MTV aired the finale of its off-the-wall dating reality show, Are You the One?, on Monday night. The show purports to help contestants find ‘the one’ by the end of the series. In fact, the show’s creators have already determined the perfect match for each contestant through a series of interviews with the participants, friends and family members, and psychological testing. The trick for the contestants is to figure out who that is. (Spoiler coming…) This season’s edition featured an entire cast of sexually-fluid participants. On the finale, hottie Remy Duran announced he and contestant Paige Cole were now a couple. No, they weren’t each other’s predetermined ‘Perfect Match,’ but they were totes in happiness. Until. The couple shared the news on their respective Instagram accounts by posting a pic featuring the duo posting with a dildo hanging from the wall. Just hours later, though, Remy’s entire Insta account was deleted by the powers that be at Instagram. The image is still viewable on his Twitter account. It’s the pink-tinged photo in the montage below.
Speaking to Vice, Remy expressed his frustration saying, “I’m so pissed. I thought, ‘Oh, shit, my picture got taken down,’ but my whole account got deleted without warning. I didn’t get an email. Nothing.” Interestingly, Paige’s post of the image was removed, as well, but her account remains intact and online. Calling the deletion ‘homophobic,’ Paige points to posts that are far more graphic than the couple’s light-hearted photo. “You see car accidents where people probably died, you see photos of animal abuse on popular pages,” Paige shared with Vice. “There are real issues on Instagram, but they have a problem with sex workers. They have a problem with a titty popping out. They have a problem with a gay man and his gay girlfriend posing with a dick on the wall.” She continued, “We say ‘Homophobia!’ jokingly, but there’s no excuse for deleting his account and not mine for literally posting the same content.” At the end of the day, it’s not just the ‘dang it’ of having one’s account deleted. The hours directly following the finale of AYTO can be crucial for someone like fashion designer-turned-party promoter Remy as the public’s interest is at its peak. Vice reports that Remy has been building his social media brand since 2014 to promote his party-planning business and support both himself and his mother. Remy says before the deletion his account of 49k followers was gaining over 100 new followers every 20 minutes. “I’m sick for him,” Paige tells Vice. “Being on the show has enabled me to be contacted by brands for influencer gigs. I’m hoping to use it to build my modeling career in the entertainment industry because people watching you is worth more than currency. Get the right person watching you, and your whole life can change.” “We know all the right people are watching us within 24 hours [of AYTO’s season finale], and they can’t even look at Remy,” added Cole. The Community Guidelines for Instagram do specifically ban things like “sexual intercourse,” “genitals,” and “some photos of female nipples.” While it’s not clear why Remy’s account would be shuttered but Paige’s account would get just a slap on the wrist, Remy does admit he’s had two prior violations with the social media giant. Censorship has become a big deal on social media since the March 2018 passage of the bipartisan Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act and Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act in the U.S. Senate. The legislation provides for holding online businesses liable for any content (even if posted by users) that could be viewed as relating to sex work. (source: VICE – all images via Remy Duran Twitter)
In this week’s podcast: • A bisexual high school student in NYC is sentenced to 14 years in prison for stabbing one of his bullies to death. • A gay man was threatened by a homophobe for wearing a pink yarmulke. • Scientists have discovered a second genetic mutation that makes people immune to HIV. • A new study indicates that people who use more emojis in their text messages have busier sex lives. • Plus, new music from rising indie artist Parker Matthews “Live For Your Crazy” All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.
Eight of the top Democratic presidential candidates appear in a new video underscoring the need for gun safety. The gun control organization named after former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot at point blank range by a maniac, launched the video on Monday. The candidates featured in the video include former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke; California Sen. Kamala Harris; former Vice President Joe Biden; South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg; Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar; New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker; Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. In the video, the candidates focus on stronger gun laws to prevent school shootings and protect children. From the Giffords campaign for gun safety:
We deserve a president who listens to the American people, not the NRA.
We deserve a president who takes bold action to make us safer, not one who tweets thoughts and prayers then does nothing.
We deserve a president who fights for stronger gun laws, not gun lobby profits.
2020 Democratic candidates are vying to be that leader.
We sat down with Joe Biden, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Beto O’Rourke, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren to discuss their plans to make us safer from gun violence.
In advance of the upcoming September 27 release of JUDY, starring Oscar winner Renée Zellweger as the legendary Judy Garland, the producers share this behind-the-scenes peek at the making of the film. “There are a lot of reasons I wanted to make this picture—to look into the human side of this icon,” Zellweger says. “There’s a reason why we’re telling her story 40 years after her passing. That combination of spirit and beauty and humility and grace and empathy is so rare.” The official synopsis:
Winter 1968 and showbiz legend Judy Garland arrives in Swinging London to perform a five-week sold-out run at The Talk of the Town. It is 30 years since she shot to global stardom in The Wizard of Oz, but if her voice has weakened, its dramatic intensity has only grown.
As she prepares for the show, battles with management, charms musicians and reminisces with friends and adoring fans, her wit and warmth shine through. Even her dreams of love seem undimmed as she embarks on a whirlwind romance with Mickey Deans, her soon-to-be fifth husband.
Featuring some of her best-known songs, the film celebrates the voice, the capacity for love, and the sheer pizzazz of “the world’s greatest entertainer.”
(lead image courtesy Roadside Attractions – photo credit: David Hindley)
The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll shows Donald Trump’s approval rating has again tanked dropping 6 points from 44% approval in the same poll in July to just 38% approval today. Fifty-sex percent of those polled disapproved of the job Trump in doing as president. While 56% of those polled approve of the current economy (down 9 points from the last poll), 60% say a recession is very or somewhat likely to occur in the next year. Additionally, 60% are concerned that the Donald’s current trade war with China will cause an increase in prices of goods Americans buy. ABC News’ Evan McMurry reports, “Trump’s average rating since taking office remains the lowest on record for any modern president at a comparable point in his term, and he is the first never to have achieved majority approval.” Also in polling news, the latest Univision News poll in Texas shows (surprisingly) that former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) all would beat Trump in hypothetical head-to-head matchups in the Lone Star state if the presidential election were held today. Sanders fared best scoring 48% support versus the Donald’s 42% estimate. The survey shows Biden would beat Trump by 4 points – 47% to 43%; and Warren would win 44% to Trump’s 42% albeit that lands within the 3 point margin of error. Trump won the state of Texas in 2016 by 9 points. A Democrat hasn’t won a statewide race in the Lone Star state in 25 years.
Out singer/songwriter Parker Matthews drops his latest track, an upbeat synth-pop banger titled, “Live For Your Crazy.” The track features an infectious vocal hook and polished, top-shelf production. Effortless and euphoric, it’s a breezy end-of-summer bop. In the video, directed by Nicolas Wendl, Matthews envisions sexy Mother Nature coming to save him from the sweltering desert heat. I chatted with the rising pop star about the new song, sweaty desert realness, and what’s on the horizon for him. The Randy Report: Your last music video, “Good Enough,” was set in a dark theater, serving up a melancholy Parker in ‘leading man’ mode. In “Live For Your Crazy,” it’s a complete 180 taking us out into the middle of nature, busting moves right and left, and chilling in a grove of palm trees. Where did the inspiration for the video come from?
Parker Matthews: I wanted to show the next step in my evolution on this journey both as an artist and as a person. In the beginning of this video, I let go of the rose petals I was holding on to from the darker place of Good Enough, and symbolically, set out to find my own way.
My whole life, women have saved me, in various ways, and I wanted to depict that by having a Mother Earth figure as my saving grace. Between everything currently going on with climate change, and the destruction of our planet, I wanted to show the beauty of nature by actually going on location and in some ways, how delicate it can actually be.
The locations that we shot this video on have never been filmed on, nor will they be filmed on again. My team and I partnered up with CNLM, a non-profit organization that focuses on protecting endangered species and plants, was gracious enough to allow us to captivate such epic visuals. It was a 16 hour day, in 118-degree heat, but with their help, we were able to film something amazing.
TRR: What does 2019 Parker know today that it would have been handy if 2017 Parker might have known? Is there anything you’ve learned in the past two years that you thought, “That would have been really useful to know…”
PM: There are so many things I’ve learned since getting into this game, but I think one of the biggest things has been learning to always be my unapologetic self, no matter how ‘uncool’ that might be. Standing up for my own vision, and surrounding myself with a team that believes in me is what truly makes the difference. I can confidently say that I’ve found myself, and now, its full speed ahead. I have my team locked down, and as for new music… I have a lot to say 😉
TRR: You’ve been turning out really terrific tracks for some time now. What’s the ’next step’ career goal?
PM: I have one more record for you this year, and then I’m taking some time to record my first EP. I have most of the songs already written, and I have a title, that you’ll find out about all in good time J
By having a bunch of singles that took listeners around the ‘map’, I showed my versatility and malleability, but I want to have this EP to really focus on the artist that I am, what I stand for, along with my overall brand. (You can expect that around the end of March).
TRR: Random question: Name three artists you wouldn’t mind being compared to?
PM: I don’t really compare myself to anyone, because I am me. I write my own records, and I create my own visual ideas, but if I had to choose other artists, I’d pick ones with like-minded values, and would honestly all be women. Lady GaGa, Christina Aguilera, and Julia Michaels all have a spot in my heart. Being real is what stands out the most to me, and that’s where I give the utmost respect J
For more info on the handsome Mr. Matthews, check out my previous coverage of his music here. “Live For Your Crazy” is now available on all digital download sites. Check out a few peeks behind-the-scenes of the making of “Live For Your Crazy” via Parker’s Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/B1PguG1lHTP/ https://www.instagram.com/p/B1K-c8hFeVT/
Donald Trump announced via Twitter this morning that he has fired national security adviser, John Bolton, a well-known war hawk. From the New York Times:
President Trump fired John R. Bolton, his third national security adviser, on Tuesday amid fundamental disagreements over how to handle major foreign policy challenges like Iran, North Korea and Afghanistan.
Mr. Trump announced the decision on Twitter. “I informed John Bolton last night that his services are no longer needed at the White House. I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the Administration, and therefore I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning. I thank John very much for his service. I will be naming a new National Security Advisor next week.”
His departure comes as Mr. Trump is pursuing diplomatic openings with two of the United States’ most intractable enemies, efforts that have troubled hard-liners in the administration, like Mr. Bolton, who view North Korea and Iran as profoundly untrustworthy.
Bolton was Trump’s 3rd National Security Advisor following Michael Flynn and H. R. McMaster, both of who also were asked to tender their resignations. Bolton joined the Trump administration April 9 2018. According to Newsweek, Bolton opposed the idea of Trump meeting with Taliban leaders this week at Camp David. There are also reports that he “clashed” with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for months to the point that the two men haven’t spoken for some time. Bolton says he technically ‘resigned’ and was not fired. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1171452880055746560
….I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning. I thank John very much for his service. I will be naming a new National Security Advisor next week.
On Sunday afternoon, as Adam Eli, a community organizer in New York City, made his way out of the 28th Street subway station, he was followed and verbally harassed for being gay. Eli, who is openly gay and Jewish, told local news station PIX 11, “I’m sort of assuming they read that I was gay cause of the purse and also I have a patch on my butt,” referring to a pink handbag he was carrying and a gay pride patch on his jeans. The man had apparently tapped Eli on the shoulder on the subway and ordered him to remove his yarmulke. Eli declined. As Eli exited the station, he began recording the encounter on his phone which quickly went viral. https://twitter.com/aewerner/status/1171062243317997568 As the man followed him, he pointed directly at Eli and demanded he remove his pink yarmulke (kippah). On the video, you can hear Eli ask, “Because I’m gay and wearing a kippah…is that why?” “You’re desecrating the name of God,” said the homophobe as he began quoting verses from Leviticus. “You will be murdered! Take the kippah off.” Continuing down the sidewalk, Eli told the man, “No – this is my life and my city. I don’t have to take my kippah off.” “Stay in the closet!” yelled the man, his voice rising in volume. “Make sure your closet is in another closet! Take your kippah off! This is not Judaism!” “I’m cisgender, white, I have a social media platform I have resources and that’s the type of violence that I’m getting,” Eli told PIX 11 in an interview. “If that’s the type of violence that one of the most privileged members of our community is getting, can you imagine what it’s like every day in the subway to be a trans person or a gender non-conforming person or a queer person of color?” In a series of tweets, Eli explained his reasons for sharing the encounter with his followers. “ I spent the first 18 years of my life listening to people tell me I couldn’t be gay and Jewish,” he began. “Today I love my queer Jewish identity and nobody is taking that away from me.”
1. I spent the first 18 years of my life listening to people tell me I couldn’t be gay and Jewish. Today I love my queer jewish identity and nobody is taking that away from me.
2. This is a fraction of what our trans + GNC family get every single day. In this moment I was able to stand up to my attacker NOT bc I’m brave but bc I’m a white resourced man in a heavily trafficked place. We know what happens when a white man attacks a black trans women.
3. To my fellow cis white gays who generally ‘pass’ for being hetro in public: this is whats out there. Most of the time we can get on the subway, go for a run or go on a date in peace. That does not mean our struggle for queer liberation is over.
3. cont Racism, transphobia, xenophobia, islamophobia, anti semitism and ableism hold hands. Our ancestors taught us none of us are safe until all of us are safe. Queer culture is not going to Equinox and getting brunch. Queer culture is about fighting for ur community
Eli says he didn’t report the incident to the police because he “didn’t see how that could help.” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio became aware of the encounter and tweeted his support writing, “It takes courage to confront homophobia and tell a story like this.” “I’m sorry you had to go through this, Adam,” continued the mayor. “But we’re proud of how you responded. There’s no place for hate in this city.” https://twitter.com/NYCMayor/status/1171230660104740865
Nervous over early mismanaged handling of classified intelligence materials on the part of the Trump administration, the United States reportedly felt the need to extract a covert agent inside the Russian government before Donald Trump might slip and mention the operative. From CNN:
A person directly involved in the discussions said that the removal of the Russian was driven, in part, by concerns that President Donald Trump and his administration repeatedly mishandled classified intelligence and could contribute to exposing the covert source as a spy.
The decision to carry out the extraction occurred soon after a May 2017 meeting in the Oval Office in which Trump discussed highly classified intelligence with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and then-Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. The intelligence, concerning ISIS in Syria, had been provided by Israel.
The disclosure to the Russians by the President, though not about the Russian spy specifically, prompted intelligence officials to renew earlier discussions about the potential risk of exposure, according to the source directly involved in the matter.
L-R Shannen Doherty, me, Ian Ziering, Jennie Garth, Michael Caprio Some news items you might have missed: • Monday Memory: One of those “Can you believe this is happening?” moments – back when Beverly Hills 90210 star Ian Ziering was the celebrity guest host of Chippendales here in Las Vegas, and his two 90210 co-stars Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth came to see Ian in the show. This was snapped backstage before the show. #Goodtimes • Yahoo News: Four months before the wedding of a gay couple in the UK, the mother of one of the grooms received an anonymous note claiming it was the ‘consensus of the village’ that if the wedding was going to happen then “it should do so far, far away from the village.” The mother did not tell her son before the nuptials, but police are investigating the homophobic note. • OUT: Only five of the long list of Democratic presidential candidates have confirmed for both of the upcoming LGBTQ-centric events – the GLAAD-sponsored LGBTQ presidential forum in Iowa, and the HRC-sponsored LGBTQ CNN Town Hall. • TIME: Hollywood’s wonder gay Ryan Murphy has announced he is adapting the legendary Broadway musical A Chorus Line into a 10-episode miniseries for Netflix. #Hmmm • Hollywood Reporter: The cast and creators of the CW series Riverdale, as well as actress Octavia Spencer, will be honored at this year’s GLSEN Respect Awards on October 25 in Los Angeles. • Out Music: Last month, I shared out singer/songwriter Kyle Motsinger’s groovy anthem for positivity, “Love On Each Other,” and today he drops the equally groovilicious music video. He’s paired his 70s disco beat bop with images of hippie love kids dancing and prancing in the park. Check it out below.
MTV aired the finale of its off-the-wall dating reality show, Are You the One?, on Monday night. The show purports to help contestants find ‘the one’ by the end of the series. In fact, the show’s creators have already determined the perfect match for each contestant through a series of interviews with the participants, friends and family members, and psychological testing. The trick for the contestants is to figure out who that is. (Spoiler coming…) This season’s edition featured an entire cast of sexually-fluid participants. On the finale, hottie Remy Duran announced he and contestant Paige Cole were now a couple. No, they weren’t each other’s predetermined ‘Perfect Match,’ but they were totes in happiness. 
Until. The couple shared the news on their respective Instagram accounts by posting a pic featuring the duo posting with a dildo hanging from the wall. Just hours later, though, Remy’s entire Insta account was deleted by the powers that be at Instagram. The image is still viewable on his Twitter account. It’s the pink-tinged photo in the montage below. 
The Randy Report: Your last music video, “Good Enough,” was set in a dark theater, serving up a melancholy Parker in ‘leading man’ mode. In “Live For Your Crazy,” it’s a complete 180 taking us out into the middle of nature, busting moves right and left, and chilling in a grove of palm trees. Where did the inspiration for the video come from? 
TRR: Random question: Name three artists you wouldn’t mind being compared to? 
“I’m cisgender, white, I have a social media platform I have resources and that’s the type of violence that I’m getting,” Eli told 
