The Toast

Tiny Violins: Wednesday, January 21st, 2026

January 21, 2026

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  • The hosts believe the leaked text messages revealing Taylor Swift called Justin Baldoni a 'bitch' with a 'tiny violin' do not confirm the song 'Cancelled' is about Blake Lively, as 'tiny violin' is a common phrase for playing the victim. 
  • The leaked documents from the Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni dispute suggest Lively's actions, including her extensive letter to the Producers Guild, may undermine her employment lawsuit by supporting Baldoni's claim that she tried to take control of the film. 
  • The hosts found Margot Robbie's comments about becoming 'codependent' with Jacob Elordi on the set of *Wuthering Heights* to be an example of actors normalizing inherently weird professional behavior. 
  • The hosts discussed the difficulty athletes face transitioning out of professional sports, using Travis Kelce's potential retirement and wedding planning as an example of relationship stress. 
  • Celebrity hairstylist Justin Anderson publicly weighed in on rumors, claiming Brooklyn Beckham's wife, Nicola, was one of the worst celebrities he has worked with. 
  • The 'Dear Toasters' segment addressed a listener's toxic mother-in-law who prioritized her son over the new mother and a fiancé whose reaction to borrowed cash revealed differing financial philosophies. 

Segments

Beckham Family Feud Update
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(00:00:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Nicola Beckham’s recent social media activity, including supporting her sons’ endeavors, is interpreted as a heavy-handed attempt to counter public criticism following the family conflict.
  • Summary: Nicola Beckham posted three Instagram stories, one celebrating Emma’s birthday, one featuring an old music video clip, and one supporting Cruz’s performance, which the hosts view as a reaction to public discourse. The hosts expressed sympathy for Victoria Beckham, whose child is central to the public feud involving AI-generated content. A theory from a friend suggested Nicola might be pregnant, explaining Brooklyn Beckham’s recent fierce protectiveness of his wife.
Taylor Swift Text Leaks
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(00:05:05)
  • Key Takeaway: The unredacted Taylor Swift text messages with Blake Lively confirm their authentic, supportive communication style, but do not validate the theory that the song ‘Cancelled’ is about Lively.
  • Summary: The hosts reviewed the unredacted text messages between Taylor Swift and Blake Lively, noting they reflect the expected close friendship between the two women. The mention of Justin Baldoni being called a ‘bitch’ and using his ’tiny violin’ is seen as Swift’s general commentary on victimhood, not specific confirmation of a song’s subject. The segment also touched upon Blake Lively’s cringe-worthy emails to Matt Damon and Ben Affleck seeking support for her film edit.
Tell Me Lies Catch-Up
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(00:06:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite causing anxiety, the fictional series Tell Me Lies successfully immerses the viewer, making it more engaging than reality television, which the hosts often scroll through.
  • Summary: Claudia watched the first episode of Tell Me Lies after initially resisting due to anxiety the show induces. She found the show highly immersive and engaging, contrasting it with other content that allows for phone scrolling. The hosts briefly discussed catching up on the series before moving on to book club material.
Book Club Reading Update
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(00:08:13)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts are reading the buzzy book Wild Dork Shore for their Redheads segment, and the worse the book is perceived, the better the resulting episode is expected to be.
  • Summary: The hosts are currently reading Wild Dork Shore for their book club segment, which Jackie finds miserable despite its popularity. They also noted that Elle Fanning confirmed the Nightingale adaptation is on its way, and a movie about the Hilton sisters’ lives is also in development.
Razzies Nominations 2026
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(00:30:20)
  • Key Takeaway: The 2026 Razzie nominations highlight a lack of visibility for many nominated films, suggesting the awards need to evolve to include streaming content to remain relevant.
  • Summary: The hosts reviewed the 2026 Razzie nominations, noting that Snow White and Ice Cube’s War of the Worlds lead with six nods each, and The Weeknd is nominated for Worst Actor. The hosts were surprised by how many nominated films they had never heard of, suggesting the Razzies should expand their scope beyond traditional theatrical releases to include streaming content. Ben Platt received a Worst Actor nomination, prompting commentary about his father, Mark Platt.
Actors’ Weird Professional Habits
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(00:38:33)
  • Key Takeaway: George Clooney’s statement that he will no longer kiss ‘girls’ in movies, citing his age and desire to emulate Paul Newman, is viewed as an attempt to frame a natural career shift as a moral choice.
  • Summary: Margot Robbie admitted to becoming quickly codependent with Jacob Elordi while filming Wuthering Heights, even asking him to stop watching her scenes because she felt ‘unmoored’ without him nearby. The hosts criticized this as normalizing inappropriate behavior on set, contrasting it with George Clooney’s announcement that he is done with on-screen kissing, which they felt was disingenuous given his age and casting trajectory.
Container Store Organization Pitch
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(00:46:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The Container Store offers free design services for organizing various home spaces, including custom closets and pantries.
  • Summary: The speaker promotes The Container Store for achieving organizational goals, highlighting their wide range of products from acrylic trays to Dyson vacuums. They offer free design services for custom solutions in closets, pantries, offices, and garages. Listeners can use the code ’toast’ for a special discount at containerstore.com.
Nanit Smart Baby Monitor Ad
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(00:47:11)
  • Key Takeaway: The Nanit Smart Baby Monitor is recommended as a top registry item, providing insights on sleep, temperature, and motion.
  • Summary: The Nanit Smart Baby Monitor is presented as a crucial tool for new parents, offering peace of mind through tracking baby’s vitals and sleep quality. New features include the Nanit Home Display and the AI-driven Sleep Score. Using code ‘Toast250’ on Nanit.com grants a free Nanit Glow sound machine with purchases over $250.
Nicola Beckham’s Reputation
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(00:49:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Hairstylist Justin Anderson publicly labeled Nicola Beckham as one of the worst celebrities he has ever worked with.
  • Summary: Justin Anderson shared his negative experience working with Nicola Beckham, calling her a ‘bad apple’ on his Instagram story. This comment aligns with existing rumors about her difficult behavior, contrasting with the perceived closeness of the Beckham family. The hosts noted this theme is common among those who have worked with her.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Wedding Stress
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(00:50:13)
  • Key Takeaway: Rumors suggest Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are facing their ‘first real test’ due to Kelce’s looming NFL retirement decision amidst wedding planning.
  • Summary: Page Six reported that Kelce’s career transition and wedding planning are causing strain, with Taylor focusing on lifting his ‘defeated spirits.’ The hosts acknowledged the difficulty of an athlete losing their identity upon retirement, especially while planning a wedding. They suggested Taylor is giving him space to make his career decision before focusing on wedding arrangements.
Alex Earl and Jordon Hudson Sighting
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(00:55:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts replayed a past prediction where they questioned if Alix Earle could ‘do better’ than her relationship with Braxton Berrios, referencing her recent sighting with Jordon Hudson at the College Football National Championship.
  • Summary: A listener provided audio confirming the hosts’ previous speculation about Alix Earle’s dating prospects, contrasting her past relationship with her current visibility. The sighting of Earle with Jordon Hudson at the championship led to speculation about a potential connection to Tom Brady, given Hudson’s alleged link to the Patriots. The hosts ultimately concluded that Jordan likely just took a picture with Earle, who was dominating the Miami event.
NFL Playoff Disappointment and Curses
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(01:01:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The current NFL playoff bracket, featuring teams like the Patriots and Broncos, is considered a ‘bad script’ by the hosts, especially following the Bills’ elimination.
  • Summary: The hosts expressed sadness over the Buffalo Bills being out of the playoffs, questioning if Josh Allen is wasting his prime years with the team. They noted the current final four teams are unexpected, suggesting the NFL narrative feels unscripted or poorly written. The possibility of a Seahawks versus Broncos Super Bowl was met with confusion.
Dear Toasters Advice Segment
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(01:02:10)
  • Key Takeaway: A new mother was advised that her husband must handle his toxic mother-in-law, who gave him a ‘push present’ instead of acknowledging the wife’s childbirth.
  • Summary: The first advice question concerned a mother-in-law who ignored the wife post-birth and gifted her husband golf rounds as a ‘push present.’ The hosts insisted the husband must address his mother’s behavior, emphasizing the wife’s physical recovery and contribution. The second issue involved a three-year relationship where a boyfriend overreacted to $100 borrowed cash, signaling potential long-term financial incompatibility.
Fiancé’s Gross Finger-Licking Habit
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(01:08:19)
  • Key Takeaway: A listener was advised to directly confront her fiancé about his loud, wet finger-licking habit, which is considered unsanitary and akin to ‘mothering’ a partner.
  • Summary: The hosts strongly condemned the fiancé’s habit of licking fingers after eating foods that do not require it, like hamburgers or chicken fingers. They suggested promoting utensil use or, as a last resort, using gloves as ’training wheels’ to break the behavior. The segment concluded by noting the unfortunate reality of having to teach men basic hygiene and decorum.