Politics, pop culture and entertainment news of interest to the LGBTQ community
Chris Hemsworth in ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ (screen capture via Marvel)Some news items you might have missed:
• Socialite Life: Chris Hemsworth found himself bored during the pandemic with nothing to do but workout, and arrived on the set of Thor: Love and Thunder “bigger” than he had ever been after training excessively. Continue reading “Chris Hemsworth ‘Bigger’ Than Ever + More News Items”
InstaHunk Petr Hollesch (via Instagram)Some news items you might have missed:
• InstaHunks: I think what drew me to this photo of Czech fitness guy Petr Hollesch was his chill, subdued demeanor 🙂 Follow him on Instagram here.
• Global News: Vancouver police are recommending charges of aggravated assault after a confrontation downtown Saturday that left a man with a broken leg. In a series of tweets, Sportsnet 650 host Justin Morissette said he “stood up to anti-gay evangelical bullies in the West End … and they purposely broke my leg for the trouble.”
• Instinct Magazine: JLo recently released the trailer for the short film, Draw With Me. The film introduces the world to the pop star’s nibling, a non-binary term for a family member, Brendon Scholl. Scholl is the 19-year-old child of Jennifer’s sister, Leslie Lopez.
• CNN: A California Superior Court judge has ordered Donald Trump to pay $44,100 to Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, to reimburse her attorneys’ fees in the legal battle surrounding her nondisclosure agreement. Clifford, an adult-film actress, went public in January 2018 with the news she had an affair with Trump from 2006 to 2007.
• NY Times: Trump administration officials told congressional leaders last month they would probably give emergency approval to a coronavirus vaccine before the end of Phase 3 clinical trials in the United States, perhaps as early as late September. The move would be highly unusual and would most likely raise concerns about whether the administration is cutting corners on approvals for political purposes.
• HBO: David Byrne’s critically acclaimed Broadway show American Utopia comes to HBO beginning October 17 in a one-of-a-kind film directed by Oscar and Emmy-winner Spike Lee.
Recorded during its run at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre in New York City, David Byrne is joined by an ensemble of 11 musicians, singers, and dancers from around the globe, inviting audiences into a joyous dreamworld where human connection, self-evolution, and social justice are paramount.
JLo at Super Bowl LIVSo, the world seems split on the much-talked-about J.Lo/Shakira performance during last night’s Super Bowl half-time show.
As my Instinct colleague Corey Andrew noted there seems to be some hypocrisy in how Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl performance was viewed differently compared to last night’s Latin spectacular. Click over to Corey’s post to get his full take.
There was also some disagreement on why it’s ok for a male rocker to parade around shirtless during his Super Bowl performance but 40+ Latina women being all sexy and empowered seemed to be “too much?” #morehypocrisy
https://twitter.com/DaniMontez20/status/1224325624036114433
Conservative folks are apparently fine with their president paying porn stars for sex while his newborn child is at home with Melania, but strong Latinas in revealing stage costumes is a bridge too far…?
From professional conservative hypocrite Franklin Graham:
“I don’t expect the world to act like the church, but our country has had a sense of moral decency on prime time television in order to protect children. We see that disappearing before our eyes. It was demonstrated tonight in the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show—with millions of children watching. This exhibition was Pepsi showing young girls that sexual exploitation of women is okay. With the exploitation of women on the rise worldwide, instead of lowering the standard, we as a society should be raising it. I’m disappointed in Pepsi and the NFL.”
Shakira at Super Bowl LIVUSA Today wondered, Was it empowering to watch two women of color over 40 performing in an often-provocative way? Or had we reverted back to a pre-#MeToo moment of objectifying women?”
Puh-leeze. I think it was fabulous!
In any case, what matters is: gay Twitter was living for the sports ball extravaganza.
Take a look at some of the responses:
J.Lo bringing back the “Waiting For Tonight” lasers 20+ years later for the #PepsiHalftime show is gay rights. #HalftimeShow pic.twitter.com/nHIlt3uPd1
— Gibson Johns (@gibsonoma) February 3, 2020
The fact that the entire gay population skips the Super Bowl and only tunes into the halftime show if it’s a female performer.. our minds… our power
— amaury (@acidhunk) February 3, 2020
The Shakira and J-Lo half-time show is a refreshing display of unity between gay and straight men #HalftimeShow
— Steven Tomastik (@tomastiks) February 3, 2020
this tweet is for the homosexual backup dancers in the superbowl halftime show and the homosexual backup dancers in the superbowl halftime show only
— hugo (@toasteredbread) February 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/karadykers/status/1224144099101548547
just decided that I am no longer straight or gay, my sexuality is actually just Shakira playing the drums
— carly butler (@ylrac) February 3, 2020
All the gays after Shakira and Jennifer Lopez finished the halftime show pic.twitter.com/UuftAtypvQ
— M.T (@spheven) February 3, 2020
That was every gay fantasy I've ever had #HalftimeShow
— Will Distl (@froodsbag) February 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/Brotamins/status/1224146552756699136
Did y'all see the #HalftimeShow2020? I loved it. Two glorious women over 40 in their absolute prime, both sang their World Cup anthems, a celebration of (oft-forgotten) Puerto Rico, there were even kids in illuminated CAGES, for God's sake. They went there & I'm here for it.
— Karen Walrond (@Chookooloonks) February 3, 2020
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| Patti LuPone guest starring on ‘Will & Grace’ |
Over the 8 years of its original run (plus the two reboot/revival seasons), Will & Grace has given us not only lots of laughs from the ‘fearsome foursome,’ but tons of great guest stars.
Patti LuPone, Rosie O’Donnell, Blythe Danner, Ellen DeGeneres, David Schwimmer, Matt Bomer and Adam Rippon have all dropped by the hit NBC series to take part in the hilarity.
Plus, we’ve gotten cameo spots by music icons like Elton John, Janet Jackson, Madonna, JLo, Britney Spears and the one-and-only Cher.
With so many guest stars, the series has shared this awesome mash-up of celeb visitors over the years.
The comedy champ is still going strong having already been confirmed for a third revival season for fall of 2019.
The current second revival season returns on January 31, 2019.
Who is your favorite W&G guest star? I’ll go first – the fabulous Blythe Danner (as Will’s mother) always made us giggle. Totally brilliant.
Some news stories you may have missed.:
• NBC is considering a Will & Grace revival!
• Talk about dying on the Vine! Twitter is pulling the plug on it’s six-second cousin.
• GLAAD says it’s time we adopt the acronym LGBTQ versus the current LGBT when referring to the community.
• The U.S. Supreme Court will hear the case of a Virginia transgender student over the right to use bathrooms that align with his gender identity.
• Jennifer Lopez will star in a live TV production of BYE BYE BIRDIE for NBC.
• Raven-Symoné leaving ‘The View’ for ‘That’s So Raven’ spinoff
Jennifer Lopez and Hamilton star Lin-Manuel Miranda delivered the late-night debut of “Love Make the World Go Round,” their tribute to the victims of the Orlando massacre, on Tuesday’s Tonight Show.
Backed by the Roots and a pair of backing vocalists, Lopez crooned the track’s message of hope and resiliency while wearing a massive, multi-colored cape. Miranda emerged midway through the track for a nimbly-rapped verse.
“What we got is love even when the sinners hate us/ We cannot let them diminish or intimidate us/ We sing out, we got the rhythm and the true on our side/ We cut through the divide and we do it with pride,” Miranda rapped. “A generation of innovators enabled to patiently wait for change ’cause change is what they’ve been afraid of/ the malevolence can wait, raise a level of debate, celebrate, elevate.”
Lopez and Miranda released the track July 7th via iTunes.
All proceeds benefit the Hispanic Federation’s Proyecto Somos Orlando initiative, which aims to address the “long-term needs for mental health services that are culturally competent and bilingual.”
Sooo @JLo & yours truly went in on a tune that will benefit https://t.co/ddyoy7e5T8 here's a taste!#LMTWGR🔥 pic.twitter.com/5CPJuZsgPL— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2016
James Corden and The Late Late Show have another homerun “Carpool Karaoke” as Jennifer Lopez joins Corden for a ride.
Via Vanity Fair:
This Jennifer Lopez iteration, which aired last night, is a very good one. Lopez—always appealing—is especially relaxed and on point here (highlights include the harmonizing between the two on Lopez’s “Booty,” as well a brief interlude where Lopez shows Corden how to pose for a “J.Lo music video”).
Lopez also knows how to skillfully weave in tidbits to entice the gossip-hungry masses. She reveals to Corden exactly how many men have proposed marriage to her, and how she handled turning down the two she did.
But the centerpiece, for sure, is when, toward the clip’s end, Corden texts Leonardo DiCaprio from Lopez’s phone (“Hey baby, I’m kind of feeling like I need to cut loose any suggestions? Let me know, J.Lo (you know, from the block)” he writes) . . . and, improbably, DiCaprio responds—in delightful fashion.
Las Vegas’ next “diva” will be Jennifer Lopez starting January 2016.
Via press release:
With the landing of a new superstar, Planet Hollywood is about to shine even brighter. International icon Jennifer Lopez will light up the AXIS Theater with her first ever headlining residency, beginning Jan. 20, 2016. Fans can expect a mix of pop, R&B and fan favorites tinged with the singer’s glamorous Latin flair.
Just one day after Steven Tyler announced he was leaving “American
Idol,” host Ryan Seacrest has confirmed that Jennifer Lopez will also be
departing the show’s panel.
“Just confirmed with @JLo she’s made up her mind…will leave idol. 🙁 gonna miss her,” he tweeted.
Lopez’s rep and Fox have not responded to requests for comment.
I haven’t watched the show in years, personally. My TV watching tends to drift after a few seasons of anything.