GLAAD plans to honor Emmy-winning actor/producer/author/comedian Sean Hayes with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on March 28, a press release noted. The organization also announced stage and screen stars who will be in attendance at the Los Angeles ceremony, including the cast of Queer Eye, Jameela Jamil ( TV's The Good Place ), Imagine Dragons front man and LGBTQ ally Dan Reynolds, and Nico Santos ( Crazy Rich Asians; TV's Superstore ). Previous Stephen F. Kolzak honorees include Jim Parsons, Laverne Cox, Ellen DeGeneres, Troye Sivan, Ruby Rose, Chaz Bono, Wanda Sykes, Melissa Etheridge, Pedro Zamora, Robert Greenblatt, Paris Barclay and Sir Ian McKellen.
Drag Me Down the Aisle, premiering March 9, is an all-new wedding special on TLC following four drag queens coming to the rescue as they make it their mission to help a struggling bride salvage her big day, a press release noted. Emily enlists BeBe Zahara Benet, Thorgy Thor, Jujubee and Alexis Michelle as her own personal team of drag-queen wedding experts who will have three short weeks to save the day.
To mark her 50th birthday, Jennifer Lopez announced on Ellen that she is going on a U.S. tour called the "It's My Party Tour," NewNowNext.com reported. Lopez says it'll be a short tour, with about 25 shows running from June to July. Lopez has a history of being an LGBT ally; in a letter to Billboard Pride during Pride Month in June 2017, Lopez reflected on watching her aunt struggle with her sexual orientation and creating diverse representation on TV with her show The Fosters.
Bachelor Colton Underwood made an early exit from a charity event after he was allegedly touched inappropriately, People.com noted. The reality star, 27, said on Instagram that he was attempting to take photos with fans at a San Diego event for his Legacy Foundation when a personal line was crossed. Underwood's season of The Bachelor has shed light on sexual assault, and drew praise for the way it handled contestant Caelynn's revelation that she was drugged and raped in college.
First Run Features has announced the theatrical re-release of the legendary documentary Before Stonewall: The Making of a Gay and Lesbian Community on June 21 in New York and June 28 in Los Angeles, with other cities to follow—marking the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a press release noted. Narrated by iconic author Rita Mae Brown, the film features stirring interviews with pioneering cultural figures and activists such as Audre Lorde, Allen Ginsberg, Harry Hay, Richard Bruce Nugent, Frank Kameny and Barbara Gittings.
The late George Michael—an international pop star who formed one-half of the Goss-Michael Foundation in the Design District of Dallas—was a passionate collector of contemporary art, and much of the art he owned is being sold, The Dallas News noted. When Michael died on Christmas Day 2016, he left behind a collection that included works by Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, Bridget Riley and Sarah Lucas. More than 200 works owned by Michael will be auctioned in March, with the proceeds going to his favorite charities.
Rebel Wilson insisted on casting an openly gay actor for the role of a gay character in her new comedy Isn't It Romantic, The Washington Blade noted. In the film, Wilson's character hits her head and finds her life has transformed into a romantic comedy. Her neighbor Donny ( played by Brandon Scott Jones )—who often has women coming and going from his apartment—is transformed into her sassy "gay sidekick, who's setting gay rights back, like, a hundred years."
Acorn TV has landed two spin-offs of Australian period drama Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, Deadline noted. The U.S. SVOD service has taken the North American rights to Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries as well as the feature film Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears. The Modern Murder Mysteries series moves the setting to the 1960s.
Criminal Minds co-star A.J. Cook is suing her former manager, David Guillod, for not disclosing that he faced multiple sexual-assault accusations—and said he should repay money he earned from her and other actresses, including Gina Rodriguez, Kristin Chenoweth and Paula Patton, TheWrap reported. The lawsuit, seeking $1.6 million for Cook, argues that Guillod's concealment of his "sexual predator" past could have harmed her image and reputation as a strong advocate for women.
Bob Harper is celebrating the two-year anniversary of a near-fatal heart attack, Page Six noted. "I am so thankful to be here," the 53-year-old fitness guru shared on his Instagram with flowers, labeling the day "Survival Day." Harper, who was a part of NBC's Biggest Loser series, said his new mantra is "Life is good."
The America's Got Talent judges will look a bit different for season 14, as Heidi Klum and Mel B are leaving, MonstersAndCritics.com noted. Actresses Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough will take over those seats. Terry Crews is taking over as the new full-time America's Got Talent host, succeeding Tyra Banks. Changing the America's Got Talent judges is not a new thing, as people like Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne and Howard Stern have come and gone from the show.
Pitch Perfect star Ben Platt, 25, has come out in both an emotional new video and an interview with People, Out.com noted. According to Platt, he's been out since he was 12 but is only now making his sexuality public. Platt's new music video for "Ease My Mind," off of his upcoming album Sing to Me Instead, features actor Charlie Carver as his love interest.
The 12th annual SXSW Interactive Bash will take place on Tuesday, March 12, in Austin, Texas, DigitalJournal.com noted. This event will bring together creative and top industry influencers. Rock icon Joan Jett will appear with her band, the Blackhearts; moreover, Myles Hendrik will play a special DJ set. In November 2018, Jett released an empowering music video for her song "Fresh Start."
D.L. Hughley wants Terry Crews to be first guest on his new late-night show for TV One to talk about his #MeToo experience, Deadline reported. Hughley has made headlines for his remarks about Crews' #MeToo experience. Recently, Crews hit back at the comedian during an exchange on Twitter about sexual assault, specifically how men "with all those muscles" should react if touched inappropriately.
A Golden Girls cruise will depart on the Celebrity Infinity from Miami—home of the beloved Golden Girls—on Feb. 24-29, 2020, making stops in Key West, Florida, and Cozumel, Mexico, USA Today noted. The trip will include Golden Girls trivia and a bar crawl, Dorothy's Bingo, The Rusty Anchor Karaoke Party and One Night in St. Olaf Dance Party, complete with a game of Ugel and Flugel. Tickets for the cruise range from $986 to $1181; visit https://www.flipphoneevents.com/golden-girls-at-sea.
The "Queen of Funk," Chaka Khan, has released Hello Happiness—her first album in 12 years, a press release noted. The album is out via Diary Records/Island Records, the new label formed by Major Lazer founder and Grammy-nominated producer Switch, with artist/songwriter Sarah Ruba Taylor. Songs include the title track, "Like A Lady" and the previously released "Like Sugar," among others.
Sebastian Stan will replace Chris Evans in the Netflix drama The Devil All The Time—an adaptation of Donald Ray Pollock's 2011 Midwestern gothic novel, Deadline.com noted. Stan will costar alongside Tom Holland, Mia Wasakowska, Robert Pattinson and Bill Skarsgard.
Halsey showed off her latest ink via Instagram: a giant tattoo of Marilyn Manson's face, Billboard.com noted. The "Without Me" singer is currently in Adelaide, Australia, and met with tattoo artist Celia Dunne to add to her 20-plus collection.
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom are now engaged, People.com noted. Sharing her first photo with her now-fiance, Perry posted a close-up image of the pair surrounded by numerous heart-shaped balloons, while showing off her unique flower-shaped diamond ring, which has a pink jewel in the center.
Court records show that former American Idol contestant Antonella Barba allegedly was working as a courier for a major drug ring and was trying to deliver nearly two pounds of the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl when she was arrested in Virginia last year, Page Six reported. Barba, 32, was arrested Oct. 11 in downtown Norfolk and charged in a local court with one count of possession of more than 100 grams of heroin with intent to distribute it. Barba—best known for making it just shy of the top 12 round on "Idol" in 2007—drew backlash that year for posing in a wet T-shirt near the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
