Arrow star Colton Haynes surprised fans today with a soaring cover of “A Million Dreams’ from The Greatest Showman with singer Matt Bloyd.
Calling the film “the greatest movie I’ve seen in a while,” Colton shares that he was “super excited” to sing with his buddy, Bloyd, a alum of FOX’s singing reality show, The Four.
Bloyd writes, “My good buddy Colton Haynes and I knew we had to put our spin one of our favorite songs from one of our favorite movies! I am so so proud of this project. Love the song. Love the words. Love Colton! We hope you enjoy our take on ‘A Million Dreams’ from Pasek and Paul’s ‘The Greatest Showman!’”
Bloyd’s effortless tenor pairs well with Haynes’ easy baritone. The duo finds an easy groove on the tune originally sung in the film by Hugh Jackman and Michelle Williams.
Matt Bloyd
This isn’t Hayne’s first trip to the recording studio.
An accomplished singer, he’s dabbled in music before with covers of Dan + Shay’s “19 You + Me” with New Heights, and Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up,” as well as an original holiday track, “Baby It’s Christmas.”
And, of course, there’s his now-famous “Man, It Sucks” he mysteriously posted on his Instagram soon after the split with his husband of six months, Jeff Leatham.
MoveOn.org organized protests all over the country tonight warning Donald Trump of the political dangers that await him if he were to order the termination of the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller in the wake of Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ ouster.
Check out photos from tonight in Times Square, courtesy of my buddy Larry from TheOUTfront, where prominent activists, politicians, and celebrities gathered before marching down to Union Square for speeches.
According to Larry, there was a very dense crowd of over 10K packed for blocks and blocks around Times Square.
BREATH-TAKING! 😲 —> Thousands have come out in Times Square protesting to #ProtectMueller.
Fashion brand Diesel is facing some backlash over a new limited edition clothing line that includes a pricey silk jacket with a homophobic slur printed all over it.
The jacket, which is part of the company’s ‘Diesel Hate Couture’ line, features the word ‘faggot’ printed multiple times in a random pattern.
The line includes several types of items like t-shirts, hoodies, bomber jackets, hats and more.
“The truth is this: the more you expose the hate you get, treating it with irony and irreverence, the less power it has to cause harm,” Diesel told Hypebeast last month. “This is why we are launching HAɄTE COUTURE. A unique collection designed to do just that: disempower hate.”
The concept behind the provocative clothing is to reclaim online hate using the slogan, ‘The more hate you wear, the less you care.’
Other terms used in the line include ‘slut,’ ‘fat,’ ‘weirdo,’ ‘not cool’ and ‘f*ck you imposter.’
While outrageous, none seem quite as inflammatory or hateful as the f-word.
“Online hate is inevitable, but caring about it is optional,” writes Diesel on the YouTube page for the ad spot below.
The video begins by explaining all of the terms used were picked by the cast members from actual hate comments they’ve received via social media.
You can see openly gay actor Tommy Dorfman (Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why) wearing the controversial jacket, which sells for a whopping £350. The jacket appears to be available only on the brand’s UK website.
Also taking part in the video are Nicki Minaj, Gucci Mane, Miles Heizer, Barbie Ferreira, Bella Thorne, Yoo Ah-In, Bria Vinaite, Yovanna Ventura and Jonathan Bellini.
“Our aim has always been to disempower those that create the hate and manifest negativity,” said Diesel in a statement to Mic last month. “Every individual cast within the campaign relates personally to the issue itself.”
“To bring awareness to the wider issue, each chose a phrase that they wanted to wear proudly with the goal of empowering others to take a stance,” the statement continued. “Together, Diesel and Tommy Dorfman use this as a platform to disempower the haters and show the more hate you wear, the less you care.”
Dorfman also tweeted: “All proceeds from this jacket are benefitting the Ali Forney Center in NY which provides shelter, food and programs to homeless LGBTQ+ youth.”
The items came online last month, but responses on social media has been coming in waves.
Some folks like the idea, but others call the idea “offensive” and “disgusting.”
No, @DIESEL. Wearing a derogatory word scrawled all over your back is not the way to combat hate £350 though. I mean, a bargain really. pic.twitter.com/EndIJNo2nA
What the flying fricken hell is this????? I have the strongest hate for this word and the way it’s thrown around like it’s nothing, and they’ve just gone and put it all over a jacket. It isn’t a positive word that should be plastered all over a jacket. Bold move diesel bold move.
To be honest, I’m with Diesel on this one. Ny taking ownership of a word you take away its power. I’m gay and faggot is my favourite word. It’s also used frequently within my circle of friends both gay and straight. I’d wear that jacket. https://t.co/Km8Qv9Tk4J
We STAND with @Diesel and their FAGGOT jacket. And if you dont, you are a huge hypocrite. Also: “All proceeds from this jacket are benefitting the @AliForneyCenter In NY which provides shelter, food and programs to homeless LGBTQ+ youth. The majority are ppl of COLOUR &/or #HIV+ pic.twitter.com/p1eyBGdfg1
The New York Times reports that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fell in her office last night and fractured three ribs.
The 85-year-old Justice is hospitalized at George Washington University Hospital for treatment and observation.
The tough gal broke two ribs in 2012 and didn’t miss a day of work at the high court.
The next sitting of SCOTUS begins November 26.
I’ll be happy to donate a rib if it will help her (and keep her on the high court for two more years).
BREAKING: US Supreme Court: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fell in her office last evening; fractured 3 ribs; admitted to hospital for observation and treatment.
holy fucking shit can we just wrap Ruth Bader Ginsburg in bubble wrap and carry her around in a sedan chair for the next two or more years because she is currently our country’s most precious natural resource
Gus Kenworthy had quite the thirsty response to the news that openly gay, former Marine Neil Rafferty had won his race for the Alabama state house.
Responding to the news that Rafferty won his seat in Alabama’s 54th District, Kenworthy tweeted, “I have another seat for him” and added a blond, bearded face emoji.
Another mass shooting has occurred, this time in a bar in Thousand Oaks, California, that left 12 dead.
The incident began at approximately 11:20pm at the Borderline Bar and Grill, which was holding its regular “College Country Night.”
The shooter has been identified as a former U.S. Marine who may have been coping with post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the L.A. Times.
Ian David Long, 28, lived in Newbury Park, not far from the club where he threw smoke bombs and rained bullets on a crowd of more than a hundred people Wednesday night.
Sheriff Geoff Dean said his department had had several interactions with Long, including a call to his home in April for a complaint of disturbing the peace. Deputies at the time said Long was irate and acting irrationally, Dean said. They called in mental health professionals to evaluate him, and they concluded he did not need to be taken into custody.
In the neighborhood where Long lived, residents said they were well aware of his problems.
Richard Berge, 77, said the former Marine had PTSD and was known to kick in the walls of the home. Long lived with his mother, Berge said.
“She’s a very sweet woman, but she had a lot of problems with the son,” Berge said. “I just know he tore the house up.”
Long was dressed in black when he burst into the Borderline Bar & Grill, a country-music-themed venue popular with college students, around 11:20 p.m. He drove his mother’s car to the bar and did not say anything before opening fire, a law enforcement official said.
The shooter was armed with a Glock 21 .45-caliber handgun with an extended magazine that he purchased legally in Simi Valley, Dean said. A source said he also had a “smoke device.”
Sgt. Ron Helus, a 29-year Sheriff’s Department veteran who was planning to retire next year, was the first to enter the bar. He suffered severe wounds and later died in the hospital.
He is survived by a son and his wife, whom he called before entering the bar, Dean said.
There were six off-duty police officers in the Thousand Oaks bar at time of shooting. “They stood in front of my daughter”, Sheriff says he was told by parent of survivor.
This is Ventura County Sherrif’s Sgt. Ron Helus, killed as he responded to stop the mass shooting at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, CA. He was a 29-year vet nearing retirement, a husband, and a father.
And right-wing loons immediately tried to set the narrative that the shooter was “Middle Eastern.”
Thousand Oaks shooter identified as Ian David Long, a white former US Marine. As usual Prison Paul was ahead of the curve this morning, he has since deleted this tweet. pic.twitter.com/RMhn4kCVd6
On today’s episode of The Randy Report, I’m chatting with actor & singer Jim Newman.
In addition to a lengthy Broadway resume (Hands on a Hardbody, Curtains, Minnelli on Minnelli, Steep Pier, Sunset Boulevard, and The Who’s Tommy), Jim is also currently ‘The Cowboy’ in a very iconic 70s/80s disco band you know very well.
Jim also works extensively in TV and film, including two of my favorite award-winning digital series – Hustling and After Forever, currently on Amazon Video.
For a couple of years now, I’ve also been a fan of Daddyhunt the Serial, which chronicles the story a hunky handsome ‘daddy’ we’d all like to date (played by Jim), and his younger boyfriend, ‘Ben,’ played by BJ Gruber.
Since its debut in 2016, Daddyhunt the Serial has become a big hit all around the world.
A post shared by Jim Newman (@jimnewmannyc) on Oct 23, 2018 at 12:25pm PDT
I recently got to chat with Jim about Daddyhunt, his iconic disco band and how social media has become such a big part of being a working actor these days – the good and the bad.
And speaking of social media, you should be following the hunky cowboy on Instagram, where he already has over 72,000 followers.
Sessions’ resignation comes a day after the midterm elections, which was long seen as the expiration date for Sessions’ tenure as the nation’s chief law enforcement officer. Trump made clear his displeasure with Sessions early on, but wasn’t expected to make any major changes in his cabinet before the election.
Trump later confirmed in a tweet that he had accepted Sessions’ resignation and thanked him for his service. An administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Kelly called Sessions before the president held a press conference midday Wednesday to ask for his resignation.
Session’s chief of staff Matthew Whitaker will take over as acting attorney general, while the White House seeks a permanent replacement, Trump tweeted shortly after Sessions’ letter became public.
Whitaker, who will be sworn in on Wednesday, will take on oversight of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, assuming there are no ethics issues that would prevent him from doing so.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein — who was still in his job as of Wednesday afternoon — had taken on responsibility for the probe after Sessions recused last year.
Under Justice Department regulations, Mueller can only be removed from office “for misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest, or for other good cause.”
Dear Mr. President, At your request, I am submitting my resignation… Jeff Sessions
2. Removed Rosenstein from overseeing the Russia investigation
3. Installed Matt Whitaker to replace Sessions and oversee the Russia investigation. Whitaker has publicly stated that Mueller has exceeded his authority
One more fantastic midterm election result to report.
Hunky gay former Marine Neil Rafferty came out on top last night in his race for the state House seat in Alabama’s District 54.
Not only did he win – he won BIG!
According to AL.com, Rafferty trumped his opponent, Independent Joseph Casper Baker III by a margin of 90% to 10%!
Since 2006, the seat has been held by openly LGBT Rep. Patricia Todd who chose to retire this year. Todd endorsed Rafferty’s candidacy.
The political newbie had never run for political office before.
The Birmingham native spent four years in the U.S. Marines before returning home to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
He currently works as the director of research and development at Birmingham AIDS Outreach.
Rafferty joined the Marines after his longtime boyfriend, Michael Rudolph had been deployed twice to Iraq as a Marine so they could stay together even though ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ was still in effect.
The couple, now together 14 years, are currently engaged and planning their wedding.
One more election result from the midterm elections to chat on.
There was lots of talk on cable news last night about how unpredictable elections tend to be in Florida.
But Nevada has its own unusual result that definitely lands in the ‘who would have thought’ category.
And it really explains how determined some folks are to just vote their party whether it pays off or not.
Dennis Hof, who’s a bit of a celebrity in the Silver State as the owner of seven legally-run brothels, won his race in the state Assembly District 36 by 26 points, defeating his Democratic opponent Lesia Romanov 63% to 37%.
Its a deep red district, and his semi-fame (he and one of his brothels is the subject of the HBO series Cathouse) surely helped him out.
The only problem is he died last month after partying hardy on his 72nd birthday.
According to state laws, it was too late to remove his name from the ballot.
District 36 covers all of Nye County and parts of Lincoln and Clark counties. So all three boards of commissioners will have to come together and agree on a replacement for the ‘vacancy.’
Nye County Commission Chairman John Koenig told the Las Vegas Review-Journal the commissioners will “probably put an advertisement in the newspaper, and solicit names for a short period of time.”
So Florida may have its surprises, but as Eric Herzik, political science chair at the University of Nevada/Reno said, “We voted for a dead man.”
