Latest news with #Will&Harper
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Netflix star Harper Steele, Will Ferrell's road trip buddy, named S.F. Pride Grand Marshal
Harper Steele, the Emmy-winning writer and star of the Netflix documentary ' Will & Harper,' has been named the 2025 Celebrity Grand Marshal for San Francisco Pride, organizers announced Friday, May 30. Best known for her 13-year tenure at 'Saturday Night Live,' where she rose to head writer, Steele has emerged as a prominent voice in LGBTQ+ media. Her recent turn in 'Will & Harper,' a road trip film with longtime friend Will Ferrell that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, has earned critical praise for its honest depiction of friendship and identity following Steele's gender transition. 'Harper's story is one of authenticity, imagination, and connection — all values that resonate most deeply with our community,' said Suzanne Ford, executive director of San Francisco Pride, in a statement. 'Her visibility and vulnerability are a powerful reminder that queer people can and must be celebrated in every context, including in media and entertainment.' After leaving 'SNL,' Steele served as creative director at Funny or Die, where she co-wrote 'Casa de Mi Padre,' 'A Deadly Adoption' and 'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.' The Netflix documentary ' Will & Harper' follows Ferrell and Steele, who have been pals since Will was added to the cast of 'SNL' in 1995 when Steele was one of the show's top writers, known by a different first name. After Steele came out as a woman following the pandemic, the two embarked on a cross-country road trip to reconnect and reflect. The journey, and the film, were sparked by Ferrell's realization that he knew little about the experiences and challenges faced by the transgender community. Steele also felt nervous about doing the trip as a trans woman driving through small towns and states where there were anti-transgender legislation was in effect. The documentary received positive reviews, with the Chronicle's G. Allen Johnson noting that Ferrell and Steele 'start with a deep empathy and understanding, and everything else follows.' This year's Pride celebration, scheduled to take place June 28–29, will carry the theme 'Queer Joy is Resistance.' The event is scheduled to kick off with the SF LGBT Center's second annual "Building the Block: House Party" on Saturday, May 31. San Francisco Pride's 2025 community grand marshals include activist Kenan Arun, director of operations at the LGBT Asylum Project; Jahnel Butler, associate director of Trans Services at the San Francisco Community Health Center and a prominent figure in the queer ballroom scene as the 'mother' of the House of Chanel; Jessy Ruiz, a community volunteer who immigrated from Michoacán, Mexico, to escape violence in her home state; and Dr. Tyler TerMeer, CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and co-chair of the AIDS United Public Policy Council. The San Francisco Community Health Center was named Organizational Grand Marshal by community vote. Activist Tita Aida, also known as Nicky Calma, was honored as Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal for her longtime advocacy around HIV/AIDS awareness in AAPI and transgender communities.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
PBS Stations Call Federal Funds 'Irreplaceable And Essential' As Trump Administration Prepares To Slash Public Media Coin
The Trump administration plans to present Congress with cuts to most funding for public media late this month, according to news reports, setting the stage for a showdown when lawmakers return from a recess on April 28. This is not a surprise to public media. The threat has been in the air since the November elections. In his first term, Trump proposed eliminating funding but lawmakers restored it, something that's happened time and time again over the years as public broadcasting, which is educational and reaches into the heartland, has enjoyed bipartisan support despite ongoing critiques of NPR in particular of leaning left. More from Deadline Mark Zuckerberg Floated Idea Of Spinning Off Instagram In 2018, According To Documents Shown In Meta Antitrust Trial - Update Oscar-Nominated 'Sugarcane' And 'Black Box Diaries', 'Will & Harper', Frontline Among First Batch Of Peabody Nominees 'Home Alone 2' Director Chris Columbus Says Trump Cameo Is A "Curse" He Wishes He Could Cut The Corporation for Public Broadcasting distributes the federal funds with about 70% going to public media stations around the country — TV and radio. The CPB received $535 million in the current fiscal year. It is forward funded, meaning that its latest budget approved by Congress for 2025 continues appropriations through 2027. It's not immediately clear if, assuming the Trump administration memo is sent, that it will call for cutting off most funds after 2027 or seek to claw back what's already been earmarked. 'Rescinding previously appropriated federal funding for public broadcasting defies the will of the American people and would devastate the public safety, educational and local service missions of public media stations – services that the American public values, trusts and relies on every day,' said Kate Riley, President and CEO of America's Public Television Stations, in a statement today. She said the move would disproportionately hurt Americans in rural communities and states 'without the critical services local public television stations provide from proven education resources to essential local connections.' The PBS networks includes 160 locally owned and operated stations. 'Federal funding for public media is irreplaceable and essential to local public media stations and the existence of the public media system as a whole.' 'There's nothing more American than PBS, and our work is only possible because of the bipartisan support we have always received from Congress,' said PBS President Paula Kerger. 'We are proud to highlight real issues, individuals, and places that would otherwise be ignored by commercial media. We look forward to demonstrating our value to Congress, as we have over the last 50 years, to maintain our pledge to the American people to keep our organization, and service, strong and vital.' The one Capitol Hill hearing so far — late last month by a House DOGE subcommittee and called Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the Heads of NPR and PBS Accountable — was ugly. Chair Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), said it will be calling for 'the complete and total defund and dismantling of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.' DOGE is the Trump-created and Elon Musk-led cost and job slashing Department of Government Efficiency. Earlier this year, Trump-appointed FCC chair Brendan Carr announced he was opening an investigation into PBS and NPR over program sponsorships and made clear that he opposed federal funding of the outlets. In February, as have many federal and private companies, PBS shuttered its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion office following President Trump's executive orders on DEI. Best of Deadline 'And Just Like That ...' Season 3: Everything We Know So Far Everything We Know About 'Only Murders In The Building' Season 5 So Far Everything We Know About Celine Song's 'Materialists' So Far
USA Today
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Sophia Bush jokes about coming out, says 'queer values are American values' at GLAAD Awards
Sophia Bush jokes about coming out, says 'queer values are American values' at GLAAD Awards Show Caption Hide Caption Sophia Bush comes out as queer 'One Tree Hill' star Sophia Bush has revealed that she now identifies as queer. Bang Showbiz BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. − The 2025 GLAAD Media Awards not only held space for the woman of the night, "Wicked" star Cynthia Erivo, but also served as a night to reignite the fight for LGBTQ communities. Host Michael Urie ("Goodrich," "Shrinking" and "Ugly Betty") kicked off the festivities Thursday with both a powerful and hysterical monologue, channeling his inner Elphaba and Glinda and donning a pink-and-green suit designed by Christian Siriano. Urie acknowledged it was a night to "give flowers" to the movies, TV, music, video games, podcasts and journalism that provide "fair, accurate and inclusive representation of LGBTQ people and issues." "I am confident that if we keep fighting, loving and showing up, we can change minds and we will get that 'T' and that 'Q' back in the Stonewall National Monument," Urie said, referring to the Trump administration's erasure of references to transgender people from the New York monument website. 'Wicked' star Cynthia Erivo delivers tearjerker speech at GLAAD Media Awards: Watch "We will get that 'F' back on Hunter Schafer's passport," he added. "And we will keep all of that 'D' in 'The White Lotus,'" he concluded to a roar of laughter from the audience. That was the tone of the night − one moment the Beverly Hilton hotel ballroom was reminded of the "terrifying and heartbreaking year" 2025 has been only three months in, and the next, the room was erupting in laughter, joy and applause. This year's GLAAD Media Awards, which will stream on Hulu April 12, also handed out awards to rapper Doechii for outstanding music artist, Harper Steele of the Netflix's "Will & Harper" took home the outstanding documentary and "My Old Ass" (starring Aubrey Plaza and Maisy Stella) won outstanding film. Erivo was presented with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award. 'Will & Harper': Will Ferrell recalls his biggest 'fear' making Netflix film with trans best friend Sophia Bush at GLAAD Awards says 'queer values are American values' Actress and activist Sophia Bush introduced GLAAD CEO and President Sarah Kate Ellis, but not before poking fun at her coming out journey. "My membership card came in the mail," Bush quipped onstage, jokingly pulling out a U-Haul card from inside her corset. "Listen, when I commit, I commit." 'Pathetic and ignorant': LGBTQ+ rights groups bash Trump's attacks on trans community La Cena 2025: 'Baby Reindeer' star Nava Mau, Dolores Huerta, more Latino icons honored "And commitment is exactly what GLAAD is all about, ensuring that acceptance isn't just a buzz word but a reality. Yes, on screen, but also off. Everyone in this room knows that representation changes lives," she continued. "Melissa Etheridge changed mine when she first sang 'Come to My Window.' (It) was a big clue for me back in 1993, and for my parents." 'The internet is being wild': Sophia Bush responds to Ashlyn Harris engagement rumors The "One Tree Hill" alum added that she's "since been very blessed" to be told by fans that her makeout scene with Brittany Snow in the 2006 movie "John Tucker Must Die" was an "'aha moment' for a lot of young queer people." More: Transgender Americans feel 'invisible,' fear for safety over Trump's rhetoric, policies "I just want to say to everyone who has shared those stories of representation with me, it is my honor to serve the community," Bush joked, giving off a military salute onstage. "Right now, at a time when so many marginalized people are under attack, communities like ours are under attack, and people who can cut through the noise and navigate this challenging media landscape are more important to us than ever," Bush said. "We need leaders that remind the world that our values, queer values are American values."
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Emilia Pérez' Star Karla Sofía Gascón Wins Best Song Prize at Critics Choice Awards amid Controversy
Karla Sofía Gascón was among the winners recognized in the best song category at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards amid her recent backlash. Gascón, Zoe Saldaña and Camille won for the song "El Mal" from Emilia Pérez on Friday, Feb. 7. The track beat out five other songs for the prize: 'Beautiful That Way' by Miley Cyrus (The Last Showgirl), "Compress/Repress" by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (Challengers), 'Harper and Will Go West' by Kristen Wiig (Will & Harper), "Kiss the Sky" by Maren Morris (The Wild Robot), and "Mi Camino" by Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez). Gascon, who did not attend the event, was also nominated at the Critics Choice Awards for best actress, though that win went to Demi Moore for The Substance. The best song win comes after Gascón, 52, apologized for the controversies surrounding her offensive resurfaced social media posts, which have since been deleted as she also deactivated her X account. In a message on Instagram this week, the Oscar-nominated actress wrote that she 'sincerely" apologizes to "everyone who has been hurt along the way' in a message on her Instagram, vowing to be silent and 'let the work talk for itself.' Related: Zoe Saldaña Is 'Disappointed' by Costar Karla Sofía Gascón's Offensive Tweets but Still 'Proud' of Emilia Pérez Her post was in response to Emilia Pérez director Jacques Audiard's interview with Deadline, in which he called Gascón's resurfaced posts 'inexcusable' and said he hadn't spoken to her. 'She is in a self-destructive approach that I can't interfere in, and I really don't understand why she's continuing,' said the French filmmaker, 72, adding that she is 'harming people who were very close to her,' including the Emilia Pérez cast and crew. 'I'm not getting in touch with her because right now she needs space to reflect and take accountability for her actions.' Composer Clément Ducol and singer-songwriter Camille teamed up to write the songs in Emilia Pérez, a musical thriller sung largely in Spanish despite the fact that both artists are French. The duo co-wrote 'El Mal,' Saldaña's indictment of corrupt members of society, with Audiard. 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. Ducol and Camille won the Golden Globe for the track in January, and they made sure to give a shoutout to stars Saldaña and Gascón at the time. "'El Mal' wouldn't be what it is without your performance," Camille told the pair. "You just should shake the house, and shake our souls. Salud." See PEOPLE's full coverage of the 30th annual Critics Choice Awards as they're broadcasting live on E! from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. The show will also be available to stream the following day on Peacock. Read the original article on People
The Independent
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Will Ferrell names and shames filmmaker over ‘nasty' remark
Will Ferrell has recalled some of the toughest notes he's received from directors, naming Woody Allen as one filmmaker he was left particularly confused by. While promoting his new Prime Video comedy You're Cordially Invited – in which he stars with Reese Witherspoon – Ferrell was asked if he remembered some of the most unhelpful director comments he's been given during his career. One, on the set of Allen's 2004 comedy Melinda and Melinda, immediately sprung to mind. '[He] came up and was like, 'I don't know how to say this, but you're coming off nasty',' Ferrell said. 'I was like, 'Okay'.' Allen then reminded Ferrell that the movie 'was a comedy'. 'I said, 'I'm not trying to come off nasty',' Ferrell added. 'That was a doozy.' Melinda and Melinda, a minor hit in 2004, co-starred Radha Mitchell, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Steve Carell and Chloë Sevigny, and revolved around a woman in New York whose life unfolds in two different timelines. Ferrell played a married man who falls for the titular Melinda. During the conversation with the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Ferrell also mentioned another filmmaker, who he did not name, who dismissively laughed that a particular line reading of his was 'never going in the movie' and quickly reset the scene. Witherspoon, meanwhile, recalled being asked by a director to 'sparkle' – something she said made her want to 'punch him in the face'. Ferrell and Witherspoon play feuding wedding planners in You're Cordially Invited, which is streaming on Prime Video. Last year, Ferrell led – alongside his friend and frequent collaborator Harper Steele – the Netflix documentary Will & Harper, in which the pair took a road trip together shortly after Steele came out as trans. Speaking to The Independent upon release, Ferrell spoke of his bafflement over the rise in transphobia. 'There is hatred out there,' Ferrell said. 'It's very real and it's very unsafe for trans people in certain situations. But I don't know why trans people are meant to be threatening to me as a cis male. I don't know why Harper is threatening to me.' In her review of the film, The Independent 's film critic Clarisse Loughrey called Will & Harper 'frank, refreshing and funny'.
