• Indicted on charges of misuse of campaign funds (to an incredible degree), GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter found himself on the receiving side of “Lock him up!” chants as he reported to the federal courthouse in San Diego yesterday. Hunter was the second member of Congress to endorse Donald Trump for president. #BirdsOfaFeather?
Rep. Duncan Hunter arrived at court in San Diego and was met with protesters chanting “Lock him up!” pic.twitter.com/HsW9GR0xpB
• While Donald Trump’s former campaign chair was found guilty of 8 felony counts, it turns out just one pro-Trump juror kept Paul Manafort from being found guilty on the other 10 counts.
• Speaking of Manafort, I’ve been saying for months he’s expected a presidential pardon from Trump. The Washington Post is reporting Trump asked about a pardon for Manafort weeks ago, but they told him to chill for a bit until political times were better.
• I know we’re only 8 months through 2018, but I’m still eyeing out recording artist Starley’s “Love Is Love” as one of my top tracks of the year.
Check out the freshly released music video for the uber-talented singer/songwriter below. I previously wrote about Starley and the top pop tune here.
In a gay world where hyper-masculinity is often revered, singer/songwriter/director John Duff has drops his first pop creation celebrating femininity and fluidity – “Girly.”
“It’s about freedom. It’s about expression. It’s about equality. Above all, it’s f*cking fierce,” Duff said.
The music video for “Girly” pays homage to several of Duff’s top pop queens including Madonna (“Hung Up”), Mariah Carey (“Heartbeaker”), Britney Spears (“Stronger”), Beyoncé (“Crazy in Love”) and Christina Aguilera (“Come on Over”).
As the kids say, “it’s iconic.” The music video also features Drag Race superstars Bianca Del Rio, Willam and Mariah Balenciaga.
Rejecting what he calls toxic masculinity, Duff’s mission here is to promote honest and genuine self expression.
John Duff (photo: Magaly Chacon)
“You could have your pump on – two plates. Or get your pumps on – first date. No one cares just pump the bass, full speed ahead don’t pump the breaks.”
Duff says he has been told in the past he “would do better in the industry by playing up my masculinity.”
Duff found that approach to be insulting not only to his creativity but who he is in general. Instead, he decided to throw down his girly gauntlet.
Via press release:
“Being girly, or being a girl for that matter, is nothing to be ashamed of. The video was created from those same frustrations. While paying homage to some of my greatest female influences, I wanted to highlight the sexualization of female performers and how absurd it looks to simply replace the ingenue with a hairy man.”
And speaking of ‘throwing down,’ the music video features a hysterical bathroom brawl between Duff and Bianca Del Rio.
The adorbs Duff recently told OUT, “I wanna say it was 7am. We’d been filming since midnight the night before. We were completely on edge, falling apart. He and I started boozing. So, we were a little tipsy filming it. We had a blast. We always cackle.”
Duff also wanted to bring some fun back to pop music.
“I feel like in music, we’re missing some joy,” Duff also shared with OUT. “I don’t see pop stars presenting fun. I see dark, sexual, honestly evil energy coming out of most popular music.”
“There’s a place for funny people, and there’s a place for happy people,” the 28-year-old added. “I want people to feel happy and no pressure to be anything else.”
There’s no denying “Girly” is packed full of fun. Not only does the track have a catchy hook, but Duff is uber-adorbs.
Plus, alongside his Drag Race guest-stars, the whole cast presents as a rainbow of diversity.
Bravo!
Check out a couple of Duff’s Instagram tributes to his pop divas below.
You may recall that back in 2010, in the aftermath of pop superstar Michael Jackson’s death, Epic Records and Sony Music released a posthumous album titled, Michael.
The album debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart with respectable first-week sales of 228,000 units.
But, at the time, some fans weren’t convinced all of the lead vocals on the tracks were recorded by the ‘King of Pop,’ including Jackson’s mother.
And so it came to be that in 2014, Jackson fan Vera Serova filed a Class Action lawsuit against Jackson’s longtime friend Eddie Cascio and Angelikson Productions LLC alleging some of the songs were not voiced by Jackson.
A co-writer on twelve of the songs, James Porte, was also named in the suit.
Serova detailed what she called “inconsistencies” and even brought in a forensic audiologist, Dr. George Papcun, who wrote up a whopping 41-page report indicating three songs – ‘Breaking News’, ‘Keep Your Head Up’ and ‘Monster’ – were not recorded by Jackson.
Among some of the issues were the absence of the singer’s iconic finger snaps and foot taps.
In defending itself, Sony called on Porte and Cascio to provide alternate takes of the songs by Jackson. But the duo claimed all the other takes had been deleted.
Who deletes actual, raw recordings of Michael Jackson?
It turns out – nobody.
Eventually, in December 2016, even Sony got a sense that perhaps the vocals weren’t authentic.
In court, the lawyer for Jackson’s estate and Sony attempted to put the blame on James and Eddie “failed to disclose to Sony or the Estate that Michael Jackson did not provide the lead vocals”
The judge wasn’t having it and ruled against them.
Fast forward to August 21, 2018, where the California Court of Appeal heard oral arguments where Sony Music admitted that the three songs ‘Breaking News’, ‘Keep Your Head Up’ and ‘Monster’ featuring 50 Cent was indeed performed by an impersonator, Jason Malachi. and not Michael Jackson.
According to EDM.com, the 3 judges on the panel have 90 days to decide the matter.
Psychotherapist Matthew Dempsey shares his thoughts on the effect of “pretty privilege” in life, and specifically in the LGBTQ community.
Dempsey begins by defining exactly what “privilege” is.
In other words, what he calls ‘unearned advantages’ some folks are born with like being white, straight, male, cisgender, and yes, attractive.
When it comes to the ‘attractive’ component, Dempsey lists traits like being tall, having good hair, symmetrical features that he calls “hitting the genetic lottery.”
In the United States, its certainly true that all those characteristics can make life a bit easier to maneuver through.
Study after study has shown that being attractive may make it easier to find a mate, are perceived to be more intelligent and likable, and are viewed as healthier.
Speaking candidly, Dempsey admits to his audience that he knows he’s enjoyed “pretty privilege” in his life saying, “I didn’t have to work to be 6’3” and I didn’t have to work to have my face look the way it did.”
“This is just something that I was born into,” he adds.
And what does this get folks? According to Dempsey this ‘privilege’ translates into getting party invites, dates, job offers and more thanks to the way he looks.
Admittedly, its somewhat uncomfortable to watch and listen to someone describe their “born under a lucky star” status.
Even Dempsey admits, the discussion can come off a bit douchey:
“So you might be watching this after a couple minutes and thinking, ‘Why am I watching this douchebag talk about how attractive he is and how easy his life has been?’ Totally get it.
“Listen, my intention here is not to brag, I promise, because I recognize that I’m putting an easy target on my back for people to just drag me for days and tell me that I am no Pietro Boselli. I know that I am no Pietro Boselli!
“I don’t consider myself the pinnacle of physical beauty, but I do recognize that I have had an advantage in life just because of how I look. And so that’s what I want to talk about and acknowledge ‘pretty privilege’ is a real thing.”
Where Dempsey is going with all this is to say that when those with ‘unearned advantages’ admit those privileges, it helps honor and validate the disadvantage of others.
For instance, when hunky guys complain about not having 6% body fat to their friends who may truly struggle with their weight not only doesn’t ‘honor’ their friends but it is insensitive to others.
Take a few minutes and watch the video below.
The comments on the YouTube page ranged from disgust to agreement.
“6:31 minutes of this video basically : “I am hot and I acknowledge I am hot.’”
“I can relate to you Matt. But people let’s be clear there is a dangerous side to “pretty privilege”. The most morally, spiritually, and mentally bankrupt people are the “Hot Gays”.
“Thanks for acknowledging this struggle. Gay Asian male here who has probably internalized all the bad stuff going around about being gay and Asian while living in a mostly white, western NA city.”
“Disappointed in you Matt . I’ve been following you from the very beginning. But lately your vlogs have been very stereotypical on our lgbt community. Hunny this vlog was very narcissistic. I mean let’s be real. You live in Hollywood where you live and thrive on you looks . Smh. Conceited is boring . There are wayyyy more important things going on this world.”
“’… just because of how I look.’ I don’t think I have heard anyone say it more louder and honestly. Thanks Matthew.”
To be fair – watch the full six minutes to get Dempsey’s take on the subject and let me know what you think.
I’ve previously written about Dempsey here where he addresses facing ‘body image’ issues.
Is this a real conversation to be having? Or is it narcissistic to admit “pretty privilege?”
Hamby had been placed on administrative leave earlier this week, after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the allegations. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, includes recordings in which a person identified as Hamby used racial epithets repeatedly when referring to African-American workers at a construction site.
“(Expletive) that (n-word). I’ll kill these (expletive) — shoot that (expletive) if they let me,” the person identified as Hamby can be heard saying. The person speaking repeatedly refers to blacks as “deadbeat (n-word).”
This fine gentlemen was being paid a reported $340,000 a year to oversee children at four schools in his district.
Any guesses who he voted for in the 2016 election? Hmm?
My husband Michael Caprio with Robin Leach in Las Vegas
Very sad to report that longtime journalist and TV host, Robin Leach, has passed away at the age of 76.
Living here in Las Vegas, my publicist husband Michael (above) became very good friends with Robin over the years as Robin moved here in 1999 and became a mainstay in entertainment journalism.
Leach had been hospitalized since Nov. 21 after suffering a stroke in Cabo San Lucas, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, where Leach worked as a celebrity columnist.
“Despite the past 10 months, what a beautiful life he had. Our Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle and friend Robin Leach passed away peacefully last night at 1:50 a.m.,” said the family in a statement. “Everyone’s support and love over the past, almost one year, has been incredible and we are so grateful. Memorial arrangements to follow.”
The London native gave viewers a glimpse of those with “champagne wishes and caviar dreams” with Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, which aired in syndication from 1984-95.
“The more eye-popping and outrageous, the better,” Leach told Askmen.com in 2007. “We wanted to make your mouth drop. That was the main effect. One picture was worth a thousand words, so if you had more pictures, the less you would have to say.”
He also was an early investor in the Food Network.
Born on Aug. 29, 1941, Leach wrote for The Harrow Observer while he was attending the Harrow County School for Boys, earning $6 a week at the newspaper after he graduated. He went on to become the youngest editor at London’s Daily Mail at 18, then wrote for the New York Daily News, Ladies’ Home Journal, People and The Star after moving to the U.S. in 1963.
“I wanted no other job than to work in newspapers,” he told the Las Vegas Sun in 2011. “I was fascinated by the process of collecting information, talking to people and having the story appear in a paper that would be delivered in your letterbox.”
After appearing on CNN and helping to launch the syndicated Entertainment Tonight news show, Leach co-created Lifestyles with producer Al Masini. The program helped usher in the era of celebrity-focused reality series and culture.
The fall television season is ramping up and as Will & Grace is prepping for reboot Season 2 (really the 10th season) of the NBC hit sitcom, and what we know so far is love is in the air for EVERYBODY:
• Will is the lucky guy who will get a new boyfriend in the form of hunky Matt Bomer who’s character is described as “a smooth-talking, self-satisfied TV news anchor. #Squee!
• Chelsea Handler is set to play a high-powered lesbian client of Grace who begins to date her sister.
A post shared by Debra Messing (@therealdebramessing) on Aug 14, 2018 at 7:24pm PDT
• Taking romance to another level is Jack who announced last season he planned on getting hitched to new boyfriend Estefan (Brian Jordan Alvarez).
• AND, Grace’s father (Martin Adler) and Will’s mother (the deliciously delightful Blythe Danner) shared their own plans to stroll down the aisle, which would effectively make besties Grace and Will sister and brother (awkward?).
• More guest stars! Self-declared “America’s sweetheart” and out Olympic bronze medalist Adam Rippon continues conquering hearts and minds as he’s set to cameo as a – you guessed it – figure skater.
• The brilliant Minnie Driver will return as Karen’s foe for life, Lorraine Finster.
• And co-creator Max Mutchnick has tweeted a tease of the return of ‘Anatasia Beaverhausen,’ Karen’s infamous alter-ego.
CBS has announced The Big Bang Theory, arguably one of the most successful sitcoms in television history, will come to a close at the end of the upcoming 12th season.
The reason for the series ending, according to Entertainment Weekly, is out actor Jim Parsons felt he was ready to walk away from the sitcom.
To date, the series has not only brought Parsons immense fame but 4 Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe award, starring roles on Broadway (The Normal Heart, The Boys in the Band) and in films (A Boy Like Jake, Hidden Figures).
Additionally, as the series’ neurotic “Dr. Sheldon Cooper,” Parsons has become the highest paid actor on television earning, along with his costars Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Kunal Nayyar, and Simon Helberg, about $1 million per episode.
EW reports that had he stayed for the two years CBS was negotiating, he stood to earn more than $50 million.
“We are forever grateful to our fans for their support of The Big Bang Theory during the past 12 seasons,” read a joint statement by Warner Bros. Television, CBS and Chuck Lorre Productions. “We, along with the cast, writers and crew, are extremely appreciative of the show’s success and aim to deliver a final season, and series finale, that will bring The Big Bang Theory to an epic creative close.”
According to reports, Parsons will continue to do voiceover work for the prequel series to TBBT, The Young Sheldon.
Although he never officially came out, Parsons has remarked in interviews that he was “delighted” when the New York Times outed the actor by casually writing “Mr. Parsons is gay and in a 10-year relationship” near the end of a profile in 2012.
He married his longtime boyfriend, Todd Spiewak, last year in New York City.
The final season of The Big Bang Theory premieres on September 24.
You could consider this one of those “the mouse that roared” moments.
Beleaguered Attorney General Jeff Sessions finally clapped back at his boss, Donald Trump, today after the Trumpster told Fox News in an interview that Sessions never took “control” of the Justice Department.
Here’s the full statement from Sessions via Mother Jones:
I took control of the Department of Justice the day I was sworn in, which is why we have had unprecedented success at effectuating the President’s agenda—one that protects the safety and security and rights of the American people, reduces violent crime, enforces our immigration laws, promotes economic growth, and advances religious liberty.
While I am Attorney General, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations. I demand the highest standards, and where they are not met, I take action. However, no nation has a more talented, more dedicated group of law enforcement investigators and prosecutors than the United States.
I am proud to serve with them and proud of the work we have done in successfully advancing the rule of law.
In related news, Sen. Lindsey Graham told reporters today that Trump will likely fire Sessions after the midterm elections.
