Ricky Martin told Ellen DeGeneres on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that he popped the question to artist Jwan Yosef, his boyfriend of more than a year, People reported. "We just got engaged," he gushed. "I proposed. I was really nervous. But I got on my knees and I took out —not a box... I just had them in a little velvet pouch." The pair made their red-carpet debut in April at the amFAR Inspiration Gala in Sao Paolo, Brazil.
In other Ricky Martin news, he will begin his Las Vegas headlining residency at the new Park Theater at Monte Carlo on April 5, 2017, a press release touted. Besides performing there at various dates throughout April, June, July and September, he will have shows at The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Maryland on May 5-6.
Television personality, host, fashion designer, singer, actress and human-rights advocate Kelly Osbourne will be named Trevor Hero Honoree at The Trevor Project's TrevorLIVE Los Angeles gala Dec. 4 at the Beverly Hilton, a press release noted. Osbourne will be joined by special guests such as Ross Mathews, Lisa Vanderpump, Pauley Perrette, Ariel Winter, Lance Bass, Paula Abdul, Margaret Cho and Dan Bucatinsky, among others. "This honor carries a very special meaning for me and comes at a crucial time. My entire life I've had the support of the LGBTQ community, and I will forever be there to peacefully fight for you," said Osbourne in a statement.
Fifth Harmony singer Lauren Jauregui came out as bisexual in a scathing open letter to Donald Trump supporters published on Billboard, LGBTQ Nation reported. "I am a bisexual Cuban-American woman and I am so proud of it. I am proud to be part of a community that only projects love and education and the support of one another," she writes. "If I could tell every Trump supporter two things, it would be to travel and read a history book." A private photo of Jauregui kissing another woman was recently leaked online, Page Six reported. In the picture, the singer, 20, can be seen locking lips with Lucy Vives, the daughter of Colombian singer Carlos Vives.
For its January/February issue, Plus magazine enlisted openly gay comedian Sampson McCormick to sit-down for an intimate discussion with good friend Jussie Smollett. Regarding a cure for HIV/AIDS, Smollett said, "Don't get me started. I truly believe that there is a cure out there. And the moment that we can actually get out there, we can actually get the governments to finally make money off of that cure, maybe we will see it. Let me go call my security detail, because after this I'm gonna need extra security. No, I mean, y'all can print that shit. Honestly. It's true." The full interview is at HIVPlusMag.com/cover-stories/2016/11/11/empire-star-jussie-smollet-crazy-sexy-cool-and-smart-hell.
New Kids on the Block singer Jonathan Knight is engaged to longtime boyfriend Harley Rodriguez, according to Page Six. "We were in Africa, our parents were there—our moms were there—and I just figured this was the time to pop the question and make it official," Knight shared on Sirius' The Jenny McCarthy Show. They began dating in 2008.
In a revealing new profile for The New York Times, out musician Frank Ocean explained that he's rejected the Grammys system altogether, noting that it has largely ignored efforts from musicians of color in the Album of the Year category over its 50-plus-year history, The Huffington Post reported. "That institution certainly has nostalgic importance," Ocean said. "It just doesn't seem to be representing very well for people who come from where I come from, and hold down what I hold down. ... I'd rather this be my Colin Kaepernick moment for the Grammys than sit there in the audience."
Angelina Jolie is possibly done with men, Radar Online noted. Jolie has been in communication with former lover Jenny Shimizu since filing for divorce from Brad Pitt last month. Although Shimizu is currently married to socialite Michelle Harper, a source close to the model/actress told Radar, "Angelina told Jenny that she is just done with men now. She wants to try exploring her lesbian side again."
Anderson Cooper has been reunited with his long-lost half-brother, who disappeared 38 years ago following a dispute with his mother Gloria Vanderbilt's therapist, Page Six noted. Christopher Stokowski, son of conductor Leopold Stokowski and Vanderbilt, abandoned his wealthy family and became a recluse in 1978 after his mother's therapist reportedly interfered in his love life. The release of Cooper and Vanderbilt's film, Nothing Left Unsaid, in April, sparked renewed interest in his missing brother, who contacted the family through Stokowski's former fiancee April Sandmeyer.
YouTube star Calum McSwiggan—who claimed to have been brutally assaulted by three men in West Hollywood as part of an anti-gay hate crime—has pleaded guilty to vandalizing a car, The L.A. Times noted. McSwiggan, a 26-year-old resident of London who was visiting Southern California, pled guilty to one felony count of vandalism causing more than $400 in damage. He received a sentence of three years' felony probation, 52 sessions of anger-management counseling, and was ordered to pay $7,000 in restitution.
At the Rhode Island Comic-Con, Gotham actor Robin Lord Taylor ( who is gay in real life ) addressed those who told him that they have no problem with his character, Oswald Cobblepot ( aka Penguin ), being gay then say that it doesn't comply with the traits described in the comic books, MorningNewsUSA.com noted. "That's a bunch of horses—t," he was quoted as saying by TV Line. "What you're saying to me is, 'I am homophobic, and I am afraid of gay people.' That is exactly what you're saying." However, Taylor himself said a bit earlier in his speech that Cobblepot "is not" necessarily gay just because he developed feelings for Chief of Staff Ed Nygma, played by Cory Michael Smith.
Vice President-elect Mike Pence paid a visit to the hottest musical on Broadway, Hamilton—and received heavy boos from the audience upon arrival, People reported. During the curtain call at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, the Broadway cast addressed the attendance of the vice president-elect, with actor Brandon Victor Dixon delivering a statement. Dixon, who plays Aaron Burr, said, "We are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir. But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values, and work on behalf of ALL of us." Pence later said he wasn't offended, although President-elect Donald Trump had a meltdown on Twitter over the incident.
Streaming service Dekkoo's original gay drama Feral ( described as like HBO's Looking or Girls, but set in Memphis, Tennessee ) has been approved for a second season, a press release stated. Subscriptions to the gay-oriented service jumped 30 percent following its launch. See Dekkoo.com .
The Untold Stories of Broadway, Volume 3 ( from Dress Circle Publishing ) is now available, a press release stated. It is a multi-volume series in which Jennifer Ashley Tepper nterviewed more than 250 theater professionals, including Barbara Cook, Jerry Adler, Patti LuPone, Peter Gallagher, Marsha Mason and Elizabeth Ashley. The book is available on Amazon.com, and New York retail outlets The Drama Book Shop and Theater Circle, in addition DressCirclePublishing.com .
The skin-tight dress Marilyn Monroe wore for her sultry rendition of "Happy Birthday" before President John F. Kennedy at a 1962 gala was sold on Nov. 17 for $4.8 million at an auction in Los Angeles, NBC News noted. An unidentified bidder purchased the Jean Louis-designed dress covered in sequins, Julien's Auctions said in a statement. Monroe would have been 90 years old this year.
Green Day took the stage at the 2016 American Music Awards on Nov. 20 to play the single "Bang, Bang" and sound off on their thoughts on a Donald Trump presidency, LGBTQ Nation reported. "No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA!" they chanted in the middle of the song, off the band's new album, Revolution Radio. The KKK endorsed Trump and have planned a parade celebrating his victory, to be held on Dec. 3 in North Carolina.
After giving over more and more of his shows to rants the past week and facing considerable backlash over his admiration of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, Kanye West has cancelled the remainder of his tour, The Independent noted. West cancelled his L.A. show three hours before it was slated to start—after only performing a few songs the previous night in Sacramento, California, after arriving 90 minutes late.
After five years, 130 episodes and some controversies, one of the biggest reality hits in the history of basic cable, Duck Dynasty, is coming to an end, Deadline reported. The Robertson family made the announcement in a video message that aired after the new season premiere of Duck Dynasty on A&E. The current season runs from tonight through Jan. 18, with a small break followed by the final seven episodes airing March 1-April 12. Tickets will be fully refunded at point of purchase.
Janet Jackson has decided to honor her late brother's legacy in an extra-special way, according to E! News. A source said the expectant mother's baby's name will "have something to do with Michael Jackson." The "Rhythm Nation" singer, 50, and husband Wissam Al Mana are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their first child together. The couple reportedly know the baby's sex and decorated the baby's room in "soft pastel colors."
Andy Warhol once freaked out Sean Lennon by giving him a taxidermied pet cat for his eighth birthday, Page Six noted. When asked what Warhol was "going for" when he chose the gift, Lennon told Page Six, "I really don't know." The singer revealed that when he unwrapped the gift, his mother, Yoko Ono, was "kind of disturbed despite her love of cats" and that the family's ( living ) cats were "immediately enraged."
A judge in Atlanta ordered Bobbi Kristina Brown's partner, Nick Gordon, to pay $36 million in a wrongful-death case, Billboard reported. Brown, the daughter of singers Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, was found face-down and unresponsive in a bathtub in her suburban Atlanta townhome in January 2015. Gordon, who also lived there, and a friend were listed on the police report as being in the home when investigators arrived there.
Nicki Minaj may have admitted to having a thing for new female rapper Young M.A., but according to the "Pinkprint" performer, boyfriend Meek Mill is still her one and only, International Business Times noted.During an October interview with Power 105's "The Breakfast Club," Minaj revealed she had a "thing" for the "OOOUUU" rapper. "I got a thing for Young M.A. for sure," said Minaj. "I definitely have a thing for her." However, Minaj recently posted an Instagram photo proclaiming her devotion to Mill. Young M.A. has been connected to model Tori Brixx after the two were spotted on the model's Snapchat. The rapper has also been tied to J. Adrienne of "Love & Hip Hop" fame.
The countdown is on to the Dec. 7 debut of NBC's Hairspray Live event and two of the musical's stars, Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson, teased their anticipated duet with an Instgram pic, Billboard noted. Grande, who is playing Penny Pingleton, and Hudson, who will take on Motormouth Maybelle, will get together to take on "Come So Far ( Got So Far to Go )," according to People, reprising the song sung by Queen Latifah in the 2007 film.
Singer Sharon Jones has died at age 60 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, TheWrap reported. A statement on Jones and her band, The Dap Kings,' official Facebook page confirmed the news. A documentary about Jones' health struggles and triumphant return to music—Miss Sharon Jones—is currently making awards rounds, directed by Oscar winner Barbara Kopple. In 2014, she was nominated for her first Grammy, for the R&B record "Give the People What They Want."
Former Project Runway hairstylist George Ortiz, 45, was found dead in his New York apartment, People reported, citing the Associated Press. According to director of public affairs Julie Bolcer of the NYC Chief Medical Examiner's office, the cause of death is asphyxia by covering of head with fastened plastic bag and displacement of oxygen by nitrogen; the manner of death is suicide. Ortiz served as a key hairstylist on 53 episodes of the reality competition series during 2006—10.
On a teaser for upcoming episodes of the Bravo hit Real Housewives of Atlanta, Porsha Williams accuses Kandi Burruss of being a lesbian and propositioning her for a threesome with her husband, Todd Tucker—but Radar Online noted that Williams may have fabricated things. A furious Burruss had quickly responded that Williams actually kissed her—and invited the couple back to her hotel for some late-night fun. "I been laughing everyday since Queens…We was turnt up for REAL!" Williams told Burruss on Aug. 3, 2014, according to messages obtained by Radar from a show insider. "Just want you to know I'm not [going to] rape you on camera so no worrie[s]."
Freeform has set spring premiere dates for the final season of its signature drama Pretty Little Liars and its new drama series starring Bella Thorne, Deadline reported. The cable net will bow season 7 of "Liars" at 8 p.m. CT on Tuesday, April 18, followed by Famous in Love at 9 p.m. Freeform is commemorating "Liars" with a 150-day countdown to the final season that started Nov. 19. Each day, the net will release a clip from the previous 150 episodes in chronological order, along with other celebratory content across social accounts and PLLTV.com, including episodic photos, graphics featuring every message from "A" and goodbye messages from the cast.
