From shocking bites to K-pop buzz and movie milestones—here’s your celeb recap for June 22–28, served hot with a sprinkle of sass.
1) Parasite Named the Best Movie of the 21st Century by The New York Times
On June 23, 2025, The New York Times announced the Korean film Parasite as the No. 1 movie of the 21st century.
(I don’t subscribe to NYT, so I’ve linked another article.)
Let’s rewind. Released in 2019, Parasite took the world by storm. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, already a household name in Korea, the film was praised for its genre-blending brilliance and sharp social commentary woven into a thrilling, unpredictable story.
Critically acclaimed and commercially successful, the film became the first Korean movie to ever win at the Academy Awards, nabbing four major wins: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film. Many say Parasite opened the global floodgates for Korean content, paving the way for later sensations like Squid Game.
As for the New York Times’s Top 10 list? It features some serious heavy-hitters. Following Parasite, the list includes:
- Mulholland Drive
- There Will Be Blood
- In the Mood for Love
- Moonlight
- No Country for Old Men
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- Get Out
- Spirited Away
- The Social Network
👩🏻🍵 Kayla’s Thoughts:
First and foremost, this is a proud moment to be Korean. Parasite left me in awe from start to finish—smart, stylish, emotional, and even darkly humorous. It absolutely deserves to be on a list like this.
But #1? I’m not so sure.
There have been hundreds of brilliant films released since the year 2000. While Parasite was groundbreaking in so many ways, I can’t help but wonder if its top ranking reflects something more than just its cinematic merit. Maybe it’s the fact that Korean content is still having its “moment,” especially in the West. Maybe it’s a mix of recency bias and cultural fascination from the West to the East.
Don’t get me wrong—this is still a huge achievement. And it’s worth celebrating. But it also opens up a bigger conversation: what makes a film “the best” of a generation? Story? Innovation? Cultural impact? All of the above?
Either way, I’m proud—but I’m also curious what you think.
Did Parasite deserve the top spot? Or was it more of a symbolic win? Let me know in the comments👇
2) “Cobra Kai” Actress Alicia Hannah-Kim Confronts Co-Star After Bizarre Biting Incident
On June 24, 2025, Cobra Kai star Martin Kove was kicked out of Washington State Summer Con in Puyallup after a truly bizarre incident involving his co-star Alicia Hannah-Kim.
According to reports, Alicia tapped Martin on the shoulder to get his attention, and in response, he turned around and bit her arm—hard enough to nearly draw blood. If that wasn’t strange enough, he then grabbed her arm again and kissed the spot where he bit her. The bite reportedly left visible teeth marks and caused her arm to bruise.
When Alicia tried to confront him about it, Martin allegedly blew up at her, reportedly saying something along the lines of “how dare they confront him” and insisting he “did nothing wrong.” It wasn’t until a police officer was brought in that he finally apologized, claiming he thought it was “just a joke.” 🙄
Martin Kove later issued a public apology to TMZ, saying:
“I deeply regret and apologize for my actions regarding the incident with Alicia (Hannah-Kim), a genuinely kind and wonderful person who didn’t deserve to be put in this position… I was being playful in the moment but went too far… I’m committed to learning from this and it will never happen again.”
👩🏻🍵 Kayla’s Thoughts:
I have two big thoughts about this whole mess.
First: classic case of an old actor who thinks he’s above basic decency. Just because you’re a longtime actor doesn’t mean you’re immune to basic manners—or common sense. We’re in 2025, not the Wild West. A random bite and a kiss on the arm? No, sir. That’s not “playful,” that’s weird and inappropriate.
Second: I’ll be honest, I think bringing in the police might’ve been a bit much if the situation could have been handled by the event staff. But hey, she didn’t press charges, and the public attention clearly forced a proper apology. So maybe it worked. 🤷♀️
At the end of the day… what even was this?! Biting your co-star like you’re auditioning for Twilight? Get it together, Mr. Kove.
3) “Pitch Perfect: K-Pop Idols” TV Series Under Development with Elizabeth Banks and Joel Kim Booster
Embed from Getty ImagesK-pop is out to invade your tiny little boxes—with some seriously big names attached.
On June 26, 2025, Variety reported that a new TV series titled “Pitch Perfect: K-Pop Idols” is in development. It’s being produced by Elizabeth Banks and Max Handelman under their company Brownstone Productions. Also joining the project is none other than Joel Kim Booster, who’s been tapped to write the script.
Not much else is known about the plot just yet, but what has been confirmed is that Brownstone has a first-look deal with Universal Television, and that all the original Pitch Perfect producers are returning. Even Jason Moore, who directed the very first film, is coming back to direct the series.
👩🏻🍵 Kayla’s Thoughts:
I honestly don’t know what to think about this one. On the plus side, I love that K-pop is getting more mainstream attention—not just in music, but now in scripted TV too. Just a few years ago, K-pop fans were dismissed as “weirdos” obsessed with Asian culture. Now? We’re seeing Korean culture breaking into the mainstream media- even animated films like K-Pop: Demon Hunters are breaking through.
But… I can’t help but feel a little uneasy. The idea of an all-American production team taking on something as specific and layered as K-pop makes me nervous. Will they really get the nuance? The culture? The vibe?
I’m not trying to scream “cultural appropriation” just yet, but if there aren’t any Korean voices in the writers’ room or behind the scenes, that’s definitely a red flag. Even with Joel Kim Booster writing—who is Korean by ethnicity—I’m still hesitant. He was adopted and raised in a conservative white household, and while he might have reconnected with his heritage as an adult, I don’t know how deep that connection runs in terms of portraying modern K-pop accurately.
Don’t get me wrong—I’m rooting for this to work. But I’ve got questions. Big ones.
Let’s see how this plays out. Until then… sound off in the comments and tell me if I’m being too cautious—or not cautious enough.
