Louis Staples
Writer
Louis Staples is a freelance writer based in London. His work covers TV, culture and the internet. He writes "Cultural Staples" — a monthly essay for Harper's Bazaar.
Every White Lotus Hookup Tells a Deeper Story
Including...that one.
The Real Reason You're So Triggered by The White Lotus's Toxic Trio
Mike White has perfected the art of creating characters who we’re supposed to loathe — even if we’re not entirely unlike them.
Bridget Jones and the Women Who Refuse to Be Discarded
The beloved film franchise reflects Hollywood’s current obsession: women who are determined to survive
Why the Older-Woman, Younger-Man Couple Dominated 2024
Babygirl dissects society’s fixation with age-gap relationships and the nuances of sex, success, and control that defined the year in culture
In Dark Times, I Look to My Queer Elders
They didn’t stop fighting for a better future—and we shouldn't either
The Chappell Roan Backlash Is Really About Us
Lately, the world has seemed determined to tear the budding pop star down. Why?
The Perfect Couple and the Limits of Fan Casting
We can't escape the feeling that maybe we've seen this show before
Why TV Can’t Stop Crushing on the Hot Billionaire
Decoding television’s thirst for the baddies of the one percent
The Meme-ification of Kamala Harris
The internet hype surrounding her is the type of political advertising money can’t buy
It’s the Summer of Pop Girl Reconciliation
From Charli XCX and Lorde to Monica and Brandy, musicians are working it out on the remix
The Queer Awakening of Bridgerton
In the current climate, seeing queer life depicted in a hugely popular Netflix drama feels like a win
Hacks Isn't Just About Comedy. It's About Reinvention.
Through Deborah Vance, we’re reminded that women in the public eye are chastised both for changing too much or not enough
In Defense of the Pretty Good Show
Not every TV series needs to radically change our lives
Challengers and the Allure of the Sexy Tennis Movie
The Luca Guadagnino film is a hard-hitting metaphor for the most basic human urge: desire
Why Pop Culture Keeps Falling for the “Gay Liar”
Characters like Tom Ripley tap into decades-old tensions still relevant to queer life today
How Grey’s Anatomy Became the Ultimate Coping Mechanism
If loving the medical drama is wrong, I don’t want to be right
Maestro and the Art of Oscar Bait
Why do we often end up turning against artists who chase Academy Awards?
Bring Back the Unfiltered Celebrity Press Run
It’s almost as if no one wants to flirt with a bit of lighthearted controversy anymore
You Can't Dilute the Core Message of Mean Girls
The remake finds itself in an awkward spot, trapped between the past and present
Even The Crown Has Daddy Issues
As the Netflix hit comes to an end, the show’s father-son relationships come into focus
Reality TV Longs for a Simpler Life
Twenty years after the premiere of The Simple Life, today’s reality television is channeling a time when being a viewer was less complicated
How The Crown Swallowed the Royal Family
The Netflix hit is more than just a TV show. It gives viewers an emotional intimacy they’ve never had from the real royals.
The Complicated Return of the Celebrity Tell-All
What does it mean to reveal your truth in an era of constant digital exposure?
How Sex and the City Betrayed Its Inner Cynic
The revival seems to have forgotten what fans loved about the original series
“Padam Padam” Is a Pride Anthem and Kylie Minogue at Her Peak
The pop star’s latest song isn’t just a bop, but also a newly inducted element of the queer lexicon
The Complicated Politics of Queer Rom-Coms
The gay romantic comedy has become the next frontier in mainstream LGBTQ+ representation. But like many things in queer culture, people are divided over the extent to which this is truly radical.
Thomas Doherty Just Wants to “Make Cool Sh-t”
The Gossip Girl star is embracing fame on his own terms.
The Infectious Charm of Nicola Coughlan
Bridgerton turned the actress into an accidental icon. She insists she’s just getting started.
