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Entertainment news: Stars' Orlando thoughts, Fierstein's honor, Ellen's lawsuit
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
by Andrew Davis, Windy City Times
2016-06-15

This article shared 1943 times since Wed Jun 15, 2016
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Adele dedicated her concert Sunday in Antwerp to those killed and wounded in a mass shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub, On Top Magazine reported. Described as the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, 50 people died and 53 were injured. "I would like to start tonight by dedicating this entire show to everybody in Orlando and at Pulse nightclub last night," an emotional Adele told her fans. "The LGBTQ community, they're like my soulmates since I was really young. So, I'm very moved by it."

Lady Gaga made an unexpected appearance and shared emotional words with a crowd of thousands at an L.A. vigil for the victims of the Orlando shooting, according to PinkNews. "As we have now witnessed the largest mass shooting in American history, I can't help but feel that this level of hatred, like all prejudicial crimes, this is an attack on humanity itself," said Gaga. Gaga first spoke out on Twitter following the shooting on June 12. "I pray for all the victims families during this shooting epidemic. That their pain be met with compassion and support from the world," she wrote.

Country singer Dolly Parton expressed her outrage over the Orlando massacre at Pulse Nightclub, calling the murder of 49 people and wounding of 53 a hate crime and calling on the world "to love one another a little more," Billboard noted. "First of all, I do have a big gay following," Parton told reporters at a press conference in Toronto. "I'm a patron saint for a lot of them guys, and it makes me feel good. ... I am not God. I am no judge. ... But the fact that you just kill somebody for being something you don't agree with or don't understand or accept, that's terrible. It's just terrible, period. We should just love one another a little more, don't you think?

Logo announced that actor Harvey Fierstein and LBGT-news outlet The Advocate will be honored during the third annual Trailblazer Honors, a television special that celebrates pioneers at the forefront of LGBT equality, a press release stated. For the first time, VH1 and Logo will simulcast the Trailblazer Honors, the largest televised LGBT Pride event, on Saturday, June 25. Fierstein and The Advocate join previous years' honorees such as the Obama administration, Edie Windsor, and Judy and Dennis Shepard as well as Laverne Cox and the cast of Orange Is the New Black.

Ellen DeGeneres is under fire for allegedly causing a woman "emotional distress" after featuring her on the show, Radar Online reported. In the lawsuit, which was filed in a Georgia federal court on June 2, plaintiff Titi Pierce describes that during a segment called, "What's Wrong With These Ads … and These Signs?" a sign for her real estate company was shown, uncensored, to millions of viewers. As the ad filled the screen, DeGeneres, 58, proceeded to mock Pierce's name, calling her "titty." Pierce claims in the suit that no one has ever pronounced her first name that way, and that DeGeneres did so intentionally to evoke humor—at her expense.

Zachary Quinto proved he "won't let you down" when he took the stage for a Lip Sync Battle to the iconic sound of George Michael's "Freedom," E! Online noted. However, the performance hit an even higher note when a naked Cindy Crawford appeared in a bathtub on stage—a nod to her original appearance in the video more than 25 years ago. Also, show co-host and new mom Chrissy Teigen arrived on stage wrapped in a long white sheet—just like Christy Turlington had done in the video.

Kerry Washington has claimed that before the TV show Scandal made her a star, she was dropped from two other TV pilots for not being "hood" enough, Time reported. The actress weighed in on the stereotyped casting she faced in conversation with Aziz Ansari for Variety's Actors on Actors series. "Before Scandal," she said, "I was actually cast in two other pilots. Both went to series, but I was fired and recast. … For both, it was because they wanted me to sound more 'girlfriend'—more like 'hood,' more 'urban.'" "It's interesting; like every person that's not a straight, white guy has their version of this," Ansari said.

NBC's Ronan Farrow was honored for his coverage of the transgender community at the Stonewall Community Foundation's 2016 Vision Awards, The Huffington Post noted. The 28-year-old news anchor accepted the award from trans model Geena Rocero before a star-studded crowd at New York's Tribeca Rooftop. Also honored for their advocacy work within the LGBT community were Orange Is the New Black star Selenis Leyva and her sister, Marizol, who identifies as trans; Levi Strauss & Co.; and The Ackerman Institute's Gender and Family Project.

Trans teen Jazz Jennings, who stars in the TLC docuseries I Am Jazz and recently penned the memoir Being Jazz: My Life as a ( Transgender ) Teen, told USA Today the underrepresentation of LGBT relationships is so stark that it's inspired her to pursue opportunities in film when she gets older: "I really love animation so maybe one day, if they haven't done it yet, I'm going to be a director and I'm going to direct that film." She also acknowledged the importance of such trans-focused films as Boy Meets Girl and Tangerine, saying, "Seeing our community being represented, it creates this visibility and visibility creates education and education creates overall acceptance and equality."

Musician/philanthropist Annie Lennox joined more than 30 mayors and health officials from around the world to discuss a new Fast-Track Cities Initiative aimed to end HIV/AIDS on a city-by-city level by 2030, according to LookToTheStars.org . As the UNAIDS goodwill ambassador, Lennox shared her vision for a world without HIV/AIDS and the epidemic's disproportionate impact on women and girls.

The Real O'Neals star Noah Galvin slammed Colton Haynes' coming-out in a controversial interview with Vulture, Page Six noted. Galvin, who plays a gay teen on the ABC comedy, didn't hold back, calling Haynes' announcement that he's gay in a recent EW interview "f—ing p—- bulls—." Galvin also said everyone in the "glass closet," the closeted gay community in Hollywood, should "stop beating around the bush." Later, TheWrap reported that Galvin apologized for the interview, tweeting that he gave "false and unwarranted" comments about Haynes and director Bryan Singer, adding, "I understand now that my statements were not at all funny and have serious implications."

Madonna met President Barack Obama backstage at The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon recently, Page Six noted. Apparent astrology enthusiast Madonna documented the experience on Instagram, writing, "A meeting of the Leos. A cosmic convergence!" The "Frozen" singer previously told Us Weekly that she was dying to meet the POTUS, but that she thought she was too edgy for an invitation to the Oval Office.

While speaking with CNN Money, country-music superstar Dolly Parton needed just a few seconds to address the controversy surrounding North Carolina's House Bill 2, a bill signed into law in March by Gov. Pat McCrory, according to The Huffington Post. "I think everybody should be treated with respect," Parton says in a video. "I don't judge people and I try not to get too caught up in the controversy of things. I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are," she added. Parton also said, "I just know if I have to pee, I'm going to pee—I don't care where it's going to be."

Filmmaker Matthew Fulks has sued Beyonce, Sony, Columbia and the pop star's Parkwood Entertainment for allegedly lifting elements of his short film, Palinoia, for Lemonade, according to a Rolling Stone item that cites The Hollywood Reporter. The lawsuit specifically targets the trailer for the HBO special. Fulks claims executives and creatives involved in Lemonade were aware of his work and had access to Palinoia.

Also under legal action is singer Ed Sheeran. The Grammy winner faces a $20-million lawsuit that claims his hit song "Photograph" has "striking similarities" to another song released by British singer Matt Cardle, CBS News reported. The two songwriters suing Sheeran say the 2014 mega-hit is a rip-off of their ballad "Amazing," written for Cardel's 2011 album, Letters. Prosecuting attorney Richard Busch famously helped Marvin Gaye's family win a $5.3-million copyright lawsuit over its use in Robin Thicke's 2013 summer anthem, "Blurred Lines."

Former FBI agent and veteran musician Susan Surftone has released the single "Blue Moon of Kentucky," according to a press release. The Portland, Oregon, resident has led her own group, The SurfTones, through many album releases—at least 13—as Susan and The SurfTones. The single is at http://cdbaby.com/cd/susansurftone9.

Looking to 2017's Tonys, the Best Actress race could be between Cate Blanchett for The Present, Nicole Kidman in Photograph 51 and Sally Field for the latest newest recentest Glass Menagerie," Page Six speculated. Frank Langella ( who won this year ) could win another Tony for playing a drag role in the Arthur Kopit comedy Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad. Also, a fifth revival of The Front Page—starring Nathan Lane, John Slattery, John Goodman, Robert Morse and Holland Taylor—could be up for a host of honors.

Actress Lindsay Lohan and former Mob Wives star Karen Gravano have their sights set on the makers of the video game Grand Theft Auto after a judge OK'd their lawsuits, Page Six noted. When Lohan and Gravano first sued Take-Two in 2014 for using their images without permission the gaming company went on the offensive, asking for fines against the plaintiffs for filing meritless lawsuits. However, Justice Joan Kenney rejected Take-Two's "self-serving" claims.

Angelina Jolie is in early talks to be part of Fox's remake of Murder on the Orient Express, Variety reported. Fellow actor/director Kenneth Branagh is helming the film, in addition to starring as Hercule Poirot. The producers are Branagh, Ridley Scott, Simon Kinberg and Mark Gordon. Agatha Christie's book, published in 1934, revolves around a murder onboard the famous train. The film follows Belgian detective Poirot who's tasked with solving the case in which a number of passengers could potentially be the murderer.

Patti Stanger returns with millionaires from her past and present as they bring their relationship problems and issues to the exclusive "Millionaire's Club" for a final chance at finding love in the new WE tv series Million Dollar Matchmaker, premiering Friday, July 8, according to a press release. Rounding out the Millionaire's Club team of experts are Candace, a graduate of Northwestern University School of Law, who also holds a degree in psychology; David, founder of FindingCupid.com; and power couple Destin and Rachel.

Chart-topping singer/songwriter Bebe Rexha released a Ruby Rose remix of her latest single "No Broken Hearts," featuring Nicki Minaj, according to a press release. ( Actor Rose, known for her breakout role on Orange Is the New Black, is also a DJ, and she adds this remix to her collection. ) Rexha has accumulated more than 10 million overall single sales, 1 billion Spotify streams and 1.3 billion combined YouTube/VEVO views.

The NBA has done something that the sports world has never seen before, The Huffington Post reported. In partnership with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network ( GLSEN ), the league has introduced a new line of apparel that features all 30 team logos in rainbow colors to celebrate the newly designated LGBT Pride Month in June. The shirts are being sold exclusively on Teespring, and all proceeds go to GLSEN.

A representative for Richard Simmons has denied reports that the fitness legend would be coming out as transgender, The Huffington Post noted. In its June 8 issue, The National Enquirer ( citing an anonymous source ) published a series of photos which they said showed Simmons, 67, living as a "softly spoken woman named Fiona" in his Hollywood Hills mansion. Simmons' spokesperson Tom Estey told People that the Enquirer's report was "not true," and that his client had simply "decided to live quietly the last few years."

Gawker Media Group has received a $22-million loan during its bankruptcy proceedings to stay afloat as it awaits a pending sale, TheWrap noted. Gawker recently filed bankruptcy after Terry Bollea, a.k.a. pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, won more than $100 million against the website in a lawsuit. Out gay PayPal billionaire Peter Thiel has admitted to The New York Times that he bankrolled Bollea's case against Gawker Media, Towleroad noted. In 2007, Gawker had published a story revealing Thiel was gay.

The brand TOMS is partnering with the Keith Haring Foundation in June in selling glasses and footwear, a press release stated. The late artist Haring was recognized globally for incorporating social and political themes into his art, and creating a dialogue about the AIDS crisis through visual communication.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton declared June 7 "Prince Day" in Minnesota to mark what would have been the late musician's 58th birthday, The Hollywood Reporter noted. The proclamation urged Minnesotans to wear purple that day to honor Prince's legacy. The "Little Red Corvette" singer died April 21 from an accidental overdose of the narcotic painkiller fentanyl.

Absolutely Fabulous co-star Joanna Lumley is traveling to the far reaches of Japan for a new ITV documentary series, Digital Spy noted. She will explore the country's cultural history and take in its landscapes as part of Joanna Lumley's Japan later this year. Over the course of three hour-long episodes, Lumley will travel from Hokkaido in the north to the Island of Honshu before visiting the streets of Tokyo and Kyoto.

Roseanne Barr has praised Republican party's presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump and claimed that the U.S. election is "fixed," Digital Spy noted. Barr, who ran for president herself in 2012, argued that the United States would be "lucky" if they elected Trump "because then it wouldn't be Hillary [Clinton]." The comedian hit out at the presumptive Democratic nominee in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, arguing that Clinton was "friends with everybody that gives her any goddamn money."

HBO has confirmed the names of the final two episodes of the sixth season of Game of Thrones. The season finale, which will air June 26, will be titled, "The Winds of Winter," the same name as the upcoming sixth book in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire saga. The episode will run 69 minutes, making it the longest episode in the history of the series.The June 19 episode will run 60 minutes and is called "The Battle of the Bastards."

Private details from Audrey Hepburn's life have come to light through a collection of never-before-seen letters going up for auction later this month, Page Six noted. The letters, written between 1951 and 1960 to Hepburn's friend and mentor Felix Aylmer, delve into the devastating end of her engagement to socialite James Hanson, as well as her subsequent marriage to first husband Mel Ferrer, two of her miscarriages and the birth of her first child, Sean. The letters are expected to fetch approximately $4,250 to $5,700 at the Bonhams entertainment memorabilia sale in London on June 29.

With his future in doubt as part of NBC's The Voice after next season, Adam Levine will moonlight from his duties as judge on the top-rated series to appear in comedy feature The Clapper, Deadline reported. He will join other Ed Helms, Amanda Seyfried, Tracy Morgan, Leah Remini, Russell Peters, P.J. Byrne and Mickey Gooch Jr. The story is adapted by writer-director's Dito Montiel from his own book about Eddie Krumble ( Helms ), a professional clapper for infomercials who gets plucked by a late-night TV host to be on his talk show.

CSI: Miami alum Adam Rodriguez has joined Criminal Minds as a series regular, Deadline noted. His character, expected to fill the void left by the recent departure of original cast member Shemar Moore, will be introduced in Criminal Minds' season-12 premiere this fall.

It's going to start more than five years after her last Desperate Housewives trial ended in a mistrial but Nicollette Sheridan will be back in court on June 5, 2017, Deadline reported. Given new legal life by the 2nd District Court of Appeal last October, the actress can pursue her claim of retaliation against ABC/Touchstone for her firing from the hit show in 2009. The j trial will certainly see Sheridan take the stand, although likely not former Housewives EP Marc Cherry, who was released from the original case before it went to the jury back in 2012.

Game of Thrones star Kit Harington is set to play the villain in the next Call of Duty video game, TheWrap noted. "Guy Ritchie is a friend of the franchise, so it was great to have him back to work with us, assisting in bringing Kit Harington's character to life in Infinite Warfare," added Dave Stohl, studio head of Infinity Ward. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare hits shelves on Nov. 4.

The live-action Justice League Dark ( JLD ) movie might be on the back burner after Guillermo del Toro's departure as director, but DC Entertainment's supernatural superhero team will get their own movie nonetheless—as a direct-to-DVD animated release, The Hollywood Reporter noted. Del Toro's live-action JLD, also known as Dark Universe, was first mentioned in 2013 as a project that would team John Constantine, Swamp Thing, Zatanna and other supernatural characters in DC's portfolio against an unknown threat. More details on the project will likely accompany the animated Batman: The Killing Joke, which will be released digitally July 23, ahead of a Blu-ray and DVD release Aug. 2.

Oscar winner Mo'Nique and husband Sidney Hicks have a serious problem with the IRS, Rolling Out noted. The pair was recently hit with a tax lien and a $389,904.98 bill from the IRS for refusal to pay taxes. The government has threatened to seize their assets, which include a 10,600 square-foot home in Duluth, Georgia they bought for $2.8 million. The tax lien was filed in Gwinnett County, Georgia, Superior court.


This article shared 1943 times since Wed Jun 15, 2016
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