mashable-rss

Live stream Pegula vs. Sabalenka in the 2024 US Open final online for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream Pegula vs. Sabalenka in the 2024 US Open final for free on 9Now or TVNZ+. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Every top tennis player dreams of winning the US Open, but so few get the opportunity to compete for the prize. Pegula and Sabalenka have made it through round after round of tough competition, and now have a chance of winning the whole thing. It’s going to be an absolute battle, and you can watch every shot without spending anything.

If you want to watch Pegula vs. Sabalenka in the 2024 US Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Pegula vs. Sabalenka in the 2024 US Open for free

Fans can live stream the 2024 US Open for free on these platforms:

Australia — 9Now

New Zealand — TVNZ+

These streaming services are geo-blocked, but anyone from around the world can access these sites with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock 9Now and TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2024 US Open final by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia or New Zealand

Visit 9Now or TVNZ+

Watch Pegula vs. Sabalenka in the 2024 US Open final for free from anywhere in the world

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of Pegula vs. Sabalenka without actually spending anything. This clearly isn’t a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the US Open finals before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the US Open?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the US Open for free, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including Australia and New Zealand

Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

Fast connection speeds

Up to eight simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Pegula vs. Sabalenka in the 2024 US Open final for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Read More 

The NYT Strands hints and answers you need to make the most of your puzzling experience.

If you’re reading this, you’re looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There’s always a theme linking every solution, along with the “spangram,” a special, word or phrase that sums up that day’s theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Know your material

These words are all the fashion(s).

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers all relate to what you would use to make clothing.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today’s NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today’s spangram is Fabric.

NYT Strands word list for September 7

Denim

Velvet

Satin

Chiffon

Spandex

Fabric

Jersey

Muslin

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable’s Games page has more hints, and if you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Strands.

Read More 

Live stream Pegula vs. Sabalenka in the 2024 US Open final online for free in the UK.

TL;DR: Live stream Pegula vs. Sabalenka in the 2024 US Open final for free on 9Now or TVNZ+. Access these free streaming platforms from the UK with ExpressVPN.

Watching the US Open for free in the UK is not easy, but nothing is impossible. And we’ve reached the finals of the tournament, so if there was ever a time to find a hack, it’s now. Fortunately, we can help you secure access to free live streams of the US Open finals.

If you want to watch Pegula vs. Sabalenka in the 2024 US Open for free in the UK, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Pegula vs. Sabalenka in the 2024 US Open for free in the UK

Fans can live stream the 2024 US Open for free on these platforms:

Australia — 9Now

New Zealand — TVNZ+

These streaming services are geo-blocked, but anyone in the UK can access these sites with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock 9Now and TVNZ+ from the UK.

Access free live streams of the 2024 US Open final by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia or New Zealand

Visit 9Now or TVNZ+

Watch Pegula vs. Sabalenka in the 2024 US Open final for free in the UK

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can access free live streams of Pegula vs. Sabalenka without actually spending anything. This clearly isn’t a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the US Open finals before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the US Open?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the US Open for free in the UK, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including Australia and New Zealand

Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

Fast connection speeds

Up to eight simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Pegula vs. Sabalenka in the 2024 US Open final for free in the UK with ExpressVPN.

Read More 

Live stream Germany vs. Hungary in the UEFA Nations League for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream Germany vs. Hungary in the UEFA Nations League for free on L’Equipe. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League could present an opportunity for international sides like Germany to take small steps towards recovery. Germany were not poor at Euro 2024, but they have seriously high standards. And any tournament in which they don’t fight for the title is seen as a failure.

Hungary lost to Germany in Euro 2024, so they’ll be looking for revenge in this UEFA Nations League fixture.

If you want to watch Germany vs. Hungary in the UEFA Nations League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Germany vs. Hungary?

Germany vs. Hungary in the UEFA Nations League kicks off at 7:45 p.m. BST on Sept. 7. This fixture takes place at the Merkur Spiel-Arena.

How to watch Germany vs. Hungary for free

Germany vs. Hungary in the UEFA Nations League is available to live stream for free on L’Equipe.

L’Equipe is geo-restricted to France, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can access free live streams on L’Equipe from anywhere in the world.

Access a free live stream of Germany vs. Hungary by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

Open up the app and connect to a server in France

Visit L’Equipe

Live stream Germany vs. Hungary for free from anywhere in the world

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Germany vs. Hungary in the UEFA Nations League without actually spending anything. This clearly isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select UEFA Nations League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for L’Equipe?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on L’Equipe, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including France

Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

Fast connection speeds free from throttling

Up to eight simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Germany vs. Hungary in the UEFA Nations League for free with ExpressVPN.

Read More 

Live stream the 2024 AFL Grand Final for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2024 AFL Grand Final for free on 7plus. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Aussie Rules is a fast-paced and physical game that provides entertainment to millions of fans every week, but the game hasn’t exactly traveled well outside of Australia. This situation should change, because we’re confident that the rest of the world would absolutely love the footy.

The AFL Grand Final is Australia’s most-watched sporting event of the year, and if you’re interesting in giving this sport a chance, this could be the perfect opportunity to see what all the fuss is about. And you don’t have to spend anything to watch all the action this year.

If you want to watch the 2024 AFL Grand Final for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the AFL Grand Final?

The AFL Grand Final is an Australian rules football match that determines the winners of the Australian Football League season. The game traditionally takes place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the last Saturday in September. It attracts one of the largest audiences in Australian sport, with a capacity crowd of up to 100,000.

When is the 2024 AFL Grand Final?

The 2024 AFL Grand Final is the 129th edition of the annual grand final of the Australian Football League. This year’s game takes place on Sept. 28.

How to watch the 2024 AFL Grand Final for free

The 2024 AFL Grand Final is available to live stream for free on 7plus.

7plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in Australia. This quick and easy process makes it look like you’re connecting from Australia, so you can access 7plus from anywhere in the world. It sounds complicated, but it’s actually really straightforward.

Watch the 2024 AFL Grand Final from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

Sign up for 7plus

Watch the 2024 AFL Grand Final from anywhere in the world

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these offers, you can secure access to the 2024 AFL Grand Final without committing with your cash. This obviously isn’t a long-term solution, but it does mean you can unblock 7plus and then recover your investment after the AFL Grand Final.

What is the best VPN for 7plus?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including Australia

Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

Strict no-logging policy

Fast connection speeds free from throttling

Up to eight simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This heavily discounted plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch the 2024 AFL Grand Final for free with ExpressVPN.

Read More 

Live stream Republic of Ireland vs. England in the UEFA Nations League for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream Republic of Ireland vs. England in the UEFA Nations League for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League is back, and it marks the beginning of a new era for England. Lee Carsley has brought in a number of new faces in his role as interim manager, as England look to bounce back after losing in the final of Euro 2024.

If you want to watch Republic of Ireland vs. England in the UEFA Nations League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Republic of Ireland vs. England?

Republic of Ireland vs. England in the UEFA Nations League kicks off at 5 p.m. BST on Sept. 7. This fixture takes place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland.

How to watch Republic of Ireland vs. England for free

Republic of Ireland vs. England in the UEFA Nations League is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone from around the world can stream for free with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access free live streams on ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Access a free live stream of Republic of Ireland vs. England by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

Visit ITVX

Stream Republic of Ireland vs. England for free from anywhere in the world

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Republic of Ireland vs. England in the UEFA Nations League without actually spending anything. This clearly isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select UEFA Nations League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including the UK

Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

Fast connection speeds free from throttling

Up to eight simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Republic of Ireland vs. England in the UEFA Nations League for free with ExpressVPN.

Read More 

Live stream Australia vs. Argentina in the 2024 Rugby Championship online for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream Australia vs. Argentina in the 2024 Rugby Championship for free on NZR+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Rugby Championship continues to deliver some of the best international rugby of the year. It feels like every game can go either way, and the result is often decided by big plays in the final moments. That was the case in the first game between Argentina and Australia, with the Wallabies securing a last-gasp win.

That was heartbreaking for Argentina, but they will believe that they can turn things around in the second meeting between the two sides. If you want to watch Australia vs. Argentina in the 2024 Rugby Championship for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Australia vs. Argentina?

The second game between Australia and Argentina in the 2024 Rugby Championship kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Sept. 7. This fixture takes place at the Brigadier General Estanislao López Stadium in Santa Fe, Argentina.

How to watch Australia vs. Argentina for free

You can live stream the 2024 Rugby Championship for free on NZR+, including Australia vs. Argentina.

The catch is that this free live stream is only available to fans in Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Turkey, and Ukraine.

If you do not live in one of these countries, you can use a VPN to change your digital location and stream for free. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Rugby Championship on NZR+ from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2024 Rugby Championship by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

Open up the app and connect to a server in one of the countries listed above

Visit NZR+

Live stream Australia vs. Argentina for free from anywhere in the world

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to a free live stream of Australia vs. Argentina without actually spending anything. This clearly isn’t a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the 2024 Rugby Championship before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the Rugby Championship?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live rugby on NZR+ for free, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries

Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

Fast connection speeds

Up to eight simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Australia vs. Argentina in the 2024 Rugby Championship for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Read More 

Live stream New Zealand vs. South Africa in the 2024 Rugby Championship online for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream New Zealand vs. South Africa in the 2024 Rugby Championship for free on NZR+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

South Africa came from behind to steal the win over New Zealand in their first Rugby Championship matchup, in what was probably the game of the tournament so far. Can the All Blacks secure the first win over South Africa in this year’s competition? It’s a tough task, especially on South African soil.

If you want to watch New Zealand vs. South Africa in the 2024 Rugby Championship for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is New Zealand vs. South Africa?

The second game between South Africa and New Zealand in the 2024 Rugby Championship kicks off at 11 a.m. ET on Sept 7. This fixture takes place at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa.

How to watch New Zealand vs. South Africa for free

You can live stream the 2024 Rugby Championship for free on NZR+, including New Zealand vs. South Africa.

The catch is that this free live stream is only available to fans in Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Turkey, and Ukraine.

If you do not live in one of these countries, you can use a VPN to change your digital location and stream for free. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Rugby Championship on NZR+ from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2024 Rugby Championship by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

Open up the app and connect to a server in one of the countries listed above

Visit NZR+

Live stream New Zealand vs. South Africa for free from anywhere in the world

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to a free live stream of New Zealand vs. South Africa without actually spending anything. This clearly isn’t a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the 2024 Rugby Championship before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the Rugby Championship?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live rugby on NZR+ for free, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries

Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

Fast connection speeds

Up to eight simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream New Zealand vs. South Africa in the 2024 Rugby Championship for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Read More 

Erin Lee Car’s latest true crime documentary “Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara” delves into a hacking nightmare.

Catfishing is perhaps the only place the work of Tegan and Sara and Erin Lee Carr could collide. After all, the former are a Canadian indie pop duo and the latter is a true crime documentarian. While the titular twin singer/songwriters deliver beautiful and achingly catchy songs about break-ups and sapphic yearning, the latter filmmaker has explored the dark depths of shocking cases like the Bling Ring thieving spree, the despised “cannibal cop,” the murder of the notorious DeeDee Blanchard. 

In Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara, the musicians and the moviemaker come together to investigate a case that’s less violent, but nonetheless haunting. Seeking to catch the hacker/catfish that has been toying with the hearts and minds of the band’s fans for 16 years, what’s exposed is where the highs and lows of internet fandom collide with the delicate underbelly of celebrity.

Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara allows us to come a little closer

This intriguing documentary takes audiences back to the late 2000s, when Tegan and Sara Quin were on the rise as artists, as was social media. Where the band — and the outgoing Tegan especially — used to make an appearance at the merch table or walk the line of fans waiting to enter the venue to give autographs and selfies, they could now interact on message boards, Tumblr, LastFM, and Facebook. But over 16 years, many fans have discovered that the Tegan they thought they were talking to was an impostor, masquerading as the pop star for reasons all their own. 

Lee steps out from behind the camera here, engaging onscreen with Tegan (and to a lesser degree Sara) as well as victims who’ve come forth to share their stories. Shared among these women is a brilliant emotional intelligence, as they reveal their hurt while recognizing the painful experiences of others. As Lee has for tabloid-favorite killers and victims, she extends a profound empathy to her subjects that offers a supportive space for people admitting they’d fallen for the con. Some of them thought they’d made a cool new friend — who was a pop star! Others believed they were in a secret romance with one. All were tricked by Fake Tegan, or “Fegan” as they are referred to in the doc, while the investigative team tracks them down.

For the first time, Tegan herself speaks out on the catfishing, and how it’s impacted her personally. And this is the film’s most powerful revelation. 

In Fanatical, Tegan Quin shares the pain of toxic fandom

Tegan is quick to point out that much of her fanbase is wonderful, supporting her music and each other. However, she also makes clear there’s a horrid dark side for public figures, perhaps especially when they’re queer. Fans take on a sense of ownership over a celebrity that can turn judgemental and even scary. 

For Tegan, the news of the catfishing was a penetrating betrayal, making her doubt her friends and self. As the catfisher(s) had accessed private photos, unreleased demo tracks, and even personal family news, she began to worry if someone she loved had turned on her — or if giving so much attention to her fans had enabled this catfish to abuse the trust of her fans and friends. 

Fans take on a sense of ownership over a celebrity that can turn judgemental and even scary. 

The most jolting moment in Fanatical  is a tense phone conversation between Tegan, Lee, and a maybe victim/maybe suspect, who denies their volatile online behavior toward the artist was harmful. “You weren’t affected in any capacity,” they angrily declare to Tegan. It’s a comment that feels reflective of a common assumption about celebrities and what they must surrender for fame. Recently, queer pop princess Chappell Roan faced online backlash after going to social media to tell fans to give her space and leave her family out of their efforts to reach her. Some suggested she “signed up for” this intrusive lack of privacy by being famous, as if fame were acquired by signing a sketchy contract with the devil himself. 

Being famous doesn’t make you impenetrable, and Tegan shows that by sharing her story — and even her doubts about doing so in the doc for fear it’ll just make things worse. While she is composed for much of her interviews, there’s no denying the emotional burden she’s carried with no end in sight. That, in all this time, Tegan has continued to not only put out music but also a memoir with her sister and a subsequent TV adaptation called High School is a testament to the pair’s resilience. They refuse to let these violations define them or upend their creative drive. 

Fanatical confronts stan culture 

To create context for the digital waters in which this catfish swims, Lee presents a broad summary of how fan culture has evolved over the last 130 years. This sequence begins with the backlash from fans of Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original version, not the intense Johnlock fandom of the 2010s). From there, an expert tries to contextualize how fandom overreach has grown from 1893 to Eminem’s seminal song “Stan,” which detailed an obsessive fan who turns to violence, to the current re-contextualizing of the term to basically mean “superfan.” 

Fanatical suggests this transformation of “stan” risks muddling the distinction between fans who say they’ll do “anything” for their idol and fans who actually dox so-called “haters” or stalk the object of their obsession. In a rush to connect these dots, the documentary loses the nuance of online conversation and parasocial relationships, and its love for hyperbole is lost. A series of reconstructed tweets (with blank avatars and no time stamps) are presented as a slippery slope, where online threats of violence might lead to dangerous real-life reactions. Here, Lee cuts to clips of pop stars being grabbed on stage or pelted with objects by the crowd, then to footage of trials of convicted stalkers. 

Perhaps this section is intended as a moment for every fan to self-reflect on how they might be casually toxic. But conflating threats of violence and doxxing with tweets like “In my household we stan Lana Del Rey and whoever disagrees can choke,” might cause eyerolls. Such a tame tweet feels out of place amid the details of the Tegan and Sara attacks, which include threats to out the former as a “terrible person,” sharing their personal documents with others, and creating disturbing, sexually explicit fanfiction. 

Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara is a must-see 

Perhaps, Lee takes on too much when she tries to apply what’s happened to Tegan and Sara to a broader fandom conversation. (It’s easy to imagine the film as a limited series because of the sheer massiveness of that topic.) But despite this wobble, Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara is a fascinating film because of the balance in empathy between the stars and their fans. When fandom goes toxic, both sides of that equation suffer. Lee shows that through thoughtful interviews and also interactions between the real Tegan and Fegan’s victims, brought together to pick up the pieces of this bizarre betrayal of trust. 

Fandom should be a place of community, not in-fighting and catfishing.

These meetings range from healing to tense. Shrewdly, Lee exposes the “unnatural” setup of such interactions by allowing camera equipment and light reflectors in frame. It’s not to expose the artifice of the interview, but to bolster why a particular subject — who was a Fegan suspect — might feel insecure at this moment. There’s a literal spotlight on them, and they feel it. But from this place of discomfort, hard truths and hurt feelings finally are aired so solace can follow.

Fandom should be a place of community, not in-fighting and catfishing. Through Fanatical, Tegan and Sara strive to reclaim the joy of community through sharing and shaking off the embarrassment of the whole situation. In that, they not only warn their fans about this curious hacker, but also urge the viewing audience to consider how shady online behavior can have real-world impact. Yes, even to the famous. 

Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara was reviewed out of its World Premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. The documentary will later debut on Hulu.

Read More 

Here’s the answer for “Wordle” #1176 on September 7, as well as a few hints, tips, and clues to help you solve it yourself.

Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.

If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for September 7’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.

Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:

Has possession of something.

Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…

Today’s Wordle starts with the letter O.

The Wordle answer today is…

Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today’s Wordle is…

OWNER.

Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.

Read More