Out singer Matt Zarley deals with a difficult break-up he went through with a well-known actor on his new single, "WTF," according to Advocate.com . "WTF" is the first song from Zarley's upcoming album, Change Begins with Me. Zarley said that he "had an intense romance" with the unnamed actor, "but it didn't just end. He completely severed all communication for no reason and actually broke my heart, leaving me to say to myself, 'What the fuck?'"
Kye Allums, the transgender member of the George Washington University's women's basketball team, will sit out his senior season after sustaining two concussions early last season and playing just eight games, according to the Bleacher Report. Allums made headlines last year when he announced he preferred to be known as a man and was putting off hormone treatments and gender-reassignment surgery to play for the Colonials.
Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour appears in a video with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for its "New Yorkers for Marriage Equality" campaign, according to a press release. "Ms. Wintour is a no-nonsense perfectionist who embraces basic fairness with her trademark elegance and humanity," said HRC Senior New York Strategist Brian Ellner. "As the preeminent voice in the global fashion industry and a publishing icon, Anna Wintour represents the best of New York. She knows the difference between a passing fad and an enduring brand. Equality is part of the New York brand."
Lady Gaga has supplanted Oprah Winfrey as the most powerful figure in entertainment, topping Forbes' "Celebrity 100" list, according to CBS News. The change has a lot to do with Gaga's mastery of social media; Forbes reported that the $90 million Gaga earned in the past year is a big reason for her rise but an even bigger reason is her "32 million Facebook fans and 10 million Twitter followers." (By the way, Winfrey earned $290 million last year.) Others on the list include Justin Bieber, Sir Elton John, Will Smith , Tiger Woods and former Real Housewife of New York Bethenny Frankel.
Film director Lars von Trier (Breaking the Waves; Dancer in the Dark) was banned from the Cannes film festival following a series of jokes in which he called himself a Nazi and a Hitler sympathizer, The Daily Beast reported. It is the film festival's first expulsion in 64 years. During a press conference—with actress Kirsten Dunst looking on uncomfortably—von Trier said that he felt he understood Hitler and that he sympathized with him. He then said, "I am of course very much for Jews—no, not too much because Israel is a pain in the ass."
Rock legend and American Idol judge Steven Tyler has said that he's tried gay sex, according to Monsters & Critics. The Aerosmith frontman said that experimented with his sexuality in his younger years, but quickly decided that men were not for him. In his autobiography Does The Noise In My Head Bother You? Tyler, 63, wrote, "Gay sex just doesn't do it for me. I tried it one time when I was younger, but I just didn't dig it."
Jared Max, a veteran radio sports reporter, informed ESPN-1050 listeners he is gay, the New York Daily News reported. Max's words came in the wake of recent announcements from Phoenix Suns executive Rick Welts and former Villanova basketball player Will Sheridan. "Are we ready to have our sports information delivered by someone who is gay?" Max, 37, asked. "We're going to find out. Because for the last 16 years I've been living a free life among all my close friends and family. But I've been living behind what is a gargantuan size secret in the sports world."
Another sports item: Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said that he played with gay teammates on two of the three teams he was part of during his years in the NBA, according to the Huffington Post. Barkley made the statement when asked about Phoenix Suns executive Rick Welts coming out of the closet. Barkley, an analyst on TNT, also said, "First off all, every player has played with gay guys. It bothers me when I hear these reporters and jocks get on TV and say: 'Oh, no guy can come out in a team sport. These guys would go crazy.' First of all, quit telling me what I think. I'd rather have a gay guy who can play than a straight guy who can't play."
Also in the world of sports, professional bowler Scott Norton has come out of the closet, according to Advocate.com . Norton, who has been named the Professional Bowling Association's rookie of the year for 2010-11, said that coming out on the bowling tour was important to him so he could be a role model for other gay athletes. Norton wrote on the league's website that his experience on the tour "surpassed nearly everything I could hope for in terms of acceptance."
In his new memoir, Not Dead & Not For Sale, singer Scott Weiland says, among other things, that he was raped when he was 12, according to the Huffington Post. The former Stone Temple Pilots singer writes that a "big muscular guy, a high school senior... [who] rode the bus with me every day to school... invited me to his house. The dude raped me. It was quick, not pleasant. I was too scared to tell anyone. 'Tell anyone,' he warned, 'and you'll never have another friend in this school." Weiland also talks about his past drug use and time in the supergroup Velvet Revolver.
Another sports figure has come out in support of gay athletes. In the NFL, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Donte Stallworth recently tweeted, "Sad that people are ridiculed for their sexual orientation in this age... and leave religion out of this, God loves ALL!!! #hyporcrites [sic]," according to The Bleacher Report. Teammate Brendan Ayanbadejo has also been vocal about supporting LGBT equality.
In response to a protest by the Westboro Baptist Church, comedian Lisa Lampanelli pledged to donate $1,000 to Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), the nation's oldest HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care services provider, for each of the 44 activists who was present—totaling $44,000, according to a press release. "We are grateful for Lisa Lampanelli's kindness and courage to fight homophobia," said Marjorie Hill, Ph.D., CEO of GMHC. "She is holding up a mirror to bigotry and hatred, and reflecting back love and generosity."
Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah used an anti-gay slur during game three of the team's Eastern Conference series with the Miami Heat, according to USA Today. Noah used the same slur that Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant said last month—one that caused him to be hit with a $100,000 fine from the NBA. The Bulls player was fined $50,000, according to the Chicago Tribune. The NBA office announced that Noah was fined for "using a derogatory and offensive term from the bench," adding that Noah's fine was less than Bryant's because "Kobe's fine included discipline for verbal abuse of a game official."
Actress/singer Queen Latifah is launching a clothing line for HSN, according to People.com . The Queen Collection, launching Aug. 27, includes clothing and accessories designed for women sizes two through 24. Latifah (real name: Dana Owens) said, "I've been offered a lot of deals for clothing lines and actually started one that didn't quite get off the ground but this is like a full circle moment for me."
Promoting her new album Born This Way, Lady Gaga made quite an impression on The Late Show with David Letterman May 23. According to the Wall Street Journal, the singer appeared on David Letterman in a black leather jacket and lace up knee high-heeled boots. She traded quips with Letterman (also flirting with him) and ate some of the host's notes after he asked her about rumors.
Speaking of Gaga's new album, Amazon.com's one-day, 99-cent promotion of Born This Way resulted in downloading delays on the Internet retailer's website because of high volume, the Journal reported. Amazon thanked users for their patience, saying consumers who ordered Born This Way on its opening day, May 23, would get the full CD for the promotional price.
ABC has reportedly renamed the fall show Good Christian Belles, according to Digital Spy. The show will now be known as G.C.B.—the series' second name change; originally, it was called Good Christian Bitches, after Kim Gatlin's book of the same name. The show stars Leslie Bibb, David James Elliott (JAG) and gay fave Kristin Chenoweth.
Janet Jackson, Brooke Shields and President Bill Clinton were among those who joined thousands of attendees in risque attire May 21 at the flamboyant Austrian fundraiser known as the Life Ball, according to the Washington Post. The event included a fashion show and live acts by Natasha Bedingfield, Holly Johnson and Natalia Kills. Clinton reminded the revelers—many covering private body parts with nothing more than paint, feathers or G-strings—that a large number of those infected with AIDS still are not getting access to life-saving treatment. Jackson reminded reporters that every little bit helps when it comes to fighting AIDS.
An era will end on the TV series Law & Order: SVU as lead actor and gay fave Christopher Meloni will be out after 12 seasons, Deadline.com reported. Leading lady Mariska Hargitay will be back after closing her deal; however, Meloni and NBC reportedly could not agree on a new deal as he sought a salary increase. Meloni, who had previously co-starred on the cable series Oz, has recorded a video for the "New Yorkers for Marriage Equality" campaign.
Singer Adele will not perform at outdoor festivals in the near future, Digital Spy reported. The "Rolling in the Deep" singer told Q magazine that the large audiences festivals attract would scare her and that her musical style would not be a good fit for that type of venue. She also said that she was annoyed when her label reissued an expanded edition of her first CD, 19.
Gwyneth Paltrow's negotiations for a record deal with the Atlantic music label have stalled, according to Digital Spy. An insider said, "Atlantic bosses were very interested, and [Atlantic owner and] Warner chief Lyor Cohen was very supportive. Then the talks halted and the deal fizzled out. There was a rumor that Paltrow wanted $1 million to sign, but that is a ridiculous figure." However, Atlantic is still reportedly interested in Paltrow.
Glee actress Jane Lynch may host the Emmys this year, according to Deadline.com . If this happens, she would be the second consecutive gay host of the ceremony, following actor Neil Patrick Harris. Another possibility for Emmy host is Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, who has hosted roasts and can sing as well; however, there are concerns he may make censors nervous.
