In an Instagram post on 30 August, BDS said it wanted to “remember, mourn, support and care together” rather than hold its usual celebration.

The organisation gathered to remember members of Nepal’s gender and sexual minority communities who had died over the past year, while also mourning those killed in the recent floods, including Nepali citizens and foreign tourists.

The candlelight ceremony honoured those who lost their lives, while offering prayers for the recovery of those injured, the safe rescue of people still missing and strength for bereaved families.

Hon. Bhumika Shrestha thanked the SOGIESC community for standing alongside the nation during the crisis, while BDS President Umisha Pandey reaffirmed the community’s message: “We stand with our nation in this difficult hour.”

BDS has also pledged NPR 100,000 to Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Relief Fund as a contribution to the national relief effort.

“Our Pride is also our solidarity,” the organisation wrote.

“We remember. We stand together. We care.”

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The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Yiannopoulos, 41, was deported to the UK on Friday (28 August), describing him as an “illegal alien from the United Kingdom” who had been sent “back to his home country”.

As first reported by TMZ, Yiannopoulos was arrested by ICE on August 27 after arriving at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. According to a statement from a DHS spokesperson, he first entered the US in May 2019 and subsequently overstayed his legal status.

The deportation has drawn particular attention because Yiannopoulos has spent years advocating for some of the same aggressive immigration policies that ultimately resulted in his own removal.

He has repeatedly called for mass deportations and stricter immigration enforcement, writing on social media in 2025 that the US should deport “millions and millions of people.” He has also advocated for the immediate deportation of people unable to prove they are legally in the country and previously called for “total legal immunity” for ICE agents carrying out raids.

Now, he has been deported by the very agency he once enthusiastically supported.

Yiannopoulos grew up in Kent, England, and rose to prominence as a provocative right-wing commentator and former editor at Breitbart News. He was an early supporter of Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election and headlined a “Gays for Trump” event during the Republican National Convention that year – though last year said he regretted “mainstreaming homosexuality”.

Although Yiannopoulos has criticised the president in recent years, he has continued to express support for many elements of Trump’s political agenda.

He has also worked with figures including rapper Kanye West, assisting with West’s unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign.

Yiannopoulos has long courted controversy over his comments about transgender people, Muslims, Black Lives Matter, feminists and LGBTQ+ people. Although he has previously identified as gay, he now describes himself as “ex-gay.”

Far-right commentator and Trump ally Laura Loomer, who has publicly feuded with Yiannopoulos, claimed credit for his arrest in a 28 August post to her X account, saying she had contacted DHS about him. She celebrated his removal on social media and claimed he would never be allowed to return to the US.

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Hunter Biden has gone viral after joking about being “48.5 percent gay”, with the number shifting throughout the conversation.

In an 80-minute chat with Luke Beasley, a gay progressive political commentator, Biden was asked if he was gay too.

Biden replied: “Only a little bit.” When Beasley pressed him on whether he was more or less than 50 per cent gay, Biden answered: “48.6,” though the figure kept changing as the pair continued speaking.

Biden later quipped: “I think a little bit more masculine would be my type, if I were gay.”

At another point, he joked that his “gaydom” had dropped to 47 per cent. Near the end of the interview, he returned to the running total, saying: “I just want to let you know that I am back up to 48.5 percent gay.”

Hunter Biden and the ‘closetocracy’

Earlier this year, Biden claimed there were a number of closeted gay men in US politics.

In July, he appeared on the I’ve Had It podcast and argued Washington was influenced by a Republican “closetocracy”, saying: “Everybody knows there is this closeted gay mafia, largely Republican, that exists in Washington, DC.”

While he did not mention any individuals, he suggested it was the toll of living in secrecy that “creates so much vitriol inside a person that they take it out on the rest of the world”. “And they do,” he added.

He continued: “Their whole lives they’ve been closeted and so you have this… blackened heart by the fact that you can’t be who you want to be, so you take it out on everybody else.”

His comments divided social media users, with some finding it ironic given the Republican party’s history of opposing LGBTQ+ rights, while others suggested it only pushed a harmful stereotype of a self-hating “closet case”.

Biden, the second son of former US President Joe Biden, has spoken publicly for years about addiction and recovery, including in a memoir, and has said he has been sober since June 2019.

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The owner of the home used as Shane’s now-famous cottage in Heated Rivalry says he did “a little bit of soul searching about allowing them to come back” before agreeing to let production return for season two.

Michael Kutryk, the Toronto doctor who owns the property, told HGTV he had been weighing his privacy against the show’s growing fandom.

The home featured in the season one finale episode, “The Cottage”. Kutryk said the first season was made on a “very small budget” and that he agreed to “almost nothing” to let the series film with “a crew of 45” at the lakefront property.

Kutryk described how negotiations shifted once the show’s profile grew. “When they called, they said, ‘How much do you want?’ First, I told them they scratched my table, then I named a very reasonable price. They were shocked and appreciative. I actually didn’t even get them to replace my table,” he said.

He added that a producer explained the show was based on a novel by Rachel Reid about hockey, prompting him to listen to the audiobook.

“My jaw just dropped as I listened. The pretty explicit nature of the book made me wonder just what they’d be filming… and showing!” he said.

Why The Cottage is important

In season one of Crave’s breakout queer hockey romance, the cottage became the emotional setting for a major turning point for Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie).

The storyline saw Shane invite Ilya for a two-week stay, before they grew closer and ultimately decided to come out to Shane’s parents after his father accidentally caught them together at the home.

After Heated Rivalry became a global hit when it was released in December 2025, Kutryk said he started getting calls from Airbnb about renting the cottage, and agreed to rent it out from spring into the autumn after receiving “an offer too good to refuse”.

He said he is still unsure whether he will continue renting it after season two airs because he’s “a private guy”. He added: “This is my retreat. I built this to get away from the world, so I don’t know how much longer I’ll continue to share it.”

Heated Rivalry season 2

Heated Rivalry season two is set for a spring 2027 release, with production starting in Canada earlier this month.

The past few weeks have seen Heated Rivalry fans inundated with major casting updates, with the actors playing some key roles confirmed.

Late last week, Shaheen Jafargholi and Daniel Diemer were announced as Fabian Salah and Ryan Price, from Reid’s novel Tough Guy.

They joined Charlie Gillespie as Troy Barrett, and Justice Smith as Harris Drover, the leads from Role Model.

Other supporting cast announced include Robert Naylor, Emily Hampshire, Priyanka, Edvin Ryding and Sabrina Jalees.

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Sophia Laforteza will sit out KATSEYE’s UK and European dates on the upcoming Wildworld tour as she focuses on her wellbeing, telling fans she has been in “ongoing treatment” and adding: “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”

The update was shared in a label statement on Sophia’s tour participation days before the tour opens in Dublin, and after the group had to cancel a scheduled performance at Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival as Megan Skiendiel picked up an injury.

In the statement posted to social media, HYBE and Geffen Records said: “Sophia is focusing on her well-being, and the company remains fully committed to providing her with all the support and resources needed.” It added: “Sophia will not be participating in THE WILDWORLD TOUR in Europe and the UK scheduled from September 1 through September 17.”

The message continued: “We sincerely ask for EYEKONS’ warm understanding, as our highest priority will always be the health and long-term well-being of our artists.”

Sophia later addressed fans directly on Instagram Story, writing: “I can’t express enough how much i want to participate in this tour and perform for you all,” before adding: “I have to remind myself every day that our health and mental well-being should always be prioritised… I’ve been in ongoing treatment and doing everything i can to stay healthy, occupied and happy. You can’t pour from an empty cup.”

Wildworld tour

Wildworld is scheduled to kick off on 1 September at Dublin’s 3Arena, with stops including Paris, Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

UK arena dates include London’s The O2 and Manchester’s Co-op Live. A North American leg is set to begin on 13 October at Miami’s Kaseya Center.

Katseye’s year of change

Sophia announced a temporary hiatus in early August to prioritise her “mental health and wellness”.

Also in August, it was announced Megan would be taking a temporary break as she picked up an ankle injury during rehearsals.

In February, member Manon Bannerman went on hiatus to “focus on her health and wellbeing”.

While Sophie’s hiatus does not appear to be open-ended, there has been no update on whether Manon will be rejoining the group.

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Speaking to radio host Michael Smerconish on Monday (24 August), Barkley, who has previously supported the LGBTQ community, defended Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who recently criticised the participation of trans women and girls in women’s sports.

“I got nothing but love and respect for gay people and transgender people, but under no circumstances do I think men should play against women. Zero,” Barkley said. He also criticised NBA commissioner Adam Silver and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for not taking a definitive position against transgender players.

There are currently no known transgender women playing in the WNBA.

The league has had one known openly trans and nonbinary player, Layshia Clarendon, who retired in 2024. However, Clarendon was assigned female at birth.

The controversy escalated after former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, who are both cisgender men, announced that they considered themselves eligible for the WNBA’s 2027 draft, pointing to the league’s eligibility rules, which do not explicitly address gender identity or sex assigned at birth. Critics have accused the pair of making themselves the centre of a debate that was ostensibly supposed to be about trans athletes.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said the league is treating the issue as a “complex and nuanced topic”, with a task force of team presidents and general managers set to examine transgender inclusion.

Barkley argued that the league should simply rule out transgender participation and move on, saying he was concerned the controversy was overshadowing the WNBA’s accomplishments.

Trans athletes and their advocates have pushed back on the idea that excluding them is necessary to “protect women’s sports”, pointing instead to the much broader challenges facing women and girls in athletics, such as unequal funding, discrimination and sexual abuse.

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The 2025 Australian film sees protagonist princess Saira living on the planet Clitopolis. Her ex Kiki is kidnapped by “Straight White Maliens” who want to use her as bait to steal Saira’s axe – or labrys. Some fans believe Saira summons the labrys from her uterus.

Later, another character – Blade, a drag queen who cannot summon the axe – tries to steal the labrys, before being decapitated, as per Them.

Why do people think Lesbian Space Princess is transphobic?

The labrys – a double-headed axe – has had a long association with lesbians, with the community even having a Labrys Pride Flag. It is a solid violet flag, with an upside down black triangle and white labrys over it.

It was created in 1999, bringing in a number of references.

The labrys represents feminine strength and is linked to Greek mythological figures the Amazons, a group of female warrios.

The violet colour is associated with Sappho, the Greek poet, who is believed to have been a lesbian.

The inverted triangle is thought to reference the Nazi “asocial” badge, which represented the persecution of lesbians during the Holocaust.

While the Labrys Pride Flag didn’t see as much mainstream usage as other flags from the community, in recent years it has been used by gender-critical lesbians.

Because of that, a trans-inclusive Labrys Flag was created, which also includes the Trans Pride Flag’s blue, pink and white colours.

On top of that, some viewers believe the scene with Blade is particularly transphobic. A Bluesky user wrote it is “very very explicitly transphobic especially since one of the characters is seen as ‘stealing’ the girlhood of the main character, represented by the axe”.

Film co-creator Emma Hough Hobbs said in a 2025 interview with Joy Sauce that the use of the labrys had been carefully considered. “It used to be a TERF symbol and we debated included it. In the end, we put it in the film because it should belong to all lesbians, including trans lesbians … We felt the positive representation of inclusion was more powerful.”

Among the discourse, however, are people pointing out that Blade is not a trans woman. Secondly, one of Saira’s lesbian mothers, who is a trans woman, can summon the labrys.

“You guys aren’t pushing for better representation,” one person said on X. “You’re just contributing to queer harassment.”

Lesbian Space Princess is available to rent or buy on streaming services in the UK, so you can watch and make up your own mind.

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The post Lesbian Space Princess accused of transphobia over divisive axe symbol appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The group announced the cancellation in a statement on social media yesterday (27 August), writing: “We’re so incredibly sorry to share that we are unable to perform at Daisy Chain Fields this Saturday.

“Megan sprained her ankle yesterday during tour rehearsal and after being evaluated by doctors, she has been advised to stay off it and allow it to properly heal so we can be ready for our upcoming tour.”

The cancellation means KATSEYE will no longer take the Dandelion Stage at 2:15PM, where they had been scheduled to perform between Santigold and Mitski.

Daisy Chain Fields has since released an updated schedule, with Santigold moving into the slot originally held by KATSEYE.

The group said they were particularly disappointed to miss the festival because of its focus on community as well as music.

“It breaks our hearts to disappoint anyone who made plans to be there,” they wrote. “We were especially excited for Daisy Chain Fields because it’s not just about music, but the greater mission of joy and community.”

KATSEYE also sent their support to Rodrigo, the festival’s performers, nonprofit organisations and volunteers, adding that they hoped everyone attending would have an “amazing day.”

The group recently scored its first No1 album on the Billboard 200 with WILD, and is preparing to embark on their Wildworld tour, which is scheduled to begin in Dublin on 1 September.

The tour will take the group through the UK and Europe throughout September before they head to North America in October.

It remains unclear whether Megan’s ankle injury will affect any of those upcoming performances. Fans who were hoping to see Katseye at Daisy Chain Fields will have to wait a little longer, but the group wrote: “We can’t wait to see everyone out on tour.”

Megan’s injury comes not long after member Sophia was announced to be going on hiatus due to her mental health. Meanwhile, Manon has been on hiatus since February, and it remains unclear whether she will return.

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The post Katseye cancels Daisy Chain Fields festival gig as Megan gets injury appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Critics have dismissed the 20-page report released on 27 August as “junk science” and accused the administration of using taxpayer money to manufacture a justification for targeting trans people and their allies.

The Human Rights Campaign released a statement the same day as the report, writing: “The entities that conducted the supposed ‘research,’ the Manhattan Institute and the Network Contagion Research Institute, are both known conservative-leaning think tanks with track records of producing reports that align with extremist right-wing positions.”

The study surveyed 1,208 US adults, but only 1.1% identified as transgender or nonbinary, while 55% identified as leaning Democratic. Critics say this sample is not representative of the wider US population.

Researchers created their own “Clinical Gender Affirmation Scale” to measure support for trans people, asking participants whether they agreed with statements about respecting transgender identities, names, pronouns, gender expression and children exploring their gender.

The report then attempted to connect those views with support for political violence by asking participants about things including damaging property, attacking police and the killings of political and business figures, namely Charlie Kirk and Brian Thompson.

The survey also included 13 statements that respondents were asked to rate their agreement with on a seven-point scale to measure their “left-wing authoritarian tendencies”. Statements included “America would be much better off if all of the rich people were at the bottom of the social ladder”, “We need to replace the established order by any means necessary”, and “Getting rid of inequality is more important than protecting the so-called ‘right’ to free speech”.

Notably, participants were not asked about their views on the Trump administration’s numerous anti-trans policies.

The report’s authors argue that affirming transgender people can create a sense of “threat” and encourage people to seek institutional control over those who disagree with them. The Human Rights Campaign, however, points to the political backgrounds of the conservative think tanks and researchers involved in producing the report.

Critics say the broader concern is not simply the report itself, but how its findings could be used. Certain right-leaning media outlets have already begun citing it as evidence that trans people and their allies pose a threat to American society at large.

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Jack Barton, who played David Nelson in Heartstopper, has reportedly emerged as a surprise contender to become the next James Bond, with screen tests said to be just days away.

Page Six reports that Barton is among the names being considered as filmmakers prepare to screen test potential 007s.

Barton is known to many viewers for appearing in five episodes of Heartstopper, as well as finale movie Heartstopper Forever, as David, the homophobic older brother of Kit Connor’s character Nick.

He has also had a lead role in TV drama SAS: Rogue Heroes, and has appeared in Emma Stone movie Poor Things as well as Netflix series The Letter for the King.

Who will be the next James Bond?

The next film will be the 26th Bond movie, with Denis Villeneuve set to direct. It will be the first 007 movie under Amazon MGM Studios.

Amazon said in a statement in May: “The search for the next James Bond is underway. While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right.”

Barton is relatively unknown compared to the other A-list actors tipped to be in the running.

They include Dua Lipa’s husband Callum Turner, Euphoria star Jacob Elordi, Irish actor Paul Mescal, Babygirl star Harris Dickinson, and Scottish War & Peace actor Jack Lowden.

Why Barton is being linked to 007

Barton’s name has been floated as the conversation turns again to the idea of a less familiar Bond.

In June, former Bond casting director Debbie McWilliams told The Independent: “It is absolutely essential that [Bond] retains a total enigma,” arguing audiences should know “as little about them personally as possible”.

In a Gentleman’s Journal interview, Barton said: “I’m quite interested in characters who have some level of torment or some conflict within them.” Asked for his dream role, he added: “I mean I’d love to play Macbeth. That’s a sort of w**** answer, but I would. I’ve always wanted to play Macbeth. Again, going to this place of conflicted, slightly tortured characters who are a bit dark.”

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Pirro was working as Parton’s chauffeur by 1990, when a story about him appeared in Star, a tabloid paper, and was subsequently reprinted in transgender newsletters of the era. An old eBay listing of the magazine, as reported by Them, shows outdated language about trans people in the headline, but Pirro’s own comments made clear that Parton knew about his transition and treated him with kindness and respect.

“Dolly has been good to me,” Pirro told Star at the time. “Dolly knows all about me and is a very nice lady. Whenever Dolly comes into Hollywood for a meeting, or for business, or for filming, or just staying here, she calls me and I drive her around.”

An August 1990 issue of the transgender newsletter Twenty Minutes reported that Pirro was chauffeuring Parton around Hollywood, while another contemporary newsletter from trans author and activist Lou Sullivan also highlighted his work with Parton and other celebrities.

Parton later mentioned Pirro by name several times in her 1994 memoir, Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business. In a Q&A section addressing her views on trans people and gender-affirming surgery, Parton was asked what she thought about “sex-change operations”.

‘I just want everybody to be treated good’

“Well, I’ve always said that if I hadn’t been a woman, I would have been a drag queen,” she replied, before adding: “All I know about sex-change operations I’ve learned from my good friend Jason…”

Pirro appears to have remained part of Parton’s professional and personal orbit for decades. She thanked him by name in the liner notes of her 2016 album Pure & Simple for his “time, love, and attention to details”, and he later contributed to her 2023 book Behind the Seams, which chronicled her iconic career and wardrobe.

In 2023, as Tennessee lawmakers targeted trans people and gender-affirming healthcare, Parton was asked about the political attacks.

“I just want everybody to be treated good,” she said in a 2 November interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I try not to get into the politics of everything. I try to get into the human element of it.”

She then made the personal nature of that position explicit, saying: “I have some of everybody in my own immediate family and in my circle of employees. I’ve got transgender people. I’ve got gays. I’ve got lesbians … all within my own family. I know and love them all, and I do not judge.”

‘I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are’

That philosophy also appeared in her response to North Carolina’s controversial 2016 anti-trans bathroom law.

“I think everybody should be treated with respect. I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are. I just know, if I have to pee, I’m gon’ pee, wherever it’s got to be”, Parton told CNN at the time.

For generations of LGBTQ+ fans, Parton became an icon partly because of this combination of warmth, humour and acceptance. She often avoided partisan political language, instead framing LGBTQ+ equality as a question of basic human dignity.

At a time when trans people were frequently sensationalised in the media and long before many celebrities were willing to publicly discuss transgender people or trans issues, Pirro was a trusted member of Parton’s world.

The surviving records don’t tell us everything about their relationship or exactly what Pirro’s role became over the following decades. But they do show she continued to acknowledge him publicly and privately, referred to him as a friend, and kept him in her professional circle for decades.

And perhaps most importantly, Parton’s own words about him were remarkably simple: Jason was her “good friend”.

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Speaking to Zach Sang, alongside Fernando Lindez, whom she stars opposite in new Prime Video movie The Last Sunrise, conversation turned to Pretty Little Liars, the 2022 HBO spin-off of the 2010 to 2017 original.

She said: “PLL, we tackled everything, all of it. That show, we went through so many subject matters. But I love that show, I could talk about that show forever. That was crazy. I love the girls, all five of us.”

Earlier in the chat, Sang had said to Reficco and Lindez: “You’re both straight, both very straight.” With Reficco quickly firing back: “I am not straight.”

Reficco, who appeared in Nickelodeon Latin America series Kally’s Mashup as a teenager, went on to say: “Lucy Hale was my gay awakening.”

Lucy Hale starred in the original Pretty Little Liars as Aria Montgomery, one of the lead cast.

Reficco continued: “I was like, ‘I probably sound so creepy, because all I talk about is Lucy Hale being my gay awakening.’

“But yeah, she was. I loved her. Her and Miley. Miley was also a big one.

“Like, why do I have so many posters of this girl? Maybe I’m just gay.”

She laughed: “Truly, thank you for your service.”

Is Lucy Hale queer?

Hale, who has played queer roles previously, told The Advocate in 2021, while speaking of her Ragdoll character’s sexuality: “I always view it as character and I’ve never really talked about my personal life and what my sexuality is. I prefer not to talk about that because I like to keep my life very private.

“But I think that Edmunds, the character, sort of represents a generation. They talk about sexuality in a way that I really admire – that you can be fluid and you can be attracted to people as people. And that’s always been my mindset. I just like human beings.”

While Hale hasn’t outright labelled her identity, it hasn’t stopped her showing up for the LGBTQ+ community.

In 2017, she made her stance on transgender rights very clear. She posted a photo on X, captioned: “To all the people speaking against the transgender community… This is all I have to say.”

In the photo, she could be seen holding a cake with the words “bye betch” iced on top.

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The 53-year-old actor joined The Group Chat format of the show to talk to Evan Ross Katz, singer-songwriter King Princess and television producer Norman Baker. During the segment, she revealed that she is single, looking to get out there and date, and is open to meeting people of all genders.

The Sterling Point, Galaxy Quest and Dodgeball star said that she struggles to meet people she is interested in dating, especially on dating apps.

While Pyle doesn’t consider herself to be particularly famous, she did admit that having a public profile as someone who acts in film and TV makes things hard.

In response, Katz and King Princess said that they would take Pyle out to Brooklyn to meet someone. King Princess followed this up by asking: “Are you cool with whatever gender?” to which Pyle happily responded: “Yeah, I am.”

‘I’m looking for a person. Well, persons’

While Pyle didn’t label her sexuality, King Princess did call her a “bisexual diva”, which made the actor chuckle.

Pyle went on to share: “I would say that I’ve been mostly in heterosexual relationships, but I have had others, and I think now that I get older, I’m just sort of like, I’m looking for a person. Well, persons.”

As the group continued to discuss what Pyle is looking for in a relationship, she said that she was open to a younger girlfriend and potentially polyamory. King Princess wasn’t sure on the polyamory side, jokingly responding: “No, that’s too many people. I think poly’s too many people.”

The Group Chat with Norman Baker, King Princess & Missi Pyle is now streaming on Netflix.

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In April, Canadian actor Innanen confirmed he’d been in talks to join the gay hockey drama, and fans thought he’d be perfect to play misunderstood player Troy Barrett.

By June, it was revealed that while he was offered an undisclosed role, he’d had to turn it down due to scheduling issues. While it’s not known which role Innanen was in talks for, the role of Troy was eventually given to Charlie Gillespie.

Now, speaking with Entertainment Tonight while promoting the second season of Adults, he was asked to address the disappointment for “failing to deliver on a Heated Rivalry season two appearance”.

Innanen said: “My message is, it is unfortunate. I hope that they have the most fun filming, I saw they just started filming. I love Heated Rivalry, I love a Canadian production. I hope they have the most fun. It didn’t work out, but Godspeed.”

His co-star Amita Rao suggested he could apologise by “posting a couple of shirtless pictures”.

Innanen energetically agreed, but took it one step further. He said: “Yeah, I’ll be showing hole. I’ve been working on my glutes, so that’s my apology. I knew it was going there. That’s actually my message: I’m working on my glutes.”

Fans were quick to react, with one joking: “Sometimes a hole pic is all you need to forgive someone.” Another asked: “Sir can we get those pictures now or?”

Meanwhile, others were still clearly disappointed that he wouldn’t be joining Heated Rivalry. “Still Troy in my heart though,” one said, as another added: “Forever my Troy.”

Some hoped he may have a small cameo role that hadn’t been announced. One said: “I still believe he’s gonna pop in as a surprise.” A second commented: “Please give him a walk on. We deserve it.”

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Cohen and Sobieski have been linked for a few months now, but have made things official (in showbiz terms) by attending a fancy event together. They went to watch Cohen’s friend John Mayer perform at The Stephen Talkhouse, also mingling with some of the Real Housewives.

The duo posed for photos before and during the performance, with Cohen wrapping an arm around his businessman boyfriend.

They also took photos with Real Housewives of New York City icons Sonja Morgan and Countess Luann de Lesseps.

Sharing the group photo on Instagram, Morgan – who was on RHONY from season three to 13 – said: “Love is in the air. Finally met Andy’s boyfriend. I love love and I love this.”

Cohen, who is also the host of the Real Housewives Reunion specials, left some heart emojis in the comments.

One person told him: “Andy you got a hot one. Good for you.”

Who is Andy Cohen’s boyfriend Kevin Sobieski?

Andy Cohen introduced Kevin Sobieski to his Instagram followers in mid-July, sharing a smiling photo of them together with the caption: “Date night.”

His comment section was full of Bravo stars sharing the love, with Below Deck Mediterranean legend Captain Sandy Yawn saying: “Leah and I wanna do a double date. We are so happy for you.”

Not much is known about Sobieski, however he graduated from Harvard Business School and has been working in finance.

It’s believed he previously dated Grammy-winning composer Benj Pasek between 2018 to 2022.

Cohen and Sobieski have an approximate 16-year age gap.

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Comedian and actor Drayton, who was married to Celebrity Traitors winner Carr from 2018 to 2022, has been documenting the ordeal on Instagram, but has now opened up further in a new interview.

On 24 June, Drayton revealed he had been contacted by an account who proceeded to send him one of his own intimate images which he had “sent to somebody on Grindr”, before threatening to release it to the public unless he paid up.

At the time, it seems Drayton, who recently released his memoir, Ride – Or Die Trying, didn’t take it too seriously, captioning a video about it: “Don’t send nudes kids!” adding the hashtag “funny”.

He explained he was advised to report it to the police after laughing off the threats with the blackmailer.

Eventually, he shared a third threat on 5 August, saying: “I have nothing to hide and am posting this to raise awareness on how this goes on. I had no intention of paying him anything, I just tried to obtain as much info as possible.” He included the images in it, having previously explained he believed someone had used a second phone to take a photo of the expiring images he’d sent on Grindr.

Drayton said he had reported it to the police.

‘It’s like your nervous system goes into high alert’

Now, speaking to The Sun, he admitted: “When I first got a message and those pictures, my blood ran cold, it’s like your nervous system goes into high alert.”

The scammer set up a number of different WhatsApp accounts, targeting Drayton with profiles of handsome men.

“It really is scary thinking that people are spying on you,” he said. “Obviously I’ve got a public Instagram account… but you still have to be careful.”

Soon, the scammer brought the death of Drayton’s dad into it, which “really fired [him] up”.

But he ignored the threats, telling the scammer to “feel free” to post them.

He was later interviewed by officers after reporting it to West Sussex Police, who are now investigating.

Sussex Police told The Sun: “We can confirm we are aware of this allegation and have engaged with the informant.”

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Last week, a fundraising campaign launched with the goal of buying the Old State Saloon in Eagle, Idaho and transforming it into an LGBTQ+ bar, nightlife venue and community space. The Old State Saloon announced it was up for sale on 20 August.

The campaign, led by Montgomery Kuykendall, is aiming to raise $3million to purchase the property and its liquor licence. The saloon itself is currently listed for $2.4million, while the liquor licence is listed separately for $500,000. As of today (27 August), the GoFundMe had raised around $6,725.

Old State Saloon owner Mark Fitzpatrick made headlines last year when he hosted “Hetero Awesome Fest”, describing it as a celebration of “traditional gender norms and heterosexual awesomeness” and an alternative to Pride events. According to KTVB, just 50 people attended.

The saloon has also been associated with other controversial promotions. Last November, it offered free drinks to people whose tips to Immigration and Customs Enforcement resulted in deportations.

Now, the proposed “New State Saloon” would attempt to turn that reputation completely on its head.

Kuykendall says the vision is for a permanent LGBTQ+ bar and nightlife destination, with drag performances, dancing, live music, parties and community nights, as well as a space that can be used during the day for educational workshops, art shows and nonprofit fundraisers.

The organisers say they don’t want the venue to be just a bar. Their plans include donating 2–5 percent of weekly business proceeds to the ACLU of Idaho and the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights in Boise.

“A place associated with division can become a place where people meet,” the fundraising campaign says.

There is still a long way to go. The campaign has set a $3 million target, and the purchase has not been completed. Organisers say that if they cannot raise enough to buy this particular building, any funds that cannot be used for the purchase will instead be donated to pro-LGBTQ+ and civil rights organisations.

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In an interview with PEOPLE, Philipps, 47, said she learned that a 2.6cm Grade 2 oligodendroglioma had been found in her brain during a full-body MRI on 12 February. The timing was particularly striking as Van Der Beek had died from colorectal cancer at 48 the previous day (11 February).

Philipps, a vocal LGBTQ+ ally, recalled that, while on the phone with her ex-husband, Marc Silverstein, the following day, he encouraged her to go to a scheduled scan to honour Van Der Beek. Philipps ultimately decided to go to that appointment because Silverstein felt it would be something that Van Der Beek would’ve wanted.

Philipps had been considering cancelling the MRI. Her primary care doctor had previously talked her out of having the scan in 2025, but she ultimately scheduled it after a conversation with her relative, internist Dr Justin Donlan, who told her that “knowledge is power”.

When the scan revealed a lesion on her brain, Philipps initially texted Silverstein that she had a “brain tumour” but thought it was probably benign. Further testing brought a much more serious answer. A neurologist told her: “This is a real tumour, and it’s inside your brain. And Busy, it’s got to come out.”

The diagnosis left Philipps “hyperventilating and trying to breathe”, and she had to tell her two children, Birdie, 18, and Cricket, 13. She recalled reassuring Birdie that she wasn’t “in the movie where your mom dies your senior year of high school”.

Undergoing treatment

On 2 March, Philipps underwent a five-hour operation to remove the tumour. Her neuro-oncologist, Dr John Golfinos, said the tumour is considered malignant because of its potential to regrow, but stressed that it has the best prognosis of all malignant gliomas. He also said detecting it early was significant because it would have been much more difficult to completely remove if it had grown to two or three times its size.

Her recovery was complicated by a staph infection at the incision site, discovered about a month after the first surgery, which required another operation. Philipps said the setback left her feeling as though she was “back to square one.”

Now, she says she no longer feels like her “brain is broken”, which is something she had told close friend Michelle Williams before her diagnosis. Philipps said she had felt for several years that something was “misfiring”, even though she wasn’t consciously aware that anything was seriously wrong.

Reflecting on the experience, Philipps said she is “grateful that I’m alive” and called herself “the luckiest girl in the world”.

She also shared a message about trusting your instincts when something doesn’t feel right, particularly when seeking medical answers: “There’s nothing to be afraid of in having information. It’s only empowering.”

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The incident happened at Broadway Market in the early hours of Saturday, 4 July, with the London Ambulance Service attending the scene.

The victim later went to hospital for an injury to his face and continues to be supported by specialist LGBTQ+ liaison officers.

The Met Police has now released an image of a man officers would like to speak to as part of their investigation into the reported hate crime.

PC Jack Hiew of Stoke Newington Police Station said officers had carried out “various enquiries” in an attempt to identify the suspect before appealing to the public for information.

Hiew added: “We recognise the impact that this incident has had on the victim, and he continues to be supported by specialist LGBT+ liaison officers.”

Anyone who recognises the man pictured, or who may have information that could assist the investigation, is asked to contact police via 101, quoting CAD reference 4508/26AUG26. Information can also be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Nick Grimshaw has revealed he was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital on the morning of Matty Healy and Gabbriette Bechtel’s wedding after a severe allergic reaction.

Brat superstar Charli XCX ended up stepping in to help him find medical support before he still made it to the ceremony.

Speaking on the Sidetracked podcast with Annie Macmanus, Grimshaw said the reaction began after he drank a juice at his hotel.

“I woke up on the day of the wedding and had a juice and had a crazy allergic reaction, like, my eye,” he said.

He described how quickly things escalated: “It was so bad, so bad, my nose inflated outwards and my eyes closed so then I was freaking out.”

Grimshaw, who quit BBC Radio 1 in 2021, added: “The hotel were freaking out because they were like, ‘Oh, are you allergic to nuts?’ and I was like, no. And they were like, ‘can you breathe?’ I was like, yes and they’re like, ‘Is your mouth closing up?’ and I was like, ‘oh, now I think it is’.”

The BBC Radio 6 Music host said he ended up in hospital for treatment. “It was bad, I had to go to like the ER and have a f****** steroid shot,” he said.

Grimmy said Charli XCX, who is married to Healy’s The 1975 bandmate George Daniel, helped him get a doctor and stayed supportive while he was still in pain. “She was super helpful and super caring,” he said.

Thankfully, Celebrity Gogglebox regular Grimshaw still attended the wedding and just wore sunglasses during the day.

Nick Grimshaw’s radio career

Nick Grimshaw joined BBC Radio 1 in September 2007, at the same time as he was a host on E4 and Channel 4.

He went on to land the Weekend Breakfast Show from October 2008 to May 2009, before moving to a late night slot in June 2009.

Then, in July 2012, he replaced Chris Moyles as host of the network’s breakfast show. He left the show in May 2018, after years of falling listening figures.

His final show on Radio 1, after moving to a drivetime slot, was 12 August, 2021.

He then moved to BBC Radio 6 Music, taking over Lauren Laverne’s breakfast show.

In the BBC’s annual report for the year ending March 2026, it was revealed that Grimshaw was among the 15 highest paid BBC presenters. He earned £335,000 to £339,999 for his work on Radio 6 and the Sidetracked podcast.

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Luke Evans has shared a tribute to Tim Curry, posting a letter he wrote to the Rocky Horror star near the end of his Broadway run as Dr Frank-N-Furter, weeks before Curry died aged 80.

In an Instagram post sharing the letter, Evans, who recently reflected on his time in Rocky Horror, wrote: “There will only be one Tim Curry.”

Evans described Curry as “a force, a bright fierce flame, an exquisite charm and that rich vocal tone”, adding: “He was an inspiration to me and so many people for the roles he played and the effect he had on so many of us.”

In the letter, Evans reflected on the pressure and privilege of stepping into a role so closely associated with Curry’s performance. “With only three weeks left, before I finally hang up the fishnets and heels, I wanted to send you a note,” he wrote. “Although we’ve never met, you’ve been part of this journey from the very beginning. Every actor who puts on Frank inevitably walks into a conversation that started with you, and I’ve felt that every single night.”

Frank-N-Furter’s lasting legacy

Curry is most associated with playing Dr Frank-N-Furter in the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Evans addressed that legacy directly in his letter: “Being compared to you has been one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received, even though it’s a comparison no one could ever hope to live up to. There is, and always will be, only one Tim Curry.”

Luke Evans’ goodbye letter

Evans stressed he was not trying to imitate Curry’s performance. “I’ve never tried to recreate what you did. That would be impossible. I simply hoped to honour the extraordinary character you brought to life, while finding my own way through him.”

He also thanked Curry for “inspiring generations of actors to be a little braver than they thought they could be,” before closing: “I hope, wherever you are, you’d approve of one more Frank having the time of his life in those heels.”

Evans, who made his Broadway debut as Dr Frank-N-Furter, is a Welsh actor known for roles including Bard the Bowman in The Hobbit trilogy, and appearances in Fast & Furious 6 and Beauty and the Beast (2017).

The out gay actor has spoken publicly about navigating sexuality in the entertainment industry, as Curry – who did not speak of his sexuality or love life publicly – did too.

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Cat Burns has been confirmed as a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season 8, reuniting with resident judge Alan Carr after the pair appeared together on Celebrity Traitors.

The BBC drag competition returns on Thursday, 3 September, with episodes landing at the earlier time of 7pm on BBC iPlayer followed by 9pm on BBC Three. RuPaul is back alongside resident judges Carr, Graham Norton and Michelle Visage.

Other guest judges confirmed for the new series include actress Thandiwe Newton, singers Anne-Marie and Rick Astley. Also appearing are fashion designer Michèle Lamy, comedian and actress Michelle de Swarte, actor Kadiff Kirwan, model Erin O’Connor, all round icon Layton Williams, and singer/song-writer Martin Fry.

Ahead of the launch of the series, out lesbian Burns revealed her drag name would be “Kitty Kat First Degree Burns”. Can we expect some piping hot tea when she joins the panel?

Williams, who has competed on Strictly Come Dancing and played the lead role in musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, said: “One of my favourite Drag Race UK moments was with La Voix and her dad. It’s a dynamic we don’t see enough on telly. Queens and their supportive dads… It was so heartwarming.”

A run of cameo appearances has also been announced, including Duncan James, Kristen McMenamy, Mazz Murray, Booty Luv and Claudimar Neto, plus Arian Nik.

Drag Race UK is back!

The eighth series of RuPaul’s Drag Race kicks off on the BBC on 3 September.

The cast of queens competing was announced earlier in August, with 12 performers hoping to snatch the crown.

This year’s cast includes Alik, Anita P***, Coral-Hole Mandi, The Delta Quadrant, Flesh, KY Kelly, Lucky Roy Singh, Ma_Danni_X, Mocha, Naya Thorn, Paris Baby and Tequila Thirst.

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Kusama died at a hospital in Tokyo on 14 August. A statement from her company reported by the BBC on 27 August read: “Throughout an extraordinary lifetime devoted entirely to artistic creation, Kusama pursued an internationally acclaimed career as a pioneering avant-garde artist whose creative practice encompassed visual art, performance, fiction, and poetry.”

“She continued to paint until her final days, never setting aside her brush, and continued exploration of forever love and eternal soul. We will carry forward Kusama’s wishes and, through art, continue to bring hope and strength for the future to people around the world,” the statement continued.

Kusama spent much of her later life living voluntarily in a psychiatric hospital, where she continued to create art. Her work eventually became a global phenomenon, attracting millions of visitors and making her one of the world’s highest-earning female artists. A 2022 auction saw one of her paintings sell for around $10.5million (£7.7million).

Kusama’s rise to international fame came after decades of being overlooked and dismissed by the male-dominated art world. She moved to New York in the late 1950s after writing to Georgia O’Keeffe, whom she saw as a kindred spirit. Shereceived both encouragement and a warning from her in a letter which read: “In this country an artist has a hard time making a living,” as reported by the BBC.

Kusama caused a stir in the New York art scene with experimental works featuring phallic sculptures, nudity and provocative performances. She later became particularly famous for her immersive Infinity Mirror Rooms, as well as her signature polka dots and brightly coloured pumpkin sculptures.

The artist was deeply frustrated when male contemporaries, including Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg and Lucas Samaras, received greater recognition for ideas she believed had been copied or influenced by her work. She eventually returned to Japan, where she entered a psychiatric facility and found an environment that allowed her to continue working.

Her career was transformed decades later, when her work was embraced by major museums, international audiences and luxury brands including Louis Vuitton. She represented Japan at the Venice Biennale in 1993 and became a global cultural icon in her 80s and 90s, with social media helping introduce her work to a new generation.

The artist identified as asexual and developed an aversion to sex after, as a child, her mother forced her to spy on her father with his lovers. Yet sexuality became a recurring theme in her work.

Kusama explained in her 2002 autobiography Infinity Net that: “People often assume that I must be mad about sex, because I make so many such objects, but that’s a complete misunderstanding. It’s quite the opposite – I make the objects because they horrify me. I began making penises in order to heal my feelings of disgust towards sex. Reproducing the objects, again and again, was my way of conquering the fear. It was a kind of self-therapy, to which I gave the name ‘Psychosomatic art’.”

“I make a pile of soft sculpture penises and lie down among them. That turns the frightening thing into something funny, something amusing. I’m able to revel in my illness in the dazzling light of day. By now, the number of penises I have made easily reaches into the hundreds of thousands,” she wrote.

Beyond sex and sexuality, Kusama’s art was deeply shaped by her experiences with hallucinations and her own perception of the world. She described seeing patterns and objects multiply across rooms and over her own body, later turning those experiences into art that allowed other people to see the world as she experienced it.

Kusama spent her life refusing to stop creating. Her polka dots, pumpkins and endless mirrored spaces have become instantly recognisable pieces of contemporary culture.

She leaves behind a body of work that turned deeply personal experiences into something millions of people could see, enter and experience for themselves.

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The half-hour mockumentary follows The Brovaries, a hopelessly dysfunctional, last-place softball team in an LGBTQ+ beer league in Mississauga, Ontario.

When team coach Joanne Pico (Jess Salgueiro) is dumped by her long-term girlfriend, who promptly defects to a rival team, she becomes determined to whip her ragtag squad into shape for a championship run.

The series has been compared to comedy favourites like Parks and Recreation and Letterkenny, with Salgueiro’s character channelling a Leslie Knope-esque determination.

The ensemble cast includes Karen Knox, Gwenlyn Cumyn, Chelsea Muirhead, Emma Hunter, Lane Webber, Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah and Amanda Cordner, with Schitt’s Creek star Emily Hampshire, who has just joined the cast of Heated Rivalry season two, also appearing.

Created by J Stevens, Karen Knox and Gwenlyn Cumyn, the show began life as a 2020 web series before being picked up by Crave.

It is co-produced by Bell Media and Elliot Page’s Pageboy Productions, part of a development deal between the two aimed at spotlighting original queer stories.

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Tim Curry‘s Rocky Horror Picture Show legacy may be legendary, but his response to questions about his love life is iconic.

The actor, who played Dr Frank-N-Furter sadly died aged 80 on 25 August, with fans now remembering his incredible career and life.

However, his death has brought renewed interest in his personal life – he never married, and had no children.

But Curry made his stance clear numerous times. In an October 2025 The New Yorker interview, he put it quite simply: “My romantic life is none of anybody’s business.”

Similarly, he wrote in his 2025 memoir Vagabond: “Affairs of the heart or bedroom are – respectfully – none of your f****** business.”

However he did make it clear he had his fair share of romance while speaking to The Guardian. He reflected on how his Rocky Horror character can “f*** anybody”, before being asked whether that translated into his real life too.

“Well, I wasn’t lonely!” he said. “It wasn’t too difficult to get laid. But it was the 70s, which is crucial to what it is, I think.”

Curry previously told After Dark in 1975: “I don’t talk about who I’m f****** or whether I’m in love. It’s of paramount interest to me and very little interest to your readers. If it is of interest to them, then f*** ’em.”

He also said in his book: “I guarantee you, if it matters, that I have experienced true love, true heartbreak and everything in between, including no small amount of wreckage. Which, naturally, helps inform who I am.

“I have loved and been loved and I hope you have, too. But I’m not interested in your romances.”

He did, however, light-heartedly reveal Muppets legend Miss Piggy was his “one true love”. He said: “I’ll tell you, once you’ve had pork, you never go back.”

In fact, Miss Piggy, who was in Muppet Treasure Island with the actor, paid tribute to Curry on her Instagram story, writing: “Moi will never forget vous, Long John.”

Tim Curry’s death

Curry suffered a stroke in 2012 that left him partially paralysed on one side and affected his speech.

At a special screening marking The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s 50th anniversary in 2025, he told the audience: “I still can’t walk, which is why I’m in this silly chair, and that’s very limiting.”

According to TMZ, the legend died at his Los Angeles home on 25 August. Police attended his home at 11.23pm, and there is no foul play suspected.

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Leah Remini has joined The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills as a full-time cast member for season 16, confirming the news with an Instagram post that read: “It’s true!!”

Season 16 has already begun filming, and Remini is expected to start filming in Los Angeles later this week, according to Variety.

Remini, whose best friend of more than 20 years is none other than Michelle Visage, joins fellow newcomer Tracy Tutor, 51.

RuPaul’s Drag Race judge and all-round gay icon Visage reacted excitedly on Remini’s post, commenting: “Let’s goooo! They ain’t ready!”

And it seems like show bosses have been trying to bag the actress for some time, as exec producer and Reunion host Andy Cohen said: “At long last!”

Who’s in the RHOBH season 16 cast?

The returning full-time Housewives are set to include Kyle Richards, Erika “Jayne” Girardi, Dorit Kemsley, Bozoma Saint John, Rachel Zoe and Sutton Stracke, while Kathy Hilton and Jennifer Tilly are returning as “friends” of the cast.

Announcing her own casting, Tutor said on Instagram on 19 August: “Well… the secret’s officially out,” adding: “I’m joining the cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and I could not be more excited for this next chapter.”

Tutor continued: “Beverly Hills is home. I’ve raised my girls here, built my career here, and now apparently I’ve decided to let you all even further into my life. Excited? Very. Nervous? A little. Likely to get into some trouble? Absolutely. So what’s left to say but, Let’s f****** go.”

She is no stranger to Bravo, though, as she appeared previously on Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles.

Amanda Frances, who caused a division among both the cast and fans due to her business of manifestation, was not asked back after joining in season 15.

Why Leah Remini is a headline addition

Remini, 56, rose to mainstream fame as Carrie Heffernan in the CBS sitcom The King of Queens, which ran for nine seasons. After leaving the Church of Scientology, she became a prominent public critic, using TV projects and public advocacy to spotlight alleged abuses and controversies.

She released her memoir, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, in 201 and hosted A&E’s Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, which won two primetime Emmys.

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Posing for Attitude magazine‘s September/October issue, out now, the Beauty and the Beast star stood with his chiselled abs on display, leaving little to the imagination in a pair of tighty-whities and a sheer coat.

In accompanying images, the out gay actor could be seen limbering up in a pair of tiny running shorts and trainers, while another saw him sitting with his legs crossed, looking wistfully off to one side.

The new photo shoot is accompanied by an interview with the mag, in which Evans talks about his recent time as Frank-N-Furter – played by Tim Curry, who sadly died on 25 August, in the film – in the Broadway production of The Rocky Horror Show.

The 47-year-old went viral earlier this year after posing in very little at a curtain call for the Rocky Horror stage show. In May, he also got pulses racing in a “leather daddy” look at the Met Gala, even rocking his leather hat again for some shirtless snaps on Instagram.

Speaking to the mag, Evans said the show was a “liberating” experience for him. He added: “That feels such a strange thing to say when I’m talking about a character that wears fishnet stockings, heels, a thong, a jockstrap, a corset, a harness, a wig and drag makeup. But doing this in front of over a thousand people every night – so that’s a few hundred thousand people now – has been such a self-asserting, amazing thing for my sense of confidence.”

He went on: “As an actor who’s mostly known for playing these very masc-presenting action roles, and also being a gay man to come and do this role, it really meant quite a lot to me personally.

“I think it also was a really strong message we were sending to the audience: this is a person who’s comfortable with who he is and has just loved spreading his wings and doing something really outside of his comfort zone that I’ve lived in and thoroughly enjoyed.”

Next, Evans is set to star in ITV drama The Party, based on Elizabeth Day’s 2017 novel of the same name.

He teased: “It’s all wrapped up in politics, class, the British hierarchy, old money, new money, social climbing, lies, sexuality, death, deceit, corruption and finding your authentic self.

“I mean, seriously, how often do you find all that within one story?”

The full interview appears in the September/October issue of Attitude, available on digital platforms from 6pm on Wednesday 26 August and in print from Thursday 27 August.

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The actor had reportedly been going through a number of health issues over the past decade, according to TMZ.

He died late on Tuesday night (25 August), with law enforcement reportedly responding to his Los Angeles home at 11.23pm. No foul play is suspected in the case, and no cause of death has been given as of yet.

Tributes have been pouring in online, with one person writing on X: “WDYM Tim Curry died? You have to be f****** kidding me come on.”

Another said: “Dolly [Parton] and Tim Curry back to back is so cruel,” referencing the death of Dolly Parton, also on 25 August.

A third wrote: “What the f*** do you mean Tim Curry just died can this week f*** off.” And another added: “Dolly, Tim Curry… what a bad week.”

He never married and had no children, and thought that his personal life should not be of public interest.

Curry, who also played Pennywise the Clown in Stephen King’s It, suffered a major stroke back in 2012 while having a massage. He required brain surgery after the incident, and also needed the use of a wheelchair.

After this, he experienced other mobility issues in his left arm and leg, saying in September 2025 that he was still unable to walk.

Curry originally starred in Rocky Horror at a small venue at the Royal Court Theatre in London, before eventually appearing in the movie adaptation in 1975.

He said in 2005: “It’s a chance for people to try on a few roles for size, maybe help them figure out their own sexuality.

“I’ve certainly had some very interesting and moving mail from people who’ve said, ‘Thanks for helping me figure out who I was,’ and that’s very nice.”

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The post Rocky Horror legend Tim Curry dies aged 80 appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The actor, who played Ron across all eight Harry Potter films, will reprise the role at Broadway’s Lyric Theatre for a 17-week run from 2 February, 2027.

He becomes the second film star to join the stage sequel after Tom Felton, who returned as Draco Malfoy last year.

“Ron Weasley has been a part of me since I was 11 years old and I can’t wait to meet him again in this stage of life,” Grint said.

But the announcement has drawn a wave of disappointed responses from LGBTQ+ fans and allies.

“I thought you were an ally,” read one widely-liked comment on the official announcement post, while another wrote simply: “Protect the dolls.”

The frustration stems in part from Grint’s own history of supporting the trans community.

In 2020, he was among the Harry Potter stars who publicly distanced themselves from JK Rowling’s views, telling The Times: “I firmly stand with the trans community… Trans women are women. Trans men are men.”

Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson made similar statements at the time.

Others defended the actor, arguing that the cast should not be held responsible for Rowling’s views.

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Only Murders in the Building executive producer John Hoffman has said the show “almost got” Queen Camilla for a cameo as the series prepares to take its sixth season to London.

Speaking to Vulture, Hoffman described the near-miss, saying: “We almost got Camilla. I know it’s insane, but yes, there was a moment.”

He added: “Then we kind of went down the road a little bit.”

Hoffman also suggested the cameo did not happen in part due to the union rules in the UK, which limit daily filming time to 10 hours.

The showrunner also made a tongue-in-cheek comment about another potential royal-adjacent appearance, that could join the already announced list of famous faces set to appear in season six.

Joking about Meghan Markle possibly joining the series, he said: “When is she traveling? We’re leaving in three days. I wouldn’t rule anything out.”

Jam-packed line-up

Season six is set to shift the action to London, with Olivia Colman, David Tennant, Jennifer Saunders and Martin Freeman among those joining the cast.

Other names viewers can also expect to see include Jim Broadbent, Derek Jacobi, Nicola Coughlan, Richard Ayoade and Geri Halliwell, as well as Jodie Whittaker, Peter Capaldi, Lesley Nicol, Jamie Demetriou and Jane Horrocks.

Only Murders heads to London

The Hulu and Disney+ mystery comedy-drama debuted in 2021 and follows three amateur sleuths in their New York building, played by Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez. Created by Steve Martin and Hoffman, it has become known for its cosy vibes, bringing elements of murder mystery shows as well as comedy.

While it usually takes place in New York, in the high-rise apartment building the trio of protagonists live in, the upcoming season sees them travel to London.

At the end of season five, the new victim was revealed to be Cinda Canning (played by Tina Fey). She had been living in the UK, but was discovered dead at the Arconia building.

Hoffman defended the move, saying it was an attempt to keep the Disney+ show fresh.

He told The Hollywood Reporter: “There’s no way around a certain understanding of needing to freshen up a show. I mean, how many murders can be in one building?”

Hoffman went on: “I love the idea of however we can broaden the reach of the show and put the trio in new situations, new landscapes for a moment.”

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