If you spent any time in the general vicinity of the internet during the month of September, you are undoubtedly aware of the plight of Draven Rodriguez. He’s the Schenectady High School student who united us all in a cause worth fighting for: obtaining permission to use this photo as his senior portrait.

Vincent Giordano / Trinacria Photography

The response from the internet was immediate and passionate.
“YES! LET THERE BE LASER CATS!” we cried.

Even Kesha took up the mantle, tweeting her support of Mr. Rodriguez and his furry friend Mr. Bigglesworth. But when MTV News caught up with Draven a couple weeks ago, he confirmed that the administration would not relent — only compromise. The photo would be published somewhere in the yearbook, but alas, the graduating senior would not be able to use it as his official portrait.

Don’t worry, though. This story has a happy ending:

The other half of the compromise: a photo session featuring not just Draven and his beautiful cat, but also school principal Diane Wilkinson and her chihuahua, Vivienne.

As reported by Buzzfeed, this picture will go in the yearbook to raise awareness for the ASPCA and rescue pets like the two pictured here. It is, dare we say, even better than the original. For lo, the internet cried out for laser cats, and the universe in its infinite power chose instead to bestow upon us both laser cats and laser dogs! It’s official: we have everything we ever wanted.

Oh, except a ...

We are officially living in the era of Pharrell’s hat. Since Skateboard P became a contender for most unforgettable Grammys outfit of all time, his Vivienne Westwood number has become so embedded into culture, designers like Donna Karan, Karen Walker, and Ryan Roche put their own spin on it during New York’s spring 2015 fashion week. Now, both Zendaya and Lorde are getting in on the big hat trend with nearly-identical oversized black toppers.

Both stars went with a similarly minimal all-black approach, but Lorde had a little more fun with the comical proportion of the hat, pairing it with an oversized V-neck shirt.

Getty Images

Zendaya, on the other hand, went for a sleeker, more avant-garde look at Teen Vogue’s Young Hollywood party by sporting her hat with an Emporio Armani wide-leg jumpsuit that we need in our closets ASAP.

Related: Lorde Or Pharrell: Who Wore The Giant Hat Best?

Picking between the two literally feels like splitting hairs since their hairstyles—Lorde’s tousled long curls and Zendaya’s up-do, hidden beneath her hat—were the biggest difference. So, what do you think: who wore it better?

Marissa G. Muller @marissagmuller

Musically, Rich Homie Quan is having a big week with the release of Rich Gang’s mixtape, but unfortunately, the rapper is dealing with some sad news at home. His father and manager was shot multiple times during a robbery attempt in Atlanta on Monday and is reportedly in critical condition.

According to TMZ, Quan’s father, Corey Lamar, was working in the barbershop he owns yesterday morning, when an armed suspect attempted to rob it. Lamar was reportedly shot four times, and he was rushed to a nearby hospital to undergo surgery. He’s currently listed in critical condition, and the rapper, born Dequantes Lamar, has been at his father’s side.

Local police in Atlanta are currently investigating the shooting. One local witness told WSB-TV 2 that he chased the gunman, but saw him escape in a car. “I heard about three gunshots, and so I saw the guy come out,” Van White said. “He got in a black car, and that’s all I know from there.”

This is reportedly the second time that the shop has been attacked in the past month.

Rich Homie Quan has not issued a statement. Representatives from his camp have not responded for comment at press time.

Nadeska Alexis

A native of Grenada, a product of Brooklyn, a student of hip-hop.

@neweryork

With additional reporting by Janelle Myers

That’s What Friends Are For
Surprise, surprise. Lorde‘s cooking class partner, paper doll-making influence, and VMA date, Taylor Swift, was the first person to hear her “Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” song “Yellow Flicker Beat.” Taylor posted a photo of her handwritten lyrics from the single, which Lorde regrammed and said: “she was instantly obsessed with it/would make me play it to our other friends in her kitchen like a proud mom.” In return for the “Shake It Off” singer’s support, Lorde told everyone to listen to Taylor’s upcoming 1989 album.

From Being A Pussycat Doll To An Actual Cat
Nicole Scherzinger pounced on the opportunity of a lifetime and landed a role in the legendary musical “Cats,” playing “Glamor Cat” Grizabella in its London production.

Can I Get A Little Help From My Friend?
We haven’t heard anything from Amber Rose since her divorce from Wiz Khalifa was announced, but her close friend singer Christina Milian provided words of encouragement and support alongside an Instagram “girl power” photo of the pals.

She Was Doing So Well…
After more than a year of staying away from trouble, Amanda Bynes was arrested on Sunday for a DUI. She was released on $15,000 bail after spending around six hours in jail. Life was improving for the actress after her parents were granted temporary conservatorship in July 2013 following a series of disturbing incidents. Bynes had ...

If you’re a huge Weezer fan, it’s felt like the band has kind of been on another planet for the past few records. But with their upcoming, back-to-basics Everything Will Be Alright In The End album, due out next Tuesday, singer Rivers Cuomo and the crew revisit the glory days of their early sound and kind of apologize for losing their way on first single, “Back To The Shack.”

So it makes sense that when the time came to film the video for “Shack” they decided to leave Earth’s gravitational pull and blast off to another heavenly body. Check out their moon rocking in this Warren Fu-directed slice of video magic.

Gil Kaufman

Often guilty, never convicted. Serving 15 years to life at MTV News.

As we get deeper into fall, it’s only natural that we want to snatch up a cozy new beanie as a winter wardrobe staple. So, we were doing a little online shopping for ourselves (hey, we’re human too) and stumbled upon this chunky, ribbed knit light gray hat.

ASOS

Looks pretty normal, right? And for only $19 it’s kind of a steal! But then…

ASOS

This happened. *head explodes* The model is wearing her ponytail through the beanie, dudes. How have we never thought of this before? Think about all those times mid-winter when you’ve ditched a hat because you were wearing a high bun. Is this the ultimate game changer? TBH, this whole ~lewk~ is very new to us so we can’t quite tell if we’re buying into some glorified headband situation or if this is legit awesome, but Hood by Air totally decked out their models in nylon versions of these bad boys at their spring 2015 PFW show. So, what do you think: are you gonna give the ponytail beanie a try this winter or nah?

Chrissy Mahlmeister @sweatmoustache

The mysteries of Gotham City are coming closer to stepping out of the shadows and into the light — and it’s all thanks to a little “Cat.”

On the latest episode of “Gotham,” Detective Jim Gordon makes a new young friend, while his other new young friend goes to extreme lengths to test his pain threshold. Elsewhere in the land of scum and villainy, Fish Mooney’s plans to take out Carmine Falcone threaten to boil over, while even further outside of Gotham’s city limits, a Penguin waddles to the beat of his own drummer.

It was a big episode for the new DC Comics series, yielding a ton of questions in the process. Such as…

1. What Does Selina Kyle Really Know?

At the end of the episode, Selina calls for Gordon. She wants him to help make sure she’s not sent upstate to a juvenile detention center. In exchange, she can tell him who killed Thomas and Martha Wayne; she witnessed it all.

But what more does she know that we, the viewers, don’t? She saw what we saw — a masked gunman without many, or any, real distinguishing characteristics. Did she pursue the killer further? Has she seen him before? How will Selina’s knowledge impact the search for the Waynes’ murderer?

Related: Is [SPOILER] The Same Character On ‘Gotham’ And ‘Arrow’?

2. Are Bruce Wayne’s “Tests” Too Extreme?

Honestly, it’s hard to say. On the one hand, intentionally burning the palm of your hand is never a great ...

Security was super, super tight at last weekend’s George Clooney/Amal Alamuddin wedding. Like, no personal phones at the ceremony and photos could only be taken on Clooney-provided phones that were traceable.

Related: Check Out The Pics Of The A-List Wedding Arrivals

Luckily for us, though, the happy couple made a deal with Hello! magazine and People to publish the first official wedding picture and, well, of course it’s perfect. In the spreads that will hit both magazines this week, readers will get a peek inside the star-packed ceremony at the Aman Canal Grande Hotel, Alamuddin’s custom French lace Oscar de la Renta dress and Clooney’s custom Giorgio Armani black tuxedo, complete with cufflinks from his new wife with “George” inscribed in Arabic.

People Magazine

According to People, the couple exchanged traditional vows, platinum bands and a lengthy kiss during the 30-minute September 27 ceremony in Venice, attended by 100 family and friends. “George and Amal radiated love all night,” Alamuddin’s mother Baria told the magazine. “The wedding was so unbelievably special, it was legendary. These three days – the friends, the families, the atmosphere, everything – will stay with me all the rest of my life.”

Hello! Magazine

With famous friends include Matt Damon and U2′s Bono on hand, the couple danced to Cole Porter’s “Why Shouldn’t I” for their first dance at the reception.

Gil Kaufman

Often guilty, never convicted. Serving ...

Sep 30, 2014 | No Comments on The First George Clooney/Amal Alamuddin Wedding Picture Is Here And Of Course It’s Perfect

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Oh my god, Becky, look at my utter shock and amazement. Nicki Minaj is not only performing at the 2014 MTV EMA — she’s going to host the whole damn thing, too.

On Sunday, November 9 — two weeks before her third studio album, The Pinkprint, drops — the “Anaconda” rapper will serve as both MC and emcee at MTV’s annual awards ceremony dedicated to the hottest music worldwide. The night will kick off in Miami before globe-hopping over to the SSE Hydro arena in Glasgow, Scotland, where Onika awaits.

Will Nicki’s performance cause the international equivalent of the Parents’ Television Council to implode? Will her hosting abilities bring a tear to longtime Oscars emcee Billy Crystal’s eye? Will she take home her first EMA since 2012? (She’s nominated for Best Female, Best Hip Hop, Best Look and Biggest Fans this year, FYI.) Only time will tell. One thing’s for sure…

I honestly can’t even process this news right now.

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But, I can’t wait.

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BRB, gotta re-watch Nicki’s “Anaconda”/“Bang Bang” performance from the 2014 VMAs for the millionth time.

Vote now for the 2014 MTV EMA, and watch the show live on Sunday, November 9 at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT!

Sep 30, 2014 | No Comments on Wait, Nicki Minaj Will Host The 2014 MTV EMA And Perform Live At The Show? Seriously?!

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art by Nick DeSantis

Many of the young adult movies we’ve grown to love in recent years take place in futuristic, dystopian universes, so it’s only logical for these films (and of course, the novels that inspired them) to develop their own slang terms to differentiate their worlds from our own.

Only problem is, many of us — especially those of us who have not read the books that inspired these films — have no idea what these characters are talking about when they’re throwing around terms like “klunk,” “squib,” and “reaping” like they’re “and” or “the.”

Related: ‘The Maze Runner’ Cast Breaks Down Glader Slang

That’s where this handy-dandy glossary comes in. Using terms from “The Hunger Games,” “Divergent,” “Harry Potter,” “The Giver,” and “The Maze Runner” — the last being the “worst” offender in terms of made-up slang — we’ve created a simple guide to all of your YA movie needs, so next time someone calls you a muggle you’ll know right then that you should slap them in the face. (Just kidding, violence is bad.)

Click for a larger version!

Shaunna Murphy

A real go-getter.

@ShaunnaLMurphy