‘Girls Gotta Eat’ Breaks Down Justin Bieber, ‘Euphoria,’ and Alex vs Alix Drama

Pop culture never slows down, and neither do Ashley Hesseltine and Rayna Greenberg. 

On this episode of Girls Gotta Eat’s The Snack, the hosts recap the biggest stories dominating headlines and timelines right now. Obviously, there’s the Coachella hype and celebrity performances, but they also talk about recent influencer drama and buzzy TV premieres, breaking down what everyone is talking about, with of course, their unfiltered opinions. 

Whether you missed the week’s biggest moments or just want a fresh perspective on them, this recap delivers the highlights in one entertaining, easy-to-digest rundown. Here’s the scoop.

Coachella takes over the cultural conversation

As expected, Coachella dominated the cultural conversation this week. Justin Bieber’s set sparked debate across social media, with fans and critics weighing in on everything from his minimalist staging to his nostalgic song choices. Hesseltine and Greenberg chat about the viral moment and make it clear they are definitely on board.

Ashley admits she was fully captivated watching from home, saying, “I loved it so much watching from my couch,” admitting that “I was feeling like I would have loved to be there.” She adds that the performance struck a surprising emotional chord, and how she really enjoyed the nostalgia of revisiting Bieber’s early hits.

A lot of the online chatter surrounds his decision to incorporate YouTube into the set, which led to speculation about music rights following the sale of his catalog. The hosts quickly shut down the rumor. “This whole narrative about him playing from YouTube because he sold his catalog…is totally inaccurate,” Hesseltine explains. She clarifies that artists are legally permitted to perform their own songs live, dismissing the viral theory as misinformation.

Ultimately, the duo argues that the performance worked because it felt authentic to Bieber’s current artistic identity. Rather than relying on elaborate production, he let the music (and his legacy) speak for itself. Ashley says the pop star has “a catalog that could rival anybody alive.”

And will Bieber do the same thing next week? Fans will just have to wait and see.

Euphoria Season 3 Sparks Mixed Reactions

Another major moment this week was the return of Euphoria. After years of anticipation, the HBO hit debuted its third season—only to receive a divided response from viewers. Hesseltine admits she went in hopeful but ultimately felt underwhelmed.

“I was really looking forward to it and I went into it with an open mind,” Greenberg says while saying she was a huge fan of the show. But she explains that the storytelling and shooting style caught her off guard, comparing it to a “Quentin Tarantino western.” While she remains a fan of the series and its characters, the premiere left her questioning its new direction. “Like a lot of people, I just was like let down. I just was like, what am I watching?”

The hosts point to the episode’s stylistic changes and heavy focus on Rue as key reasons for the backlash, noting that longtime fans were eager to reconnect with the supporting cast. “This show just makes me feel bad,” Hesseltine admits. “I just don’t enjoy the show. It’s just not for me.” Granted, only the first episode is available to watch, but many feel the show did not deliver like the previous seasons.

The Alex vs. Alix drama

The Alex Cooper and Alix Earle drama played out online this week and everyone is seated with popcorn. The feud seemingly began after Earle’s departure from Cooper’s Unwell Network and intensified when Earle reposted a TikTok criticizing Cooper, prompting a response. Cooper addressed the situation head-on, making it clear there were no legal barriers preventing Earle from speaking publicly. Her message was essentially: if you have something to say, say it.

Greenberg supports Cooper’s approach, noting that she appreciates the straightforwardness of the response. However, the move sparked mixed reactions online, with some praising her for defending herself while others felt the two-minute TikTok raised more questions than it answered.

This only deepened when Earle appeared to respond in the comments with a simple but loaded message: “On it!” With neither side offering further details, the situation remains unresolved.

To hear the full scoop on all things pop culture the past week, listen to Girls Gotta Eat wherever you get your podcasts.

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