Tag: Chella Man

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News Round-Up: October 2, 2019

Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Color me jealous of hottie Max Emerson (above) – after years of snuggling with my bestie Bruno, my two dogs now do not do the snuggle. And I miss it. • Playbill: Actor Joshua Henry, currently starring in the off-Broadway play The Wrong Man, was singing while an audience member in the front row was using a phone. Mid-performance and without halting, the actor, last on Broadway in the revival of Carousel, took the phone and threw it under the risers. The audience applauded his action. • LGBTQ Nation: Three YouTubers tested over 15,000 video titles and say LGBTQ keywords can trigger YouTube’s algorithm to demonetize and hide those videos. • Right Wing Watch: Pro-Trump activist and right-wing commentator Karyn Turk pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday for stealing more than $17,000 from her mother’s Social Security, reportedly to pay for her own lavish lifestyle. • KIT212: Kenneth recaps the Q&A by Debbie Harry in New York City on Monday night for her new memoir, Face It. • DC Universe: Deaf, transgender model Chella Man shares the first look at his new role as ‘Jericho Wilson,’ a deaf, bisexual super-hero making his premiere on TITANS.

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Trans/Deaf Model Cast As Young Super Hero on ‘Titans’

Chella Man will play 'Jericho' in DC Universe's TITANS
Trans/deaf model Chella Man will play ‘Jericho’ in DC Universe’s TITANS

The world of super-heroes is about to get a lot more diverse as transgender model, activist and YouTuber Chella Man has been cast to play ‘Jericho’ in season 2 of the live-action TV series Titans.

The 20-year-old, who identifies as Jewish/Chinese-American, deaf and genderqueer, announced the news on his social media where he has developed a large following documenting his transition including top surgery and hormone replacement.

The Brooklyn-based artist has over 255k followers on Instagram, 65k on Twitter, and over 173,000 subscribers on YouTube.

In his Instagram post announcing the news of his new acting gig, Man shared, “As a trans, Deaf, Jewish person of color, I have always reminded myself of the power in my differences.”

“It is a dream come true, now, as I will be able to showcase this power on the Titans,” he continued. “HUGE thank you to all who have supported me throughout this process!”

Man’s super-hero character, ‘Jericho,’ has the ability to possess and control the body of anyone he makes eye contact with. He communicates through sign language as he was rendered mute as a youth when kidnappers severed his vocal cords.

When Jericho possesses another body, he can communicate using that person’s voice, vocabulary and language.

The character first appeared in 1984’s Tales of the Teen Titans #43, and is the son of longtime villain, ‘Deathstroke.’ Esai Morales has been cast as the father and will join the show in season 2 with Man.

While the original Tales of the Teen Titans comic books in the 1980s didn’t address his sexuality, his modern incarnation is openly bisexual and has an edgier quality.

Man joins the series which debuted last fall as the first original programming for the DC Universe subscription streaming site.

The show follows a team of young heroes led by Batman-side kick Robin, the empath Raven, alien princess Starfire and shape-shifting Beast Boy.

Director/producer Greg Berlanti (Love, Simon; Riverdale; The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), is a member of the Titans producing team.

Filming for season 2 of Titans is scheduled to begin next month.

(h/t Deadline, Comic Book Resources)