Julia Louis-Dreyfus Crushes Our Dreams Of A Rizzler Romance After Viral ‘Thunderbolts’ Photo: “No Offense To That Nice Child, But I Did Not Know Who He Was”

New York Post - May 3rd, 2025

Christian Joseph, the 9-year-old TikTok sensation known as The Rizzler, made a memorable appearance at a special screening of the upcoming Marvel movie 'Thunderbolts' on April 30 at New York's iPic Theater. Dressed as the Red Guardian, Joseph mingled with stars like Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Florence Pugh, and Wyatt Russell, capturing attention with his signature 'rizz face.' Despite David Harbour's absence, Joseph's charisma kept the event lively. Louis-Dreyfus humorously admitted to not recognizing the young star, who later posted a video from the screening, maintaining his Red Guardian persona.

Joseph first captured the internet's attention on Halloween 2023, going viral as Black Panther with commentary that earned him millions of likes. His charm, dubbed 'rizz,' resonates across social media, even influencing language trends as Oxford University Press's Word of the Year. 'Thunderbolts,' directed by Jake Schreier, is set to release on May 2, 2025, adding anticipation to Marvel's cinematic universe. The film's mix of anti-heroes in perilous situations promises to engage audiences, while Joseph's viral presence highlights the intersecting worlds of social media and entertainment.

Tik Tok Marvel Thunderbolts Christian Joseph The Rizzler Julia Louis Dreyfus Red Guardian Viral Sensation Rizz

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.2

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article provides an entertaining account of Christian Joseph's appearance at a 'Thunderbolts' screening, effectively capturing the intersection of social media and film. It excels in clarity and readability, maintaining an engaging tone suitable for its entertainment focus. However, the story's accuracy is somewhat compromised by unverified quotes and a lack of transparency regarding sources. While it holds public interest for fans of Marvel and social media trends, its impact and controversy potential are limited. Overall, the article is a light, engaging read, but it could benefit from more rigorous sourcing and verification to enhance its credibility.

Accuracy

The story claims Christian Joseph, known as 'The Rizzler,' attended a special screening of the Marvel movie 'Thunderbolts' and interacted with the cast. This is largely accurate, as verified by multiple sources confirming his attendance and interactions with stars like Julia Louis-Dreyfus. However, the article includes quotes from Louis-Dreyfus that lack verification, as no sources confirm these remarks or the interview's existence. Additionally, the claim that 'rizz' was Oxford's 2023 Word of the Year is not substantiated by the available sources. Overall, the story provides a mostly accurate account but requires further verification for certain claims.

Balance

The article primarily focuses on Christian Joseph's presence at the event and his interactions with the cast, particularly Julia Louis-Dreyfus. While it presents Joseph's charm and rising fame, it lacks perspectives from other attendees, such as additional cast members or event organizers, which could provide a fuller picture of the event. The story's focus on Joseph's viral status may overshadow other significant aspects of the screening or the film itself, leading to a somewhat imbalanced presentation favoring the social media angle.

Clarity

The article is generally clear and easy to follow, with a straightforward narrative about Christian Joseph's appearance at the 'Thunderbolts' screening. It effectively conveys the main points, such as Joseph's interactions with the cast and his social media presence. The language is accessible, and the story maintains a light and engaging tone, suitable for its entertainment-focused content. However, the inclusion of unverified quotes could confuse readers about the accuracy of certain details.

Source quality

The story references a BuzzFeed interview for quotes from Julia Louis-Dreyfus, but fails to provide a direct source or link to the interview, raising questions about the credibility of these claims. The article mentions Joseph's social media presence and past viral moments, which are verifiable through his TikTok account, lending some credibility. However, the lack of direct citations or authoritative sources for certain claims diminishes the overall reliability of the reporting.

Transparency

The article does not adequately disclose the basis for some of its claims, such as the BuzzFeed interview with Julia Louis-Dreyfus. It lacks transparency in sourcing these quotes, leaving readers without a clear understanding of their origin. The story also fails to clarify its methodology for verifying Joseph's social media statistics and viral status. While it provides some context about Joseph's rise to fame, the lack of transparency in key areas affects the article's credibility.