Latest news with #Clay
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Man Gets Pride-Themed Doormat, Neighbor Writes a Letter: 'Don't Like That'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A cheeky doormat has turned into a fully-fledged viral moment this Pride Month as a delightfully petty, and extremely gay, rivalry began in an apartment building in Ohio. It all started when 29-year-old Clay, who didn't to share his last name, spotted a doormat outside a third-floor apartment in his building that proudly declared: "Gayest place in town." "I don't like that at all," Clay said in a now-viral TikTok video, jokingly affronted that someone else had claimed the title of supreme gayness in the building. "Because it implies that my place is not the gayest place in town." Thus began what Clay dubbed a "gay-off," an escalating, lighthearted showdown between neighbors to determine whose apartment is truly the gayest. "I actually noticed the mat back in November," Clay told Newsweek. But it wasn't until this past weekend when returning from the bar that he decided to make the TikTok video where he said that he didn't like the mat. Front left: Clay declares that he didn't like the mat and takes action with a note. Front left: Clay declares that he didn't like the mat and takes action with a note. @claygaiken/TikTok It quickly gained viral attention and people couldn't get enough of the moment, and that was when people started requesting something unusual—a "gay-off." Clay quickly ordered a competing doormat (the best he could find on short notice). He placed it at his fourth-floor apartment door, alongside a handwritten note addressed to his neighbors, taped cheekily to their doormat with a sticky note that now made the mat read: "2nd gayest place in town." "Hello downstairs Gay-bor (s)," the letter began. "I'm writing to let you know that I find your doormat to be extremely offensive. I personally believe that MY apt is the gayest place in town and I hereby challenge you to a gay-off." The note invited the downstairs residents to accept the challenge by placing the sticky note on his mat upstairs, and included his TikTok username for good measure. "I really don't want to let them down," he said, referring to the thousands of viewers who had already seen the video and demanded the "gay-off." It didn't take long. Less than 24 hours later, the neighbors replied with their own note, simply stating: "Hi Gay-boy, we have no clue what this entails but it sounds gay, so naturally we are in—Cara & Lauren." And with that, the "gay-off" was on. From left: The neighbors work to one-up each other with a rainbow-streamer curtain and a cheeky note. From left: The neighbors work to one-up each other with a rainbow-streamer curtain and a cheeky note. @claygaiken/TikTok Since then, the two apartments have been one-upping each other in increasingly flamboyant fashion, rainbow streamers and other Pride-themed decoration. There have been TikTok updates, and what Clay describes as "content-fed warfare," even relying on a third-party "third-floor spy" to monitor the opposition while Clay is out of town. Clay has been documenting the saga for his growing TikTok audience. "It's both of our first gay-off," he said. "And it doesn't come with an instruction manual, so we're figuring it out as we go." TikTok briefly flagged the video for "hateful behavior," but quickly reversed the decision after Clay appealed. Since then, the comment section has been filled with joy, support, and rampant speculation. "Everyone assumed the other apartment belonged to a gay man and hoped for an 'enemies to lovers' situation," Clay said. "But I had a strong suspicion it was lesbians. I mean, I used to joke that the third floor was the lesbian floor." So far, Team Lesbian is winning—at least according to TikTok polls. "Not surprising," Clay said. "I really don't stand a chance against two lesbians, but I'm gonna give it my best gay shot." Clay plans to post his next move soon, and the gay-off is expected to last through Pride Month—June—if not longer. In the end, what started as a petty doormat rivalry has turned into something much more joyful. "This has totally warmed my heart," Clay said. "The fact that I posted this dumb little joke, and it blew up without a single negative comment, it means a lot."
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘Please stay away from me' – Alexander Zverev swipes at Taylor Fritz in X-rated rant after Stuttgart Open final
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ALEXANDER ZVEREV barked "I'm f***ing tired of you" after losing to Taylor Fritz in the Stuttgart Open final. The German, 28, has struggled against the American over the last 12 months. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Alexander Zverev delivered an X-rated runner-up speech Credit: Getty 4 Taylor Fritz shook off a poor clay court season to win the title Credit: Getty Fritz, 27, endured an awful clay court season, winning just three matches in four events amid physical struggles. But he has appeared to be a man revitalised on the grass of Stuttgart this week, beating Quentin Halys, Marton Fucsovics, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Zverev to lift the title. Fritz's 6-3 7-6 triumph in the final was his fifth in a row against Zverev during the last year. In his runner-up speech during the trophy ceremony, spiky Zverev joked: "Last but not least, Taylor, I'm f***ing tired of you. READ MORE IN SPORT TOUGH BREAK Emma Raducanu breaks tennis rule as boos rain down during delay at Queen's 'I don't wanna see you again over the next two to three years. Please stay away from me. Don't come to Germany anymore. "No, well done you deserve to win this title. "You are one of the best players in the world on this surface and you were much better than me today, so congrats to the whole team and I'm sure you are going to do incredible on the next two tournaments on grass, so well done." Fritz smiled sheepishly while sat in his chair during Zverev's speech. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 4 Fritz shares a laugh with Zverev after his latest victory over him Credit: AP After the match, the US Open runner-up posted on X: "what is Clay ?" Following his defeat to Fritz at Wimbledon last year, 6ft 6in Zverev complained about a member of his opponent's player box, thought to be girlfriend Morgan Riddle. Supermum qualifier Tatjana Maria stuns Queen's as 160-1 qualifier becomes oldest WTA title winner since Serena Williams During his post-match press conference, the three-time Grand Slam runner-up huffed: "His team is extremely respectful. I think his coach, his physio and also his second coach were extremely respectful. "But I think there are some other people that, maybe, are in the box that are not, maybe from the tennis world and are not, maybe, particularly watching every match. "They were a bit over the top but that's okay. No issues, no drama. He fought back from two sets to love so they are obviously all excited, very pumped up. "But no issues with Taylor. I think Taylor is a great guy and I have no issues with him." At the time, Morgan shared an Instagram reel toasting and sipping her drink in a white dress and navy jacket, captioned: "When your man wins for the girls." Fritz has since beaten Zverev at the US Open, Laver Cup and ATP Finals. The former Wimbledon quarter-finalist is set to be in action in London next week. Fritz will head to the Queen's Club to play in the HSBC Championships, and has drawn Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the first round.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Please stay away from me' – Alexander Zverev swipes at Taylor Fritz in X-rated rant after Stuttgart Open final
ALEXANDER ZVEREV barked "I'm f***ing tired of you" after losing to Taylor Fritz in the Stuttgart Open final. The German, 28, has struggled against the American over the last 12 months. Advertisement 4 Alexander Zverev delivered an X-rated runner-up speech Credit: Getty 4 Taylor Fritz shook off a poor clay court season to win the title Credit: Getty But he has appeared to be a man revitalised on the grass of Stuttgart this week, beating Quentin Halys, Marton Fucsovics, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Fritz's 6-3 7-6 triumph in the final was his fifth in a row against Zverev during the last year. In his runner-up speech during the trophy ceremony, spiky Zverev joked: "Last but not least, Taylor, I'm f***ing tired of you. Advertisement READ MORE IN SPORT 'I don't wanna see you again over the next two to three years. Please stay away from me. Don't come to Germany anymore. "No, well done you deserve to win this title. "You are one of the best players in the world on this surface and you were much better than me today, so congrats to the whole team and I'm sure you are going to do incredible on the next two tournaments on grass, so well done." Fritz smiled sheepishly while sat in his chair during Zverev's speech. Advertisement Most read in Tennis BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 4 Fritz shares a laugh with Zverev after his latest victory over him Credit: AP After the match, the US Open runner-up posted on X: "what is Clay ?" Following his defeat to Fritz at Wimbledon last year, 6ft 6in Zverev complained about a member of his opponent's player box, thought to be girlfriend Advertisement Supermum qualifier Tatjana Maria stuns Queen's as 160-1 qualifier becomes oldest WTA title winner since Serena Williams During his post-match press conference, the three-time Grand Slam runner-up huffed: "His team is extremely respectful. I think his coach, his physio and also his second coach were extremely respectful. "But I think there are some other people that, maybe, are in the box that are not, maybe from the tennis world and are not, maybe, particularly watching every match. "They were a bit over the top but that's okay. No issues, no drama. He fought back from two sets to love so they are obviously all excited, very pumped up. "But no issues with Taylor. I think Taylor is a great guy and I have no issues with him." Advertisement At the time, Morgan shared an Instagram reel toasting and sipping her drink in a white dress and navy jacket, captioned: "When your man wins for the girls." Fritz has since beaten Zverev at the US Open, Laver Cup and ATP Finals. The former Wimbledon quarter-finalist is set to be in action in London next week. Fritz will head to the Queen's Club to play in the HSBC Championships, and has drawn Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the first round. Advertisement 4 Morgan Riddle cheered Fritz on at Wimbledon last year Credit: Getty
TechCrunch
13-06-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
Clay secures a new round at a $3B valuation, sources say
Clay, a sales automation startup, has raised a Series C round at an approximate $3 billion valuation, led by Capital G, according to three sources with knowledge of the deal. Clay and Capital G didn't respond to a request for comment. The new round comes just a month after the New York startup announced that it will allow most of its employees to sell some of their shares at a $1.5 billion valuation. That secondary deal, known as a tender offer, was led by Sequoia, which agreed to purchase up to $20 million in employee stock. While it may seem that employees who sold shares at a much smaller price than the company is worth now got a bad deal, they'll likely have another chance to sell more stock at a higher valuation next year. Kareem Amin, Clay's co-founder and CEO, told TechCrunch in May that he hopes to do tender offers on an annual basis. Clay was founded in 2017, but it didn't hit its stride until a few years ago, when Amin decided to pivot the startup's focus to empowering salespeople and marketers with AI, helping them discover key data and automate their go-to-market strategies. Clay allows salespeople to find and update prospective customer lists and write personalized outreach emails. Today, Clay's tools are used by thousands of customers, ranging from large companies like OpenAI, HubSpot, and Canva to over 100 small consulting agencies that help other businesses utilize Clay for their go-to-market efforts. The company competes with sales tech platforms including ZoomInfo, Lusha, as well as newer offering Unify and Common Room Techcrunch event Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW Besides Sequoia, existing investors in Clay include Meritech Capital, Boldstart Ventures, Maple VC, First Round Capital, and Box Group.
San Francisco Chronicle
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘I'm just thrilled': S.F. film community applauds Clay Theatre's anticipated comeback
As San Francisco movie houses continue to struggle in the post-pandemic streaming age, it's notable when a theater gets an encore. So the recent news that the Clay Theatre in San Francisco's Upper Fillmore is set to reopen as early as 2026 after being shuttered the past five years has been greeted ecstatically by members of the Bay Area film community. 'I think it'll be great,' cult director John Waters, whose films screened at the Clay as midnight movies in the 1970s, told the Chronicle. 'I have a history there because that's where 'Pink Flamingos' first opened (in San Francisco), but I always went there. I saw Andy Warhol's 'Trash' for the first time there, and I lived near there for many, many years — and so did (Waters' frequent star) Divine, at California and Pierce. 'I'm just thrilled. You know, who's opening a new movie theater (these days)?' In this case, it's tech investor Neil Mehta, who grew up in the neighborhood. Mehta revealed on Tuesday, June 10, plans to renovate the 115-year-old theater at 2261 Fillmore St. He expects the nearly 5,000-square-foot space to seat 200 and host more than 500 film screenings annually. Though the inside will need to be extensively updated, the Clay's landmarked sign and marquee will remain, according to a statement released by his team. Mehta has hired Ted Gerike, founder of Los Angeles cinema-bookstore Now Instant, as director and chief creative officer. Mehta and Gerike promise that programming will include first-run premieres, repertory classics, filmmaker talks and 'cinema-focused events.' 'I envision The Clay as both a home for local voices and a bridge connecting San Francisco to the wider world of cinema and ideas,' Gerike said in statement. Mehta's vision is a return to the Clay's heritage. In 1935, it became one of the first San Francisco movie theaters to focus on international cinema, and its arthouse reputation blossomed under the ownership of longtime Bay Area exhibitor Mel Novikoff, who included the Clay as part of his Surf Theaters local chain along with the Surf, Castro and Lumiere theaters. Marc Huestis, a longtime filmmaker and impresario, worked at the Clay as 'a popcorn pusher,' as he called it, from 1979 through '85 under Novikoff. 'It was absolutely formative. I can't tell you how much I loved being there,' Huestis said. ''Lust in the Dust' opened at the Clay with Divine. 'Burroughs: The Movie' opened there — Burroughs was kind of half dead and would occasionally smile. It was the jewel in the crown and a cultural institution. 'My hat is off to anyone who will reopen a movie theater.' Gary Meyer, who co-founded the Landmark Theatres chain, shared an office with Novikoff across from the Clay. 'We always enjoyed watching through the windows as the crowds came on opening Fridays, and then going across the street as shows were getting out to overhear reactions to the movies,' Meyer recalled. 'I am always for new creative ways to bring audiences in, and the proposal for the Clay is exciting and somewhat unique.' Novikoff died in 1987, and the Clay became part of the Los Angeles-based Pacific Theatres chain. Landmark took over in 1991, and eventually closed the theater in January 2020 due to financial difficulties. Steve Indig, who helped program the Clay as marketing director for Landmark from 2000 to 2015, said the closing was 'a sign of the times.' From the early aughts into the 2010s, the theater maintained a reputation as an art house and prestige film destination, with local openings and private screenings part of its calendar. Artist and filmmaker Lynn Hershman Leeson, who premiered her 2002 film 'Teknolust' at the the Clay with star Tilda Swinton in attendance, called the theater 'a great theater that gives credibility to film as an artform.' Midnight movies also continued at the Clay up until its closing, with the cult musical 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' and Tommy Wiseau's 'The Room' screening there monthly. It's too early to know whether similar programming will return, but the prospect of a bustling movie theater in the neighborhood again is encouraging. 'I personally was pessimistic that the building would ever show movies again, so this is very exciting news,' Indig said. 'I think the neighborhood and greater San Francisco and Bay Area will be motivated to support a revived Clay Theatre, with the right programming.' Mehta's announcement comes not just as Hollywood continues to reevaluate how it releases films, but at an inflection point for movie theaters locally. While the Roxie Theater launched a capital campaign to buy its historic Mission District home, the Castro Theatre is undergoing a years-long renovation, with the future of repertory film at the venue bleak as it shifts focus to live events. The promised revival of Clay is also a potential boon for the region's many film festivals, which have been experiencing something of a venue crisis with the closing of several theaters since the start of the pandemic, including the Castro, CGV San Francisco, Landmark's Embarcadero Cinemas and the CineArts Empire, among others. Todd Traina, a film producer and board president for SFFilm, which operates the San Francisco International Film Festival, lauded plans for the Clay, which boast showing films in both 4K digital and 35mm projection. Meanwhile, Frameline Executive Director Allegra Madsen observed that 'independent neighborhood theaters often serve as moviegoers' first touch point with indie films, arthouse cinema, and midnight, cult-classic screenings. The sense of community that neighborhood theaters cultivate is so special, so it's great to see that The Clay's revitalization is in progress.' The Clay Theater is part of the Upper Fillmore Revitalization Project, directed by Cody Allen. A timeline for the renovation work, spearheaded by architectural firm Page & Turnbull, has not been revealed as proposals still need to be submitted to the city later this year. But some in the neighborhood are already excited about its comeback. 'San Francisco needs ever more space for art and storytelling,' said Joni Binder, an author and former SFFILM board member who lives near the Clay. 'I, for one, am grateful for the significant investment made in both the exhibition of film and architectural love and attention for The Clay.'
