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Published by Reuters By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Sexual abusers are disgusting “enemies” who deserve to be condemned and punished – but also deserve Christian love and pastoral care because they too are children of God, Pope Francis said. Francis made his comments on April 29 in a private conversation with Jesuits while he was visiting Hungary. Francis is also a Jesuit and the comments were published on Tuesday in the Italian Jesuit journal Civilta Cattolica, as is customary after such meetings. Abuse scandals have shredded the Church’s reputation and have been a major challenge for the pope, who has passed a series of measures over the last 10 years aimed at holding the Church hierarchy more accountable, with mixed results. During Francis’ visit, a Hungarian member of the Jesuits religious order asked Francis how it was possible to follow Jesus’ commandment to love enemies when the enemy was a sexual abuser. “How do we approach, how do we talk to the abusers for whom we feel disgust? Yes, they too are children of God. But how can you love them? It’s a powerful question,” Francis responded. “The abuser is to be condemned, indeed, but as a brother,” Francis said, calling it “a form of loving the enemy”, although he acknowledged that such an attitude was difficult to live out because of the effect abusers have on people’s lives. “The abuser is an enemy. Each of us feels this because we empathise with the suffering of the abused … even talking to the abuser involves revulsion; it’s not easy. But they are God’s children too. They deserve punishment, but they also deserve pastoral care,” he said. Last week the pope praised the work of an international Vatican commission on sexual abuse prevention and encouraged it to move forward, following the recent acrimonious resignation of a high-profile member who accused it of lacking transparency. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; editing by Jonathan Oatis) View the full article

Published by AFP Indigenous Mapuche women of Chile weave on a loom; a new study has linked an ancient Asian lineage with the First Americans Washington (AFP) – As the last continents to be settled by humans, the question of how and when people first came to the Americas has long intrigued scientists. A new genetics study published Tuesday in Cell Reports finds that some of the first arrivals came from China during two distinct migrations: the first during the last ice age, and the second shortly after. “Our findings indicate that besides the previously indicated ancestral sources of Native Americans in Siberia, the northern coastal China also served as a genetic reservoir contributing to the gene pool,” Yu-Chun Li, one of the report authors, told AFP. Li added that during the second migration, the same lineage of people settled in Japan, which could help explain similarities in prehistoric arrowheads and spears found in the Americas, China and Japan. It was once believed that ancient Siberians, who crossed over a land bridge that existed in the Bering Strait linking modern Russia and Alaska, were the sole ancestors of Native Americans. More recent research, from the late 2000s onwards, has signaled more diverse sources from Asia could be connected to an ancient lineage responsible for founding populations across the Americas, including Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and California. Known as D4h, this lineage is found in mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited only from mothers and is used to trace maternal ancestry. The team from the Kunming Institute of Zoology embarked on a ten-year hunt for D4h, combing through 100,000 modern and 15,000 ancient DNA samples across Eurasia. They eventually landed on 216 contemporary and 39 ancient individuals who came from the ancient lineage. By analyzing the mutations that had accrued over time, looking at the samples’ geographic locations and using carbon dating, they were able to reconstruct the D4h lineage’s origins and expansion history. The results revealed two migration events. The first was between 19,500 and 26,000 years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum, when ice sheet coverage was at its greatest and climate conditions in northern China were likely inhospitable. The second occurred during the melting period, between 19,000 and 11,500 years ago. Increasing human populations during this period might have triggered migrations. Coastal migration In both cases, the scientists think the travelers were seafarers who docked in America and traveled along the Pacific coast by boats. This is because a grassy passageway between two ice sheets in modern Canada, known as the “inland ice-free corridor,” was not yet opened. In the second migration, a subgroup branched out from northern coastal China to Japan, contributing to the Japanese people, especially the indigenous Ainu, the study said, a finding that chimes with archeological similarities between ancient people in the Americas, China and Japan. Li said a strength of the study was the number of samples they discovered, and complementary evidence from Y chromosomal DNA showing male ancestors of Native Americans lived in northern China at the same time as the female ancestors, made them confident of their findings. “However, we don’t know in which specific place in northern coastal China this expansion occurred and what specific events promoted these migrations,” he said. “More evidence, especially ancient genomes, are needed to answer these questions.” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Mega Marcia Gay Harden just revealed why she’s incredibly inspired by her three kids. While attending the Drag Isn’t Dangerous: A Digital Fundraiser over the weekend, the 63-year-old revealed her children, Eulala, 24, as well as 19-year-old twins Julitta and Hudson, are all queer. Harden shares her brood with ex-husband Thaddaeus Scheel — from whom she split in 2012. Instagram/@mgh_8 “What drives me is because it’s right, and what’s happening right now is wrong,” Harden explained of the political climate to co-host Adam Shankman. “What drives me is — my children are all queer.” “My eldest child is non-binary. My son is gay. My youngest is fluid,” the Oscar-winning actress clarified. “And you know, they are my kids and they teach me every day.” mega Marcia Gay Harden Files for Divorce “This is so fear-based and it’s spreading that kind of fear and hatred among other people,” Harden noted of Republican’s attempted take-down of LGBTQIA+ rights and drag show performances. “I believe this country will fight that.” The So Help Me Todd star later took to Instagram on Monday, May 8, to share photos from the event, along with a heartfelt caption about why the cause was so important to her. 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! “The only thing dangerous about drag is how hot these Queens are!,” Harden penned about the event. “Join the @dragisntdangerous fundraiser in support of LGTBQ+, which basically means in support of all of us! Our nation, our neighbors, our children, artists, our singers, our dancers, our better leaders, ceo’s, writers, spiritual leaders, basically our humanity. Gay is here to stay. Drag is here to stay. Donate what you can, and join us in spreading the love.” Fans applauded the proud mom in the comments section, with one writing, “Thank you for doing this it means more to us than you’ll ever know ,” and a second user adding, “the name says it all, you really are the one true gay icon! thank you for everything you do for our community .” People first reported on Harden’s comments from the fundraiser. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Luc Cohen and Jack Queen NEW YORK (Reuters) -Donald Trump’s absence from a trial where writer E. Jean Carroll accuses him of rape and defamation shows that “he did it,” a lawyer for Carroll said on Monday, while Trump’s lawyer told jurors the case was “outrageous.” “He never looked you in the eye and denied raping Ms. Carroll,” lawyer Mike Ferrara told jurors as the civil trial in Manhattan federal court neared the end of an eighth day. “You should draw the conclusion that that’s because he did it.” The six-man, three-woman jury was expected to begin deliberating on Tuesday. Carroll, 79, sued Trump, 76, alleging he raped her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan in 1995 or 1996 and then defamed her by denying it happened in an October 2022 post on Trump’s Truth Social platform. In that post, he called her claims a “complete con job” and “a Hoax and a lie.” The former Elle magazine advice columnist is seeking unspecified monetary damages. Trump, who served as president from 2017 to 2021 and is the front-runner for the Republican U.S. presidential nomination in 2024, waived his right to testify at trial and opted not to present a defense, gambling that jurors will find that Carroll failed to make a persuasive case. He told reporters in Ireland last week that he would “probably” attend, but did not show up. Trump has accused Carroll of making up the story to drive sales of a 2019 memoir in which she made her claims public. In a video deposition played for the jury on May 3, Trump denied raping Carroll. “It’s the most ridiculous, disgusting story,” Trump said in the video. “It’s just made up.” In his closing argument on Monday, Trump’s lawyer Joseph Tacopina said Carroll’s inability to recall the date of the alleged incident made it impossible for Trump to defend himself by citing an alibi, and called the case an “affront to justice.” “This is an absolutely outrageous case,” Tacopina said. “The facts in evidence make plain here that E. Jean Carroll’s story is not worthy of your belief, not even close,” he said. TRUMP’S 2005 ‘GRAB ‘EM’ VIDEO FEATURES AT TRIAL Earlier on Monday, Carroll’s lawyer Roberta Kaplan said a 2005 “Access Hollywood” video in which Trump says women let him “grab ’em by the pussy” bolstered the accounts of Carroll and other women who have accused Trump of sexual assault. “He admitted on video to doing exactly the kinds of things that have brought us here to this courtroom,” Kaplan said. During three days of testimony and cross-examination, Carroll said that during the attack Trump slammed her against the wall, put his fingers into her vagina and then inserted his penis. Two of Carroll’s longtime friends testified that she told them about the attack shortly after it occurred and said they believed her. Jurors also heard from two other women who said Trump sexually assaulted them in separate incidents decades ago. Trump denies those claims as well. Kaplan did not specify the amount of money jurors should award Carroll in compensatory and punitive damages. She said Carroll had been unable to sustain a romantic relationship since the alleged rape, and that Trump’s public criticism had harmed her client’s reputation. “For E. Jean Carroll, this lawsuit is not about the money,” Kaplan said. “This lawsuit is about getting her name back.” (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Will Dunham, Noeleen Walder and Howard Goller) View the full article

Published by Mac World Macworld Apple on Tuesday revealed the new Apple Watch Pride Edition Sport Band, designed to commemorate the equality movement for the LGBTQ+ community. Apple also released an Apple Watch face and iOS wallpaper that matches the band. The watch face and wallpaper are available next week and require watchOS 9.5 and iOS 16.5 or later, both of which are still in beta. The watch face can be accessed through App Clips on the Apple Watch Pride Edition Sport Band packaging, in Apple Store locations, in the Apple Store app, or it can be downloaded from Apple’s website. According to a press release, no … Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Tom Hals WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) – Walt Disney Co and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have been embroiled in an increasingly bitter dispute, starting when the company criticized a Florida law last year, which has led to dueling lawsuits. THE DISNEY LAWSUIT AGAINST DESANTIS The entertainment giant sued the Republican governor on April 26 in federal court, claiming he was “weaponizing” state government in retaliation for the company’s criticism of a law that banned classroom discussion of sexuality and gender identity with younger children. Opponents labeled the measure the “don’t say gay” law. The company alleged DeSantis rallied the Republican-controlled legislature to strike back at “woke Disney” and seize control of an administrative district, created in 1967, that helped Disney develop theme parks and resorts. The district, originally known as Reedy Creek Improvement District, was also named as a defendant. FLORIDA’S LAWSUIT AGAINST DISNEY Rather than responding in federal court, the administrative district, which lawmakers put under DeSantis’ control and renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, fired back on May 2, countersuing Disney in state court. The new district leadership accused the company of striking last-minute “backroom” deals with the prior board, just before the legislature changed the board structure. The new board asked the state court to void those Disney-friendly deals, which gave the company control over development in the district for decades and which limited the new board’s authority. HOW THE LAWSUITS DIFFER Disney’s lawsuit was filed in federal court and alleges that DeSantis violated the company’s protections under the U.S. Constitution, including its First Amendment right to free speech. It also alleges the new district board violated of the Due Process, Contracts and the Takings Clauses of the U.S. Constitution by declaring void the company’s development agreements that were struck with the old board. Disney is asking the court to strike down laws that created the new board and that voided the agreements with Disney. In contrast, the state court lawsuit against Disney focuses on the procedures the old board followed in approving the agreements with Disney. It alleges those deals were approved at meetings that failed to follow state rules for things like giving the public advance notice. The Florida district is asking the state court to void the Disney agreements. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN LAWSUITS? Disney’s case is proceeding before U.S. District Judge Mark Walker in Tallahassee, who previously has struck down some laws that define the governor’s conservative agenda. The Florida district’s case is in state court before Circuit Judge Margaret Schreiber in Orlando. The district could file a motion in federal court to ask Walker to dismiss or pause Disney’s federal case while the state court proceeds. Legal doctrines hold that federal judges should refrain from hearing a case where there is a related state court proceeding, particularly when a state court decision could resolve the federal lawsuit. But Walker might still allow Disney’s federal lawsuit to proceed because the company is claiming a major Constitutional violation, which is the kind of claim a federal judge is inclined to hear. COULD THERE BE CONFLICTING RULINGS? Both cases could proceed simultaneously. While the legal theories are different, both courts were asked to decide if the agreements between Disney and the prior board were valid, so it’s conceivable that the judges could reach conflicting answers. In that scenario, it is likely that the side that prevails first would ask the other judge to respect that ruling. The prevailing party would likely cite the doctrine of res judicata, which says that a claim that reaches judgment in one court should not be relitigated in a second. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Amy Stevens and Lisa Shumaker) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine megaa It looks like Britney Spears fans will have to wait a bit longer for her anticipated memoir to be released, as it is delayed due to legal concerns. According to The Sun, a source claimed the pop star, 41, is getting pushback after she made claims she had “flings with two massive Hollywood stars.” “Britney is brutally honest in the book — there are a lot of nervous A-listers,” the insider claimed of the “Toxic” songstress who has dated Justin Timberlake, Jason Trawick, Kevin Federline and more. “Strongly worded legal letters have been sent to the publishers by people who know Britney and who fear what she has written. There is no movement at the moment and there are concerns over when it will eventually be able to come out.” mega The book, which will cover he controversial conservatorship, her marriage to Sam Asghari and other hot topics, is now likely to come out at the end of the year. Britney Spears Questions Whether One Of Her ‘T***’ Would Pop If She Claps Them Together in Since-Deleted Post Britney Spears’ Ex-Husband Jason Alexander Remarries Days After Posting About Pop Star’s ‘Cry For Help’ Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz Recall ‘Vacant’ Britney Spears’ ‘Glee’ Appearance Two Years Into Her Conservatorship “Britney wants this to be her moment she talks to the world, to tell her side of the story and set the record straight,” the insider dished. “There’s a fair amount of throwing people under the bus, talking about past relationships, some of whom will be revealed for the first time ever.” The insider added, “Britney lived her life in the public eye but there are relationships and people she had encounters with who she managed to keep under the radar, including some massive film star names and people from the music world. She has wanted to go all out with this book and tell her truth, and that’s what has people worried.” mega The singer enlisted Sam Lansky as a ghostwriter. AsOK! previously reported, the tome is sure to be juicy. 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! “Britney’s book is a story of triumph. It will cover her most vulnerable moments, her childhood – being a little girl with big dreams – her breakup with Justin Timberlake, the moment she shaved her head, and her battle with her family over her conservatorship,” one source said. “It is also a story of survival, finding her way out of the crippling conservatorship to finding happiness with her husband Sam Asghari,” they continued. View the full article

Published by uInterview video Frankie Grande says his new movie is not about “gay trauma” #shorts #lgbtq | Watch more Frankie: https://bit.ly/3os9FEm Join the uInterview channel for access to exclusive videos & opportunities to ask our celebrity guests your questions: https://bit.ly/40F7coQ LEAVE A COMMENT OR A REACTION so we know how you really feel! Follow us: IG: @uinterview Twitter: @uInterview Facebook: @uInterview Read More View the full article

Published by The Kansas City Star Dr. Candice Moran, 37, fanned their two young children in the shade of Ilus Park Saturday afternoon as over 150 protesters rounded the corner of Oak and East 10th Street in a sea of rainbow flags and picket signs. “Trans rights matter!” said the crowd. Like Moran, many of the Kansas Citians marching had braved the 90 degree heat for this rally, organized by eight metro-area medical students, to push back against restrictions on gender affirming care proposed by Missouri lawmakers. On April 13, the House voted in favor of banning transition surgeries, hormone therapy and puberty blockers for mi… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan accused the opposition of being “pro-LGBT” at a rally in Istanbul on Sunday, as he stepped up his rhetoric against his opponents a week before what is expected to be a tight election. Elsewhere, protesters threw stones at Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), during an election rally in the eastern city of Erzurum, a stronghold of Erdogan’s AK Party (AKP). Imamoglu later claimed nine people had been injured at the event. Turkey is due to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14 and opinion polls show that Erdogan faces his biggest electoral challenge in his two decades in power. At his rally in Istanbul, the president was appealing to his conservative Muslim voter base. “AK Party and other parties in our alliance would never be pro-LGBT, because family is sacred to us. We will bury those pro-LGBT in the ballot box,” he told the crowd. Erdogan has toughened his rhetoric against the LGBT community in recent years, frequently labelling members “deviants”. On Sunday, he also attacked his key election rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who heads the main opposition alliance. “My people will not allow drunks and boozers to take the stage,” Erdogan also said. “Mr. Kemal, you can drink barrels of it, nothing can cure you,” he said. “My nation will make the necessary response on May 14. We will not allow Kilicdaroglu, who is hand in hand with terrorists, to divide our homeland,” Erdogan said. Erdogan has also accused Kilicdaroglu of getting support from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been waging an insurgency since the 1980s in which more than 40,000 people have been killed. It is considered a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. The opposition has previously denounced claims by Erdogan linking them to terrorists as divisive and dangerous campaign rhetoric. At the event in Erzurum, Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu, who would become vice president if Kilicdaroglu wins the election, was addressing his supporters from the top of an open air bus when some members of the crowd threw stones at him and his supporters in the crowd, video footage showed. Imamoglu cut short his speech and left the scene in the bus. “We are leaving for your safety,” Imamoglu told his supporters, adding that he would file a criminal complaint against the Erzurum governor and police chief for allowing the violence. Footage showed at least one person wounded in the face. “Erzurum’s governor called and told me that seven people were wounded. I spoke to nine wounded people at this time,” he later said in a tweet. In the 2018 presidential election Erdogan won 72% of votes in Erzurum. (Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever; Editing by Susan Fenton) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Tan France is feeling “stressed and nervous” about the imminent arrival of his second child. The ‘Queer Eye’ star and his husband Rob are expecting baby number two via surrogate over the summer but the 40-year-old TV star has admitted he doesn’t feel organised ahead of the birth. He told PEOPLE: “[I am] very excited [but also] stressed and very nervous about it. We’re only a few months away. I’m not prepared. The only thing I’m prepared for is knowing that it’s going to be difficult.” The couple are already parents to son 21-month-old son Ismail and Tan says the tot is “going to get the shock of his life in a few months” when his sibling arrives. He added: “All he knows is that he’s obsessed with monster trucks and cars. That’s all he knows. He doesn’t want to know anything else.” Tan went on to reveal the couple have picked out a name for the new baby – and it’s one he’s been thinking about using for more than a decade. He explained: “I always knew these two names that I loved the most. And so thankfully, Rob loves them also. We’re on track to call our baby this name.” Tan and Rob confirmed their happy news about baby number two last month – revealing their second child will arrive almost exactly two years after Ismail arrived in August 2021. The couple confirmed they found out about the pregnancy over the Christmas holidays, adding to PEOPLE: “We were over the moon. It was the best feeling ever. I mean, it felt almost as shocking as the first time. I was overjoyed, in tears, I couldn’t believe that it had finally happened again. It was just the most incredible feeling.” View the full article

Published by Knewz Anheuser-Busch, already embattled, is facing even more controversy as members of the LGBTQIA+ community are boycotting it. The 2Bears Tavern Group in Chicago, which owns four outlets around the city, has released a statement announcing that they will not stock Anheuser-Busch merchandise. In their public statement, they noted that their decision was based on the beer giant’s “abandonment of Dylan Mulvaney”, the company’s “reprehensible and divisive” remarks, and the fact that they sacked at least two marketing employees who were involved with the Mulvaney campaign. The statement refers to comme… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Keanu Reeves has aged like a fine wine over the span of his career! The Constantine actor has been through his fair share of struggles throughout his decades in Hollywood, but he’s always managed to maintain his charm! Besides his impressive work in film, Reeves has always kept his reputation as such a nice guy and a true romantic — especially when it comes to longtime girlfriend Alexandra Grant. When asked what his last moment of bliss was, the 58-year-old gushed, “A couple of days ago with my honey.” “We were in bed. We were connected. We were smiling and laughing and giggling. Feeling great,” he said of the special moment with his longtime friend turned lover. “It was just really nice to be together.” According to insiders, Reeves has been so taken with the visual artist that he’s been on the verge of asking her to marry him for a while now. “He has the ring and the proposal speech all ready, but just can’t follow through,” an insider claimed earlier this year. “He also worries about jinxing something that’s already so perfect.” “It’s been so much fun hanging out because she’s so cool and intellectual. Sheconstantly astounds him,” the source continued. “Alexandra thinks the world of him. They’ve been inseparable these past few years. She’s accompanied him on his shoots, including Berlin for The Matrix 4, and she’s been a tireless supporter of his other endeavors, like his writing and music.” “It’s really all in his head,” the insider said of his nerves about the proposal. “No one but Keanu really thinks she’ll say no. He just needs to build up his confidence — and shake those jitters.” Scroll through the gallery to see Reeves’ most handsome moments throughout the years. 1997mega A young Reeves smoldered for the cameras at a press event in 1997. Unkempt Keanu Reeves Checks Out Hollywood Guitar Shop as He Continues to Ignore Matthew Perry Drama Cops Called to Keanu Reeves’ Home to do Welfare Check on Mysterious Woman Keanu Reeves & Girlfriend Alexandra Grant Talking About Tying the Knot, Insider Says: ‘He Deserves a Happy Ending!’ keanu 1998mega The multi-talented star concentrated while playing the guitar in 1998. keanu 2005mega Reeves looked clean shaven as he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005. keanu 2009mega The Matrix actor kept warn in a gray scarf and matching blazer while stepping out in 2009. keanu 2023mega Reeves stepped out looking dapper at the John Wick Chapter 4 premiere in 2023. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Michael Shannon “feels for” ‘The Flash’ co-star Ezra Miller. The 48-year-old actor has reprised his role as DC’s villainous General Zod Andy Muschietti ‘The Flash’, which stars Ezra, who was arrested multiple times last year, as the titular character. When asked about the controversy surrounding the movie, Michael told Vanity Fair: “If you’re talking about Ezra [Miller], I thought Ezra was lovely — very kind to me when I was there. It’s difficult to talk about, but I always give people a lot of slack in this business, because there’s a lot of people in this business that have issues. And some people have more privacy than others. “Any time somebody is out in the spotlight getting picked on, I feel for them. Even if it’s warranted, it’s still a horrible situation.” Michael also revealed that he didn’t spent too much time filming the upcoming movie. He said: “‘Flash’, I was in and out of there in a couple of weeks. But I hear there’s been some – I’ve got to admit, I’m not looking at the trades every morning, keeping my finger on the pulse of things, but I know there’s been some issues. It seems like they’re ready to let it out.” Miller, who goes by they/them pronouns, has previously been hit with allegations of grooming after the parents of Native American activist Tokota Iron Eyes, 18, filed a protection order against the actor. Miller was also arrested twice in Hawaii in March last year and charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree assault. They were accused of shouting and swearing at customers as they sang karaoke at a bar, as well as grabbing a microphone from a 23-year-old woman. Miller pleaded no contest to one count of disorderly conduct and paid a $500 fine over the incident. A married couple also took out a restraining order against them after Miller burst into their bedroom and threatened to kill them then left, stealing her passport and his wallet. And in April 2022 the star was accused of throwing a chair at a 26-year-old woman and hitting her at a private party. A video of Miller appearing to choke a woman at a bar in Reykjavik, Iceland, also surfaced in April 2020, but did not result in any charges. Last year, Miller announced that they were seeking treatment for “complex mental health issues”, saying in a statement: “Having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, I now understand that I am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Renowned comedian and actor John Cleese sparked backlash on social media yesterday after tweeting a comparison between the newly-crowned King Charles and former president Donald Trump, RadarOnline.com has learned. mega Cleese posted a tweet early Saturday morning that read: “The pledge of allegiance idea would certainly please Donald Trump. But, since we no longer live in a feudal society, our pledge of allegiance should be to the Rule of Law, not to an individual.” mega The post was met with a mixed response, with some people agreeing with Cleese’s sentiments while others were quick to criticize the comparison. “Relax,” one user wrote. “The pledge is a pledge to the King only in his capacity as a proxy for the rule of law and this system of democracy. It’s not a pledge to an individual.” Another Twitter replied, “You’re the one introducing Trump into the conversation, John. Respectfully, maybe you should consider if you’re a little too focused on him.” Snubbed: Prince Harry Seated Several Rows Behind Brother Prince William During King Charles’ Royal Coronation First Lady Jill Biden Mocked for Horrible Seating Placement at King Charles’ Coronation: ‘Back by the Toilets’ Revealed: King Charles III’s Coronation Will Cost Millions Despite Being a ‘Smaller, Less Expensive’ Ceremony mega Although the Monty Python comedian has been a vocal critic of Trump in the past and is known for using his platform to voice his opinions on politics and current affairs, other Twitter users criticized him for using the Coronation to air his views on US politics. mega The comparison between the former President and the new King was likely meant to stir the pot, with many people seeing the two figures as diametrically opposed in terms of their politics and personality. While Trump is notorious for his inflammatory rhetoric and divisive policies, King Charles is seen by many in the UK as a more moderate figure who is likely to take a more measured approach to his role as Monarch. This isn’t the first time Cleese took aim at the royal family. The 83-year-old actor has turned down several honors offered to him over the years, calling the late Queen Elizabeth and her family “silly” after declining a life peerage for political services in 1999. More recently, he took a potshot at King Charles after “evicting” Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from Frogmore Cottage and allegedly offering it to his brother, Prince Andrew. The Flying Circus star tweeted: “Surprising that the Royal Frogmore Cottage is being converted into a holding facility for people accused of sex offenses.” Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kesha is “sick of pretending everything is all good”. The 36-year-old singer / songwriter – who sued music producer Lukasz Gottwald in 2014 in a bid to get out of her recording contracts after accusing him of sexual assault and battery, while he subsequently filed a countersuit for defamation – admitted that there are days when she struggles and she doesn’t want to fake being fine. She told The Guardian newspaper: “Sometimes I’m incredibly happy, and then sometimes I have panic attacks. That’s the truth. I’ve been so sick of pretending everything is all good.” Gottwald’s – who is also known as Dr. Luke – long-running defamation lawsuit against Kesha will go to trial in July and she admitted that there is a “lot of fear” about the future. She said: “I have a big year coming up. There’s a lot of fear. Happiness is always going to be my goal and something I’m working towards. I have a beautiful family and a bunch of gorgeous cats, and that makes me happy. I have wonderful friends. But I’m in a lot of emotional pain. The whole point of this [new] album is: ‘Some things are not OK, and I’ve been through some stuff that is not OK.’” Kesha worked with producer Rick Rubin on her upcoming album ‘Gag Order’ and she revealed it was an emotional experience. She said: “I would walk in every day and for approximately two hours I would cry and he would just create space. He never once asked me to stop crying, or to get it together. It just took me a minute to put a voice to these really unpleasant, embarrassing emotions. I don’t want to be seen as weak, or f***** up, or unhappy, because overall in my life … I have all the emotions.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega There’s more than what meets the eye with controversial Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as RadarOnline.com can reveal that the Republican lawmaker has a shocking past. While the governor’s political opponent Donald Trump seized the opportunity to expose DeSantis’ odd preference towards eating pudding with his fingers, DeSantis continues to surprise voters. The same former congressional colleagues, who outed DeSantis’ strange eating habits, also claimed that the Yale graduate was a socially awkward “loner” who kept to himself. mega Adding to DeSantis’ eyebrow-raising past was his stint as a young Navy lawyer at Guantanamo Bay. The governor often dodged reporters when asked about his time working for the notorious prison camp. When DeSantis served as a judge advocate general (JAG) at Guantanamo Bay, his job was ensuring that military personnel and prison guards followed the law. Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. mega Ron DeSantis’ Office Overtaken by Protestors Demanding Meeting with Florida Governor Ex-Trump Advisor Rips His Current Staff as ‘Chronically Unemployable Losers’ From the ‘Swamp’ 14 Protestors Arrested After Storming Florida Statehouse to Confront Governor Ron DeSantis As a JAG, DeSantis was tasked with investigating the gruesome death of three prisoners. They were discovered hanging in their cells, bound at the feet and hands, with their mouths gagged. Despite the state that the prisoners were found in, then-Naval officer Harry Harris claimed the prisoners killed themselves. DeSantis upheld Harris’ suicide theory and the investigation concluded after only 11 days, leaving the deaths a mystery to this day. Additionally, DeSantis was accused by a former Guantanamo prisoner of overseeing guards barbarically force-feeding him during a hunger strike in 2006, which the governor denied. mega A year before he was elected governor in 2019, DeSantis came under fire for a Facebook group he was an administrator of. DeSantis was exposed as a member of The Tea Party Facebook page. DeSantis attempted to distance himself from the page. On the campaign trail, he alleged he was added to the group without his consent, and he removed himself from the group. Making matters worse for DeSantis was that it was not the first time during his campaign for governor that he was accused of being racist. mega In August 2018, DeSantis appeared on Fox News to discuss his campaign against Democrat Andrew Gillum. He warned Florida voters to not “monkey this up.” Florida Democrats accused the future governor of using a racist dog whistle against Gillum, a Black man. The DeSantis campaign responded to allegations but failed to provide any apology. “Ron DeSantis was obviously talking about Florida not making the wrong decision to embrace the socialist policies that Andrew Gillum espouses. To characterize it as anything else is absurd,” said Stephen Lawson, then-communications director for the DeSantis campaign. View the full article

Published by Hong Kong Free Press Despite being a churchgoer, Alvin Cheung never prays. Hymns send a chill down his spine, and the last time he touched a Bible was over 10 years ago. The 38-year-old is a regular at his LGBTQ-friendly church, but avoids weekly worship meetings as he finds them triggering, a reminder of the darkest period in his life. In 2005, as a university student, he was desperate to change his sexual orientation and attended counselling sessions run by a Christian organisation that said he could be “straightened.” Over the course of a year, he attended one-to-one and small-group counselling sessions at the … Read More View the full article

Published by The Kansas City Star WASHINGTON — A day after the Kansas Legislature overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto to prohibit transgender women from participating in school sports, White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre walked to the podium in the press briefing room and said it had been one of the worst weeks for anti-LGBT laws in 2023. That same week, she said, the North Dakota Senate had passed 10 anti-LGBTQ laws in one day. In Idaho, the governor signed a bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender kids, as did the governor of Indiana. “Look, this is awful news. Let’s be very clear about that,” s… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story The May 4 conviction of former Proud Boys national chairman Henry “Enrique” Tarrio and three other leaders on charges of seditious conspiracy and dozens of others was made possible by the Proud Boys themselves. Before, during, and after the Jan. 6 insurrection that briefly stopped the congressional certification of Joe Biden as president, the Proud Boys took credit for storming of the U.S. Capitol that resulted in five deaths. Simply put, the Proud Boys thought they could get away it because … they had almost always gotten away with it. Since crashing on to the political scene in 2016 with a t… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Michael Holden, Kate Holton and Andrew MacAskill LONDON (Reuters) -King Charles III was anointed and crowned on Saturday in Britain’s biggest ceremonial event for seven decades, a display of pomp and pageantry that sought to marry 1,000 years of history with a monarchy fit for a new era. In front of a congregation including about 100 world leaders and a television audience of millions, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, slowly placed the 360-year-old St Edward’s Crown on Charles’ head as he sat upon a 14th-century throne in Westminster Abbey. During the solemn two-hour service, elements of which date back to the time of King William the Conqueror in 1066, Charles’ second wife Camilla was also crowned queen. A huge military procession followed, gun salutes were fired, thousands of soldiers roared three cheers, and there was a scaled-down flypast by military aircraft as the king and queen waved from the balcony of Buckingham Palace to cheering crowds who gathered on The Mall boulevard. While rooted in history, the ceremony – only the second British coronation to be televised – was also an attempt to present a forward-looking institution and to reflect a more diverse country. “I come not to be served but to serve,” Charles said at the start. With Britain struggling to find its way in the political maelstrom after its exit from the European Union and maintain its global standing, the monarchy’s supporters say the royal family provides an international draw, a vital diplomatic tool and a means of keeping it on the world stage. “No other country could put on such a dazzling display – the processions, the pageantry, the ceremonies, and street parties,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said. But despite Sunak’s enthusiasm, the coronation took place amid a cost of living crisis and public scepticism, particularly among the young, about the role and relevance of the monarchy. Charles, 74, automatically succeeded his mother as king of the United Kingdom and 14 other realms including Canada and Australia when Queen Elizabeth died last September. Saturday’s event was on a smaller scale than that staged for her in 1953, but still sought to be spectacular. There was an array of historical regalia from golden orbs and bejewelled swords to a sceptre holding the world’s largest colourless cut diamond. After the service, Charles and Camilla, 75, departed in the four-tonne Gold State Coach built for George III, the last king of Britain’s American colonies, to ride to Buckingham Palace in a one-mile procession of 4,000 military personnel from 39 nations. Meanwhile hundreds of soldiers in scarlet uniforms and black bearskin hats lined the route along The Mall for what was the largest ceremonial event of its kind in Britain since Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. Tens of thousands of people ignored pouring rain to mass on the streets to watch what some saw as a moment of history. “When I was a young girl, I was able to watch (the coronation of) Queen Elizabeth on television in Hartford, Connecticut, at a friend’s house because we had no TV,” said retired U.S. teacher Peggy Jane Laver, 79. “So I’m thrilled to be here for the coronation in person.” Not everyone who came to watch was there to cheer Charles, with hundreds of republicans booing and waving banners reading “Not My King”. The Republic campaign group said its leader had been arrested, among 52 people detained as part of a “significant police operation”. SACRED CEREMONY Inside the abbey, which was bedecked with flowers and flags, politicians and dignitaries from around the world such as U.S. first lady Jill Biden took their seats alongside 2,200 others from charity workers to celebrities, including actors Emma Thompson, Maggie Smith and Judi Dench and U.S. singer Katy Perry. Charles looked solemn as he swore oaths to govern justly and uphold the Church of England – of which he is the titular head. He was then hidden from watching eyes by a screen for the most sacred part of the ceremony when he was anointed on his hands, head and breast by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby with holy oil consecrated in Jerusalem. After being presented with symbolic regalia, Welby placed the St Edward’s Crown on his head and the congregation cried out “God save the King”. Gun salutes were fired at the Tower of London and across the capital, the nation, in Gibraltar, Bermuda and on ships at sea. Charles’ eldest son and heir Prince William, 40, knelt before his father to pledge his loyalty as his “liege man of life and limb”. Much of the ceremony featured elements that Charles’ forebears right back to King Edgar in 973 would recognise, officials said. Handel’s coronation anthem “Zadok The Priest” was sung as it has been at every coronation since 1727. But the service also included an anthem composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, famed for his West End and Broadway theatre shows, a gospel choir, and an “unprecedented” greeting from faith leaders. However, there was no formal role for either Charles’ younger son Prince Harry, after his high-profile falling out with his family, or his brother Prince Andrew, who was forced to quit royal duties because of his friendship with late U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. They sat in the third row behind working members of the royal family and neither appeared on the palace balcony. Camilla’s crowning sealed her rise from a position of deep unpopularity in the period after Charles’ divorced first wife, the popular, glamorous Princess Diana, died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. For the last decade, the royal family has enjoyed massive global media attention, celebrating everything from weddings, births, and significant anniversaries to mourning last year’s death of Queen Elizabeth, and now Charles’ coronation. But, no major event is likely for some years, and with polls indicating a decline in support for the monarchy, especially among the young, commentators say adapting and staying relevant is the greatest challenge to the institution. Neil Edward, 72, a retired salesman who travelled from southwest England to watch, said the experience had been a mixture of pride and nostalgia with a touch of sadness that this might be the last big royal event he attends. “Without them, I don’t know how we would come together to celebrate big events like this,” he said. (Additional reporting by Andrew MacAskill, Sarah Young, Suban Abdulla, Rachel Armstrong, Farouq Suleiman, Muvija M and Paul SandleWriting by Michael Holden and Kate HoltonEditing by Frances Kerry and Janet Lawrence) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine While commentating for CNN’s coverage of King Charles’ coronation on Saturday, May 6, Anderson Cooper made a gaffe regarding Prince George. “We haven’t seen George, but he may be somewhere else,” Anderson said, after he commented on how Prince William, 40, Kate Middleton, 41, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, had arrived at Westminster Abbey. The 55-year-old was quickly corrected by a Btitish cohost, who clarified that Prince George was already been seen completing his Page of Honor duties. “He’s holding the robes,” they told Cooper. Nick Cannon Shuts Down Vasectomy Talk After Anders… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Yellowstone macho man Kevin Costner allegedly plunged into a forbidden love affair with his leading lady Whitney Houston — just like their characters in their movie hit The Bodyguard — as his first marriage crumbled from his cheating scandal, sources told RadarOnline.com. The 67-year-old star of TV’s hottest drama admits he was a notorious skirt-chaser three decades ago leading to the 1994 divorce from his first wife, Cindy, mom of Annie, 37, Lily, 35, and Joe, 33, three of his seven kids. Their 16-year marriage collapsed just two years after he allegedly fell for 28-year-old pop megastar Whitney — on and off screen — in the 1992 blockbuster. Sources say the attraction between the two A-listers was immediate after meeting on the set of the film, which features Costner as the bodyguard of Whitney’s pop star character. In the movie, they end up sizzling in bed. “He couldn’t keep his eyes off her and went her comfortable in her first film role,” spilled a source. “The chemistry between them was immediate and powerful.” Mega Shots Fired? Kevin Costner’s ‘Yellowstone’ Costar Luke Grimes Highlights His Loving Marriage Amid Oscar Winner’s Second Divorce Kevin Costner’s Estranged Wife Must Vacate Actor’s Homes After ‘Blindsiding’ Him With Divorce Papers Due to Ironclad Prenup Kevin Costner’s Estranged Wife Christine Spotted Out Without Her Wedding Ring After ‘Blindsiding’ Him With Divorce Papers At the time, Whitney was set to wed pop star Bobby Brown and shut down her romance with Kevin when the film wrapped, spies dished. Meanwhile, womanizer Kevin — who later called the late Grammy winner “my one true love” — insisted his marriage to college sweetheart Cindy was already in tatters when he signed on for the film. It wasn’t his forbidden pining for Whitney that ended his first marriage. As RadarOnline.com reported, Costner made an $80 million mistake when his ex-wife discovered he had invited an exotic hula dancer to put on a private show for him while he filmed a movie in Hawaii. He learned from his money mishap before his second marriage, allegedly forcing Christine Baumgartner to sign a prenup before their 2004 wedding — protecting his $250 million fortune. Mega Christine filed for divorce on Monday, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their split — but RadarOnline.com was told Costner’s grueling Yellowstone schedule was a point of contention for the pair. Costner and Christine share three minor children aged 12, 14, and 15. The actor is seeking joint custody of the kids. Mega Costner’s rep confirmed the news, telling TMZ, “It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have transpired which have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in a dissolution of marriage action.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Luc Cohen, Jack Queen and Padraic Halpin NEW YORK/DOONBEG, Ireland (Reuters) -Jurors in Donald Trump’s civil rape trial on Thursday saw a video deposition in which the former U.S. president defended private comments he made in 2005 about grabbing women sexually without asking. Trump was asked by a lawyer for his accuser, the writer E. Jean Carroll, about the 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape, where he said on a hot microphone that “when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything… Grab ’em by the pussy.” “Historically, that’s true, with stars… if you look over the last million years,” Trump said in the video deposition taken last October and shown to the jury on Thursday, the seventh day of the rape trial in Manhattan federal court. The “Access Hollywood” tape was first made public in October 2016, a month before Trump was elected U.S. president. Carroll, 79, has testified that Trump, 76, raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan in the mid-1990s, and then tarred her reputation and career by lying about it online. A social media and marketing expert hired by Carroll told jurors on Thursday that the cost to repair the reputational damage of Trump’s statements could range from $368,000 to $2.8 million. Carroll is seeking unspecified damages. Trump’s lawyers rested their case on Thursday without calling any witnesses, paving the way for closing arguments on Monday after a break on Friday. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan said he would give Trump until 5 p.m. ET (2100 GMT) on Sunday to ask to reopen his case for the sole purpose of personally testifying. Trump has not been in the Manhattan courtroom so far, but on Thursday he told reporters during a trip to Ireland that he would probably attend. Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has said he could not have raped Carroll, because “she’s not my type” and has called the case politically motivated. ‘IT’S MARLA,’ TRUMP MISTAKENLY SAYS OF ACCUSER’S PHOTO In an excerpt on Thursday from the October video deposition by Carroll’s lawyer Roberta Kaplan, who is not related to Judge Kaplan, Trump also mistook Carroll for an ex-wife in a black-and-white photograph that shows him speaking to people at an event. “It’s Marla,” he said, referring to his second wife Marla Maples. When Kaplan asked him if he was saying the picture depicted Maples, Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba said, “No, that’s Carroll.” Carroll’s lawyers have argued that the episode, made public in January, undermines Trump’s argument that Carroll was not his type. In the deposition, taken last October at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump reiterated his denials of having raped Carroll, whom he called “mentally sick.” “You know it’s not true too,” Trump said, addressing Kaplan. “You’re a political operative also. You’re a disgrace.” Earlier on Thursday, during a visit to a resort he owns in southwestern Ireland, Trump dismissed what he called untrue allegations “against a rich guy.” “I have to go back for a woman that made a false accusation about me, and I have a judge who is extremely hostile,” Trump told reporters while playing golf at the Doonbeg resort. Judge Kaplan warned last week that Trump could face more legal problems if he kept discussing the case. He did not address Trump’s latest comments before trial resumed on Thursday. The trial is expected to extend into next week. Carroll, a former advice columnist at Elle magazine, said during three days of testimony and cross-examination that Trump slammed her against the wall in either 1995 or 1996, put his fingers into her vagina and then inserted his penis. Two of Carroll’s longtime friends have testified that Carroll told them about the attack shortly after it occurred and said they believed her. Two other women have also testified in support of Carroll, saying Trump sexually assaulted them in separate alleged incidents decades ago. Trump has denied those claims as well. He has accused Carroll of making up the story to drive sales of a 2019 memoir in which she made her claims public. (Reporting by Luc Cohen and Jack Queen in New York and by Padraic Halpin in Dublin; Editing by Noeleen Walder, Jonathan Oatis, Will Dunham and Howard Goller) View the full article