Latest news with #JustB
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bethenny Frankel, 54, sports pink swimsuit in Miami Beach with daughter Bryn Hoppy
Bethenny Frankel enjoyed a refreshing dip in the ocean alongside her daughter Bryn Hoppy on Monday following their big move to Miami Beach, FL. The 54-year-old RHONY alum wore a pink one-piece swimsuit while the 15-year-old volleyball athlete opted for a red string bikini. Bethenny does not work out or lift weights, but she insists she maintains her slim 5ft5in figure by simply 'walking on the beach.' 'I do have toned arms. I don't look, like, ripped,' Frankel - who boasts 9.5M social media followers - admitted on TikTok last August. 'Because I don't work out or do weights and I don't want judgment right now! But I know as you get older, you gotta build muscle mass and do weights - I don't want that.' Later on Monday, the Just B podcaster revealed via Instastory that she had stubbed her right toe after a trip to the beach, writing: 'Every day.' Bethenny then claimed a container of Luigi's Real Italian Ice was 'a healing device' and 'a great ice pack' for her bleeding, swollen toe. 'I need to be medicated. My toe is throbbing like a cartoon character,' Frankel said between bites of the frozen treat. 'But my hair is giving mental institution, and I'm ready. Just bring me muffins!' The native New Yorker has primary custody of Bryn from her three-year marriage to pharmaceutical sales executive Jason Hoppy, which ended in 2021 after a nine-year legal separation. Bethenny - who admitted she's been lonely for the past five years - said they moved to the Sunshine State because her closest friends live there and they have relatives and a bigger community there than they do in the Big Apple. 'Bryn was like, "I really want this,"' Frankel explained on TikTok May 12. 'The moment it became about her, I was able to be honest with myself about how I felt and it freed both of us.' The BStrong founder will still hold on to her $5.5M five-bedroom property in Southampton and her two-bedroom pied-à-terre on the Upper West Side. Bethenny does not work out or lift weights, but she insists she maintains her slim 5ft5in figure by simply 'walking on the beach' Later on Monday, the Just B podcaster revealed via Instastory that she had stubbed her right toe after a trip to the beach, writing: 'Every day' Bethenny then claimed a container of Luigi's Real Italian Ice was 'a healing device' and 'a great ice pack' for her bleeding, swollen toe Bethenny - who admitted she's been lonely for the past five years - said they moved to the Sunshine State because her closest friends live there and they have relatives and a bigger community there than they do in the Big Apple But on April 22, Page Six reported that Bethenny put her renovated, 1743-era Greenwich, CT house for sale off-market for $8M. Frankel boasts a reported $80M fortune after selling her Skinnygirl empire to Beam Suntory for $100M in 2011, and she still receives payouts and a small percentage of sales from her former booze brand - according to Forbes. The Martha Stewart protégée first found fame as a runner-up on NBC's The Apprentice in 2005 before starring in Bravo's The Real Housewives of New York City for eight on/off seasons spanning 2008-2019.
South China Morning Post
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Bain becomes first active K‑pop boy group member to ever publicly come out as gay
Bain, a member of South Korean boy band Just B, has become the first active Korean K-pop idol to come out as gay, a landmark move that challenges deep-rooted taboos in the country's entertainment industry. And, as he told South China Morning Post's This Week in Asia in an exclusive interview, a move that came after intense personal struggle. 'I am proud to be a part of the LGBTQ community,' the 23-year-old, whose real name is Song Byeong-hee, declared during a packed concert in Los Angeles on April 22, before dedicating a cover of Lady Gaga's Born This Way to 'anyone still figuring it out'. Waving a rainbow flag as the crowd erupted into cheers, Bain added: 'You are seen, you are loved, and you were born this way.' Joy in Thailand for LGBTQ couples saying 'I do' as marriage equality law takes effect The moment sent shock waves across the K-pop world, with fans flooding social media platforms with messages of admiration and solidarity. 'Wow! Hats off to Bain. People like him make K-pop even more wonderful. I love you,' wrote one fan on social media. 'I admire your courage. I support you and I hope you shine even brighter!' wrote another. Members of Bain's band also showed support. 'I want to send my applause to Bain. I was also in tears, watching from backstage,' said Siwoo, Just B's sub-vocalist. Bain's announcement was immediately hailed as historic, but activists stressed that he stood on the shoulders of earlier trailblazers. Bain of Just B attends a release showcase event for their first single album in Seoul, South Korea. Photo: The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images Singer and actress Harisu gained fame in the early 2000s as the country's first openly transgender entertainer. When television personality Hong Seok-cheon came out as gay in 2000, he faced a severe backlash. Lara Rajagopalan, an Indian-American member of the multinational K-pop girl group Katseye, publicly identified as queer earlier this year, marking another milestone for LGBTQ representation in the industry. A long-time LGBTQ activist and educator, who wished to be identified only by the pen name Ruin, said it was important to avoid framing Bain's coming out as unprecedented. 'Treating this as a 'first' risks erasing the countless artists – transgender, bisexual, asexual – who have already come out and faced discrimination,' Ruin said. 'This creates a narrative where queer presence must always start from zero, when in fact it's been consistently built through decades of activism and survival.' Your Voice: Dignity for the LGBTQ community (short letters) Bain said the experience of coming out on stage – and being met with a roar of support – was deeply personal and affirming. In his interview with This Week in Asia, he described the moment as 'truly special', recalling how the crowd's reaction helped quiet the anxieties he had carried in the lead-up to the show. 'The fans' cheers gave me great reassurance,' he said. But he stressed that the decision was not easy. In the days leading up to the concert, he wrestled with fear – not only for himself, but for his group and their talent agency. 'I had a dinner conversation with our staff and members the night before the performance. Even in the waiting room, I kept asking for their advice,' he said. Lara Rajagopalan (top row, middle) of global girl group Katseye came out as bisexual earlier this year. Photo: Instagram South Korea's entertainment industry has long espoused conservative values, at least on the surface, but the positive attention paid in recent months to celebrities like transgender television personality Poongja and gay social media influencer Kim Ddol-ddol embracing their identities reveals a shifting landscape. 'Previously, coming out was seen as career suicide for a singer,' music critic and columnist Kim Zak-ka said. 'The traditional strategy was based on building an image that was lovable for all. Even being in a [straight] relationship could be met with backlash. But the fan base – and the business model – have evolved.' Kim said this was partly thanks to the global expansion of K-pop fandoms, many of which have championed minority rights by supporting movements such as Black Lives Matter, opening the door for idols to be more candid about their identities. 'Nowadays, embracing one's sexuality can even be seen as a way to strengthen the bond between artists and their fans abroad.' 10 Hong Kong LGBTQ couples marry in a rare ceremony for the city But, for Bain, the decision was personal, not strategic. 'I believe revealing my true self to fans who genuinely love me is a form of respect,' he said. 'I no longer want to live by anyone's expectations but my own. In my music, my performances and my life, I will show my true self.' Pastor Lee Dong-hwan, a long-time LGBTQ rights activist, lauded Bain's decision as 'courageous'. 'Other celebrities who came out in the past, like television personality Hong Seok-cheon, suffered a lot of hate and discrimination. That is why Bain's decision is very courageous,' the pastor said. It is difficult for public icons like Bain to reveal their sexual identities as the discussion surrounding LGBTQ rights in South Korea focuses strongly on traditional values, tending to either over-sexualise the issue or avoid it altogether, according to Lee. South Korea remains deeply divided over LGBTQ acceptance. As of 2024, 50 per cent of South Koreans opposed same-sex marriage, according to a Korea Research survey.
Perth Now
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Bethenny Frankel's daughter begged for Florida move
Bethenny Frankel's daughter begged her to move to Florida. The former 'Real Housewives of New York City' star has left Connecticut and moved to the Sunshine State with her 14-year-old daughter Bryn - from her marriage to ex-husband Jason Hoppy - and though relocation was always in her long-term plans, she hadn't planned to make the move until the teenager had gone to college. Speaking on her 'Just B' podcast, Bethenny said: 'We were down in Florida and something very personal transpired, and I went to school in Florida. 'I don't want to get into all the details of this now, but something happened, and my daughter, who had said years ago, 'I want to move to Florida,' she cried to me. 'I'm like, 'We can't. There are a set of circumstances, and we can't. … At that time, it was just a concept, and I couldn't have imagined living in Florida. So, she said, 'I want to move to Florida this trip,' and I was, like, 'Something had happened.'' Bethenny, 54, initially dismissed Bryn's pleas 'because she has great friends and a great life" but ultimately realised it was something her daughter was serious about. She said: 'She just said, and she meant it. 'She meant it, and she begged me. She didn't have to beg me, like, she was like, 'I really want this.' "I know my kid and I knew that once this was presented … that she'd want to move. I was just like, 'F***ing f*** it, OK.' ' The past month has left Bethenny in a "frazzled, manic mess" because she has had so much to do in order to leave her Connecticut estate behind. She said: 'That was literally a month and four days ago, and I have been a frazzled, manic mess since then. 'It leaned into school, house, sell house, pack house — and I was always thinking in the background, like, 'This f***ing house is gonna kill me.' It's the best house. It's an amazing, extraordinary house for a family who has kids that will come home, you have a staff [and] there's an apple orchard. 'Someone deserves to be in here that's gonna use that dining room. 'Whoever these people are [that buy the house] is getting such an extraordinary home that I've put my life into. … I was sentimental about it, but I've been a manic f***ing mess because I've had my entire staff in circles moving s*** out.'
South China Morning Post
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
K-pop's Bain breaks taboos as ‘first' openly gay idol: ‘not an easy path'
Bain, a member of boy band Just B, has become the first South Korean K-pop idol to publicly come out as gay, a landmark move that challenges deep-rooted taboos in the country's entertainment industry – and, as he told This Week in Asia in an exclusive interview, one that came after intense personal struggle. Advertisement 'I am proud to be a part of the LGBTQ community,' the 23-year-old, whose real name is Song Byeong-hee, declared during a packed concert in Los Angeles on April 22, before dedicating a cover of Lady Gaga 's Born This Way to 'anyone still figuring it out'. Waving a rainbow flag as the crowd erupted into cheers, Bain added: 'You are seen, you are loved, and you were born this way.' The moment sent shock waves across the K-pop world, with fans flooding social media platforms with messages of admiration and solidarity. 'Wow! Hats off to Bain. People like him make K-pop even more wonderful. I love you,' wrote one fan on social media. Advertisement 'I admire your courage. I support you and I hope you shine even brighter!' wrote another.
South China Morning Post
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
What Just B's Bain coming out as gay shows about Korea's progress on LGBTQ
When Bain, the vocalist of K-pop boy band Just B, came out as gay during a concert on April 22, it sparked a discussion in the broader K-pop scene about how such moments – still rare in the industry – may shape its future. Advertisement The singer made the announcement during a stop on the group's 'Just Odd' world tour in Los Angeles, telling the crowd mid-show, 'I am proud to be a part of the LGBTQ community.' His words were met with loud cheers and applause as he waved a rainbow flag onstage. Although several K-pop artists have come out as gay in recent years, Bain is the first active member of a Korean boy group to do so publicly. Korea's entertainment industry has long been shaped by a conservative cultural backdrop, whereby open discussions of sexual orientation have remained limited. Queer representation began to surface in the mainstream in 2000 when TV personality Hong Seok-cheon became the first Korean celebrity to come out publicly, in a magazine interview. The announcement sparked intense public debate at the time and led to his temporary removal from major broadcast appearances. Hong Seok-cheon arrives for the opening ceremony of the 28th Busan International Film Festival in Busan, South Korea, on October 4, 2023. Other entertainers who later came out – including Jiae, a former member of the girl group Wassup; Som Hevin, a contestant on the 2017 audition show Idol School; and trot singer Kwon Do-woon – faced similar public scrutiny and career challenges.
