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Published by BANG Showbiz English Simon Rex wants to donate his fake penis to a museum. The 48-year-old actor donned a prosthetic for his role in ‘Red Rocket’ and because he “wasn’t allowed” to take it home as a souvenir at the end of filming, he likes the idea of it being put on display instead. He said: “I don’t think [keeping it] was an option, but it will be in a museum one day.” When asked if he would donate the piece to the newly=opened Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, he added to People magazine: “I like that idea.” Simon – who plays a con man and former porn star in the movie – only confirmed last month that he wore a prosthesis for his nude scenes and was amazed he “got away with it” for so long. Speaking about making the admission when he accepted Best Male Lead at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, he said: “I finally had to let it be known. “I just had fun with it, and me and [director] Sean Baker … we agreed that we were going to keep it mysterious, and not say whether or not that was really me naked. “And at that point, after we won the Spirit Award, I said, ‘It’s time to tell people.’ We did this for eight months. We somehow got away with it for eight months. It was just time to let people know.” The movie has marked a career resurgence for the former model and he admitted his sudden return to success has been “very surreal”. He explained: “It’s been very surreal, because we’ve all been living in this strange time together, in this Twilight Zone pandemic, strange times collectively that we’re all in. “So if you add, on top of that, this amazing highlight of my career, it just adds to the weirdness of it all. “Sometimes I just start laughing. I’ll be in a hotel room by myself and I just start cracking up because it’s kind of like, life is just a big cosmic joke. And how is this happening now? And I still think I’m just reeling from it all.” View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was admitted to a hospital in Washington on Friday after experiencing flu-like symptoms and was diagnosed with an infection, the high court said on Sunday. Thomas, 73, was being treated with intravenous antibiotics, his symptoms were abating, and he expected to be released from the Sibley Memorial Hospital in a day or two, the court said in a statement. The Supreme Court, which is set to be in session on Monday, said that Thomas will participate in the consideration of cases through briefs, transcripts, and audio of the oral arguments. The court is set to hear four cases this week. A court representative said earlier that all nine justices were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and had received booster doses. A conservative and one of two Black men to have served on the Supreme Court, Thomas is the longest-serving of the current justices. The Supreme Court has a 6-3 conservative majority, including three justices appointed by President Joe Biden’s Republican predecessor Donald Trump. Thomas was nominated by President George H.W. Bush in 1991 to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by the retirement of liberal justice Thurgood Marshall, the first Black justice on the court. Separately on Monday, hearings will begin for federal appellate judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, Biden’s nominee, to become the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Biden has tapped her to replace Stephen Breyer, 83, who is retiring and is the oldest justice on the current court. Thomas spoke on March 11 in Utah and raised concerns about calls to add additional members to the court, and discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the court to conduct arguments remotely. “I didn’t like the free-for-all in oral arguments where we interacted and interrupted each other. It’s more productive now. The arguments are contributing to the process of deciding the case as opposed to what was happening, which was almost like a catfight,” Thomas said, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. (Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Bengaluru and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Rosalba O’Brien and Stephen Coates) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Lawrence Hurley and Andrew Chung WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate begins consideration on Monday of Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to be the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court, with Republicans expected to pose tough questions about her professional background and judicial philosophy. Democratic President Joe Biden last month nominated Jackson, 51, for a lifetime job on America’s top judicial body to succeed retiring liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, setting up a confirmation battle in the closely divided Senate. Jackson on Monday is set to make an opening statement during the first day of her Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing, with the panel’s 22 members questioning her on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Senate has confirmed Jackson to three federal posts, most recently last year, when Biden nominated her to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit after eight years as a federal district judge in Washington. Her confirmation would not change the ideological balance of the court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, including three justices appointed by Republican former President Donald Trump. But it would let Biden freshen the court’s liberal bloc with a justice young enough to serve for decades. Breyer, 83, is the court’s oldest member. Jackson was raised in Miami and attended Harvard Law School, later serving as a Supreme Court clerk for Breyer and representing criminal defendants who could not afford a lawyer. She is likely to face sharp questioning from Republicans including Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz on issues such as crime and cases she took when representing criminal defendants. Some senators also could question her on race issues, including whether she should participate in an upcoming case challenging Harvard University’s affirmative action admissions policy used to increase the number of Black and Hispanic students on campus. Jackson serves on the university’s Board of Overseers and has faced calls to recuse herself from the case. A Reuters review of 25 racial discrimination cases in which Jackson issued substantive rulings as a federal district judge found that she ruled in favor of plaintiffs in only three of them. Jackson’s nomination fulfils Biden’s 2020 campaign promise to name a Black woman to the court, a milestone he called long overdue. If confirmed, she would be the third Black justice, following Clarence Thomas, appointed in 1991 and still serving, and Thurgood Marshall, who retired in 1991 and died in 1993. The Supreme Court said on Sunday that Thomas was hospitalized in Washington on Friday with an infection, although it added that he was being treated with intravenous antiobiotics and expected to be released in a day or two. Jackson also would become the sixth woman to serve on the Supreme Court, which currently has three female justices – Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor. Jackson’s nomination has been backed by prominent lawyers from across the ideological spectrum, civil rights groups and law enforcement organizations including the National Fraternal Order of Police, which represents rank-and-file officers. Democrats narrowly control the Senate, which has the task of deciding whether to confirm a president’s judicial appointments. The Senate is divided 50-50 between the two parties, with Biden’s fellow Democrats controlling it because Vice President Kamala Harris can cast a tie-breaking vote. A simple majority vote would be needed for Jackson’s confirmation, meaning she would get the job if all Democrats are united behind the nomination regardless of what Republicans do. The court’s conservative majority has shown increased assertiveness, with rulings due in cases that could curb abortion rights and expand gun rights. The confirmation hearing ends on Thursday with witnesses testifying about Jackson’s suitability for the job. The Judiciary Committee would then vote on the nomination in the coming weeks, followed by a final confirmation vote on the Senate floor. Breyer has said he would remain on the court until its current term ends, typically in late June. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham, Scott Malone and Gerry Doyle) View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – Ukraine defied a Russian demand that its forces lay down arms before dawn on Monday in Mariupol, where hundreds of thousands of civilians have been trapped in a city under siege and already laid to waste by Russian bombardment. In the capital Kyiv, shelling hit a shopping centre late on Sunday, killing at least eight people, wrecking nearby buildings and leaving smoking piles of rubble and the twisted wreckage of burned-out cars spread over several hundred metres. Russia’s almost month-old assault on Ukraine has stalled along most fronts, failing to seize a single major city or swiftly topple the government. But Russian shelling and missiles have caused devastation in built-up residential areas. FIGHTING * Authorities in Odesa accused Russian forces of carrying out a strike on residential buildings in the city’s outskirts early on Monday, the first such attack on the Ukrainian Black Sea port. * Russian air forces hit a Ukrainian army military facility in the Rivne region with cruise missiles, Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Monday. CIVILIANS * Ukraine described the situation in Mariupol on Monday as “very difficult” and said it had been unable to establish a new safe corridor to evacuate civilians from the beleaguered city. Horror and confusion reign in Mariupo, where people are burying dead neighbours by the roadside. * Ten million people have been displaced by the conflict, according to the U.N. refugee agency. SANCTIONS * European Union leaders began a week of intense diplomacy aimed at agreeing further sanctions against Russia, including a possible embargo of its lucrative oil and gas sector demanded by some member states. But that move looks divisive. Germany is sticking to its stance that it cannot dispense with oil imports from Russia, a government spokesperson said. The 27-nation EU still relies on Russia for 40% of its gas. DIPLOMACY * The Kremlin said on Monday peace talks between Russia and Ukraine had not yet made any significant progress. Moscow has accused Kyiv of stalling talks by making proposals unacceptable for Russia. Ukraine has said it is willing to negotiate but will not surrender or accept Russian ultimatums. QUOTES * “The violent aggression against Ukraine is unfortunately not slowing down,” Pope Francis said. “It is a senseless massacre where every day slaughters and atrocities are being repeated.” * “Kyiv calling to the whole world … Come out of neutrality, you boys and girls,” some of the lyrics from Ukrainian punk band Beton’s reworking of the famous “London Calling” by British punk rock group the Clash. (Compiled by Michael Perry and Stephen Coates; Editing by Mark Heinrich) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Mega On February 1, Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson were front and center at the opening night of MJ The Musical, where they showed support for the Broadway production celebrating their late father, Michael Jackson. Now a source tells OK! the sibling are committed to keeping the King of Pop’s memory alive — even if it means speaking out against the allegations of child molestation waged against him. (In 2005, Michael was found not guilty of sexually abusing a 13-year-old.) Mega “They will defend their dad until the end,” says the source. “They believe Michael when he said he was innocent.” JANET JACKSON CLAIMS BROTHER MICHAEL JACKSON USED TO CALL HER A ‘PIG’ & TAUNT HER ABOUT HER WEIGHT IN NEW DOCUMENTARY “They had happy childhoods living at Neverland Ranch,” a source says of the singer’s children living at the estate, where several of the alleged sexual assaults took place. “They loved their dad, and they became very protective of him.” After years of staying silent, the trio has been opening up more about the singer, who died from cardiac arrest in 2009. “Paris says she still has the pajamas her dad wore around the house,” shares the source of the singer, 23. “It makes her happy to look at them.” Meanwhile, college grad Prince, 25, has followed in his father’s charitable footsteps. Mega “He’s told friends he knows his dad would be proud,” notes the source. And although Blanket, 20, stays out of the spotlight, he gave a rare interview last year while touring a room containing items from Michael’s career, musing, “That’s what he was all about.” PRINCE JACKSON RECALLS TRAUMATIC FIRST TIME HE WATCHED ‘THRILLER’ VIDEO WITH DAD MICHAEL JACKSON While the sibs lead drastically different lifestyles, their shared memories of their dad have helped them carry on through the dark days. “Michael gave them so much insight and taught them the importance of family,” explains the source His words made a lasting impression. “When we were growing up, my father would say, ‘We could have nothing, but your brother, your sister and me, that’s all you’ll ever have,’” recalled Prince. “And that always stuck with my siblings and I, and we have such a close relationship.” View the full article

Published by Chicago Tribune CHICAGO — Two Barrington High School students who are members of the LGBTQ+ community were allegedly targeted in a pellet gun shooting on campus this week in an incident officials say is likely related to the latest TikTok challenge breaking out across the U.S. Barrington resident Kristin Stedman said Friday that her son, Matt Petersen, and his boyfriend were walking to school on Wednesday morning when a student pointed a toy rifle out the window of a car, spraying the two teens with pellets in a parking lot adjacent to the high school’s entrance. “They were walking toward the building and the… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Luann de Lesseps has issued an apology after she was allegedly “kicked out of a piano bar” for drunken behaviour. The ‘Real Housewives of New York’ star insists she is recovering from alcohol addiction and admitted she slipped up after a video surfaced of her “belting out jumbled versions of songs” and being booed at Townhouse gay bar in the Big Apple. In a social media post, the 56-year-old reality star penned: “This week, after a regrettable incident, I was faced with the truth. “I want to apologize to the staff at Townhouse and anyone else I may have offended by my behavior. “Clearly, my struggles with alcohol are real! While I’ve made great strides over the years, there’s been times I’ve fallen. “It’s one day at a time! I’m in recovery and taking steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again. (sic)” She signed off the message: “I’m grateful to my family and my friends for their constant support.” According to The New York Post’s Page Six column, Luann had been performing her song ‘Money Can’t Buy You Class’, and allegedly told one of the people who booed her, “f*** you”, before reportedly being ejected from the bar. Following the incident earlier this week, Luann said via a spokesperson: “I got up and sang a few Broadway songs they were playing. “I realise I was a little bit tipsy, but we were having fun, and it was getting late. I’d been rehearsing, and I was in the mood to sing a few songs. Then Jim [Kierstead] said to me, ‘Lu, I have an early rehearsal,’ and then we left around midnight, 11.30 p.m.” In 2017, Luann was charged for battery, disorderly intoxication and trespassing after an altercation with an officer. She pleaded guilty to the three charges and was ordered to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work, attend AA meetings and get clean. The former countess checked into rehab again in 2018, and previously shared how seeing how pop star Demi Lovato handled their own addictions inspired her to seek help. She said in 2019: “You know who’s really been inspirational also is Demi Lovato, because she’s been very public about her struggle and I think it’s important. “It’s kind of a private thing. But there’s a lot of celebrities at meetings, and so I don’t feel so alone.” Demi, 29, had completed a stint in rehab following their near-fatal overdose in 2018. View the full article

=2Buck Kim Davis’s Gossip Wordplay Moment The Google searchers who land on Kentucky marriage clerk’s pages by mistake might be hilarious if she weren’t so nasty.Kim Davis, the Kentucky marriage clerk who has been found guilty of denying Americans their constitutional rights cost her bosses in lost court cases and obstinate , has become a hero to the dumber end of the Trump Right has some good Google juice going according to Google Trends, but all of the top trending searches for “Kim Davis” seem to be befuddled pop culture gossip followers looking up: (A.) Oscar nominated best actress for portraying Princess Diana (B.) Some combination of the very hard-working couple that entertains on Saturday nights and is big in compression undergarment biz. (C.) Mistaken combinations of the Sex And The City actors who play Samantha and Charlotte, or Carrie, or Miranda Still the woman has managed to stay in the news all on her own. Going on 7 years later, plaintiffs got go ahead to start a jury trial that would make her personally liable for knowingly violating the rights of same-sex couples by denying them marriage licenses. –Editor Published by Reuters (Reuters) – A U.S. judge ruled that a former county clerk from Kentucky knowingly violated the rights of same-sex couples by denying them marriage licenses in 2015, clearing the way for a jury trial seeking damages against her. The ruling from U.S. District Judge David Bunning on Friday also denied a request for immunity from former Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis. Davis thrust herself into the center of the U.S. culture wars on the issue of LGBTQ rights by denying the licenses in 2015, citing her religious beliefs. She briefly went to jail for contempt of court over her refusal and a deputy clerk in the eastern Kentucky county issued the licenses. The two couples in the lawsuit had sought to marry in the immediate aftermath of the landmark 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision Obergefell v. Hodges. They sued Davis in 2015, alleging she had violated their constitutional rights. In the Obergefell case, the highest court in the United States found that, under the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, states must grant same-sex marriages and recognize those of other states. But Davis repeatedly refused to issue marriage licenses, despite a letter from the governor instructing all county clerks to issue the licenses and a legal opinion from the Rowan County attorney, which she had sought, advising that she had a legal requirement to do so. “It is readily apparent that Obergefell recognizes Plaintiffs’ Fourteenth Amendment right to marry. It is also readily apparent that Davis made a conscious decision to violate Plaintiffs’ right,” the judge ruled in a summary judgment. With the essential facts in the case now settled, the two couples, David Ermold and David Moore in one case and James Yates and Will Smith in another, can proceed to jury trial to seek damages against Davis as an individual. Davis had previously been granted sovereign immunity in her official capacity. Liberty Counsel, a Christian organization representing Davis, said it would continue to argue she is not liable for damages because she is entitled to a religious accommodation granted by the state legislature and former Governor Matt Bevin. The group’s statement also noted that conservative justices on the U.S. Supreme Court could seek to revisit and overturn the Obergefell decision. “This case raises serious First Amendment free exercise of religion claims and has a high potential of reaching the Supreme Court,” Liberty Counsel founder and Chairman Mat Staver said in the statement. (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; editing by Jonathan Oatis) View the full article

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