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<ul class="summary-list"><li>A woman who identifies herself as Stephanie claimed in a <a href="https://step-nie.medium.com/the-problem-with-seraphine-58dc16c07e79">Medium post</a> that she thinks <keyword id="6503397" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="seraphine">Seraphine</keyword>, a new "<keyword id="1189548" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="League-of-Legends">League of Legends</keyword>" video game character, is based on her.</li><li>Stephanie's claims are based on a variety of visual similarities between her and Seraphine as well as an alleged 2019 relationship with a former <keyword id="2850099" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Riot-Games">Riot Games</keyword> employee.</li><li>In a statement, Riot Games said that it had received a legal letter from Stephanie's attorney last month, and "confirmed that her claim of being the basis for Seraphine lacks merit."</li><li>Discourse erupted in the wake of Stephanie's post, with people attempting to disprove Stephanie's allegations with a tweet that appeared to show that Seraphine was based on another individual, even though Riot Games claims no individual was the inspiration for Seraphine.</li></ul><p>On Thursday, a woman who identified herself as Stephanie, said in tweets and a post on Medium that she believed that the newest "League of Legends" video game character, Seraphine, may have been based on her. </p><p><a href="https://step-nie.medium.com/the-problem-with-seraphine-58dc16c07e79">In a Medium post titled "The Problem With Seraphine,"</a> Stephanie says that she thinks Seraphine is based on her, citing similar traits she shared with the character as well as a relationship that she had with a former Riot Games employee in early 2019. The company develops "League of Legends" and created Seraphine.</p><h2>Seraphine is already a contentious figure</h2><p>Seraphine is already a contentious figure in the "League of Legends" community. A new champion from the in-game city of Piltover, she uses her singing and gift to hear souls to attempt to heal the relationship between the cities of Piltover and Zaun. She uses technology powered by a hextech crystal, which <a href="https://leagueoflegends.fandom.com/wiki/Brackern">runs on the stolen souls of a race called the Brackern,</a> and can communicate with the soul inside her crystal. <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy8g87/league-of-legends-fake-anime-pop-star-is-sad-tweeting-about-genocide">That lore alone has made her a controversial figure</a>.</p><p>Seraphine was introduced through a social media campaign that <a href="https://www.insider.com/kda-members-league-of-legends-riot-games-what-is-twitter-seraphine-2020">made her appear to be an influencer</a> in something close to our world. In that universe, she quits her day job to pursue her dream as a singer and collaborate with "League of Legends" pop group K/DA. The campaign was controversial given that Seraphine would <a href="https://twitter.com/seradotwav/status/1315152911907713025?s=20">occasionally discuss her lack of self-confidence and mental health on social media</a>, leading some to accuse Riot Games of using those issues to foster a parasocial relationship between Seraphine and fans.</p><p>Riot Games writer Bethany Higa, who wrote Seraphine's tweets, <a href="https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2020/11/3/21548141/seraphine-controversy-league-of-legends-twitter">told Polygon</a> that much of Seraphine's story came from her own struggles with self-doubt and imposter syndrome. However, creative director Patrick Morales told Polygon that "we also recognize that the story we chose had an unintended impact outside of the narrative that we were trying to tell."</p><h2>In her Medium post, Stephanie explains her claim and the similarities that led her to believe she may have been the basis for Seraphine</h2><p>In the post, Stephanie writes that she was in a three-month relationship with a Riot Games employee in early 2019, who she identifies as "John." She claims that John was not a character or skin designer at Riot, but would frequently talk about his work at the company and say that he was suggesting "skins" (in-game cometic modifiers) that seemed to be based on Stephanie. She wrote that John claimed he was involved with K/DA's first skins, and that he "definitely implied that he could influence the project."</p><p>Stephanie writes in the post that when she accepted John's invitation to tour Riot's headquarters in Los Angeles, he had publicly displayed and internally distributed a piece of writing she had done on Piltover and Zaun, two cities that are part of Seraphine's lore. She also claimed that he gifted her with posters and custom art that showed her as a "League" champion, which she showed in the post and said "Riot illustrators drew based on what he told/showed them about me."</p><p>Stephanie says in the post that their relationship ended when she canceled plans to see him, after which he blocked her.</p><h2>Stephanie said that she and Seraphine share a variety of similarities</h2><p>In the post, Stephanie described some of the similarities that led her to believe that Seraphine may have been based on her. Those similarities include their names, pink hair, photos with cats, doodling style, among other details.</p><p>Stephanie also alleged that "while John never explicitly discussed anything concrete, he did mention a K/DA related 'surprise' of something that would release around [her] birthday, which is on September 19th." Stephanie didn't say when this comment was made but did say earlier in the post that the two stopped talking in mid-2019. She then said that one of the only images from Seraphine's Twitter account that features a date explicitly within the image itself is tied to September 19. That image was tweeted on September 19, 2020.</p><h2>Riot Games has denied Stephanie's claims that Seraphine may have been based on her</h2><p>In Stephanie's post, she wrote, "While I don't know exactly what happened with her development, I didn't make this up — I've hired a lawyer, and I'm seriously considering legal action."</p><p>In a statement provided to Insider, a Riot Games spokesperson said that "We take all claims of misappropriation seriously and immediately investigated [Stephanie's] allegations after receiving a legal demand letter from her attorney last month. We confirmed that her claim of being the basis for Seraphine lacks merit, communicated this to her attorney, and invited him to further discuss the facts with us. We are still waiting for a response."</p><p>The statement also says that Seraphine was "created by Riot Games and was not based on any individual, including [Stephanie]," and that the former Riot Games employee that Stephanie referred to "left Riot more than a year ago and was in a department and role that has no input whatsoever into the creative design process."</p><p>Insider has redacted mentions of Stephanie's last name per Riot Games' request and given that it is not public on any of her own social media. </p><p style="font-weight: 400;">"We believe Stephanie and we stand by her. I'm glad she came forward with her story," Mark Jaffe of TorMark Law, the attorney representing Stephanie, told Insider. "As Riot Games pointed out, I have been in touch with the company's lawyer and I cannot disclose the content of our conversations."</p><h2>Stephanie's allegations sparked backlash and discourse on social media</h2><p>Stephanie's claim that Seraphine may have been based on her was met with both skepticism and support on social media. Many focused on an October 29 tweet from Riot Games Senior Game Designer Jeevun Sidhu, whose Twitter bio says that he worked on Seraphine. In the tweet, he says, "Seraphine is a star that makes everyone around her shine just a little bit brighter. That was very easy for me to capture in her gameplay, since I get to shine brighter by being around @RiotWhiskies every day. Thank you to my favorite person in the world for the inspiration."</p><p>@RiotWhiskies, whose bio lists a ring emoji next to Sidhu's handle, has recently <a href="https://twitter.com/RiotWhiskies/status/1321858145321299968?s=20">posted Seraphine cosplay photos</a> on Twitter.</p><p>Recent quote tweets of Sidhu's tweet show it being leveraged in the comments of Stephanie's tweets about the situation, either in <a href="https://twitter.com/Nerdomniaphile/status/1327020800956903428?s=20">arguments</a> with other Twitter users about the validity of her claims or in <a href="https://twitter.com/Settnami/status/1327036641614192642?s=20">direct response</a> to Stephanie herself.</p><p>Stephanie appears to have <a href="https://twitter.com/step_nie/status/1327038235567001603?s=20">addressed those responses on Twitter</a>, referencing Riot Games' statement and writing, "it's odd she's 'not based on any individual' when people who disagree are posting... Individuals she's based on."</p><p>Janelle Wavell-Jiminez, the f<a href="https://stellari.com/blogs/blog/my-founders-story">ounder of Stellari and a former "League of Legends" product manager</a>, posted a thread about Stephanie's claims as well.</p><p>"Having been a lead on skins, but no longer at Riot: no one on the champ/skins team would take a random Rioter's love interest and use that as a basis for a million dollar business decision. It's annoying that some Riot dude tried to mislead her about what he could do," <a href="https://twitter.com/thejanellemj/status/1327050751764439041?s=20">Wavell-Jiminez wrote on Twitter.</a></p><h2>Riot Games has sustained similar allegations in the past</h2><p>EuroGamer reported in 2017 that Edgar Davids, a former Dutch football player, won a lawsuit against Riot Games that year over the company appearing to use his likeness as a character skin in the game. The lawsuit reportedly referenced a tweet from a Riot staffer that said that the skin, "Striker Lucian," was inspired by Davids.</p><p>The company also came under fire in the latter half of the 2010s following a <a href="https://kotaku.com/inside-the-culture-of-sexism-at-riot-games-1828165483">2018 report from Kotaku</a> in which current and former employees at the time alleged a <keyword id="24504" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="culture">culture</keyword> of sexism at the company.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/league-of-legends-anniversary-new-titles-riot-games-interview-2019-10">After spending 10 years turning 'League of Legends' into a global powerhouse, Riot Games is celebrating with 7 new titles</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/kda-members-league-of-legends-riot-games-what-is-twitter-seraphine-2020">Meet K/DA, the virtual pop group that teamed up with a fake influencer who made controversial mental health posts</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/louis-vuitton-clothing-league-of-legends-2019-12">Take a look at Louis Vuitton's new collection of video game clothes, a collaboration with 'League of Legends' that includes a $5,000 leather jacket</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/riot-games-accused-of-sexist-culture-2018-8">One of the world's biggest game studios has been hit with multiple allegations of fostering a hostile, sexist work environment</a></li></ul>

Riot Games denied a woman's claim that her image was used without consent for a 'League of Legends' character

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Q4 is often the most important time of year for small-business owners who are hoping to reap holiday sales.</li><li>However, in the last two years, many entrepreneurs have faced challenges such as supply chain woes.</li></ul><p>For many small-business owners, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-reinvest-profits-into-your-small-business-q4-holiday-2021-11">fourth quarter is the most vital time</a> of year as entrepreneurs hope to net strong holiday sales. </p><p>In fact, 24% of the <a href="https://investors.amexglobalbusinesstravel.com/investors/news/news-details/2022/New-American-Express-Survey-Shows-60-of-U.S.-Small-Businesses-are-Investing-in-Cash-Flow-Tools-Ahead-of-the-Holidays-/default.aspx">550 entrepreneurs surveyed</a> between September 20 and October 3 by fintech firm Kabbage, which is owned by American Express, said their upcoming holiday sales will determine if their business can survive into next year.</p><p>However, throughout the pandemic, many small-business owners have faced challenges during the holidays, such as rising inflation, supply chain woes, and changing consumer habits. Today, they're anticipating these hurdles and creating solutions to navigate them.</p><p>Here are the strategies small-business owners are tapping ahead this holiday season. </p><h2>Order plenty of products</h2><p>For example, 30% of the 550 entrepreneurs surveyed said they were stocking up on inventory. That's because 74% said they were worried about supply chain issues heading into Q4. </p><p>Dara Weiss, cofounder of candle brand L'or de Seraphine, hatched a similar inventory strategy this year. Due to the unpredictability of manufacturing and shipping timelines, she <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-business-owners-can-prep-holidays-supply-chain-inflation-2022-9">previously told Insider</a> she stocked up on products to ensure she'd have enough for the holiday season. </p><p>"Everybody is more sensitive now than in the past to having that product early," she said.</p><h2>Invest in marketing tools</h2><p>Meanwhile, 27% of small-business owners are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/holiday-shopping-supply-chain-how-businesses-can-prepare-2021-11">managing customer expectations</a> and setting realistic shipping dates in case there are potential supply chain issues, the survey found. And 23% are investing in marketing tools as they reconsider their cash flow management, the survey found. </p><p>Marketing tactics can include social media strategies such as user-generated content, where a business account posts content shot or filmed by users. This is often a free and shrewd way to repurpose content, Delsy Gouw, founder of hand-crocheted bathing suit line Memorial Day, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-promote-business-on-social-media-go-viral-influencers-2022-4">previously told Insider</a>. </p><p>"My initial strategy was to work with smaller influencers, because you never know where it can take you," Gouw said. "Once one celebrity wears it, then another celebrity wants to show their support."</p><p>It's also important for entrepreneurs to know which social media platforms are the best for their desired outcomes. For example, TikTok may be a good place to try and go viral but YouTube has a longer shelf life, which can help attract new customers, Kar Brulhart, a social media strategist and coach, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-promote-business-on-social-media-go-viral-influencers-2022-4">previously told Insider</a>. </p><p>"We're thinking about how can we have an omnichannel marketing strategy, meaning show up on multiple platforms and get more eyes on your content," Brulhart said. </p>

A quarter of entrepreneurs said holiday sales will determine if their businesses can survive in 2023. Here are 2 strategies they're implementing to save them.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>K/DA, a fictional girl group featuring "<keyword id="1189548" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="League-of-Legends">League of Legends</keyword>" characters, just released a five-track EP called "All Out."</li><li>The group, a product of <keyword id="2850099" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Riot-Games">Riot Games</keyword>, is centered around four "League" champions — Akali, Ahri, Evelynn, and Kai'Sa — and debuted with the single "POP/STARS" in 2018.</li><li>Real-life artists lend their voices to the project, and a new "League" champion, Seraphine, also appeared in the group's latest <keyword id="6354530" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="music">music</keyword> video.</li><li>Here's a rundown of K/DA, the group's 2018 debut to their collaboration with Seraphine to their most recent release.</li></ul><p>K/DA, the multilingual, virtual girl group from Riot Games, has grown into a full musical force in 2020. Two years on the heels of the fictional group's first release, 2018's "POP/STARS," they're back with a five-track EP, "All Out," and a new roster of collaborators.</p><p>Comprised of versions of four "League of Legends" champions — Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai'sa — the group first debuted in 2018 in the lead up to the League of Legends World Championship Finals that were held that year in South Korea. In 2020, they're coming back with a full EP, new lore, and a new featured artist: Seraphine, a new "League of Legends" video game champion and virtual influencer.</p><p>You don't need to be a "League of Legends" player to enjoy the group's content. Their music and style are heavily <keyword id="1494563" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="K-Pop">K-pop</keyword> influenced with plenty of modern pop flavor, and the animated music videos that accompany some of their releases are lush and intricate.</p><p>Still, for the uninitiated there are a lot of levels to K/DA's existence: the members are virtual and based on "League of Legends" characters, but they're voiced by real-life artists who "collaborate" with the members on music. Throw newcomer Seraphine, a new "League" character who has <a href="https://twitter.com/seradotwav">her own social media presence</a> and featured on the recent K/DA EP, into the mix, and things can become even more confusing.</p><p>In 2020, the group has become more than a one-off project. K/DA's first EP, "ALL OUT," dropped on November 6, featuring five songs and a full slate of collaborators ranging from seasoned K-pop songwriter Bekuh Boom to pop artist Kim Petras to Chinese artist Lexie Liu. Here's a rundown of the group, from their 2018 origins to current activities and collaboration with Seraphine.</p><h2><strong>The group is comprised of 4 'League of Legends' characters with their own K/DA lore</strong></h2><p>Four characters — or champions, as they're referred to in the game — from "League of Legends" make up the four members of K/DA. However, the members of K/DA are alternate versions of their "League of Legends" characters, and while they bear some similarity to their in-game counterparts, they don't share the same lore.<strong> </strong>These four characters are the static members of K/DA, and the group's identity revolves around them rather than the real-life collaborators who lend their voices to the project.</p><p>While Akali is a rogue assassin in the game, K/DA Akali is the group's main rapper.</p><p>Ahri, a popular nine-tailed fox mage in the game, is K/DA's leader, co-founder, and main vocalist.</p><p>Evelynn, a demonic assassin in-game, is K/DA's lead vocalist and co-founder.</p><p>Kai'Sa, a marksman champion, is the group's main dancer and choreographer.</p><p>A series of comics, <a href="https://universe.leagueoflegends.com/en_US/comic/">published on the "League of Legends" website</a>, flesh out the members' K/DA backstories a bit, with nods to their in-game lore and personalities.</p><p>In K/DA's lore, Ahri brought the group together. Akali carried her K/DA experiences with her to "True Damage," another fictional group from Riot Games that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVZpHFXcFJw">released the single "Giants" in 2019</a>. Evelynn had a solo career before joining K/DA, but stuck true to the group even when people tried to recruit her away from the project. Kai'Sa started dancing as a child while moving frequently around the world with her father and later started teaching dance before being recruited into K/DA.</p><h2><strong>K/DA debuted in 2018 with the single 'POP/STARS'</strong></h2><p>Riot Games, the company that develops "League of Legends" and is responsible for K/DA, launched the group in 2018 with a music video for "POP/STARS," an electric dance track sung in Korean and English and featuring real-life singers Soyeon and Miyeon of (G)I-DLE, Madison Beer, and Jaira Burns.</p><p>The single was a huge success: two years after its initial release, it has over 390 million views, and at the time, it <a href="https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8484697/kda-pop-stars-madison-beer-gidle-jaira-burns-no-1-world-digital-songs-league-of-legends/">hit number one</a> on Billboard's World Digital Songs Sales chart. Soyeon, Miyeon, Madison Beer, and Jaira Burns <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9oDlvOV3qs">performed the song</a> at the finals of the 2018 League of Legends World Championship in Incheon, South Korea alongside holograms of Akali, Ahri, Evelynn, and Kai'Sa.</p><p>As Polygon reported at the time, K/DA's great unveiling also <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg8Ub-CK7UA&amp;feature=emb_titleitle">came with a set of skins </a>— in-game cosmetic modifiers — available for purchase, so the in-game Akali, Ahri, Evelynn, and Kai'Sa could look like their popstar counterparts.</p><p>The group wasn't necessarily supposed to be an extended project, creative director Patrick Morales <a href="https://www.engadget.com/kda-all-out-ep-release-riot-games-seraphine-ar-social-media-interview-160055260.html">told Engadget</a>. After the success of "POP/STARS," however, a follow-up was inevitable, and Riot Games started the process of a comeback in December of 2019.</p><h2><strong>Riot Games teased a new champion, Seraphine, by crafting her identity on social media</strong></h2><p>Seraphine is the newest champion to be associated with K/DA, although she's technically not a member of the group. Like the other members of K/DA, her lore as a new "League of Legends" champion is different from her story that played out on social media, although there are character similarities in both universes.</p><p>In the game, she's an idol who can hear the souls of others and uses her voice to try and heal the rift between her home city of Piltover and rival city Zaun, from which her parents hail. In the K/DA universe, she's an aspiring singer who worked a day job until K/DA discovered her, invited her to collaborate, and took her with them to perform in Shanghai (the site of this year's real "League of Legends" world championship).</p><p>Seraphine's rollout started with social media. <a href="https://www.polygon.com/2020/10/12/21513037/lol-seraphine-ability-new-champion-kit-league-of-legends-passive-skills-ultimate-skin-kda">As Polygon reported,</a> the character had accounts on <a href="https://soundcloud.com/seradotwav">Soundcloud</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/seradotwav">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/seradotwav/">Instagram</a> before she was even officially tied to "League of Legends," although fans suspected that she was associated with the game long before it was confirmed. She released<a href="https://soundcloud.com/seradotwav/childhood-dreams"> covers</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/seradotwav/status/1276575258510647296?s=20">commented on other artists' work</a> on Twitter, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CCMJU-wHRBB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">posted selfies with her cat on Instagram.</a></p><p>In August, she <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CEMxKeEgrmk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">dropped a cover of K/DA's "POP/STARS"</a> (after <a href="https://twitter.com/seradotwav/status/1296636325001490432?s=20">previously telling followers to "stan kda"</a>) and <a href="https://twitter.com/seradotwav/status/1301915172970221569?s=20">later revealed</a> that she would be "helping to produce [K/DA's] album" and featuring on a track. On October 28, Riot Games <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VTkBuxU4yk">released a music video for "More,"</a> a K/DA single featuring Seraphine.</p><h2><strong>Seraphine's social media presence has drawn criticism</strong></h2><p>As much as Seraphine has tweeted about her music or excitement to collaborate with K/DA, she's also posted about her mental health and struggles with confidence. At points, she's solicited encouragement, posted art of kind words that people have passed along to her, and <a href="https://twitter.com/seradotwav/status/1304822580327714817?s=20">tweeted about being sad that she had to quit her day job.</a></p><p><a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy8g87/league-of-legends-fake-anime-pop-star-is-sad-tweeting-about-genocide">Vice's Gita Jackson</a> called the Seraphine marketing "beyond perverse." Fictionalizing things like quitting your day job to pursue a dream hit different during a global pandemic that's led to<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quarter-of-young-american-workers-lost-job-due-to-coronavirus-2020-6"> significant job loss, she wrote,</a> also arguing that Seraphine's self-esteem issues don't come across as attempting to open a dialogue, but rather to reinforce fans' parasocial relationship with the character.</p><p>Similar critiques emerged on Twitter as well in the replies to Seraphine's tweets. "People are actually sending heartfelt messages to a fictional character created by a <keyword id="6357332" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Gaming">gaming</keyword> company worth billions of dollars for the sole purpose of marketing," <a href="https://twitter.com/KeroKeroBug/status/1314933581014237184?s=20">Twitter user @KeroKeroBug wrote</a> in the replies to <a href="https://twitter.com/seradotwav/status/1314797179517591558?s=20">Seraphine's tweet asking for encouragement.</a></p><p><a href="https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2020/11/3/21548141/seraphine-controversy-league-of-legends-twitter">Polygon's Julia Lee reported</a> that Seraphine's campaign was run by Riot Games creative director Patrick Morales, but that all of her tweets were written by Bethany Higa, a writer at the company. Higa told Polygon that much of Seraphine's story was based on her own experience coming to Riot Games.</p><p>"I personally experienced self-doubt. I personally experienced imposter syndrome and all those things," Higa told Polygon. "The intention behind the story was the show that sense of hope, that sense of persistence, and show her growing in confidence and overcoming those struggles and those fears she might have."</p><p>Morales told Polygon that the team realized that the story "had an unintended impact outside of the narrative that we were trying to tell" and that they were being conscious about what kinds of topics could potentially "hurt or mislead people."</p><h2><strong>K/DA released a five-track EP in November, featuring a wide variety of vocal talents</strong></h2><p>On November 6, Riot Games released K/DA's first EP, titled "All Out." The album features the trilingual single "More," which is sung in English, Korean, and Mandarin and brings together the vocal talents of Soyeon and Miyeon of (G)I-DLE, Madison Beer, and Jaira Burns, all of whom lent their voices to 2018's "POP/STARS." Seraphine, as well as Chinese artist Lexie Liu, joined the track as well.</p><p>Four other tracks inspired by the members — "The Baddest," "Villain," "Drum Go Dum," and "I'll Show You" — round out the album. The collaborator roster grew as well: Bea Miller, Wolftyla, Kim Petras, Aluna, Bekuh Boom, Annika Wells, and four members of Korean girl group TWICE (Jihyo, Nayeon, Sana, and Chaeyoung) lent vocals to the album in addition to the "More" singers.</p><p>Toa Dunn, the head of Riot Music Group, told Engadget that the goal of K/DA at this point is to create impact rather than generate revenue. And while K/DA <a href="https://merch.riotgames.com/en-us/collection/kda-allout-collection">does have a full-fledged merch collection</a>, but the fandom response to the group isn't hard to see, with people <a href="https://twitter.com/soap_ai/status/1325470529277493249?s=20">creating fanart</a> of <a href="https://linaisbluepancake.tumblr.com/post/632986516892893184/kda-doodles-cause-i-love-them-das-it">the members</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alSLpmRBYKU">posting their own covers of the group's songs</a>, and even participating in cosplay challenges on TikTok.</p> <p>K/DA's future plans aren't definite at this point, but the group — and Seraphine — have become a dominant act in the virtual artist space.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/kda-new-music-comeback-the-baddest-league-of-legends-kpop-2020-8">K/DA, the fictional 'League of Legends' girl group, is coming out with new music</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/kda-league-of-legends-the-baddest-music-video-single-ep-2020-8">K/DA, the fictional 'League of Legends' girl group, just released new single 'The Baddest' and will come back with a full EP later this year</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/league-of-legends-anniversary-new-titles-riot-games-interview-2019-10">After spending 10 years turning 'League of Legends' into a global powerhouse, Riot Games is celebrating with 7 new titles</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-aoc-plays-league-of-legends-game-ranked-2019-11">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just revealed her passion for 'League of Legends,' and she's not the only member of Congress playing the popular video game</a></li></ul>

Meet K/DA, the virtual pop group that teamed up with a fake influencer who made controversial mental health posts

<ul class="summary-list"><li>While some supply-chain issues have subsided, retailers are dealing with a fresh set of challenges.</li><li>Those holding a glut of inventory will likely offer heavy discounts this holiday season.  </li></ul><p>While many of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/holiday-shopping-how-retail-business-owners-can-prepare-2021-8">supply-chain woes that hit small businesses</a> in past year have eased, they'll have new challenges to face ahead of this <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/holiday-shopping-supply-chain-how-businesses-can-prepare-2021-11">holiday-shopping season</a>.  </p><p>Early data indicated that Americans will be holding onto their wallets tighter this holiday season. Inflation is informing the way 85% of adults in the US shop, whether they're looking for discounts or buying less, the market-research firm <a href="https://go.morningconsult.com/rs/850-TAA-511/images/220812_H2%20State%20of%20Retail.pdf">Morning Consult</a> found. Meanwhile, 24% of small businesses surveyed by <a href="https://ir.americanexpress.com/news/investor-relations-news/investor-relations-news-details/2022/New-American-Express-Survey-60-of-US-Small-Businesses-Investing-in-Cash-Flow-Tools-Ahead-of-Holidays/default.aspx">Kabbage</a> reported that holiday sales will determine their survival.</p><p>Saturday is <a href="https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/">Small Business Saturday</a>, an event created by American Express aimed at supporting small-business owners during the holiday shopping season. Across the country, independent retailers and restaurants will host special deals to incentivize customers to choose them over big-box stores. Last year, the credit card company <a href="https://www.sba.gov/article/2022/nov/16/sba-administrator-guzman-calls-americans-shop-smallr-small-business-saturdayr-across-america">estimated</a> Americans spent $23.3 billion at participating businesses. </p><p>Shifting habits and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-prepare-your-retail-business-for-holiday-shopping-season-2020-10">higher inventory and shipping costs</a> mean small-business owners will have to strike a careful balance between supply and demand. Keeping too much inventory is costly, but not having enough could lead to missed sales opportunities. </p><p>"The savviest of small businesses prepared in advance for supply challenges this holiday season," Nicole Leinbach Reyhle, the CEO and founder of the retail publication <a href="https://retailminded.com/">Retail Minded</a>, said.</p><p>Ify Yvonne, the founder of the loungewear brand <a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATURG1yhnce4hOvw6qhNAsfx4-3DK7uy_RdbTQzzImTeysz5suupTvtJRSM4plTljZd5DOuS9sMWKAcppOof-2FcPdXgNxR-2B33pD3oeqW-2FIPxGPko6dR5l9zxnSerToZlc5rK4Qlzo53vCMw4khpJnqK9zjWoGir5aCFFvn4qGv-2BAe3-2FH8E4FVXcfFLi-2Bd2lbJM79neUVj8t5wyOqCrr3Sm-2Bpnp9zh47TExDPnYrJH0ddh0Dx-2Fmq-2FrrBzAPGyngxBefUJUZJLQY4oPwfVz-2BSQo6wVB5xOu-2FRbZ9CcCe-2FHL61Gy-2B3v2v7mD2SFq-2FFifq8N2JApFOAEmY2yVSoXsEkiqdDlfahEx6QSHhccEBQokeCCyIHWrJTPySjnfb2-2BBefmxiNv6WINOOy2Q-3D">Nkeoma</a>, is one of those business owners. She began her holiday-season planning in the summer. "The main thing that we always focus on is having inventory and planning way ahead of schedule," she said. </p><p>Here's what experts say retailers can expect this holiday-shopping season and how small-business owners are preparing. </p><h2><strong>Supply chains meet overstock</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Dara Weiss (left) and Laina Weiss" height="1398" width="1865" msid="95773057" hostid="261" sizebytes="118090"></div><p>While <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-small-businesses-gain-market-share-handle-supply-chain-disruptions-2021-3">supply-chain issues</a> have eased up, if only temporarily, retailers have learned to expect the worst. Inventory levels are a top concern for small businesses this holiday season. Verizon's <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?postID=632a2b89aca761329d5372cf&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.verizon.com%2Fabout%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2FVerizon-Business-Third-Annual-State-of-Small-Business-Report-2022.pdf">State of Small Business Report</a> found that 56% of the business owners surveyed were very or somewhat concerned with ensuring inventory levels or fulfillment schedules amid continued supply-chain disruptions.</p><p>Dara Weiss, the cofounder of candle brand <a href="http://www.lordeseraphine.com">L'or de Seraphine</a>, sells her products direct-to-consumer and through wholesale accounts. She said manufacturing and shipping timelines have been so unpredictable that she ordered more inventory than she probably needed to be sure she'll have enough for the holidays.</p><p>"Everybody is more sensitive now than in the past to having that product early," she said, adding that wholesalers will cancel orders if they're not confident they'll receive the inventory in time.</p><p>Many <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retailers-stuck-with-too-much-inventory-face-risky-decisions-2022-6">retailers are holding a glut of inventory</a> now that delayed shipments are coming in. "It's a strange pendulum swing" from last year when demand was high and many retailers worried they wouldn't get inventory in time, said Yoni Mazor, the cofounder and chief growth officer at Getida, a firm that specializes in auditing Amazon seller data. Mazor said the company has worked with more than 10,000 merchants since launching in 2015.</p><h2><strong>'Putting less faith in trends'</strong></h2><div type="image" title="models pose wearing Nkeoma robes" height="791" width="1055" msid="95773058" hostid="261" sizebytes="110558"></div><p>Small-business owners are combating higher inventory levels by stocking up on bestsellers and evergreen inventory and limiting the seasonal items they may have relied on in previous years. </p><p>"A lot of these merchants are putting less faith in trends and more faith in what they know will move," Reyhle said. </p><p>Yvonne doubles down on Nkeoma's top-selling robes and pajamas during the holiday season to ensure they don't sell out, but she doesn't stock as many new styles. "I don't like to do too many new productions during that time because that's the slowest time for shipping and it's very expensive," she said. </p><p>If anything does sell out mid-season, Yvonne said she's more comfortable reordering stock than she was last year, although it is a last resort. "So far the cost of shipping is so much better and more reliable than last year," she said.</p><h2><strong>Appealing to tighter budgets during inflation</strong></h2><p>Mazor expects the inventory glut will incite retailers to offer heavy discounts. "Some of them are considering taking a loss because they need the demand of the holiday to get rid of their positions," he said. </p><p>But many small-business owners may not be able to offer steep discounts, Reyhle said. "One of the biggest concerns is their competitors, the big retailers," she said. "They can't always offer the same price promotions or marketing initiatives that many of their competitors do."</p><p>Yvonne said she plans to offer up to 50% off, while Weiss said the highest discount she'll offer is 30% off. High-income shoppers are more sheltered from inflation, and both retailers said that they're less concerned about decreased spending because their products are geared to luxury shoppers.</p><div type="image" title="a candle sits on a stack of books" height="1010" width="1346" msid="95773059" hostid="261" sizebytes="152224"></div><p>To appeal to more budget-conscious shoppers, business owners will have to get creative, lean on their loyal customer base, and tap into their communities, Reyhle said.</p><p>She suggests partnering with noncompetitive, like-minded businesses by offering holiday incentives that boost sales for both parties. For example, an athletic-apparel brand can offer a free class at a local yoga studio with purchases over a certain amount. Meanwhile, the yoga studio could offer store credit with the apparel brand for every five classes taken. </p><p>"They're working together to introduce new customers and support their existing customers with some great incentives," she said. </p>

The holiday shopping season is critical for many small businesses. Here's how entrepreneurs can prepare.

<ul class="summary-list"><li><strong><keyword id="12241362" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="jennifer-garner" source="Orion">Jennifer Garner</keyword> shared a now-viral video of a Christmas cooking mishap to her <keyword id="11892996" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="instagram" source="Orion">Instagram</keyword> account. </strong></li><li><strong>Garner had attempted to make <keyword id="9178737" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ina-garten" source="Orion">Ina Garten</keyword>'s recipe for beef bourguignon. </strong></li></ul><p>Jennifer Garner nearly lit her kitchen on fire while making an Ina Garten recipe for Christmas. </p><p>The "13 Going on 30" star shared the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CYFJIFqtEn3/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest episode</a> of her Instagram series "Pretend Cooking Show," during which she allows her 11.8 million followers to watch her cook her favorite meals. On Wednesday, Garner revealed she had a setback while making <a href="https://barefootcontessa.com/recipes/beef-bourguinon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ina Garten's beef bourguignon</a>. </p><p>"I don't know when I started making @inagarten's beef bourguignon (from Barefoot in Paris) for Christmas," Garner, 49, wrote in the caption. "It was long enough ago that the smell of this perfect stew makes me feel happy, cozy, and relaxed." </p><p>In the video, Garner whizzes around the kitchen as she explains to the audience each step — and mistake — she's made to craft the dish. Garner said she wanted to double the recipe, but that meant she also had to double one main ingredient: cognac. </p><p>"This, dear reader, is Cognac," Garner told the camera. "Remember, we are doubling this recipe. I don't know if we need all of this."</p><p>Garner then poured the cognac into the pot and attempted to set the liquid on fire to burn the alcohol, but a wall of fire shot up and grazed the top of her oven hood. </p><p>"A thousand pardons. Don't. Double. The. Cognac," Garner told the camera. "Can you believe that just happened? That was wild!" </p><p>Garner also joked about the incident in the video's caption, writing: "Ina would never!" </p><p>Fortunately, the <a href="https://www.insider.com/i-made-ina-gartens-deep-dish-apple-pie-perfect-summer-2021-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barefoot Contessa</a> praised Garner in the comment section and admitted that she also slipped up sometimes. </p><p>"That's my favorite!!! And I almost set the kitchen on fire every time! Happy New Year!!! Love you," Garten, 73, wrote. </p><p>Garner first started her Pretend Cooking Show in 2017. She told <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jennifer-garner-on-acting-return-possible-alias-reboot-and-being-among-hollywoods-most-likable-stars-4145984/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hollywood Reporter</a> that the Instagram show caused "a slew of industry requests for her to do a real one." </p><p>More recently, Garner was thrust into the headlines after <a href="https://www.insider.com/ben-affleck-marriage-jen-garner-partly-led-to-drinking-2021-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Affleck made controversial comments</a> about their <a href="https://www.insider.com/jennifer-garner-and-ben-affleck-relationship-timeline-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previous 13-year marriage. </a>Affleck suggested that he was unhappy in the relationship and turned to excessive drinking as a means to cope.</p><p>Affleck later <a href="https://www.insider.com/ben-affleck-blasts-clickbait-articles-blamed-alcoholism-jennifer-garner-2021-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke out against "clickbait" articles</a>, and during a Thursday appearance on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2KKhmgelEw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Jimmy Kimmel Live!"</a> argued that media outlets misunderstood what he said. </p><p>The former couple married in 2005 before they divorced in 2018 after having three children: Violet, 16, Seraphine, 12, and Samuel, 9. </p>

Jennifer Garner 'almost lit the kitchen on fire' while making an Ina Garten dish for Christmas

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11938916" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="jennifer-lopez" source="Orion">Jennifer Lopez</keyword> defended boyfriend <keyword id="12069652" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ben-affleck" source="Orion">Ben Affleck</keyword> after he was criticized on social media. </li><li>Affleck said his marriage to <keyword id="12241362" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="jennifer-garner" source="Orion">Jennifer Garner</keyword> partly led to his alcoholism in a Howard Stern interview.</li></ul><p>Jennifer Lopez defended Ben Affleck after he faced online criticism for his comments about his former wife, Jennifer Garner, and his past alcoholism. </p><p>Last week, <a href="https://pagesix.com/2021/12/15/jennifer-lopez-is-upset-about-ben-affleck-dissing-jennifer-lopez/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">several media outlets</a> reported that Lopez, 52, was upset at Affleck, 49, for the comments he made about Garner, 49, during an interview on <a href="https://www.howardstern.com/news/2021/12/16/ben-affleck-opens-up-about-nearly-losing-his-career-and-how-he-made-his-big-comeback/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"The Howard Stern Show." </a>However, Lopez told <a href="https://people.com/movies/jennifer-lopez-denies-being-mad-at-ben-affleck-for-jennifer-garner-comments/">People</a> in a statement that she isn't mad at all.</p><p>"This story is simply not true. It is not how I feel," Lopez told the outlet. "I couldn't have more respect for Ben as a father, a co-parent, and a person." </p><p>During the Howard Stern interview, Affleck reflected on his<a href="https://www.insider.com/jennifer-garner-and-ben-affleck-relationship-timeline-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 13-year marriage to Garner. </a>The former couple married in 2005 before they divorced in 2018 after having three children: Violet, 16, Seraphine, 12, and Samuel, 9. </p><p>Affleck suggested that he was unhappy in the relationship and turned to excessive drinking as a means to cope.</p><p>"We grew apart. We had a marriage that didn't work. This happens," Affleck, 49, said. "And you know what, we probably would've ended up at each other's throats. I'd probably still be drinking — which is part of why I started drinking alcohol — because I was trapped."</p><p>He added: "I was like, 'I can't leave because of my kids, but I am not happy. What do I do?' What I did was drink a bottle of scotch on the couch, which turned out not to be the solution."</p><div type="image" title="ben affleck and jennifer garner november 2014" height="2154" width="2872" msid="88378592" hostid="261"></div><p>However, Affleck was slammed online by <a href="https://twitter.com/Pizda_oo/status/1470922180112355335" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fans </a>who believed he blamed Garner for his <keyword id="12259135" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="addiction" source="Orion">addiction</keyword>. </p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/ben-affleck-blasts-clickbait-articles-blamed-alcoholism-jennifer-garner-2021-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Affleck spoke out against "clickbait" articles that claimed he directly blamed Garner,</a> and during a Thursday appearance on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2KKhmgelEw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Jimmy Kimmel Live!"</a> argued that media outlets misunderstood what he said. </p><p>"I had gone on and said how much we respect each other and cared about each other and cared about our kids and put them first and went through our stuff, and they said that I had blamed my ex-wife for my alcoholism and that I was trapped in this marriage," he said. "Like just made me out to be like the worst, most insensitive stupid, awful guy."</p><p>Affleck told Kimmel he was primarily concerned about what his children might think if they saw the articles. </p><div type="image" title="Ben Affleck wearing a black tuxedo at the premiere of &quot;The Last Duel&quot; in Venice, Italy in September 2021." height="1910" width="2547" msid="88378594" hostid="261"></div><p>"If it's about my kids, I gotta just draw a line," Affleck added. "I want to be really clear: that's not true, I don't believe that. It's the exact opposite of who I am, what I believe, and I would never want my kids to think I would ever say a bad word about their mom because I never have, I never would ... It hurts my feelings, man!"</p><p>Affleck <a href="https://www.insider.com/celebrities-sober-2018-4#ben-affleck-is-a-recovering-alcoholic-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke candidly about his addiction and path to sobriety in the past. </a>He first<a href="https://www.insider.com/celebrities-sober-2018-4#ben-affleck-is-a-recovering-alcoholic-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> checked into rehab in 2001</a>, and Garner transported him to rehab again in 2018. </p><p>In February 2021, Affleck said his divorce from Garner and other "life experiences" <a href="https://www.insider.com/ben-affleck-jennifer-garner-divorce-life-experience-better-actor-2021-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made him a better actor. </a>Four months later, it was<a href="https://www.insider.com/jennifer-lopez-ben-affleck-relationship-timeline-photos#july-24-2021-lopez-made-their-rekindled-relationship-instagram-official-on-her-52nd-birthday-34" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> confirmed </a>that Affleck had rekindled his relationship with Lopez. The two rekindled their romance after dating in 2002, becoming engaged later that year, and breaking up in 2004.</p><p>Affleck later praised Lopez in the media, <a href="https://www.insider.com/ben-affleck-in-awe-of-jennifer-lopez-effect-on-world-2021-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a> he was "in awe" of her "effect on the world" as a woman of color.</p>

Jennifer Lopez says it's 'simply not true' that she's mad at Ben Affleck over his Jennifer Garner comments

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11896019" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="entertainment" source="Orion">Entertainment</keyword> startup FourFront invented a cast of fictional influencers on <keyword id="11894125" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tiktok" source="Orion">TikTok</keyword>.</li><li>Actors direct and film their own scripted content in collaboration with production teams.</li></ul><p>"I have had enough of men keeping me in the dark like I'm an afterthought!" Tia, a TikToker with over 112,000 followers (<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsthetia/video/6946744391306398982?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1p=v1">@thatsthetia</a>), says emphatically while slamming open her closet door and launching into a monologue about her dramatically twisted love life in a September 21 TikTok. </p><p>Tia is a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsthetia/video/6945619467477011718?is_copy_url=0&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;sender_web_id=6891259809896056326809896056326">student</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsthetia/video/6993388708716088581?is_copy_url=0&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;sender_web_id=6891259809896056326809896056326">PR intern</a>, and future princess - well, only if she gets back together with her royal ex. She's passionate, smart, and no stranger to sharing her love life with thousands of viewers.</p><p>She's also not a real person - but that doesn't stop the likes, views, and comments asking for updates on her outlandish story from rolling in.</p> <p>Tia is one of 22 fictional TikTok personalities conceptualized, scripted, and managed by FourFront, a social media and live event-focused entertainment startup. In eight months, TikTok accounts that the company manages have collectively amassed 1.93 million followers and over 281 million views, according to co-founder Ilan Benjamin.</p><p>The startup's foray into fictional TikTok content - a Marvel Cinematic Universe-esque web of interconnected characters, as Benjamin describes it - is <a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4516339877461/WN_ljpR5OgnTn29DRZPkrAG2Q">finally coming to a head in a live "reveal party"</a> on Thursday, where eight of its characters will compete for a fictional billionaire's fortune for viewer's entertainment. It's intended to expose their scripted connections, while also revealing that this is all just for fun. </p><p>FourtFront's founders said they don't want to deceive anyone - they want you to know it's fake while enjoying the story.</p><h2><strong>FourFront's model is character-driven TikTok entertainment</strong></h2><p>According to Benjamin, FourFront's storytelling is designed to make viewers "more attached to characters" than plot decisions, eschewing the choose-your-own-adventure model that companies like <a href="https://www.insider.com/netflix-black-mirror-bandersnatch-choose-your-own-adventure-2019-1">Netflix have iterated upon</a> in recent years with <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-netflix-made-bandersnatch-video-2019-1">specials like "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch."</a> Viewers can interact with characters in the comments of their videos, and sometimes the accounts themselves will reply. </p><p>The company, a fully remote operation with 18 employees, was co-founded by Benjamin and Anna Melamed. It's split into writing, production, post-production, social media, and development teams (geared in particular towards virtual interactive experiences) that help craft content for TikTok and maintain the company's fictional accounts.</p><p>"We call it the evolution of motion pictures into living pictures," Benjamin told Insider. "Stories that feel alive and live beyond your screen."</p><p>The plot points vary wildly. Some echo familiar tropes: Tia, played by 29-year-old actress Cameisha Cotton, is a student who learns that her boyfriend Khosi is, in fact, an incredibly wealthy prince from a fictional African nation.</p> <p>Other invented narratives like Ollie's (@oxenfreeollie, 150,900 followers), a transgender man embarking on a journey to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@oxenfreeollie/video/6972578914585693446?is_copy_url=0&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;sender_web_id=6891259809896056326809896056326">reconnect with his estranged father</a> (whom he eventually learns is also trans), focus on topics like family and identity. Ollie's bio describes his account as "a coming of age story made with love by [rainbow flag emoji] actors &amp; creators."</p><h2><strong>The company wants you to know its characters are fictional</strong></h2><p>Although Tia and Ollie are labeled as fictional in the hashtags of their posts and in their bios (Tia's reads "formerly known as TikTok's fave fictional Princess"), it can be easy to miss those warnings when scrolling through your For You Page. </p><p>In a <a href="https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/creator-economy-fictional-tiktok-analysis/">story for the Daily Dot</a> that touched on a number of FourFront's characters, writer Daysia Tolentino raised concerns about audiences who could become invested in fictional characters on TikTok without realizing they're fake. </p> <p>Riot Games' Seraphine - a similar kind of fictional influencer that was active on Twitter, Instagram, and Soundcloud in 2020 - <a href="https://www.insider.com/kda-members-league-of-legends-riot-games-what-is-twitter-seraphine-2020">received criticism for asking for encouragement and posting about her mental health,</a> with some saying that the account was actively fostering exploitative parasocial relationships.</p><p>Melamed, who runs FourFront's social media, said the team has guidelines for interacting with fans in the comments of characters' posts. That includes never encouraging audience members to share personal information or trying to "get more" out of sensitive interactions.</p><p>"We would love to come up with ways to work with TikTok to telegraph that this is fictional," he told Insider. "Because long-term, we don't think we're going to be alone in this space."</p><h2><strong>Actors direct and film their own stories </strong></h2><p>Cotton told Insider that playing Tia gives her agency as an actor. She's directing and filming all of her own content in communication with ForeFront's production team. A television and film actor with a BFA in musical theater, Cotton also has a full-time job working in social media, though she didn't have much experience with TikTok prior to being cast as Tia. </p><p>She films for Tia on off-hours around her full-time job and works with FourFront to establish a timeline to deliver footage once she receives a script. </p><p>But for now, Cotton films her own stories - in her apartment - and organizes her outfits, makeup, and filming locations in a spreadsheet.<strong> </strong></p><div type="image" title="a woman with braids, a smile on her face, and in a frilly pink dress looking at the camera" height="1299" width="1728" msid="86978453" hostid="261"></div><p>"I'm my own director, I'm my own creative producer, you know what I mean?" Cotton told Insider. "I have all the spreadsheets so I can keep my head on straight in that sense because it is just me and a mini ring light and two little lights."</p><p>Melamed, one of FourFront's co-founders, described the production model as "the leanest that Hollywood has ever seen." </p><p>The flexibility and low production costs have allowed the company to test out new characters and storylines, Benjamin said. He told Insider that the roles are SAG-AFTRA compliant and that in addition to base pay, actors will also receive a percentage of profits that the character generates from advertising, merchandising, and tickets. Out of 41 actors that FourFront has cast in its projects, Benjamin said that 18 were SAG-AFTRA members. </p><p>"We want [actors] to feel incentivized to see this character succeed for years to come," he told Insider.</p><h2><strong>The end goal is to scale up engagement with live events</strong></h2><p>There's a lot more money to be made by FourFront's fictional characters. One simple way, Benjamin said, would be adapting to the creator model by taking on brand deals. The AI Instagram influencer Lil Miquela, who has 3 million followers <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lilmiquela/">on the @lilmiquela account</a>, has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/17/business/media/miquela-virtual-influencer.html">taken on campaigns with brands like Prada</a>.</p><p>TikTok, however, isn't the endgame. Eventually, FourFront wants to scale audiences' ability to engage with characters using AI technology to automate communications. That's already beginning: One of FourFront's characters, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@butlerdarren/video/7016757735265996038?lang=en&amp;is_copy_url=0&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;sender_web_id=68912598098960563261259809896056326">@Butler_Darren, invited audiences to log in to a Discord server</a> where they could chat with a bot representing his fictional billionaire boss.</p><div type="image" title="an interaction between a user named Mr. Bucks and another named palmer on discord. mr. bucks, who is labeled as a bot, says that he is looking for an heir to his billoinaire empire and speaks in a very casual way" height="772" width="2160" msid="86978454" hostid="261"></div><p>Some of FourFront's characters have successfully drawn in audiences to live content, such as a Zoom-based event that involved the FourFront characters Sydney and Carmen. According to Benjamin, that free event drew approximately 13,000 sign-ups - something that FourFront could eventually charge to access. </p><p>And with nearly 2 million followers across FourFront's active accounts on TikTok, and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sydneyplus/video/7007826771311594757?_d=secCgYIASAHKAESPgo86hK7K1cwK6I6OY%2FQTx6rBsizriyGAamXXslCl1bvnNQvl0bXknIVmAVDteYAey1pXC236SePFpTq2K%2BKGgA%3D&amp;checksum=1b6c6400b58f511ce687661824eb079d901cf4191418b81efb4a22d5e2973583&amp;language=en&amp;preview_pb=0&amp;sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAAUaoFKBwK-7IzuK0FctXe0t8e5f37VRcQbEONplG4hke3jHIbWXREa9-p4ulgywfx&amp;share_app_id=1233&amp;share_item_id=7007826771311594757&amp;share_link_id=E5DF60F6-21EE-4614-9787-38778063F650&amp;source=h5_m&amp;timestamp=1633458982&amp;tt_from=copy&amp;u_code=dhbde90c65gk6c&amp;user_id=6936066695254033414&amp;utm_campaign=client_share&amp;utm_medium=ios&amp;utm_source=copy&amp;_r=1ign=client_share&amp;utm_medium=ios&amp;utm_source=copy&amp;_r=1">videos from characters like Sydney amassing millions of likes</a>, there appears to be an audience for this. But first, Benjamin said, they'll need to know these influencers aren't real. </p><p>"The more that people know this is fictional, the more that they can just get lost in it and be entertained by it," Benjamin told Insider.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Read more stories from Insider's Digital Culture desk.</a></strong></p>

Your favorite TikTok influencer might be fictional

<p class="center"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>The NBA's regular season doesn't begin for a few more weeks, but teams are already scrimmaging. In their first preseason game the Wizards and Bulls, carried on a budding rivalry that began in last year's playoffs.</p>
<p>Early in the first quarter, Paul Pierce gave the Bulls' Jimmy Butler a hard foul across the neck on a fastbreak. As the referees reviewed it to see if it was a flagrant foul, Pierce continued jawing it at Butler, who remained calm.</p>
<p>Bulls center Joakim Noah came over and gave Pierce a little shove, telling him to back off. Pierce stepped up again, and Noah gave another shove, to which Pierce responded by poking Noah in the face. The move set off Noah who charged after Pierce before the referees and teammates separated the two players.</p>
<p>Watch the scuffle below (the foul occurs at about the :07 mark, the confrontation begins at about the 1:20 mark).</p>
<p></p>
<p>Neither player faced any further punishment, so they likely won't receive anything in the aftermath, either. However, if this wasn't just preseason, the NBA might have taken further action. Pierce's original foul probably would have been called a flagrant (he made no attempt at the ball).</p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Later in the game, the Wizards' Kevin Seraphin set a hard screen on Butler, knocking him over and getting charged with the foul. Once again, there was a brief confrontation before it was broken up.</p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>The two were seperated when Butler jumped to his feet to get in Seraphin's face.</p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>This isn't the first time the two teams have gotten into it. In last year's playoffs, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F--k0fL8FoM">Butler and the Wizards' Nene had to be seperated</a>, although it didn't result in any major punishment for either player.</p>
<p>Both the Wizards and Bulls figure to be playoff teams in the East this year, and their budding rivalry should be one to watch.</p>

The Chicago Bulls And Washington Wizards Got Into A Scuffle Monday Night

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/license/925301238">Getty/Chris Jackson</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton made their working debut together alongside other halves Prince Harry and the Duke of Cambridge on Wednesday.</strong></li><li><strong>A body language expert has offered her analysis of the relationship between the future royal sister-in-laws.</strong></li><li><strong>She says there was 'team member' respect for one another but no 'overt displays of sisterly friendship.'</strong></li><li><strong>There's still presumably time for that to blossom.</strong></li></ul><p><br />Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton, and Price William appeared for their first official royal engagement as a foursome on Wednesday - and observers couldn't help but use the opportunity to analyse the relationship between the "Suits" actress and her future sister-in-law.</p><p>The pair wore coordinating blue dresses to the first annual Royal Foundation Forum in London, although <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/meghan-markle-kate-middleton-blue-dresses-cost-2018-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Markle's apparently cost more than 10 times more</a> than the Middleton's.</p><p><span>The Duchess wore the <a href="https://www.seraphine.com/en-us/a-line-royal-blue-dress.html?ranMID=42153&amp;ranEAID=TnL5HPStwNw&amp;ranSiteID=TnL5HPStwNw-O5pu_e0cwJDqh3ALnczcuA&amp;utm_source=Rakuten&amp;utm_content=1&amp;utm_campaign=Skimlinks.com&amp;utm_medium=affiliate">Royal Blue Tailored Maternity Dress by Seraphine</a>, which retails for $169, while Markle opted for <a href="https://www.net-a-porter.com/us/en/product/992242">a dark blue wrap dress by Jason Wu, which retails for $1,795.</a></span></p><p><span>But that wasn't where the differences ended, according to author and body language expert Judi James, who has offered her take on the event to various media outlets. </span></p><p><strong>The last time the two couples were photographed together was on Christmas Day at Sandringham.</strong></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/license/898513992">Getty/Chris Jackson</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><strong>Wednesday was their first official engagement as a foursome. They faced questions about their past and future charity work and the foundation's programmes from host Tina Daheley. </strong></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/license/925325376">Getty/Chris Jackson</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p>James told <a href="https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/reports/a18922168/meghan-markle-kate-middleton-body-language-expert/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmopolitan</a> that overall the plentiful smiles made for some "strong family vibes."</p><p>"There seemed to be a 'team member' respect for one another but they also seemed to steer clear of any more overt displays of sisterly friendship," she told the magazine. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/license/925330992">Getty/Chris Jackson</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><strong>James also pointed out that whenever Middleton spoke, Markle would make a concerted effort to turn to listen to her "intently," as per below. </strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/license/925279406">Getty/Chris Jackson</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>But most people who watched the interview noticed a difference in the way the two handled questions, which is hardly surprising given their very different backgrounds. Markle is, after all, used to being on screen in a very different way. </p><p>"Meghan's approach is hugely 'hit-the-ground-running' with her upright posture and her trait of sitting with one elbow in partial splay mode suggesting high levels of confidence and a desire to get her message across," James said.</p><p>Meanwhile, Middleton seemed a little more laid back, which again is hardly surprising as she's far more well-versed in royal protocol.</p><p>"Kate's calmer, simpler approach, sitting back in her chair with a rather demure hand clasp gave a glimpse of what being a royal must have taught her, which is that people listen anyway with no need to ramp up the passion and drama."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/license/925281684">Getty/Chris Jackson</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Markle indicated that <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/meghan-markle-makes-her-work-debut-alongside-harry-and-the-duke-and-duchess-of-cambridge-a3777846.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">her focus in the foundation could be on women's' rights</a>, and she was candid in speaking about these issues, even discussing the #MeToo movement. </p><p><span>"I hear a lot of people speaking about girls' empowerment and women's empowerment - you will hear people saying they are helping women find their voices," she said. "</span><span>I fundamentally disagree with that because women don't need to find their voices, they need to be empowered to use it, and people need to be urged to listen.</span></p><p>She added: "I think right now in the climate where we are seeing so many campaigns like Me Too and Time's Up, there is no better time than to really continue to shine a light on women feeling empowered and people really helping to support them."</p><p>Markle appeared a lot more emotionally reactive when it came to some of the more personal questions posed by Daheley, too - including whether or not the family ever disagree with one another.</p><p>"When Harry joked we saw both women share genuine matching smiles and mirror the partial cut-off gesture when their hands mimicked face-covering," James said. "The cause was clearly also important to both although there was some interesting body language thrown up when suggestions of 'disagreements' were thrown up.</p><p>"Both women initially hid their faces behind their hair and then Meghan laughed and grabbed Harry's arm in a rather telling gesture. William's 'Oh yes' told us sparks had clearly occurred, but Kate's demure smile wasn't giving any clues about who had been battling with who."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/license/925286874">Getty/Chris Jackson</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Markle's spirited and candid approach to the interview has even led to <a href="http://metro.co.uk/2018/02/28/move-kate-middleton-meghan-markles-diana-like-confidence-wins-body-language-battle-will-cause-royal-rift-7349701/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">comparisons between her and Princess Diana,</a> William and Harry's late mother.</p><p>But it's still early days - we'll have to wait to see how Markle finds her place in the royal family following her May wedding to Harry, after which she'll formally become<span> the fourth patron of the foundation.</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/artist-jessika-jacob-paint-thousands-little-dots-2018-2">This artist spends hundreds of hours creating intricate paintings using thousands of tiny dots</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

A body language expert analysed the relationship between future royal sisters-in-law Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton - here's her verdict

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Elsa/Getty</span></p><p class="caption">Kristaps Porzingis is excelling, but it's creating a tough decision for Knicks coach Derek Fisher.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Kristaps Porzingis has been one of the best rookies of the early NBA season, and perhaps the most surprising.</p><p>At 7-foot-3, just 20 years old, Porzingis has been one of the New York Knicks' best scorers, shooters, and defenders, leading the team in rebounds and blocks.</p><p>The production has been an unforeseen development, but the way Porzingis has played is already putting the Knicks and coach Derek Fisher in a tough position.</p><p>Porzingis has primarily been playing power forward, especially in the starting lineup next to center Robin Lopez, who the Knicks signed to a $54 million contract this past offseason.</p><p>However, Porzingis has shown such potential as a defender, given his length, athleticism, and surprising strength, that he can hold his own against other centers in the league. Playing Porzingis at center, or "the five," would also pay off on offense, where Porzingis is faster than most big men and gives the Knicks more spacing because of his ability to shoot the three.</p><p>Two of the Knicks ten most-used lineups feature Porzingis at center - one has been outscored by eight points per 100 possessions by opponents, but the other has been outscoring opponents by 36 points per 100 possessions. According to NBA's media stats site, Porzingis is performing better with Lopez on the bench. The Knicks' net rating with Lopez on the bench and Porzingis on the court is 5.6, compared to .3 when the two share the court. Similarly, Porzingis' true shooting percentage is six points higher with Lopez on the bench. </p><p>On Monday night in a loss to the Orlando Magic, the conundrum of Lopez and Porzingis showed itself down the stretch. With the Knicks consistently trailing by a basket or two, Fisher opted to play Lopez at the five while Porzingis sat on the bench. While Lopez played well, he was routinely scorched by Magic center Nikola Vucevic, who shot 13-19 for 26 points. </p><p>After the game, <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/63739/should-kristaps-porzingis-play-more-minutes-at-center">Fisher told reporters</a> of his decision to go with Lopez, "We like, physically, Robin's size more with Vucevic."</p><p>While there's no proof Porzingis could have done any better, some people felt that the Knicks should have gone with Porzingis down the stretch to create a mismatch on offense and at least see if he could defend Vucevic better than Lopez. Some of this was encouraged by Porzingis' strong showing against Sacramento Kings' center DeMarcus Cousins in a December 10 game, when Porzingis guarded Cousins down the stretch, holding him to 42% shooting and forcing two turnovers.</p><p><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2599943-kristaps-porzingis-already-shaping-new-york-knicks-defensive-identity">Fisher has already admitted</a> that this has become a problem, saying the Knicks weren't built knowing Porzingis could play the five this soon. The Knicks gave Lopez a big contract, but they also signed Kyle O'Quinn to a four-year, $16 million deal, and gave Kevin Seraphin a one-year, $2.8 million deal. That's three players fighting for playing time at the five, not to mention over $70 million committed to players at one position.</p><p>For this season, Porzingis will likely continue to see spot minutes at center while mainly playing power forward. Down the road, however, the Knicks will have to assess this ability, particularly with the long-term contracts of Lopez and O'Quinn. Granted, there will always be a need for other centers on the team, but if Porzingis is best utilized as a center, then the Knicks may have to decide whether the money being paid to Lopez and O'Quinn can be better utilized.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/lebron-james-signs-biggest-nike-deal-endorsement-nba-2015-12">LeBron James just signed the biggest endorsement deal in Nike history</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="U2eTdleTqAp1RQ4kTgCiAumW-j5bD_7d" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Kristaps Porzingis is further along than anyone thought, and it's already creating a tough decision for the Knicks

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Classmates.com</span></p><p class="caption">Donald Trump in his high school yearbook.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-compares-military-school-to-service-in-biography/">cited his high school experience</a> at the New York Military Academy as having given him "more training militarily than a lot of the guys that go into the military."</p><p>In recent weeks, Business Insider reached out to several of Trump's former classmates at the school. They paint a picture of Trump as a star athlete who rose to become one of the highest-ranked members of his class. They also hinted at regular hazing and fighting that went on at the academy. </p><p>According to his yearbook, Trump, who grew up in Queens, arrived at the school in upstate Cornwall, New York, in 1959. He graduated in 1964.</p><p>The yearbook shows Trump, who is the son of millionaire real-estate developer Fred Trump, was a member of the varsity soccer, baseball, and football teams. He also won numerous awards including some for his athletic performance and a "neatness and order medal" in 1960. </p><p>One former classmate, George Beuttell, played football with Trump and described him as a "good man." </p><p>"He was one of the highest-ranked cadets there and he was motivated to excel back then as he is now," Beuttell told Business Insider. "Nobody ever spoke badly about him then, and he was liked."</p><p>Beuttell said Trump "had direction back then that a lot of us other kids didn't." </p><p>"A lot of us were fooling around, played around, and he was more business than a lot of us," Beuttell explained. "You had to admire that."</p><p>Trump's yearbook shows he rose to the rank of supply sergeant. According to Beuttell, this position was "probably the third highest-ranked cadet in the whole school." </p><p>Another former Trump classmate, Arthur Schoenewaldt, recalled taking orders from Trump. </p><p>"He made me memorize my serial number of my M1 [rifle] and I still remember it this way," Schoenewaldt told Business Insider. "Operationally, he was very well organized."</p><p>Schoenewaldt also spent some time as Trump's roommate. He said living with Trump was "great."</p><p>"It was obvious that he came from a better-than-average family, but he was a great guy," Schoenewaldt said.</p><p>Schoenewaldt also recalled Trump's athletic prowess. </p><p>"He was intelligent, he presented himself well, he was athletic," Schoenewaldt said. "I even heard from some of the coaches and stuff he could have played professional baseball."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>AP Photo/Steven Senne</span></p><p class="caption">Donald Trump.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>'Lord of the Flies'</h2><p>In a brief conversation with Business Insider about his high-school days, Trump declined to discuss his high school sports career on record to avoid bragging. However, he noted he was the "best athlete."</p><p>Ted Levine, another former classmate, played baseball with Trump. He said Trump could have had a professional career.</p><p>"He was just the best, a good athlete, a great athlete. He could have probably played pro ball as a pitcher. I think he threw 80 miles an hour," Levine said. "I was the catcher. He made my hand black and blue every day. … Could he play football? Could he play soccer? He could do anything he wanted. He was physically and mentally gifted."</p><p>Levine also spent some time living with Trump. He said there were "a couple stories," but he wasn't "going to repeat them."</p><p>Still, Levine suggested there were was some discord between him and Trump.</p><p>"OK, a couple of fights, but you know, that's common ground in that school. [It was] a little 'Lord of the Flies,'" Levine said</p><p>Levine said fighting was "common" at the school.</p><p>"There were a lot of very strong people up there and it was very competitive," Levine recalled. "Everyone had fights there ... like if the bed wasn't made right."</p><p>Levine, who went on to become a top college wrestler, said he was "the smallest kid" and Trump was "the biggest kid." Despite the difference in size between them, Levine said he was sometimes able to get the best of Trump "with a stick."</p><p>"I just learned not to lose," he explained.</p><p>They may have fought, but Levine made clear physical encounters were a regular feature of life at the New York Military Academy and Trump didn't get violent "more than anyone else would."</p><p>"If you were the new guy, you know, the old guys kicked your ass," Levine said. "Eventually you became on the other end."</p><p>However, Levine hesitated to describe the behavior at the school as hazing.</p><p>"Defining hazing is very difficult because it's a moving target with the times," Levine said. "Is it too nice now? Yes. Are Marines weaker for it? Yes. ... Is there a moment in time for everything? Yes."</p><p>Schoenewaldt also recalled some degree of hazing at the New York Military Academy.</p><p>"They were what they called new guy rules, but it all had a means to the end," Schoenewaldt said. "It taught you respect. It taught you discipline."</p><p>According to Schoenewaldt, Trump was not particularly hard on the younger students.</p><p>"There were some guys that were pretty aggressive with that stuff, but Trump was not one of them," he said.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Courtesy of Donald J. Trump</span></p><p class="caption">Donald Trump marching with New York Military Academy cadets near the present location of Trump Tower.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>'Ladies man'</h2><p>Trump's yearbook indicates his nickname in high school was "D.T." His former classmates who spoke to Business Insider said he went by "Don" and "Trump," as well. The yearbook also showed Trump was voted the school's "Ladies Man" in his senior year.</p><p>New York Military Academy was a boys' school. The graduates who spoke to Business Insider said Trump's selection as "Ladies Man" was based on his classmates' perception of him.</p><p>"He was a very good looking, handsome guy and he held himself in a way that everyone thought he'd be very desirable for the opposite sex," George Beuttell explained.</p><p>Trump told Business Insider he was voted "Ladies Man" because he "always treated women with the greatest respect."</p><p>"I admire them," Trump said.</p><h2>'Boy, he's full of himself'</h2><p>None of the former classmates who spoke to Business Insider recalled discussing <keyword id="6358883" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Politics">politics</keyword> with Trump. Though his political ambitions may not have been on display, Jack Seraphin remembered a story that seemed to hint at Trump's future as a real-estate mogul.</p><p>"We used to march on Fifth Avenue during the Columbus Day Parade. Donald was marching and the officer he addressed was called Ace Castellano. He was a colonel. And Trump said, 'Ace, I'd really like to get some of this real estate some day,'" Seraphin said. "Ace looked at him and he thought, boy, he's full of himself, but he's got some goals. Castellano told me the story. I know it's true."</p><p>Trump's office provided Business Insider with a photo (shown above) that shows him marching in the parade down Fifth Avenue. His current headquarters, Trump Tower, is located on the street.</p><p>Some of Trump's former classmates said they were undecided about who to vote for in the 2016 presidential election. However, Schoenewaldt said it's a "good possibility" he will vote for Trump.</p><p>"He wasn't the same as he is now, but I'm sure I respect him. I'll vote for him. I'll do anything I can, because I think he can make a difference," said Schoenewaldt. "He was quiet, unassuming. He wasn't overly brash. He wasn't a prick. He was a really good cadet."</p><p>Levine suggested the strong support Trump enjoys among his former classmates may be due to the culture of the New York Military Academy. </p><p>"No matter what, he was on our team and that's it," said Levine. "You understand what I mean? ... You don't go against your teammates, no matter what."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-supporters-campaign-election-debate-ohio-2015-8">Meet the real people who want Donald Trump to be president</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="Fpb3dzdjpw5TFe5E8aqkh_VPUdmgAZm_" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

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Riot Games denied a woman's claim that her image was used without consent for a 'League of Legends' character

Palmer Haasch

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