Tag: Disney Channel

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Disney Star Raven-Symoné Announces Surprise Wedding

L-R Raven-Symoné and Miranda Maday announce their marriage (via Instagram)
Raven-Symoné, who first found fame as a child star on The Cosby Show in the late 1980s, announced on her social media Thursday that she married her girlfriend, Miranda Maday, in a private backyard ceremony. “I got married to a woman who understands me from trigger to joy, from breakfast to midnight snack, from stage to home,” wrote the 34-year-old actress. “I love you Mrs. Pearman-Maday!” The former child star’s full name is Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman. She closed the announcement adding, “Let’s tear this world a new asshole!!! I’s married NOW.”

Shortly before sharing the big news, the former co-host of The View teased her 2.1 million Instagram followers with the message, “So something happened this week, that has changed my life FOR THE BETTER!”

 

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So something happened this week, that has changed my life FOR THE BETTER!

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Maday followed Symoné’s big announcement with a post of her own captioned, “8PM ~ my wife for life.” She included a gif of the couple embracing during the ceremony.

 

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8PM ~ my wife for life ❣️

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“Thank you to all those who helped and for those who understand why it was small during this time,” wrote Symoné in a follow-up post with what appears to be a reference to the ongoing COVID-19 health threat.

 

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Thank you to all those who helped and for those who understand why it was small during this time.

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Following her childhood roles on The Cosby Show (1989-1992) and Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper (1993-1997), Symoné successfully segued into her teens starring in the hit Disney Channel series, That’s So Raven for four seasons (2003-2007). She received strong reviews for her star turn as ‘Deloris van Cartier’ in the Broadway musical Sister Act marking her debut on the Great White Way. She also appeared in several feature films over the years including two Dr. Doolittle movies with Eddie Murphy for which she garnered an NAACP Image Award nomination. The multi-hyphenate performer has also scored success in the music industry releasing several solo albums. In May 2015, she was announced as a replacement co-host for the long-running gabfest, The View. But in October 2016, she said she would soon be leaving the ABC talk show and teased a return to television acting. Raven’s Home, a spin-off of her earlier series, debuted in July 2017 on the Disney Channel and has aired three seasons. The show has already been picked up for a fourth season. Symoné told the world in 2012 she considered her sexual orientation private, writing, “I’m not one for a public display of my life.” But then, in August 2013, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down parts of the heinous Defense of Marriage Act which denied federal recognition of same-sex marriage, the actress tweeted, “I can finally get married! Yay government! So proud of you!”

And now, she has. Congratulations to the happy couple!

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Disney Actor Shuts Down Hater For Trolling Gay Character’s Coming Out

Joshua Ross, of Disney Channel's 'Andi Mack' shut down a Twitter troll for hating on a coming out story
Joshua Ross (second from right) plays ‘Cyrus’ on Disney’s “Andi Mack”

Earlier this month, I reported that, for the first time, a Disney character had said the words, “I’m gay.”

The moment took place during an episode of the popular Disney Channel series, Andi Mack, when one of the lead characters (Cyrus played by Joshua Rush) came out to his former crush.

The series, Disney’s first to feature a coming out story, has won widespread acclaim and been honored at the GLAAD Media Awards for ‘Outstanding Kids and Family Programming.

This being 2019, however, we do still have to deal with the trolls and haters on social media who can’t stop themselves from bringing darkness to light.

One user criticized the storyline, tweeting to Rush, Disney and the series’ Twitter accounts, “I am very disappointed in the way this show has been directed there are some very good messages through this show for it’s young audience, but introducing gays is a very poor example to the young adults watching this show. Poor choice Disney.”

Rush didn’t hesitate in clapping back at the troll.

“I’m sorry you feel that way,” wrote the 17-year-old actor. “Here’s the thing though: gay kids are gonna exist no matter whether you like it or not. And we need to support and love all kids in every way we can.”

“So when someone realizes they are gay, I want them to identify with something so they’re not alone,” he added.

Rush also shared a screen capture of the hater’s tweet, which had been deleted, telling the hater, “The internet is forever, you can’t delete a tweet and expect it to be gone lol.”

He added, “It’s fine to have your opinion but we’re just trying to explain how an opinion like that – one that supports LGBTQ+ kids not having a voice – can be really damaging.”

Rush’s calm and thoughtful responses were immediately flooded with support and love by his fans.

And the crowd goes wild!!! Yay!!!

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Disney Channel Has Its First Character To Say The Words “I’m Gay”

More history was made yesterday when the character of Cyrus Goodman (played by Joshua Rush) became the first Disney character to ever say the words, "I'm gay."
Joshua Rush in the Disney Channel series, ‘Andi Mack’
(screen capture)

In 2017, the popular Disney Channel series Andi Mack announced the show would feature a gay story arc – a first for the channel.

More history was made yesterday when the character of Cyrus Goodman (played by Joshua Rush) became the first Disney character to ever say the words, “I’m gay.”

In the episode titled, “One in a Minyan,” the show’s principal characters are at the shiva of Goodman’s grandmother.

Helping to explain some of the Jewish dishes at the buffet, Goodman points out kuegel, bagels and lox, and gefilte fish before ending his list by telling the character of Jonah Beck, his former crush, “I’m gay.”

“Yeah?” Beck replies. “Cool.”

And, life went on – just as it should.

(photo: Disney ABC)

The writer of the episode, Jonathan Hurwitz, wrote in a guest post for GLAAD that the inspiration for the moment came from his own coming out process back in 2010 with a college friend.

While grabbing burgers one afternoon, he asked me to pass the ketchup, so I handed him the bottle while mumbling the words, “I’m gay.” He looked up at me, said “Cool,” then proceeded to put ketchup on his burger as if I hadn’t just revealed my most personal, deepest truth.

I remember thinking: “That’s it?! After a ten-year journey to come out to myself, I finally come out to my friend and all I get is a ‘Cool?!’” But what I ultimately realized was that my friends and family loved me unconditionally before I’d even learned to truly love myself.

Rush took to Twitter to share his pride, writing,“Every day is a blessing working on this show. This milestone is just another stitch in a rich and vibrant tapestry that is Cyrus Goodman.”

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News Round-Up: November 8, 2017

Out Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy is having Aruba moments

Some news items you might have missed:

• Out Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy (above) is having an Aruba moment. #jealous

• I usually think of Wednesday as “Hump Day” (“Hunk Day” works, too). But kenneth-in-the-212 celebrates “Wrestling Wednesdays.” Hit the link for lots of wrestlers in their singlets.

• Disney Channel has pulled TV series Andi Mack in Africa due to a featured coming-out story.

• Sir Ian McKellen would rather be remembered for his LGBT activism than his acting. I’m betting it will be for both.

• Sixteen-year-old Jordan Marin-Doan set fire to his adoptive gay dads’ house hoping to land a prison cell next to his biological dad. One of his adoptive dads died helping the rest of his family escape the fire.

• Anti-gay marriage county clerk Kim Davis is running for reelection in Kentucky after costing her state over $200,000 in legal fees for not issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

• And how about one more from gorgeous Gus Kenworthy? This is from a photo shoot for Gio Magazine.

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Video: Sensitive Coming Out Moment On Season Premiere Of Disney Channel’s “Andi Mack”

Last week I reported on the upcoming “coming out” storyline for the Disney Channel’s Andi Mack series.

On the season 2 premiere last Friday, audiences were touched by this sensitive moment when series regular “Cyrus” (played by Joshua Rush) confides in his friend “Buffy” (Sofia Wyle) that he is conflicted by his feelings of jealousy.

“Jonah” (Asher Angel) and “Andi” (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) have just begun officially dating, and Cyrus is at odds with the news.

“How come? Are you jealous, Cyrus? Do you like Andi?” Buffy asks.

“No,” he says, quietly looking away.

“You like Jonah?” she asks.

Cyrus nods, tentative in admitting his feelings. “Buffy, I feel weird. Different.”

Cyrus will explore his burgeoning sexuality over the course of season 2, as well as journey through the dreaded coming out process so many LGBTs experience in our early teen years.

This is the Disney Channel’s first series to have an openly gay series regular. Andi Mack is currently the most popular series on the network among young girls.

Watch below.

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“One Million Moms” Attacks Disney Channel Over Gay Crush Storyline

Right on cue.

Earlier today I reported about the upcoming LGBTQ storyline to be featured on the Disney Channel show, Andi Mack.

Among other storylines, the show will chronicle a school boy’s first crush on another male student.

Well, you knew those hideous “One Million Moms” folks would get in an uproar.

Via email:

Alerting all parents! Additional controversial content will be included in the Disney Channel show “Andi Mack” during season two, premiering Friday, October 27, at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT. 1MM earlier warned parents this program is not suitable for a kids’ network, and now the show is introducing the network’s first gay character.

In a first for the Disney Channel, the show “Andi Mack” will spend an hour focusing on one of the main characters coming out as gay. Young teen Cyrus Goodman is a key member in the program’s cast. During the season two premiere, he’ll make Disney Channel history as he grapples with his feelings for another boy. And in subsequent episodes, he’ll work these feelings out along with having a new girlfriend.

By choosing to abandon family-friendly entertainment, Disney’s inexplicable choice to move toward more “adult” fare may ultimately prove to be a huge mistake. Disney’s first gay kiss aired earlier this year on Disney XD’s animated series “Star vs. the Forces of Evil.” The scene took place at a concert where the band played a romantic tune that inspired many couples in the audience to kiss; a few of those couples — none of which involved a main character — were same s*x.

The Disney Channel is deliberately choosing to “move forward” and promote adult content to children. By choosing to move in the direction of more “adult” stories and content, the Disney Channel – and the entire Disney media empire – may be choosing to sacrifice something far more precious… children’s innocence.

You know, these folks would have no problem with a storyline of a teen girl experiencing her first crush on a boy at school.

The fact of the matter is: young, emerging gays experience first crushes and brushes with affection just like everyone else. It’s a natural part of life.

Kids aren’t confused about “the gay thing” other than why bigoted grown-ups are apoplectic about it.