Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

'Adolescence' Creator Claps Back After Musk Promotes Conspiracy That Hit Netflix Series Is 'Anti-White'

Owen Cooper; Elon Musk
Netflix; ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Jack Thorne, who co-created the Netflix series alongside star Stephen Graham, shut down a conspiracy theory championed by Musk that the show is "anti-white propaganda" because it was allegedly based on a crime committed by a Black man.

Jack Thorne, the co-creator of Netflix series Adolescence, is speaking out after far-right influencers and Elon Musk promoted a conspiracy theory about the series.

In four parts, the series focuses on 13-year-old Jamie Miller, played by Owen Cooper, who is accused of the grisly murder of a teen girl.


The groundbreaking show has sparked discussions with its bracing depiction of how the online "manosphere," incel and "red pill" culture, and right-wing political discourse indoctrinate young boys and men into aggression towards both each other and women.

So, naturally, conservatives hate it and see it as an attack on masculinity—and have created a conspiracy theory that it is also "anti-white."

Musk cronies like Russia-funded far-right propagandist Ian Miles Cheong claim that the show is based on the "real-life" case of the Southport murders in the UK, in which a Black teenager brutally murdered three girls in the summer of 2024.

But the show was created and announced months before those murders ever occurred, not that any of Musk and Cheong's fanboys will care, of course.

Thorne addressed the rumors in an interview with the the show The News Agents, in which he called the conspiracy theory "ridiculous."

@thenewsagents

“It is absurd to that say knife crime is only committed by black boys.” #adolescence #netflix #jackthorne

He told the host:

"There is no part of this that's based on a true story, not one single part.”

He went on to say:

"It's absurd to say that [knife crime] is only committed by Black boys. It’s absurd. It's not true. And history shows a lot of cases of kids from all races committing these crimes."
"We're not making a point about race with this. We are making a point about masculinity. We’re trying to get inside a problem. We’re not saying this is one thing or another, we’re saying that this is about boys."

None of this has stopped Elon Musk from amplifying Cheong's lies, despite the fact that Musk's own Grok AI assistant posted on X to say that Cheong's claims about Adolescence are, in fact, "false."

Of course none of this ultimately matters—Cheong, Musk and everyone like them know very well that their audience will not bother to do any due diligence and will swallow their propaganda whole. That horse is out of the barn.

But should they actually decide to look into it, they will certainly find plenty of pushback from X users.





In any case, whatever Cheong and Musk are trying to do, it isn't working—Adolescence has broken viewership records at Netflix.

More from Entertainment/tv-and-movies

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Viral Clip Of RFK Jr.'s Disturbingly Labored Breathing During Senate Hearing Has The Internet Horrified

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had viewers recoiling due to his noticeably labored breathing while testifying before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday morning.

Kennedy appeared before federal lawmakers in a series of hearings, where he pushed back on criticism over measles outbreaks and declining vaccination rates while promoting initiatives he said would make health care more affordable.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gavin Newsom; RFK Jr.; Donald Trump
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images; Heather Diehl/Getty Images; Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Gavin Newsom Epically Rips RFK Jr. For Claiming Trump Has A 'Different Way' Of Doing Math In Bonkers Clip

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was called out by California Governor Gavin Newsom after Kennedy attempted to defend President Donald Trump's claims that drug prices have been cut by "600%."

Kennedy appeared before federal lawmakers in a series of hearings, where he pushed back on criticism over measles outbreaks and declining vaccination rates while promoting initiatives he said would make health care more affordable.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nikki Glaser (left) discusses Leonardo DiCaprio (right) sending her pasta after her Golden Globes roast.
The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon/YouTube; Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Nikki Glaser Reveals The Hilarious Gift Leonardo DiCaprio Sent Her After She Roasted Him At The Golden Globes

During an appearance on The Tonight Show, comedian Nikki Glaser offered a long-awaited update on the aftermath of her Golden Globes roast—specifically, how Leonardo DiCaprio responded.

For those who don’t remember, Glaser pulled out a surprisingly deep cut, joking that the only real insight into DiCaprio’s personal life comes from a 1991 Teen Beat article.

Keep ReadingShow less
Houston police officer giving racist rant
KHOU 11/YouTube

Houston Cop Relieved Of Duty After Video Of Her Truly Vile Rant About Black People Surfaces

A Houston police officer has been forced to turn in her weapon and badge after posting a racist rant on Instagram.

Officer Ashely Gonzalez posted a profanity and slur-filled video in which she used the N-word several times to complain about Black people in the community she serves.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mariah Carey
Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images

Mariah Carey Has Iconically Unbothered Reaction After She's Snubbed By Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame For Third Year In A Row

The 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for November 14 in Los Angeles, California. Each year, a new batch of inductees are announced, and each year fans ask why their favorite artist didn't make it or why another artist did.

Seventeen individuals and groups were on this year's list of nominees.

Keep ReadingShow less