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Published by DPA Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi holds a crisis meeting with Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Parliament, and Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, Chief Justice of Iran, at the presidential office in Tehran. Mohammad Javad Ostad/Iranian Presidency/dpa Iran’s political leadership has held a crisis meeting as protests across the country gain intensity, unleashed by the death of a woman in custody for failing to follow the Islamic dress code nearly a month ago. President Ebrahim Raisi, the speaker of parliament and the head of the judiciary took part in the meeting, the presidential office said on Sunday. They called on the people to preserve national unity and stand against the “hostile plots” of the enemies of the Islamic system, in a joint press statement issued by the presidential office. Iran has been swept by protests for weeks following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained by the morality police in Tehran for violating the country’s strict dress regulations for women. On Saturday evening, the protests also reached TV viewers, when two channels of the IRIB state broadcaster were hacked, according to the Shargh newspaper. News broadcasts on the two channels were briefly interrupted and pictures of some women who had died in the protests were shown, Shargh reported on Sunday. The hackers also wrote, “Stand up and join us.” The Anonymous collective, which has hacked several Iranian authorities in recent weeks, was said to have been behind the hacking. The cause of Amini’s death in police custody remains unclear. While critics believe police brutality is to blame, the authorities insist that she died of heart failure. Since Amini’s death there have been nationwide and international protests against Iran’s leadership and specifically the headscarf mandate. The security forces have responded with a deadly crackdown, with dozens said to have been killed and many more injured. Iran’s leadership has blamed the West for the protests, attributing the unrest to a “conspiracy” involving the United States, Israel and “Iranian traitors abroad.” Protests continued late on Saturday night, witnesses said, with both protesters and security forces increasingly willing to use violence. The police allegedly not only used tear gas against the demonstrators, but also fired paintball ammunition at them. The demonstrators reportedly threw Molotov cocktails at the officers and set fire to mobile police stations. Earlier on Sunday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock strongly criticized the Iranian leadership. “Anyone who beats up women and girls in the streets, abducts people who want nothing more than to live freely, arbitrarily arrests them, sentences them to death, is on the wrong side of history,” Baerbock told Bild am Sonntag newspaper. She said the European Union would impose entry bans on those responsible for suppressing protests and freeze their assets in the bloc. Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, Chief Justice of Iran, attends a crisis meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Parliament, at the presidential office in Tehran. Mohammad Javad Ostad/Iranian Presidency/dpa Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Parliament, attends a crisis meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, Chief Justice of Iran, at the presidential office in Tehran. Mohammad Javad Ostad/Iranian Presidency/dpa View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sarah Ferguson says it is a “big honour” to have taken on Queen Elizabeth’s corgis. The late monarch – who passed away at the age of 96 on September 8 after a record-breaking reign of 70 years – bred 10 generations of the dog breed and the Duchess of York has branded the two dogs she left behind, Sandy and Muick, as “national treasures” after she and her ex-husband Prince Andrew were entrusted with their care. She told The Daily Telegraph: “It’s a big honour. Sandy and Muick are national treasures and they have been taught well.” The ‘Most Intriguing Lady’ author now has a total of seven dogs living under her roof, but explained that her five terriers “balance out” with the corgis. She added: “They all balance out, the carpet moves as I move but I’ve got used to it now.” Former trainer Dr. Roger Mugford previously explained that the surviving pair will be aware of the Queen’s death as they go into the full-time care of her second son and his ex-wife because they are “very perceptive” of changes within their environment. He said: “Dogs are very perceptive of changes in their owners. I’m sure they knew that Her Majesty was in decline and they will have missed her. doubt there will be serious changes in the grief, because they were so used to being cared for by other members of the household and, of course, by Prince Andrew, who was present at the death and is taking over their care now.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Tyler Clifford NEW YORK (Reuters) – WNBA star Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who are being held in Russia, could gain release by the end of this year, said former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson, who traveled to Moscow in September. Richardson told CNN in an interview on Sunday that he had met with senior Russian officials and individuals close to Russian President Vladimir Putin during his trip, though his visit was not on behalf of the United States. “I am cautiously optimistic on the Griner (and) Whelan negotiations,” said Richardson, who is also former governor of New Mexico and who has worked privately to secure the release of American detainees abroad. Richardson added that he thought an exchange of detainees would include two Russians in exchange for the two Americans. He did not identify the Russians or give an exact time frame. Asked if the two Americans might be released by the end of the year, he said: “I do think so. Now, I hate making predictions, but yes.” U.S. citizen Griner, a two-time Olympic basketball gold medalist, was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison on Aug. 4 after pleading guilty to drug charges. She insisted she inadvertently broke the law when she traveled with vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. Whelan, who holds American, British, Canadian and Irish passports, was sentenced in 2020 to 16 years in jail after being convicted of spying. He denied the charge. The United States said in late July that it had put forward a “substantial offer” to secure the release of the two Americans. Sources familiar with the situation said Washington has offered to exchange Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout for Griner and Whelan. Reports have surfaced that Moscow has sought the release of a second Russian, but Washington has not confirmed further details on its exact offer. Negotiations are taking place amid ruptured relations between the two countries after Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, which has sparked a U.S.-led effort to punish Moscow with sanctions and isolate it diplomatically. The White House said last week that it has yet to receive a “serious counter-offer.” Richardson said he sensed from the Russian officials with whom he had met that Moscow was “ready to talk.” He did not identify the officials. The Biden administration has distanced itself from Richardson’s trip and efforts in Russia, with senior U.S. officials in recent weeks saying private citizens cannot negotiate on behalf of the U.S. government. Richardson on Sunday said he had coordinated his work with the White House and noted his previous efforts, including attempts to gain the release of U.S. journalist Danny Fenster, who was detained in Myanmar and released last year. (Reporting by Tyler Clifford in New York; Editing by Humeyra Pamuk and Matthew Lewis) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English William Shatner felt a sense of “grief” when he went up into space. The 91-year-old actor – who is known for his starring role as Captain Kirk in the ‘Star Trek’ franchise – became the oldest person ever to reach space when he blasted off on Jeff Bezos’s New Shepard NS-18 rocket in October 2021 but has revealed that the experience wasn’t as “beautiful” as he thought it was going to be. He said: “I had thought that going into space would be the ultimate catharsis of that connection I had been looking for between all living things—that being up there would be the next beautiful step to understanding the harmony of the universe.I discovered that the beauty isn’t out there, it’s down here, with all of us. Leaving that behind made my connection to our tiny planet even more profound. It was among the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered. The contrast between the vicious coldness of space and the warm nurturing of Earth below filled me with overwhelming sadness. Every day, we are confronted with the knowledge of further destruction of Earth at our hands: the extinction of animal species, of flora and fauna…things that took five billion years to evolve, and suddenly we will never see them again because of the interference of mankind. It filled me with dread. .” The ‘Boston Legal’ star went on to compare the feeling of being in space to being “at a funeral” and explained that he was experiencing a common feeling known as the ‘Overview Effect.’ Writing in his new autobiography ‘Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder’, he added: “My trip to space was supposed to be a celebration; instead, it felt like a funeral. It is called the ‘Overview Effect’ and is not uncommon among astronauts, including Yuri Gagarin, Michael Collins, Sally Ride, and many others. Essentially, when someone travels to space and views Earth from orbit, a sense of the planet’s fragility takes hold in an ineffable, instinctive manner. Author Frank White first coined the term in 1987: ‘There are no borders or boundaries on our planet except those that we create in our minds or through human behaviors. All the ideas and concepts that divide us when we are on the surface begin to fade from orbit and the moon. The result is a shift in worldview, and in identity.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lance Bass says fatherhood goes by “too quickly.” The 43-year-old pop star welcomed twins Alexander and Violet with husband Michael Turchin via a surrogate in October 2021 but “cannot believe” that he has been a dad for a whole year already as he reflected on his children’s milestones. He said: “It does go by way too quickly. I cannot believe it’s been a year. It’s just nuts. Right now, my daughter finally took her first step, so that’s been something that’s so nice.My son said his first word a month ago, but he hasn’t said it again. So all those little milestones are just so precious. Meanwhile, the former NSYNC star is “very passionate” about environmental causes and claimed that people are now “paying attention” to the issue because it is something that “cannot be ignored”. He told PEOPLE: “In the last few years, people are actually paying attention because you can’t ignore that climate change is happening. Now that everyone knows it’s real, people are listening, and we’re able to really get the messages out of what we can do to try to combat it. Environmental justice is going to be the big thing for the younger generation, and I feel so happy to know that they are in it for the right reasons. They grew up learning about climate change, something that I didn’t even know about 15 years ago. “But this young generation, this is what they live and that’s just their future and their kids’ future and their grandchildren’s future. So they know it’s so important to take care of it right now, or we’re not going to have a great planet for our kids to live in.” View the full article

Published by Ultimate Classic Rock The term “one-hit wonder” tends to come with a negative connotation, but many acts who fall under that category created songs that continue to resonate generations after their original release. Take “Spirit in the Sky,” for example. The Norman Greenbaum classic, with its familiar fuzzed-out guitar sound, was a hit in 1970 and proved to be the only marquee success of his career. Still, “Spirit in the Sky” is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable songs of its era, and has been used in more than 100 TV shows and movies. Many classic one-hit wonders continued making music even after their initi… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Tom Boggioni According to a report from the Daily Beast, the founder of the Proud Boys, who has been keeping his distance from the right-wing group, headed to Las Vegas weeks ago for a meet-up of members and attempted to put down a civil war in the organization that is reportedly coming apart at the seams after revelations that one key leader was an FBI informant. With Gavin McInnes later describing it as the “weirdest experience of my life,” the report by Will Sommer states the group is still “bitterly divided” into two camps (the “Nationals” and “Standard”) with McInnes himself noting on … Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Margot Robbie is “so happy” Lady Gaga is set to play Harley Quinn in ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’. The 32-year-old actress – who played the character in ‘Suicide Squad’ (2016), ‘Birds of Prey’ (2020) and ‘The Suicide Squad’ (2020) – loves the idea of the iconic role being passed around “great actors”, with each getting the chance to share their own take on the comic book creation. She told MTV: “It makes me so happy because I said from the very beginning, all I want is for Harley Quinn to be one of those characters, the way Macbeth or Batman always gets passed from great actor to great actor. “And I feel like in not so many cases are they female characters. “Queen Elizabeth I, but like beyond that — which I got to have a crack at as well, which I was honored to do. I was like, ‘Wow, Cate Blanchett did Queen Elizabeth I. Now I get to.’ “ And Margot is looking forward to see the “incredible” way Gaga will bring the character to life, though her exact role in the ‘Joker’ sequel opposite Joaquin Phoenix hasn’t been confirmed. She added: “It’s such an honour to have built a foundation strong enough that Harley can now be one of those characters who other actors get to have a go at playing. And I think she’ll do something incredible with it.” Margot has previously admitted she had no plans to reprise her role as the psychiatrist-turned-vigilante in another film because she needed a “break” from playing the “exhausting” character. She said last year: “I was like, ‘Oof, I need a break from Harley, because she’s exhausting.’ I don’t know when we’re next going to see her.” View the full article

Published by DPA Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas gestures during the 2018 UEFA Champions League Group D soccer match between FC Schalke 04 and FC Porto at the Veltins Arena. A message on the Twitter account of former Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas says his account was hacked after a post appeared saying he was gay. Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa A message on the Twitter account of former Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas says his account was hacked after a post appeared saying he was gay. The original post was deleted and a new tweet from the ex-Real Madrid stopper’s account read: “Account hacked. Luckily everything is in order. Apologies to all my followers. And of course, more apologies to the LGBT community.” The account of former Spain team-mate Carles Puyol had replied to the original tweet with: “It’s the moment to tell our story, Iker.” Casillas was married to sports journalist Sara Carbonero until 2021 and has two sons with her. Puyol has been together with model Vanesa Lorenzo for years and the two have two daughters together. Spanish media at first guessed that Casillas was joking with the tweet following speculation in the press about his love life. Adelaide United midfielder Josh Cavallo announced last year that he was gay, one of very few to have revealed the news in men’s professional football. Posting before the tweet saying Casillas had been hacked, he wrote: “@Iker Casillas and @Carles5puyol joking and making fun out of coming out in football is disappointing. “It’s a difficult journey that any LGBTQ+ ppl have to go through. To see my role models and legends of the game make fun out of coming out and my community is beyond disrespectful.” View the full article

Published by AFP Demonstrators took to the streets of Washington (seen here) and several other US cities on October 8, 2022 in support of abortion rights Washington (AFP) – Thousands marched in cities across the United States on Saturday to protest the Supreme Court’s overturning of the federal right to abortion and to urge voters to turn out in a Democratic “blue wave” in next month’s key midterm elections. In Washington, a crowd of mostly women chanted “We won’t go back” as they marched. They carried posters calling for a “feminist tsunami” and urging people to “vote to save women’s rights.” “I don’t want to have to go back to a different time,” Emily Bobal, an 18-year-old student, told AFP. “It’s kind of ridiculous that we still have to do this in 2022,” she said, adding that she is concerned that the conservative-dominated high court might next target same-sex marriage. “The majority of us are ready to get out and fight for democracy and fight for people’s bodily autonomy, women and men,” said Kimberly Allen, 70. With Democrats battling to maintain their narrow control of Congress, the midterm elections could have a decisive impact on the future of such rights, she said. Several marchers wore armbands or scarves of green, a color symbolizing abortion rights. Others wore blue — the color of the Democratic Party — and carried huge flags and banners calling for a symbolic “blue wave” of voters to go to the polls on November 8. A few counter-protesters made their presence known, some of them urging the crowd to “find Jesus Christ,” while others shouted that “abortion is murder.” They were met with boos. Similar rallies took place in cities including New York and Denver, Colorado. “The #WomensWave is coming for EVERY anti-abortion politician, no matter where they live,” Rachel O’Leary Carmona, executive director of the nonprofit Women’s March organization, said on Twitter. She urged people to elect “more women” as well as male candidates who support abortion rights. Polls show Democrats only have a slim possibility of maintaining control of the House of Representatives, but their chances are better in the evenly-divided Senate, where Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris is the tie-breaking vote. While Republicans have been campaigning largely on soaring prices, immigration concerns and urban crime, Democrats led by President Joe Biden want to shift the debate to abortion rights and the defense of American democracy. The Supreme Court in June ended the decades-long federal protection of abortion rights, leaving it to individual states to set their own rules. Since then, several Republican-led states have banned or severely curtailed access to the procedure, provoking a series of legal challenges. In the latest development, an appeals court in the southwestern state of Arizona on Friday blocked — at least for now — a near-total ban on abortions. View the full article

Published by DPA A general view of the Crimean Bridge between Kerch on the Crimean peninsula and mainland Russia. An explosion that sparked a fire on the bridge on Saturday caused massive damage to the train tracks and the roadway, sparking an official investigation in Russia and jubilation among Ukrainian officials. Ulf Mauder/dpa An explosion that sparked a fire on a bridge to Crimea caused massive damage to the structure’s train tracks and roadway, prompting a shake-up of security by Russia and jubilation among Ukrainian officials. The blast sent smoke and flames into the air as one of the key supply routes for Moscow’s floundering military campaign in Ukraine was torn asunder. It was also a major symbolic blow as the bridge connecting mainland Russia to the occupied Crimean peninsula was opened by President Vladimir Putin himself to much pomp and fanfare in 2018. The exact cause of the early Saturday blast remains unknown. Russia so far has said a truck exploded, without attributing responsibility. Many Ukrainian officials have gloated over the incident, but have yet to directly claim it as their attack. In his nightly remarks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky only hinted at the drama that had unfolded. He noted it had been a sunny day across Ukraine, but “in Crimea, unfortunately, cloudy, although warm there too.” He said the advance of Ukrainian troops continues in the south and east of the country, but did not give any details about new conquests. At least three people were killed on the bridge, Russia’s national investigation committee said citing preliminary findings, adding that the bodies were recovered from the water. Images show a destroyed lane and car parts floating in the water underneath and several burned-out wagons of a freighter train said to have transported diesel fuel. The fire was eventually extinguished and traffic was partially reinstated linking Ukraine’s annexed Crimean peninsula with Russia. However, the 19-kilometre-long structure, built by the Kremlin and a critical supply route, remains closed to lorries for now. Russia’s national investigation committee said that a truck had exploded on the road part of the bridge, causing seven fuel tanks of a train headed to the peninsula to catch fire. As a result, parts of the roadway collapsed. Alongside the truck driver, the other two people who died were driving in a car next to the vehicle when it exploded. Preliminary findings suggest the truck was headed from the Russian mainland to the coastal town of Kerch. Putin responded by reorganizing the prized bridge’s security, with the FSB secret service told to tighten controls over the bridge. “The FSB will be given powers to organize and coordinate protective measures for the transport route across the Kerch Strait, for the Russian Federation’s power bridge to the Crimean peninsula and the gas pipeline from the Krasnodar Territory Crimea,” a decree said. Up to now, security was overseen by the Defence Ministry, the Rosgvardiya National Guard and the Ministry of Transport. In Russia, leading foreign policy expert Leonid Sluzki called the blast a “terrorist attack.” He said “consequences will be inevitable” if it was planned by Ukraine. Sluzki said many statements made by Ukrainian lawmakers suggested Kiev had organized the attack, after Ukrainian media reported that the SBU secret service had carried out the operation. Kiev has vowed to retake Crimea, as well as the other four regions illegally annexed by Russia during the course of the war which began in February. Crimea was annexed in 2014. The incident brought a jubilant reaction from Ukrainians on social media. “Crimea, the bridge, the beginning. Everything illegal must be destroyed, everything stolen must be returned to Ukraine, everything occupied by Russia must be expelled,” Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor in the office of President Volodymyr Zelensky, tweeted. Meanwhile, the power supply to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, was cut off again, the operator said. The external electricity supply is needed in order to cool the fuel rods of the plant that has been occupied by Russian forces since March but staffed by its Ukrainian employees. The Ukrainian nuclear operator Enerhoatom said the last remaining main power line had been damaged “due to renewed shelling by Russian troops.” Once the plant lost power, diesel generators kicked in automatically. The diesel supplies available are sufficient to run the plant for 10 days in an emergency, the operator said, noting the lines will have to be repaired. The sprawling complex in south-eastern Ukraine has been the site of fierce fighting for months. Its last operating reactor was shut down in September but the risk of disaster remains as the atomic material still needs the external power for cooling operations to avoid a meltdown. Zaporizhya is one of the four areas recently annexed by Moscow although Russian forces do not completely control them. In Kherson, another annexed region, the Russian occupying authorities were preparing to evacuate tens of thousands of civilians, under pressure from swiftly advancing Ukrainian troops. Russia’s southern Krasnodar and Stavropol regions are ready to receive Ukrainian children and adults, Kherson’s Russian-installed leader Vladimir Saldo said on Telegram. Another occupation official in Kherson, Kirill Stremousov, acknowledged on Russian state television that his administration was preparing for “a difficult time.” Russia invaded neighbouring Ukraine on February 24. Some seven months after the war began, the Ukrainian army’s counteroffensive is retaking terrain in the eastern regions of Kharkiv and Donetsk. The Ukrainians also recently reported the successful recapture of several villages in Kherson. As progress falters, Moscow appeared to bow to critics in Saturday by appointing 55-year-old army general Sergei Surovikin to lead Russia’s faltering “special military operation” in Ukraine, according to Defence Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu appointed Surovikin after critics demanded a redeployment of troops in Ukraine given the defeats faced by Russian forces of late. View the full article

Published by Reuters UK By Louisa Off and Sarah Marsh MUNICH (Reuters) – Anselm Bilgri, a former monk and prior at one of Germany’s most famous monasteries, had to leave the Roman Catholic Church to wed his long-term male partner. Now he hopes their wedding within a breakaway church will normalise such unions. Bilgri, 68, and his partner Markus Achter, 41, were wed in a Munich church on Saturday by a priest of the Old Catholic Church, which emerged in the Netherlands in the 19th century and lets priests marry and allows same-sex relationships. “I immediately thought: now I have actually received all seven sacraments,… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Billy Eichner believes homophobia was a factor in the flop of his gay romcom ‘Bros’. Although Billy deleted tweets in which he referenced homophobia as a reason for ‘Bros’ low box-office takings on its opening weekend, he insisted that it was one of the factors for the surprise flop. Speaking at the New Yorker Festival, Billy said: “Homophobia is a bigger problem than as it pertains to this silly rom-com we made, you know what I mean? But do I think it’s a factor? Yes. I think in certain parts of the country, it probably was a factor.” However, he admitted that there were other issues too, including the wide theatrical release and the marketing of the movie. He said: “There’s a lot of factors to it. To open this movie, in this many theatres, a rom-com in 2022 — there are rom-coms with mega-stars, which struggle at the box office, and a lot of the biggest comedy stars are taking their movies to streaming. And for good reason. That seems to be where people want to watch these movies. I still love seeing these movies in the theatre. I grew up going to see all these romantic comedies at the movies with my parents. “It was a bold swing to open this movie in this many movie theatres without big movie stars.” He added about the marketing: “I think what we were doing is trying to find every which way to try to motivate people because the odds were so stacked against us for so many reasons. “It’s just funny, you know, life is absurd. It’s just a rom-com. We wanted to make a Nora Ephron movie about horny gay guys, and it’s inspired a lot of thinkpieces and op-eds. I didn’t know people were so interested in me. “I love the movie, and I just hope more and more people keep discovering it.” View the full article

Published by Al-Araby The severed head and decapitated torso of a 25-year-old Palestinian were discovered on the side of a road in the occupied West Bank, police said Friday, confirming gruesome details of a killing that shocked Palestinian society. But accounts that the victim, Ahmad Abu Murkhiyeh, was a gay man who feared persecution for his sexuality and had sought asylum in Israel two years ago turned the terrible crime into a socially and politically explosive case. It was unclear how Abu Murkhiyeh wound up in Hebron, the conservative West Bank city that he had reportedly fled. Palestinian police officials tol… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Matthew Chapman On Friday, WBLT News reported that a Mississippi reverend’s letter to two new parents has gone viral on social media after he unexpectedly refused to perform a baptism of their infant, due to their being unmarried. “Kamri Mclendon lives with her boyfriend of two years, Tristan Mcphail, in Sumrall. In May, the 18-year-old gave birth to a girl, Presleigh. She said the pregnancy was not planned, but her daughter has become the couple’s ‘greatest blessing,'” reported Josh Carter and Andrew McMunn. “Mclendon said she grew up in the church, and thus wanted to have an infant baptis… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Harry Styles is reportedly “gutted” he will not be attending the European premiere of his new film ‘My Policeman’. The former One Direction singer, 28, is said to be unable to join his co-stars, who include Emma Corrin, 26, of ‘The Crown’, at the BFI London Film Festival next week due to a tour clash that has tied him into performing in Chicago. Mail Online said on Friday (07.10.22) a source close to Harry said: “He’s gutted – but he doesn’t want to let down his fans in Chicago. “Starring in ‘My Policeman’ means the world to Harry and attending the London film premiere would have been very special. “Music will always be his priority though and he’s committed to fulfilling every one of his ‘Love On Tour’ dates.” Based on the novel by Bethan Roberts, ‘My Policeman’ sees Harry star as gay policeman Tom in Brighton in the 1950s, when homosexuality was outlawed. His character becomes embroiled in a love triangle with schoolteacher Marion, played by Emma, and their friend Patrick, portrayed by David Dawson, with Tom’s gay relationship pushing their relationships to breaking point. Harry told Rolling Stone magazine about the film: “It’s not like,’This is a gay story about these guys being gay’. It’s about love and about wasted time to me.” The LGBT+ community have said it feels the singer’s remarks attempted to play down the film’s queer plot. Harry will reportedly miss the ‘My Policeman’ premiere amid ongoing rumours about ‘Don’t Worry Darling’, in which he starred alongside Florence Pugh and its director, his girlfriend Olivia Wilde. Florence, 26, is said to have clashed with film boss Olivia, 38, over relationship with Harry, which begun on set, and was reported to have been unhappy with the focus on her sex scenes with Harry in the movie’s marketing. She told Harper’s Bazaar: “When it’s reduced to your sex scenes… to watch the most famous man in the world go down on someone… it’s not why we do it. It’s not why I’m in this industry.” View the full article

Published by uInterview.com The iconic and transgressive indie filmmaker John Waters is making his return to directing after nearly 20 years since his last film A Dirty Shame released in 2004. Waters, known for films like Hairspray and Pink Flamingos, has been working in many areas including acting, writing, commentary and even touring some live shows. He will write and direct the adaptation of Liarmouth: A Feel Bad Romance, which is set in his hometown of Baltimore and stars a woman Marhsa Sprinkle who is described like this in the book’s retail description: “Suitcase thief. Scammer. Master of disguise. Dogs and childre… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Tiffany Terrell In Oklahoma, the OU Health hospital is counting on federal pandemic relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. However, Republicans in that state have given OU an ultimatum: if they want to receive $108 million in Rescue Plan funds, Oklahoma Children’s Hospital will have to stop providing gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Oklahoma’s Republican Governor Kevin J. Stitt signed this into law on Tuesday. Watch below to hear what Governor Stitt had to say about the new law Wednesday in his appearance on the conservative podcast by Clay Travis and Buck Sexto… Read More View the full article

Published by uInterview.com Judy Tenuta, the comedian and musician also known by her onstage persona “The Love Goddess,” passed away at the age of 72. She reportedly died from ovarian cancer according to her publicist Roger Neal. She was surrounded by family and loved ones in her Los Angeles home when she passed on Thursday afternoon. Tenuta had a wholly unique act blending brash insult comedy inspired by the Borscht Belt greats as well as vaudeville acts, and had some incredible joke writing skills to back it all up. Early on in her career she began incorporating an accordion in the act as well, which gave her performan… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters UK By Alvise Armellini ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s outgoing government has adopted a new plan for LGBT rights just before handing over the reins to a right-wing administration that promises to be far more socially conservative. “We weren’t very ideological, we were very concrete,” Equal Opportunities Minister Elena Bonetti told Reuters on Friday, saying the contents of the document were not controversial. Nevertheless, they immediately jarred with prime-minister-in-waiting Giorgia Meloni and her post-fascist Brothers of Italy party, which won a Sept. 25 election partly on pledges to defend the “trad… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Tan France’s team nearly rejected George at Asda’s offer for him to design a line for the supermarket chain’s clothing department. The ‘Queer Eye’ star has launched his 37-piece range for men and women, but he admitted he had to explain how big Asda is in the UK to his colleagues because they had no idea. He told Stylist: “Asda came along, and I had to explain to my team what it was and how big it was in the UK. They were about to reject the offer.” The 39-year-old designer and television personality insisted he would wear the pieces he’s designed for the affordable brand. He said: “I swear to God – and I don’t swear to God often because I’m a religious person – but the pieces in my collection are wicked.” Tan was one of the first out Muslim gay men to appear on western television, and found it hard growing up in Doncaster, England, as a “queer Asian”. He said: “I found it really difficult in the UK, fitting in and being myself – I was Asian, I was queer in the 80s and 90s. “That really wasn’t easy, especially in the north.” The co-host of ‘Next In Fashion’ – which he fronts with supermodel pal Gigi Hadid – previously said he feels like an outsider in the fashion industry. Tan believes people in the style world disapprove of him because he doesn’t “live by trends” or worry about his outfits being “last season”- but he doesn’t care. He said: “Believe me, just because I have fame and I have wealth, I still feel sometimes like the fashion industry thinks there are certain people who aren’t right for it. “I’m positive they would say that about me because I don’t deck myself in designer clothing, I don’t care that much about the hottest new trend. “If a trend works for me, I will embrace it. But do I live by trends? Do I change my clothes every three months and not wear things anymore because they were ‘last season’? Absolutely not. “I’m positive that I’m excluded from the fashion industry because of that, but I don’t care. “I care so much more about style for myself, making myself feel good, and pushing that agenda forward onto other people who feel like they’re excluded from the fashion industry.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kevin Spacey’s lawyer has claimed he was a victim of the MeToo movement. The former ‘House of Cards’ star appeared in court in Manhattan on Thursday (06.10.22) in relation to allegations from Anthony Rapp, who has accused the disgraced actor of assaulting him at a party in 1986 when he was just 14 years old and Spacey was more than a decade older. But the 63-year-old actor’s lawyer has claimed his accuser made the allegations “for attention, for sympathy and to raise his own profile” because he was jealous of the success the ‘American Beauty’ star enjoyed while his own acting career floundered. Jennifer Keller said in opening arguments: “One of the cardinal rules of the so-called MeToo movement (is) that you have to believe the victim. You’ll see that Mr Spacey said ‘This didn’t happen, I don’t remember it’. “They told him to apologise. It was cleverly set up by Mr Rapp… “He’s been telling this story to raise his own profile. He never became the international star Kevin Spacey did. He has been simmering with resentment. It’s not easy to defend this, after 30 years. “As Mr Spacey’s star rose, Mr Rapp grew resentful. ‘Rent’ (the musical) was the apex of his career. He peaked in 2000 and grew bitter. So he became an out gay actor. I don’t know if he would have been a leading man anyway. “‘(The allegations made in 2017) was right after the Harvey Weinstein allegations. All sorts of people are worried about being cancelled.” Rapp filed a civil suit against Spacey after a 2020 criminal charge of sexual assault was dismissed by a judge and is seeking compensation for mental and emotional suffering, medical expenses and loss of work. According to court documents, Rapp claimed that during a party in Manhattan, Spacey lifted him up and his hand “grazed” his buttocks as he did so. He then alleged the actor placed him back down on a bad and “briefly placed his own clothed body partially beside and partially across” his. He said the alleged incident lasted no more than two minutes and there had been “no kissing, no undressing, no reaching under clothes, and no sexualised statements or innuendo.” Spacey has previously offered his “sincerest apology” to the ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ actor for any “deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour” but said he did not recall the incident. The ‘Baby Driver’ star faces having to pay significant damages if the jury find in favour of his accuser. The case is being overseen by Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over the civil suit filed against Prince Andrew earlier this year, which was ultimately settled out of court. Spacey has previously pleaded not guilty to charges of sexually assaulting three men between March 2005 and April 2013 in the UK, while in 2019, charges of indecent assault and sexual assault were dropped in Massachusetts. View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Matt Laslo “What do you make of the administration’s request on funding for monkeypox?” Raw Story asked Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) at the U.S. Capitol just days before lawmakers left Washington until after the midterm elections. “For what?” he replied. “The monkeypox virus. The outbreak.” “Well, I’m embarrassed to tell you, I don’t even know that,” Inhofe, who’s retiring, admitted. Inhofe’s likely not alone. The word ‘monkeypox’ itself, terrible as it may be, has been said just seven times in Senate floor debates throughout the entire 117th Congress, according tothe Congressional Record (with a… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English JoJo Siwa’s “gay awakening” started with Demi Lovato’s 2015 hit ‘Cool for the Summer’ – when she was 12. The former ‘Dance Moms’ star – who recently broke up again with her on-off girlfriend Kylie Prew – has revealed she started to discover she was a lesbian when she heard the song about same-sex experimentation. She said on TikTok: “I really, really liked it and listened to it all the time. “I did not know what it meant back then but now that I’m much older and I understand, I know what it means.” Later, the 19-year-old YouTuber’s head was turned by 41-year-old actress Jenna Dewan, after she saw her perform a song from her now-ex-husband Channing Tatum’s stripper movie ‘Magic Mike’ on ‘Lip Sync Battle’. She recalled: “Then a few years later, Jenna Dewan went on ‘Lip Sync Battle’. She did a really great ‘Magic Mike’ number. I pretty much watched it every day. Little me, she didn’t know she was gay, until.” JoJo knew for sure that she was attracted to women only when she got “grossed out” by a man’s request for sex. She added: “A couple of years later, a man was my first date and he wanted to have sex with me and I did not want to – never wanted to, grossed out by the thought of it. Immediately knew men are not my thing. Women are my gig. Gotta go.” JoJo came out to the world in January 2021, and while celebrating the one-year anniversary earlier this year, she admitted that while she was nervous she had “no fear” letting the world know her sexuality. She wrote: “In the last 365 days, I’ve felt more love than ever. “A year ago today I posted this picture and shared with the world that I was gay. “I get asked a lot, ‘Was coming out scary for you?’… and the answer is, ‘Yes of course!’ Anything that’s different about you is scary, however… it’s what makes me… me. “So I had no fear with sharing it with the world.” The ‘Dancing with the Stars’ star hopes she inspires young kids to be their authentic selves. She said: “Truthfully I feel like I was put on this earth to be a role model for kids, and letting all the kids of the world know that loving everyone for who they are no matter what is something that I will always believe in and always share.” She wrapped the post: “Thank you for showing me the most love throughout this year and throughout my entire life. I love you all.” View the full article