🎤 Was Dave Chapelle’s walk-off justified?

It’s Tuesday, January 2 — people are talking about Bird filing for bankruptcy, Dave Chapelle’s walk-off, and more.

As always, we’ve summarized and organized the different shades of perspective, so you can see the big picture quickly. Here at Shades we believe that seeing multiple points of view is the best way to stay informed.

If someone forwarded you this email, click here to subscribe.

- Jeff (co-founder of Shades)

🛴 Bird files for bankruptcy

Bird scooters hit a wall with bankruptcy. Some see the scooters as clutter, while others think Bird will rebound.

🛴 Bird, a scooter-sharing company that once soared in popularity, has filed for bankruptcy. CNN says the e-scooter pioneer couldn't keep up with financial woes.

🛴 And Wired noted that while Bird generated lots of of hype in the beginning, now their scooters are mostly seen as street clutter — and profitability has been difficult.

🛴 Lost Coast Outpost is bummed about it. Bird scooters could've been a great alternative to cars, but they couldn't make it work. Sadly, it's back to traffic jams and carbon footprints for now.

🛴 But The Guardian says it's not over: Bird may be bankrupt, but they're restructuring. Perhaps they’ll they rise from the ashes with a leaner model.

🎤 Was Dave Chapelle’s walk-off justified?

Chappelle's walk-off (after a fan used a phone) sparked debate. Some say it was about respect, while others call it an overreaction.

🎤 Comedian Dave Chappelle walked off stage during a performance, after a fan violated the no-phone rule. The Daily Mail said the incident fueled outrage.

🎤 @scrappycococnut was upset, calling out Chappelle's stage exit as a “Karen” move and slamming his lack of comedic grit.

🎤 But OutKick notes that other fans supported Chappelle's walk-off, as frustrating as it was. The audience was warned in advance that mobile devices were not permitted.

🎤 And CNN agreed: Chappelle made the right call. The move was a stand for artistic integrity and respect — audience recordings can hurt ticket sales and comedians' ability to workshop jokes.

Quick hits

🎾 Naomi Osaka played her first tennis match since giving birth in July 2023. (Tennis.com)

⚫ Five crew members of a Japan Coast Guard earthquake relief aircraft were killed after it collided with a Japan Airlines plane. (NYT)

🇮🇱 Israel announced plans to pull thousands of its soldiers from the Gaza Strip, to prepare for a new phase of the Israel-Hamas war. (CNN)

🏈 Michigan and Washington will face off in the College Football Championship game. Neither team has won a national title since the 90s. (CBS Sports)