Logo announced "Happy Holigays," a three-week programming event that launches Sunday, Dec. 13, with the premiere of RuPaul's Drag Race: Green Screen Christmas, according to a press release. In the new holiday special, RuPaul will duets with Todrick Hall ( "Deck the Halls" ), Big Freedia and Ellis Miah ( "Jingle Dem Bells" ), Michelle Visage ( "From Your Heart" ), Siedah Garrett ( "Brand New Year" ) and Markaholic ( "My Favorite Holiday" ). Favorites Latrice Royale, Raja, Alyssa Edwards, Laganja Estranja, Shangela and the RuPaul's Drag Race Pit Crew will also join the holiday party.
As a guest on the Bret Easton Ellis podcast "B.E.E.," actor Alex Pettyfer revealed that Magic Mike co-star Channing Tatum detests him, according to Page Six. "Channing Tatum does not like meand for many reasons [and] many being my own fault," Pettyfer replied when asked if the rumored beef between the two hunks was true. Among the reasons, Pettyfer said, were poor work chemistry and that he failed to pay Tatum's friend four months worth of rent for a New York apartment following his cousin's death. Pettyfer was not in Magic Mike XXL.
Adele has said that watching the tragic decline of Amy Winehouse left her frightened of fame, the UK Mirror noted. Adele said: "People think I hate being famous. I don't. I'm really -frightened of it. Watching Amy -deteriorate is one of the reasons I'm a bit frightened. We were all very entertained by her being a mess." Also, she credits Winehousewhose hits included "Rehab" and "You Know I'm No Good"for one of her own biggest hits, "Someone Like You."
Taraji P. Henson and Alicia Keys are joining forces to fight HIV/AIDS, Page Six noted. Henson, Janelle Monae and Laila Ali are signing on as ambassadors for the newly formed power council on Keys' charity, Keep a Child Alive. The announcement was made to coincide with World AIDS Day. Keys held her annual Black Ball charity event in New York City last month, raising $3.8 million. Chris Rock hosted the event, which featured performances by Lenny Kravitz, Wale and Lion Babe.
Sting and Trudie Styler's 25-year-old daughter, Eliot Sumner, has spoken about her love life revealing that she has been in a relationship with Austrian model, Lucie Von Alten, for two years, according to Yahoo! News. Speaking to the Evening Standard's ES magazine, the singer explained that the reason that she hadn't shared her sexuality before is because "no one ever asked." As Sumner gears up for the release of her second album, she also admitted that she feels that she'll always be in the shadow of her famous parents, adding: "I think I'll always be in the shadow of my parents. But that's OK. Everyone has a challenge."
The Trevor Project honored Jazz Jennings, Michael Lombardo and The Walt Disney Company at TrevorLIVE LA 2015, according to a press release. Presented by HBO, Walt Disney Company and Wells Fargo and led by Special Guest Director Adam Shankman, this evening of comedy and music took place Dec. 6 at the Hollywood Palladium. Among those attending/presenting were Amy Adams, Candis Cayne, Brad Goreski, Jack Falahee, Guillermo Diaz, Sarah Silverman and Cheyenne Jackson.
TLC has renewed I Am Jazza docuseries about 15-year-old trans girl Jazz Jenningsfor an eight-episode second season, according to a press release. The first season had viewers follow Jennings as she faced decisions regarding her health, pursuing her passion for soccer, spending more time with friends, and navigating the dating world. A co-author of the book I Am Jazz, Time named her one of "The 25 Most Influential Teens " in 2014 and 2015.
Singer Adam Lambert has responded to a petition that had been created with the aim of getting his New Year's Eve performance in Singapore canceledand that more than 20,000 signed, The Huffington Post reported. In a post that appeared on Warner Music Singapore's official Facebook page, Lambert vowed that his Celebrate 2016 set "will not only be a spectacular one, it will celebrate the entire human family in all its diversity." He also responded to the news on Nov. 27, tweeting, "Fighting Homophobia one song at a time."
In New Zealand, a transphobic billboard featuring Caitlyn Jenner is being removed, Refinery29.com noted. The sign in question featured Jenner's Vanity Fair cover image photoshopped to include a Santa hat. It read, "I hope your sack is fuller than mine this Christmas. Merry Christmas from Cranium [the company behind the billboard]." After much outrage on social media, Cranium Signage wrote on its Facebook page that the sign would be taken down. The company has also made a donation to Rainbow Youth, an LGBT youth organization in New Zealand.
Jonathan Groff returned to the Broadway hit Hamilton on Dec. 1, Broadway.com noted. Andrew Rannells had temporarily assumed the role of King George while Groff completed work on the final installment of the HBO show Looking. Groff ( who also was on the show Glee ) was nominated for a Tony Award for playing Melchoir in Spring Awakening.
Holly Woodlawnthe transgender Warhol star who Lou Reed name-checked in his song "Walk on the Wild Side"has died of cancer and cirrhosis at 69, The Washington Post reported. Penny Arcade, another Warhol star, said, "For Holly, whatever sacrifices she made in terms of acceptance of her family and society could never compete with the sense of freedom that Holly neededthe freedom to be herself." Woodlawn was born Haroldo Santiago Franceschi Rodriguez Danhakl in 1946 in Puerto Rico.
Barbra Streisand has come aboard to direct Catherine The Great, a feature film from the Black List script written by Kristina Lauren Anderson, according to Deadline. Gil Netter will produce, and now with Streisand attached casting is underway. The pic is about Catherine trapped in an abusive marriage with the heir to the Russian thronebut, when her inept husband proves incapable of ruling, she utilizes her intelligence, fortitude, and passion to rise to power, becoming Catherine the Great.
Nyle DiMarco, 26, has become America's Next Top Model first-ever deaf winnerand its final winner, as well. DiMarco, who recently came out as sexually fluid, told People magazine, "Being a Deaf person on a television show alone is pretty groundbreaking, so it felt incredible just to be on the showbut to win it was amazing!" On the final runway show, he bested the top female model, Mame Adjei.
Singer-songwriter Carole King, Star Wars creator George Lucas, actress Cicely Tyson, entertainer Rita Moreno and conductor Seiji Ozawa received the Kennedy Center Honors Dec. 6, according to NBC News. "Tonight, we honor five artists who helped tell the story of the first American century through music, theater, and film, and by doing so, helped to shape it," President Obama said to a room filled with stars such as actress Julie Andrews, singer Usher and film director Steven Spielberg.
Transgender model Amiyah Scott was reported to be in talks to join the Real Housewives of Atlanta last August as a replacement for Nene Leakes, but she was ultimately passed over for the show. However, a Wetpaint item ( citing TMZ ) says that Scott has landed a role in the upcoming untitled Empire spinoff. The show will focus on the young life of Cookie Lyon, and Scott is slated to portray a singer.
Orange Is the New Black co-star Dascha Polanco spent her birthday in a courtroom, Page Six reported. Polanco, 33, appeared over accusations that she hit 17-year-old Michelle Cardona in the face and head with a closed fist and pulled her hair in July. Polanco's lawyer, Gerald Lefcourt, described the situation as "a setup to try to get money, and it was tape-recorded.
Sir Ian McKellen recently revealed that, for his role in the film Mr. Holmes, he went to "bee school," according to Page Six. The actor went to Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly, and the beekeeper tipped McKellen that honey from London is better than from the English countryside because flowers and trees in the city aren't sprayed with pesticides. McKellen was never stung.
Reese Witherspoon is developing, and potentially starring in, a movie about the origins of the Barbie doll, according to Variety. Witherspoon will produce with partner Bruna Papandrea through their Pacific Standard banner. The duo is teaming with Bold Films, which will finance. The two companies optioned the movie rights to Robin Gerber's 2010 book Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World's Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her; the book focuses on Ruth Handler, who was inspired to create the Barbie doll after seeing her daughter, Barbara, playing with paper dolls modeled after infants.
Eagles of Death Metal took the stage in Paris on Dec. 7 for the first time since terrorists killed 90 people at the rock band's last concert in the French capital, CNN noted. U2 frontman Bono gave the group an emotional introduction before they stepped out into the spotlight. Fans sang along, waved their arms in the air and recorded cell phone videos as Eagles of Death Metal sang a cover of Patti Smith's "People Have the Power." U2 was forced to postpone its shows on Nov. 14 and 15 after ISIS-planned rampages wreaked havoc throughout the cityleaving 130 dead and injuring hundreds on Nov. 13, according to Page Six.
Martin Freeman, who plays John Watson in BBC hit series Sherlock, dealt with speculations that Watson and Sherlock Holmes are having special relationship, AustralianNetworkNews.com reported. Martin told The Sun newspaper that his character and Sherlock Holmes, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, are not gay and they are not in a relationship. He said, "It is possible for people of the same sex to have a deep friendship without being attracted to each other. People are attracted to each other in all sorts of ways. You don't necessarily want to [sleep with] someone because you love them. They respect each other; they bring different things to their friendship."
A medical examiner has found that 20-year-old gay-porn star Dimitri Kane committed suicide, Gay Star News reported. The young performer from the Jersey Shorereal name: Constanti Moraitisdied Nov. 22. His death happened a week after the death of another young gay porn star, Zac Stevens, who died at 25.
Marque "Tate" Lynchea former Mouseketeer alongside Britney Spears, Ryan Gosling, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera and, later, an American Idol" contestanthas died at 34, Page Six noted. Discovered by his roommate, authorities have noted to media there were no signs of trauma, though cause of death is still being investigated. In the third season of American Idol, he was a semifinalist before being eliminated prior to the selection of the top 12 contestants.
Speaking of Gosling and Timberlake, they recently ran into each other at an SNL afterparty, according to Page Six. The new dads "hung out for a while and tried to remember the last time they had a beer together," said an onlooker.
Ariana Grande scrapped four upcoming international shows, according to Billboard.com . The pop singer's Honeymoon Tour was due to pull in at the Du Arena in Abu Dhabi ( Dec. 3 ); she was then booked to perform at Capital FM's Jingle Bell Ball at The O2 in London ( Dec. 5 ), before wrapping things up with two shows at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama City, Japan ( Dec. 8 and 9 ). Due to her latest canceled shows, Grande's tour effectively finished on Oct. 25 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She did perform at the American Music Awards Nov. 22.
BAAD! The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance is presenting Los Nutcrackers: A Christmas Carajo, written by Charles Rice-Gonzalez and directed by Luis Caballero, according to Broadway World. The play ( running through Dec. 19 ) interweaves two holiday classics, The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol, and creates a queer, Latino play about a gay couple who go on a psychedelic trip through their lives one Christmas Eve.
A top Russian official met with the U.S. actress-turned-animal-rights activist Pamela Anderson at the Kremlin to discuss wildlife conservation, Page Six noted. During the televised meeting with President Vladimir Putin's chief of staff, Sergei Ivanov, Anderson expressed her concern about the fate of Russian seals and the prevalence of sea aquariums that keep belugas, orcas ( killer whales ) and dolphins in captivity.