” quote that has now been dragged to the ground hours since its inception.

How many people can say they have witnessed a gay story with a mixed race couplet that has gone viral in the Western world as it touched many people’s hearts, and has thereby catapulted the leads (one who is Asian!!) into the stratosphere of the entertainment industry/Hollywood? Not many, for sure.

There are expectations that come with being involved in entertainment (sports, music, acting, etc), some of which are said and others unsaid. For a queer Asian man, one can only wonder what kind of conversations behind the scenes were had from very early on in his career, as it is likely that he would deal with two things that would impact his career: being Asian and queer. Double the whammy. More struggle to be accepted and given opportunities to shine. In society (and in the industry), the thing going for him is that he is a man, but he is neither white nor straight.

Reaching the doors of Hollywood, and having them open is one thing, but one must *comply.* BIPOC are aware that one may have some opportunities at work at the expense of certain factors, and the entertainment industry is no different. Hudson cannot change what he looks like, i.e. his features cannot be altered to present as white. So what can he alter, or omit, in order to remain a contender in projects that may interest him, in order to remain viable? We could say that could be his sexuality. (Personally, Hollywood would much rather cast sexist pigs than gay men, even to this day. It’s that conservative).

Think about it.

According to UCLA’s Hollywood Diversity Report], in 2025, people of color “lost ground in all key Hollywood employment categories covered in the report—directors, writers, lead actors and overall cast.” The report also found that “the proportion of lead actors of color declined from 2024’s high of 51% to just 36%.” So when you ask why Hudson is not going directly to big Hollywood studios and is sticking to Canadian projects, perhaps this could illuminate as to why. It may be easier to get roles in Canadian-made projects as he is Canada’s current hot commodity at the moment, whereas the competition pool in the US may be harder to get into, with more non-white actors fighting for a chance in roles tbat have decreased over the years due to the current political landscape. Hudson has to display not only talent and skill, but it is likely he also has to be commercial enough for studios to give him a higher chance. Hence, the more visible approach to the public/fandom than his white counterpart.

So what can Hudson and his seemingly inexperienced and incompetent team do? Try to cater to, and or walk the middle line as much as possible. Project enough authenticity and sincerity to combat the dishonest (bearding) part(s). With the show blowing up the way it did, I wouldn’t be surprised if this became harder to achieve, and some reevaluations had to be made. Entering a bearding agreement would serve the purpose of making his queerness a non-issue. Minimized. Worse case scenario: All but forgotten over time once the show culminates. This is the groundwork, and arduous work it may be.

“In the end she’s just a girl like you”

I would argue that one should see Katelyn as nothing more than the physical manifestation of Hudson’s *heterosexuality.* She is the “Your Name (Y/N)” character, the female protagonist women project their womanhood/femaleness onto in stories. A Y/N that does not have a voice, beyond the glimpses of communication on her business account dedicated to AI-generated tattoos. It is easier to project whatever one desires onto her, for she has no discernible connection to the fans, a distinct voice. She is not to be paraded as a person, but the physical manifestation of Hudson’s traditional [straight] male image sold to the masses, to appease the industry and society. Therefore, he speaks for her/them.

In a male-dominated/patriarchal society (and world), this behavior the standard, and he is seemingly fulfilling that role. One could perceive Hudson’s compliance with the bearding situation as malicious, or typical male behavior, because he is a man. This performance will be excused by his predominantly female consumers who may excuse and justify this heterosexual behavior as normal, largely due to learned compulsive heterosexuality. And yet, this will be a job well done in the eyes of patriarchy and the executives. After all, Hudson has performed (for them), and met the expectations of what a straight man is.

Recommended readings: Marilyn Frye’s “The Politics of Reality,” and Andrea Long Chu’s “Females.”

The Execution

Pushing hudkate to the extent of what we are seeing can be attributed to several factors. For one, he is contracted to three seasons. That is three promotional campaigns with his male co-star, and, who appears to be, his actual partner. That’s at least two months worth of promotion together, whether they are paired in the same interviews, or not. They will, at least, be in each other’s company for some of these interviews over the course of two years for each season release. Perhaps more if Unrivaled is adapted and the contract is extended for it.

What has also changed is the media landscape and consumer behavior with AI technology that’s been forcefully embedded into our everyday lives. Molly McPherson’s podcast makes it clear that SEO (search engine optimization) is not the only thing that matters now. Publicists and journalists are competing with the GEO (generative engine optimization).

In addition, traditional news media now competes with niche media (podcasts, media influencers, outlets such as Deuxmoi, newsfluencers, bloggers). As Linda Zevian mentions, in the current media landscape, “no one has the power […] [News media] is really fragmented. It is very targeted, it is very niche.” The media landscape has changed so much, as it has become more difficult to place stories all the same, given the decrease in trained journalists. What this means is that PR and communications now possess more avenues/outlets to play with and take with their stories. They just have to consider which ones they need to evaluate the best place(s) to take their stories to.

The 2026 report of Muck Rack’s “What is AI Reading?” study states that LLMs “earned media is what AI trusts,” which accounts for 84% of all AI citations. Paid and advertorial content accounts for 0.3%. Journalism alone makes up 27% of cited sources.

Think about what Google’s AI overview will spout upon searching who Hudson’s girlfriend is. Or who Connor was linked to romantically for a while early 2026. Who was pushing and covering the charades? While the press should not care this much about a private citizen, know her name, and who she’s dating. But it does for a reason—earned (free) media.

To generate headlines that will be consumed by the LLMs, one must be seen and be interesting enough. The Paris post was, specially following the confrontation between Hudson and the paps/autograph heckler(s). Several low-tier media outlets picked up on Hudson finally posting about his girlfriend while on holiday. This is a follow-up to her appearance at the Vanity Fair’s After Party and the CSAs. All is well because she’s there to remind people of his sexuality and longterm commitment. Media outlets know his Instagram post is public domain, as it was published on his own public account, and therefore something they can write about. His fandom has showcased they will click on just about anything related to him. He’s salacious and interesting enough, specially as a newcomer.

So next time people search on Google who Hudson is dating, Katelyn [Rose] Larson will show up on the AI Overview, with him at various official public events and on holiday. Questions about his sexuality? “Hudson has been dating Katelyn Rose Larson for six years, according to People Magazine.” He has not disclosed his sexuality, but rest assured he has been with a woman for a long time. Authority. Validity. The LLMs will link publications before it will link Reddit posts, therefore low-tier publications writing about it is exactly the kind of thing publicists want for their clients. When you control the GEO, you control the narrative.

[When it comes to reputation management, Molly McPherson considers what PR and communications can do in response to crisis—to release a media statement, news article, etc. Levian makes it clear that one has to respond using “everything, everywhere.” As she says, “whatever you got that supports your narrative, you post it with words.”]

Food for thought.

[latums]

thinking about this

[metamorphesque]

Piranesi, Susanna Clarke

[diana-andraste]

Frank Cheyne Papé illustration for The Well of Saint Clare by Anatole France, 1928

[aropride]

i think that i deal with a lot of [remembers this isn't my diary] Nothing. i've never had a problem

[latums]

I do have some reading recommendations for Katelyn, since she likes to read (based on Hudson’s public post) before people get on my case for perceiving:

Doing this civilian a favor without charging $3k for this post.

What Tattoo Artists Really Think About AI

Art or just artificial? Tattoo artists confront the rise of AI — what it threatens, what it offers, and whether it belongs in their world.

AI is killing body art creativity, says tattoo artist

Natasha Thompson says she is increasingly being asked to replicate AI-generated images of tattoos.

Enhance your drawing skills with "Anatomy for Artists Simplified Forms". Artist and teacher Michel Lauricella focuses on simplifying the bod

Amazon.com: Animal Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form: 9780195142143: Goldfinger, Eliot: Books

[ohmourningstar]

listen...i get that there are artistic liberties and all that and not everything has to be anatomically accurate in art. but that skull...doesn't look good. it looks like it's a skull but also has some muscle/soft tissue overlying it and it almost appears like that of an Egyptian mummy, where the soft tissue is tight to the bone and the lips are pulled back. it just looks messy since the rest of it is visibly a skeleton, so what is it supposed to be?

anyway, first thing i noticed immediately is the lack of the zygomatic arch (cheekbone), which as mentioned, makes it look unnaturally smooth and like there's tissue over it.

secondly, the temporomandibular (jaw) joint - where is it? again, it looks like skin/muscle is covering it.

it's just confusing. it doesn't know what it's supposed to be - a dessicated corpse or a skeleton?

and for some reason, the topmost cervical vertebra (spine bone in the neck) is fused to the skull?

references exist and they can be free - fucking use them.

[latums]

Hey genuine question, what's wrong with you?

[latums]

I do have some reading recommendations for Katelyn, since she likes to read (based on Hudson’s public post) before people get on my case for perceiving:

Doing this civilian a favor without charging $3k for this post.

What Tattoo Artists Really Think About AI

Art or just artificial? Tattoo artists confront the rise of AI — what it threatens, what it offers, and whether it belongs in their world.

AI is killing body art creativity, says tattoo artist

Natasha Thompson says she is increasingly being asked to replicate AI-generated images of tattoos.

Enhance your drawing skills with "Anatomy for Artists Simplified Forms". Artist and teacher Michel Lauricella focuses on simplifying the bod

Amazon.com: Animal Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form: 9780195142143: Goldfinger, Eliot: Books

[artemisiasea]

[latums]

What I think is interesting is that for a team that is being perceived as incompetent by many people nowadays, I actually found their take on several aspects of their client’s launch and maintenance of certain structures in the industry to be refreshing. Though I’ll say that of course there’ll be hiccups along the way. Nothing ever goes as planned, or perfect. I’m sure they’ve had to reevaluate certain things given the type of strategy they developed for, and with, their client. If what I believe is true, I think there’s consideration of a lot of factors, plus new (and learned) knowledge.

What I know about PR and strategies employed is that everything is dynamic. Things can change on a dime, and the ride can be long and bumpy. I think we should remain patient, and give grace when needed. After all, the client doesn’t seem to be doing, wanting to, or following the status quo down to a T. Certain things may seem inconvenient or shortsighted, but every error and success story is a moment where people can learn a lot.

After all, the client’s team does not move unless given the directive. Let’s give grace to a young actor who is trying to navigate fame in a way that makes sense to them.