Queer musician Big Freedia announced that Devon Hurst, her partner of two decades, recently died from diabetes at age 38, according to Them. Freedia said she was “devastated to have to announce” Hurst’s passing. She shared that he “passed away peacefully… surrounded by his loving family,” and that he is survived by his mother, his sisters, his brothers, his children, his nieces and nephews, and of course, his partner.
Many people shared their sympathies in the comments, including Ts Madison, Dominique Jackson and singer Monica, who wrote, “My God @bigfreedia we are praying and lifting yours and his families’ name!” The couple met through a local New Orleans phone line called The Party Line; talking with The Shade Room’s Justin Carter, Freedia said Hurst came to a show that she was doing in Houston and “he never returned home.”
LGBTQ+ actor Luke Evans (Beauty and the Beast) has been tapped to co-star alongside Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) in Traction—an action-thriller about a former U.S. soldier leading a humanitarian mission through war-torn Chechnya, Variety noted. Kate (Rapace), accompanied by her trusted Chechen ally Magomed, finds her mission becoming dangerous when they unwittingly harbor a young rebel and her mysterious package. The film follows them as they are forced to take on a cynical U.S. war photographer (Evans), a schoolteacher and her injured student; together, the group must navigate treacherous terrain as well as evade both Russian forces and guerrilla fighters.
Also regarding Evans, he and boyfriend Fran Tomas have their own clothing line, per Queerty. Launched last year, BDXY Studio sells items such as underwear, sweatshirts and T-shirts, along with scented candles, bags and caps. On the brand’s launch last year, Evans told WWD, “Over the years I’ve dabbled in fashion, I’ve been to lots of shows, I’ve been ambassador for different brands, from Bulgari to Police. And I’ve always thought about what I would do if I made my own brand—what I would make and how I would do it. We came together a year and a half ago, and very quickly [realized] we all had a very similar opinion on what we thought about staple pieces of a men’s wardrobe.” However, be prepared to shell out some moolah, as swim briefs start at $110 each, with T-shirts at $90.
Queer singer/reality-TV figure JoJo Siwa released her new single, “Bulletproof,” a media release noted. Written by Colin Brittain, Elijah Noll and Taylor Upsahl, and produced by Brittain, the “Frere Jacques”-inspired track “is a song about strength and vulnerability—realizing no one is immune from the impact others have on you, but also how you come out stronger in the end,” Siwa said. “It’s my most personal song yet because it reflects the journey I’ve been on, the challenges I’ve faced, and how I’ve grown through it all.” Siwa’s previous release, the EP Guilty Pleasure, made waves last year with the viral hit “Karma.” The video for “Bulletproof” is here.
Colton Ford—known outside of the music, television and gay adult-film worlds as Glenn Soukesian—reportedly died on May 19 at 62, per Out. (He was found on a Palm Springs hiking trail, KESQ noted.) Ford only started working as an adult film star in 2001, at age 40; his career there lasted more than two decades. Chi Chi LaRue—a famous drag entertainer who’s also known for directing gay adult films (as Larry David Paciotti)—posted on Facebook, “I’m So Shocked and Saddened to Hear and Report the sudden passing of my friend and Icon Glen aka Colton Ford! You will [be] missed! Keep Singing In Heaven!” Ford’s studio albums included 2008’s Tug of War, 2009’s Under the Covers and 2013’s The Way I Am, along with EPs like 2011’s Let Me Live Again / The Music Always Gets You Back and 2014’s Next Chapter.
YouTube ended its upfront week with an entire set from Lady Gaga (as the company was happy to note that she has more than 28 million YouTube subscribers), with her full band, costume changes—and a fully engaged audience, The Hollywood Reporter noted. As the platform celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this year, it brought out some of its more popular creators; they included MrBeast, who appeared with CEO Neal Mohan, and Sean Evans, host of Hot Ones.
Also, Lady Gaga is now just a Tony short of coveted EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) status, which fewer than two dozen people have achieved, EW noted. The “Born This Way” singer received a Sports Emmy in the category of outstanding music direction for singing “Hold My Hand” before the Super Bowl began in this year’s host city, New Orleans. Gaga performed at a piano placed on Bourbon Street with a local gospel choir as she used the moment to pay tribute to the 14 people who died during a Jan. 1 terrorist attack during New Year’s celebrations on that very thoroughfare.
Airbnb has teamed with several celebrities to offer “once-in-a-lifetime” meet-and-greets—but possibly only a few fans may be able to actually secure them, per Variety. Initial celebrities in the mix include Megan Thee Stallion (Los Angeles), with whom you can “transform into your anime alter-ego in her ‘otaku hottie quest’”; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City); and K-pop group Seventeen (Seoul). Those three experiences are free, but there’s limited availability. Upcoming experiences include one from Sabrina Carpenter, who will host “a day of glam, dancing and espresso” in L.A.; and another from Colombian singer Karol G.
On Truth Social, President Donald Trump accused former Vice President Kamala Harris of paying Beyoncé $11 million for an “illegal” endorsement during the 2024 presidential race, per USA Today. Trump said he plans to call for a “major investigation” into Harris’ celebrity backings, including those by Bruce Springsteen, Oprah Winfrey and Beyoncé, claiming Beyoncé received $11 million to walk on stage and show her support during a Harris’ rally in Houston. Shortly after then-President Joe Biden ended his bid for re-election, Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, quickly endorsed Harris for president. Beyoncé also cleared the usage of her 2016 song “Freedom” for Harris, and the tune became the former vice president’s official campaign song.
For 2025 Pride Month in June, musicians Grace Jones and Janelle Monáe are teaming for a few special concerts, Brooklyn Vegan noted. There are currently three shows: D.C. on June 5 at The Anthem; Chicago on June 7 at Ravinia; and NYC on June 9 at Prospect Park Bandshell. Jones will also appear solo in Napa, California, for the Blue Note Summer Session on June 13.
Grammy®-winning singer/songwriter Melissa Manchester will celebrate her 50-year career in show business with an all-new show titled “50 Threads: An Artist’s Journey” at NYC venue 54 Below, per a press release. Described as a “musical memoir,” the show will run for three night (June 12-14). Having recently come off a 17-month, 51-city tour in Funny Girl, Manchester felt the time was right to reflect on her musical journey with a fresh perspective. The set list will include hits like “Midnight Blue,” “Whenever I Call You Friend,” “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” “Come In From the Rain,” “You Should Hear How She Talks About You” and more.On July 19, fans will hear a different side of Manchester when her first-ever concerto for piano and orchestra, titled “AWAKE!,” will debut at the Corning Museum of Glass Auditorium in Corning, New York; this piece will be performed by renowned pianist/composer Jeffrey Biegel and a 40-piece orchestra.
Breaking Glass Pictures announced the worldwide release of Franklin, an LGBTQ+ drama from directors Dr. Donta Morrison and Anthony Bawn, per a press release. Set to premiere on June 10, Franklin follows the journey of Franklin Scott (Eric Russell)—a young, gay adult entertainer striving to overcome the barriers that block his dream of becoming a Hollywood star. “Franklin is a poignant and unapologetic exploration of the complex intersections of love, family, and the pursuit of dreams,” said Breaking Glass Pictures CEO Rich Wolff. “Dr. Morrison and Anthony Bawn have crafted a deeply moving narrative that will resonate with viewers and shed light on important conversations within the LGBTQ community.”
Salt Water—the new LGBTQ drama from Colombian filmmaker Steven Morales Pineda—will be available to rent or own on Amazon Prime and all major digital platforms beginning June 24 via Breaking Glass Pictures, a press release announced. Set along the Colombian coast, the film follows 33-year-old Jacobo (played by Luis Mario Jiménez) as he reconnects with José Luis, a 50-year-old Catholic priest who sexually abused him as a child. The release stated that Salt Water is an “examination of memory, identity, and the lasting impact of emotional trauma.” The trailer is here.
Queer athlete Hilary Knight—considered the face of U.S. women’s hockey—is preparing to make the 2026 Milan Winter Games her fifth and final Olympics, per ESPN, citing USA Today. “I have grown up in this program and it’s just given me so much. I’m at peace. I just have this feeling that it’s time,” she said. “And I’m grateful that—hopefully, I can stay healthy and everything—I can go out when I’d like to be done. That is such a privilege that only a handful of competitors get.” The decision comes as Knight will turn 36 in July while entering her 20th year with the national team since making her debut in the 2006 Four Nations Cup tournament as a 17-year-old.
“Reimagining Spectacular” was the tagline of the U.S. Open’s grand unveiling of a three-year, $800 million renovation plan for the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium and the historic Billie Jean King National Tennis Center grounds, per The New York Post. This renovation is projected to be completed ahead of the 2027 tournament. “We are enhancing and modernizing every aspect of Arthur Ashe Stadium and the venue,” USTA Executive Director Lew Sherr said. “From seating to concourses to restrooms to points of sale, also including premium hospitality and courtside experiences. There’s also an extraordinary opportunity to support our athletes in a much better way, and you’re going to see a modernized and new facility with premium amenities, equipment, facilities, to allow them to compete at their absolute best and also to allow them to enjoy the three-week experience in Queens like never before.”
Airyn De Niro—who came out as trans in an interview with Them last month—recently told PinkNews that famous father Robert De Niro offered to accompany Airyn to her hormone replacement therapy appointments. “With my dad, he’s like, ‘If you want to live your life as a woman, that’s fine,’” she told the publication, according to Them. “There’s no problem with it. He’s very much a ‘live and let live’ guy.” After Airyn came out publicly, her father issued a statement to People magazine and other outlets, saying, “I love and support Airyn as my daughter. I don’t know what the big deal is. … I love all my children.”
It turns out that Gus Kenworthy wants to get back into competitive skiing, according to Instinct. Kenworthy earned silver at Sochi in 2014 and publicly came out the following year, and he also competed in PyeongChang in 2018, then took his final Olympic bow in Beijing in 2022 (representing the UK). “After taking a step away, I realized I miss skiing and I really want to compete again,” Kenworthy told ESPN. “I didn’t know if I would be able to come back after three-and-a-half years, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to after seven and a half. So, it’s this Olympics or nothing. I’m never going to have this opportunity again.” He plans to represent the UK again in the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy.
In a full-page ad that ran in The New York Times on May 21, Planned Parenthood gathered 250 well-known signatories under the phrase “I’m For Planned Parenthood,” USA Today noted. Megan Thee Stallion, Alfre Woodard, Olivia Rodrigo, Harry Styles, Billy Eichner, Kerry Washington, Ella Emhoff (daughter of former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff), Tegan and Sara, Alan Cumming, Cara Delevingne, Jurnee Smollett, Lily Tomlin and Charlize Theron were among those who signed the letter. Planned Parenthood—which consists of a network of nonprofits—is the single largest provider of sexual and reproductive care for people in the United States.
YA author Mason Deaver is releasing the new book The Build-A-Boyfriend Project on Aug. 5, per a HarperCollins press release. The book, which features trans representation, “follows Eli Francis, a stuck-in-life journalist who agrees to teach his disastrous blind date how to be a better boyfriend—only to catch unexpected feelings along the way. As Eli secretly interviews Peter for an article on queer dating and identity in the South, what begins as fake dating for professional gain turns into something real, tender, and transformative.”
Actors Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Juliette Binoche and Riz Ahmed as well as director Guillermo del Toro were among those who added their names to a letter condemning the film industry for its “silence” over the impact of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, Variety reported. The letter—published on the first day of the Cannes Film Festival and initially signed by more than 370 actors and filmmakers— also condemned Israel’s killing of Fatma Hossana, the protagonist of the festival-bound doc Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk. The original list of signatories included Hannah Einbinder, Mark Ruffalo, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, Melissa Barrera, Yorgos Lanthimos, Javier Bardem, Pedro Almodóvar, David Cronenberg, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Leigh, Alex Gibney, Viggo Mortensen, Cynthia Nixon and Tessa Ross.
Sinners and Creed actor Michael B. Jordan will receive the 39th American Cinematheque Award on Nov. 20 at the Beverly Hilton, Deadline noted. Sinners has made $319 million at the global box office as Jordan turns next to a remake of The Thomas Crown Affair that he is directing, starring in and producing. On the philanthropy front, Jordan—whose TV credits include his breakout role in Friday Night Lights and the Emmy-nominated movie Fahrenheit 451—launched the Outlier Society Fellowship and founded the HBCU Legacy Classic. He is also an investor in multiple sports ventures. Past recipients of the award include Jessica Chastain, Al Pacino, George Clooney, Charlize Theron and Julia Roberts, among many others.
New Jersey health officials issued a warning about a potential measles exposure during the Shakira concert at MetLife Stadium, per NBC New York. The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) announced that a non-New Jersey resident attended the concert while infected with the disease. Anyone who was at the concert and suspects a measles exposure or illness should call a healthcare provider before going to any medical office or emergency department, officials said.
At Cannes, Kidman joined Variety’s Angelique Jackson for a Kering Woman in Motion talk in which the Oscar winner spoke passionately about her commitment to uplifting female directors. Having worked with 27 women directors in eight years (after making a public vow to work with a woman director every 18 months), Kidman said, in part, “We will take the risk and we are going to mentor and support and help and then really protect. Because part of it is protecting and surrounding the women with almost like a force field of protection and support so they can do their best work. At the same time, it’s giving them the opportunity where they feel like this isn’t the only chance.” Kidman was to receive the Woman in Motion Award from Kering chairman and CEO François-Henri Pinault, Cannes president Iris Knobloch and festival director Thierry Fremaux.
Controversial gay actor Kevin Spacey delivered a lengthy and emotional speech in Cannes, marking his first visit to the city during its global film gathering in almost a decade and since being found not guilty on sexual-assault charges, Variety noted. Spacey spoke at a gala held by the Better World Fund that was unaffiliated with the festival but where he was presented with an “engagement award.” Talking for almost 10 minutes, Spacey compared his own ousting from Hollywood to the blacklisting of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, adding, ““As my friend Elton John once said, and the reason that this means so much to me, is because I’m still standing, I’m still standing.”
The Antoine Fuqua biopic Michael—about the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson—is being moved to 2026, per Variety. The fiscal calendar ends on March 31, 2026, but a recent statement seemed to indicate that the film (or films) will likely debut after April 1, 2026. Last month, Variety reported that the film would likely be split into two parts and be pushed from the initially announced release date of Oct. 3, 2025.
Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay reveals a family secret that she’s been holding onto for three decades in a new documentary about her bombshell mom, Jayne Mansfield, EW noted. The actress was in her 20s when she found out her biological father is Italian singer/comedian Nelson Sardelli—not bodybuilder and actor Mickey Hargitay, as she believed for much of her life. In the new documentary My Mom Jayne, Mariska explores the aftermath of the June 1967 car crash that killed Mansfield—a Hollywood movie star and sex symbol of the ʼ50s and ʼ60s who was just 34 when she died. After her mother’s death when Hargitay was 3, the actress was raised by Mickey along with her two siblings, Mickey Jr. and Zoltán. Mariska claimed that she confronted Mickey about the revelation, but he denied it. “I’m Mickey Hargitay’s daughter—that is not a lie,” she tearfully added.
Jennifer Lopez is being sued for posting photos of herself at a Hollywood party, with photographer Edwin Blanco and paparazzi agency Backgrid saying she failed to get permission to use them, the BBC noted. The singer and actress shared pictures on social media of herself arriving at the Amazon MGM Studios and Vanity Fair Party in Los Angeles the night before this year’s Golden Globes in January. Backgrid and Blanco are seeking up to $150,000 each per photo. (They are suing over two images.) Celebrities such as Dua Lipa, Gigi Hadid and Khloe Kardashian have also received similar legal complaints.
In the ongoing It Ends With Us saga, Justin Baldoni‘s attorneys withdrew a subpoena sent to Taylor Swift and her legal team, after the firm objected that it amounted to an “unwarranted fishing expedition,” Variety noted. Baldoni is suing Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, alleging that they tried destroy his career with false allegations of sexual harassment. In a statement, Lively’s spokesperson said that Baldoni had sought to exploit Swift’s celebrity to distract from the real issues in the case.
USA Today confirmed that claims of a sexual assault and a backlogged rape kit that resulted in a $100-million default judgment against Sean “Diddy” Combs are not true. The civil suit against Combs—who is standing trial on criminal charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution—was filed by Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, a Michigan prison inmate who alleged Combs sexually assaulted him in Detroit in 1997. Cardello-Smith claimed his rape kit—like hundreds of thousands of others around the country—had sat untested for years. But “Derek Lee Cardello-Smith did not have a rape kit that was part of the Detroit Sexual Assault Kit Project,” Maria Miller, a spokeswoman for Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, emailed the outlet. “We do not know of a SAK (sexual assault kit) being tested in 2024 related to him.”
The restaurant Kid Rock’s was among several spots in Nashville owned by the conservative restaurateur/musician and Donald Trump supporter Steve Smith where undocumented kitchen staff were recently asked to go home to avoid rumored ICE raids, The Guardian noted, citing The Nashville Scene. Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse reportedly found itself struggling to serve post-concert crowds on Saturday night after the order from managers instructing employees without legal status to leave. Like Kid Rock, Smith has a reputation as an outspoken conservative, fighting COVID-19 restrictions and supporting Trump with campaign donations.