RadioRob

Published by Radar Online @ANGELINAPLEASE/INSTAGRAM Adult film actress Angelina Please was found dead in her Las Vegas home a week after police launched a missing persons investigation. @ANGELINAPLEASE/INSTAGRAM Please’s neighbor, fellow adult film actress Aspen Brooks, reported the actress as missing after begging for information after not hearing from Please. After news of the actress’s body being found, Brooks posted a follow-up tweet where she wrote, “I’m at a loss for words. Went to go check up on my friend after she had been missing, only to find out we lost an amazing person. One of my best friends. My neighbor. The person I would gossip with about everything.” “She was just 24 years old … RIP baby girl.” @ANGELINAPLEASE/INSTAGRAM Police reportedly found the body of the adult entertainer in her Las Vegas home Tuesday morning. Officers found no signs of foul play or violence at her house. An official cause of death has yet to be released. The Clark County Medical Examiner still lists her autopsy as “pending.” @ANGELINAPLEASE/INSTAGRAM Please’s last tweet before going missing mentioned that she was planning a trip to LA from the 10th to the 16th, but she wasn’t able to make it out west before her passing. The adult film star was recently nominated as Trans Performer of the Year for the 2022 AVN Awards and was viewed as one of the up-and-coming stars in the adult film industry. @ANGELINAPLEASE/INSTAGRAM Please’s alleged sibling, Lonnie Montalbano, started a GoFundMe page to cover the cost of transporting her body home. “This is something I never imagined having to do for my baby sister,” they wrote on the Help Bring My Sister Home for Burial donation page. “[Please] was loved by so many, so special in a million different ways and showed so much promise.” The funding is said to help “bring her body home to Chicago, where our father has given up his plot to lay my sister next to her grandparents.” The GoFundMe has raised $15,000 so far. View the full article

(From left) Anna Kalandadze, head coach Mike Schnur, Lia Thomas and Catherine BurokerLia Thomas, National Champion University of Pennslyvania swimmer Lia Thomas added an NCAA national championship to her whirlwind 2021-22 season on Thursday, becoming the first out transgender NCAA champion at the Division I level. Thomas’ NCAA wan came Thursday in the women’s 500m freestyle, her first of three events at the 2022 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in Atlanta, GA. Thomas bested three Olympic silver medalists who competed in Tokyo last year, out LGBTQ swimmer Erica Sullivan, Emma Weyant and Brooke Forde, posting a winning time of 4:33.24, just 1.75 seconds ahead of runner-up Weyant. “Like anyone else in this sport, Lia doesn’t win every time. And when she does, she deserves, like anyone else in this sport, to be celebrated for her hard-won success, not labeled a cheater simply because of her identity,” she continued. “Many of those who oppose transgender athletes like Lia being able to participate in sports claim to be ‘protecting women’s sports.’ As a woman in sports, I can tell you that I know what the real threats to women’s sports are: sexual abuse and harassment, unequal pay and resources and a lack of women in leadership. Transgender girls and women are nowhere on this list. Women’s sports are stronger when all women—including trans women—are protected from discrimination, and free to be their true selves.” Forde said she had no issue racing Thomas prior to the NCAA Championships. “Treating people with respect and dignity is more important than any trophy or record will ever be,” Forde said in a written statement. Eventual women’s 200m freestyle national champion Taylor Ruck shook hands with Thomas following the Friday event and her mother, Sophia Ruck, told ESPN she has “nothing but empathy” for Thomas. “If that’s what Lia needs to live her best life, that’s up to Lia.” Lia Thomas: Previously on Towleroad Out Trans Swimmer Lia Thomas Wins 1 of 3 NCAA Championship Freestyle Races; Fellow Swimmers Show Support As She Finishes Collegiate Career Brian Bell March 20, 2022 Read More Olympics Doping ‘Double Standard:’ U.S. Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson Calls Out Olympics For Allowing Russian Skater To Compete After Positive Drug Test, IOC Responds Brian Bell February 17, 2022 Read More Winter Olympics 2022 Start With LGBTQ Athletes Primed For The Medal Podium; Preview This Weekend’s Action In Figure Skating, Curling and Gayest Team Ever Brian Bell February 4, 2022 Read More 2022 Winter Olympics Features More Than 30 Out LGBTQ Olympians, Including First Out Nonbinary Athlete Brian Bell January 30, 2022 Read More Trans Swimmers Lia Thomas And Iszac Henig Compete, Win At Ivy League Meet Brian Bell January 12, 2022 Read More Queen Honors Olympian Tom Daley for His Athletics and Advocacy; Diver, Knitting Entrepreneur Now ‘Officer of the Order of the British Empire’ Brian Bell January 4, 2022 Read More Photo courtesy of Penn Athletics View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega The United States government has reportedly announced that they will be offering upwards of $5 million to any US citizen who can provide information leading to the asset seizure of Russian oligarchs following sanctions put in place due to their support and role in the invasion of Ukraine. Mega According to Daily Mail, the US Treasury Department announced the multi-million-dollar rewards on Wednesday in an effort to clamp down on certain Russian individuals who are allied with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is just the latest step in the country’s goal to hurt Putin and the oligarchs closest to him financially. In the past month the US, as well as a slew of other European countries, have reportedly confiscated assets such as superyachts, mansions and private jets that belong to some of Russia’s richest and most powerful individuals. But although the Treasury just announced the new potential payouts – formally named the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Rewards Program – the program was reportedly approved months before Russian forces even invaded Ukraine as part of a defense spending bill under former President Donald Trump’s administration. “Congress established the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Rewards Program to further the U.S. government’s commitment to combating foreign government corruption and serve United States efforts to identify and recover stolen assets, forfeit proceeds of corruption, and, where appropriate and feasible, return those stolen assets or proceeds to the country harmed by the acts of corruption,” the Treasury announced in Wednesday’s launching of the program. Mega “The Program may pay rewards to qualified individuals who provide information leading to the restraint or seizure, forfeiture, or repatriation of ‘stolen assets,’ as defined by the law, linked to foreign government corruption.” So far, a number of oligarchs tied to Putin have had their assets targeted in the weeks following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24. One oligarch, Roman Abramovich, is reportedly valued at nearly $14 billion and has since had his targets eyed for seizure. Abramovich was the former owner of the Premier League’s Chelsea soccer team until being forced to cede his ownership on Friday due to the sanctions placed upon him. Abramovich also reportedly “rushed” his $560 million superyacht, dubbed The Solaris, out of a Barcelona shipyard last week in anticipation of sanctions against him and the possible seizure of his sailing vessel and other various assets. Mega As Radar reported, there were also recent sightings of oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk’s superyacht anchored in Croatia last week. Medvedchuk, who fled Ukraine following the initial invasion of the country by Russian forces three weeks ago, is reportedly one of Putin’s closest friends and allies and is also rumored to be one of the Russian despot’s top picks to run Ukraine if Russia were to successfully take the war-torn country. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Cher has offered her home to Ukrainian refugees. The ‘Believe’ hitmaker has called on people in her “position” to “step up to the plate” and give those fleeing their homes amid Russia’s invasion a safe place to stay. She tweeted: “I Would Like to Sponsor Ukrainian Families in My Home. “They Would Be Safe Cared For. “MANY PEOPLE IN MY POSITION NEED TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE. “IF I WAS ALONE OR WITH MY CHILDREN, WE WERE TRAUMATIZED, I WOULD HOPE SOMEONE LIKE ME TO TAKE CARE OF US. (sic)” The 75-year-old music legend – who has a mansion in Malibu – has been left overwhelmed by the conflict. Seemingly referring to the war in Ukraine, the ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ star wrote recently: “I’ve been alive since the year dot, and these years are the worst I’ve ever seen … add family to that and it’s a recipe for disaster cake.” She has been using her platform to rally support for the people of Ukraine. She urged: “We must find more tangible ways to help Ukrainian people! What does the word ‘support’ actually mean to the world?” The singer left fans concerned last week when she revealed the reason she had been quiet on social media for almost a week was that she’d been having “personal problems”. She tweeted: “Sorry I’ve Been MIA. Been having personal problems.” Responding to a follower who asked if she is OK, Cher replied: “We all [cry emoji], but sometimes, we [cry emoji] a different kind of tears.Tears that hurt. “We become overwhelmed,reach a limit.Then are forced to push that limit.” A little later, the ‘If I Could Turn Back Time’ hitmaker reassured fans that she was feeling “better” and that she needed to “regroup and reboot”. She added: “I’m better today. “Sometimes I reach what I think is my limit, then realise, I’ve got ‘miles’ more limit in me. “Sometimes I get on what I ‘think’ is my last nerve, then find lots more ‘last nerves’ to get on. “Sometimes I need to regroup, reboot, give ‘me’ a time out, then say f*** this. I won’t stop.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Walt Disney World has recently issued an apology for a dance routine performed at their amusement park in which a high school drill team reportedly put on a performance that some are calling “racist” for emphasizing Native American stereotypes and alleged cultural appropriation. According to The Post, Orlando, Florida’s Disney World issued the apology on Friday just days after Texas’ Port Neches-Groves High School Indianettes performed a dance at the park that not only included chants of “Scalp ’em, Indians, scalp ’em” but also reportedly showcased the all-girl dance squad dressed in purple and white fringe while dancing like Native Americans. Mega “The live performance in our park did not reflect our core values, and we regret it took place,” Jacquee Wahler, Disney spokesperson, said in Friday’s statement. “It was not consistent with the audition tape the school provided and we have immediately put measures in place so this is not repeated.” But some individuals are still up in arms over the Indianettes’ insensitive performance because, although Disney did eventually issue an apology, it didn’t come until a slew of rightfully offended people took to social media to condemn the performance for its blatant disregard of Native American culture. “Cuz a bunch of kids in fringe chanting ‘scalp ‘em Indians, scalp ‘em’ is honor, right? And any Natives who attend [Port Neches-Groves High School] should prolly just accept their classmates dehumanizing them cuz ‘tradition’, right?” Ojibwe tribal attorney Tara Houska wrote on Twitter Thursday, one day before the park’s apology. “Shame on [Disney World] hosting this.” Mega “99% percent of the people sharing their outrage about this are Native people. Can’t you see that’s the problem too?” Kelly Lynne D’Angelo, a writer for TNT’s Miracle Workers who is a member of the Tongva tribe also wrote. “Why must WE be the ones to speak up of all the blatant racism against us? Of our constant mistreatment? Why must we fight, tooth and nail, for you to understand we are human and alive and thriving too?” “The thing is: our ways were right and always have been,” D’Angelo continued. “We know how to make bounty on this earth. How to live EASILY. Our relational practices with each other and the earth are a FUNDAMENTAL CORE to a healthy and harmonious human experience.” mega Disney is also under fire for failing to live up to their pledge of “inclusion” regarding Tuesday’s controversial dance routine. The incident also comes just days after, as Radar reported, Disney CEO Bob Chapek openly showed support for Florida’s recent “Don’t Say Gay” bill – a bill that banned any and all “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Russian dictator Vladimir Putin fears he’s being poisoned, so he’s replaced 1,000 of his staffers and is reportedly making employees test his food before he eats it. According to reports, Putin wiped his inner circle clean last month after growing increasingly paranoid that someone is out to get him. “Laundresses, secretaries, cooks — to a whole new group of people. The assessment from the intelligence community is that he’s scared,” a source revealed on Thursday. Hours earlier, Putin appeared on television and labeled Russians protesting the war against Ukraine as “scum” and “traitors.” Reporter Craig Copetas says poisoning isn’t uncommon in Russia. In fact, it’s the country’s most popular form of assassination. Paranoid Putin Arrests His Own Military Chief Accusing Him Of Leaking Information Mega Putin’s inner circle is reportedly no stranger to poisoning. His agents were allegedly linked to the 2006 murder of Alexander Litvinenko after he spoke out critiquing Russia’s leader. Litvinenko’s tea is said to have been spiked with radioactive poison. That’s not all. Authorities claim Putin’s henchmen were responsible for almost killing former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter by spraying deadly poison on the family’s front door. Skripal and his spawn barely made it out of the house with their lives. Putin’s not just getting rid of his laundresses, secretaries, and cooks, he’s also thrown his military chief, General Roman Gavrilov, in jail after claiming he “leaked” information that allegedly got a soldier killed. According to The Times, the head of the FSB’s foreign intelligence branch, Sergey Beseda, has also been arrested, along with Beseda’s deputy Anatoly Bolyukh. Mega When it comes to the war, Russian officials claim only 498 soldiers have died in battle, but Ukraine says that’s not true. Ukrainian officials allege their soldiers have actually killed over 13,500 Russian troops. Spies Believe Vladimir Putin’s ‘Increasingly Erratic’ Behavior Is Caused By Him ‘Roiding Out’ From Steroid Cancer Treatment U.S. President Joe Biden has decided to sit this war out, revealing early on that he would not be sending troops overseas to help Ukraine in the battle against Russia. View the full article

Published by AFP Activists on both sides of the abortion issue collided in December 2021 protest in New York in connection with a Supreme Court hearing on a case that is expected to be decided this spring New York (AFP) – Citigroup plans to provide travel benefits to workers who live in states that have passed laws to restrict abortion rights, such as Texas. The big US bank said in light of “changes in reproductive healthcare laws in certain states,” it will provide travel benefits to “facilitate access to adequate resources,” according to a securities filing published Tuesday. The document, prepared in connection with the bank’s annual shareholder meeting in April, does not specifically mention abortion. But the new policy comes as several US states enact new restrictions. These include the Texas Heartbeat Act, which bans abortions after a heartbeat can be detected in the womb, normally around six weeks — before many women even know they are pregnant — and which makes no exceptions for rape or incest. In Missouri, a state lawmaker recently introduced legislation intended to block residents from traveling out of state for abortions. The Guttmacher Institute, a pro-choice research group, has said that 26 states are “certain or likely” to ban abortion if the US Supreme Court overturns the “Roe vs. Wade” decision later this spring in a ruling on a law in the state of Mississippi. In 2021, 19 states enacted restrictions on abortion rights, the institute said. Legal analysts believe the 1973 Supreme Court ruling, which protects abortion rights, could be overturned following recent court appointments. At a December oral argument, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority appeared largely sympathetic to Mississippi, but it was unclear how far a majority would go in striking down earlier rulings. View the full article

Published by uInterview.com A new clip from Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore, the third in the new series, includes the first canon mention of Dumbledore’s sexuality 15 years after Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling said the character was gay in 2007. In the clip, Jude Law as Dumbledore and Mads Mikkelson as series antagonist Grindelwald talk in a cafe. Dumbledore tries to persuade the dark wizard from carrying out a sinister plan that they both apparently set in motion, according to Grindelwald saying “it was you who said we would reshape the world.” Dumbledore then responded with, “Because I was in love with y… Read More View the full article

Published by Knewz By David Wetzel New York (Knewz) — A California state lawmaker has introduced legislation that, if passed, would make the state a sanctuary for transgender youth and their families, according to the Los Angeles Times. Authored by Sen. Scott Weiner, D-San Francisco, the bill would protect transgender youth and their families from legal action in other states if they come to California. Under the bill any out-of-state judgements attempting to remove children from their parents’ custody because of gender-affirming surgeries, hormone therapy and other transgender medical care would be rendered une… Read More View the full article

Daya Betty is ready to rumble on RuPaul’s Drag Race’s LaLaPaRuZa Lip Sync Smackdown. On its own, RuPaul’s Drag Race format-breaking LaLaPaRuZa Lip Sync Smackdown was a needed jolt in the show’s sagging midseason. But, once the last traces of Jasmine’s shablam are mopped off the mainstage, are we really any further along? Last week’s cataclysmic Snatch Game certainly warranted special circumstances, and in that regard, the episode delivers. The LaLaPaRuZa structure is indeed thrilling, but the conclusion made the whole experience feel less like dramatic twists and more like the scenic route. If you recall, seven of our eight ladies are in danger of elimination. DeJa’s perfectly fine Lil Jon earns her a safe spot, but, in hindsight, it feels like a missed opportunity to show up and show out at a time when all the season’s standings are being recalibrated. She gets to kick it in the Werk Room and watch the battles with the winning queens from each round. The other seven girls stand quaking on the runway while Ru unveils the rules. First, the inexplicably hot Pit Crew guy, Calix (whose Instagram is worth losing yourself in for a spell), picks a gal via lotto drum. That queen picks her opponent. However, her opponent gets to pick the song. It’s a diabolical layer of strategy to spring on the queens during an already stressful time, and I am living for it. The available tracks for RuPaul’s Drag Race’s LaLaPaRuZa Lip Sync Smackdown. Round 1: Jasmine v. Daya For a queen that was already eliminated earlier this season, Daya sure is salty Jorgeous and Jasmine have escaped the chop for so many weeks. She’s in a full-blown tizzy early in the episode, so when Calix picks Jasmine Kennedie for the first lip sync, it’s no shocker whom she chooses to face. As the first queen drawn, Jasmine isn’t expecting the additional twist of Daya choosing the song. (The other competitors immediately take note.) Daya wisely picks Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” hoping to limit Jasmine’s stuntability (a word I think I just invented and will not remove). Joke’s on Daya, because Jasmine still finds ways to slam her taint on the runway like a jackhammer. Outdanced, Daya is still not outdone. Instead, looking like a scene girl right out of Myspace in 2004, Daya uses the opportunity to demand the “respect” she’s been clamoring for all season. Jasmine does have the dancing skills, but, if you look closely, she struggles to stay consistent with the lyrics when there’s more than one part singing. This is a tight lip sync though, and every little thing counts. Daya manages to eke out the win, and Jasmine must lip sync again later. There’s “Never Too Much” Willow Pill on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Round 2: Willow v. Bosco Calix, who only somehow gets hotter throughout the episode, pulls Willow’s ball next. Willow knows the queen she chooses picks their track, so she’s keen to choose a queen she believes will select the song she most wants to sync to. Still with me? That’s why she chooses Bosco, another comedic queen (and the one most likely to choose the campiest option). Bosco plays right into Willow’s plan, selecting “Never Too Much” by Luther Vandross. Willow seems to settle into the song about midway through, but once she hits her stride, it’s really fun to watch. She masterfully toes the line between sexy and stupid, punctuating a slinky, sultry sync with just a few perfect moments of levity. I’m a bit disappointed seeing Bosco in more underwear on the runway, decked out in another kooky, spooky Bettie Page-inspired look. She gives her all to the performance, but it ends up feeling one-note. It’s a good note, but it fails to ride the sexy vibes of the song the way Willow does. Ru declares Willow the winner and sends a shocked Bosco to await her next challenger. Round 3: Jorgeous v. Camden v. Angeria I appreciate how Ru and crew don’t get tripped up on the odd number of competitors and flow seamlessly into a three-way sync with the remaining gals. Because we still need an excuse to cast our gaze upon Calix, he draws a ball to pick the song. When he pulls Jorgeous’ ball, everyone assumes Jorgeous will pick the available J. Lo track, but she shocks everyone by selecting “Radio,” by Beyoncé. On a night full of strong lip sync battles, this one still stands out. The song is a banger from the jump, and all three queens kick things off at 11 and keep the energy going the whole way through. The spectacle is so unrelenting, it’s like watching a three-ring circus. There’s something exciting happening everywhere you look. The argument could be made for any of these queens to be declared victor, but Jorgeous’ unstoppable lip sync streak continues. Even the other safe queens have no choice but to STAN when Jorgeous triumphantly enters the Werk Room. RuPaul’s Drag Race LaLaPaRuZa Lip Sync Smackdown put Bosco through the wringer. Round 4: Camden v. Bosco Camden gets to pick her opponent next, opting for a clearly still shook Bosco. Like Daya before her, Bosco tries to a pick a track that will limit her competition’s dancing strength. Unfortunately, the closest available song to a snoozer is En Vogue’s “Don’t Let Go.” Although it’s a slow jam, the song is, scientifically speaking, an absolute atomic bomb of emotion. If The Daytona Wind taught us anything, it’s that Camden is not only a dancer; she’s also an actress. It’s that skillset that shines brighter here than her kicks and splits. She’s the one giving the song the intense emotion it demands, despite Bosco’s best efforts. It feels a bit of more of the same from Bosco, and Ru unfortunately agrees. Camden is declared safe, and Bosco faces a third lip sync. Round 5: Angeria v. Jasmine The last two remaining queens for this round battle it out to the last remaining track, “Love Don’t Cost a Thing.” Angeria is fond of dipping into a deep squat repeatedly, but those unmistakable eyes are hypnotizing. It makes it hard to look away from her, adding to her already striking presence. The safe queens spectating all seem agree, and so does Mama Ru. That means Angie is safe, and Jasmine faces her sixth sync of the season. Round 6: Jasmine v. Bosco It all comes down to this. For a final showdown, Ru demands the girls perform Diana Ross’ “Swept Away.” Finally, Bosco breaks through, pushes through the ceiling she struggled against all night to go full-out on the last number. She tells us she’s busting out all her stripper moves, but there’s more oomph overall. Jasmine, to her credit, pulls out moves that could only be possible by replacing one’s spine with a pool noodle. There are backbends scientists are still straining to explaining. It’s good, but just not good enough. Ru keeps Bosco, sends home Jasmine, and … wait, couldn’t we have just done this last week? Jasmine was one of the (if not THE) weakest in this season’s cursed Snatch Game, so why not just eliminate her then and move on? I have no problem with how it played out, Ru’s choices round-to-round, but it feels like just another way we’re stretching this season. With the LaLaPaRUZa in the rearview, where do the queens stand? Let’s review in our rankings, and leave yours in the comments! If anything is certain now, it’s Willow‘s clear ascent to frontrunner. After one of the most disappointing Snatch performances, Willow reminded everyone why she’s not only a talented queen, she’s a savvy one. And savage. She expertly played the cards she keeps famously close to her chest. She looked great and reminded everyone that, in addition to her creative, comedy and design skills, she’s also a great lip syncer.Angeria‘s confident performance tonight all but erases the bad memory of her miserable Tammie Brown impression. Instead, she reminded us of the charismatic queen who introduced herself with a killer lip sync to her own original track in the beginning of the season. Did she accomplish what she needed this week? Check!It goes to show how strong these lip syncs were this week when Lady Camden‘s excellent performances are hardly even remarked upon. She gave plenty of face, tons of technique and even some comedy in there. (I particularly enjoyed her interpretation of Beyoncé’s line “Then I hear vibrations all up in my trunk.”) It looks like another acting challenge on the horizon, which favors the fair Lady, so it’s looking good for Camden in the near term.I hope Daya defeating Jasmine serves as the conclusion to their mini-rivalry and Daya’s general sour attitude. Her look on tonight’s runway brought me right back to the studded belt rack at Hot Topic in 2003, but in a good way? Although her lip sync wasn’t spectacular, it sent a strong message and may give her the confidence she needs to transcend the desperation dripping off her over the last few weeks.This was a great night for Jorgeous. Oh, you’re just asking her to dance to a Beyoncé song? That seems like a warm-up for Jorgeous on any other night. Even the other queens can’t help but compliment Jorgeous on her effortlessly fierce performance. She seemed genuinely reenergized when she got safely back to the Werk Room, so I hope she’s turning a corner with her own confidence in the competition.It’s hard to place DeJa this week, which may be a bigger issue for her in the competition/fandom more broadly. Without question, the other seven girls all impressed tonight, which makes DeJa (whose Snatch win wasn’t that impressive in the first place) start to fade away at a really inopportune time.What a precipitous fall from grace for the once surging Bosco. Coming right on the heels of a deeply disappointing Snatch, her repeated defeats in the lip sync smackdown feel all the more devastating. These should have been displays of Bosco’s strength, but they were flops. Plus, again, we see her in Bettie Page undies on the runway. The pacing of this season is all over place, but seeing Bosco attempt to weather three lip syncs in a row was tough.Jasmine made a valiant effort this week to stave off an elimination that probably should have happened weeks ago. I’m glad she got to show off what she loves to do one last time (OK, three last times), but it was her time to go. She also seems to be leaving a little bit humbler than she arrived, which will only serve the immensely talented young queen going forward.What did you think of the episode? Catch up on our RuPaul’s Drag Race coverage. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Kathy Griffinis finding humor in her pill addiction that almost drove her to suicide. The 61-year-old comedian is opening up about her internal struggles, claiming it’s “almost comical.” “I think — well, look, I think that I’m probably an addictive person, you know,” Griffin declared on The New York Times’ Sway podcast Thursday. “But you have to admit, it’s almost comical,” she joked. “I went in the hospital for pill addiction at 59 years old. Who the hell becomes a junkie in their late 50s? Me.” Griffin said she fell into a dark depression after being blackballed in Hollywood over her 2017 glory shot showcasing her holding the decapitated head of then-president, and her archenemy, Donald Trump. Mega According to Griffin, the move caused her to lose out on work, receive death threats, and adopt a serious prescription pill addiction. After hitting rock bottom, her suicidal thoughts became “obsessive.” “I didn’t know what to do with myself,” the comedian admitted. “I was just such a crazy workaholic, and all of a sudden, I had this time on my hands, and then I was depressed, and things just weren’t looking up.” She even put plans into place for her departure. “And then you fall into the ‘Life will be better for my husband without me around,’ and you then call the estate attorney and the whole thing,” Griffin revealed. She said she was at peace with her decision to end her life. “It just came to a point where I was convinced that I had a good run on this planet and now it’s time for me to go,” she continued. “It’s been good. I’ve done a lot of great stuff and so you know, it gets pretty crazy.” Thankfully, her husband, marketing executive Randy Bick, came to her rescue. Mega Griffin was admitted into the hospital and put on a psychiatric hold. She later sought treatment for her pill addiction. After entering the hospital once again in March 2020, this time for COVID-like symptoms, Griffin recalled her desire to live. “The irony is not lost on me that, a little over a year ago, all I wanted to do was die,” she said at the time. “And now, all I wanna do is live.” Griffin’s addiction and attempted suicide haven’t been her only struggles. In 2021, she revealed she had been diagnosed with lung cancer. After undergoing surgery to remove half of her left lung, she is cancer-free. Kathy Griffin Misogyny Cancer, Addiction, Suicide on Towleroad Same-sex kiss restored in Pixar’s Lightyear More Dead buildings tower over uncollected corpses in Mariupol, on the front line of Ukraine’s war More Texas man pleads guilty to assaulting police at U.S. Capitol riot More Putin’s warning to ‘traitors’ sends chilling message More ‘House Of Cards’ Crew Members Dragged Into Kevin Spacey’s Sexual Assault Battle More NASA rolls out its mega Moon rocket — here’s what you need to know More Florida ‘Don’t say gay’ bill spells headache for Disney More Florida state senator apologizes for comments she made during ‘don’t say gay’ debate More More ‘Don’t Say Gay Bills’ Are Being Prioritized In Multiple States As The Anti-Gay Bill in Florida Passes to Governor More Analysis-U.S. gamble on China over Ukraine raises tensions with rival superpower More Gabrielle Union slams Walt Disney Co More Biden calls Putin a war criminal as Russia says mission ‘going to plan’ More Ellen DeGeneres Handing Out ‘Millions Of Dollars’ In Bonuses As Talk Show Nears End Following Toxic Work Environment Accusations More Load More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English A same-sex kiss has been restored in Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’ following outcry from the company’s LGBTQ employees and allies. The upcoming movie – which stars Chris Evans as the real-life inspiration for ‘Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear – features a female character Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba) who is in a relationship with another woman. Variety reports that a kiss between the two characters had been cut from the movie but after Pixar employees’ recent statement to Walt Disney Company leadership claiming that Disney executives had censored “overtly gay affection” in its films, the kiss has been restored. Meanwhile, Chris previously shared his joy at signing on to voice Buzz Lightyear in the movie. He tweeted: “I don’t even have words. “And just to be clear, this isn’t Buzz Lightyear the toy. This is the origin story of the human Buzz Lightyear that the toy is based on.” The movie will be “the definitive story of the original Buzz Lightyear” and “an action film” unlike anything Pixar has ever done before, with Pixar creative chief Pete Docter promising “a new twist to an iconic character”. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Pavel Klimov MARIUPOL, Ukraine (Reuters) – In Mariupol daily life is a series of harrowing escapes from bomb blasts and basic survival rituals, amid the rubble that lies everywhere. Uncollected corpses wrapped in blankets, coats or any available covering lie in courtyards cleared of debris. Those killed are often buried in common graves. All around are the blackened shells of the sprawling tower blocks typical of Soviet-era dwellings. Twisted metal on balconies, shattered windows, woods, metal and other wreckage scattered between buildings and in streets. Some 400,000 people have been trapped in the strategic port city on the Sea of Azov for more than two weeks, sheltering from heavy bombardment that has severed central supplies of electricity, heating and water, according to local authorities. Russia’s defence ministry said on Friday that its forces were “tightening the noose” around Mariupol and that fighting had reached the city centre. With no running water or heating, women crouch around make-shift barbecues to cook whatever food they can find. As spring approaches, there is no longer any snow to melt for drinking water. Residents say no one expected this in post-Soviet Ukraine — an unrelenting onslaught from what was once thought of as a “fraternal” Russia — though some have lived through other upheavals that jolted the country back under Soviet rule. “She had a Russian passport, Russian citizenship, lots of medals,” said a downcast Alexander, 57, gesturing toward the place in the open where the body of his wife’s mother lies for now. “My mother-in-law was born in 1936. She survived through the siege of Leningrad,” he said, referring to the 900-day Nazi encirclement of the city now known as St. Petersburg. “She was an honoured worker of fish farming in the Russian Federation. So that is where she is.” Officials in Mariupol say 2,500 people have died since Russian forces poured across the Ukrainian border on Feb. 24. Donetsk region governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on Friday that around 35,000 had managed to leave the city in recent days, many on foot or in convoys of private cars during the rare moments when Russian shelling subsides. Those left occasionally verge on despair — the cold and the anxiety taking their toll. “I feel terrible. I don’t want to blame anyone, but I’m disgusted and scared. And I’m cold,” said one woman, Olga, who wore a pink hat under a hoodie and a big coat. “I just don’t have any words. I wasn’t ready for my life to become like this.” Russia denies targeting civilians and has accused Kyiv of using them as human shields, something Ukrainian officials deny. Mariupol is seen as a strategic prize for the Russian invaders to create a bridge between Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014, and two separatist enclaves in eastern Ukraine. A maternity hospital was bombed last week, sending patients fleeing into the street. A theatre used to shelter families forced from their homes was also struck – despite the word “children” being written outside in letters big enough to be read by pilots. A sense of solidarity among residents fearing for their lives has taken hold. Strangers take in other strangers. “We spent two days in the basement. She couldn’t move. I thought she wouldn’t survive,” said one middle-aged resident, gesturing to her elderly mother. “Then we managed to leave the basement. This is the first time I have seen these people. But they sheltered us. And here we are sitting here, covered in blankets. It’s very cold here. We just want to go home.” Children, look on, uncomprehending. “Don’t worry, my little darling. Everything will be all right,” said one unsmiling young mother, hugging her two school-age children. Out in the courtyard, groups of men milled about aimlessly, surveying the shattered buildings. And around them lay the bodies. The only identifying markers are scraps of paper, appended to makeshift crosses, each bearing a name and a date of birth and death. And no indication when they will be collected. (Reporting by Pavel Klimov; Writing by Ron Popeski; Editing by Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) – An Iraq war veteran who allegedly formed a militia he dubbed the “Proud Boys of North Texas” pleaded guilty on Thursday to a single count of assaulting or resisting police, a charge related to the storming of the U.S. Capitol in an effort to block Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s election. The plea from Lucas Denney, 44, of Texas, marked an abrupt shift in the case. Earlier this week, prosecutors had signaled they supported his emergency request to release him from jail and drop criminal charges because they had violated his rights to a speedy trial by failing to secure an indictment until about three months after his December 2021 arrest. In a surprise move, Denney opted to withdraw his emergency request to have the case dismissed, and pleaded guilty instead. He did so even as federal prosecutors warned in a virtual hearing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that they had not ruled out filing additional criminal charges against him in the future. After that revelation, U.S. District Court Judge Randolph Moss urged Denney to briefly take a recess and confer with his lawyers. After the recess, Denney said he had not changed his mind, and admitted to intentionally hitting a police officer with a pole as the officer was protecting the Capitol grounds. “It was a plastic pole. It was like a PVC tube,” Denney said. Denney is one of more than 775 people facing charges for their role in attacking the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The government’s criminal complaint alleges that before the attack, Denney and a co-conspirator who also faced charges discussed organizing a militia to go to Washington, D.C. “The 6th is going to be bigger than the last rally. I can’t tell you everything I know over media here but it’s gonna be big,” Denney allegedly wrote in a message. “We will need linking up with proud boys though. I’ve been in contact with a few different chapters.” The complaint says that after Denney arrived at the U.S. Capitol, he started grabbing metal barricades and trying to pull them from police, screaming “Who ya’ll protecting?” Investigators said that after a police officer sprayed crowd control spray, Denney grabbed a metal pole and tried to swing it at the officer. He eventually managed to make his way into the lower west terrace of the Capitol, where the crowd pushed back against police riot shields while screaming “Heave-ho!” In a court filing earlier this week, prosecutors urged the judge to sentence Denney to a prison term somewhere between 57 to 71 months, while Denney’s lawyers are asking for a range of 41 to 51 months. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by David Gregorio) View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – Graffiti warnings daubed on the doors of activists in Moscow. A food blogger threatened with up to 15 years in jail for “discrediting” Russia’s army. A call to sack a senior former official for “treachery” for opposing the war in Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin issued a venomous warning to “traitors” on Wednesday, saying the West would try to use them as a fifth column to destroy Russia, but that Russians would be quickly able to tell the “patriots from the scum”. Within hours of Putin’s speech, Dmitry Ivanov, a Moscow-based activist, said his mother found a graffiti message on the door to their apartment landing: “Don’t betray the motherland Dima”. The graffiti bore several of the “Z” signs used to drum up support for what Moscow calls its “special military operation” to disarm and “denazify” Ukraine. The motif is from markings on Russia’s armoured vehicles and tanks. Ivanov, who has protested against the war, said he had no idea who was behind the graffiti, but that he knew of at least three other people, including activists and a journalist, whose doors had been defaced in the same way on Wednesday evening. “I don’t know their aims: to frighten, not to frighten, or just to spoil your mood. It’s hard to scare us with such actions: we’re used to this kind of attention,” the 22-year-old told Reuters. “It’s possible this action was to complement Putin’s speech, I think that’s possible. Especially considering how shoddily, and cheaply these markings were done. It was done in a hurry,” he said. Thousands of people have been detained across Russia since the Kremlin launched its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. “SELF-CLEANSING” Putin, in his comments to government ministers on Wednesday, said Russians would spit out traitors “like gnats”, and society would be the better for it. “I am convinced that this natural and necessary self-cleansing of society will only strengthen our country, our solidarity, cohesion and readiness to meet any challenge,” he said. Asked about the remarks on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said many people were showing themselves to be traitors. “They are vanishing from our lives themselves. Some people are leaving their posts, some are leaving their active work life, some leave the country and move to other countries. That is how this cleansing happens,” he said. After Putin spoke, the Investigative Committee, a law enforcement body, announced the name of the first person, a food blogger, under investigation for spreading “false information” about Russia’s army on her blog. That crime is now punishable by up to 15 years in jail after Russia adopted a law on March 4 following a ripple of protest activity against the invasion. In an interview with Reuters, Veronika Belotserkovskaya who lives in southern France said that despite being apolitical she was not surprised she had been singled out as she likely fitted the image of a person whom the average Russian might loathe. “You know, there’s this fat spoilt woman living on the Cote D’Azur, in Provence, or in Italy, who makes foie gras and eats lobsters, who also dares to blather on from over there… I have all of these qualities that the average person would see as disgusting,” she said. After Putin spoke on Wednesday, a senior member of the ruling United Russia party called for the immediate sacking of former deputy prime minister Arkady Dvorkovich from his position as head of a foundation that promotes economic innovation. Dvorkovich, who now heads the International Chess Federation, condemned the war in comments to Western media. “He has made his choice,” said the parliamentarian, Andrei Turchak. “This is nothing but the very national betrayal, the behaviour of the fifth column, which the president spoke about today.” (Reporting by Reuters, editing by Mark Trevelyan and Gareth Jones) View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Actor Anthony Rapp is attempting to gather additional evidence to build his case against Kevin Spacey before they head to trial — and he wants records from the confidential legal battle between the disgraced star and his former bosses on House of Cards. According to court documents obtained by Radar, a federal judge in New York ruled Rapp — who is suing Spacey over an alleged encounter in 1986 when he was only 16 — can reach out to people who previously testified against Spacey. House of Cards producers and Spacey were involved in a lengthy arbitration battle. The 60-year-old actor was fired from the hit Netflix show after “a number of people involved in the show had complained of sexual harassment.” The producers “asserted claims for breach of contract stemming from “dozens of explosive allegations…accusing Spacey of systematically preying upon, sexually harassing, and groping young men that he had worked with throughout his career on film, television, and theater projects,” including on the set of House of Cards,” Several crew members from House of Cards testified about their interactions with Spacey on set. mega Rapp has been trying to get his hands on transcripts of depositions and hearing testimony by several witnesses involved in the case. However, all the witnesses who testified in the proceedings “allegedly expressed concern” that they might suffer if their names were to become public. They were assured at the time their names would remain sealed. The judge has ruled Spacey is to reach out to each witness and inform them of the issue. The witnesses are then allowed to object to whether their names or testimony is turned over to Rapp. The decision comes after the judge set the trial date in the case for October 4, 2022. In his suit, Rapp claims he was claims a 26-year-old Spacey invited him over to his apartment in 1986 when he was only 14. Rapp claims the actor ended up grabbing him by his backside without permission. He allegedly proceeded to life him on to a bed and got on top of him without consent. mega He is suing for unspecified damages. Spacey initially released a statement after the suit was filed apologizing to Rapp. He claimed to not remember the alleged incident but said if it happened, he brushed it off as drunken behavior. “I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago. But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years,” he said. Recently, in court, Spacey’s stance changed a smidge. He wrote, “I categorically deny [Rapp’s] claim that I sexually assaulted him or otherwise made a “sexual advance” on him. I met [Rapp] several decades ago. I never had a sexual encounter with Mr. Rapp. Nor did I harbor any sexual interest or desire in Mr. Rapp at that time or any time.” mega View the full article

Published by AFP NASA's massive new Moon rocket is illuminated at dusk atop a mobile launch platform en route to Launch Pad 39B from the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida March 17, 2022 Washington (AFP) – NASA’s massive new rocket eased onto its launchpad Friday, ready for a battery of tests that will clear it to blast off to the Moon this summer on an uncrewed flight. It left the Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building Thursday evening and began a nearly 11-hour journey on a crawler-transporter to the hallowed Launch Complex 39B, arriving at 4:15 am. Around 10,000 people had gathered to watch the event. Huge rocket, huge cost – With the Orion crew capsule fixed on top, the Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1 stands 322 feet (98 meters) high — taller than the Statue of Liberty, but a little smaller than the 363 feet Saturn V rockets that powered the Apollo missions to the Moon. Still, it will produce 8.8 million pounds of maximum thrust (39.1 Meganewtons), 15 percent more than the Saturn V, meaning it’s expected to be the world’s most powerful rocket at the time it begins operating. Having reached the iconic launchpad, where 53 Space Shuttles took off, there are roughly two more weeks’ worth of checks before what’s known as the “wet dress rehearsal.” The SLS team will load more than 700,000 gallons (3.2 million liters) of cryogenic propellant into the rocket and practice every phase of launch countdown, stopping ten seconds before blast off. “From this sacred and historical place, humanity will soon embark on a new era of exploration,” NASA administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement Friday. A symbol of US space ambition, it also comes with a hefty price tag: $4.1 billion per launch for the first four Artemis missions, NASA Inspector General Paul Martin told Congress this month. To the Moon and beyond – NASA is targeting May as the earliest window for Artemis-1, an uncrewed lunar mission that will be the first integrated flight for SLS and Orion. SLS will first place Orion into a low Earth orbit, and then, using its upper stage, perform what’s called a trans-lunar injection. This maneuver is necessary to send Orion 280,000 miles beyond Earth and 40,000 miles beyond the Moon — further than any spaceship capable of carrying humans has ventured. On its three-week mission, Orion will deploy 10 shoebox size satellites known as CubeSats to gather information on the deep space environment. Its “passengers” will include three mannequins collecting radiation data, and a plush Snoopy toy, long a NASA mascot. It will journey around the far side of the Moon, using thrust provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) thruster, and finally make its way back to Earth, where its heat shield will be tested against the atmosphere. Splashdown takes place in the Pacific, off the coast of California. Artemis-2 will be the first crewed test, flying around the Moon but not landing, while Artemis-3, planned for 2025, will see the first woman and first person of color touch down on the lunar south pole. NASA wants to build a permanent presence on the Moon, and use it as a proving ground for technologies necessary for a Mars mission, sometime in the 2030s, using a Block 2 evolution of the SLS. SLS v Starship NASA calls SLS a “super heavy lift exploration class vehicle.” The only currently operational super heavy rocket is SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, which is smaller. Elon Musk’s company is also developing its own deep space rocket, the fully reusable Starship, which he has said should be ready for an orbital test this year. Starship would be both bigger and more powerful than SLS: 394 feet tall with 17 million pounds of thrust. It could also be considerably cheaper. The tycoon has suggested that within years, the cost per launch could be as little as $10 million. Direct comparisons are complicated by the fact that while SLS is designed to fly direct to its destinations, SpaceX foresees putting a Starship into orbit, and then refueling it with another Starship so it can continue its journey, to extend range and payload. NASA has also contracted a version of Starship as a lunar descent vehicle for Artemis. Other super heavy rockets under development include Blue Origin’s New Glenn, China’s Long March 9 and Russia’s Yenisei. View the full article

Published by AFP Friction between leadership and employees at Disney began with an internal memo from Executive Director Bob Chapek on March 7, 2022 after a meeting with members of the company's LGBT community Miami (AFP) – Discontent is afoot at the happiest place on Earth, as Disney employees this week protested the company’s reaction to Florida’s so-called “Don’t say gay” bill, which would prohibit discussing LGBT topics in classrooms. The proposed law, which critics call discriminatory, has been a headache for Disney since before the southern US state’s legislature passed the measure last week, with the entertainment giant employing more than 75,000 people at its theme park in Orlando. A group of LGBT employees at the company has asked their coworkers to join them in walking out of their workplaces during their breaks every day since Tuesday to demand Disney “protect employees and their families in the face of such open and unapologetic bigotry.” The friction began with an internal memo from Disney Executive Director Bob Chapek on March 7 after a meeting with members of the company’s LGBT community. In the note, cited by local media, Chapek said he was hesitant for Disney to speak out against the Florida bill, which has received condemnation for impeding students’ access to “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” information at elementary schools. Corporate statements “do very little to change outcomes or minds” and instead are “often weaponized by one side or the other to further divide and inflame,” Chapek wrote. His statements were met with a barrage of objections, as they were seen as a lack of support for the LGBT community. A campaign to boycott Disney circulated on social media. Emerging as one of the strongest detractors of Chapek’s stance was Abigail Disney — the granddaughter of Roy O. Disney, who cofounded the cultural behemoth with his brother Walt. “Many LGBTQI people and their allies work for or look to Disney for ally-ship,” the activist and documentary producer wrote on Twitter. “But Chapek is more worried about right-wing backlash than about his own loyal fans and employees.” ‘Utterly failed’ Chapek tried to quickly dampen the controversy. During the company’s annual shareholder meeting March 9, he announced Disney’s plans to donate $5 million to pro-LGBT groups. He also assured he had called Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis — who has signalled support for the bill — “to express our disappointment and concern that if the legislation becomes law, it could be used to unfairly target gay, lesbian, non-binary and transgender kids and families,” the Los Angeles Times reported. But Chapek’s comments could not extinguish the already burning controversy over the legislation, which is part of a nationwide effort by Republicans who feel they are wresting back control from liberal policies they say undermine traditional family values. The same day as the shareholder meeting, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the most prominent US LGBT-rights organization — rejected any donations from Disney, as long as the company fails to work against “dangerous laws” such as Florida’s from being passed in the first place. And entertainment magazine Variety published a letter signed by LGBT employees of animation studio Pixar, denouncing the fact that “nearly every moment of overtly gay affection” in its movies “is cut at Disney’s behest.” As the displeasure online grew, media reports revealed that Republican state senators who had supported the restrictive education law were among the politicians who had received donations from Disney in Florida. On Friday, Chapek announced that there would be a freeze on political donations from the company in Florida until further notice. But the decision didn’t convince the group of LGBT Disney employees and allies who organized this week’s protests. In an online statement, the group demanded the permanent suspension of donations to the politicians who had supported the Florida law, and criticized the company leadership’s “apathy.” “The recent statements and lack of action by TWDC (The Walt Disney Company) leadership regarding the ‘Don’t Say Gay or Trans’ bill have utterly failed to match the magnitude of the threat to LGBTQIA+ safety represented by this legislation,” the statement said. Disney, they added, should reaffirm its commitment to protecting and advocating for its staff, “even in the face of political risk.” The group, which they say is made up of corporate, television, movie studio, streaming and other employees, has called for an all-day work stoppage to conclude the week of protests next Tuesday at Disney offices and other locations nationwide. View the full article

Published by Miami Herald Sen. Ileana Garcia, a Miami Republican who recently faced national criticism for saying “LGBT is not a permanent thing” while debating a contentious bill in the Florida Legislature, apologized on Thursday to anyone who was offended by what she said. In a statement posted on Twitter, Garcia said she did not intend to “generalize or disregard the experiences of any member of the LGBT+ community” when arguing why she supported the “parental rights in education” bill — which critics have dubbed the “don’t say gay” bill. The bill, which has drawn national attention, would prohibit school lessons in… Read More View the full article