Latest news with #Drag
Daily Mirror
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Laurence Fox appeal LIVE: Actor arrives at court to appeal £180k ‘paedophile' row fine
Actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox is appearing at The Royal Courts of Justice today to appeal against libel judgements after being ordered to pay £180,000 in damages for calling two people 'paedophiles'. Mental health campaigner Simon Blake, Drag star Crystal, and actress Nicola Thorp began legal proceedings against actor-turned-activist on 1 April, 2021. The claimants allege Mr Fox defamed them on Twitter in October 2020. The comments have since been deleted. Mr Fox defended his comments, claiming the term "paedophiles" was a "meaningless and baseless" insult. He said: "Free speech. You throw meaningless and baseless insults at someone you get a meaningless and baseless insult in return." He added: "People can call me whatever they want." Fox is now appealing against libel judgments after he was ordered to pay £180,000 in damages to Simon Blake and Drag star Crystal. After losing the High Court case last year, Fox vowed to appeal the ruling and suggested £2 million had been spent on the legal battle. At the time he said: "Today a judge in the High Court has ruled I didn't suffer any serious harm through the allegation of racism made against me, which is strange because at the same time she also declined to define the meaning of the word racist." Of the appeal, he said: "That's another million quid we are going to have to spend to find out the meaning of a word every single person in this country knows." 11:35KEY EVENT Laurence Fox puffs on cigarette as he arrives at Royal Court of Justice Fox was pictured arriving at the Royal Court of Justice on Monday as he walked hand-in-hand with his wife Elizabeth Barker. The wannabe politician stood outside the courts to finish his cigarette as he told photographs that he would not turn his back away from the cameras to pose for a picture ahead of the appeal. Fox wore a white shirt and a pair of blue jeans as he arrived at the court. He also wore a pair of sunglasses and wore a pair of spectacles on his shirt. When asked by a photgrapher if he could turn around and look at the camera, Fox replied: "No! Why would I want to look at you guys?" 09:07Susan Knox Fox ordered to pay £180,000 in libel damages Fox was ordered to pay £90,000 in damages two of the people he referred to as "paedophiles" in October 2020. The actor-turned-politician lost a High Court libel case with former Stonewall trustee Simon Blake and drag artist Crystal. In a post after the ruling, Mr Fox said he intended to appeal and today he is doing it at The Royal Courts of Justice. In January, the court ruled in favour of Mr Blake and former RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Crystal, whose real name is Colin Seymour, and dismissed Mr Fox's counter-claims. Mrs Justice Collins Rice said in her written ruling: "By calling Mr Blake and Mr Seymour paedophiles, Mr Fox subjected them to a wholly undeserved public ordeal. "It was a gross, groundless and indefensible libel, with distressing and harmful real-world consequences for them. "They are entitled by law to an award of money, to compensate them for those damaging effects, and to ensure that they can put this matter behind them, vindicated and confident that no-one can sensibly doubt their blamelessness of that disgusting slur and that they were seriously wronged by it." The judge said there was "no element" of punishment for Mr Fox in the judgement, with the damages due "purely compensatory". She said Mr Fox could be found guilty of contempt of court if he repeated the allegations against Mr Blake and Mr Seymour. 09:02Susan Knox What did Fox say in his tweets to Simon Blake, Nicola Thorp, and drag artist Crystal? The fall out started in October 2020 when Mr Fox announced on the social media platform he was boycotting Sainsbury's supermarket over their support of Black History Month and former Coronation Street actress Thorpe, Stonewall Trustee Blake, and drag queen Crystal criticised his tweet and accused him of racism – Laurence then responded in three separate tweets calling each of the trio "peadophiles". After Fox shared his message about no longer shopping at the supermarket, Blake, CEO of Mental Health First Aid England and chair of Stonewall UK – who campaign for the equality of lesbian, gay, bi and trans people across Britain and abroad – retweeted his tweet and penned: "What a mess. What a racist t**t." In response, Fox tweeted alongside Blake's message: "Pretty rich coming from a paedophile." Simon then replied: "Hi @LozzaFox - please would you remove this tweet as you know it to be untrue. Thanks." And Laurence used the same slur towards Nicola and Crystal as they embarked on an online debate. Nicole also criticised the actor's post and wrote in one tweet: "Any company giving future employment to Laurence Fox, or providing him with a platform, does so with the complete knowledge that he is unequivocally, publicly and undeniably a racist. And they should probably re-read their own statements of 'solidarity' with the black community." Laurence re-posted the message and typed: "Hey @nicolathorp_ Any company giving future employment to Nicola Thorpe or providing her with a platform does so with the complete knowledge that she is unequivocally, publicly and undeniably a paedophile." Drag queen Crystal also replied to Fox, tweeting: "Imagine being this proud of being a racist. So cringe. Total snowflake behaviour." Fox, 42, responded to the star - real name Colin Munro - writing: "Says the paedophile", in a tweet that has since been deleted. 09:00Susan Knox Why is Laurence Fox in court today? Laurence Fox is appealling against libel judgments after calling two people 'paedophiles' in a bitter social media row. Fox is challenging two High Court rulings after he was ordered to pay a total of £180,000 in damages to two people he was found to have libelled when he referred to them as paedophiles on social media. Mental health campaigner Simon Blake, Drag star Crystal, and actress Nicola Thorp began legal proceedings against actor-turned-activist on 1 April, 2021. The claimants allege Mr Fox defamed them on Twitter in October 2020. The comments have since been deleted. Mr Fox defended his comments, claiming the term "paedophiles" was a "meaningless and baseless" insult. He said: "Free speech. You throw meaningless and baseless insults at someone you get a meaningless and baseless insult in return." He added: "People can call me whatever they want."
Daily Mirror
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Racehorse or Drag Queen? Test your knowledge with this unique quiz
Ahead of Royal Ascot, rest your knowledge with this new quiz and see if you can tell the difference between the names of racehorses and famous drag queens - it's harder than you think! Is it a racehorse or a drag queen? Whether you're a seasoned Drag Race fan or a regular at the racetrack, this quiz will have you scratching your head as you try to guess which name belongs to who. The unique quiz tests your racing knowledge against names of renowned queens. But can you differentiate between Black Peppas and Black Caviars? Do you know if Kitten's Joy is discovered on the track or on the stage? It's the perfect bit of fun for anyone who loves the theatre of the races or the drama of drag - even seasoned bettors and hardcore drag fans have been left puzzled over which is which. A spokesperson for sportsbook, which commissioned the quiz ahead of Royal Ascot, said: "We didn't realise Drag Queens and racehorses had anything in common – until we created this quiz. "When you think about it, there's lots of crossover between drag and horse racing – there's lots of pageantry, and brightly-coloured outfits. All these names are iconic, but it is hard to tell the difference between them. "You may be surprised at just how tricky this quiz actually is, as not all Drag names are a saucy double entendre." The quiz creators delved deep into the Drag community to find stars whose unusual names could easily be mistaken for a racing horse. Other inventive names included Blu Hydrangea and Charity Kase. Both racing and pageantry rely heavily on presence and performance, whether it's the start of a big race or the moment a queen steps out in front of the judges, bringing a sense of excitement. The spokesperson added: "It's not often these two worlds collide, but when they do – it's fabulous. We wanted to do something playful that brings together the glamour of drag and the spectacle. "Whether you're backing a queen or a colt, this quiz will definitely keep you guessing."
Economic Times
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Economic Times
Donald Trump-Elon Musk bromance 2.0? After public fallout, US President hints at reunion, but with a catch
— alx (@alx) Live Events 'I guess I could,' says Trump The tax bill that sparked a storm Musk's online attacks and Trump's threats Musk's regret and recalibration (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk were once aligned. Now, after weeks of clashing headlines and explosive posts, both say they're open to peace—but it's not a the first episode of Pod Force One, Trump told New York Post columnist Miranda Devine, 'I haven't really thought about it actually. I would imagine he wants to speak to me. If I were him, I would want to speak to me. Maybe he's already called. You'd have to ask him.''We had a good relationship and I just wish him well, very well actually,' Trump added. Within hours, Musk posted a heart emoji on X, the platform formerly known as gesture was small. But it broke a silence that followed a very public the back-and-forth, both men have since softened their when asked if he could forgive Musk, said: 'I guess I could, but we have to straighten out the country. And my sole function now is getting this country back to a level higher than it's ever been. And I think we can do that.'Speaking on the same podcast, Trump said he did not 'blame' Musk entirely for their feud. 'I have no hard feelings,' he told Devine. 'But I was really surprised that that happened. He went after a bill that's phenomenal. … He just — I think he feels very badly that he said that, actually.''I was disappointed in him,' Trump added. 'But, you know, it is what it is.'Their fallout began not with personal attacks, but with policy. Musk criticised Trump's signature legislation, the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act'—a sweeping Republican proposal on tax cuts and defence spending. He called it 'outrageous, pork-filled' and a 'disgusting abomination.' He also urged GOP lawmakers to 'kill the bill.'At the time, Musk had recently stepped down from his White House advisory role, where he led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The role had aimed to cut waste and fraud in federal spending. His exit was reportedly cordial—but the tone changed later responded to the criticism by questioning Musk's stability. 'He went crazy,' the President told reporters. 'He's lost his mind.'The clash escalated online. Musk accused Trump of withholding government files linked to Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Musk posted that Trump may be mentioned in those files—a claim he later the damage was done. The post, which Musk later admitted went too far, intensified scrutiny and personalised the responded by floating the idea of revoking federal contracts with Musk's companies—Tesla and SpaceX among them. 'He was never like that when he was in the White House,' Trump in turn, made an extraordinary threat. He said he could pull SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft from NASA missions, a move that would have disrupted the US space before the podcast aired, Musk posted a note of reflection. 'I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,' he wrote on X. The post was short and came with no further comes amid reports that Musk, who allegedly spent nearly $300 million supporting Trump's 2024 campaign, now plans to scale back his political one of his more incendiary earlier posts, Musk had claimed, 'Trump would have lost the election without me,' and hinted at no confirmed meeting or call yet. But the sharp edges of this feud seem to be men have left the door slightly ajar. For now, though, Trump says his focus is this public truce will last—or unravel once more—remains uncertain.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Donald Trump-Elon Musk bromance 2.0? After public fallout, US President hints at reunion, but with a catch
— alx (@alx) Live Events 'I guess I could,' says Trump The tax bill that sparked a storm Musk's online attacks and Trump's threats Musk's regret and recalibration (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk were once aligned. Now, after weeks of clashing headlines and explosive posts, both say they're open to peace—but it's not a the first episode of Pod Force One, Trump told New York Post columnist Miranda Devine, 'I haven't really thought about it actually. I would imagine he wants to speak to me. If I were him, I would want to speak to me. Maybe he's already called. You'd have to ask him.''We had a good relationship and I just wish him well, very well actually,' Trump added. Within hours, Musk posted a heart emoji on X, the platform formerly known as gesture was small. But it broke a silence that followed a very public the back-and-forth, both men have since softened their when asked if he could forgive Musk, said: 'I guess I could, but we have to straighten out the country. And my sole function now is getting this country back to a level higher than it's ever been. And I think we can do that.'Speaking on the same podcast, Trump said he did not 'blame' Musk entirely for their feud. 'I have no hard feelings,' he told Devine. 'But I was really surprised that that happened. He went after a bill that's phenomenal. … He just — I think he feels very badly that he said that, actually.''I was disappointed in him,' Trump added. 'But, you know, it is what it is.'Their fallout began not with personal attacks, but with policy. Musk criticised Trump's signature legislation, the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act'—a sweeping Republican proposal on tax cuts and defence spending. He called it 'outrageous, pork-filled' and a 'disgusting abomination.' He also urged GOP lawmakers to 'kill the bill.'At the time, Musk had recently stepped down from his White House advisory role, where he led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The role had aimed to cut waste and fraud in federal spending. His exit was reportedly cordial—but the tone changed later responded to the criticism by questioning Musk's stability. 'He went crazy,' the President told reporters. 'He's lost his mind.'The clash escalated online. Musk accused Trump of withholding government files linked to Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Musk posted that Trump may be mentioned in those files—a claim he later the damage was done. The post, which Musk later admitted went too far, intensified scrutiny and personalised the responded by floating the idea of revoking federal contracts with Musk's companies—Tesla and SpaceX among them. 'He was never like that when he was in the White House,' Trump in turn, made an extraordinary threat. He said he could pull SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft from NASA missions, a move that would have disrupted the US space before the podcast aired, Musk posted a note of reflection. 'I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,' he wrote on X. The post was short and came with no further comes amid reports that Musk, who allegedly spent nearly $300 million supporting Trump's 2024 campaign, now plans to scale back his political one of his more incendiary earlier posts, Musk had claimed, 'Trump would have lost the election without me,' and hinted at no confirmed meeting or call yet. But the sharp edges of this feud seem to be men have left the door slightly ajar. For now, though, Trump says his focus is this public truce will last—or unravel once more—remains uncertain.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Carrollton Ave., I-10 on-ramp reopens after truck cleared
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Crews successfully removed the trash truck that was stuck for weeks on the Carrollton Avenue on-ramp to Interstate 10. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto's vehicle targeted in Metairie burglary This on Friday afternoon, crews put the truck upright. The original plan was to remove it on Monday, but the DOTD says it received all the necessary materials earlier than expected, so the Carrollton ramp is now open. The Airline Highway ramp above it, however, will remain closed until its damaged support beam can be OL Trevor Penning 'excited' about move from tackle to guard Drag racer survives frightening airborne crash at World Wide Technology Raceway Proposed bill to allows parade goers to carrying concealed handguns Escaped inmate known as 'Devil in the Ozarks' found a 'short distance' from prison: sheriff Asylum-seekers worry over potential changes to work permit rules Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
