This article was featured in New York ’s One Great Story newsletter. Sign up here .

In late August, in response to the red-carpet photos from the Venice Film Festival premiere of Yorgos Lanthimos’s Bugonia , one person on X commented , “Can’t believe stav shitposted and crowd worked his way into a movie with Emma stone.” It was a common reaction across social media and understandably so: When Stone’s creative partnership with Lanthimos kicked off with The Favourite in 2018, comedian Stavros Halkias was the co-host of Cum Town , a popular but niche podcast where fans would come to expect ironic racism, young male vulgarity, and the possibility of a host shitting himself . Since he left Cum Town in 2022, Halkias’s fan base has only continued to grow: He’s mast

See Full Page