The Friend Zone · Loud Speakers Network

Do It For The Vine

September 17, 2025·1 hr 22 min·7 clips

Francesca confronts Jeffree Star's transphobic rant after Charlie Kirk's death, exposing his hypocrisy as a man in a wig.

The episode opens with co-host Francesca directing strong language at Jeffree Star, a makeup entrepreneur she describes as having built his brand on aesthetics associated with Black women while having a documented history of using racial slurs. She explains that Star posted a rant after Charlie Kirk's death defending him while pivoting to anti-trans and anti-non-binary rhetoric — all while on camera wearing a pink wig and green nails. Francesca's argument is that Star's ability to exist and do business as a man who wears makeup is inseparable from the trans rights he was attacking, making his position internally contradictory and self-defeating. She closes by urging listeners not to buy his products. The hosts then shift to updates from Francesca's New York weekend, which started heavily when the Lone family — makers of natural deodorant and beauty products she has promoted for 15 years — experienced a health crisis: the family matriarch, who is fighting cancer, had a severe pain episode requiring sedation. Francesca had been at the airport gate when the call came and reversed course to spend the day at the hospital before eventually flying to New York. She frames the experience as a reminder of the importance of showing up for people even when uncomfortable. In New York she attended a birthday celebration for a friend named Jade, whose milestone birthday brought together friends including Crystal, Nikki, Whitney, DeRay, Siobhan, Antonio, and Nakomi. A video of the birthday song became a circulated moment. Francesca also reunited with her best friend Claude, who walked her through their old neighbourhood on 14th Street past closed restaurants and changed storefronts. She describes the city as simultaneously stimulating and nostalgic rather than overwhelming as it once felt. A brief celebrity encounter: a cast member from the film Sinners helped her with her suitcase in a hotel elevator. The hosts then spend time reminiscing about a New York recording studio they used to use — where Trey Songz walked the halls with a Yorkshire Terrier, Dave East hosted a fan listening session that caused a stampede, Charlamagne appeared regularly, and Cardi B asked Dustin whether he was attracted to her. Producer Buddha the Future, who had the adjacent studio, is name-dropped with affection. The conversation touches on Fashion Week chaos and San Gennaro Festival doubling the crowds on the street. A discussion of Love Island US follows, with Francesca noting that Black women have been central to two consecutive seasons and predicting the show may skew even more toward Black cast members next year. Jennifer Lopez's new film Kiss of the Spider Woman is mentioned as a potential Oscar pivot. The episode ends with promotion of an upcoming Q&A episode and a Squarespace ad.

As heard by us

A hot, messy catch-up that turns outrage and travel fatigue into one sharp conversation.

The episode opens in a blunt, angry register as Francesca pushes back on Jeffree Star's response to Charlie Kirk's killing and calls out the transphobic, anti-non-binary rant underneath it. The setup is sharp and immediate, and it does not linger on the outrage for long.

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Why you'd press play

For when you want outrage, jokes, and New York heat all in one breath.

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