Popcast (Deluxe): Lizzo, Travis Scott and the Limits of Persona

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This week’s episode of Popcast (Deluxe), the weekly culture roundup show on YouTube hosted by Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli, includes segments on:

• How a star’s public persona, varnished or unvarnished, can dictate what they can get away with in the eye of their followers. Lizzo, who for years has emphasized personal kindness as her brand, has seen her career derailed by allegations that she mistreated her backup dancers. Cardi B threw a microphone at an audience member in reaction to getting splashed with water, but has emerged unscathed

• Travis Scott’s No. 1 album “Utopia,” its many guest appearances and its oxygen-swallowing hugeness

• The resilience of Playboi Carti, who has built a growing cultlike career while releasing no new music

• Remembering the life and work of Sinead O’Connor and Angus Cloud

• New songs from Cowgirl Clue and B-Lovee featuring Luh Tyler

• Snack of the week