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Metro
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
JoJo Siwa defends sweet Chris Hughes gesture to booing crowd at London gig
JoJo Siwa defended herself at a London gig tonight, when the crowd booed her for a grand gesture she dedicated to Chris Hughes. Celebrity Big Brother viewers were left with their jaws on the floor during this year's dramatic series when the Dance Moms star, 22, and the Love Island alumni, 32, formed an unlikely, intense friendship. The series saw them hugging in bed and whispering into the night, with JoJo's partner Kath Ebbs watching the whole saga unfold with the rest of the world on live TV. The co-stars are rumoured to be an item following JoJo's abrupt split from Kath at the CBB afterparty, and after she and Chris were reportedly snapped kissing during a reunion trip to Mexico. Now, JoJo has been filmed taking to the stage in London wearing a Sunderland AFC top, which is Chris' team, after they got bumped up into the Premier League for the first time in eight years this weekend. In a clip posted by PinkNews, Jojo could be seen wearing the bedazzled football shirt. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video After being booed by the crowd, JoJo said: 'You might not like it, but he does so just go with it.' Chris attended the gig with JoJo's parents, according to MailOnline, who also reported she said of the shirt tribute: 'This is for somebody special who's here tonight.' According to the outlet, she performed a cover of the Kim Carnes hit Bette Davies' Eyes, which was thought to also be a nod to the racing enthusiast after their performance of the song in the Celebrity Big Brother house. This comes after Chris' ex and former Love Island star Olivia Atwood reacted to the pair's rumoured romance. TikTok user Cimallow shared a video, saying: 'I'm sorry, I need to know what's Olivia Attwood's reaction to this Chris and JoJo thing.' They continued: 'What in the Big Brother, Love Island, ITV, Dance Moms is going on, like. This is giving that Suite Life On Deck, like with Hannah Montana. 'I can't stop thinking about it. I feel like going from Olivia Attwood to JoJo Siwa is actually crazy to me.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Olivia responded with the simple comment: 'She's really famous.' Actor and presenter Kath Ebbs also seemed to respond to rumours their ex JoJo and Chris were an item, posting on their Instagram Story, 'The only thing I have to say is LOL' after the pair shared pictures together from their Mexico trip. While neither Chris and JoJo have confirmed their relationship, JoJo was left stumped when asked bluntly if he was her boyfriend during an appearance on Lorraine. Host Andi Peters asked if she had been given the Love Island treatment and pulled into the kitchen to ask if they could be exclusive. 'Christopher and I have had a lot of chats, [but] we've never gone into the kitchen and said, 'My head's not turning any way.' We've never had that portion of a chat,' she responded. View More » On This Morning, JoJo also said: 'I would say he is up there with one of my favourite people in the entire world. He makes me happier than I think I've ever been. He makes me feel so full as me. He's been a really good one that's been the most incredible addition to my life.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Blushing JoJo Siwa looks shocked when bluntly asked about 'boyfriend' Chris Hughes MORE: Chris Hughes 'confirms future with JoJo Siwa' after being seen kissing MORE: JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes 'hard launch relationship' with intimate new photos
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Donald Trump plays his favorite Village People song, "YMCA", dubbed a gay anthem, to end speech in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is punishable by death
Donald Trump played the Village People's "YMCA", long considered a gay anthem, as his closing song during a Saudi Arabia speech. However, many people found the choice surprising, given the song's ties to LGBTQ+ culture and Saudi Arabia's harsh stance on homosexuality, which is still punishable by death. Why did Donald Trump play 'YMCA' in Saudi Arabia? Donald Trump's three-nation Middle East tour, funded by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, included a lengthy speech in Riyadh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 25 Best Cities for Living President Trump wrapped up his Saudi Arabia speech with 'YMCA' by the Village People. The situation raised eyebrows, given Saudi Arabia's strict anti-LGBTQ+ laws and ongoing censorship, as per a report by Pink News. Village People's well-known gay anthem, "YMCA," has become Trump's rally favourite. The song became a staple at Trump rallies during his campaign trail, before he was re-elected in November 2024. Live Events This was a strange contrast to the Trump administration's depressing position on LGBTQ+ rights. ALSO READ: Diddy deletes wild Ibiza party pic featuring A-list celebs, but not before fans snag the snap he didn't want you to see; here's who featured in the photo Given that co-writer Jacques Morali and original band members Felipe Rose and Randy Jones were gay, the disco song from the 1970s is well-known as a gay anthem. It gained popularity in the LGBTQ+ nightclub scene and is still played at Pride events today. It's also commonly assumed that the song's lyrics allude to gay cruising, and the name Village People itself alludes to Greenwich Village in Manhattan, which is known as a "gayborhood." What are Saudi Arabia's LGBTQ+ laws? According to the gay community, the song is against Saudi Arabia's views on homosexuality, is against the law, and is punishable by death. Sharia Law forbids what it refers to as "cross-dressing," which makes being transgender illegal and LGBTQ+ topics censored. Heterosexual lead singer Victor Willis has previously denied the song's connection to the LGBTQ+ community. Is 'YMCA' really a gay anthem? In a December Facebook post, he stated that his wife, the band's manager, would "sue" any news outlet that calls the song a gay anthem. Such presumptions, according to Willis, are "damaging to the song," and people ought to "get their minds out of the gutter,' as quoted in a report by Pink News. In the post, he stated, "There has been a lot of talk, especially lately, that YMCA is somehow a gay anthem." 'That is an incorrect assumption, as he has stated many times before, because his writing partner was gay, some (but not all) of the Village People were gay, and the first Village People album was entirely about gay life,' as per a report. The group received harsh criticism from the LGBTQ+ community for their performance at Trump's inauguration in January. They claimed that their music would bring the nation together following a turbulent and divided campaign and that music should be performed regardless of politics. The group's decision to perform at the event has drawn criticism from some social media users, while others have expressed shame and said they will be discarding all of their music. FAQs Why was Donald Trump's choice of the "YMCA" controversial in Saudi Arabia? The song is well-known as a gay anthem, despite the fact that homosexuality is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia. Did the Village People address the song's LGBTQ+ references? Despite its LGBTQ+ fanbase and origins, lead singer Victor Willis insists that the song is not about gay culture.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The New Pope Faces Scrutiny On LGBTQ+ Rights
On at least one major issue, it's not yet clear just how closely the new pope will adhere to the legacy established by his predecessor. As Pink News reported, Pope Leo XIV hasn't made many public statements on LGBTQ+ rights, but the ones he has expressed have been described by The New York Times as 'less welcoming' than stances Pope Francis once embraced. Per the Times, Leo gave remarks in 2012 that criticized Western news media and pop culture for promoting 'sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel.' Examples of such beliefs that Leo reportedly referenced included a 'homosexual lifestyle' and 'alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.' As a bishop in Peru, Leo also deemed 'the promotion of gender ideology' in schools 'confusing,' noting that 'it seeks to create genders that don't exist.' And in 2024,Leo adopted a more ambivalent stance regarding blessings for same-sex unions. While Francis backed the practice, Leo declined to oppose or endorse a document that supported them, according to The 19th. During his tenure as head of the Catholic Church, Francis was known for ushering in a more inclusive period of leadership that embraced LGBTQ+ parishioners and clergy members in a new way. 'If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?' Francis said of gay clergy members in 2013. He also pushed back against laws around the world that have criminalized homosexuality and met with LGBTQ+ Catholic groups, becoming one of the first popes to do so. Francis' leadership was widely heralded as a sea change compared to past papacies that promoted anti-gay views, though he did not fundamentally change doctrine on issues like same-sex marriage. For now, LGBTQ+ Catholics are watching closely to see whether Leo — who emphasized inclusion broadly in his opening remarks — will maintain the same trajectory. 'We pray that in the 13 years that have passed, 12 of which were under the papacy of Pope Francis, that his heart and mind have developed more progressively on LGBTQ+ issues,' said Francis DeBernardo, the executive director of New Ways Ministry, an LGBTQ+ Catholic group, in a statement.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The New Pope Faces Scrutiny On LGBTQ+ Rights
On at least one major issue, it's not yet clear just how closely the new pope will adhere to the legacy established by his predecessor. As Pink News reported, Pope Leo XIV hasn't made many public statements on LGBTQ+ rights, but the ones he has expressed have been described by The New York Times as 'less welcoming' than stances Pope Francis once embraced. Per the Times, Leo gave remarks in 2012 that criticized Western news media and pop culture for promoting 'sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel.' Examples of such beliefs that Leo reportedly referenced included a 'homosexual lifestyle' and 'alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.' As a bishop in Peru, Leo also deemed 'the promotion of gender ideology' in schools 'confusing,' noting that 'it seeks to create genders that don't exist.' And in 2024,Leo adopted a more ambivalent stance regarding blessings for same-sex unions. While Francis backed the practice, Leo declined to oppose or endorse a document that supported them, according to The 19th. During his tenure as head of the Catholic Church, Francis was known for ushering in a more inclusive period of leadership that embraced LGBTQ+ parishioners and clergy members in a new way. 'If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?' Francis said of gay clergy members in 2013. He also pushed back against laws around the world that have criminalized homosexuality and met with LGBTQ+ Catholic groups, becoming one of the first popes to do so. Francis' leadership was widely heralded as a sea change compared to past papacies that promoted anti-gay views, though he did not fundamentally change doctrine on issues like same-sex marriage. For now, LGBTQ+ Catholics are watching closely to see whether Leo — who emphasized inclusion broadly in his opening remarks — will maintain the same trajectory. 'We pray that in the 13 years that have passed, 12 of which were under the papacy of Pope Francis, that his heart and mind have developed more progressively on LGBTQ+ issues,' said Francis DeBernardo, the executive director of New Ways Ministry, an LGBTQ+ Catholic group, in a statement.
Buzz Feed
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
People Are Emotional Over A Resurfaced Clip Of Heath Ledger Expertly Handling Anti-Gay Criticism Of 'Brokeback Mountain'
When Brokeback Mountain was released in 2005, it sadly became the subject of widespread mockery and anti-gay criticism from people uncomfortable with the concept of two cowboys falling in love. Leading actor Heath Ledger repeatedly made it known that he wasn't OK with people making jokes about the film, with his costar Jake Gyllenhaal revealing in 2019 that he outright shut down any kind of mockery. 'Someone wanted to make a joke about the story or whatever… [Heath] was like, 'No. This is about love.' Like, that's it, man. Like, no,' he recalled of Heath, who sadly died in 2008. The following year, Jake revealed that Heath even refused to present at the 2006 Oscars — the same year that Brokeback Mountain was nominated for eight Academy awards — because an anti-gay joke was allegedly set to feature during the opening. 'I was sort of at the time, 'Oh, OK… whatever.' I'm always like, 'It's all in good fun,'' Jake said. 'And Heath said, 'It's not a joke to me — I don't want to make any jokes about it.'' And this week, a resurfaced clip from a 2006 press conference shows Heath once again expertly handling criticism of the film's gay love story. In the clip, which was shared by PinkNews, a reporter at the Berlinale Press Conference asked Heath: 'How do you respond to such people who suggest that this is, uh, disgusting?' Heath immediately groaned and said, 'I don't know. I think it's a real shame.' He then quickly added, 'Well, I think it's immature, for one. Really immature. But I think that it's an incredible shame that people go out of their way to discuss disgust or to voice their disgust, I should say. Or negative opinions about the way two people wish to love another.' 'I mean, at least voice your opinions on how two people should hate and [show] violence and anger towards each other. Isn't that more important? I think so,' he went on. 'The pure fact of it is it transcends a label; it's human. It's a story of two human beings, two souls that are in love. It's like, get over the fact that there's two men — that's the point!' Heath said. 'The movie is not a story about an epidemic or a virus or something that can be cured in a hospital. We're showing that love between two men is just as infectious and emotional and strong and pure as it is with heterosexual love,' he added. After watching the resurfaced clip, several internet users have praised Heath's 'progressive and mature' stance. 'He handled the production and press with incredible grace,' one Reddit user wrote. 'How incredibly progressive and mature. I wish we could say that things have drastically improved since this time but we seem to be going backwards again now,' someone said. Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic, Inc 'Truly king behavior to be so bored by the question,' one user said, while another admitted that they were left super emotional by the clip, writing, 'This makes me tear up.' Meanwhile, several fans wound up discussing how horribly Brokeback Mountain was treated amid its release, with the actors consistently questioned about it's gay love portrayal and, of course, finding themselves at the center of anti-gay jokes. One person cited the 2006 MTV Movie & TV Awards, where Justin Timberlake and Eva Mendes presented Jake with the 'Best Kiss' award. When Eva read out, 'The best kiss goes to…' Justin said, 'Ooh, it's the fellas,' before jokingly swerving Jake on stage.
