Benedict Cumberbatch—who stars as gay codebreaker Alan Turing in the film The Imitation Game—is on the November cover of OUT magazine. In it, the straight actor talks about sexuality in Hollywood, among other things: "I think if you're going to sell yourself as a leading man in Hollywood to say 'I'm gay,' sadly, is still a huge obstacle. We all know actors who are [gay] who don't want to talk about it or bring it up, or who deny it. I don't really know what they do to deal with it." As for Turing receiving a posthumous royal pardon, Cumberbatch says, "The only person who should be [doing the] forgiving is Turing, and he can't because we killed him. And it makes me really angry. It makes me very angry."
Openly lesbian pundit Jane Velez-Mitchell and her staff have been laid off due to budget cuts at CNN, ending her nightly program on the HLN network, according to Page Six. The last episode aired Oct. 13, and Velez-Mitchell was informed of the layoff Oct. 14. CNN Worldwide is in the midst of an 8 percent staff cut, a total of 300 jobs. An estimated 130 people have taken buyouts, with layoffs accounting for the remainder.
Ezra Miller has been tapped to play The Flash in Warner Bros.' new Justice League movie due out in 2018, The Huffington Post reported. Miller, 22, is the first out LBGT actor cast to play a superhero in a franchise blockbuster. ( Sir Ian McKellen, who is gay, stars as the villainous Magneto in the X-Men series; Ellen Page also stars in the X-Men films, but was cast as Kitty Pride before publicly coming out in February of 2014. ) Miller is known best for parts in Perks of Being a Wallflower and We Need to Talk About Kevin.
A California community college has agreed to pay Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black $26,000 not to sue after the school rescinded an invitation to speak at commencement, Page Six noted. Pasadena City College officials were concerned about the school's image after a stolen sex video with Black was posted online. Black, who wrote the screenplay for Milk, ultimately delivered the May 9 address at his alma mater after he wrote a letter in the student newspaper hinting at legal action; trustees apologized and invited him back.
In her recent Health magazine cover story, former The Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels opened up about being gay—comments, she now says, that members of the LGBT community may have been misconstrued, People magazine stated. In her interview, Michaels, who has two children with partner Heidi Rhoades, told Health magazine: "The 'gay' thing has always been hard for me. … When Heidi and I are out and somebody older asks, 'Are you sisters?' I say, 'We're friends.'" Michaels later told People, "I attempted to shed light on how hard and scary it can be to be out. That gay families get attacked and even small daily interactions involve others being 'shocked and disturbed' by the gay lifestyle."
Shonda Rhimes—the creator of Grey's Anatomy and Scandal, and executive producer of the new hit How to Get Away with Murder—did not mince words when a Twitter user decided to complain to Rhimes about the "gay scenes" on her shows, according to CBS News. The commentator wrote that the scenes are "too much" and "add nothing to the plot." Rhimes responded, "There are no GAY scenes. There are scenes with people in them," and followed that with "If u use the phrase "gay scenes", u are not only LATE to the party but also NOT INVITED to the party. Bye Felicia. #oneLOVE"
Dancing with the Stars pro dancer Derek Hough accepted an award at the GLSEN Gala Oct. 17, for speaking out about bullying, which is something he knows all too well, US Weekly noted. Hough, 29, said, "They would tie my ankles up with a very rough rope and hang me in a tree upside down, spit on me and call me names, even hold a gun to my head." He then added, "Dance became my GLSEN. It became my safe place, the place where I could grow and flourish and find those answers." He also said he saw himself as a bully at one point.
ABC has closed a deal for Men in Shorts, a single-camera comedy inspired by the life of professional soccer player Robbie Rogers, who became the first openly gay man to compete in a top North American professional sports league, Deadline reported. The project comes from writer Claudia Lonow as well as producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, whose Storyline Entertainment, along with Universal Television, optioned Rogers' story rights for a comedy series in July.
In their first big programming move at Fox, Fox TV Group chairmen Dana Walden and Gary Newman have given a 15-episode straight-to-series order to Ryan Murphy, according to Deadline. With Glee wrapping its run on Fox, the network has ordered comedy-horror anthology Scream Queens, from Glee creators Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan. The first installment of Scream Queens—created by Murphy, Falchuk and Brennan—revolves around a college campus that is rocked by a series of murders.
Former The View co-host Jenny McCarthy told PrideSource she feels transgender on the inside and that she wouldn't mind if her son was gay so that he could do her hair, US Weekly noted. "I feel [transgender] inside. I always felt like one of the guys wearing, like, a Playboy bunny outfit," McCarthy said. She added, "I really do feel like, with sexuality being more open and people coming out, there might be a little bi in everybody—it's just a matter of who acts on it."
There will be another farewell to a beloved original character on The Good Wife, according to Deadline. Emmy winner Archie Panjabi, who has played resourceful ( and sexually fluid ) investigator Kalinda since the pilot, will be leaving at the end of the season. She is not planning a break from television, though, signing a development/holding deal with 20th Century Fox TV to headline a drama pilot for the studio in the spring for fall 2015 consideration.
The original stars of TV's Dukes of Hazzard—John Schneider and Tom Wopat—will release a special holiday album, Home for Christmas, to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the iconic TV show, a press release stated. Some of the songs on the CD include "Even the Snow ( Falls for You )," "Sleigh Ride" and "Silver Bells." The duo will celebrate with an exclusive CD release concert at New York's Joe's Pub at the Public Theater on Dec. 2.
Lambda Literary has announced details of the 2015 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBT Voices, according to a press release. The retreat will be held June 22-29 on the campus of the University of Southern California ( USC ), in Los Angeles. Faculty include Justin Torres ( Fiction workshop ), Linda Villarosa ( Nonfiction workshop ), Kazim Ali ( Poetry workshop ), and Sara Ryan ( Genre Fiction workshop-emphasis on Young Adult Fiction and Graphic Novels ). See www.lambdaliterary.org/ .
Singer Kesha is accusing producer Dr. Luke of sexual and physical abuse in a new lawsuit, according to The New York Daily News. The singer claims Dr. Luke forced her to use drugs and alcohol to compromise her defenses and was so violent and emotionally manipulative that she almost died, according to a report TMZ originally obtained. In responses, Dr. Luke ( real name: Lukasz Gottwald ) has filed his own lawsuit against the pop star, suing the singer for defamation and breach of contract, Rolling Stone noted.
It's official: The New York City medical rxaminer's Office declared that Joan Rivers died of lack of blood oxygen to the brain in a "predictable complication" of throat surgery, The Wrap reported. The comedienne, 81, died Sept. 4. She was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York on Aug. 28 after she stopped breathing while undergoing the procedure, and was then placed in a medically induced coma.
Oprah Winfrey's condominium at Water Tower Place has been taken off the market, according to Crain's Chicago Business. Winfrey, who lives in California, listed the condo in January for $7.75 million, but it has been off the market since August. Winfrey's Water Tower Place condo is a 9,625-square-foot unit on the 56th floor that includes two kitchens and three bedrooms with en suite bathrooms.
American Horror Story has been renewed for a fifth season, according to MovieNewsGuide.com . The premiere of American Horror Story: Freak Show was the most-watched telecast in FX history, so the network ordered another 13-episode fifth installment that will debut October 2015. That premiere had 10 million same-day viewers, with a high percentage of those in the coveted 18-49 age bracket.
Prince will be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live's Nov. 1 episode, Rolling Stone noted. The rocker will be joined by his backing band 3rdEyeGirl, with whom Prince recorded his two new albums Art Official Age and PlectrumElectrum. Chris Rock will host the episode, which marks the comedian's first SNL visit in 18 years.
Hunky Teen Wolf star Tyler Posey stripped down to pink undies on Ellen DeGeneres' talk show recently, according to JustJared.com . The 22-year-old Teen Wolf actor participated in the dunk-tank challenge to help raise money for breast-cancer research. Ulta Beauty donates $10,000 for every celeb who gets dunked during the month of October. Doing the honors of dunking Tyler was the singer Pink, who was on the show that day to promote her new project You+Me.
Michael Kors said at the God's Love "We Deliver" gala how he and Vogue editrix Anna Wintour were a "Lucy and Ethel" team while doing kitchen work for the charity, according to Page Six. "You haven't lived until you've seen Michael Kors and Anna Wintour at work in the God's Love kitchen," Kors recalled at the org's Golden Heart Awards Celebration at Spring Studios, where Wintour was honored, before he compared them to the famous TV duo. However, Wintour quipped while accepting the award, "I was thinking more Beyonce and Jay-Z." Also, late board member Joan Rivers was remembered in a video tribute.
HBO has given a pilot order to a drama from 12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen and scribe Matthew Michael Carnahan, Variety reported. Codes of Conduct revolves around a young African-American man who enters New York high society but his past may not be what it seems. The project will star Devon Terrell, a Long Beach native who grew up in Perth, Australia.
Channing Tatum has said that the sequel to Magic Mike will include "five times" more dancing than the original, according to Digital Spy. The actor is currently filming the follow-up to the 2012 film, alongside returning stars including Matt Bomer and Joe Manganiello. Speaking to NBC's Today Show, Tatum teased: "This is the Super Bowl version of what the first one was." Magic Mike XXL will be released July 1, 2015.
Gillian Anderson ( X-Files ) has said that she wants a role in Ghostbusters 3, Digital Spy noted. "OH MY GOD, I just looked it up online. Paul Feig, cast me now!," she stated. Bridesmaids director Feig was recently confirmed to be working on the new Ghostbusters film, which will feature an all-female team.
Out American Idol alum Clay Aiken held a political fundraiser on the Upper West Side of New York City, according to Playbill. At the event, entertainers such as Betty Buckley, Beth Leavel and Christine Ebersole performed. Aiken, who is running for Congress, is the Democrats' candidate in the Second District of his home state of North Carolina.
Susan Sarandon is going to play the mother of Marilyn Monroe in Lifetime's forthcoming TV miniseries, The New York Daily News noted. Sarandon, 68, will portray Baker in the four-hour miniseries Marilyn, which is based on J. Randy Taraborrelli's 2009 biography, The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe. As for who will play the famous blond bombshell, the role has not yet been cast.
R&B singer Erykah Badu conducted a guerrilla sociological experiment on the streets of NYC's Times Square—singing ( or busking ) to see how much money she could raise, according to Radio.com . By the end of the seven-minute clip she taped, she made a grand total of $3.60. Badu added, "In no way is this video a reflection of my feelings about homeless or unfortunate families nor individuals who have no other means of survival in our world."
HBO plans to offer an online-only streaming service next year, meaning consumers would no longer need a cable subscription to access HBO programming, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. The move would put the premium cable network in a better position to compete with subscription video services like Netflix, which revealed that it will make all 10 seasons, 236 episodes and 83 hours of Friends available exclusively on Jan. 1.
Oprah Winfrey interviewed former Glee star Charice Pempengco for Winfrey's Where Are They Now?, according to E! Online. The "Pyramid" singer has changed her looks dramatically, ditching her long locks for a blond buzz cut and black collared top. At one point, Winfrey asks, "Were you thinking about transitioning to become a male?" The singer responds, "Basically, my soul is male, but I'm not going to go through that stage where I'm going to change everything." The 22-year-old began switching up her image around the same time that she decided to come out as gay. "Yes, I am a tomboy," she revealed in 2013, using a common Filipino colloquial term for lesbian.
Glee star Matthew Morrison updated fans on his newlywed status on Oct. 20, introducing his wife Renee Puente in a Twitter announcement, according to US Weekly. "Conquered Hurricane Ana and got married!" Morrison wrote. "Most amazing week EVER. It's my pleasure to introduce, my WIFE, Mrs. Renee Marie Morrison!!" The couple's Maui nuptials took place on Oct. 18.
Best-selling author John Grisham has apologized for remarks he made about overly harsh sentences regarding child pornography, USA Today reported. He initially said, "We have prisons now filled with guys my age—60-year-old white men in prison who've never harmed anybody, would never touch a child." He did add, "I have no sympathy for real pedophiles. God, please lock those people up."
On a related note, The View's Rosie O'Donnell was utterly disgusted by Grisham's initial remarks, according to The View. "Well, John, I accept your apology but I don't believe in your [expletive] bull crap thing that you said before," O'Donnell said on the Oct. 17 show. "Nobody accidentally stumbles onto child pornography. If I were the police, I'd look at John Grisham's hard drive right now."
The King County, Washington, medical examiner has confirmed that a body found in a ravine in the Seattle suburb of Auburn is that of missing 32-year-old actress Misty Upham, known for her roles in August: Osage County, Frozen River and Django Unchained, Page Six reported. The medical examiner said the cause and manner of death are pending investigation.
There's a new couple in Hollywood. According to US Weekly, True Blood actress Evan Rachel Wood is dating Ray Donovan ( and former The L Word ) actress Katherine Moennig. Wood, 27, who revealed she was bisexual after splitting from fiance Marilyn Manson in 2011, reportedly stuck by Moennig's side at the Hammer Museum's annual Gala in the Garden in Los Angeles on Oct. 13. Wood and 36-year-old Moennig "were holding hands" and "kept close all night." Wood was married to actor Jamie Bell for two years, until this May.
After Mario Lopez revealed in his memoir Just Between Us that he had a one-night stand with an unnamed "mega pop star," multiple sources confirmed to Us Weekly that the celebrity was none other than Britney Spears. According to Lopez, 41, the rendezvous occurred many years ago in Las Vegas. At the time of their alleged hookup, both Spears and Lopez were single. Spears, 32, split from husband Kevin Federline in 2006, while Lopez was on a break with then-girlfriend Karina Smirnoff from 2006 to 2008.
Legendary fashion designer Oscar de la Renta has died at age 82 after a long battle with cancer, The Wrap reported. The Dominican Republic native became famous in the 1960s for designing clothes worn by Jacqueline Kennedy; more recently he designed the wedding gown worn by George Clooney's new wife, Amal. He launched his ready-to-wear label in 1965 in New York.
Athlete Serena Williams says comments by the head of the Russian Tennis Federation referring to her and older sister Venus as "brothers" were bullying, sexist and racist, and that she supported the one-year suspension imposed by the WTA against the official, ESPN.com reported. Shamil Tarpischev—who also said the sisters were "scary" to see—was also fined $25,000 for making the comments on Russian television. Tarpischev denied any "malicious intent" and said his quotes had been taken out of context.
Bono, the lead singer of the band U2, recently told British talk-show host Graham Norton that he has worn sunglasses constantly for the past 20 years because he has glaucoma, CNN reported. The U2 frontman explained that he had excellent vision, but noticed that objects and lights were accompanied by cloudiness and rings— an indicator of the condition—"and it's not from anything exotic," he joked. Bono, 54, was on Norton's show with the rest of the band, as well as actors Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall and Stephen Fry.
Tim Hauser, the founder and singer of the Grammy-winning vocal troupe The Manhattan Transfer, has died from cardiac arrest at age 72, Page Six related. Hauser founded Manhattan Transfer, who released its debut album in the early 1970s and launched hits such as "Operator" and "The Boy from New York City." The group's critically acclaimed album, 1985's Vocalese, earned 12 Grammy nominations. Alan Paul, Janis Siegel and Cheryl Bentyne—who joined in 1978 and replaced Laurel Masse—rounded out the foursome.
Philomena director Stephen Frears is reteaming with production company Pathe for another project about an eponymous real-life female protagonist, according to Deadline. Currently in pre-production, Florence is the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the New York heiress and socialite who coveted a career as a great opera singer, but who lacked any real ability. Meryl Streep is attached to play the title role with Hugh Grant also attached for the role of her partner and manager, St. Clair Bayfield.
