Latest news with #LeslieJones
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘We need to be gayer than ever before': ‘RuPaul's Drag Race' queens and producers get political at FYC pool party
Since Season 17 of RuPaul's Drag Race was dubbed the "splashiest season in herstory," it only made sense for its 2025 Emmys campaign event to be a pool party. The top six queens — winner Onya Nurve, runner-up Jewels Sparkles, Sam Star, Lexi Love, Suzie Toot, and Lana Ja'Rae — reunited on Friday for a panel discussion and meet-and-greet with Television Academy members. They were joined by executive producer Randy Barbato, co-executive producer and resident judge Michelle Visage, and choreographer and guest judge Jamal Sims. Actress and Drag Race superfan Leslie Jones moderated the Q&A at the Skybar pool at the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood. More from GoldDerby 2025 Tony Awards: Complete list of winners (updating live) 'Ran' turns 40: How a clerical error and bad blood cost Akira Kurosawa an Oscar 'What's next?': Allison Janney on playing a 'badass' on 'The Diplomat,' 'West Wing' 25 years later One of the themes of the evening was drag vs. politics, with Visage declaring, "In this climate, we need to be louder. We need to be gayer than ever before." The queens also talked about why the art of drag is so important right now, especially with all of the attacks on free expression from people in power. Gonzalo Marroquin / Getty Images for MTV The contestants shared how their own life experiences helped them in the competition and pushed them to succeed, and why RuPaul's Drag Race is so vital for the queer community and for the younger generation. Thanks in part to the show, the ACLU Drag Defense Fund has raised over $2.1 million to help bring attention to, and fight against, anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ attacks. Visage reflected on her time in the Badonka Dunk Tank, and explained how the twist was originally inspired by a Lucille Ball gag. Unfortunately, because of the way the tank was designed, there was no way for her not to go "ass first" into the water — her only request was that it be "warm." Various producers and crew members also took the plunge, and a fun clip package was shown to the crowd. During the reception, members of the Pit Crew, including Bryce and Bruno, mingled with attendees and posed on the lifeguard stand by the pool. Inspiring quotes from Mama Ru were displayed around the space, and guests snapped pics at the Drag Race "Confessional" photo booth. Specialty cocktails included the Badonka Dunk and the Ru-Rita, and food was available at a make-your-own taco stand. Gonzalo Marroquin / Getty Images for MTV Each of the queens shared their takeaways from the season. Onya: 'Getting on RuPaul's Drag Race was a dream of mine. Getting on this show is a testament to betting on yourself. I hope winning this show is a beacon of hope for everyone who looks like me." Jewels: The greatest gift I've ever been given is getting to do the show with my dad [in the makeover episode]. When I got home, my mother showed me clips of him practicing in his heels. It takes a secure man to support their child. If my father can cross dress on national television, the minimum people can do is accept their child." Sam: "Coming from the middle of nowhere, I always wanted to be somewhere. Tears of joy can be just as powerful as tears of sadness." Suzie: "Only 14 queens get chosen out of thousands of applicants. It is the reality competition show of all reality competition shows. There are a lot of theater kids who watch the show and see themselves in me. I wear the women who have inspired me on my sleeve." Lana: "I pull my looks from things that make me happy. The best gift in the world is to make someone smile. My drag is everything people told me I couldn't be." Lexi: "My vulnerability has allowed me to accept life. The show has unlocked everything." Barbato: "The show is a drag queen. All the producers are like drag queens. We go into our closet to create." Visage: "This competition is different from any of the others on television, because our queens are different from any other star on television. They live for the art of drag." Sims: "I'm always nervous, but what I look for is confidence in a queen. Can I give them the information they need to succeed? I always ask: what do you need from me?" All episodes of RuPaul's Drag Race are streaming now on Paramount+. The main series has received 71 Emmy nominations and 29 wins, including 14 total for RuPaul Charles (eight for hosting, six for producing). SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby 'Say Nothing' star Anthony Boyle on playing IRA activist Brendan Hughes: We 'get to the humanity as opposed to the mythology' The Making of 'The Eyes of the World: From D-Day to VE Day': PBS variety special 'comes from the heart' From 'Hot Rod' to 'Eastbound' to 'Gemstones,' Danny McBride breaks down his most righteous roles: 'It's been an absolute blast' Click here to read the full article.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Daily Show host makes stunning threat to 'goofy motherf****r' Elon Musk
Comedian Leslie Jones appeared as the guest host of The Daily Show on Wednesday, issuing vulgar threats towards Elon Musk and the Trump administration. The former Saturday Night Live star attacked Donald Trump 's cabinet and even threatened to punch Musk. 'I've got a problem with these Trump folks,' she said. 'My problem is these people are goofy-ass motherf****rs. I cannot believe America is going to be ended by these f*****g loser incels.' Jones mocked the DOGE head by playing a clip of him from a meeting where he wore two MAGA hats and joked that he 'wears a lot of hats.' 'We got Elon Musk, who is doing this dumb s**t. Cut that goody s**t out. This is a cabinet meeting. Have some damn respect. This is official s**t,' Jones said. 'How is this guy firing people? If this guy gave me a pink slip, I'd give his a** a black eye. Why don't you fire one of them hats, b****?' She went on the further insult Musk by playing a clip from an interview he did with Fox News host Jesse Watters. Watters asked Musk which is harder, 'taking on Washington' or going to Mars.' The SpaceX founder replied, 'Going to Mars.' Jones said of the clip, 'And by the way, how are you going to be Mr. Jokes when you don't even know when you're hearing a joke. He was kidding, you goofy motherf****r. What is wrong with you?' The comic then attacked Musk over the number of children he has asking, 'And how you got so many kids?' 'Because I wouldn't f**k you with my enemy's p***y. And I hate that b***h. I would rather f**k a turkey baster. Hell, I'd rather f**k a turkey.' When Jones guest hosted the show in 2023, she mocked Boston's Martin Luther King Jr. Statue saying that it resembled oral sex. 'They are celebrating you in Boston right now,' Jones exclaimed, referencing people who have participated in the activity. Jones then pivoted to the backlash against the statue, which has included the likes of everyone from right wing pundits to Coretta Scott King's cousin, saying she was speaking only to black audience members as King was 'our civil rights icon.' 'Okay, black people, what the f**k we gonna do? We gotta talk about this, cause you know it's messed up when black people and the Proud Boys hate the same statue,' she said. She then became more contemplative, suggesting the statue might age well, acknowledging that people didn't like the Eiffel Tower when it was unveiled. 'Maybe it's just a matter of time, in time we will see this statue for what it truly is,' she joked. She then returned to it with correspondent Dulcé Sloan, who said that designers never get Martin Luther King's statue correct, specifically referring to the one in Washington DC, before turning to address 'white people.' 'The man literally marched for freedom and his statue don't have no legs! Say what you will about them goofy a** conservatives, but they know how to make a statue. It's a white dude on a horse, it's always a white dude on a horse, there's no confusion.' 'That's what the liberals need to do, make a statue of MLK in his suit on a horse.'
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Leslie Jones Made Everyone Move Seats During Her 'Saturday Night Live' Audition: ‘I Was Cocky' (Exclusive)
Leslie Jones is sharing stories about what the Saturday Night Live audition process is really like. In PEOPLE's cover story celebrating SNL's 50th anniversary, the former cast member, 57, took a walk down memory lane and opened up about her audition for the iconic sketch show. When asked if the rumors that people don't laugh at auditions were true, Jones quipped, "not during my s---!" "Let me tell you something. It's so funny," she said, recalling her first audition. "I was cocky as f---. I was like, 'Oh, I'm the funniest s--- that walked in this motherfucker.' That's how I was." Related: Saturday Night Live Turns 50! PEOPLE Celebrates the Sketch Show's Storied History with Special Edition Issue It wasn't until she sat down at her first table read and realized that "everybody was brilliant." "F---ing Cecily [Strong] had seven voices inside of her head that she was doing at random. This motherf---er was doing all kinds of accents," she continued. "This bitch, I literally was totally intimidated when I got at the table, but the auditions? Man, I walked in there, I was like, 'Yeah, move to the front. Y'all in the back, move to the front. I don't perform like that.'" "I was a cocky ass bitch and they moved to the f---ing front because that's what the f--- I said. And then when I finished I was like, "My name is Leslie Jones. Peace," Jones said, putting two fingers up. "I didn't get the job, but it's cool. It's cool." The comedian first joined the NBC series in 2014 as a writer and made appearances on the show. The following season she was cast as a featured player. She went on to earn three Emmy nominations during her five seasons. Related: Why Kenan Thompson Continues to Stay at Saturday Night Live After 22 Seasons: 'What a Blessing' (Exclusive) In 2019, Jones announced she wouldn't be returning for SNL's 45th season and expressed her gratitude for the show making her a "better performer." 'Yes, it's true I am leaving Saturday Night Live,' she confirmed in a statement shared on Instagram. "I cannot thank NBC, the producers, writers, and amazing crew enough for making SNL my second home these last five years." Related: Molly Shannon Recalls Jennifer Aniston's SNL Hosting Gig: 'She Had a Big Wedding Ring on' (Exclusive) 'Lorne Michaels, you've changed my life in so many ways!' she wrote of the show's mastermind. 'Thank you for being my mentor and confidant and for always having my back. You not only have my loyalty but you have my heart!! You have shown me skills I never imagined I had. I leave a better performer because of you.' 'To the incredible cast members: I will miss working, creating and laughing with you,' she added, shouting out her costars Strong, Kenan Thompson, Kate McKinnon and Colin Jost. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. SNL airs Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Read the original article on People
