The U.S. Supreme Court ruled seven to two that the late artist Andy Warhol wasn't allowed to use a photographer's portrait of Prince for a series of pop-art images, per The Hollywood Reporter. Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing for the majority, found that Lynn Goldsmith's "original works, like those of other photographers, are entitled to copyright protection, even against famous artists" like Warhol. Potential commercial exploitation of the works was a critical factor in the decision.
Out actor and LGBTQ+-rights advocate Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story; Ratched) bought out a Dallas theater's showings of Monica, a transgender-themed drama starring Trace Lysette, The Advocate noted. Paulson booked the Violet Crown Cinema's screenings for the full day, meaning attendance was free so long as seats were available and guests had registered beforehand. Monica centers on a trans woman, played by Lysette, who must return home to care for her dying, estranged mother.
The University of Minnesota Press released its 2023-24 digital catalog and it includes a number of queer titles. Among them are K. Allison Hammer's Masculinity in Transition (available in October—LGBTQ+ History Month), which traces the roots of "toxic masculinity," showing that while toxic strains of masculinity are mainly associated with straight, white men, trans* and queer masculinities often reiterate similar patterns of behavior; and Margaret Galvan's In Visible Archives (also available in October), which examines how visual culture provided a vital space for women artists to theorize and visualize their own bodies and sexualities.
To mark the 25th anniversary of two-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright's self-titled debut album, Geffen/UMe has released an expanded, digital-only anniversary edition, per a press release. Originally released on the same date in 1998, Rufus Wainwright: 25th Anniversary Edition includes the original 12 tracks remastered from the original tapes plus three never-before-released songs from the album sessions and assorted tracks previously only available on his limited 13-disc box set, House of Rufus.
Elliot Page's memoir, Pageboy, will be released on June 6. According to People Magazine, the book promises to discuss Page's relationship with his body and his experiences as one of the most famous trans people in the world, and will cover mental health, assault, love, relationships, sex and Hollywood. The full exclusive is at people.com/elliot-page-releases-first-chapter-of-pageboy-memoir-grateful-to-be-here-and-alive-exclusive-7504076 .
amFAR— the organization founded by the late Dr. Mathilda Krim and Dame Elizabeth Taylor (the international founder) that has been dedicated to funding AIDS research since 1985—held its annual Cannes Gala at the Hotel du Cap at the Cannes Film Festival, per Deadline. Queen Latifah hosted a crowd that included Alex Pettyfer, Eva Longoria, Fan Bingbing, Heidi Klum, James Marsden, Jeremy O. Harris, Joel Kinnaman, Kate Beckinsale, Matt Smith, Odell Beckham Jr, Petra Nemcova, Rebel Wilson, Sadie Frost, Shay Mitchell, Storm Reid, Teyana Taylor and many more. The live musical performances were by Adam Lambert (including one number in memory of Tina Turner), Halsey, Bebe Rexha and Gladys Knight, who performed "Midnight Train To Georgia."
LA-based nonprofit Outfest announced its Outfronts, presented by IMDb—a June 2-5 festival that connects fans with all things LGBTQ+ in television, according to a press release. Virtual panels will include a talk with one of the architects of GLAAD's 2022-2023 Where We Are On TV report Raina Deerwater with Ian Carlos Crawford and Monica Monroe to discuss the future of LGBTQIA+ representation in television, moderated by Dana Piccoli; a conversation with actors Ronen Rubinstein, Rafael Silva, and Brian Michael Smith moderated by TVLine's Andy Swift; and cast members Isis King and Vincent Rodriguez sitting down with IMDb's Tre Wesley to talk about With Love second season's authenticity when it comes to queerness; and other events. To RSVP to the free panels, visit TheOutfronts.com .
Grammy-winning trans singer Kim Petras revealed the cover art and the track list for her debut album, Feed The Beast, out June 23 via Republic Records/Amigo Records, a press release announced. The 15-track album includes the single "Alone." featuring hip-hop icon Nicki Minaj; the #1 hit "Unholy," with Sam Smith; and viral fan favorites like the body-positive "Coconuts" and beat-heavy single "brrr," among other songs.
Out actor Kristen Stewart (Spencer), Josh O'Connor (The Crown) and Elle Fanning (Hulu's The Great) are set to lead the cast of Rosebushpruning, the next feature from Karim Ainouz, per The Hollywood Reporter. Ainouz will direct from a script written by Efthimis Filippou (Killing of Sacred Deer; The Lobster) and adapted from Marco Bellocchio's 1965 debut feature Fists in the Pocket—a dark satire of family and social values now considered a landmark piece of Italian cinema.
Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and musician Brandy Clark's new self-titled album is out via Warner Records, per a press release. The album was produced by out performer Brandi Carlile (a nine-time Grammy winner) and recorded at the famed Shangri-La studio in Malibu, California. The release adds to yet another landmark year for Clark, who is nominated for Best Original Score at the 76th Annual Tony Awards for Shucked, the new musical comedy she composed alongside longtime collaborator Shane McAnally.
Some of Hollywood's biggest stars mourned the loss of Tina Turner after she died at age 83, Page Six noted. Mariah Carey posted a photo of Turner on stage in a sequined minidress, writing, "the words legendary, iconic, diva, and superstar are often overused and yet Tina Turner embodies them all and so many more—an incredible performer, musician and trailblazer." And, according to People, Angela Bassett—who portrayed Turner in an Oscar-nominated turn in the 1993 film What's Love Got to Do with It—wrote on Instagram, "How do we say farewell to a woman who owned her pain and trauma and used it as a means to help change the world?" Beyonce, Lizzo and The White House were also among the many paying tribute, per USA Today.
Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore are earning raves for their roles in gay director Todd Haynes' movie May December, which debuted at Cannes, according to Variety. The film tells the story of actress Elizabeth Berry (Portman), who is set to portray Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Moore), a Georgia woman who became a notorious tabloid figure when she engaged in a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old boy, Charlie. But in order to prepare for her role, Elizabeth visits Gracie and a now 36-year-old Charlie (Charles Melton), who are married with children. May December is loosely based on teacher Mary Kay Letourneau, who had an affair with and married teenage student Vili Fualaau.
LGBTQ+ actress Rebel Wilson is adding "director" to her resume, as she is helming her first feature film with musical comedy The Deb, a big-screen adaptation of an Australian musical set in the Outback, per Yahoo! Entertainment. The project was launched around the Cannes Film Festival at a private event aboard billionaire investor Len Blavatnik's yacht, where cast members from the Aussie musical performed a number of songs on the vessel's upper deck.
At Cannes, Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh (the LGBTQ+-inclusive Everything Everywhere All at Once) said Asian performers were ignored for far too long but she is hopeful for the future, Variety reported. Speaking during the Kering Women in Motion talks, Yeoh said the success of "Everything" is proof that diverse storytelling should be embraced, and that audiences are interested in new ideas. "The best thing that has happened is I receive a script that doesn't describe the character as a Chinese or Asian-looking person," she added. "We are actors. We are supposed to act."
Ahead of their North American Future Past Tour—starting at the BottleRock Festival on May 27—Duran Duran released a ceremonious, widescreen rework of their single "Give It All Up," featuring Tove Lo, per a press release. It was also announced that there will be a special concert on Sept. 22 in Queens, NYC, with special guests Grace Jones, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, and Bastille. (The latter two acts are touring with Duran Duran.)
In the UK, Sam Smith apologized to fans for cancelling their Manchester concert four songs in, and confirmed that two more of their shows will not go ahead as planned, according to NME. The "Unholy" singer was just shortly into their concert in Manchester's AO Arena on May 24 when the remainder of the show was suddenly cancelled. While some audience members initially took to social media to speculate if the issues were due to a power cut (via Manchester Evening News), they were later informed that the show had ended due to "vocal issues," and were instructed to leave the arena.
Chrishell Stause and her non-binary partner, G Flip, are reportedly not legally married despite their Las Vegas wedding, Page Six noted. The outlet confirmed there is no record of the Selling Sunset star and the Australian musician obtaining a marriage license in Clark County, Nevada; it is unclear whether a record exists in California, where the couple reside full time, or another location. Sources told TMZ that the couple is not legally married, but "plan to have an official wedding ceremony" at a later date.
Two-time Oscar nominee Adam Driver—who will soon be starring as Enzo Ferrari in a biopic of the Italian automobile magnate—was slated to be the honorary starter for the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 28, ESPN noted. Driver also has received four Primetime Emmy nominations for the comedy-drama Girls and his guest appearance on SNL in 2020.
The Flash came to an end on May 24 after nine seasons, wrapping up a four-part series finale that spanned the entire month, Deadline noted. Star Grant Gustin (who was previously on the show Glee) said that he would miss the people most of all. However, he added, "The surprising thing I've found is I will miss putting on the suit. I mean, the suit could be tough to work with, but…as much of a challenge as it could be at times with different iterations of the suit —and different challenges each one would present and us trying to figure them out—as tough as that could be, I never tried to take for granted how cool it was that a superhero suit had been made for me."
Anti-LGBTQ+ Christian actor/author Kirk Cameron announced plans to release his new children's book, Pride Comes Before the Fall, on June 1—the first day of Pride Month, per The Advocate. The Growing Pains actor is known for his long history of anti-LGBTQ+ stances, including claiming that homosexuality is "unnatural, detrimental, and destructive" in a 2012 interview with Piers Morgan.
Also on the conservative front, former model/actor Antonio Sabato Jr. is currently a real-estate agent in the St. Petersburg, Florida area. In 2020, Variety noted that Sabato (who portrayed an LGBTQ+ character in the 2003 movie Testosterone and who has been in projects such as Earth 2 and Melrose Place) was one of the few actors who publicly supported Donald Trump in the 2016 election—and he said he lost his acting career as a result. In 2018, he attempted an unsuccessful run for a congressional seat in California, where he was defeated by a Democrat. Afterward, he moved to Florida, where he became involved in construction.
Beyonce and JAY-Z purchased a 30,000-square foot home in Malibu for a record-breaking price tag of $200 million, according to a Yahoo! item that cited TMZ. Apparently that's the biggest real estate transaction in California history, smashing the previous record of $177 million. It's also the second most expensive home real estate deal in U.S. history—behind only a $238-million transaction for a property in New York City.
In an episode of PodCo's "Wizards of Waverly Pod" rewatch series hosted by David DeLuise and Jennifer Stone, DeLuise said that actors David Caruso (CSI: Miami) and Bruno Campos (The Princess and the Frog) were unprofessional, per a press release. DeLuise claimed that the actors would show up more than three hours late, called cuts while filming, left abruptly, called fellow cast members "filler" and more. DeLuise also talked about how he accidentally stalked actor Nicolas Cage on two different continents.
