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Published by OK Magazine OUT TV Stormy Daniels will be back to host OUTtv’s mega hit show For the Love of DILFs after the first season was so successful, OK! can exclusively reveal. “I can’t wait to get back into DILF Mansion! I love getting to be a part of what OUTtv is doing for the queer community. I can promise season two will have a few sexy surprises,” the 43-year-old said in a statement. Philip Webb, COO of OUTtv, added: “When we began working on season one, we fell in love with the show and its joyous look at the dating reality format through a gay lens. It has been incredible to see audiences all over the world root for the couples and follow the drama and romance as it unfolds — and we can’t wait to revisit with the incredible Stormy Daniels who will return to guide the next wave of lovebirds through a second season.” OUT TV For the Love of DILFs, which is produced by the popular and rapidly growing queer production company Daddy TV, follows two groups of singles, “Daddies and “Himbos,” as they look for love. The show — which got the green light for season 2 after only three episodes out of eight have aired — has gotten accolades for featuring a diverse group of gay singles. Season 2 will start filming this summer and is slated to premiere this winter. As OK! previously reported, the actress revealed why this show immediately drew her in. “It’s a very saturated market — oh, these people live in a house, they are dating, there is prize money. All these things have been done. With this, it’s a gay version of that — and it’s with the one and only Stormy Daniels! I really got to see the challenges. I also addressed the two biggest things in the room: the check cleared [referring to how she was paid off for sleeping with Donald Trump] and lots of hot men were going to be oiled up, but what I failed to take into consideration is that none of them would be interested in me,” Daniels, who is married to Barrett Blade, shared. Who Is Stormy Daniels’ Husband Barrett Blade? Get To Know The Guy She Calls ‘The Most Amazing Man I’ve Ever Met’ Stormy Daniels Declares She’s Having An ‘Incredible’ Day After Donald Trump Confesses To Allegedly Having An Affair With Her Stormy Daniels Thanks Donald Trump For ‘Telling The Truth About Everything’ As He States Alleged Affair ‘Happened A Long Time Ago’ OUT TV “I was there all week and no one tried to stick anything in me,” she quipped. “But on a serious note, the things that made this one different and struck a chord is yes, it’s the first show showcasing gay men and does so in a way that isn’t just the stereotypical one dimension version that a lot of people have of gay men. I can identify with that from being a porn star where people just see big boobs and blonde hair — that one character. I am that, obviously, but I am more than that. A lot of people are not familiar with accepting gay people or trans people, who are also human beings.” OUT TV 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! OUTtv has opened up casting for season 2, and they’re looking for a new batch of sexy Himbos and Daddies from ALL backgrounds, body types and walks of life. US applicants: https://casting.outtv.ca/ftlodilfs/ Worldwide applicants: https://casting.outtv.ca/ftlodilfs-world/ View the full article

Published by Raw Story Joe Staysniak, a former player for the Indianapolis Colts, has been arrested for assaulting his son and his son’s boyfriend, reported CBS News on Thursday. “The 56-year-old Staysniak, who played for the Indianapolis Colts from 1992 to 1995 and on several other NFL teams, has been charged with one count of strangulation and two counts of battery resulting in bodily injury, according to court records,” reported Caitlin O’Kane. “A man told police he had been sitting in a car with Staysniak’s son, his boyfriend, near Staysniak’s home,” said the report. “He said Joe Staysniak had come up to the car… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Shania Twain takes fashion and beauty tips from drag queens’ online tutorials. The ‘Man! I Feel Like a Woman!’ singer, 57, has been a long-time ally of the LGBTQ+ community, and revealed how she finds inspiration from drag acts in an interview with Anthony Allen Ramos from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), posted on Thursday (23.02.23) to YouTube. She said: “Drag shows are so fun! I’ve been to a couple of drag shows, big ones in Las Vegas… I so admire the talent there. “First of all, it takes a lot of courage. I mean… fashion in itself takes courage. “You’re taking on a lot, and then the makeup – the ability to put their own make-up on, and do such a beautiful job – I have learned a lot from drag queens. “I watch their tutorials. I’ve never seen such transformation in some of these talents that their faces go through, just through creative makeup. “I’m very inspired by it, is what I would say. I think we need this inspiration. “We need drag queens to share their talent with us.” Shania’s iconic looks have included the leopard-print hood she wore in the 1990s music video for her ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much’ hit, with the singer crediting designer Marc Bouwer with the idea for the look. Speaking about how she is getting ready to kick off her highly-anticipated world tour in support of her newly-released ‘Queen of Me’ album, and her new single ‘Giddy Up!’, she added: “I just wanna be cheerful. I wanna cheer myself up, I wanna cheer others up and just get some pep in our step… just this feeling of feeling giddy.” View the full article

Published by AlterNet Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg’s response to Donald Trump’s refusal to accept any responsibility for the impact his massive deregulations have had went viral on Thursday as video of him encouraging the ex-president to support the Biden administration’s efforts went viral. During his visit to the scene of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio on Thursday, a reporter asked Secretary Buttigieg, “You mentioned the national political figures decided to get involved, it sounds like you’re talking about Trump. And then you said, ‘I need your help.’ How can he help?… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Donald Trump Jr. lashed out at Pete Buttigieg recently, as he’s angered he didn’t visit the site of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. mega “You know, Pete has no business in that position,” the 45-year-old told Newsmax’s Carl Higbie. “But, you know, he’s the guy who had no business running for president but they let him do that cause he’s gay and they check off a box and then he didn’t win, so [they said] ‘he’s the gay guy, so we gotta give him something, let’s make him transportation secretary.’ His failure after failure after failure is truly affecting the American people.” “Plus the time he spent chest-feeding while we were in the midst of a supply chain crisis,” Junior added, referring to Buttigieg taking paternity leave in 2021. Of course, users couldn’t believe how harsh Trump Jr.’s remarks were. One person wrote, “Don Jr is a horrible human and a total oxygen thief,” while another said, “Jr. calls Sec. Pete unqualified for his job! His old man wasn’t qualified to live in Whitehouse, & wasn’t qualified to be commander in chief of our military! His old man committed TREASON against the country he swore an oath to protect! Sis &hubby were unqualified to be advisers.” A third person said, “Pete is more of a man than Don Jr will ever be,” while another added, “Hateful hateful man.” Donald Trump Jr. Backs Daddy Don After He Demands President Joe Biden Undergo A ‘FULL Mental Competency Test’ Trump Train: Donald Trump Jr. Joins Dad Donald On Ohio Trip While Slamming Pete Buttigieg & Joe Biden’s Lack Of Leadership Donald Trump Jr. Shows What ‘Real Leadership Looks Like’ As Daddy Don Visits Site Of Ohio Train Derailment: Photos As OK! previously reported, Trump Jr. and his father, Donald Trump, visited the Midwest, where he spoke to the residents about what they’ve been going through. “What actually leadership looks like. Joes not worried about it and mayor __Pete [Buttigieg]__ our issues trip us transportation sect is taking some personal time it seems as he still hasn’t bothered to get there 19 days later,” the 45-year-old captioned several photos of his father talking to others after making a speech. mega 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! While on the private jet, Trump Jr. made it clear that he is not happy with the Biden administration. “Since our ‘leaders’ refuse to lead someone has to step up and fill that void. Just boarded Trump force one with DJT to head to East Palestine, Ohio. Seems we’re finally forcing our government bureaucrats into action. Maybe they’ll worry about the American people for once rather than giving away your taxpayer dollars ($130,000,000,000.00 worth) to corrupt officials in Ukraine to get us into yet another never ending war,” he captioned a video clip. View the full article

Published by New York Daily News Donald Trump Jr. went on a homophobic rant against Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg during an appearance on a far-right cable news network Wednesday night. The eldest son of former President Donald Trump was a guest on Newsmax’s “Prime News,” where he was asked to comment on President Joe Biden’s handling of the derailment of a train carrying hazardous substances in Ohio earlier this month. Shortly after saying “Joe doesn’t give a crap” and “couldn’t care less” about East Palestine, Ohio, he set his sights on Buttigieg’s qualifications for his cabinet position. Despite Buttigieg’s impre… Read More View the full article

Take a trip with new podcast gay key west uncovered. Photo: towleroad. Com Take a trip to one of the last great gay destinations with a new podcast from Towleroad. Gay Key West Uncovered is a six-part miniseries hosted by writer, comedian and professional homosexual Bobby Hankinson. Join us as we explore why Key West offers a wild, wonderful, unapologetically queer travel experience like no other. Learn about the island’s unique history, nightlife, restaurants, artists and more straight from the people who make it so special. Well … maybe not too straight. Of course we’re doing it all through our own wild, wonderful, unapologetically queer lens, so expect to hear some things you might not see on TripAdvisor, like where to find a bottom-friendly dessert or what it’s really like at a male-exclusive, clothing-optional resort. In our premiere episode, we speak with local experts and icons about how Key West’s history and culture created an enduring destination for artists, creatives and the LGBTQ+ community. You’ll hear from cabaret sensation Christopher Peterson, Mayor Teri Johnston (the first openly-lesbian mayor elected in Florida), and drag divas Kylie Jean Lucille and Pudin Taine. Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, Stitcher and more. Gay Key West Uncovered is produced by Towleroad.com and sponsored by Key West. Learn more about gay Key West and book your trip today. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Pink may idolize Madonna — but the feeling doesn’t appear to be mutual. The “Raise Your Glass” singer told Howard Stern during a Wednesday, February 22, appearance on The Howard Stern Show that despite being one of the Queen of Pop’s biggest fans, Madonna has not acted very fond of her in the past. mega “Some people just don’t like me,” Pink joked with the shock jock when asked about her interactions with the “Hung Up” vocalist. “I’m a polarizing individual.” “F**k, I loved her,” the chart-topping artist continued before recalling what happened when they were both guests on Live with Regis & Kelly in November 2003. @madonna/instagram Celeb Couples Who Rekindled Their Romance After Teetering On The Brink Of Divorce: Photos Pink Shuts Down Rumors She Used To Pick On Fellow Pop Star Britney Spears: ‘I’m Very Protective Of Her’ Pink’s 11-Year-Old Daughter Working Minimum Wage Job On Her New Stadium Tour “She tried to kind of play me on Regis and Kelly, and I’m not the one, so [it] didn’t work out,” Pink told Stern. “It’s just such a silly story. I f**king love Madonna, and I love her no matter what. I still love her no matter what. She was such an inspiration to me, but it sort of got twisted around that I was, like, fangirling and was dying to meet Madonna when in actuality she invited me into her dressing room.” “And so I just said a joke when __Regis [Philbin]__ brought me out and said, ‘I heard you were just falling over yourself backstage. How does it feel?’ I’m like, ‘I thought she wanted to meet me,’” she continued. mega “It didn’t work out. It didn’t work out for us,” the “Try” musician noted of the encounter with the controversial artist. “Madonna took the joke personally.” Despite the “Material Girl” not being a fan of Pink now, the mother-of-two recently spilled that the music legend originally wanted her to be a part of her Britney Spears’ iconic kiss at the MTV Video Music Awards in August 2003. 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! “I think we all were [invited],” Pink spilled during a radio interview with KTU 103.5 after Jennifer Lopez also claimed she was supposed to be part of the performance. “I think Madonna wanted to kiss all of us. I was in Costa Rica at the time, having all kinds of fun with my boyfriend [now husband], Carey Hart. Gwen Stefani was also invited, I remember. It was a bunch of us.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Brendan O’Brien CHICAGO (Reuters) -Grammy-winning R&B artist R. Kelly was sentenced on Thursday to one year in prison after his conviction in Chicago on federal child pornography and enticement charges, local media reported. Kelly was convicted in September of felony sexual exploitation of a child, enticement of a female and possession of material containing child pornography. Judge Harry Leinenweber of the U.S. District Court for Northern Illinois ordered the sentence to run consecutively with the 30-year sentence Kelly received last year on a previous federal conviction in New York, the Chicago Sun Times reported in a tweet. In that case, Kelly was convicted of multiple felonies including illegal sex with minors and sexual exploitation of minors. In the federal case in Illinois, prosecutors argued that the singer was so incorrigible that “the only way to ensure Kelly does not re-offend is to impose a sentence that will keep him in prison for the rest of his life.” They want to add another 25 years to his existing 30-year sentence. Defense attorneys said Kelly, a 56-year-old African American man who suffers from diabetes, was already facing an effective life sentence with the 30-year term. They acknowledged that the judge must impose a sentence of 10 years, but contended that it should run concurrently. They also questioned why federal prosecutors have dedicated so many resources to prosecuting a Black artist when many of the biggest white stars in rock ‘n’ roll history have been accused of abusing underage girls and “none have been prosecuted and none will die in prison.” Defense lawyer Jennifer Bonjean alleged a double standard for a Black artist, naming 11 white rock stars in her sentencing memo who have been accused of abusing underage girls and gone unpunished. Kelly did not address the judge because he still faced prosecution in other jurisdictions and any statement could be used against him, Bonjean said. (Additional reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Richard Chang and Mark Porter) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English A David Bowie archive encompassing more than 80,000 items is to be made available to the public for the very first time. The late pop icon – who died in 2016 at the age of 69 following a battle with liver cancer – will be immortalised through the creation of The David Bowie Centre for the Study of Performing Arts at V+A East Storehouse, in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from 2025. Dr Tristram Hunt, Director of the V+A, said in a statement: “David Bowie was one of the greatest musicians and performers of all time. The V+A is thrilled to become custodians of his incredible archive, and to be able to open it up for the public. Bowie’s radical innovations across music, theatre, film, fashion, and style – from Berlin to Tokyo to London – continue to influence design and visual culture and inspire creatives from Janelle Monáe to Lady Gaga to Tilda Swinton and Raf Simons. Our new collections centre, V+A East Storehouse, is the ideal place to put Bowie’s work in dialogue with the V+A’s collection spanning 5,000 years of art, design, and performance. My deepest thanks go to the David Bowie Estate, Blavatnik Family Foundation and Warner Music Group for helping make this a reality and for providing a new sourcebook for the Bowies of tomorrow!” The archive will span the entirety of the ‘Life On Mars’ hitmaker’s career, handwritten lyrics, letters, sheet music, original costumes, fashion, photography, film, music videos, set designs as well as the legendary musician’s own instruments. A spokesperson from the David Bowie Estate, said: “With David’s life’s work becoming part of the UK’s national collections, he takes his rightful place amongst many other cultural icons and artistic geniuses. The David Bowie Centre for the Study of Performance – and the behind the scenes access that V+A East Storehouse offers– will mean David’s work can be shared with the public in ways that haven’t been possible before, and we’re so pleased to be working closely with the V+A to continue to commemorate David’s enduring cultural influence.” View the full article

Published by Reuters UK By Maggie Fick LONDON (Reuters) – British drugmaker GSK’s HIV treatment division, ViiV Healthcare, published data on Wednesday showing its long-acting HIV injection is as effective as the market-leading daily pill made by Gilead Sciences Inc. GSK’s ViiV ran the so-called “head to-head” clinical study on its own injection Cabenuva, which is given every two months, and Gilead’s Biktarvy, an oral pill taken daily. Analysts and investors are paying close attention to the future of GSK’s HIV business as patents for treatments containing its core HIV compound, dolutegravir, begin to expire in 2028. … Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story A new report from The Daily Beast is raising questions about an unusual arrangement for personal security between Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and a company owned by the sister of Tulsi Gabbard. According to the report, Sinema’s campaign finance committees have forked over more than $300,000 to a company called TOA Group LLC whose sole executive is Vrindivan Gabbard Bellord, the sister of the former Hawaii Democratic congresswoman who has since become a far-right Fox News contributor. “Since fall 2021, Bellord has been employed as the ‘security director’ in Sinema’s Senate office, a role that ha… Read More View the full article

Published by The Mercury News SAN JOSE, Calif. — A California state senator has introduced legislation that, if passed, would require all K-12 schools in the state to have at least one gender-neutral restroom — the first bill of its kind in the nation. “It’s hard enough to be questioning your gender or sexuality at that age. But to not be able to use the bathroom without some combination of anxiety, stigma, shame, bullying? That’s just a terrible place to put kids,” said Sen. Josh Newman, a Fullerton Democrat, who is also chair of the Senate Committee on Education. Introduction of the bill, SB 760, comes just days after a … Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Adam Lambert felt “ashamed” of who he was when photos of him kissing a man leaked online. The ‘If I Had You’ hitmaker shot to fame when he appeared on ‘American Idol’ in 2008 and though at the time, he had came out as gay to his friends and family eight years beforehand, he didn’t discuss his sexuality on the show, but recalled the backlash he received when pictures of him with another guy were made public two months before the finale. He said: “I was very comfortable and secure with who I was. “It was never a secret. During the live broadcast, there was no one asking me what my sexual preference was, and we weren’t allowed to do interviews during the show back then because they wanted to keep everyone on a level playing field.” Adam admitted the backlash over the photos made him feel “ashamed” of who he was for the first time. He added to People magazine: “It was like I was going backwards in some ways.” But the ‘Whataya Want from Me’ singer ultimately came out “stronger”. He said: “It made me stronger and informed the kind of art that I wanted to make.” The 41-year-old singer also hit out at the double standards he faced, with ABC receiving 1,500 telephoned complaints after he kissed his male bassist during the American Music Awards, resulting in the network cancelling his appearances on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ and ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’. He said: “I remember doing an interview shortly after the show and them blurring my mouth as they replayed the clip. “But they showed Madonna and Britney Spears kissing [on the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards] without any censor. It was such a double standard.” These days, Adam – who is in a relationship with 27-year-old Oliver Gliese – is “proud” to see singers such as Lil Nas X and Sam Smith embracing who they are. He said: “No matter what size or gender or sexuality you are, there is space for you. “If you’re getting people talking, you’re winning on some level.” View the full article

Published by Raw Story A spokesman for Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has announced that the governor will be “boycotting” NBC and MSNBC, over remarks that Andrea Mitchell made about his education policy during an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, according to The Daily Beast. “‘This will be the standard response from our office until @mitchellreports apologizes and your track record improves,’ DeSantis’ Press Secretary Bryan Griffin tweeted Wednesday, urging others to pass his message along,” reported Matt Young. However, Young noted, this is unlikely to mean much in practice because “DeSantis has never been a… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Raven-Symoné is to receive the Icon Award at the upcoming Truth Awards for her commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. The 36-year-old actress – who has been married to Miranda Maday since 2020 – will be honoured at the ninth annual Truth Awards on March 18 for her “persistent presence” in family entertainment in shows like ‘That’s So Raven’ and the ‘Raven’s Home’ reboot as she “raises the visibility of LGBTQ community.” In a statement, founder Sheryl Lee Ralph said: “The Truth Awards, along with our acceptance and understanding of the LGBTQ+ community, will encourage, inspire and motivate others to live their truth unapologetically. “It’s important that we focus on supporting our brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ+ community as they continue to fight for equality. Our public acknowledgment and partnership make it possible for them to live out loud and openly for the world to see.” The ceremony will stream exclusively on Fox Soul next month and will feature a wealth of other famous faces as hosts, including the likes of ‘Pose’ actress Angelica Ross, talk show star and Cocktails With Queens‘ host Claudia Jordan. The former ‘Cosby Show’ star previously admitted that there was “no need” for her psychic alter ego Raven Baxter to be made into a lesbian when Disney was rebooting the series in 2016 because she and her character are two different people. She said: “There was a conversation before the series started and I was asked the question, ‘Would you like Raven Baxter to be a lesbian?’ And I said, no. I said no. The reason I said no wasn’t because I wasn’t proud of who I was, or I didn’t want to represent the LGBTQ+ community in any way. “It was because Raven Baxter is Raven Baxter is Raven Baxter. There was no reason for me to change the human that she was in order to fit the actress that played her. And Raven Baxter is a character that I was proud to play, even if she is straight, cisgender, I don’t mind. Let her have her moment View the full article

Published by AlterNet U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg Thursday traveled to East Palestine, Ohio, to visit the scene of the Norfolk Southern train derailment. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg Thursday traveled to East Palestine, Ohio, to visit the scene of the Norfolk Southern train derailment. The attacks in recent months against Secretary Buttigieg by Republicans and right-wing media figures have been almost relentless. Within hours of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) inspectors arrived at the scene. Also withi… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA Artworks at the side of the road help drivers to think more and thereby drive slower and more carefully, researchers in Germany have found. Philipp Schulze/dpa Scientists have found that setting up sculptures alongside the road can slow drivers down, potentially making for safer and more liveable towns. Researchers placed brightly coloured works of art near two German communities and then measured the effect these had on drivers. Speeding drivers drove more slowly, they found, observing traffic activity in Amelinghausen and Ottersberg, in northern Germany. The works of art encouraged motorists to think. They attracted drivers’ attention, but did not pose a threat to road safety, the scientists say, based on an assessment of resident surveys, traffic measurements and recording drivers’ eye movements. After the first sculptures were installed in Ottersberg, the number of speeding violations – faster than 50 kilometres per hour – decreased by up to 24%. “It had an effect, but art alone doesn’t change everything,” says Rainer Höger, a professor of industrial psychology specializing in mobility at Germany’s University Lüneburg. He is now calling for sculptures to be erected in combination with further infrastructural measures to calm traffic. “As a major result of the project, it was found that artistic installations at the roadside can lower inner-city speed levels substantially in some cases, but the exact extent depends on inner-city characteristics,” says the team from Ottersberg University of Applied Sciences, TU Hamburg and Leuphana University of Lüneburg. Drivers did not slow down right away after passing the first sculptures. Given that, the scientists recommend placing art works at the approach of some towns, or near to the entrance signs, to benefit from the slowing effect. But that could be tricky in some places if there are traffic regulations that ban the placing of objects directly at roadsides outside built-up areas. “It would be worth considering whether the rigid legal requirements could be relaxed, perhaps with an exemption, to initiate a speed reduction in the approach to a town by means of appropriate art installations,” the researchers suggest. Art installations only change part of the local atmosphere, the experiment concludes. To permanently slow down speeding drivers, further changes are needed to the townscape, alongside speed limits. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Bette Midler turned down the chance to star in ‘Sister Act’ because she didn’t want to wear a nun costume. The 77-year-old star was offered the chance to feature in the 1992 comedy film as Deloris Van Cartier but rejected the movie as she was “afraid” of wearing the habit. Bette told Variety: “I turned them down. They came to me with ‘Sister Act’ and I said, ‘My fans don’t want to see me in a wimple.’ Can you believe that? How off the wall is that? How crazy is that? “(Walt Disney Studios boss) Jeffrey Katzenberg called me every day, ‘Please, please.’ I stood my ground because I was really afraid of the costume. Isn’t that amazing? I can wear anything but a nun’s habit?” The lead role ultimately went to Whoopi Goldberg and Bette praised her performance in the movie, which proved to be a big success. The actress and singer said: “Whoopi wore it all the way to the bank. So God bless her. And she was perfect for it.” Despite her distaste for the nun’s habit, Bette has been happy to wear a number of outrageous costumes during her prolific screen career. The ‘First Wives Club’ star said: “I’ve worn them all. I have been an old lady, a young lady, a witch, a mermaid, a showgirl, a stripper, a bad lounge singer. I’ve run the gamut. And I have to say, it’s been a blast.” Bette also had the chance to play the antagonist Annie Wilkes in the classic horror film ‘Misery’ but turned down the part – which was taken by Kathy Bates – as it was “too violent”. She explained: “I just couldn’t. It was too violent. “The character was so not funny, so without any qualities of redemption. She cut off his foot. Come on. Who does that?” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Guy Faulconbridge and Nandita Bose MOSCOW/WARSAW (Reuters) -China pledged to deepen cooperation with Russia on Wednesday while U.S. President Joe Biden discussed security with leaders of NATO’s eastern flank, highlighting geopolitical tensions as the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches. Within Ukraine, schools took their classes online for the rest of the week for fear of an upsurge of Russian missile attacks a year on from Moscow’s Feb. 24 all-out assault, which failed to topple the government and has long been bogged down. Making the highest level visit to Russia by a Chinese official since the countries signed a “no limits” partnership weeks before the invasion, China’s top diplomat Wang Li told President Vladimir Putin that Beijing was ready to enhance ties. A time of crisis required Russia and China “to continuously deepen our comprehensive strategic partnership”, Wang said. Putin said he was looking forward to a visit to Moscow by Chinese President Xi Jinping and a deeper partnership. Xi is expected to make a “peace speech” on Friday. Kyiv says there can be no talk of peace with Russian troops in Ukraine. “This unprovoked and criminal Russian war against Ukraine, Europe and the democratic world must end with the cleansing of the entire Ukrainian land from Russian occupation and solid guarantees of the long-term security for our state, the whole of Europe and the entire world,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Russia is due to begin military exercises with China in South Africa on Friday and has sent a frigate equipped with new generation hypersonic cruise missiles. A Russian officer said on Wednesday Russia would fire artillery, but not the missiles, whose speed makes them difficult to shoot down. Russian aggression in Ukraine has changed the security situation in Europe, Polish President Andrzej Duda told the Warsaw meeting of the Bucharest 9 countries with Biden, who said Washington was committed to defending every inch of NATO. “You are the front line of our collective defence,” Biden told the summit of countries which joined the Western military alliance after being dominated by Moscow during the Cold War. Most are among the strongest supporters of military aid to Ukraine, and officials from countries in the group have said they will seek extra resources such as air defence systems. NUCLEAR TREATY SUSPENDED Putin has responded to the lack of progress in Ukraine with veiled threats to use nuclear weapons and suspended a nuclear arms control treaty on Tuesday, accusing Washington of turning the war into a global conflict by arming Ukraine. Russia’s foreign and defence ministries said later Moscow would continue abiding by the restrictions outlined in New Start (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) on the number of nuclear warheads it could have deployed and the number of nuclear missile carriers. Russia’s lower house of parliament rubber-stamped the suspension of the treaty on Wednesday. Tension over Ukraine had already halted inspections under the treaty, which calls for the United States and Russia to let each other check their nuclear arsenals. Biden said however that by suspending the treaty, Putin had “made a mistake”. He underlined his support for Kyiv in a surprise visit to war-torn Ukraine on Monday and then rallied NATO allies in Poland, saying the invasion had tested the world but Washington and its allies had shown they would defend democracy. He rejected Russia’s assertion that Western allies were seeking to control or destroy Russia, and accused Moscow of crimes against humanity such as targeting civilians and rape. Russia denies committing war crimes or targeting civilians. NATO allies and other supporters have sent Ukraine tens of billions of dollars worth of arms and ammunition. Since the new year they have promised modern battle tanks, though they have yet to offer Western fighter jets sought by Kyiv. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned Beijing against supplying weapons to Moscow, prompting anger from China. FIGHTING Russia suffered three major battlefield reverses in Ukraine last year but still controls nearly a fifth of the country. It has launched a massive offensive in recent weeks in eastern provinces, so far making only marginal gains despite some of the heaviest losses of the war. Ukraine’s military said Bakhmut city, the focus of Russian advances in the eastern region of Donetsk, came under shelling, along with 20 other settlements in the area. The governor of the neighbouring Luhansk region said Ukraine had repelled intense Russian attacks around the town of Kreminna further north, destroying several of their tanks. “The breakthrough failed, the situation stabilized,” Serhiy Haidai said on Ukrainian television. Two civilians were wounded in a Russian missile strike on Wednesday on industrial facilities in Kharkhiv, the biggest city in eastern Ukraine, local officials said. Reuters was not able to independently verify the reports. The biggest land war in Europe since World War Two has displaced millions, left cities, towns and villages in ruins and disrupted the global economy. The U.N. rights office has recorded more than 8,000 civilians killed, a figure it describes as the “tip of the iceberg”. (Additional reporting by Pavel Polityuk, Alan Charlish and Reuters bureaux; writing by Grant McCool and Philippa Fletcher; Editing by David Gregorio, Michael Perry, Peter Graff, William Maclean) View the full article

Published by DPA "Fat," "crazy," "ugly" and "black" are among the words being removed from books by Roald Dahl. The controversial move comes as Netflix prepares to turn the cult British author's works into video content. Jens Kalaene/dpa New editions of classic 20th century children’s books by British author Roald Dahl — such as “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “James and the Giant Peach,” “Matilda,” “The Witches” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox” — have been edited and rewritten to remove language seen as offensive or potentially insensitive to modern-day sensibilities. After comparing new editions published by Puffin to previous versions of Dahl’s classics, the British newspaper The Telegraph found that the new versions removed or rewrote passages describing characters as “fat,” “crazy,” “ugly,” and “black.” Some references to ethnicities have been removed or adjusted — “Eskimos” are now described as Inuit — and gender-neutral terms like “children” and “parents” have replaced some references to “boys and girls” and “mothers and fathers.” The Telegraph cited before-and-after examples, including from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” An older edition of the book described one character like this: “The man behind the counter looked fat and well-fed. He had big lips and fat cheeks and a very fat neck.” In the newest edition, these sentences were removed entirely. Other sentences referencing fatness were also removed, such as “The fat around his neck bulged out all around the top of his collar like a rubber ring”; “Who’s the big fat boy?”; and “Enormous, isn’t he?” Many edits are more subtle: “The fat shopkeeper shouted” became “the shopkeeper shouted,” and “the fat shopkeeper said” became “the shopkeeper said.” Some Twitter users attacked the latest updates to Dahl’s books as “woke” and pointless. “The thing that annoys me about the Roald Dahl changes is how stupid they are,” tweeted Daily Telegraph arts and entertainment editor Anita Singh. “A ban on the word ‘fat’ yet keeping in the rest of the description in which Augustus Gloop is clearly fat.” Dahl, one of the most popular children’s authors of the 20th century, died in 1990 at the age of 74, and in 2021, the streaming service Netflix acquired the Roald Dahl Story Co., which manages the rights to the author’s characters and stories, and which had already begun reviewing Dahl’s work alongside Puffin before the Netflix sale. Dahl’s books have sold more than 300 million copies worldwide, with translations in 63 languages. “We want to ensure that Roald Dahl’s wonderful stories and characters continue to be enjoyed by all children today,” the Roald Dahl Story Co. said in a statement. “When publishing new print runs of books written years ago, it’s not unusual to review the language used alongside updating other details including a book’s cover and page layout. Our guiding principle throughout has been to maintain the storylines, characters, and the irreverence and sharp-edged spirit of the original text. Any changes made have been small and carefully considered.” Roald Dahl Story Co. spokesman Rick Behari added in an email that “the overall changes are small both in terms of actual edits which have been made and also in terms of the overall percentage of texts which has been changed.” Dahl’s work, like his life, has its unsettling moments and has long been subject to update, revision and apology by other creatives laboring to bring his art to mass audiences. In the first edition of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” published in 1964, the Oompa-Loompas helping Willy Wonka were originally described as African Pygmy people whom Wonka had “smuggled” out of Africa in crates to live and work in his factory. Facing pressure from Black actors and groups such as the NAACP after America’s Civil Rights era, the 1971 film made the Oompa-Loompas orange-skinned with green hair. In a 1973 revision of the book, Dahl recast the Oompa-Loompas as white and fantastical instead of Black and African. In 2020, the actor Anne Hathaway apologized for her depiction of Grand High Witch in Robert Zemeckis’ adaptation of “The Witches” in which the character had three fingers, angering disability advocates over a negative portrayal of limb differences. The same year, Dahl’s family apologized for his history of making antisemitic remarks. View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel ORLANDO, Fla. — State lawmakers are moving forward with a Gov. Ron DeSantis-inspired push to make it easier for prominent people to sue media outlets for defamation, setting the stage for a potential First Amendment clash in the courts. The Legislature is set to take up the measure that challenges longstanding protections for the press established by the U.S Supreme Court. Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, filed an initial version of the bill on Monday, which was withdrawn and replaced with a new one with added provisions (HB 991) on Tuesday. His office did not respond to a request for comment T… Read More View the full article

Published by The Seattle Times SEATTLE — Seattle made history Tuesday as the first city in the U.S. to expressly ban caste-based discrimination after an outpouring of input from South Asian Americans. An ordinance introduced by District 4 Councilmember Kshama Sawant — Seattle’s only elected socialist and the only Indian member of the council — added caste to the list of statuses protected under Seattle’s existing anti-discrimination policies. “This bill is not technically complicated, it’s a very simple question: Should discrimination based on caste be allowed to continue in Seattle?” Sawant said Tuesday, noting that she ho… Read More View the full article

Published by IntelliNews By Denitsa Koseva in Sofia Bulgaria’s Supreme Court of Cassation (SCC) ruled that the country’s current legislation does not allow courts to admit proceedings for the legal change of a person’s gender in government-issued documents for people identifying as transgender in a decision seen as a violation of international standards for human rights. The SCC based its decision on a ruling by the constitutional court made in 2021 that the concept of gender in the country’s constitution referred solely to the biologic aspect. The same ruling was used by the constitutional court against the adoption … Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Eddie Vedder and Jim Parsons were among the stars who came together to remember Leslie Jordan at a benefit show. The ‘Reportin’ for Duty: A Tribute to Leslie Jordan’ event was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday night (19.02.23) to pay homage to the actor – who died in October at the age of 67 – and famous faces from the world of entertainment turned out to remember him and raise money for charity. Comedian Leanne Morgan hosted the four-hour show and she kicked off proceedings by telling the audience: “Leslie was a bow-tie-loving Southern boy whose his biggest accomplishment was being unapologetically himself and I’m sure that he’s all smiles knowing that he’s brought together the most eclectic group of people to ever grace the Opry stage.” Country star Tanya Tucker – who previously collaborated with Jordan on a gospel album – then performed ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Delta Dawn’. ‘The Big Bang Theory’ star Jim Parsons later offered a tribute to the actor, telling the audience being around Jordan was “was like being around an angel”. He added: “It also was like being around a devil. Listening to Leslie tell stories, sometimes he made me think of the cute guys I met as a young man in my first gay bars down south – and sometimes he reminded me of my grandma. Leslie transcended classification while being utterly specific and unique. He was extraordinary because he was so human.” Jim’s former TV co-star Mayim Bialik, who worked with Jordan on ‘Call Me Kat’, said of him: “I was not his boss. I was just one of the actors lucky enough to share a stage with Leslie, to watch Leslie work, to watch Leslie play… veryone wanted to be around him to soak up the light that was Leslie.” Justin Long was seen giving a video tribute in which he said the late star thought of all his fans as friends, adding: “I know this because I once… referred to people who followed him [on Instagram] as his followers, and that was the only time he ever took offence to anything I said. He quickly corrected me. He said, ‘I actually don’t consider them my followers. I consider them my friends.'” The event, filmed for a Circle Network TV special, ended with a performance by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder who performed the track ‘Maybe It’s Time’ from 2019 film ‘A Star Is Born’ with Lukas Nelson. He followed it with a rendition of Pearl Jam hit ‘Just Breathe’. The rocker said of Jordan: “I’ve been missing on him so much and in the last two days, to be around people that knew him and loved him, and we can share this story of loving him and all the ways he inspired us, it’s the best we’ve felt in a long, long time.” The event was held to raise fund for the EB Research Partnership – an organisation which supports research into a rare genetic skin disorder called epidermolysis bullosa. View the full article