Jonathan Hernandez (screen capture)The New York Postreports Jonathan Hernandez, brother of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, tells Dr. Oz that his brother came out to their mother during a tearful prison visit. In his first TV appearance since the premiere of the Netflix true-crime documentary series Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez, Jonathan says his brother told his mother, Terri Hernandez, he was gay prior to his 2017 suicide. “He’s like, ‘Mom, you’re going to die never knowing your son,’” Hernandez says in the interview scheduled to air today. “My mom being my mom, started mouthing with Aaron, and they started bickering back and forth, and all of a sudden they have this conversation, and they’re both flooded with tears across from each other.” Putting the moment in context, Jonathan adds, “Here’s the weight of what’s on my brother being expressed, and for a mother to be looking at it across from the scratched glass.”
One of the questions Killer Inside explores is whether the fear that kept Aaron’s sexuality hidden might have been a driving force for killing his former friend Odin Lloyd in 2013. Hernandez was serving a life sentence for the crime at the time of his death. Dr. Oz asks Jonathan his thoughts on a possible motive during the interview. “That’s one of the questions and, you know, head-scratchers that they still have regarding really this entire case,” says the brother. “There’s just so many questions regarding everything. And, for me to sit here and say it was this or that, I can’t say. All you can do is look at the evidence that was provided.” Jonathan Hernandez speaks to Dr. Oz In another segment, Dr. Oz asks how Hernandez’s father Dennis (who died in 2006) might have responded to Aaron sharing he had ‘conflicting thoughts’ on his sexuality. “I don’t know if he would have been able to finish his sentence,” Jonathan said. “My dad would have thought he could beat that out of him.”
Earlier this week, Aaron’s former fiancee said she didn’t know if he was gay. “If he did feel that way, or if he felt the urge, I wish that I was told,” Shayanna Jenkins told Good Morning America. “I wish that he would have told me because I wouldn’t have loved him any differently. I would have understood. It’s not shameful.” (source: New York Post)
(image via Instagram) Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: #TBT to when woofy Fran Dullon (above) was feeling a bit ‘country.’ #MamasPleaseLetYourBabiesGrowUpToBeCowboys • The Courier: It’s rare for people in the UK to die of AIDS-related illnesses, with the National Health Service immediately placing those diagnosed with HIV on antiretroviral therapy. Ross Scott, of Kirkcaldy, found out he had HIV in early 2017 after he began to develop health problems. A week ago he was placed in hospice care and warned he didn’t have long to live. Just hours after sharing his story yesterday, Scott passed away at the age of 25. • Bloomberg News: Vimeo Inc. defeated a lawsuit by a self-described “former homosexual” who accused the video hosting website of discrimination after it removed his videos promoting sexual orientation conversion efforts, according to a Wednesday ruling by the Southern District of New York. • Boxers NYC: Celebrating the sports gay bar’s first ten years in business, Boxers NYC shares this behind-the-scenes look at the hunky bartenders posing for its free (while supplies last) 2020 calendar.
• NBC News: Just hours before the deadline to file new bills for the coming legislative session, seven Republican lawmakers in Florida filed anti-LGBTQ bills late Monday. If passed, the bills would ban gender-affirming health care for transgender children, repeal municipal and county ordinances protecting LGBTQ workers, and legalize so-called gay conversion therapy in places that had banned the medically debunked practice. • AP: Ken Jennings won the “Jeopardy!” greatest-of-all-time title (and $1 million) by going all in with his 32,800 points for the Final Jeopardy round. The clue: “This area of Greece, home to Pan, is synonymous with a rural paradise; it’s a setting for Vergil’s shepherd poems the ‘Ecologues.'” And Jennings wrote the correct answer: “What is Arcadia?” • Netflix: A new fashion competition series from the streaming giant that features designers teaming up to create visionary looks that work for everyone. The winner will receive a $250,000 prize and the opportunity to debut their collection with fashion retailer Net-a-Porter. Hosted by Queer Eye’s Tan France and designer Alexa Chung, all 10 episodes of Next In Fashion launch on Netflix January 29.
Ignacio Pérez Rey (via Instagram) Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunk: Ignacio Pérez Rey (above), in Madrid, Spain, proves clothes are sexy, smiles are sexy, and Madrid is sexy. #grrr • Bloomberg News: Democratic Senator Tim Kaine says he has enough votes to pass a resolution that would limit President Donald Trump’s ability to carry out a military attack against Iran without congressional authorization. Kaine said Tuesday he has 51 “declared votes“ for his resolution including GOP senators Mike Lee, Rand Paul, Susan Collins and Todd Young. • The Gaily Grind: High school freshman Kayla Kenney was expelled from her Christian school after wearing a rainbow sweater while celebrating her 15th birthday with her family at a local restaurant with a rainbow cake. The school seems to have assumed celebrating with rainbows meant the teen was lesbian…? • Los Angeles Blade: Pete Buttigieg attended a primarily black gay fundraiser in Los Angeles at the home of Jordan Fudge, a managing partner of the venture capital firm Sinai Ventures. The event was co-hosted by Empire writer/director Lee Daniels, who called Buttigieg “a candidate that is worthy of serious, serious consideration.” • The Advocate: Tennessee lawmakers have approved a bill that would give faith-based adoption and foster care agencies legal cover to turn away same-sex couples and other prospective parents who offend the agencies’ religious beliefs. The governor has signaled he plans to sign the bill into law. • Netflix: The streaming giant offers this supercut of RuPaul’s most fab performances featured in the new series, AJ and the Queen. While I found parts of the series surprisingly flat and slow, Ru does bring some heat serving up lewks and body as she lip syncs for her life in these drag performances.
Aaron Hernandez (image via screen capture/Netflix) Netflix drops its official trailer for the upcoming docuseries Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez. The three-part documentary series takes a deep dive into what led to the fall and shocking death of former NFL superstar Aaron Hernandez. Through interviews with longtime friends, teammates, and insiders, the series chronicles the tight end’s rise from early high school football years to becoming a 4th round draft choice for the New England Patriots and ultimately making it all the way to the Super Bowl. But it all came to an end in 2013 when he was arrested and charged with the murder of Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro player who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancée. In 2015, he was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. During his trial, he was also indicted for a 2012 double homicide but was eventually acquitted of the charges in 2017.
Shortly after his acquittal, he was found dead in his prison cell and his death was ruled a suicide. An autopsy revealed he suffered from severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated head injuries. Days after his passing, Newsweekpublished an article suggesting the athlete’s motive for killing Lloyd was to hide his sexual orientation. Since then, there’s been much speculation about his sexuality. Hernandez’s lawyer, Jose Baez, later penned a book, Unnecessary Roughness, claiming the footballer confessed he’d had homosexual relationships. Additionally, Hernandez reportedly left a suicide note for his alleged prison lover, Kyle Kennedy, who he had requested to be his cellmate before he died. Hernandez has already been the subject of a two-part Oxygen Network series, Aaron Hernandez Uncovered, in 2018, which explored his rumored bisexuality. Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez premieres January 15 on Netflix.
In this week’s podcast: • Two Dallas men plead guilty to using Grindr to commit hate crimes against gay men • The first LGBTQ-welcoming senior housing opens in New York City • An Elder at an anti-LGBTQ Missouri church has been charged with soliciting sexual favors from college guys • The acclaimed Netflix series “Special” is renewed for Season 2 • Plus, tips for introducing your significant other to your family during the holidays All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report
In this week’s podcast: • Sen. Kamala Harris calls Mayor Pete Buttigieg “naive” for relating his experience as a gay man to other marginalized communities. • A homophobic photographer in Kentucky has filed a lawsuit to block Louisville’s Fairness Ordinance just in case a gay couple were to ask her to shoot their wedding. • Three federal judges have blocked a new rule announced by the Health and Human Services Department that would allow healthcare professionals to deny service to LGBTQs. • The Straight Pride event in Dallas was the biggest fail yet. • Netflix releases teaser video for RuPaul’s upcoming scripted comedy series AJ and The Queen. • Out singer/songwriter Tom Goss’s new album explores new emotional Territories. All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.
Netflix just dropped the first look at the upcoming scripted series, AJ and The Queen, starring RuPaul Charles. I previously reported the announcement from Netflix that the ‘Queen of all queens’ would not only be starring in the road trip themed series, but serving as co-creator with Michael Patrick King (Sex and the City). RuPaul will play ‘Robert Lee,’ aka Ruby Red, who has spent years appearing in clubs across the country saving his coins with the goal of opening his own drag club. But Lee’s dream is dashed when two grifters swindle him out of his life savings. So Lee hits the road again in an attempt to start over. But a “scrappy, streetwise 10-year-old escaping a difficult home life” upends Lee’s life as he is thrust into a new role: de facto parent.
According to the official synopsis, the duo finds themselves “fabulously mismatched yet perfectly paired” as they criss-cross the country together, often teaching each other new tricks. So, two misfits – one tall, one small – sashaying across the country, spreading a message of acceptance and love. Michael-Leon Wooley and Katerina Tannenbaum also co-star. The one-hour comedy, described as “equally heartfelt and gritty” about “finding family in the unlikeliest of people when they’re needed most,” also promises showstopping performances from Mama Ru each week. Sounds like a cross between BJ and the Bear & Touched by an Angel, just with a lot more sass and style. Deadline has reported that the streaming platform has ordered a 10-episode first season. Netflix announces the premiere date is scheduled for January 10.
Some news items you might have missed: • KIT212: Kenneth-in-the-212’s ‘Tennis Tuesday‘ serves up some serious booty workout tips from hunky Australian trainer, Coach Clayton (above). Definitely worth the click here. • NewNowNext: The 5th season of the acclaimed sitcom Schitt’s Creek will debut on Netflix on October 10, with the sixth and final installment to drop in January. The series, heralded for its positive portrayal of LGBTQ life, is nominated for 3 Emmy Awards this weekend. It is the first Canadian sitcom to receive an Emmy nomination for Best Comedy Series. • Variety: After snagging another Emmy Award this past weekend (for her guest appearance on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) Jane Lynch told reporters she and Cyndi Lauper are set to co-star in a new Netflix series that will be “a Golden Girls for today.” • The Sun: Nicole Scherzinger has accepted a reported ‘multi-million pound’ offer to rejoin her former Pussycat Dolls band mates for a 10th anniversary reunion/world tour. • Merriam-Webster: The venerable dictionary has announced a new definition for the word ‘they’ in referencing the gender identity of nonbinary people. • PBS: Longtime ABC News political reporter Cokie Roberts passed away at the age of 75 from complications due to breast cancer. She was NPR’s congressional correspondent for more than a decade beginning in 1978, and co-anchored ABC’s “This Week” from 1996 to 2002. • Roll Call: 13 House Republicans have announced they will not be running for reelection in 2020. • TVLine: Shortly after comedian Shane Gillis was announced to join the cast of Saturday Night Live this season, footage of racist and homophobic ‘jokes’ by Gillis surfaced and SNL reversed their casting decision. Gillis initially issued one of those ‘I apologize if anyone was actually offended’ statements, but then followed up with a bitter little tweet saying he was “always a MADtv kind of guy” anyway. p.s. MADtv got cancelled, too, so…maybe he is that kind of guy.
Check out the latest from producer Ryan Murphy, who gave us Glee, American Horror Story, and Pose – thenew original comedy series, The Politician.
Payton Hobart, played by Tony Award winner Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen), is a wealthy student from Santa Barbara, California, who’s known since age seven that he’s going to be the President of the United States.
But before he can get to the White House, he’ll have to navigate the most treacherous political landscape of all: Saint Sebastian High School.
The longterm plan is: get elected Student Body President, get into Harvard, and no matter what – keep his eye on that Oval Office prize.
But first, Payton will have to outmaneuver his cold-blooded, cunning classmates without sacrificing his own morality and carefully crafted image.
Even his mother, played by Oscar-winner Gywneth Paltrow, admits to Payton, “Your ambition frightens me.”
The sly, satirical dark comedy offers a rare glimpse into just what it takes to make a politician.
The trailer is a fast-paced affair and includes a same-sex kiss for Platt – so don’t blink.
Bette Midler recently announced on Twitter that she and LGBTQ ally Judith Light have also joined the cast.
It’s worth hitting the play button just to see Jessica Lange wonder why calling a gay man a ‘butt-muncher’ would be a scandal: “It’s what gays do – munch butt and celebrate Halloween…”
L-R Jason Bolden, Adair Curtis (image courtesy Netflix)
The new Netflix series Styling Hollywood follows celebrity stylist Jason Bolden and his interior designer husband Adair Curtis as they run their lifestyle company JSN STUDIO while balancing marriage and life’s ups and downs.
With their talented crew of colorful employees, watch as they curate “Black Girl Magic” for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars including Taraji P. Henson, Gabrielle Union, Eve, and Ava DuVernay (just to name a few).
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