LGBTQ+ actors Justice Smith (I Saw the TV Glow), Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers) and Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) were among 534 new invitees to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Deadline revealed. A few of the other invited actors included Ariana Grande, Dave Bautista, Aubrey Plaza, Jodie Comer, Oscar winners Kieran Culkin and Mikey Madison, Jason Momoa, Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan. Other invitees were animators, artist reps, associates, casting directors, cinematographers, costume designers, directors, documentarians, executives, film editors, hairstylists/makeup artists, public-relations figures, musicians, producers, production designers, writers, sound engineers, and those involved in short films and visual effects.
The New York Times published “The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century”—and Out noticed that 13 queer films are listed. They included Black Swan; Everything Everywhere All At Once; Carol; Tár; Best in Show; The Favourite; Portrait of a Lady on Fire; Call Me By Your Name; Anatomy of a Fall; Y Tu Mamá También; Brokeback Mountain; Moonlight; and Mulholland Drive (which ranked number two overall). Out said of Moonlight, “As one of only two LGBTQ+ films on this list that won the Oscar for Best Picture, Moonlight is an aching meditation on the toll of masculinity and repression in a hostile world, while still searching for softness and love.”
As part of Teen Vogue’s YouTube series “FaceTime,” Vivian Wilson talked with drag queen Sasha Colby about chosen families, the art of drag, being trans and much more, per a release. During their conversation, Colby reflected on how drag brought her out of her struggle with addiction and how she quit cold turkey after landing a gig at The Baton. For Wilson, it has transformed her perception of gender expression and gave her confidence in her femininity. Wilson also shared her thoughts on the current political climate and her role in it. “If conservatives are talking about me, they’re making money off of my name. So they’re thanking me behind the screen,” the estranged daughter of Elon Musk said.
Them Editor-in-Chief Fran Tirado welcomed guests to a special Pride celebration at The Monster in New York City on June 25, per a press release. The event featured beats by Naija Couture, drag shows by Cherry Jaymes and Mthr Trsa, and a live performance from Um, Jennifer. Guests in attendance included Anna Wintour (more news on her below), Versha Sharma, Ira Madison III, Chani Nicholas, Ceyenne Doroshow, Lauren Chan, Logan Rozos, Willie Norris, Eric Sedeno, Willa Bennett, Griffin Maxwell Brooks, Peyton Dix and Eliel Cruz. The event closed out Them’s month-long Pride celebration, which included cover stories featuring Bella Ramsey, Tramell Tillman, Alan Cumming and Alex Consani, and a very special event during WorldPride DC with drag personality Sasha Colby.
In a talk with Variety, Barbra Streisand discussed her new album, among other things. She is releasing The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Two—a collection of duets with Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Laufey, Hozier, Sam Smith, James Taylor, Sting, Tim McGraw and Josh Groban; also, both Ariana Grande and Mariah Carey join her on “One Heart, One Voice.” The Secret of Life comes after she published her 970-page memoir, My Name Is Barbra, which was accompanied by a 48-hour audiobook that she read. Regarding movies, she said, “I get a lot of offers, but they’re funny offers. Well, one was good. It was something that Peter Bogdanovich was going to do and Guillermo del Toro sent it to me, I think. It’s a subject that I actually love, but I’m not going to tell you. I’m not ready to direct again. I think I’ve probably had it.”
Director/writer Paris Barclay signed with Innovative Artists Entertainment for literary representation, Deadline noted. The Emmy-winning Barclay has directed nearly 200 episodes of television, including episodes of NYPD Blue, ER, The West Wing, Lost, The Good Wife, CSI, Sons of Anarchy, House, Glee, In Treatment, Scandal, Empire, Pitch and Station 19. A Directors Guild of America member since 1992, Barclay was the first African-American and the first openly gay president in the organization’s history. He has also earned 10 Directors Guild nominations for his work on In Treatment, Weeds, House, Glee and The West Wing, and won once (for NYPD Blue).
Out country-music singer Ty Herndon has signed a new three-album deal with Club44 Records, launching the partnership with a reimagined duet of his 1995 hit “What Mattered Most” with LeAnn Rimes, according to Music Row. The single marks the first release from Herndon’s upcoming album via Club44, Thirty—a career-spanning celebration of his 30 years in country music. The initial version of “What Mattered Most” shot to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, and earned Herndon an ACM nomination for Top New Male Vocalist—launching a career that would include four chart-topping hits, a Grammy nomination and Dove Awards. In 2015, he made history as the first major male country artist to come out as gay, and has since released the albums House on Fire and Got It Covered, as well as launching the annual Concert for Love & Acceptance.
Brian Graden—the first president of Logo TV, the groundbreaking 24-hour LGBTQ+ television network that celebrated its 20th anniversary—reflected on the start of the network, USA Today reported. It was on Logo that the now internationally-beloved RuPaul’s Drag Race debuted in 2009. “The shocking thing is, when we premiered, there was zero noise, just positive press. And so something had changed … we either tamped down or got in front of or found a way or it had dissipated,” Graden said. “I remember months before we were starting, we still had not a single advertiser,” Graden added. “I was afraid we were going to have mesothelioma ads just filling every break constantly.” However, companies eventually come through, including Subaru, Miller Brewing Company and Tylenol; many of the companies didn’t have advertisements dedicated to the queer community, so Logo created an in-house advertising group to help curate specific ads for the queer audience.
Oscar winner and LGBTQ+ ally Charlize Theron jokingly criticized Amazon head Jeff Bezos and new bride Lauren Sanchez Bezos while hosting the fifth annual Block Party for the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, Page Six noted. “I think we might be the only people who did not get an invite to the Bezos wedding,” the actress deadpanned while on stage. “But that’s OK because they suck and we’re cool,” Theron added, per The Hollywood Reporter, seemingly joking. On a more serious note, Theron stated, “Here in Los Angeles, in the U.S. and across the globe, we’re moving backward fast. Immigration policy has destroyed the lives of families, not criminals; women’s rights are becoming less and less every day; queer and trans lives are increasingly being erased; and gender-based violence is on the rise. This isn’t just policy—it’s personal.”
Anna Wintour is stepping down as Vogue editor-in-chief but will retain editorial control, the AP reported. Winter will retain her roles as chief content officer for Condé Nast and global editorial director; the new lead will report directly to Wintour in her latter capacity. As chief content officer, Wintour will continue to oversee every Condé Nast brand globally, including American Vogue, Wired, Vanity Fair, GQ, AD, Condé Nast Traveler, Glamour, Bon Appétit, Tatler, World of Interiors, Allure and more, with the exception of The New Yorker. Wintour also oversees the annual Met Gala—considered fashion’s biggest night and a major fundraiser for the fashion wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. “Anybody in a creative field knows how essential it is never to stop growing in one’s work,” Wintour told staffers in a meeting, per Vogue. “Now, I find that my greatest pleasure is helping the next generation of impassioned editors storm the field with their own ideas.”
Queer actress Tommy Dorfman’s first directorial effort, I Wish You All the Best, will be out Nov. 7 via Lionsgate, according to a promo. The film is described thusly: “In this refreshingly modern coming-of-age story based on the best-selling book by Mason Deaver, a high school junior (Corey Fogelmanis) comes out as nonbinary and is thrown out of their family’s home. With nowhere else to turn, they move in with their estranged older sister (Alexandra Daddario) and her husband (Cole Sprouse). After enrolling in a new school, they find support from an eccentric art teacher (Lena Dunham) and form an unexpected bond with a kindhearted student (Miles Gutierrez-Riley). With the help of their new relationships, they navigate the awkward hurdles of young adulthood in this sweetly funny journey of self-discovery that celebrates the power of being true to yourself.”
Instinct noted that, according to an exclusive by The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Reasons Why star Brandon Flynn has officially been cast as the legendary actor James Dean in Willie and Jimmy Dean, an upcoming film directed by Guy Guido. The movie is based on the 2006 memoir Surviving James Dean, by William Bast—Dean’s longtime friend and rumored lover. Guido said that “Flynn brings both the fire and vulnerability this role demands. I couldn’t imagine anyone more perfect to explore and play out the complexities of James Dean.” Flynn added, “This script is a beautiful attempt at truthfully understanding who he really was—not just the icon, but the man.”
A recent promo centered around Wicket—the Audience Award winner for Best Documentary Feature at FrameLine49. San Francisco’s legendary Bboy Wicket (real name: Gabriel Jaochico), internationally renowned for power moves and flawless footwork, changed the game in the heydays of hip-hop, redefining what it meant to be the best in break-dancing—but he was concealing a secret. The movie traces Bboy Wicket’s rise to fame, and Gabriel’s struggle with loneliness, isolation, and ultimate decision to come out—no matter the cost.
The WNBA plans to expand to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia within the next few years, CNN noted. The new team in Cleveland will begin play in 2028, with Detroit following in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. In a statement, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said, “This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league’s extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women’s professional basketball.” According to the league, Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia were chosen based on “analysis of market viability, committed long-term ownership groups, potential for significant local fan, corporate, media, and city and state support, arena and practice facilities, and community commitment to advancing the sport, among other factors.” The three teams will bring the total number of WNBA squads to 18 by the time the Philadelphia team joins, after teams in Portland and Toronto were revealed in 2024; those two will begin playing next year.
LGBTQ+ actress Keke Palmer talked about what prompted her and her team to yank the podcast interview with actor Jonathan Majors following public backlash, Deadline noted. While promoting the film Magazine Dreams, Majors was set to appear in an April episode of Palmer’s podcast Baby, This Is Keke Palmer—but the interview was eventually pulled. “It’s always there, if people wanted to see it,” Palmer said on The Breakfast Club. “But I always wanna be respectful and understand where everybody’s coming from. If they’re not going to feel like they’re going to receive anything good from the interview, then okay, cool.” Majors was recently found guilty of two misdemeanor counts of reckless assault and harassment, and he was sentenced to probation.
Controversial non-binary actor Ezra Miller—best known for their roles in The Flash and Fantastic Beasts—is seemingly plotting a return to Hollywood, per Instinct Magazine. In a surprise appearance at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Miller was there to support longtime friend and director Lynne Ramsay. Ramsay—who worked with Miller on We Need to Talk About Kevin—confirmed that the two are teaming up once again—this time, for a vampire film. The project marks Miller’s first major role since Miller left the spotlight to get help. Over the years, Miller has faced several legal issues, including an arrest for disorderly conduct and harassment in Hawaii, followed by a second-degree assault arrest weeks later.
Three-time Oscar nominee and Wicked star Cynthia Erivo‘s company, Edith’s Daughter, and Platinum Dunes are set to produce a feature adaptation of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s sci-fi action thriller Saturation Point for Universal Pictures, per Deadline. In Saturation Point, Dr. Jasmine Marks leads a search-and-rescue mission into “The Zone”—a section of rainforest along the equator with a climate inhospitable to intelligent life. As she pushes further into the wilderness, Marks discovers the Zone is far more dangerous than initially believed—and that all forms of intelligent life are not necessarily human.
A T-shirt worn by Beyoncé during a Paris Juneteenth performance on her “Cowboy Carter” tour has sparked controversy and criticism, the AP noted. The T-shirt featured images of the Buffalo Soldiers, who belonged to Black U.S. Army units active during the late 1800s and early 1900s. On the back was a description of the soldiers who included “their antagonists were the enemies of peace, order and settlement: warring Indians, bandits, cattle thieves, murderous gunmen, bootleggers, trespassers, and Mexican revolutionaries.” Fans and Indigenous influencers took to social media to criticize the “Party” singer for wearing a shirt that frames Native Americans and Mexican revolutionaries as anything but the victims of U.S. imperialism.
Harlem’s historic Apollo Theater is getting a full-scale restoration, renovation, and modernization that will take the venue on hiatus through next summer, per Playbill. The venue—first opened in 1914 and named the Apollo since 1934—has been the preeminent epicenter of Black culture and entertainment for decades. The most dramatic plans for the space include a renovated and expanded lobby, which will get a café and bar suitable for community gatherings and performances. Within the actual theater, new and restored seating is set to be installed, with upgrades to backstage areas planned as well; in addition, the historic marquee will be revamped.
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Melissa Manchester will appear at the Grammy Museum® in Los Angeles on Monday, July 21, for “An Evening with Melissa Manchester,” per a press release. She will take the stage at the Museum’s Clive Davis Auditorium to discuss her recent album, RE:VIEW (which features reworkings of her best-loved songs) and her new musical memoir show, “50 Threads: An Artist’s Journey.” After a Q&A session moderated by Museum Curator and VP of Cultural Affairs Jasen Emmons, Manchester will perform a sampling of her best-loved songs, all of which are featured on RE:VIEW. Two days prior, fans will hear a different side of Manchester when her first-ever concerto for piano and orchestra, titled AWAKE!; it will have its debut performance at the Corning Museum of Glass Auditorium in Corning, New York.
Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci are officially set to return for The Devil Wears Prada 2, which has now started production, Variety noted. In addition to the stars of the original 2006 film, Kenneth Branagh will join the cast as the husband of Miranda Presley (Streep), the demanding editor-in-chief of Runway magazine. Plot details for the sequel haven’t been confirmed, but the storyline reportedly follows Priestly as she navigates her career amid the decline of traditional magazine publishing; she faces off against Blunt’s character—her one-time assistant who is now a high-powered exec for a luxury group with advertising dollars that Priestly needs.
Bob the Drag Queen has launched production company Purse First Studios, Variety noted. The first project from the former RuPaul’s Drag Race winner’s company is The Big Question—an interview show hosted by Bob featuring friends, colleagues, fellow comedians and strangers; the premiere episode tackled, “Why do Black people hate musicals?” Purse First Studios will soon launch Back in My Day, which will focus on queer elders.
Queer actor Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us; Game of Thrones) has set their next role—as the titular daughter in Daisy Haggard‘s Channel 4 thriller drama Maya, per Deadline. Ramsey will play Maya, the teenage daughter of Anna (played by Haggard). The pair leave their lives in London and are forced into a witness protection program with new identities in a small rural Scottish town; however, the trauma of their past continues to haunt them as the attempt to settle into a new life, with two hitmen intent on tracking them down.
Neil Patrick Harris will host a new game show for Netflix titled What’s in the Box, per Variety. The show—slated to debut in December—is described as a “massive guessing game” where each decision could lead to “life-changing rewards.” Netflix has ordered six 45-minute episodes of the series.
Umbrella Academy star Elliot Page shared a photo on Instagram of himself with Overcompensating star Julia Shiplett, seemingly revealing that they are in a relationship, AOL noted. In the selfie, Page and Shiplett are posing in black jackets and dark sunglasses, with their heads close together, as they stood in the middle of a street with a rainbow painted down the center. Page publicly came out as gay in 2014 and as trans in December 2020, and has since been open about his relationships with stars including Kate Mara and Olivia Thirlby, which he described in his 2023 memoir, Pageboy.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Rob McElhenney—a straight actor who plays a gay character on the show—filed to legally change his name to Rob Mac, which is how he will be credited in projects moving forward, according to EW. The actor has cited global confusion over the pronunciation of his last name as his reason for the change, with actor/Welcome to Wrexham co-producer Ryan Reynolds once unveiled a special musical production for McElhenney’s birthday devoted to teaching fans the pronunciation of his co-star’s last name. In 2019, Mac (the actor) told Out that the idea of having Mac (the character and the most outwardly homophobic member of The Gang) be a self-hating gay man was intended to be a comment on “hypocrisy.” In a rare earnest moment at the end of the series’ 13th season, Mac comes out to his father through an elaborate dance sequence.
Trans Grammy-winning pop singer Kim Petras is back with a brand-new single entitled “Polo,” a press release noted. Petras said, “‘Polo’ was the first song that kinda reset all of the music I was working on. It makes me feel cute and like a bitch! When we wrote it, I had three broken toes and Margo XS and I were just playing SSX 3 and Silent Hill and it kinda just magically came to us—and was everything!!” Polo” (which features distorted synths) was co-produced by Kim Petras, Margo XS and Nightfeelings, with additional production by atlgrandma.
The version of Pixar’s Elio that performed poorly at the box office in June was allegedly straight-washed, according to LGBTQ Nation. Sources who worked at Pixar during the film’s production told The Hollywood Reporter that original director Adrian Molina, who is gay, never intended Elio to be a coming-out story, while others said its title character was initially queer-coded. “It was pretty clear through the production of the first version of the film that [studio leaders] were constantly sanding down these moments in the film that alluded to Elio’s sexuality of being queer,” one source said. Reporter stated that Molina screened a cut of the film that was nearly completed for Pixar leadership in 2023 and may have been “hurt” by chief creative officer Pete Docter’s feedback; soon after, Molina exited the project, with co-directors Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi taking over.
New Zealand “Royals” singer Lorde is stirring controversy on social media because of the artwork from her latest album, Virgin, per USA Today. The vinyl edition of the album features an eight-page photo booklet, according to Lorde’s official website. The product description includes the advisory warning, “Adult images.” One of the images reportedly includes a nude shot of Lorde, with the photo showing the crotch of an individual wearing see-through pants. The 11-track LP, co-produced and -written by Lorde (real name: Ella Yelich-O’Connor), marks the alternative pop singer’s return to the music scene after 2021’s Solar Power. In support of Virgin, Lorde will be embarking on her biggest tour yet, UltraSound, which has already sold out multiple nights at venues including Chicago’s United Center, NYC’s Madison Square Garden, London’s O2 Arena, Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena and California’s Kia Forum, per a press release.
Multi-platinum singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield announced a string of East Coast tour dates in the U.S. starting this fall, a press release noted. Following a year featuring many career highs, including an appearance at Coachella with the LA Phil and Gustavo Dudamel, Bedingfield will perform at venues across the U.S. this fall, starting in Boston on Sept. 25. The “Unwritten” artist will also perform at stops such as Calgary; New Haven, Connecticut; D.C.; Philadelphia; and NYC, among others.
Queer singer/songwriter Frankie Grande released his debut album, Hotel Rock Bottom, out now via Casablanca Records, per a press release. “This album holds pieces of me I’ve never shared before, parts that were broken, parts that healed, and parts that still ache a little,” Grande said.
He performed at OUTLOUD Music Festival at WeHo Pride during the weekend of May 31; and at OUTLOUD Music Festival in Boston on June 21, sharing the stage with Kim Petras, Trixie Mattel, Flo Milli and others. Some of the album’s songs include the previously released “Boys” as well as “Cognitive Dissonance,” “Hotter Than Hell” and the title track.
Valerie Cherish will be given another take as HBO is bringing back The Comeback for a third and final season, Deadline noted. The development comes on the heels of the cult comedy created by Michael Patrick King and Lisa Kudrow marking the 20-year anniversary of its launch earlier this month—and more than a decade after the show’s season-two revival. The third and final season will begin production this summer and is expected to debut on HBO and HBO Max in 2026.
Dr. Phil McGraw’s Fort Worth, Texas-based JV Merit Street Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy—and sued business partner Trinity Broadcasting for breach of contract, Deadline revealed. The TV personality’s daytime Dr. Phil show ended a 21-year run after the 2022-23 season, although it lived on in syndication.
LeAnn Rimes (who was mentioned earlier) suffered a dental mishap as country-pop star abruptly left the stage mid-performance at a recent show in Washington when her front dental bridge unexpectedly fell out, Billboard noted. The incident occurred while Rimes was singing her 1996 hit “One Way Ticket” at The Skagit Casino Resort, prompting the singer to rush offstage. “I feel something pop in my mouth,” Rimes explained in a candid video posted to Instagram following the show. “And if you’ve been around, you know I’ve had a lot of dental surgeries and I have a bridge in the front, and it fell out in the middle of my song last night.” Rimes has dealt with a history of botched dental work that has required 29 surgeries, and she previously filed a malpractice lawsuit in 2013 against her former dentist, citing chronic pain and complications from failed veneers.
Joe Giudice has asked President Donald Trump to grant him a presidential pardon more than 6 years after he was deported from the States, per Page Six. The Real Housewives of New Jersey alum, 53, took to social media to issue a desperate plea to the commander in chief, 79, as he remains abroad following his indictment on federal fraud charges in 2013. On Instagram, Giudice—the former husband of Teresa Giudice—stated, “I was raised in Jersey, I’m a father of four amazing daughters, and I just want to be allowed to visit them again.” Joe spent 41 months behind bars after pleading guilty to failing to pay taxes and mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud; he was later deported to his native Italy and now lives in the Bahamas.