Bravo's Andy Cohen thinks Donald Trump is actually a Democrat, Page Six noted. During a panel with Sarah Jessica Parker at 92Y, Cohen said if he could talk to the president-elect, "I would say, 'I know you want to live in your gold-leaf tower but please don't; you're going to f—k up traffic.' I'd also say that 'you have the most anti-gay vice president ever, and I've been around you. .... I know you don't really feel that way, so you can't let that infect you.' I think he's a Democrat, actually."
Cohen also made news for revealing a cancer diagnosis. The Bravo honcho revealed that he was diagnosed with skin cancer after friend Kelly Ripa urged him to get a mark on his lip checked out, Page Six noted. "You and I were at a party for Anderson's [Cooper] mom in April, and you said, 'You have a black dot on your lip, I don't think that's something good,'" Cohen told Ripa on Live with Kelly. Ripa disclosed that it was the third time she spotted a questionable mark on a friend, and both stressed the importance of getting skin-checks.
Ruby Rose ( Orange Is the New Black ) revealed that she talks to Taylor Swift about "everything and everyone," including Rose's girlfriend, The Veronicas' Jess Origliasso, UPI.com reported. Rose and Origliasso rekindled their romance after briefly dating in 2008, but remained friends after their breakup. The two reconnected on the set of The Veronicas' music video for their song "On Your Side," which Rose wrote, directed and starred in. Rose, who stars in the upcoming xXx: Return of Xander Cage alongside Vin Diesel, said she is amused at how people respond to her friendship with Swift and her involvement in Swift's famous group of friends, such as Gigi Hadid, Lorde, Cara Delevinge, Karlie Kloss and Selena Gomez.
The White House hosted a star-studded line-up for President Obama's final presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony—but Ellen DeGeneres almost didn't make it in, according to Page Six. TV personality Ellen DeGeneres was briefly denied entry because she forgot her government ID, a routine security measure required for check-in to the executive mansion. "They haven't let me in to the White House yet because I forgot my ID. #NotJoking#PresidentialMedalOfFreedom," DeGeneres, wearing a red plaid suit, tweeted.
RuPaul's music producer, Lucian Piane, has sparked an outpouring of concern with a deliberately offensive expletive-ridden Twitter meltdown, PinkNews noted. After coming out as a Donald Trump supporter earlier this month, Piane tweeted a number of increasingly surreal conspiracy theories about Hillary Clinton, suggesting that she was a "murderous paedophile." Among other things he tweeted was "I love RuPaul, and he's the wisest n***er I know!!!" Shortly after the tweets, RuPaul posted, "Please show some compassion. We are ALL just a few blood sugars away from a psychotic breakdown."
More than 160 members of The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association ( GALECA ) have cast their votes, and their list of the 10 best actresses, ranges alphabetically from Ingrid Bergman to Meryl Streep, The Hollywood Reporter noted. The lineup also includes Cate Blanchett, Bette Davis, Viola Davis, Jane Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, Isabelle Huppert, Julianne Moore and Barbara Stanwyck. The actresses who came closest but did not make the cut included Joan Crawford, Judi Dench, Sally Field, Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn, Nicole Kidman, Jessica Lange, Helen Mirren, Elizabeth Taylor and Kate Winslet.
Madonna took some time to celebrate with the clients of a New York City youth center for homeless LGBTQ people this Thanksgiving holiday, The Huffington Post reported. She dropped in at the Ali Forney Center's Brooklyn housing site with son David and daughter Mercy James. "Had so much fun sharing Thanksgiving at the Ali Forney Center in Brooklyn! This center protects LGBT Youth from the harms of homelessness and empowers them to reclaim their lives," Madonna—an outspoken supporter of the queer community since the early days of her career—wrote on Instagram.
Nocturnal Animals director Tom Ford not only has a big new movie out but he's also about to celebrate a landmark anniversary in his personal life, Gay Star News noted. Next month marks the 30th anniversary of Ford's relationship with Richard Buckley, who he married in 2014; also, they are the parents of a 4-year-old son named Jack. Ford, 55, said he feels like he and Buckley will be together for the rest of his life, stating, "If the person you're with is someone you respect, who you believe has as good a heart and soul as you will ever find, don't ever leave them, because you won't find anyone better."
A Kickstarter campaign has been launched to bring back the LGBT series Dante's Cove, Out noted. In 2005, Dante's Cove combined the supernatural with the super-dramatic for three seasons. Cult fans of the show may finally find out what happened after the island was nearly destroyed at the end of season three. The writers promise "hidden secrets and new rivalries…for the island's sexy new residents." Visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1070598095/bring-back-dantes-cove-season-4-the-next-generatio.
Chloe Grace Moretz has been cast as a young girl trying to escape a gay conversion therapy center in the upcoming indie film The Miseducation of Cameron Post, according to NewNowNext.com . Based on the novel by Emily Danforth, the story follows 12-year-old Cameron Post after she loses her parents in an accident and is forced to move in with her conservative aunt. She's eventually sent to a "de-gaying" camp after starting a relationship with her prom-queen best friend.
The new tentpole series Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them features several characters from the Harry Potter universe, including Albus Dumbledore. Variety reported that fans will need to wait for the second movie ( in the five-part series ) to see a younger Dumbledore. But although the older Dumbledore never revealed his sexual orientation in the books or films—it was the author herself who coaxed him out of the closet during a 2007 interview at Carnegie Hall—the younger incarnation of the character might be less private. "Well, I'm very comfortable with the question," author J.K. Rowling said to reporters when asked about a gay Dumbledore. "I would like to say because this is obviously a five-part story, there's lots to unpack in that relationship."
Amid growing political tensions following the rise of a presidential administration whose members have supported anti-LGBT policies in the past, ABC has premiered the new trailer for its limited series When We Rise ( airing in February ), which highlights the history of the gay-rights movement across several decades of history, EW.com noted. Written by Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black ( Milk ), When We Rise charts the rise of the fight for LGBT rights in the United States, beginning in 1971 through the contemporary push for marriage equality. Among the cast members are Guy Pearce, Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O'Donnell and Mary Louise Parker.
Bisexual actress Evan Rachel Wood has said that she's been raped twice, Page Six reported, citing Rolling Stone. She said, "I've been raped. By a significant other while we were together, and on a separate occasion by the owner of a bar. … I don't believe we live in a time where people can stay silent any longer—not given the state our world is in with its blatant bigotry and sexism."
Rapper/actor 50 Cent was spotted at Voyeur Nightclub in Philadelphia's Gayborhood—but he was only there to promote his vodka line, NewNowNext reported. The rapper made an appearance to spread the word about his Effen vodka brand, and the bar owners used his visit to help them with their attempt to be more inclusive after being accused of having a racist dress code earlier this year. The entertainer has been notoriously homophobic, though, from saying he "ain't into f——ts" back in 2004 to most recently blasting Empire for having too much "gay stuff" on the show.
James Corden—The Late, Late Show host and star of the wildly successful "Carpool Karaoke" videos—will host the Grammys when it airs on Feb. 12, 2017, The L.A. Times noted. The British comedic actor, who took over his late-night slot from Craig Ferguson in 2015, has become a breakout success, and part of the reason is his unabashed enthusiasm for pop music. Corden replaces the rapper and actor LL Cool J, who had hosted the last five Grammys ceremonies.
Kelly Clarkson has no doubts about the American Idol competitor who could have beaten her in season one, ET.com noted. The singer revealed that season-two winner Ruben Studdard could have given her a run for her Idol crown more than a decade ago. "I feel like there are nights when I can be effortless and those are amazing and I feel like, "Oh, my God; I'm amazing'—but he's effortless every time."
Amid strong ratings and just ahead of the Nov. 21 episode, VH1 has renewed Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party for a second season, Deadline reported. Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party features Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg as they host weekly dinner parties with famous celebrity friends. Guests include Seth Rogen, Wiz Khalifa, Rick Ross, Jamie Chung, 2 Chainz, Naya Rivera, Ashley Graham, Jason Derulo, 50 Cent, Kathy Griffin and others.
A male model dubbed "The Naked Chef" for cooking dishes in his underwear has become a viral success online, The Sun noted. The latest video by Peruvian Franco Noriega, 27, notched up millions of hits worldwide as he told his fans how to cook a trendy chia-seed pudding. Franco, who has been voted the world's sexiest chef, moved to New York in 2007 hoping to become an actor, and was signed up as a model after being spotted by the famous fashion photographer Mario Testino, who is also from Peru.
Female punk act Pussy Riot was reportedly invited to Miami's Art Basel event, which begins this week, Page Six noted. Pussy Riot became ( in )famous in 2012 by staging guerrilla performances in Russia to protest the Vladimir Putin regime, which often ended in their arrest. Coincidentally, Joe Corre—the child of the late Sex Pistols manager and designer Vivienne Westwood—announced plans to burn millions of dollars' worth of Sex Pistols memorabilia to protest "punk's appropriation into the mainstream." However, that's not expected to take place at Art Basel.
Met Gala mastermind Stephanie Winston Wolkoff is being brought in to help plan the 2017 presidential inauguration events, Page Six noted. Wolkoff, an ex-Vogue staffer who planned the glamorous gala for years and went on to orchestrate New York Fashion Week's Lincoln Center expansion, is known in fashion circles as "General Winston"—a name given by her mentor, Anna Wintour. On a related note, Sophie Theallet, who has dressed Michelle Obama, spoke out against Trump and ruled out dressing Melania; however, Theallet has been dismissed by fashion leaders such as Tommy Hilfiger.
Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez can add a Dancing with the Stars crown to her incredible year after winning the 23rd season of the ABC reality competition, Page Six noted. The 16-year-old gymnast took home the Mirrorball Trophy after the conclusion of a two-episode finale on Nov. 22. They beat Canadian race car driver James Hinchcliffe and his partner, Sharna Burgess, for the crown.
Florence Henderson, the actress who defined the television mom of the modern era with her starring role in The Brady Bunch, died Thanksgiving night at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles at age 82, Variety reported. Henderson's manager, Kayla Pressman, said Henderson died on Thanksgiving night surrounded by family and friends. Henderson was seen on camera as recently as Nov. 21, when she attended the taping of ABC's Dancing with the Stars; she competed on the show herself in 2010.
Fidel Castro's death at the age of 90 prompted mixed reactions throughout the world, and Cuba-born singer Gloria Estefan is taking a more hopeful tone, EW.com noted. "Although the death of a human being is rarely cause for celebration, it is the symbolic death of the destructive ideologies that he espoused that, I believe, is filling the Cuban exile community with renewed hope and a relief that has been long in coming," she wrote in a statement posted to Instagram.
Canadian actor, creator and ally Katherine Barrell recently talked about her lesbian character, Officer Nicole Haught, on SyFy's Wynonna Earp show, according to NBC News. "I know how important it is," she said of the significance of playing the lesbian who survived a year in which many LGBT characters seem to have died. "I feel it very heavily. ... Toronto is a very liberal, accepting place in general, and I think it just comes out of like a general attitude of acceptance. People's sexual orientation is not scrutinized the way it is, I think, in the States as much."
Rita Ora may be taking over hosting/mentoring duties from Tyra Banks on VH1's America's Next Top Model but it's Ashley Graham filling her supermodel shoes, according to VH1.com . Graham is now adding judge to her resume as she joins the panel of the reality-competition show. The show's new season will debut Monday, Dec. 12.
The FBI has cleared Brad Pitt of any wrongdoing involving his children and an alleged incident involving his teenage son Maddox, US Weekly reported. The bureau was looking into possible child-abuse claims after the actor was accused of getting into an altercation with his 15-year-old son Maddox while aboard a private plane in September. Pitt's estranged wife, Angelina Jolie, filed for divorce from the actor after the alleged incident occurred.
Kesha will be honored with Billboard's Women in Music Trailblazer award at the 11th annual event, to be held Dec. 9 in New York City and airing nationally on Lifetime on Dec. 12, Billboard reported. Over her career, Kesha has had nine top 10 tracks on Billboard's Pop Songs chart, with four number-ones in the bunch: "Tik Tok," "Your Love Is My Drug," "Die Young" and "Timber." Billboard previously announced that Madonna will be named this year's Woman of the Year. Shania Twain will receive the Icon award, Halsey will receive the Rising Star award, Andra Day will receive the Powerhouse award, Meghan Trainor will receive the Chart Topper award and Maren Morris will receive the Breakthrough Artist award.
Canadian superstar Justin Bieber was caught on camera Nov. 22 punching a fan in the face as he arrived at his concert in Barcelona, US Weekly noted. The video obtained by TMZ appears to show Bieber lashing out at the young man who was trying to touch him through the open window of his chauffeur-driven car. As the car continued moving and rolled past, the man touched his mouth to reveal blood coming from his lip and was heard saying in Spanish: "He just punched me. ... I touched his face like this and he went—boom!"
Glee co-star Naya Rivera has filed for divorce from husband Ryan Dorsey, Page Six noted. The couple married in Mexico in July 2014 on what would have been Rivera's wedding day to ex Big Sean. Rivera revealed in her 2016 memoir, Sorry Not Sorry, that she and Dorsey dated in 2010 and that she'd had an abortion during the relationship. The pair split when she landed her role as Santana on Glee, but reunited after she and Big Sean called off their engagement.
Singer Rick Astley ( "Never Gonna Give You Up" ) is embarking on his first U.S. tour in three decades, according to Pollstar. The opener will be in Las Vegas at the Pearl Concert Theater on Jan. 21—and, for now, the tour will only take place on the East and West coasts as well as Texas and Nevada. Astley's new album, 50, reached number one in the UK upon release.
Rapper/America's Got Talent host Nick Cannon doubled down on comments he made earlier last week accusing Planned Parenthood of being responsible for "real genocide," The New York Daily News reported. "It's modern-day eugenics," he told Splash News Online while at Los Angeles International Airport on Nov. 25. Cannon also accused Planned Parenthood of engaging in "population control," standing by his initial remarks that the group perpetrates genocide by abortion, TMZ reported.
The Smithsonian Channel is recounting major news events with rare news footage in the new series The Lost Tapes, a press release noted. The first episode, airing Dec. 4, will mark the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Future episodes will air in 2017, timed to their anniversaries. Those episodes will focus on the Los Angeles riots of April 1992, the capture of the Son of Sam serial killer in August 1977 and the Symbionese Liberation Army's kidnapping of Patty Hearst in September 1975.
Tila Tequila's Twitter account was suspended, capping off the social-media star's long and bizarre embrace of hate speech and Nazism, BuzzFeed reported. Although the social network did not elaborate on the process by which it decided to deactivate the account, Tequila's tweets have in the past generated controversy for apparently including hate speech. Earlier this month, Tequila, 35, tweeted, "Are you and your people ready to be rounded up to FEMA camps? Actually, that may be letting you off too easy!" Recently, Tequila—born in Singapore to a Vietnamese family and raised in Texas—shared an image of herself performing a Nazi salute with two men.
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Brandi Glanville is under fire for her scandalous take on the holiday season, The New York Daily News noted. The 44-year-old reality TV star thought it would be funny to pose above Jesus in a San Diego nativity scene, where she posed as if she was giving birth to the son of God. After enduring a social-media backlash, Glanville responded, "People need to chill the f—k out and take a joke." She later apologizes, according to Page Six.
