Social Media, Zombys and Nicky + Pierre

It seems unlikely, but I make a connection between Zombies and TikTok giants, Nicky and Pierre. No, it’s not that they’re on social media, its something else. I could have written a blog about each, but I like it when things are tied together with a common thread. 

Twitter was the first social media platform I tried, you can scroll and read my very first blog about it if you like. I was sceptical but stayed for years and I cringe when I get a twitter birthday. Today I’m active on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, Discord (I know) and also here I suppose, but it’s the platform I use least. When active, I wade through a hell of a lot, it can keep me fully occupied and when life sucks, I like to be fully occupied. 

David Baddiel (@Baddiel) has a great analogy, he says that likes and retweets are the equivalent of getting a laugh. The bigger the numbers are, the louder the laugh. I can’t raise a snigger on Twitter these days, but then I’m not a comedian, and I’ve barely been on there recently anyway. Time was you could have a giggle or ask a random question and get a response. I once asked for the name of an obscure Australian dystopian film I’d seen as a kid, (the name eludes me yet again damn it). I gave the sketchiest of descriptions and a complete stranger come back with the answer. Amazing. I recently experimented with a tweet “Why does adversity breed creativity?”. Two responses came back. A genuine answer from a bestie irl (@_wordfairy_) and a lovely Einstein quote from another Foo Fighter fan I have befriended on that platform (@Whitefeet2). Other than that, tumbleweed. Maybe I didn’t phrase the tweet properly and it came across as rhetorical, or maybe I didn’t use the right hashtags. I’m genuinely interested in the answer too, oh well. Times change. My theory for why Twitter is so acerbic and harsh is that it started not with likes but with favourite stars, remember? You only favourited things you wanted to keep, so a star had to be fought for very hard. There were always those who never, ever liked, even after the hearts were introduced. Not much love there. Today other platforms are much more generous - love you TikTok and YouTube! 

One thing I’ve taken away from Twitter due to years of friendly banter is the art of the comeback, which now proves very useful on the occasional troll - remember, IF you just can’t help yourself and you’re going to answer back, do it with humour folks, and always expect ping-ponging. Twitter now seems to be a seething den of vipers that just want to venomously rant and bitch. I’m dipping a very tentative toe in again, as I like the written word and anyway, I’ve been forced to return by Eoin Macken, actor/novelist/screenwriter/director/cinematographer/cook… (GM @eoincmacken fren, I can’t resist the name drop ;-) ). He has done this mainly due to the amazing @ZombyWorld he and @RyanPotesta have dreamt up, and which their amazing team are developing. 

Run on Discord ZombyWorld uses Twitter Spaces to host AMAs for members, with invited famous guests from the world of film and music etc. and other knowledgeable bods. Where else could I possibly have gone to spend a fascinating hour with director Lee Cronin or a Lunch and Learn with the wonderful One Tree Planted (@onetreeplanted). It’s been fantastic - utter bliss, I can’t wait for more. 

You can find out about ZW and the amazing projects they’re making on their website and in the Discord, reach them via Twitter. It’s not just about minting NTFs, not by any means at all. It’s an innovative long-term project to create actual real stuff - publishing comic books, producing merchandise, even making a TV Show (omg!). At its core lies desire to discuss ecology and the environment, sharing solutions in a decentralised way among members around the world and also incorporating a collaboration with One Tree Planted’s reforestation projects. All of this covers interests that are near to my heart. I’ve chatted on ZW about film, a life-long passion and, I know it sounds unlikely, but I’ve picked up excellent gardening tips! Soon there will be rooms for writing, music and art/design - spaces to come together and create. Moderators keep things safe and there is a no tolerance policy to any form of harassment. I’m loving the warmth and friendliness in the chat rooms, everyone says Good Morning when they join in, regardless of the time wherever they are in the world, and call each other fren and fam. There is an onus on building each other up - it may even be a rule I think, and this is a beautiful thing, it truly is. I’m new to all of this and quite honestly my mind is totally blown. Yes, I’m still hanging on to Eoin’s coat tails. I’m not letting go. The longer I know him the more his talents, imagination, and creativity surprise me. He’s given me a lot over the years. 

Speaking of creativity….. 

So yeah, this is not an excuse, but if life and the news didn’t suck at the moment I wouldn’t be staring at screens so much. I find solace in viewing, be it telly, cinema or phone, all are my escape. Scrolling is a form of self-soothing, and this is how I chanced on Nicky and Pierre on YouTube at first, and thank goodness for it, what a power house of innovative, quality content! 

Blond Guy: 

“Hey Pierre. Why are French people so mean?” 

Dark Haired Guy: 

“We’re not mean, we’re honest. No, but it’s true, you don’t have to sugar coat everything. 

Like there’s too much sugar in America already, and it’s not even real sugar, it’s fake sugar. 

And just to tell you - sugar is only for macarons, ugh!” 

This was my introduction to “NiPi. Reading the above I can hear Pierre’s speak, lol. Macarons - hahaha.

I’m a Francophile and spend a lot of time there, and this astute French boy (@itspierreboo) with a glorious accent and sweet, handsome face made me laugh like a drain. His explanation is so funny and sharp, encapsulating the French/American take on each other cleverly, and correctly in my opinion. 

Who was this Pierre and his friend? I investigated further and came across a thirst trap, a freshly showered, shirtless and wet-haired @nickychampa (TT) from the point of view of his bathroom mirror, singing and shaking his head to the song ‘A Thousand Miles’ by Vanessa Miles. I guess you may not believe me if I tell you that I’m not particularly one for shirtless thirst traps, however gorgeous the drink may be. Okay, not on the whole lol, as I am but flesh and blood. But to me they are usually a ploy, clickbait, a cheap trick, and I’m put off by them. What does it for me is inventiveness and humour. So, I, er,… suffered, what,10 seconds? And then Nicky pulled out a hairdryer and used it like a microphone/wind machine. Hahaha not your ordinary thirst trap - one with added comedy. Who hasn’t done that hairdryer thing? Anyway, I thought it was a glorious punchline, watched it “several” times and poked the screen, how can I heart this more? 

Could their content be consistently good? Well God bless my anxiety - I sometimes can’t sleep and due to insomnia I discovered two individuals who are my type of people, part of that tribe who are performers, are sensitive, wear their hearts on their sleeves and who’s emotions run close to the surface: actors and all types of artists basically. They check all my boxes, namely being genuine, candid, funny, intuitive, vulnerable, naughty, fierce, brave, loyal and above all, creative. They are beautiful and also spectacularly in love with each other. They spread the love. Love is the thing. 

Their stories are totally relatable to me. They remind me so much of me and my husband, back when our relationship was a tender sapling, but they also remind me of how we are today, nothing much has changed, only that the sapling has turned into a giant oak over the years. I have a huge affinity with Pierre, I think we are very alike, we love dance, can fly off the handle dramatically, but can also be the steady rock our other half needs. We big our loved ones up at all times, have an infinite capacity to love, and if I’m not wrong, underneath that cute, angelic, naive facade lies a man of steel who, if necessary, could slap you down a peg or two with a curt word or just a look. Nicky is more like my husband, slightly cooler in temperament, also cool by definition - don’t cross this charmer though, he bites… but at the same time, he’s sensitive, talking sense when Pierre worries, he’s enormously loving and a proper softy. Both seem terribly kind. Nicky is more enigmatic to me, and I’m curious, consequently I’m attracted to him like a freaking magnet. 

Of course they are hugely talented, and successful with over 24 million TikTok followers between them. Its mad and frustrating that even in this day and age there are people, young and old, struggling to come out, being afraid to be unsupported by family and friends. ‘Coming out’ should no longer be a thing, but for so very many it is, and Nicky and Pierre’s wonderful relationship is a thing for all to aspire to, they are role models, not just for the LGBTQ+ community, but for all. They are also actors, and I suspect film-makers to be. So if TV and film aren’t on the cards, like very soon, and they don’t sky rocket in that field too, I’ll eat my hat. I had exactly the same feeling with Eoin years ago - my hat is intact, and you can’t see Eoin for dust. 

The NiPi Fam is international and supportive and I’m so happy to be part of it. We meet live on YouTube on Sundays for chat and the premiere of the next Nicky and Pierre video who also join in with us. It’s a fest of ‘hello’s’ and ‘love yous’ and a blanket of joy. I won’t mention the members by name, cos it’ll only turn into Sunday lol, but I’m waving and saying ‘Love yoooooou!!!”. You know who you are. 

I will however mention two other outrageously talented creatives I’ve met through this global family, and they are Perry Picasshoe (@art_p3rry) and Yiwol (IG: @nipifanart.yiwol/ T: virgo091213) Both are ridiculously talented and prolific artists. Perry takes the time to acknowledge every single comment I send - I can’t get over it. If you don’t know him, please, please check him out. His talent and ambition will carry him far, he’s another polymath of art. Invest in him now. 

I say absolutely the same for Yiwol in whom I think I’ve found a friend for life. Her NiPi art gives me just as much joy as the actual thing! Not a day goes by where we don’t tell each other how much we love and appreciate each other. She is my soulmate in Seoul, and I can feel the love in London, and well, she makes my day, everyday. Because she gets it. 

Whatever the medium you use, there’s an element of the creator in every single character you draw. In ZombyWorld I see Eoin in Jason, Nichole, Gina and Ian (and all the characters in the novels and screenplays he has ever written - prolific so-and-so). He has created a warm-hearted universe, as safe as can be made, with love at the centre. And Zombys. (Can I have an antidote please….?) 

I don’t know Nicky and Pierre personally at all, but I feel that I do. I’m sensing a shift in their output. It’s subtly edgier, slicker, with several TikToks heavy with subtext. I love this. I’m all about the subtext. The clues are there if you look. As is the abundant love. 

Nicky and Pierre have been my inspiration for creating TikToks which fulfils my desire to create and perform. I could never have started without them, and I’m so grateful to them because I’m having a total blast. I’m a goner for everyone I’ve mentioned, I’m unashamedly in love with them all. If you win me over, my love is bottomless and endless, I’m here to stay. Apologies for the gushing outpouring of feelings here, specifically to the stiff upper lipped anglo folk haha. Its just how this Spanish-blooded girl functions. Eoin’s used to this I’m afraid - besides he’s a romantic Irishman, so it’s in his nature too. And Nicky and Pierre, well they ARE love and hand it out all the time, so I’m giving some back. 

Love, of course, is the connecting tread that runs through ZW and N+P, and we all need love, specially in these dark times. We need to share it more now than ever. Not just because of what’s happening with a pandemic kicking its heels for too long before leaving, not just because of the horror happening in the Ukraine, but because of the atrocities happening in so many countries all over the world, and the assault the human race is firing upo_n defenceless nature and our beloved planet. 

Spread the love, its good karma, and inevitably, you get some back. And who doesn’t want that? 

Hearts, flowers and lollipops to my Kings and Queens. Keep spreading the love. Never stop. 

This Queen-ager loves you and always will. 

Carmen

Twitter: @RonniPudding (ZW - Raven)

IG: @thecloudcuckoo

TikTok: @carmen_thecloudcuckoo