The week’s most emotionally reacted-to TV personalities and characters include a rapper, two NBA draft picks and a soccer superstar had viewers talking passionately on social media over the past seven days.
TheWrap has partnered with Canvs, the emotion measurement AI company, for a weekly look at some of the characters and personalities that have TV viewers the most worked up on social media. The data below covers June 20-26 and is drawn from the most emotionally reacted-to television programs, including broadcast, cable, streaming and PPV.
The broadcast of the 2018 BET Awards ignited 264,411 Emotional Reactions (ERs), with rapper and songwriter Meek Mill driving a large amount of conversation during the evening. He took the stage to premiere a new song called “Stay Woke,” his first since being released from prison. The performance shone a spotlight on police brutality with depictions of arrests and the shooting of a young black child. Viewers applauded his blunt realism, with celebrities such as Kevin Hart coming out in support of the musician.
Meek mill the realist rapper 💯🗣
— juann (@202juann) June 25, 2018
Whoa 😮 shout out to Meek Mill!!
— Ka'Mya X (Melton) (@Reloaded_______) June 25, 2018
MEEK MILL THE REALEST 💪🏾🥉
— MCO TED (@motionted) June 25, 2018
So happy & proud of my brother @MeekMill …..Great performance…Great message…STAND UP PHILADELPHIA!!!!!
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) June 25, 2018
There were two basketball players in particular that got viewers riled up during the 2018 NBA Draft (broadcast on ESPN and NBA TV with over 225,379 ERS): Kevin Knox and Lonnie Walker IV. Notably, these players weren’t the first two picks; Knox was drafted ninth overall by the New York Knicks, while Walker went 18th to the San Antonio Spurs. As you may expect, there were mixed emotions during both picks, and more than a few people commented about Walker’s crazy hair.
Kevin Knox to New York! I like it!
— Aaron Putty (@Putty_116) June 22, 2018
Lonnie Walker to the Spurs is great. That back court is all defense
— UGA 2025 Champions (@Kyle_Moreno77) June 22, 2018
Lonnie Walker's fit is on point, and the hair is the cherry on top
— Pat Mueller (@PMuelsTV) June 22, 2018
I hope Lonnie Walker IV’s game is as crazy as his hair #GoSpursGo
— NayeliAlejandra🌻 (@nayeliale_13) June 22, 2018
Argentina went down in a stunning defeat against Croatia during last week’s 2018 FIFA World Cup match, which was broadcast on Fox and Telemundo and garnered over 63,054 ERs. Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi drove much of the conversation, with many viewers feeling heartbreak for the player and a team that looked to be on the brink of elimination (they’ve since qualified for the next round). Fans tapped out messages of condolences, with some blaming his teammates.
https://twitter.com/AnunobysCrocs/status/1009883241254412296
I feel bad for Messi 💔
— 🥷🏻 (@ilvou2) June 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/3washy93ali/status/1009877952052580357
https://twitter.com/JavisAHawtee/status/1009888036002324481
