Chaka Khan will perform a tribute to her friend Whitney Houston at the Apollo Hall of Fame gala June 4, according to the New York Post. In addition, Lionel Richie and the late Etta James are to be inducted; Soul Train creator Don Cornelius and the songwriter Nick Ashford will also be honored. Past inductees include Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and the late Michael Jackson.
While promoting the upcoming stripper movie Magic Mike, Matthew McConaughey joked with The Advocate that he was the hottest dancer in the movie. ( "I don't need a stunt ass," he commented. ) He added that he hoped the gay community is "pumped" over the movie and that "they should come out in droves, because they won't be let down." If one of his kids came out to him, the 42-year-old actor said, "You deal with it, you support them, and you also help prepare them for how some people in the world will treat and think of them."
After increasing pressure from Islamic groups, Indonesian police denied Lady Gaga a permit needed to perform in the country, VOANews.com reported. In announcing their decision, Indonesian police also cited safety concerns as the Islamic Defender's Front, FPI, threatened to deploy 30,000 members to physically prevent the "Born This Way" singer from getting off the plane. Her tour also includes stops in Manila, Bangkok, Taipei and Hong Kong—and clashes have taken in those cities as well.
Ellen DeGeneres has been chosen to receive this year's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, according to the Washington Post. The talk-show host, 54, is the 15th recipient of the award. In a statement, DeGeneres said, "To get the same award that has been given to people like Bill Cosby, Tina Fey and Will Ferrell, it really makes me wonder ... why didn't I get this sooner?"
Photographer Annie Leibovitz and chef/author/television host Anthony Bourdain received honorary CLIO Awards at the 53rd Annual CLIO Awards at New York's American Museum of Natural History May 15. The CLIO Awards celebrate creative professionals in the advertising, design and communications industries as well as visionaries in fields as diverse as photography, fashion, food, travel, literature and film. Comedy icon Joan Rivers hosted.
Joey Lawrence—best known for his role as the title character's brother on the '90s sitcom Blossom—will join the Chippendales' Las Vegas production, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. He will flaunt his muscles as he dances, sings and hosts the all-male exotic-dancer revue June 7-24 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. Lawrence can currently be seen on the ABC Family series Melissa & Joey, co-starring Melissa Joan Hart.
Jennifer Lopez is reportedly leaving American Idol, according to US Magazine. The "Waiting for Tonight" singer has been a judge on the reality-competition show for two seasons—and received $20 million the second go-round. A source said that Lopez has "just too much going on for her right now." She has endorsements with L'Oreal and Gillette; her clothing line at Kohl's; a fragrance; an upcoming 20-city tour with Enrique Iglesias; various film projects; and a new album on the horizon.
In the wake of the masseur claims against actor John Travolta, his attorney, Marty Singer, is slamming rumors that he once tried to perform oral sex on the late Grease co-star Jeff Conaway, E! Online reported. Conaway's longtime girlfriend, Vicki Lizzi, is quoted in the National Enquirer as saying the supposed encounter occurred in the early '90s at Conaway's home. Singer said nothing could be further from the truth, adding that the Enquirer's parent company has been driving the recent coverage of Travolta.
Legendary disco queen Donna Summer has died at age 63. Summer's family released a statement saying she had passed away and that they "are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy." TMZ initially reported the news, saying that Summer died after a long battle with cancer. Among some of her best-known songs are "Last Dance," "Bad Girls," "She Works Hard for the Money," "Heaven Knows," "I Feel Love" and "MacArthur Park." In the mid-1980s there were rumors that Summer—a born-again Christian at this time—said that AIDS was God's punishment for homosexuality; however, she denied ever saying this.
Did Food Network's Ted Allen out his fellow star, Anne Burrell? The Huffington Post stated that Allen reportedly said in an interview with SiriusXM host Romaine Patterson, "I'm not going to put a label on Anne, but she is dating a woman right now." Allen added that the woman in question works at the Chicago restaurant Avec. Burrell hosts the show Secrets of a Restaurant Chef.
Rapper T.I. said that people should just mind their own business when it comes to marriage equality, according to an Advocate.com item. He told Hot97, "I don't care enough one way or another. If something doesn't affect you, you should not take a strong position against it. Why would you be so against it if it doesn't affect you or your lifestyle?"
Actress Raven-Symone, currently in the Broadway production Sister Act, has taken to Twitter to address rumors about her sexuality, according to SheWired.com . The National Enquirer claimed that the 26-year-old was dating model AzMarie Livingston, a recent contestant on America's Next Top Model who is an out lesbian. On Twitter, Raven-Symond posted, "I'm living my PERSONAL life the way I'm happiest. I'm not one, in my 25 year career to disclose who I'm dating. and I shall not start now. ... And my career is the only thing I would like to put on display, not my personal life. Kisses!"
Actor Will Smith slapped a reporter across the face at the Moscow premiere on Men in Black 3, according to EnStarz.com . The reporter allegedly tried to kiss Smith on the lips. Smith became angry, slapping the reporter and asking him what his problem was. Afterwards, Smith said to reporters, "Hey ... sorry, he tried to kiss me on my mouth. He's lucky I didn't sucker-punch."
Tyra Banks' revamping of America's Next Top Model has continued with the hiring of judges Johnny Wujek and Rob Evans, who will join Kelly Cutrone and Banks, according to CNN.com . Wujek is singer Katy Perry's stylist while Evans is a male model. "Welcome the fab Johnny Wujek & fine Rob Evans to the CW's ANTM!" Banks tweeted. "Excited for some cuh-ray-zee challenges. Start practicin' ur booty tooch!"
Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi have followed the sale of their $49-million property with the purchase with a more modest $18-million home in Beverly Hills, the Daily Mail reported. The 8,500-square-foot home, in the exclusive Trousdale Estates area, features plants inside and outside of it; there are also private gardens and a swimming pool with marble surroundings. American Idol host Ryan Seacrest purchased the couple's former abode, set on 2.87 acres.
Former supermodel Janice Dickinson has been served an eviction notice for reportedly failing to pay almost $20,000 in rent, according to the Daily Mail. The landlords also claim they gave Dickinson a three-day notice to pay or leave by May 7, and that the former America's Next Top Model judge ignored both. Dickinson has not yet commented on the lawsuit.
Actress Rachel McAdams has been known for her roles in films such as Mean Girls, The Notebook and The Vow, but things take a different turn in the upcoming movie Passion, the Daily Mail reported. For example, one still from the erotic thriller has McAdams preparing to kiss actress Noomi Rapace ( of the Swedish movie The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ) . Passion is a remake of Alan Corneau's 2010 French movie Love Crime, which co-starred Kristin Scott Thomas and Ludivine Sagnier.
One of the male massage therapists who has accused actor John Travolta of sexual battery has been revealed. According to US Magazine, John Doe #2 is actually John Truesdale, 40, a former high school football player and ex-U.S. Army medic. Truesdale, a married father in Georgia, recently withdrew his $2-million sexual-battery lawsuit and fired attorney Okorie Okorocha; later, he hired famed attorney Gloria Allred, although no new lawsuit has been filed. Also, Okorocha has sued Allred for reportedly poaching his clients, the New York Post noted.
Rapper 50 Cent told Vibe magazine that he backs President Obama's stance supporting same-sex marriage, according to Pink News. However, he added ( possibly as a joke ) that there should be organizations to protect the rights of heterosexual men "in the case you've been on the elevator and somebody decides they want to grab your little buns." The musician garnered controversy last year when he tweeted that men who didn't enjoy performing sexual acts on women should kill themselves.
Robin Gibb—who, along with brothers Maurice ( who died in 2003 ) and Barry, made up the Bee Gees—has passed away at age 62 after a long battle with cancer. The Bee Gees started in the 1960s but really hit superstardom during the disco era with the soundtrack to the movie Saturday Night Fever. The group's hits included "You Should Be Dancing," "Jive Talking," "How Deep Is Your Love" and "Night Fever."
Queen Latifah didn't come out at her first gay-pride event, but she said she was proud to be among "her people," according to TheGrio.com . She appeared at the 20th Annual Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Festival in California—the fourth-largest event of its kind in the country—May 19. Latifah also told the crowd to "let their inner light shine in the world" and "to conquer hate with love."
L.A. Theatre Works ( LATW ) has recorded "8"—a dramatization of the legal fight against California's Proposition 8 written by openly gay Academy Award-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black—for release on audiobook and for broadcast on LATW's nationally syndicated radio theater series, according to a press release. Directed by Rob Reiner and featuring an all-star cast that includes Kevin Bacon, George Clooney, Jamie Lee Curtis, Christine Lahti, Jane Lynch, Brad Pitt, Martin Sheen and John C. Reilly, "8" will air on public-radio stations across the U.S. during the week of June 9.
Whitney Houston's last song before her untimely death is being heard. According to People.com, Ryan Seacrest played "Celebrate"—an upbeat duet with Houston and former American Idol winner Jordin Sparks—on his radio show May 21. Sparks and Houston will co-star in the movie Sparkle, slated to open Aug. 17. The song will be available on iTunes June 5.
Melissa Etheridge and Tammy Lynn Michaels have settled their domestic-partnership dispute, according to a SheWired.com item. Last month, Michaels filed court papers asking for more than the $23,000 per month Etheridge had been paying her to for cost of living and child support. Etheridge will pay more than that now, but the exact amount is unknown; she and Michaels will split custody of their twins.
In the world of DC Comics, co-publisher Dan DiDio recently announced that the company will change the sexual orientation of "one of our most prominent gay characters," according to BleedingCool.com . ( DC Comics includes such superheroes as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman; Marvel Comics has The Avengers, Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four. ) The first gay mainstream superhero was the X-Men's Northstar, whose sexuality was revealed in the 1980s.
Speaking of Northstar, the character proposes to boyfriend Kyle in Astonishing X-Men #50, which hit comic-book stores and digital devices May 23, according to Gay.net . The following issue, out June 20, will showcase the landmark wedding.
Lesbian actress/writer Jane Lynch delivered the commencement address at Smith College, SheWired.com reported. The Glee star called the graduating class an "elite and powerful group of game-changing women." Lynch's wife, Lara Embry, graduated from the college in 1991; in 2010, Lynch and Embry married in Smith's hometown of Northampton, Mass. In addition, Lynch has received an honorary degree from the college.
