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Published by Radar Online Mega Donald Trump Jr. was recently embroiled in a legal battle to keep his name out of court documents that reportedly contained offensive and racist emails, RadarOnline.com has learned. The court case reportedly involved Gentry Beach, a former classmate of Don Jr.’s at the University of Pennsylvania, who first sued his former employer, Touradji Capital Management, nearly 15 years ago. Mega According to the Wall Street Journal, the alleged emails between Don Jr. and Beach recently resurfaced after Beach’s years-long case against his former employer went to a retrial this year. Also startling was the outlet’s report that a number of the emails between Don Jr. and Beach allegedly contained offensive and racist remarks regarding the Jewish and Mexican communities. Mega “Tomorrow night we’re having Jews for dinner,” Beach wrote to the former first son in one alleged email. “That’s kosher, right?” “I hear the theme song of the Jeffersons playing in the background,” Don Jr. wrote in another email after referring to Upper Manhattan, where Beach had just moved at the time, to Harlem. Other emails from between 2005 and 2008 allegedly saw both Don Jr. and Beach complaining about immigrants coming over the border into the United States from Mexico. “Encourage the Mexicans to come to the US and give them another excuse to not learn English,” Donald Trump’s son wrote at the time. “When I have to speak to my grandchildren in Spanish, at least I know I will have you to thank.” Mega “We’re going to stop this wetback issue dead in its tracks,” Beach responded before suggesting he might send his son to the border with firearms to “take care” of the “immigration problem.” Touradji Capital Management, Beach’s former employer, reportedly used the alleged emails as part of their legal defense. Mega The capital management company argued that the emails showed evidence of Beach’s disloyalty to his former employer and that Beach exposed the company to reputational harm. “Many of these investors, such as pension funds and publicly traded corporations, are rigorously focused on the integrity of the investment professionals that manage their assets,” lawyers for Beach’s former employer wrote in January. Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. Meanwhile, Beach’s lawyers sought to have Don Jr.’s name redacted from the court records. Beach’s lawyers reportedly suggested that the mention of Don Jr. in the documents only served to prejudice the jury pool for the retrial and increased the risk of reputational harm to plaintiffs to create settlement leverage. “The only legitimate purpose for peppering the record with references to the public figure’s name is to prejudice the jury pool for the retrial and to increase risk of reputational harm to Plaintiffs, perhaps to generate settlement leverage,” Beach’s lawyers wrote in a May filing. View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel Just four days after a federal judge ruled a Tennessee law restricting drag shows was unconstitutional, attorney Brice Timmons was in an Orlando, Florida, courtroom describing how a new Florida law was causing Hamburger Mary’s to censure its drag shows. Timmons, a civil rights attorney with Memphis-based Donati Law, represented the Friends of George’s theater company in the Tennessee case, fighting a law that prohibited “adult cabaret” from taking place on public property or where children could see it. U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker, appointed by President Donald Trump, ruled June 2 the Te… Read More View the full article

Published by Al-Araby The United Arab Emirates and several other Arab nations will not screen Sony’s “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”, Vox Cinemas said on Thursday without explanation, amid debate online and among regional movie fans about the animated film’s treatment of transgender themes. The film, a sequel to 2018’s Oscar-winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”, was released on June 2 in the United States and was set for a June 22 release in the Gulf region. However, Vox, a subsidiary of retail conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim, said in response to a query via Facebook Messenger that the movie would not be… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story The city of Hamtramck in Michigan has banned Pride flags on public property after a contentious municipal meeting, Fox 2 reported. Councilmember Nayeem Choudhury said the decision was made in order to “respect the religious rights of our citizens.” As Fox News points out, almost the entirety of the Hamtramck City Council is Muslim, and approximately 40% of the city’s residents were born in foreign countries. The meeting took a turn when a woman wearing a clown nose took the podium to make a sarcastic speech. “Sure, many Hamtramck residents have fled countries where being gay is a death sentenc… Read More View the full article

Published by PsyPost Same-sex performativity, or public performances of sexuality between heterosexual women, is especially common in college settings, but why? A study published in Personal Relationships explores the motivations for engaging in this behavior. If you have ever been in a college setting, you have probably witnessed or heard about straight women kissing at parties or in bars. It is estimated that 20% to 33% of college women who identify as heterosexual have kissed another woman at a party. There are a myriad of factors that are thought to contribute to these instances, including hookup culture and t… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) – A Montana man was sentenced on Wednesday to 18 years in prison for firing an assault rifle into a woman’s home and trying to rid a town of LGBTQ residents. John Howald, 46, of Basin, Montana, was convicted of the hate crime by a federal jury in February, the Justice Department said in a statement announcing the sentence handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris. After firing at the residence, he walked through Basin – a community of about 200 people – intending to target others he perceived as LGBTQ, it said. The town is about 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Butte, Montana. Residents, who heard about Howald’s self-described anti-LGBTQ mission, were able to restrain him until law enforcement officers arrested him, the department said. “Howald set out to rid the town of all LGBTQI+ members by killing them,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s civil rights division. Howald was armed with two assault rifles, a hunting rifle, two pistols and multiple high-capacity magazines that were taped together to speed reloading, the statement said. Howald’s lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment. Earlier this month, the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ advocacy organization in the United States, declared its first national state of emergency, citing the proliferation of anti-LGBTQ legislation in statehouses across the country. President Joe Biden has also warned about “ugly” attacks from “hysterical” people who are targeting LGBTQ Americans. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) View the full article

Published by Tribune News Service Dear Anna, I´m a queer/bisexual woman from the Deep South (aka Bible Belt), and I am finally accepting my sexuality and letting go of those feelings of shame/fear/denial/etc. In an effort to live honestly and avoid any problems (or so I thought), I have told my last two partners from Day 1 (literally) that I’m open to dating people of multiple genders. In the first scenario, I was dating a lesbian and I told her that I’m also attracted to and have dated men. She didn’t say much, but continued pursuing me and I noticed that she seemed interested in convincing me that I’m a truly a lesbian who w… Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet Earlier this month a Burlington, Massachusetts middle school students’ group organized an approved LGBTQ+ pride celebration, but some students protested by tearing down pro-LGBTQ posters, wearing red, white and blue clothing and painting their faces, while some chanted, “my pronouns are USA.” “According to a letter to parents from Marshall Simonds Middle School Principal Cari Perchase, the incident took place during a school-approved spirit day celebrating Pride month on Friday, June 2. The spirit day was requested and sponsored by Spectrum Club — a student group for LGBTQ+ students and allies… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Magali Druscovich and Sheila Dang (Reuters) – To make sense of the unprecedented events of Jan. 6, 2021, Vitus “V” Spehar did what no traditional journalist would do – crawl under a desk and begin recording a video for TikTok. Like others who watched on TV as the storming of the U.S. Capitol unfolded, Spehar, who uses the pronoun they, felt the need to talk about it. However, “I didn’t want to make people think that I was an expert,” said Spehar, who filmed the TikTok video from their home in Rochester, New York. “So I thought, where’s a safe place to have a conversation?” Two years later, the “Under the Desk News” TikTok account attracts nearly 3 million followers, who appreciate Spehar’s gentler take on the news of the day. The show avoids true crime, while focusing on subjects in which people can take action. Spehar tries to end each video on a lighter note. Since the surge in popularity of the short-form video app at the start of the pandemic, people like Spehar have flocked to the platform to discuss, document and share what’s happening in the world. Many call themselves creators or influencers. They do not aspire to be traditional journalists. What unites these news creators is a desire to talk about their world in an authentic way. That has resonated with millions of young followers, the elusive but highly sought-after next generation of media consumers who are unlikely to watch cable news or read a newspaper. By shunning convention, these news creators are attempting to craft a new narrative for journalism at a time of blistering decline for a business in dire need of reinvention. Rather than regurgitate a rundown of daily headlines, some choose to connect with their audience directly in the comment section of videos, and others wear their viewpoints like a badge. Josh Helfgott, a TikTok user with 5.5 million followers, posts a recurring series of videos called “Gay News” discussing current events relevant to LGBTQ viewers. His inspiration for his account is his 13-year-old self, who felt isolated growing up as gay teen. “I want to inspire people or just make anyone feel less alone,” Helfgott said. His news videos, which routinely receive upward of 1 million views, have covered everything from U.S. President Joe Biden hosting a Pride celebration at the White House to the Human Rights Campaign declaring a state of emergency for LGBTQ Americans. “There are very few stories centered around LGBTQ issues that are heard by general society,” Helfgott said. Fighting feelings of helplessness and isolation has inspired other channels. Kristy Drutman launched climate change-focused “Brown Girl Green” and said she began posting on TikTok and Instagram because people of color are rarely represented in discussions about the environment. “I try to keep up with climate news and news that can give people hope,” she said. “I think about solutions.” One of Drutman’s TikTok videos explained how people can take advantage of tax credits to make energy-efficient updates to their homes, while another pointed to an international climate change report that showed it was not too late for nations to take steps to combat a heating planet. WHERE’S THE MONEY? Traditional news media are in deep crisis. For every exception, like the New York Times’ surging revenue for digital subscriptions, there are more horror stories of stagnating traffic and declining readers and viewers. So far this year, more than 1,900 jobs have been cut in the U.S. news industry, already surpassing the 1,808 jobs cut in all of 2022, according to a report from job placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The one-time darlings of news in the social media age, like BuzzFeed News and Vice, have died or on life support. Meanwhile, TikTok is the fastest-growing social media platform for news, according to a report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism published on Tuesday. Twenty percent of 18-to-24-year-olds use TikTok to learn about current events, up 5 percentage points from last year, the report said. Lisa Remillard, a 20-year veteran of broadcast journalism who has been a TV anchor in Tallahassee, Florida, and San Diego, California, hopes to parlay this growth into a new business model that could help independent journalists earn a living on TikTok and other social media platforms. Remillard founded BEONDTV, a lifestyle and entertainment digital media company. Since 2020, she has also functioned as a one-person newsroom, filming videos to walk her 2.5 million TikTok followers through the biggest national news each day, such as the U.S. debt ceiling deal and the possibility of a TikTok ban in the United States due to the platform’s Chinese ownership. “In my deepest, darkest hopes and dreams, I wish that could be the result of all this hard work,” Remillard said, expressing her hope for a new business model for independent journalists. As Spehar’s “Under the Desk News” began to take off, the Los Angeles Times hired them for six months last year to be the face of the news organization’s TikTok account. The benefit was mutual: Spehar learned how journalism is produced, while the publisher benefited from Spehar’s TikTok skills. Spehar’s advice to journalists: build a following on TikTok that will pay for their reporting on subscription platforms like Substack, where some writers have carved out lucrative careers. “Pick the world that you want to show people and tell them exactly what stories you cover,” Spehar said. (Reporting and photography by Magali Druscovich; Writing by Sheila Dang; Editing by Kenneth Li and Matthew Lewis) View the full article

Published by The Seattle Times The billboards feature a menacing iceberg, sinking ship and an all-caps message: GONORRHEA ALERT! What do an iceberg and sinking ship have to do with a sexually transmitted disease? It’s not immediately clear, but the billboards on Boren Avenue and near the Space Needle likely caught your eye. And that’s the point. “There is a sense of desensitization when it comes to STIs (sexually transmitted infections), and billboards go a long way toward someone Googling something or scheduling something with a provider,” said Marcelino Alcorta, of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “There’s also value in as… Read More View the full article

Published by City AM By Elena Siniscalco British politics comes with its quirks and oddities, and one of them is the spat about the “Never kissed a Tory” motto. For some, it’s tribal politics; for others, it’s a fun joke. For Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, it is probably the second option. When he decided to post a picture wearing a “Never kissed a Tory” badge to mark Pride, he likely didn’t think it was going to offend anyone. But it quickly backfired, with the Tory Shadow Minister for Equalities Altaf Hussain asking him to apologise. The motto is more than a decade old, and it was Labour (obviously… Read More View the full article

Published by The Street By Ian Krietzberg The controversy around the LGBTQ+ support offered up by some major businesses, namely Bud Light (BUDFF) and Target (TGT) – Get Free Report, has sparked national attention in recent weeks, setting off boycotts, sales dips and inciting a national conversation on whether businesses ought to take stances on cultural and political issues. Earlier in June, “Shark Tank” investor Mark Cuban, speaking at a conference, said that diversity is good business. In a June 11 interview with the Post Gazette, Cuban reiterated his stance on the issue, saying: “There is a reason almost all the t… Read More View the full article

Published by The Street By Daniel Kline Most companies avoid taking overt political stands. Many businesses donate money to politicians on both sides of the aisle while others work hard to stay neutral. Some companies, like Chick-fil-A and Hobby Lobby, embrace the politics of the people who own them. In those two cases, both brands have openly embraced the religious faith of their founder/owners. DON’T MISS: Garth Brooks Answers Bud Light Fallout With ‘Woke’ Message Both those companies also have run into issues where their ownership’s stand on LGBTQ+ issues have led to a left-wing backlash. The left, however, has ra… Read More View the full article

Cheap crash pad to luxury suite, Miami has it all, no matter how you slice it: American Heritage or world tour; lazy beach restoration to healthy and scheduled; zen, decadent and much more. The next few weeks we’re posting some of the big thematic ways to think about and plan a great visit that authentically taps more of what Miami and Miami Beach offer LGBTQ travellers in addition to genuinely open arms. Today we have Miami for the art and culture lover. In coming posts we feature best bets for Foodies in Miami; Miami for the active traveler; How to connect with the proud LGBTQ businesses and community; and how to find the very best Miami has to offer for a luxe time that hits all the iconic spots. Of course, the best trips will likely pick from a few lists. (If we miss your favorite or you’ve heard of something great, please comment and help us build each post into a great resource.) Creative Stays W HOTEL Hom e to an expensive, extensive art collection – valued at $100 million, including Warhol, Basquiat & Schnabel. The recent rethink, reboot of the hotel has been well received. The MARLIN HOTEL has a rotating art program, and is right in Miami’s cultural center with many museums and galleries. THE STANDARD SPA Funky culture and design are part of the brand, and the hotel shop is off the charts. Plus there’s currently a Mini Martini Happy Hour. How gay is that? The Betsy Hotel South Beach offers its Writer’s Room, a library, typewriters, and literary events. The Setai, Miami Beach showcases a remarkable collection of Asian art and features a relaxing serene courtyard for relaxation. Luxurious and artistic, the Faena Hotel’s many unique design elements include a gold-covered woolly mammoth skeleton. Go out in Miami THE BAR (VERSACE) Located in the (former) Versace Mansion. With a top shelf array of hand-crated cocktails, including a 24 karat Golden Margarita, this before- or after-dinner stop samples and suggests the gilded life and legacy of Gianni Versace’s South Beach BASEMENT Bowl & Skate & DANCE with international DJs at the Edition hotel LGBTQ friendly all the time. Eat Steak omakaseCOTE MIAMI Chic design & Korean steakhouse in the Design District with 1 Michelin Star https://www.cotemiami.com/ CAFÉ LA TROVA Live music & retro Cuba atmosphere (& a James Beard award-winning chef, Michelle Bernstein) THREE WYNWOOD Local artists on the walls, and a weekly changing menu. Shop Miami MIAMI DESIGN DISTRICT A hub for fashion, art, design, architecture, wellness & dining… Galleries including Opera Gallery, David Castillo Opera Gallery Major Art Gallery (16 galleries worldwide) David Castillo MarjoArt Gallery (Miami only) Included as one of “10 things to do in 24 hours” in Miami, by Time magazine. Acne Studios Stockholm-based fashion house Off-White High street fashion and activewear, founded by Virgil Abloh Kith Upscale clothing; lifestyle brand and progressive retail concept that’s celebrated globally https://www.kith.com Luminaire Lab Upscale, modern designer furniture, lighting & accessories founded by Nasir Kassamali THE STANDARD SHOP Features local designers and craftsman. BOOK & BOOKS A great independent bookstore heavy on diversity, and hosting frequent author events. Sights to See WOLFSONIAN-FIU MUSEUM A museum dedicated to the decorative and propoganda arts, often offering insights into LGBTQ+ history and culture. MARGULIES COLLECTIONS AT THE WAREHOUSE 50,000 sqft warehouse in the Wynwood Arts District – exhibitions & education, open October through April. Established and upcoming contemporary artists – sculpture, painting, photography, multimedia – including Anselm Kiefer, Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Noguchi, Tony Smith, Frank Stella, Richard Serra,… PEREZ ART MUSEUM PAMM – an outstanding collection of contemporary, 20th and 21th century, art. Yoyoi Kusam’s exhibit “Love Is Calling” runs through 2/11/24. MID-CENTURY MODERN LIFEGUARD STATIONS Built post-Hurricane Andrew in the mid-90s, when many original beach structures were lost, these high-on-design technicolor landmarks in South Beach. Art Events MIAMI ART WEEK Contemporary art fair. Second biggest in the world. December 6-10 2023 ART GAYSEL At the Gaythering Hotel December 1-3, 2023 photoMIAMI New this year online – going live in 2024, part of Miami Art Week UNITITLED ART FAIR + OTHER ART WEEK SATELLITES Contemporary art, a program of curated special projects, installations, performances, podcast conversations and more… (December 5-10 2023) EVENTS ART BASEL Major international art fair also held in Basel, Hong Kong & Paris (now in Miami June 15-June 23) Get Outside Walk the WYNWOOD WALLS. Street art on the streets Shepard Fairey, Invader, Kenny Scharf, Okuda San Miguel, Retna, Kobra… STILTSVILLE Within Biscayne National Park, and accessible only by water, Stitsville dates to early last century, a haven for illegal alcohol and gambling during Prohibition, the ghosts of that era are preserved and protected. and some stray eclectic last ideas…. The pastel, iconic buildings of Art Deco Historic District; Famous drag bar, The Palace, for brunch or nightly shows; Lummus Park Beach —not specifically LGBTQ — for people-watching. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had a hilarious reaction when CNN White House correspondent Jeremy Diamond asked if President Joe Biden “would consider pardoning” ex-President Donald Trump. “OK And then, last question. I wonder, as it relates to the case that — that President — the former President Trump is facing: Is there any world in which President Biden would consider pardoning the former President?” he asked. “I’m just not going to speak to that. No comment,” she said before Trump was arrested and arraigned on Tuesday, June 13, in Miami after he was indicted on 37 counts for violating the Espionage Act. Trump pled not guilty through his attorney. mega As OK! previously reported, Trump spoke out about the ordeal and gave an interesting reason why he had boxes all over his bathroom in his Mar-a-Lago home. “Because the sham indictment put forward by the Biden administration included staged photographs of boxes at Mar-a-Lago, many people have asked me why I had these boxes,” Trump, 77, said in a speech at Bedminster, N.J., on Tuesday, June 13. POTUS War: Donald Trump Labels Joe Biden the ‘Most Corrupt President’ After He ‘Tried to Destroy American Democracy’ Donald Trump Appears Unbothered Playing DJ Set at His New Jersey Golf Club Following Arrest Donald Trump Is ‘Scared’ of the Legal Danger He Faces Amid Documents Scandal, Former White House Chief of Staff Claims “The answer, in addition to having every right under the Presidential Records Act, is that these boxes were containing all types of personal belongings. Many, many things. Shirts and shoes and everything. As can be seen in the picture, where someone — not me, I wonder who it might have been — dumped one of the very neatly arranged boxes all over the floor, they were full of newspapers, press clippings, thousands of pictures, thousands and thousands of White House pictures. The White House photographers — some are with us today — they took so many pictures and we saved all of them and they were in those boxes. Clothing, memorabilia, and much, much more,” he continued. Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! mega Though Trump seems cool and collected, Trump’s former White House chief of staff John Kelly believes it’s all an act. “He’s scared s*******,” he told The Washington Post. “This is the way he compensates for that. He gives people the appearance he doesn’t care by doing this. For the first time in his life, it looks like he’s being held accountable. Up until this point in his life, it’s like, I’m not going to pay you, take me to court. He’s never been held accountable before.” View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) -Target’s move to pull some LGBTQ-themed merchandise from stores following customer backlash “is wrong,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a tweet on Tuesday and urged the retailer to reverse its decision. At least 14 New York officials have signed a letter regarding Target’s decision, according to James’s tweet. Target last month said it was making certain “adjustments” to its LGBTQ-themed products linked to Pride Month, citing increased confrontations between shoppers and employees and incidents of products being thrown on the floor. The company has sold LGBTQ-related goods tied to Pride month for years but has faced growing criticism for carrying those products, including from conservative news outlets and Republican politicians, who have claimed certain items at its stores were marketed to children. Target did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. (Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D’Silva and Pooja Desai) View the full article

Published by DPA Brain scans show that LSD and other mind-altering drugs impact similar parts of the brain as schizophrenia and depression, raising hopes that they can be used in the developments of treatments. Silas Stein/dpa Mind-altering drugs such as LSD and ketamine are potential narcotic landmarks on a “roadmap” to develop treatments for neurological disorders. According to research published in Science Advances, the effects of such drugs, including ayahuasca and MDMA, show up on brain scans in similar locations to conditions such as schizophrenia and depression, meaning the drugs could prove a help with research into treatments. The research team, led by Andrea Luppi of The Alan Turing Institute at the University of Cambridge, analysed neuroimaging data for over 1,400 people and found that brain activity patterns affected by such drugs to be “associated with brain regions affected by certain psychiatric and neurological disorders.” The team looked at 10 drugs – not just well known substances such as ketamine and LSD – but also so-called cognitive enhancers such as modafinil and methylphenidate and the anaesthetics sevoflurane and propofol. Using what they said were “maps of cortical thickness abnormalities for disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, and autism spectrum disorder,” the scientists found parts of the brain “that were similarly altered by different drugs” were also “often similarly affected by various disorders.” “These drugs alter consciousness by activating specific neurotransmitter receptors – but different drugs can produce similar effects through distinct pathways, making it difficult to disentangle the systems responsible for effects on brain function,” they said. But the research at the same time could “provide a first step to bridge molecular mechanisms and their effects on subjective experience, cognition, and behaviour via their effects on the brain’s functional architecture,” the team suggested. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jenna Jameson has hinted she’s planning to launch a page on OnlyFans. The former porn star gave her Twitter followers a huge clue when she tweeted a message to the saucy adult website declaring she was trying to set up an account but was having technical troubles writing: “Hey @OnlyFans I’m trying to start an account and I need help!” The tweet sent her fans into meltdown and Jenna was bombarded with nasty messages from trolls – but she hit back at the haters by replying with pithy comments. One troll told her:”Maybe in her prime… not the current version” and Jenna replied writing: “Yet, you follow me,” and when another tweeted: “No one wants to see your beat up p****,” Jenna responded by quipping: “Your mom does”. Another of Jenna’s followers acknowledged the fall out, writing: “Omg I’m just here for the comments” and the 49-year-old star said she was aware her tweet would cause some carnage, writing: “I knew it would rattle a few chains.” News of Jenna’s latest project comes just weeks after she settled down with her girlfriend Jessi Lawless. The couple tied the knot in Las Vegas on May 23 after less than six months of dating. Jenna told People after the ceremony: “I found the person that I truly should have always been with.” The couple met via TikTok and started dating in January before getting engaged three months later. Jenna also revealed to People the chapel where they got hitched was the same one her parents used to tie the knot. She walked down the aisle to Johnny Cash’s ‘Ring of Fire’ and wore a white mini dress with a veil and pink platform heels, with pink dyed hair, while Jessi was dressed in a black suit. Their wedding was officiated by a Johnny Cash impersonator and the pair rented a neon green Lamborghini for the day. Jenna said: “I try and go over in my mind why I ever dated or married men, and it’s selfish and bad to say, but I think my driving force were children. “And now that I’ve really found myself, I’m just accepting of everything that I feel inside and don’t shove everything done.” Jenna is mum to twin sons Jesse Jameson and Journey Jette, 14, with ex-partner Tito Ortiz, and daughter Batel Lu, six, with ex-fiancé Lior Bitton. View the full article

Published by The Philadelphia Inquirer Julie Sullivan’s debut novel, “The World is Full of Champions,” takes a critical look at the chasm that exists between a fictional family from the Black elite in Philadelphia and their working-class maid and her family. Part-history, part saga, part Cain and Abel, and part romance novel, “Champions” tells a story that spans three decades of Georgia Smythe’s life. Georgia’s mother works as a maid for the Whitmans, a judge and his wife who live in the Philadelphia suburbs. Georgia grows up playing with the Whitman’s two sons. When she is 6, her father is killed in a mining accident. As a young w… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Madonna is enjoying the short amount of down time she has left before she kicks off her world tour on Saturday, July 15, in Vancouver. On Sunday, June 11, the “Material Girl” singer shared a selfie to her Instagram Story, where she highlighted her natural hair and rare makeup-free face with her followers. @madonna/Instagram “When you know your only day off isn’t really a day off,” Madonna, 64, wrote across a photo of herself pouting her lips at the camera. The “Like a Virgin” vocalist appeared to have recently washed her hair, as it fell in wet curls around her face. @madonna/Instagram Madonna’s rare flaunt of her natural features comes after the award-winning artist has faced months of backlash for her “unrecognizable” appearance. The mom-of-six was blasted on social media for her “botched” plastic surgery following her attendance at the 2023 Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 5. Madonna Is Getting ‘Ridiculously Close’ to Colombian Singer Maluma Despite Josh Popper Dating Rumors Madonna Flaunts Her Figure in Lingerie as Singer’s Love Life Stars to Get Messy: Photos Madonna Shoves Whipped Cream in Her Mouth During Tour Rehearsal as Rumored Boyfriend Josh Popper Gets Flirty: Photos Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! After receiving incessant backlash, Madonna released a lengthy statement expressing her hurt feelings. “Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny that permeates the world we live in,” the pop star wrote regarding criticism about her cosmetically-enhanced facial features. “A world that refuses to celebrate women past the age of 45 and feels the need to punish her if she continues to be strong willed, hard-working and adventurous. I have never apologized for any of the creative choices I have made nor the way that I look or dress and I’m not going to start.” @madonna/Instagram “I have been degraded by the media since the beginning of my career but I understand that this is all a test and I am happy to do the trailblazing so that all the women behind me can have an easier time in the years to come,” Madonna added. “I look forward to many more years of subversive behavior, pushing boundaries, standing up to the patriarchy and Most of all enjoying my life,” her message concluded. Madonna’s world tour, titled The Celebration Tour, will surely highlight the singer’s famed raunchy persona as she performs four decades of her award-winning music. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Andrew Lloyd Webber was stopped from writing a musical about a foreign country. The 75-year-old composer is behind theatrical hits such as the French-based ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and Evita’ – which focuses on the life of Argentina’s former First Lady Eva Perón and was made into a film starring US pop star Madonna in 1996 – but explained that these days he is discouraged from creating shows that focus on characters that are not from his native Britain. Speaking on the ‘ I Never Thought it Would Happen’ podcast, he said: “There’s another factor that has come in now which is all this business about. I’ll put it to you this way, if I were to be doing ‘Evita’ today – Tim and I were doing ‘Evita’ – I think there would be a lot of people to say well they’re not qualified to do this because they’re not Argentine. This is a factor that is staggering. There was a subject that I really wanted to consider doing, but everybody was saying to me, ‘You can’t do this because you’re not from that country.” The EGOT-winning impresario went on to add that it was suggested to him that he make a musical out of the classic English novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’ but did not seem impressed with the idea and has decided that if he is ever to create another show, it will be with young producer Michael Harrison but insisted that nothing concrete is in the works just yet. He added: “I said, ‘Why would I want to make a musical out of ‘Pride and Prejudice?’ I don’t know whether one has to just sort of plough on regardless. I’m sure I will find something. I have masses of music bursting out at the moment but they’re like homeless waifs and strays. I’m working with Michael Harrison now and the next show I do, if I do one, will be in partnership with him because he’s a very experienced but younger producer. “I always say if, because the word if it is important. Right now I’m looking for a story and I’ve been looking for a story for the last 18 months and I can’t find a story that I think is right. “It might just be that I could go out this afternoon and suddenly think, ‘Wow, there’s the story.’ Without the story I’m nowhere because I’m a musical dramatist at the end of the day and the story is the most important thing.” View the full article

Published by uInterview.com Jennifer Coolidge’s character, Tanya McQuoid, on White Lotus, may get her own prequel. Mike White, the creator of White Lotus, is open to the idea of making a series focused on McQuoid’s backstory. He would want Coolidge to play the character as 20 years younger. He also believes that Coolidge would be open to the idea. White told Deadline at the Vivid Sydney Festival that he “absolutely think[s] that’s possible.” White is currently working on season three of the show which will take place in Thailand. Coolidge will not be in this season of the show due to her character’s death at the end of… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters UK MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, gave its initial backing on Wednesday to legislation that would ban gender reassignment surgery. The move was in line with a drive by President Vladimir Putin to crack down on “non-traditional” lifestyles he has portrayed as evidence of Western moral decay. The legislation would ban state agencies from changing a person’s gender in their personal documents. It would outlaw “any medical interventions aimed at shaping a person’s primary and secondary sex characteristics”, according to a document posted in the Duma’s database. … Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre put her foot down after a reporter asked a question that she believed had “dangerous” implications for transgender youth. The Biden Administration has recently made strides in protecting trans kids’ rights when it comes to organized sports, proposing a change to Title IX — which established the right to “right to fair and equitable treatment” in certain education programs — to make it clear that Title IX is violated when schools “ban transgender students from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity just because of who they are.” mega In response to the recent proposal, EWTN White House correspondent Owen Jensen questioned Jean-Pierre on how parents of students may feel about the change. “Just hours ago, Senator Tuberville tweeted, quote, ‘[H]aving biological males in women’s sports is unsafe, unfair, and wrong,'” he began. “And earlier this year, several — 72 elite female athletes signed an open letter saying, ‘Forcing female athletes… to compete against biological males is not only unfair, it is discriminatory and illegal.'” “So, in the light of this administration’s proposed changes to Title IX,” Jensen continued, “does the White House worry about the physical safety of females directly competing against males in sports?” mega Karine Jean-Pierre Laughs When Asked if President Joe Biden ‘Would Consider Pardoning’ Donald Trump Jean-Pierre called it a “complicated issue” that was subject to a “wide range of views,” noting that that the Department of Education’s proposal will give schools “the flexibility to establish their own athletic policies, while establishing … guardrails to prevent discrimination against transgender kids.” “And what would the President [Joe Biden] say to the parents out there who have daughters — say, in high school, for example — who are worried that their daughter may have to compete against a male, or a person born male, and they — and there could be — or directly in physical athletic competition — and worry about their daughter’s safety?” Jensen pressed. Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! mega However, his question regarding safety of fellow high schoolers around transgender students ruffled Jean-Pierre. “So, look, I — what you’re alluding to is basically saying that transgender kids are dangerous,” she said. “It sounds like that’s what you’re saying.” “I — I didn’t say that. I didn’t say that. I don’t know how that’s —” Jensen argued, to which Jean-Pierre replied, “Well, you’re saying — you’re saying that their safety is — isn’t — is at risk?” “This is strictly a safety question,” Jensen confirmed. “This is strictly a safety question.” “Yeah, but you’re — you’re — you’re laying out a broad — kind of broad example or explanation of what could potentially happen … that is dangerous. That is a dangerous thing to say … that, essentially, transgender kids — we’re talking about — are dangerous. And so, that’s something that I have to call out.” Jensen and Jean-Pierre continued to go back and forth for a moment on whether or not he was implying that transgender youth were a safety concern, before the press secretary referred him to the Department of Education for any further questions. “Just to be clear, this is … about safety,.” the correspondent argued. “I wasn’t insinuating anything.” Quipped Jean-Pierre, “No, I mean you could read your question in a transcript once you get it.” Mediaite reported the transcript of Jean-Pierre and Jensen’s discussion on transgender kids. View the full article

Published by Raw Story Starbucks was accused of “caving” to right-wing activists by banning Pride decorations this week. On Tuesday, Starbucks Workers United revealed that the corporation had moved against LGBTQ+ symbolism. “In the middle of Pride Month, Starbucks BANS Pride decorations in stores across the United States,” the union said on Twitter. “In union stores, where Starbucks claims they are unable to make ‘unilateral changes’ without bargaining, the company took down Pride decorations and flags anyway – ignoring their own anti-union talking point.” The organization noted that Starbucks employs “many queer wo… Read More View the full article