Caitlyn Jenner has opened up about her name and gender change in a new interview with Out, according to People magazine. "I actually cried a little bit about it. I was on the golf course, off playing by myself. It was very exciting, but such a head trip," said Jenner. Out is honoring Jenner as OUT100's Newsmaker of the Year.
Speaking of Out, the publication has released its OUT100 list. Among those on the list are Olly Alexander ( Breakout of the Year ), Carrie Brownstein ( Artist of the Year ), President Obama ( Ally of the Year ), OUT100 pioneer Cynthia Nixon, Abby Wambach ( Athlete of the Year ), Raven-Symone, Lee Daniels, CK Calvin Klein Global Creative Director Kevin Carrigan, actor/activist Daniel Franzese, marriage-equality activist Jim Obergefell, musician Jess Glynne, long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad, journalist/fashion figure Joe Zee and model Andreja Pejic.
And speaking of Jenner, a group of angry protesters yelled at her in Chicago as she was leaving an event hosted by Chicago House, a nonprofit HIV/AIDS organization, accusing her of being a bad spokesperson for the trans community, according to NewNowNext.com . The group, which included trans activist Monica James, referred to itself as "I Ain't Cait." A short video of the confrontation reveals Jenner stopped to reason with the protesters and wound up in a one-sided screaming match with James and another protester shouting into a bullhorn.
Intweetiv has listed 11 LGBT superheroes who it says have forever changed comics. They include Deadpool ( whom Ryan Reynolds is portraying in an upcoming movie ), Iceman, Batwoman, Apollo, Green Lantern and Grace Choi, among others. Ramzi Fawaz, a professor of queer studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, says comic books featured LGBT superheroes as early as the 1950s. Although early queer characters didn't explicitly come out, fans knew their heroes had fluid sexualities.
Michael Angelakos, the front man of Passion Pit, revealed he was gay during an interview with author Bret Easton Ellis, according to NewNowNext.com . Speaking to Ellis, who is also openly gay, on his self-titled podcast, Angelakos opened up about his previous marriage to a woman, and how he struggled to come to terms with his true sexuality. Passion Pit formed in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 2007, and has released singles such as "Lifted Up ( 1985 )" and "Where the Sky Hangs."
Orange Is the New Black breakout star Ruby Rose faced backlash in the wake of an Instagram post following the Paris attacks, NewNowNext.com reported. In part, she posted, "Today has been devastating. #lebanon #paris #syria and everywhere under attack right now. this is not a blanket post this is a post for today's horrific news which spans many countries." Some fans urged her to take down the post, saying it took away from the tragedy of what happened in Paris. Rose defended her post, explaining she wasn't minimizing what happened in France, but rather bringing awareness to all of the terrible incidents that happened on the same day.
However, Rose got some good news as well, as GQ Australia named her its Woman of the Year, PinkNews noted. Picking up her Woman of the Year Award at the GQ Men of the Year Awards, she joked, "[There's one award for a woman] … and it goes to the biggest dude!" The actress thanked fiancee Phoebe Dahl in the speech.
Singer Frank Ocean has sent out love to residents of Paris, and anyone who has been the victim of "evil anywhere in this world," on his Tumblr, according to Spin. Ocean also called out mogul/presidential candidate Donald Trump, posting, "HOW IS IT 'INTERESTING' THAT THESE SHOOTINGS HAPPENED IN A COUNTRY THAT'S TOUGH ON GUNS? TELL US DON?"
Madonna could not hold back her tears at her concert in Stockholm, Sweden, as she stopped the show to pay tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks and their families, E! Online noted. The "Oh, Father" singer stopped her concert after performing 13 songs and spoke for several minutes about the tragedies and delivered a message about tolerance. "It's been really hard, actually to get through the show because in many ways, I feel, I feel torn. Like, why am I up here dancing and having fun when people are crying over the loss of their loved ones," she said, tearfully. "However, that is exactly what these people want to do. They want to shut us up. They want to silence us. And we won't let them."
Ryan Murphy's American Horror Story will return for a sixth installment on FX, TheWrap reported. The coming season is untitled at this point, but will premiere in 2016. The fifth installment, American Horror Story: Hotel, stars Lady Gaga, Matt Bomer, Angela Bassett, Denis O'Hare, Kathy Bates and others; Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk are the co-creators of the series.
Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano and Bill Nighy will star in the new film to be produced by Netflix and Brad Pitt's Plan B production company, Entertainment.ie noted. Snowpiercer director Bong Joon Ho will direct the $50 million budgeted Okja, which will be the most expensive Korean film ever made.
Julianne Moore will reteam with writer-director Todd Haynes in his adaptation of Wonderstruck, the children's novel by Brian Selznick, according to Deadline. Moore, who won the Oscar in February for Still Alice, got an Oscar nomination when she worked with Haynes on Far From Heaven. Wonderstruck follows the intertwined narratives of two deaf children, Ben and Rose.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson has signed up for the one-man comedy Fully Committed this spring at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway, according to Page Six. Ferguson will play an aspiring actor and haggard reservations clerk at a snooty, upscale New York City restaurant who must switch from character to character as he plays his boss, colleagues and pompous patrons scrambling to get a table. The producers, Barbara Whitman and Patrick Catullo, also brought to Broadway The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which starred Ferguson.
Transparent star Amy Landecker has joined the cast of Marvel's Doctor Strange, TheWrap noted. Scott Derrickson is directing the movie, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton and former Landecker co-star Michael Stuhlbarg. Cumberbatch plays neurosurgeon Stephen Strange, who, after a horrific car accident, discovers a hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions.
Coyote Ugly director David McNally is revealing that Jessica Simpson—then fresh off her 1999 debut album, Sweet Kisses—was considered a "contender" for the lead role of Violet ( which Piper Perabo portrayed ), according to Entertainment Tonight. "We did our due diligence and saw everybody," McNally told The Hollywood Reporter, noting that Jewel was also up for the part. Also, Perabo had initially recorded all of the film's music, but was later informed that her voice would be dubbed over by addition LeAnn Rimes.
Iron Chef star Cat Cora and wife Jennifer are splitting after 17 years as a couple, The Huffington Post reported. "It is with great sadness, that after 17 years, a tremendous amount work, careful consideration and heavy hearts, my wife and I have mutually decided to no longer remain married," the 48-year-old said in a statement released to People. The celeb chef and Jennifer, 44, have four boys together. In the divorce announcement, Cora said the pair will co-parent peacefully for the sake of their kids.
Project Runway's Tim Gunn doesn't seem to think much of Kanye West's fashion line, or of the Kardashian family in general, theGrio noted. Asked by The Huffington Post about West's foray into fashion, Gunn said, "I think they're a bunch of dumb clothes. Just basic pieces." Gunn added, "I think it's vulgar and I just think, given the amount of public exposure that the Kardashians have, to potentially be sending a message to people that 'you too can dress like this'—no."
Bette Midler is bringing 18 of her hits together in the collection A Gift of Love, available Dec. 4 on CD and digitally, a press release stated. Some of the songs include "The Rose," "Night and Day," "From A Distance," "Wind Beneath My Wings," "Every Road Leads Back to You" and "To Deserve You."
Jennifer Lopez recently traveled to the iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina concert, and took to the stage to perform some of her biggest hits, according to E! Online. Along the way, she performed her famed moves and wore impressive outfits, such as a bodysuit by Tranchi filled with white stars that helped show off serious cleavage. She also duetted with various artists, including Wisin and Prince Royce. iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina—featuring Lopez, Pitbull, Becky G, Natalia Jimenez and many other performers—aired a televised special Nov. 15 on Telemundo.
Singer Patti LaBelle called a fan whose review of her sweet-potato pie led to the dessert flying off the shelves at Walmart, according to Vibe. James Wright Chanel's spirited review of the singer's dessert went viral online as his satisfaction with the pie led to the singing of "If Only You Knew," "Isn't It A Shame" and "When You've Been Blessed." The clip has since been viewed more than 6 million times, and has led to an increase in sales for the singer, who also reposted the video on her Facebook page.
A 45-year-old man was arrested in connection with an attack reported by actress Pauley Perrette, NBC Southern California reported. Perrette detailed her attack on Twitter, saying she was walking near her home when the man grabbed her and began to punch her in the face and nose; she said she pleaded with him to stop but he continued to assault her before he eventually stopped and told her to leave. Perrette added a man passed by walking his dog and did not try to help the actress after she was assaulted.
Lionsgate TV has extended Wendy Williams' contract by seven years to 2022—but her show itself has not yet been renewed as of yet, Deadline reported. The Lionsgate-owned Debmar-Mercury's syndicated The Wendy Williams Show, which continues to pull in strong ratings, so far is scheduled to run through the 2016-17 television season.
The film MAJOR! had its first advance screening in San Francisco on Nov. 13, Truth-out.org noted. The film chronicles the life of longtime Black transgender activist Miss Major, a veteran of New York City's 1969 Stonewall riots. In addition, Miss Major is the first trans woman to testify before the United Nations on the problem of violence against trans women of color in the United States; has led the Transgender, Gender Variant and Intersex Justice Project; and has acted as a surrogate mom to many of the Bay Area and New York City's trans girls.
Taylor Kitsch is set to join Jessica Chastain and Kit Harington in Xavier Dolan's first English-language feature, The Death and Life of John F. Donovan," TheWrap reported. "Donovan" is described as a drama that follows a young actor who recalls the secretive correspondence he shared as a teenager with an American TV star who died 10 years earlier. Harington will play the title character, while Chastain co-stars as the editor-in-chief of a gossip magazine; Kitsch's role is being kept under wraps.
ABC is reportedly unwilling to watch male duos dance together on its long-running and improbably popular show Dancing with the Stars, LGBTQ Nation noted. Ariana Grande, Meghan Trainor and gay singer Who Is Fancy are scheduled to perform the song "Boys Like You" on the program's Nov. 23 episode—but ABC allegedly squashed the choreographer's plan to have two men dance together, thinking it'd be too much for prime-time audiences.
Luxury-car manufacturer Porsche claims, in a response to a lawsuit, that the Nov. 30, 2013, crash that killed Fast & Furious star Paul Walker was his "own comparative fault," Deadline reported. Seeking to have the wrongful-death lawsuit that the actor's teenage daughter filed in late September tossed, Porsche said that the 2005 Porsche Carrera CT Walker and driver Roger Rodas were in had been "abused and altered" as well as "misused and improperly maintained."
Margaret Cho is telling jokes on her tour about rape—for the purpose of healing, TheWrap noted. "The way that rape works is that survivors of rape are towed into silence by shame," Cho told TheWrap as she discussed her new song and music video "I Want to Kill My Rapist." "I've been raped, over the course of my life, probably more than 15 times," she said. "To be able to share that in a way that is really murderous rage but also funny, I think that is a way to heal."
Services have been set for soap-opera actor Nathaniel Marston, who died recently ( as the result of an auto accident ) but was reportedly getting sober for a Hollywood comeback, WRAL.com noted. Marston was best-known for his role on ABC's One Life to Live from 2001 to 2007, first playing Al Holden, and then later reincarnated as Dr. Michael McBain. He also played Eddie Silva in CBS' As the World Turns. He was also featured in the LGBT film Walk a Mile in My Pradas.
Amy Schumer is apologizing to fans who feel shortchanged by the brevity of a stand-up comedy show she did in Maine, calling it a "rookie mistake," The Hollywood Reporter noted. The comedian says she did a 47-minute set that was rushed because of the need to accommodate a second show at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland. ( The second show ran an hour. ) Schumer has a popular sketch series on Comedy Central and starred in the movie Trainwreck.
In Britain, Downton Abbey ended its sixth and final season with an average of 8.8 million viewers before its return to ITV for its final Christmas special, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The ratings were the best for the drama since November 2013, according to Broadcast magazine, which cited 8.9 million viewers. The Nov. 8 episode ran 90 minutes and ended the eight-episode final season of the drama.
Rapper/producer 50 Cent has responded to comments from Vivica A. Fox that insinuated he's gay, LGBTQ Nation noted. On the show Watch What Happens Live, Fox told Bravo TV host Andy Cohen, "It's the pot calling the kettle black—that's all I'm saying" when Cohen brought up 50 blamed Empire's ratings slide on the show's gay storyline. The musician posted on Instagram, "Oh No!!! Now she thinks I'm gay because I let her lick my A**. LMAO."
Mariah Carey is in talks for the role of Commissioner Gordon in The Lego Batman Movie, Warner Bros' spinoff of The Lego Movie, Deadline reported. ( Yes, you read that correctly. ) Sources say that Carey will join Ralph Fiennes ( Alfred the Butler ), Will Arnett ( Batman ), Michael Cera ( Robin ), Rosario Dawson ( Batgirl ) and Zach Galifianakis ( The Joker ). Her past screen credits include Glitter and the Lee Daniels-directed Precious.
Despite fighting through illness to perform on Dancing With the Stars, Tamar Braxton pulled out of the competition, CNN noted. The singer had been hospitalized during rehearsals, purportedly for pneumonia, but returned to avoid being disqualified for not performing. In September, reality star Kim Zolciak-Biermann was disqualified after she was unable to perform due to a mini-stroke caused by a blood clot.
Pop singer and songwriter Who Is Fancy will release his brand-new single, "Boys Like You" ( featuring Ariana Grande & Meghan Trainor ), on Nov. 23, through all digital retailers, according to a press release. It follows up his viral smash "Goodbye."
Fox announced its winter premiere dates, including a premiere for the final season of American Idol, TheWrap noted. The reality singing competition series will return for Season 15 with a two-night premiere on Wed., Jan. 5 and Thursday, Jan. 6. Additional premiere dates announced include Sleepy Hollow moving to Friday nights beginning Feb. 5; Gotham on Monday, Feb. 29; Rosewood on Wed., March 2; and Empire on Wed., March 30.
Enya will embark upon a new chapter in her career with the Nov. 20 release of her new album, Dark Sky Island, on Warner Bros. Records, a press release stated. She has had 75 million album sales, four Grammy Awards, six World Music Awards, an Ivor Novello, an Oscar nomination, a Golden Globe nomination and seven studio albums.
In A+E Studios' first sale for an outside network, the studio has set up drama Murder Town, starring and executive-produced by Jada Pinkett Smith, at ABC, according to Deadline. Written by veteran showrunner Barry Schindel ( Intelligence; Castle ), Murder Town centers on a prosecutor ( Pinkett Smith ) who makes history as Wilmington, Delaware's, first African-American district attorney. She finds herself confronted by old loyalties and loves, a revelation about her murdered husband and a polarizing, racially charged case. Pinkett Smith is coming off a season-long starring role on Fox's Gotham and a co-starring turn in the movie Magic Mike XXL.
