Cheddar has been covering the biggest news of the week with some of the biggest names in the biz. In case you missed it, we've pulled together some of the highlights that will keep you informed as we get ready for the week ahead.
No Gifs for Facebook
The mountain of issues for Facebook and its parent company Meta to climb continues to build higher after a UK regulator blocked the social media giant's acquisition of the gif sharing platform Giphy a year and a half after the deal actually went through. The Competition and Markets Authority essentially said the acquisition allows Facebook to operate a gif monopoly by dictating which other social media outlets can have access to the widely used platform. Meta has come under fire for a number of issues this year, including its failure to address toxicity and mental health impacts its platform has had, particularly on teen girls. Hatem Dhiab, managing partner at Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment, told Cheddar the social media giant's unfavorable imprint on the world will make it difficult for future business deals. "With all the adversity that Facebook is having, with all the negative impacts they're having on society, it's going to be really tough for them to make any other acquisitions, and this is the first way of us seeing it," he said.
iCarly Makes Climate Moves
There was a surprise moment on Cheddar this week for fans of iCarly. Actress and singer Miranda Cosgrove chatted with Hena Doba about Season 2 of the Paramount+ reboot. For Cosgrove, returning to the show that premiered on Nickelodeon in 2007, when she was just 14-years-old, meant assuming more control over the entire production and led her to sign on as executive producer. In her spare time, she's partnering with HP on their Girls Save the World program to help empower teens to find solutions to some of the most critical climate issues. "I think it's awesome letting girls know as young as possible that their voice matters and that they can make a big difference," she said.
Chris Diamantopoulos' New Projects
Clearly, it was a big week in entertainment at Cheddar HQ. Chris Diamantopoulos also stopped by to talk about his latest projects. If you've signed into Netflix lately, it's pretty hard to miss Red Notice, which he stars in alongside Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Gal Gadot, and the limited series True Story, featuring Kevin Hart and Wesley Snipes. They've both been massively successful since their releases and have given Diamantopoulos a chance to tap into his inner villain. "Playing this sort of Bondian exaggerated villain was just a blast, particularly when I get to be opposite [Dwayne Johnson], and Ryan Reynolds, and Gal [Gadot] because they're all such masters at their craft. So that then allows me to play even more, " he told Cheddar about Red Notice.
eBay Says Your Kicks Are Official
If you're buying new kicks from eBay, you can feel a bit more secure about their authenticity. The resale and auction platform just took their partnership with Sneaker Con to the next level by acquiring its sneaker authentication business for an undisclosed amount. While the relationship between the two companies only dates back to 2020, for Garry Thaniel, general manager of sneakers at eBay, the investment was well worth it given how profitable the sneaker market is today. "When you think about the growth that we're having, the fact that we sell 15 pairs of sneakers every minute, that's one pair of sneakers every four seconds, you can see that not only the demand, but the volume at which sneakers are selling really is impressive, and we expect that growth to continue."
Lamborghini Stays Exclusive
What a year it has been for the auto industry, especially as it navigates the ongoing global semiconductor chip shortage. But for Lamborghini, it was a record-shattering time in sales as it delivered nearly 7,000 luxury cars. Of its fleet, the 2021 Lamborghini Huracán STO listed for a staggering $327,838, and about 600 Aventador SVJs were sold, helping the need-for-speed brand break through its sales ceiling. Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini CEO and president of Bugatti Automobiles, told Cheddar, "It's also clear that our type of car is always to be produced less than demand and this is what we have to keep also in the future because the value of the brand, the value of the residual of the cars is to the utmost importance for the future of our company."
