Pop Culture Pulse Mar 2026: Staples Baddie, Gorillaz’ Human Artistry & Wrtn’s AI Story Generator
Published 17 March 2026
Our Pop Culture Pulse is a monthly download of the buzziest cultural news, box-fresh media developments, viral phenomena and audience trends. This month, we take a look at the appeal of ‘Staples Baddie’, the new queen of staff user-generated content; how virtual band Gorillaz is celebrating human-made creativity for its latest album rollout; and Korean app Wrtn’s AI-powered ‘live interactive storytelling’.
Social Media & Internet Culture: Staples Baddie Turns Employee UGC into Brand Virality
Music & Sound: Gorillaz Album Rollout Marries Digital-First Identity with Human Craft
Entertainment: Story-Generator Wrtn Bets on Appetite for AI-Powered Interactive Entertainment
An employee of US office supplies retailer Staples has gone mega viral as ‘Staples Baddie’, posting earnestly enthusiastic tutorials and informational videos about her workplace and its products. The creator, @blivxx, has amassed over 18m views and nearly half a million new followers, and is being credited with reviving the image of the brand among American Gen Z.
An employee of US office supplies retailer Staples has gone mega viral as ‘Staples Baddie’, posting earnestly enthusiastic tutorials and informational videos about her workplace and its products. The creator, @blivxx, has amassed over 18m views and nearly half a million new followers, and is being credited with reviving the image of the brand among American Gen Z.
Globally, 76% of consumers believe human creativity and craft will always matter more than what machines can generate (Human8, 2026). Championing this mindset, British virtual band Gorillaz’ campaign promoting latest album The Mountain (released February 27) is demonstrating how human artistry can still be a central tenet of digital-led creativity, via phygital city-wide mural hunts, character-curated playlists and analogue-crafted promotional films.
Mega-popular Korean generative-AI app Wrtn – boasting 5m monthly users in SE Asia – is preparing for a proposed US launch in June 2026, dialling down its original MO as productivity super-app and instead highlighting its ‘live storytelling’ features. Betting on a bright future for AI-powered interactive entertainment, the app will encounter recalibrating AI appetite among US audiences.
Pop Culture Pulse Mar 2026: Staples Baddie, Gorillaz’ Human Artistry & Wrtn’s AI Story Generator
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Pop Culture Pulse Mar 2026: Staples Baddie, Gorillaz’ Human Artistry & Wrtn’s AI Story Generator
Our Pop Culture Pulse is a monthly download of the buzziest cultural news, box-fresh media developments, viral phenomena and audience trends. This month, we take a look at the appeal of ‘Staples Baddie’, the new queen of staff user-generated content; how virtual band Gorillaz is celebrating human-made creativity for its...