#FASHIONFAB: Viola Davis Makes a Dramatic Arrival in Valentino Couture Dress for ‘Monster’ Premiere at Cannes Film Festival 2023
Viola Davis brought Hollywood glamour to Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday in Cannes, France. Accompanied by her husband, actor Julius Tennon, Davis attended the premiere of Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Monster.”
Davis wore a white gown underneath a dramatic feathered coat, both by Valentino couture. Davis’ dress featured a crystallized floral appliqué at the shoulder, while her outerwear included sparkling strands of silver tinsel.
The Oscar-winning actress accessorized with diamond Chopard hoops and white platform heels. Celebrity stylist Elizabeth Stewart put together Davis’ stunning ensemble. Stewart’s other A-list clientele includes Amanda Seyfried, Elizabeth Olsen and Jessica Chastain.
Makeup artist Autumn Moultrie gave Davis a purple smoky eye and glossy nude lips using L’Oréal cosmetics. Davis has been a longtime spokesmodel for the affordable beauty brand.
“Monster” (2023) is a Japanese drama competing for the Palme d’Or. The film follows Sakura Ando as Saori, a single mother who begins to notice strange changes in her young son’s behavior. “Monster” is directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, whose film “Shoplifters” won the Palme d’Or in 2018.
The Cannes Film Festival reigns as a celebratory arena for international film, esteemed directors, filmmakers, actors and cultural productions. Dating back to 1946, the International Film Festival is holding its 76th edition this year.
#RHOA: Kenya Moore Reacts to Drew Sidora and Ralph Pittman’s Split: “I Was Heartbroken”
The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Drew Sidora and her husband, Ralph Pittman, have filed for divorce. When the news broke on March 1, Drew’s castmates naturally had strong reactions. And Kenya Moore, for one, didn’t see the split coming.
Kenya More Reacts to Drew Sidora’s Divorce
When the haircare mogul appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on May 7, she revealed that she feels genuinely sad for Drew and Ralph. Explaining her initial reaction when she heard about the split, Kenya said, “I was heartbroken. Honestly, they had seemed like they were doing better.”
Last September, the couple confirmed they were in ongoing couples therapy. “They were really working toward getting their marriage back on track,” Kenya said on WWHL. “And then we just got hit with the news, and I felt sad because you never want to see the demise of a marriage.”
Later, the “twirl” queen shared the advice she’d offer Drew as a friend and as a fellow Real Housewife who’s also gone through a public divorce. “Oh, [I’d tell her] don’t drag her husband, and try to mediate,” Kenya said. And Kenya clarified that the dragging should not take place publicly or privately.
More Atlanta Housewives React to the Split
Previously, Drew’s other castmates have shared their thoughts about the split. Kandi Burruss said she’d been spending time with Drew and Ralph before she learned about the breakup and said the news was surprising to her. Sanya Richards-Ross admitted that the news of the divorce was a “huge shock.”
Porsha Williams also offered up her reaction to the split, noting that she “reached out” to Drew and said she “was praying for her.”
#MusicNews: Timbaland Set To Launch AI Startup To Enable Late Artists To Have “Life After Death”
Timbaland plans to launch an AI startup to give late artists a musical continuation even after their passing. The Grammy-winning producer intends to explore new avenues of creativity in music using AI voice filters. However, he is mindful of this endeavor’s potential legal issues and copyright infringements.
EMPOWERING PRODUCERS & MUSIC EXECUTIVES
Timbaland envisions a model where producers and music executives become the owners of AI voice filters, allowing them to generate additional income. By leveraging this technology, they can create new music and preserve the legacy of late artists.
However, ensuring proper copyright licensing and addressing legal complexities remains a crucial challenge in implementing this concept.
EXPERT INSIGHTS ON AI & RESPONSIBILITY
Noted AI expert George Hinton, known as the “godfather of artificial intelligence,” emphasizes the importance of controlling AI to prevent unintended consequences. Hinton, who recently left his position at Google, warns about the potential dangers of unregulated AI and the need for responsible implementation.
TIMBALAND’S AI EXPERIMENT WITH NOTORIOUS B.I.G.
The Virginia-bred producer recently provided a glimpse into the possibilities of AI-driven music by sharing a preview of a song featuring AI vocals from the late Notorious B.I.G. Although he showcased the song on social media, Timbaland does not have immediate plans for an official release.
The development of this AI-infused track involved collaboration with the software company Light Energy Labs, co-founded by Timbaland and Zayd “Creatrgod” Portillo.
UNDISCLOSED LATE ARTISTS & FUTURE PROSPECTS
While Timbaland refrains from mentioning specific late artists he plans to collaborate with using AI, his venture hints at the potential for breathing new life into their musical catalogs. Integrating AI technology in the music industry can spark innovation and redefine artistic possibilities.
AI’S IMPACT & CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman addresses U.S. Congress, highlighting the significant harm that AI could potentially inflict on the world. This testimony underscores the need for responsible oversight and regulation in developing and deploying AI technologies.
TIMBALAND FACES BACKLASH AFTER SHARING AI-GENERATED SONG WITH NOTORIOUS B.I.G.’S VOCALS
Producer Timbaland recently shared a preview of an AI-generated song featuring the late Notorious B.I.G.’s vocals on social media. The snippet received a lot of criticism from fans who felt it was disrespectful to use AI Biggie’s vocals.
TIMBALAND SHARES PREVIEW OF AI-GENERATED SONG WITH BIGGIE’S VOCALS
In the clip shared by Timbaland, he revealed that he always wanted to work with Biggie. He shared a snippet of the AI-generated song with Biggie’s vocals. The response from fans on Twitter was not positive.
Fans expressed their disapproval of using deceased artists’ vocals for AI-generated songs. Some strongly believed it was unethical since Biggie passed away long ago.
#HipHopNews: Travis Scott Previews His ‘Utopia’ Album For The Houston Astros
Travis Scott’s love for his hometown has been well-documented throughout the years, and he’s showing no signs of switching up anytime soon. Last night (May 15), the Houston native paid a visit to Minute Maid Park, where the Astros were playing against the Chicago Cubs. He spent some time with the players in the locker room and treated them with an exclusive preview of his forthcoming album, Utopia.
In a new video posted by Mark Berman, Fox 26’s sports director, Scott confirmed the project is finished. “Fresh from Utopia… it’s on the way now, Mark,” the rapper told Berman. “I had to come here to play Utopia for the boys down in the locker room. Had to get them right for the game. Finished the master, Mark. You know how we do, Mark.”
Back in November 2021, the Platinum-certified talent dropped two songs, “Mafia” and “Escape Plan.” Although no official release date has been announced, buzz has been garnering since April 2022 when Utopia billboards went up around Southern California.
Utopia will mark Scott’s first solo LP in nearly five years. His last album was 2018’s ASTROWORLD, a widely successful offering that housed fan-favorites like “BUTTERFLY EFFECT” and “SICKO MODE” featuring Drake. The project boasted features from Frank Ocean, The Weeknd, Kid Cudi, 21 Savage, Swae Lee, Sheck Wes, the late Juice WRLD, and others.
Outside of his own releases, the “through the late night” emcee has stayed active throughout the last year by dropping guest verses on recent collaborations like “Open Arms” by SZA, “Trance” by Metro Boomin, “Pussy & Millions” by Drake and 21 Savage, “Embarrassed” by Don Toliver, and plenty more. In related news, Scott is slated to hit the stage at Rolling Loud Miami in July.
Congrats! Kierra Sheard-Kelly Expecting First Baby with Husband
*Kierra Sheard-Kelly is expecting her first baby with her husband Jordan Kelly.
“I am so excited and blessed to have this opportunity to carry, my prayer, and watch our baby grow,” said the 35-year-old singer, People reports. “I’m most excited about raising a game changer, loving someone so deep, and having that same impact my mother had on me. I think I’ll be raising one of my best friends!”
Sheard-Kelly and Kelly tied the knot in December 2020, and her exciting baby news comes after she experienced two miscarriages.
“God still showed me that He’s in charge, and to keep believing. I’ve been fearful and have worried, but God has sent me constant reminders and ways of affirmation. My husband’s faith and declarations have stood in place of my lack many times,” said Sheard-Kelly.
“He has encouraged me to know that I’m still loved, had we had this moment or not. Getting on one accord helps create our love child, and is growing us closer,” she continued. “I’ve downloaded faith-based books, prayed every morning over my womb and baby, and surrounded myself with a very supportive and prayerful community.”
“As a result, we are here seeing our prayers answered. I’ve felt the presence of God in my womb and it’s been one of the most promising moments I’ve had in my life,” Sheard-Kelly added, per People.
In April, Sheard-Kelly released a new book, “The Vibes You Feel,” for teens and young women which explores “what it means to listen to God’s voice, better understand the “vibes” and intuition the Spirit uses as guidance, and live a life that proclaims your heavenly truth,” per the news release.
“Filled with personal lessons from author and Grammy-nominated artist Kierra “Kiki” Sheard-Kelly and empowering scriptural promises, you’ll grow stronger in your faith as well as your God-given purpose,” the release continues.
Sheard-Kelly’s new album, “All Yours,” is also available now.
Lizzo Insists She's 'Not Trying To Escape Fatness' Amid Weight Loss Criticism
Lizzo doesn't try to lose weight. The 35-year-old pop star - whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson - is famous for sporting a curvier figure and explains that while losing weight is a natural element of her "high-performance job, she does not want to "escape fatness" as a result of her physical performances.
"I think a lot of people see a fat person and immediately just assume everything they're doing is to be thin. Weight loss comes with the territory, but I'm not trying to escape fatness. Heavy on the 'not trying to escape fatness.' Heavy f****** on it," she said in a video posted to TikTok.
"I have a very high-performance job. For 90 minutes a night, I have to do choreography, I have to sing, I have to dance, I have to rap, and I have to play the flute. And I have to emote, and hype a crowd in very tight clothes, sometimes clothes where it restricts my breathing."
The "About Damn Time" hitmaker went on to add that she still "loves" her job and in more recent years has started to take the physical side of performing more "seriously" and prioritise it over her former "rockstar lifestyle" but insisted she "does not want" to be thin.
She added, "It's fun. I love my job. It takes a lot of physical endurance to do what I do, and I used to be very rockstar lifestyle, used to throw myself around on the stage. As I got more professional in my career, I started to take the physical part more seriously. I've always loved moving my body. I've always loved working out."
"I'm very holistically conscious, like I am very hippie-dippie and woo woo when it comes to food and supplements and just thinking about my body and the environment, and I think a lot of people see a fat person that way and immediately just assume everything they're doing is to be thin. I'm not tryna be thin. I don't ever want to be thin."
#RIP: WWE Legend Billy Graham Has Passed Away At 79
Ric Flair has confirmed the death of WWE legend Billy Graham. The Hall of Famer, whose real name was Eldridge Wayne Coleman, passed away in mid-May 2023 at the age of 79 after being in hospital for weeks with various health issues.
"The Superstar Billy Graham Just Left Us," Ric, who was one of Billy's proteges, wrote on Twitter. "THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INFLUENCE On My Career! (sic)" Billy's family told TMZ he passed away on Wednesday, May 17 after he was taken off life support, and his wife Valerie and daughter were by his side when he died.
Valerie revealed earlier in the week that Billy was on life support, but admitted she had refused a request from doctors to remove him from life support. She told the publication at the time, "Please urgent prayers needed for my husband. The doctors wanted to remove him from life support tonight. I refused. He's a fighter and his will is strong even if his body isn't. God is our hope."
In January, a "recovery fund" was set up for Billy on website GoFundMe, and $21,864 has been raised at the time of writing. A message on the page reads, "Friends, Wayne (Billy) has had a very rough run lately. He coded, but God decided that it was not his time to go, and brought him back to us!"
"He is going on over three weeks in the Mayo hospital ICU, checked into a rehab center, and is now back at the Mayo," it continued. "He is dealing with a myriad of very serious health issues: a major infection in his ears and skull that may take six months of intravenous IVs, congestive heart failure, diabetes, hearing loss as a result of the infection, and the list goes on."
"He is facing a long period of rehab, and his insurance will only pay a portion of this. He is facing at least two months in a skilled nursing facility, once he is stabilized and released from the Mayo hospital. Wayne has lost 45 pounds in the last three weeks," the message went on.
"Wayne's wife Valerie is doing the best she can to work full time, while also doing all she can for her husband. They are facing mounting long term medical related bills. Any amount would be greatly appreciated. (sic)"
The star was called Wayne by his family, but known to most as his ring name "Superstar" Billy Graham. He became the WWWF Heavyweight Champion in the 1977-1978 campaign, and was known for mentoring wrestlers such as Ric, Hulk Hogan, Scott Steiner and Jess Ventura. In 2004, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Prior to his wrestling career, Billy was an award-winning bodybuilder and training partner and pal of now-Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Beyoncé Revealed The Role Natalia Bryant, Kobe Bryant’s Daughter, Has On The ‘Renaissance World Tour’
Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour has given the Beyhive plenty to talk about since opening in Stockholm, Sweden last Wednesday, May 10. Whether it’s acknowledging the fan demand for the Renaissance visuals or tributing Tina Knowles-Lawson on Mother’s Day, Beyoncé is always the headline.
But on Wednesday, May 17, Beyoncé credited everyone making her Renaissance World Tour go. As expected with a tour this massive, there are a lot of names on the list posted to her official website. People especially noticed one name, though: Natalia Bryant, the 20-year-old daughter of Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant, who tragically passed in January 2020. Bryant is listed as an intern for Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment.
Bryant, an IMG model and student at USC, previously appeared in Beyoncé’s November 2021 Ivy Park campaign. “Love you so much Auntie BB,” Bryant wrote in an Instagram post at the time.
Funnily enough, Bryant’s latest Instagram post, from earlier today, featured the hook of Taylor Swift’s “Bejeweled” as the caption. Moreover, Forbes recently projected that the tour will out-earn Swift’s ongoing The Eras. According to the publication, Beyoncé “could clear nearly $2.2 billion … some $600 million more than the $1.6 billion Taylor Swift could earn from Eras.”
The Renaissance World Tour is in Cardiff, Wales, UK on Wednesday night (May 17) before jetting to Edinburgh for a show this Saturday, May 20. Beyoncé will begin her North American leg in Toronto on July 8-9 and end it in New Orleans on September 27.
A New ‘Pink Panther’ Movie Is In The Works And It Might Star Eddie Murphy
Only three actors have ever portrayed Inspector Clouseau, the bumbling, obliviously stupid French detective of the Pink Panther films. (The number is four if you count a Roger Moore cameo in 1983’s Curse of the Pink Panther.) There’s a reason for that: The role is so closely associated with the first person to play him, Peter Sellers, that only a true genius could ever dare fill those shambolic shoes. Alan Arkin gave it a try in the late ‘60s. Steve Martin did the same in the aughts. Now another legend may join them.
As per Deadline, MGM, now owned by Amazon, is looking to reignite the Pink Panther IP, and they may have found their man: Eddie Murphy. Multiple sources claim the beloved comic performer is “circling” the role. No details are known at this time, but it could become the next big role for the performer, who has returned to entertainment after taking a good, long hiatus to raise some kids and has been doing a pretty great job of it.
The Pink Panther series began in 1963 as a farcical, classy heist movie in which Sellers’ Closeau was second-billed to David Niven’s jewel thief. The character proved so popular that he got his own break-out movie, 1964’s Pink Panther-less A Shot in the Dark. (At the same time, the titular animated character, seen in the delightful opening credits, scored his own line of theatrical cartoon shorts.)
Sellers returned to Clouseau in the mid-‘70s, who he played up until his death in 1980. He even embodied him after passing away; the truly bizarre Trail of the Pink Panther continued his story using scrapped footage from 1976’s The Pink Panther Strikes Again. No less than Roberto Benigni played his illegitimate Italian son in 1993’s Son of the Pink Panther, which brought an end to the franchise’s original run.
'General Hospital' star Haley Pullos arrested on DUI charge after Pasadena car crash
"General Hospital" star Haley Pullos was reportedly arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after allegedly colliding with oncoming traffic on a freeway in Pasadena.
The 24-year-old actor was driving on the freeway April 29 when she allegedly swerved, cleared the dividing barrier and crashed into a car going the opposite direction at about 60 miles per hour, according to a police report obtained Wednesday by TMZ. The driver of the other car reportedly survived the crash but was hospitalized with severe injuries.
Firefighters reportedly rescued Pullos from her car and placed her in an ambulance, where she allegedly struck a firefighter who was assessing her injuries and shouted, "This is a $400 f— shirt!"
Officers arrested Pullos at the hospital, where she was sedated after allegedly becoming hostile and violent toward healthcare workers, according to TMZ.
The case file reportedly noted that Pullos' breath smelled of alcohol and her speech was slurred. Officers also allegedly discovered edible cannabis products and mini-bottles of tequila in Pullos' vehicle, according to TMZ. The Times has reached out to the California Highway Patrol for additional information.
Police told TMZ that Pullos was involved in a hit-and-run traffic collision before the freeway accident.
Last week, Soap Opera Digest reported that "General Hospital" had temporarily recast Pullos' character, Molly Lansing-Davis, while the actor is on medical leave. The show has reportedly tapped Holiday Mia Kriegel to sub in starting next week.
“Unfortunately, I was involved in an automobile accident and I’m doing okay, but I am going to need a little time to recover," Pullos told Soap Opera Digest in a statement. "I will be back as soon as possible!”
Representatives for Pullos and "General Hospital" did not immediately respond Wednesday to inquiries from The Times.
ESPN announces new “In the Arena: Serena Williams” docuseries
Serena Williams is winning both on and off the court. The tennis champion is set to be the focus of a new docuseries highlighting her groundbreaking career and awe-inspiring life. The announcement was made yesterday (May 16).
“In the Arena: Serena Williams” will be the name of the ESPN series backed by the Walt Disney Company, Variety noted. The upcoming project comes after the success of the similarly styled 10-part ESPN series, “Man in the Arena: Tom Brady.” A synopsis of the forthcoming show promises that her “expansion of the franchise will be a multi-part series that provides the most complete, intimate and compelling account of her legendary career, featuring first hand perspective from Serena and key figures throughout her life.”
“Serena fights to maintain her place atop the tennis world while juggling the transformational experience of starting a family,” a description continues of the expectant mother, who previously gave birth to daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. in 2017 with husband Alexis Ohanian. “That target, that big, giant red ‘X’ that I couldn’t see but everyone else saw, started out as a curse. Everyone wanted to beat me. It became, ‘We don’t care who wins. We just don’t want her to win,’” the 41-year-old narrates in a preview shared on social media — ultimately revealing that the burden became a blessing.
Her supporters are ready. “Serena Williams is such an inspiration. She is proof that circumstances don’t define your destiny in life!” one said of the Michigan native who has proudly earned multiple Miami Masters, Australian Opens, Wimbledons, and U.S. Open titles. “Honestly, if there was no Serena and Venus, [women’s] tennis would not even be close to the [men’s] side. They were a bigger draw to the TV more than Sampras and Agassi at the time and kept it up,” another commenter wrote. A release date has yet to be announced.
Party City Closing 31 Stores After Bankruptcy Filing In January
Party City is the latest company forced to close several of its locations in the U.S. due to low sales.
In January, the Woodcliff Lake-based party supply chain was forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Like many companies, Party City was negatively impacted by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis saw several businesses shuttering, many of which never re-opened their doors. While Party City did attempt to revive itself, it seems folks aren’t buying balloons and festive confetti as much as they once were. As a result, over 30 stores will shut their doors for good.
Before they were forced into bankruptcy, Party City had already closed down 28 locations across 13 states. Now, they are asking to be released from their leases without penalty, Business Insider reports. Last month, the company said they’d planned on auctioning off their remaining leases. These latest 31 closures are yet another troubling sign that the company is quickly deteriorating. Party City operated 823 retail locations, though only 770 were company-owned. Stores in California, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Michigan are just a few states that will be shuttering doors for good.
Party City is the latest specialty store forced to close its door after slow sales. Days ago, the Container Store announced layoffs across its call centers, stores, and warehouses. Therefore, locations shutting their doors are sure to follow. Bed Bath & Beyond is also shutting down hundreds of stores, sending deal hunters flocking to their nearby BB&B, while employees are left in limbo.
JoJo Siwa's L.A. Home Burglarized by Armed Robbers: 'Life is Scary'
JoJo Siwa and her family are luckily safe after a scary home invasion. The 19-year-old social media star recently took to Snapchat to reveal that her home in Los Angeles was burglarized by armed robbers on Monday (May 15) while she was away on a cruise.
“Gonna share the picture but warning it’s very terrifying,” JoJo started. “Very grateful everyone is safe.”
“We were robbed last night at 2:40(ish)AM….” JoJo shared. “It was an armed robbery which is very scary.”
“But the good news… No one was hurt, all our puppies are good, there is lots of materialistic damage, but that can all be fixed,” JoJo revealed. “I’m just happy that my family and pups are safe. Most important thing to me.”
TMZ reports that no one was home at the time of the break-in, adding that the suspects had taken off before police arrived.
“It was a REALLLLLY long night on the phone with my security, family, and LAPD,” JoJo continued. “And then I couldn’t fall back asleep after. Was about 2 hours on the phone, then lots more just laying there thinking.”
JoJo then went on to share some footage from her security camera of them armed robbers walking up and down her stairs.
“This makes me sick to watch,” JoJo wrote along with the security footage. “Security footage of the break in…It’s terrifying.”
The break-in at JoJo‘s house comes shortly after it was revealed that police were called to Lady Gaga‘s home in Malibu.…
We’re glad to hear JoJo and her family are safe after the scary incident.
Montana Becomes First State To Completely Ban TikTok; Law Likely To Be Challenged
There it goes! Montana has become the first state in America to completely ban TikTok. It is reported that after the state’s Governor signed the controversial law into order, it will more than likely be challenged.
On Wednesday (May 17), Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed the country’s first law restricting residents from downloading the China-based app TikTok.
It is called Senate Bill 419 and will go into effect on January 1, 2024. SB 419 was passed in the Montana Senate 30-20 on March 2, then cleared the Montana House 54-43 on April 14.
At the time, TikTok released a statement and said, “The bill’s champions have admitted that they have no feasible plan for operationalizing this attempt to censor American voices and that the bill’s constitutionality will be decided by the courts. We will continue to fight for TikTok users and creators in Montana whose livelihoods and First Amendment rights are threatened by this egregious government overreach.”
It is reported that prior to the new bill, the federal government had already banned TikTok on government devices, but now the new bill will extend to personal ones, stating, “Tiktok may not operate within the territorial jurisdiction of Montana.”
Gov. Gianforte released a statement upon signing the bill and said, “The Chinese Communist Party using TikTok to spy on Americans, violate their privacy, and collect their personal, private, and sensitive information is well-documented. Today, Montana takes the most decisive action of any state to protect Montanans’ private data and sensitive personal information from being harvested by the Chinese Communist Party.”
He then issued a tweet on Twitter doubling down and said, “To protect Montanan’s personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party, I have banned TikTok in Montana.”
Once the law goes into effect next year, the Montana Department of Justice warns that it will be able to fine app stores or even ByteDance — which is TikTok’s parent company — $10,000 for each violation, plus $10,000 for each day that the violation continues.
Since the news broke, the company has released a statement saying the ban, “infringes on the First Amendment rights of the people of Montana.”
L.A. Dodgers Is removing a Charity Drag Group From its Pride Night
including Sen. Marco Rubio, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Wednesday that they had uninvited an LGBTQ charity and drag performance group from participation in their annual Pride Night. The organization, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, is an order of “queer and trans nuns” devoted to “community service, ministry and outreach to those on the edges, and to promoting human rights, respect for diversity and spiritual enlightenment,” according to their self-description.
Known for their campy, gender-fluid religious costumes and demonstrations, the Sisters have scandalized Catholics almost from the moment of their inception in 1979. In the Dodgers’ statement, the baseball team alluded to “people who have been offended by the sisters’ inclusion in our evening,” and said that the decision to drop them was made “in an effort not to distract from the great benefits” of the Pride event. The Dodgers’ senior director of public relations declined to comment further.
Earlier this week, Sen. Rubio sent a letter to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, arguing that by honoring “a group of gay and transgender drag performers that intentionally mocks and degrades Christians” with a “Community Hero Award,” the Dodgers were not “inclusive and welcoming to everyone,” as Manfred has said the league should strive to be. He further accused the team of promoting a “woke far-left anti-Catholic agenda.” Conservative outlets such as the New York Post and Fox News also framed the Sisters as anti-Catholic activists — but since their founding, the group has raised well over a million dollars for nonprofits serving communities in need. Rubio took a victory lap after they were cut from the Dodgers’ Pride Night, tweeting, “For once, common sense prevailed in California.”
The Sisters’ Los Angeles Mission, established in 1995, released a statement that said they were “sad to learn the Los Angeles Dodgers have chosen to rescind their award, succumbing to pressure from persons outside of the State of California and outside of our community.” They reaffirmed that their “mission is to uplift our community and all marginalized groups, especially the ones ignored by larger organizations,” noting that the group is “both silly and serious,” using “flamboyance in service to our charity work.”
The statement continued: “We wish to point out that though our LGBTQIA community is currently being assailed by a small group of extremists attempting to roll back society’s progress, they are a tiny minority and do not represent the majority of Americans’ commitment to a country that lives side by side in our great melting pot.” The L.A. mission added that their work speaks for itself and is not done in the interest of “awards or accolades,” but “removing suffering and promulgating joy.”
Although the objections to the Sisters’ inclusion at Pride Night were couched in terms of religious tolerance, it hardly seems coincidental that the group was singled out at a time when the American right has sought to vilify transgender people and drag performances as threats to children and traditional values. (In their response, the Sisters clarified that while their membership is not exclusively trans and encompasses all genders, they “unequivocally support the rights of transgender people.”)
Sister Roma, a drag queen activist who has been with the Sisters since the late 1980s, accused the Dodgers of caving to “pseudo-Christian homophobes,” saying that the “weaponizing of religion is exactly what [the Sisters] have been protesting for decades.” Replying to that tweet, Honey Mahogany, a star of RuPaul’s Drag Race who in 2021 became the first black and trans Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, wondered, “why even bother having a Pride night if you’re going to cave to voices of anti-LGBTQ hate.”
The Dodgers’ upcoming Pride Night on June 16 — which was unlikely to be attended by homophobes and transphobes in the first place — marks their 10th anniversary of the event, and will feature singer David Archuleta performing the National Anthem. Married former tennis players Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss, who have a minority stake in the Dodgers, are also to take part in the festivities. It’s unclear whether the team will choose a different recipient for this year’s Community Hero Award now that the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have been stripped of the honor.
But one thing’s for sure: the Dodgers are going to sell plenty of hats with rainbow logos.
Fox News Says Laura Ingraham Will Continue To Be A “Prominent Host And Integral Part” Of Network Lineup As Primetime Changes Are
Fox News issued another statement to address potential changes to its primetime schedule, this time on the status of Laura Ingraham.
A network spokesperson said, “Reports based on various tweets by left wing activists are wildly inaccurate — Laura Ingraham, the top-rated woman in cable news, is now and will continue to be a prominent host and integral part of the Fox News lineup.”
The latest Fox News statement does not address whether she will remain in her 10 p.m. ET time period, but the network statement is a pushback on social media rumors that she is exiting.
The speculation about Ingraham started after the Drudge Report, in its main headline, reported that Fox News was about to overhaul its primetime line up, with Hannity leading the 8 p.m. hour and shows hosted by Jesse Watters and Greg Gutfeld taking the later slots. That left the question of what would happen to Ingraham.
Earlier in the day, the network said that “no decision has been made on a new primetime line-up and there are multiple scenarios under consideration.” After the network dropped Tucker Carlson’s 8 p.m. show last month, a series of rotating hosts has filled the time slot under the banner Fox News Tonight, with the expectation that a permanent occupant would be named.
Ingraham has hosted The Ingraham Angle since 2017.
Fox News has seen a viewership dip in primetime with the loss of Carlson, but the network’s lineup of Fox News Tonight, Hannity and Ingraham have still generally topped rivals in total audience. MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show did beat Hannity on Monday and but Maddow’s show is on just once a week.
Channel 7 NYC News Anchor (Ken Rosato) Fired After Co-Anchor Shirleen Allicot Colleague a ‘C**t’
*ABC7’s Ken Rosato was “immediately fired” after he allegedly called fellow co-anchor, Shirleen Allicot a “c**t” on a hot mic.
Initially, it was believed that he had made a racist comment, but his agent denied this. Rosato was off-air when he uttered the offensive c-word, the New York Post reports.
“Being fired for any racial slur is 100 percent inaccurate and untrue. Ken Rosato had a benchmark of 20 years at WABC of supporting all equality,” Rosato’s rep said in a statement.
According to The Post, the general manager at the news station sent staffers a memo Friday informing them that Rosato was “no longer with WABC”.
According to the Daily Mail, Rosato started with ABC New York in 2003 as a freelance reporter before moving to the anchor desk in 2007. He co-anchored the morning program with Allicot, Heather O’Rourke, and meteorologist Sam Champion.
Rosato’s history with the company has been scrubbed from ABC New York’s website and social media. As the Daily Mail reports, the network did a profile on him in September 2020, which has also been removed.
During the interview, Rosato gushed about the moment he was asked to lead ABC New York’s news program.
“I was a full-time freelance reporter, I had a chance to fill-in anchoring. The ratings spiked. The ratings spiked,” he explained.
“Then I was told: ‘We are offering you a new contract. You are our new morning anchor.’ Which was the moment I dreamed about for about 20 years and it came true,” he said, according to the Daily Mail.
Too Lazy to put something
Try it sometimes
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