According to U.Today, digital artist Beeple, known for his record-breaking NFT artwork, has released a new piece titled 'Mother and Daddy (2024)'. The artwork, a modern take on Grant Wood’s 'American Gothic', features rapper Iggy Azalea and influencer Andrew Tate. This release coincides with a rise in celebrity meme coin launches, including Tate's Daddy Tate (DADDY) and Azalea’s Mother Iggy (MOTHER) meme coins.
Beeple gained fame after selling his NFT artwork for a staggering $69 million during the 2021 NFT hype. During this period, many celebrities endorsed numerous NFT projects, most of which did not survive the subsequent market downturn. Beeple's latest NFT offers a satirical perspective on celebrity crypto influencers, referencing this period. The artist suggests that celebrities' involvement in meme coins demonstrates how digital finance transcends borders, potentially fostering economic instability and risk.
Iggy Azalea, the Australian rapper and entrepreneur, has recently garnered significant attention in the crypto world. In early June, she launched her own token, MOTHER, which soared nearly 2,000% in just two days. However, Azalea faced criticism from Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin, who disapproved of celebrity-endorsed digital assets that focus on direct monetization without adding any value.
Andrew Tate capitalized on the hype surrounding MOTHER by launching his own meme coin. He announced a $1 million investment in Solana meme coins, specifically supporting a coin called $DADDY. However, some community members have expressed skepticism about the initial investment claim, with some experts suggesting possible insider activity during DADDY's launch.