Samantha Thomas

just your average bi girl who loves Philly sports and collects records

[Samantha Thomas @sammythomas13]

I only watched this stupid cowboys giants game for the Penn State Blue Band and Hamilton…wtf @SNFonNBC

[Jantar The Botman🪼 @Jantar127]

The Grammys' decision to scrap the proposed "Asian Pop" category immediately after BTS withdrew their submissions is a blatant admission of what critics have been saying for years: The Recording Academy does not care about celebrating Asian artists; they just want a "BTS Tax" to boost their tanking television ratings.

By folding the entire category the moment the biggest group in the world opted out, Harvey Mason Jr. and the Grammys exposed the entire initiative as a hollow, tokenizing stunt rather than a genuine attempt at inclusivity.

The Category Was Always a Ghettoization Strategy

Let’s call this what it actually was: an attempt to gatekeep the major categories. For years, the Grammys have faced intense backlash for shutting out non-Western global powerhouses from the "Big Four" categories (Album, Record, and Song of the Year, plus Best New Artist)
Creating an "Asian Pop" category was a transparent tactical move to herd BTS and other massive Asian acts into a separate, marginalized corner. It was designed to satisfy the demand for representation on paper while ensuring these artists would never compete for or win the prestigious main-stage awards

No BTS, No Clout, No Category

The fact that the category was discarded the second BTS pulled their submissions proves that the Recording Academy never actually cared about the incredibly diverse, booming Asian pop music landscape.

If this category was genuinely built to honor the rich, diverse world of J-pop, C-pop, and K-pop, the absence of one group shouldn't throw the entire Board of Trustees into a panic. By completely rethinking the category right before the August 21 submission deadline, By killing the category Mr Harvey Mason Jr. essentially admitted: "We only built this stage so BTS would show up, perform, and bring millions of viewers with them. If we can't exploit their fandom for ratings, the rest of the genre isn't worth our time."

BTS Called Their Bluff As They Should

BTS and their team made the ultimate power move by withdrawing. They refused to let themselves be used as token playthings for an institution that has historically weaponized nominations to milk K-pop fans for social media engagement, only to snub the artists during the actual broadcast.

By stepping away, BTS forced the Grammys to show their true colors. The immediate collapse of the "Asian Pop" category is embarrassing proof that the Recording Academy’s commitment to diversity is completely performative. It’s not about the music; it’s about the metrics.

The Grammys thought they could pacify Asian artists with a separate-but-equal category. BTS looked them dead in the eye, rejected the crumbs, and left them standing with an empty, embarrassing stage. It’s a legendary moment in music history and proof that BTS doesn't need the Grammys; the Grammys need BTS.

[Mary⁷ VAI VER O BTS @cookyminnie]

Bom dia! Queria fazer uma perguntinha aqui: vocês são assim na vida pessoal também? Quando alguém faz algo que vocês não concordam, automaticamente anulam TUDO que ela fez de bom e descartam ela? Que triste…

[Spittin' Chiclets @spittinchiclets]

THE FLYERS ARE HEADED TO THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS!

[NFL @NFL]

EAGLES BLOCK THE KICK AND JORDAN DAVIS SCORES A TOUCHDOWN BECAUSE WHY NOT

[Penn State Women’s Volleyball @PennStateVBALL]

EIGHT-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

#WeAre

[SportsCenter @SportsCenter]

VERMONT MEN'S SOCCER WINS ITS FIRST-EVER NCAA TITLE WITH A DRAMATIC SUDDEN DEATH EXTRA TIME GOAL 😱

WHAT A MOMENT FOR THE CATAMOUNTS 👏 #SCTop10

[UVM Men's Soccer @UVMmsoccer]

𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦!

KISSEL WITH THE WINNER
#MCollegeCup | #LetsRally

[Ferrari News 🐎 @FanaticsFerrari]

Winning from P17 without going off track a single time, in changing weather conditions, under pressure in a championship battle is genuinely insane.

What a driver.

[Ferrari News 🐎 @FanaticsFerrari]

If a championship contender needs his leading teammate to slow down to help him keep DRS to keep second place, he doesn’t deserve to win the championship.

It’s as simple as that.

[Caroline ❤️‍🔥 @CarolineMF181]

Okay I’ll say it:

Forcing non-native English speakers to speak English in a press conference (while mentally fatigued from a race), and then penalizing them for cursing in their non-native language, further supports the British elitism and xenophobia in F1

[clara @leclercsletters]

ABSOLUTE CINEMA.

[Jalen Hurts @JalenHurts]

I’m deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Johnny & Matthew Gaudreau. Johnny was a dedicated hockey player, Birds fan & cherished member of the Eagles faithful. I want to send my heartfelt condolences to the entire Gaudreau family & those impacted by this loss!#FlyJohnnyFly 🙏🏾

[Boston College Eagles @BCEagles]

In Loving Memory

[The Players’ Tribune @PlayersTribune]

Rest in peace, Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. ❤️

[USA Hockey @usahockey]

Our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, whose lives ended way too soon. Words cannot appropriately express the sorrow the hockey community is feeling today.

[Samantha Thomas @sammythomas13]

Blueberry vanilla matcha lattes have my entire heart right now

[Philadelphia 76ers @sixers]

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED🥇

congratulations @JoelEmbiid and the rest of the #USABMNT #Paris2024

[Samantha Thomas @sammythomas13]

Love Phelps but he also cheered for a French swimmer over the Americans that were swimming against him 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Buttstroke Swimming @ButtstrokeSwim]

Michael Phelps' reaction to the United States' performance in Swimming at the 2024 Olympics.

The U.S. won 8 Gold medals in the pool, their first time in single digits since 1960.