In an interview with Vanity Fair, legendary actress Lauren Bacall said that gay writer Truman Capote never slept with Humphrey Bogart after betting the actor he could beat him at arm-wrestling, according to an Advocate.com item. When asked about it, Bacall responded, "Why you bring up a thing like that? What kind of a mind do you have? Step out of the gutter. ... Maybe it was a pipe dream of Truman's—who knows? But it's a totally ridiculous suggestion..." She added that she disliked the question altogether.
Sex and the City actress Cynthia Nixon and her partner, Christine Marinoni, are the proud parents of a boy, according to People.com . Marinoni gave birth to Max Ellington Nixon-Marinoni Feb. 7. Nixon, 44, has two children from her previous relationship with Danny Mozes in addition to Max.
Out gay Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry is promoting his next ABC pilot, Hallelujah, as "Glee for conservative Republicans," according to an Advocate.com item. Cherry described the show as "a cross between Touched by an Angel and Dallas" and added that there will be a "generous helping of gospel music." He said that he was inspired by the 1947 holiday classic The Bishop's Wife, in which an angel played by Cary Grant visits a minister's family; it was later remade as The Preacher's Wife, with Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston.
Fergie of the musical group Black Eyed Peas has come to Christina Aguilera's defense after the "Beautiful" singer flubbed a few words of the national anthem while singing at the Super Bowl Feb. 6, according to US Magazine. Fergie said on a radio show, "You know what? It's such a huge venue, your nerves take a hold of you. I completely understand. She's one of the best singers of our time. Nobody can take that away from you..." Fergie added that she had a great time, although the Peas has their own technical problems during halftime of the game.
Lindsay Lohan has pled not guilty to a charge of grand theft, as it's alleged that he stole a necklace from a Venice, Calif., jewelry store, according to the Chicago Tribune. Superior Court Judge Keith L. Schwartz set Lohan's bond at $20,000; he said, "If you violate the law, I will remand you and set no bail and your attorney won't be successful this time. ... You need to follow the laws just like everybody else. The Mean Girls actress will return to court Feb. 23.
(GLAAD) will honor out singer Ricky Martin and Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress/singer Kristin Chenoweth at the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards presented by RÖKK Vodka, according to a press release. Martin will receive the Vito Russo Award at the New York award ceremony March 19 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square. Chenoweth will receive the Vanguard Award at the Los Angeles event April 10 at the Westin Bonaventure. The GLAAD Media Awards will also celebrate GLAAD's 25th-anniversary year, looking back at a quarter-century of work to build acceptance and advance equality through LGBT images in the media.
Lady Gaga has said that she is "fucking tired" after working nonstop, according to a Digital Spy item. Gaga has spent the last three years constantly touring and recording music, and admitted in a Vogue profile that she works hard for her fans. She added, "I was just a bad kid. And I look at [the fans], and every show there's a little more eyeliner, a little more freedom, and a little more 'I don't give a fuck about the bullies at my school.' For some reason, the fans didn't become more Top 40. They become even more of this cult following. It's very strange and exciting."
Speaking of Gaga, singer Akon has said that critics don't fully appreciate her songwriting talents, according to Digital Spy. Akon said that the "Bad Romance" singer uses her tunes to talk about "adult subject matter" but that people sometimes just think of her as a dance artist. He added that Gaga's upcoming CD, Born This Way "is the kind of record that, if you are really paying attention, you will get the full depth of GaGa as a songwriter." Born This Way will be out May 23.
Emma Watson—best known for playing Hermione in the Harry Potter film series—will appear in a coming-of-age movie titled The Perks of Being a Wallflower, according to the Daily Mail. Watson will play the first love of a teen boy who deals with issues of his sexuality and family abuse. Watson will start filming during her summer break from the Ivy League school Brown University.
Joan Rivers has joined the Human Rights Campaign in a new video in the "New Yorkers for Marriage Equality" series, according to a press release. Among the others who have released video's are President George W. Bush's daughter, Barbara; Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon; Fran Drescher; and Kenneth Cole. See more online at http://www.hrc.org/NY4marriage.
Actor Shia LeBeouf got into a bar fight—allegedly after being called an anti-gay slur, according to a Huffington Post item. The Transformers actor was arrested outside Los Angeles' Mad Bull Tavern Feb. 5. An eyewitness said that another patron "was laughing at Shia and called Shia 'a f**king faggot'. Shia shot back that he was going to 'kick his f**king ass.'" However, LeBeouf got the worst of it, suffering a split lip.
Screenwriter/director Paul Haggis (Crash; Million Dollar Baby) broke away from Scientology because of its anti-gay stance, according to Newser.com . Haggis told the New Yorker, "I was in a cult for 34 years. Everyone else could see it. I don't know why I couldn't." He enjoyed the "feeling of camaraderie" but started experiencing doubts after a San Diego staff member signed the church's name to a petition supporting Prop 8, California's initiative that bans marriage equality. In addition, one of Haggis' children was shunned because she is gay; because of her orientation, she was tagged as "wicked."
In the March issue of Lucky magazine, supermodel/Project Runway host Heidi Klum talks about her gay "husband," Michael Ostrow, according to StyleBistro.com . Klum said that Ostrow is the perfect shopping companion because he is very honest: "He says, 'No, it's not the pants. It's your ass that makes your ass look big!'"
Tim Gunn, along with actresses Taraji P. Henson and Olivia Wilde, had a "no fur" message for designers showing their collections at New York Fashion Week, according to a Yahoo! News item. Gunn, who co-hosts Project Runway and is chief creative officer at Liz Claiborne, said, "I'd just like to sit with them and have a talk and ask, 'Is [using fur] really necessary?'" Gunn, Henson and Wilde appeared Feb. 9 at Stella McCartney's boutique with activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Trevor Donovan, who plays gay jock Teddy on the CW show 90210, believes he's making a difference in people's lives, according to On Top Magazine. Talking with AfterElton.com, Donovan said, "I love my job, I truly, passionately love what I do, but when you read comments and messages on Facebook or on the blogs or on your website, and they are tear-jerking messages that are so heartfelt and I really feel like I'm making a difference in people's lives, and it just makes my job so much fulfilling."
Twilight actress Kristen Stewart may play a transgender rape victim in the movie K-11, according to HollywoodLife.com . The movie is about a Hollywood music magnate who ends up in the K-11 unit of a prison for men, with K-11 being a unit for gay and transgender men. Stewart is rumored to play 19-year-old Birdy, who befriends a newcomer to the prison. The movie—which, based on its rumored content, will be rated "R," if not "NC-17"—has been on the table since 2008.
Superstar Barbra Streisand, 68, was honored at the annual MusiCares gala, held Feb. 11 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, according to USA Today. (The event honors musicians for their artistic and philanthropic contributions.) Seal sang the title track of Streisand's Guilty album while British singer Leona Lewis sang "Somewhere" and Tony Bennett regaled the crowd with "Smile." By the time Streisand took the stage to sing a medley of hits (including "Happy Days Are Here Again" and "Evergreen"), she said, "I'm stuck with the leftovers."
Speaking of Streisand, she has confirmed that she will play stage mother Mama Rose in a new movie adaptation of the Broadway musical Gypsy, according to an Advocate.com item. Streisand said that the news leaked "a little early, because the deal wasn't finished. I am not sure about directing it. It may just be too much. I know I will be playing the part. It's like a bookend, starting with Funny Girl." Among those who have played the role in musical theater are Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone, Ethel Merman and Tyne Daly.
Legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor was admitted to Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for congestive heart failure, according to a Reuters item. Taylor has had a long history of medical problems, including three hip-replacement surgeries, skin cancer, pneumonia and a benign brain tumor; she announced seven years ago that she had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure—when the heart isn't pumping enough blood to other organs.
In Chicago, Glee star Matthew Morrison will headline the Goodman Theatre's May 21 gala to celebrate "One Enchanted Decade" at 170 N. Dearborn, according to a press release. The black-tie event will begin with a cocktail reception followed by Morrison's performance in the 856-seat Albert Theatre.
Celebrity photographer David LaChapelle is suing pop singer Rihanna over the images in her video for the song "S&M," according to EW.com . LaChapelle is claiming that scenes in her video are taken directly from photos he's shot. In all, he alleges, eight images from the "Umbrella" singer's video copy the "composition, total concept, feel, tone, mood, theme, colors, props, settings, decors, wardrobe and lighting of his work."
Karen Grace Sjoden, 49, was arrested at the home of Ellen and Portia DeGenerres and charged with trespassing, according to the Beverly Hills Courier. Sjoden pled not guilty and will return to court March 7 for trial; she had been held on $5,000 bail but it was increased to $200,000 at the request of the prosecution.
