The Weinstein Company plans to challenge the Motion Picture Association of America's ( MPAA ) decision to assign an "R" rating to its forthcoming trans-centered film 3 Generations, according to a press release. The film—which stars Elle Fanning, Naomi Watts, and Susan Sarandon—"provides an authentic and sensitive portrayal of what it means to be a transgender youth in today's society and the enormous impact familial support can have as one transitions," the release added. The MPAA based its rating on language, including some sexual references.
Sir Elton John has been honored as the first-ever worldwide Record Store Day legend—and will release his live album 17.11.70+ on April 22, the 10th anniversary of Record Store Day, a press release noted. The album is being released on vinyl in a newly expanded format with six previously unreleased tracks. In November 1970, John performed an intimate concert at A&R Studios in New York, recorded for WABC FM, in front of 125 people; songs include "Take Me To the Pilot" and "Honky Tonk Women" as well as bonus tracks such as "Border Song" and "Your Song."
In another Elton John-related item, David Gest's former bodyguard recently said the late entertainer once vowed to have John killed, NewNowNext reported. Imad Handi has made the claim nearly a year after Gest's untimely death, alleging that the attack was set to occur in 2003. According to Handi, Gest ( who was once married to Liza Minnelli ) became outraged when he found out that John had suggested that he was a gay man. On April 12, 2016, Gest was found dead in his room at the Four Seasons Hotel in East London's Canary Wharf district; he was 62.
TMZ reported that "I Adore U" singer and Drag Race season-six contestant Adore Delano ( aka Danny Noriega ) is alleging gross mismanagement of revenue that amounts to millions stolen, Queerty noted. Adore claims earnings of $2.5 million over the past three years, but says she only walked away with $300,000. Then there are the hundreds of live appearances and concerts, which Delano also claims have been mishandled.
At the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards ( RDMA ), multiplatinum, Grammy-winning pop superstar Britney Spears will be presented with the first-ever RDMA "Icon" Award, a press release noted. One of the most successful entertainers in pop history, Spears has sold nearly 150 million records worldwide, released six albums that debuted at number one and earned eight Grammy nominations. Spears will receive the award Saturday, April 29, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Speaking of Spears, she announced that her four-year Piece of Me residency at Las Vegas' Planet Hollywood will conclude at the end of the year, according to Rolling Stone. Tickets for the final 18 performances at the resort's Axis venue will go on sale to the public April 14. Following a tour of Israel and Asia, Spears will return to the Axis for 13 more shows spread across August and September before the final 18 shows. Spears' last Piece of Me show will take place Dec. 31.
Gender non-binary actor Asia Kate Dillon will be upped to series regular for the upcoming season of the show Billions, executive producer Brian Koppelman said onstage at the DGA Theater just hours before the eighth episode of season two, Deadline reported. Dillon plays introspective financial whiz Taylor Mason in the second season of the series toplined by Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis, Malin Akerman and Maggie Siff. Playing the first gender non-binary character in a TV drama, Dillon has opted to seek a Supporting Actor nomination in the 2017 Emmy race.
Ricky Martin will co-star opposite Edgar Rarmirez, Penelope Cruz and Darren Criss in Versace: American Crime Story, Deadline noted. The 10-episode Versace examines the July 1997 assassination of Gianni Versace ( Ramirez ) on the steps of his Miami Beach mansion by sociopath and serial killer Andrew Cunanan ( Criss ). Martin will play Versace's longtime partner Antonio D'Amico; Cruz plays Versace's sister, Donatella. This is a reunion for Martin and producer Ryan Murphy, who first cast the Latin music superstar in an episode of Fox's Glee.
Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon has opened up about going through the menopause with her wife, PinkNews noted. Speaking with Stella, the actor opened up about her relationship with her wife, Christine Marinoni and what it is like to hit 50 and menopause. The actress, best known for playing Miranda on Sex and the City, explained that turning 50 bought along the "perimenopause" that she has been in for a year now.
Broadcast Music, Inc. ( BMI ) announced that Grammy-, Emmy- and Tony-winning singer-songwriter, arranger, producer and musician Barry Manilow will be named the BMI Icon at the 65th annual BMI Pop Awards, a press release noted. The event will be held Tuesday, May 9, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. The very private Manilow was in the news recently for speaking out about his sexuality and his four-decade relationship with his manager-husband.
Rock legend Melissa Etheridge has lent her anthem "Giant" to the political campaign of transgender Seattle City Council candidate Mac McGregor, a press release noted. McGregor is a former women's world martial-arts champion as well as Seattle city commissioner and LGBTQ activist for City Council. McGregor said of Etheridge's endorsement, "This song is the perfect theme for this groundbreaking campaign. We are so grateful for Melissa's endorsement and can't wait to share it with everyone."
Originally picked up in January for a 10-episode limited installment, the Emmy-winning comedy Will & Grace is getting its order expanded and will return next season with 12 new episodes, Deadline reported. The Will & Grace revival quickly has emerged as one NBC's top assets for next season and is featured front and center in the NBCUniversal's upfront spots unveiled recently. The new, ninth season of Will & Grace—reuniting original stars Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes—stems from the surprise election-themed reunion mini-episode released Sept. 26.
The estate of pop art icon Andy Warhol is suing a photographer to protect his legacy from her claim that he copied her photo of Prince, The Hollywood Reporter noted. In 1984, Warhol painted a series of portraits of Prince and, according to the suit, he "drew inspiration from and transformed a publicity photograph" of the artist that was in circulation at the time. Now, three decades later, the estate claims photographer Lynn Goldsmith is complaining that the works violate her copyright in the original 1981 photo.
Three months after welcoming her first child, Janet Jackson has reportedly split from her husband, Qatari businessman Wissam Al Mana, the UK publication Metro noted. The pair married in 2012 and confirmed their nuptials after rumors surfaced of extravagant wedding plans; the couple shot them down though claiming they are "simply not true" in a surprise statement. The baby boy will reportedly stay with his mother.
A return to public life may be in store for Richard Simmons after the fitness guru inked a licensing deal for new merchandise, Page Six noted. License Global reported Prominent Brand + Talent is looking to create a new line of Simmons products. The company is co-founded by Simmons' longtime manager, Michael Catalano.
Sources believe Daniel Craig is in the process of being lured back to the rule of James Bond and is poised to sign on to return—mainly due to the fact Bond producers' original first choice, Tom Hiddleston, has been branded "too smug and not tough enough" for the role, The Independent reported. Hiddleston emerged as a front-runner following his Golden Globe-winning performance in The Night Manager last summer but, apparently, his high-profile relationship with singer Taylor Swift "sealed his fate."
Disney Channel has ordered That's So Raven spinoff Raven's Home, a multi-cam series that continues the story of the award-winning family comedy, Deadline noted. Production is scheduled to begin this month in Los Angeles for a scheduled premiere later this year. The planned sequel originally was announced last year, with series stars Raven-Symone and Anneliese Van Der Pol attached to reprise their roles as best friends Raven Baxter and Chelsea Daniels. Raven announced at the time that she was leaving her then-spot on The View to work on the sequel.
Anna Wintour has donated a pair of her signature Chanel sunglasses to a charity auction surrounding the New York City-based one-man show Ryan Raftery Is the Most Powerful Woman in Fashion—in which Raftery ( in drag ) plays the Vogue editor, Page Six noted. Raftery's musical follows Wintour as she frets over her polarizing 2014 Kim Kardashian-Kanye West cover. The show played Joe's Pub in 2014 and is being revived at Feinstein's/54 Below.
Scarlett Johansson took her feud with Ivanka Trump to the next level when she once again slammed the first daughter, calling her "cowardly" and "uninspired" for refusing to publicly denounce some of President Donald Trump's policies, US Weekly noted. Ivanka recently defended herself, saying, "If being complicit is wanting to be a force for good and to make a positive impact, then I'm complicit"—a shot at Johansson appearing as Ivanka in an ad for a perfume called "Complicit" in an SNL skit.
Rapper Drake has offered his support for Chance the Rapper running for mayor of Chicago, according to Billboard. Chance has made headlines for spearheading huge efforts in support of Chicago Public Schools—and his continued efforts to improve the education system for young students has even made fans petition for the Chicago native to run for mayor in 2019. Chance later posted "Thank you @Drake" on Twitter.
In response to the Pepsi ad controversy with Kendall Jenner, Madonna posted a photo depicting her carrying a can of Coca-Cola from the 1999 Grammy Awards, Billboard noted. Madonna took to Instagram and posted a clip of the Jenner commercial with the message, "When you wake up and realize that Shit just really doesn't make sense! #chosen. Side Note: My Pepsi commercial was pulled 30 years ago because I was kissing a black saint! #ironic." The Jenner ad was pulled after a blizzard of complaints and social media anger over what many deemed its gross cultural appropriation of social-justice movements such as Black Lives Matter.
Investigation Discovery is teaming with journalist and host of the network's series Deadline: Crime, Tamron Hall, to explore a dark underbelly of college life in the all-new special Sexual Assault in College: Tamron Hall Investigates, a press release noted. Premiering Sunday, April 30, at 8/7c, the one-hour special follows Hall as she sits down with two sexual-assault survivors from the University of Minnesota and the University of Maryland to hear their stories of survival, the aftermath of their attacks and the steps they're taking to reduce the number of sexual assaults between college students.
Jersey Shore reality-TV show star Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino and his brother have been hit with additional tax-fraud charges, Page Six reported. Federal prosecutors said that Sorrentino was indicted on charges including tax evasion, structuring bank deposits to avoid reporting requirements and falsifying records. Mike and Mark Sorrentino previously pled not guilty to charges that they filed bogus tax returns on nearly $9 million and claimed millions in personal expenses as business expenses.
CBS has picked up veteran crime drama Criminal Minds for a 13th season, Deadline noted. It is the eighth CBS drama to secure an early renewal for next season and the 19th series overall. After a major cast overhaul in the past year—the departure of Shemar Moore, the unexpected exit of Thomas Gibson, the return of Paget Bewster, the promotion of Aisha Tyler and the addition of Adam Rodriguez and Damon Gupton—there are no major changes planned for next season, with the cast expected to return.
The 90th Academy Awards will air live on ABC on March 4, 2018, Deadline noted. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and ABC also set dates for the 91st, 92nd and 93rd Oscars presentations: Feb. 24, 2019, Feb. 23, 2020, and Feb. 28, 2021, respectively. Nominations for the upcoming Oscars will be announced Jan. 23, 2018.
