Wednesday, November 30, 2022

NATO Nations Grow More Receptive to U.S. Pleas to Confront China


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K-Pop Stars HyunA and Dawn Break Up After 6 Years Together

HyunA and Dawn K-pop stars HyunA and Dawn are no longer 1+1.  The "Change" singer revealed the news of her split from the former Pentagon member in a short statement posted to Instagram Nov. 30. "We broke up,"...


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Andy Jassy says Amazon will allow the antisemitic film that Kyrie Irving tweeted to remain on sale for now.


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Don't Miss a Single Phase 5 Marvel Movie or TV Show With This Complete Schedule

We finally have all the details on Marvel's Phase Five, and if we weren't excited before, we definitely are now! Marvel head Kevin Feige first previewed the next phase during Comic-Con in July. Following on Phase Four, which ended with "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," the second phase of the Multiverse Saga is set to bring back some old favorites like the Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man, give new and supporting characters a chance to shine in solo projects, and expand the Marvel multiverse with some seriously twisty storytelling.

It seems like a safe bet that the biggest battles are yet to come, but before we get to the massive events of Phase Six, Phase Five has a lot to offer in terms of world-building and characters. This phase, which includes 11 movies and TV shows in total, includes everything from long-awaited sequels to intriguing spinoffs and even introductions for a few new characters. We'll see the return of beloved characters like Daredevil, new chapters for some of our favorite heroes (and villains), and so much more. Keep this schedule handy to keep track of all the adventures we can expect throughout the jam-packed two years of movies and TV shows that make up Phase Five!



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Talan Torriero Reveals How Real Laguna Beach Actually Was...

Lauren Conrad, Talan Torriero Let the rain fall down and wake our dreams because Talan Torriero is coming clean. Thanks to Kristin Cavallari and Stephen Colletti's rewatch podcast Back to the Beach—including...


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Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Kylie Jenner Reacts to Claim Her Pics Were to "Cover for Balenciaga"

Kylie Jenner Kylie Jenner is slamming the notion that her new family photos are connected to controversy. Most recently, the Kardashians star shared a few new pics, some of which included snaps of her kids...


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Does Inflation Disproportionately Hurt the Poor?


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Patrick and Brittany Mahomes Are Parents of 2 - See the First Pic of Their Newborn Son

NFL star Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany have lots to celebrate, and not just related to the Kansas City Chiefs player's winning season. The couple - who tied the knot back in March - recently welcomed their second child together, Patrick "Bronze" Lavon Mahomes III, after previously announcing they were expecting in May. The birth of their baby boy comes over a year after they welcomed their firstborn, daughter Sterling Skye, in February 2021.

Prior to starting their family together, Patrick and Brittany met as high school sweethearts who dated for eight years until the former popped the big question in September 2020, just a few weeks before they announced they were expecting Sterling. They got married in an intimate ceremony in Maui on March 12 and have been sharing glimpses of their family life ever since.

Keep scrolling to learn more about Patrick and Brittany's two children and see their cutest photos so far.



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HGTV's Christina Haack Shares Why She's Not Posting Son Hudson Online

Christina Hall, Josh Hall Christina Haack is sticking to her mom's intuition. After celebrating Thanksgiving, the HGTV star took to Instagram and shared new family photos with her husband Josh Hall. While followers could...


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Qatar exits with the worst record of a host country.


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Monday, November 28, 2022

Eleanor Jackson Piel, Lawyer Who Fought Capital Convictions, Dies at 102


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Fans Think Daphne Is Hiding This Major Secret From Cameron on "The White Lotus"


The fifth episode of "The White Lotus" season two, which aired Nov. 27, dropped a major mystery into the center of the marriage of Daphne (Meghann Fahy) and Cameron (Theo James). In the episode, Harper (Aubrey Plaza) is furious with Ethan (Will Sharpe) because he lied to her about what he and Cameron got up to while the two women took a trip to Noto. Ethan only fesses up when Harper finds a condom in their room, and he says that only Cameron slept with the sex workers, not him; he just did molly with them.

All throughout episode five, Harper drops hints in front of Daphne that Ethan and Cameron did something wrong. When she finally gets Daphne alone outside after dinner, she tells her, "I think something happened when we were in Noto." Daphne is confused. Harper doesn't specify what she means with words but with a look. And that's when Daphne drops her bomb. She says, "I'm sure whatever happened wasn't a big deal. And if anything did happen, you just do what you have to do to make yourself feel better about it."

She continues, "I have this trainer in the city, Lawrence. He's so handsome, he has this blond hair and these, like, big blue eyes. He's really funny, too. I spend more time with him then Cameron sometimes 'cause he's so busy at work. He's such a cutie." It seems she's saying she has affairs to make herself feel better about Cameron sleeping around. But then she ups the ante even more.

Daphne offers to show Harper a pic of Lawrence the trainer, but when she hands her phone over, it's showing a picture of Daphne's two kids - a crying baby and a toddler who has big blue eyes and blond hair. "Whoopsie," Daphne says when Harper tells her about her "mistake." She adds, "Anyway, the point is, maybe you should get a trainer."

Is Daphne's Child Her Trainer's?

It definitely seems that Daphne is implying her eldest child is her trainer's and not Cameron's, but Fahy thinks her moment between her and Plaza's characters is more complicated than that. She told UK Elle in an interview published Nov. 28 that the answer is supposed to be unclear.

"In episode five, when she and Harper are sitting outside, that is really dark," she said. "[Creator Mike White] wants it to be very vague, obviously. But I think that there are a lot of ways that you could take that scene. And I think one of those ways is you could wonder if Daphne's suggesting that her child is her trainer's child and not her husband's."

But is that what actually happened? "There are so many layers to her that I think you couldn't count it out. I don't know that it's 100% the truth, I can't say that it is because Mike didn't even tell me if that was," Fahy admitted. "But I think there is a world in which that is the case."

It's possible Fahy is bluffing and we'll find out the truth in the last two episodes, but for now, it's one of the series's most compelling mysteries - besides which "The White Lotus" character will die before the end of the season.



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Holiday Shopping 2022: 20 Can't-Miss Gifts for Funko Fanatics

Ecomm, Gifts for Funko Collectors The brands featured in this article are partners of NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on your purchase. Prices are accurate as of publish time. Items are sold by retailer, not...


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Brazil believed the goal was coming. The scorer was the surprise.


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80+ Photos of Madonna and Her Kids That Are Too Cute

Madonna has one beautiful family! The 64-year-old pop music icon is the proud mom of six children - Lourdes, 26, Rocco, 22, David, 17, Mercy, 16, and 10-year-old twins Estere and Stelle - and we just love seeing them together. Madonna recently spent time with all her children for Thanksgiving and shared a sweet Instagram photo series of them captioned, "What I'm thankful for…………. 💛." Whether they're hitting the red carpet or being silly on social media, it's clear the bond between Madonna's brood is unbreakable.

Back in 2017, Madonna opened up to People about the rigorous process of adopting David, Mercy, Estere, and Stelle. "Because I'm a public figure, people don't want to be perceived as giving me any kind of special treatment, so I get the hard road," she explained. "It's complicated, but it's so worth it."

As for her daughter Lourdes, the model released her debut single, "Lock&Key," under the moniker Lolahol in August and followed up with her "Love Me Still" song the next month. Lourdes previously opened up to Billboard about her career aspirations, saying she doesn't have a "specific" goal in mind. "I think it's about finding a role that wouldn't be too far off from who I am already," she said. "Honestly, actors really annoy me and I can't be around them. As for music, I can sing. I just don't care about it. Maybe it's too close to home." But it seems she's since had a change of heart.

Take a look at some of Madonna's sweetest family moments ahead.



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Sunday, November 27, 2022

Gisele Bündchen Leaves a Supportive Comment on Tom Brady's Post for His Son Jack

Even though their marriage has come to an end, Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady are still a united front when it comes to parenting. On Nov. 25, Brady posted a photo of his 15-year-old son Jack throwing a football on his Instagram, and his ex-wife was quick to show her support. Bündchen posted a simple, but supportive comment on the post when she commented with a red heart emoji.

Brady and Bündchen share two children together - Benjamin Rein (12) and Vivian Lake (9) - while the football star shares Jack with his ex Bridget Moynahan. However, the Victoria's Secret model has been a big part of her stepson's life since he was just a little boy, so it only makes sense that she would continue to support him as he follows his own passion for football.

For his part, Brady captioned the photo "❤️ My Inspiration ❤️," and the proud dad can be seen watching his son in the background. During an October episode of the "Let's Go with Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald and Jim Gray" podcast, the Buccaneers quarterback spoke out about how incredible it is to watch his eldest follow in his footsteps.

"I think one of the great highlights of my life is watching him play and him grow and develop, and my kids in general, too. So I love watching him kind of dig deep and especially [play] team sports," Brady said. He went on to add that Jack "actually moves better than I did at his age."

Brady and Bündchen's encouragement of Jack is reflective of how they parent all three of their kids. When the couple announced their split, Bündchen noted in her statement that the happiness of their children would always be their number one priority. "My priority has always been and will continue to be our children whom I love with all my heart," she wrote in her Instagram Story at the time. "We will continue co-parenting to give them the love, care and attention they greatly deserve."

In early November, a source close to the couple seemed to echo those sentiments in a statement to People. "They can see whichever parent they want. They've got a schedule, but neither of them would prevent their kids from seeing the other parent," the source said. "That's not who either of them are."

They continued, "These kids won't be used as pawns. They're going to be loved and cherished by both parents."



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Jessie James Decker Defends Her Kids' Abs After Criticism

Jessie James Decker Jessie James Decker is absolutely not tolerating the trolls. After some social media users criticized her children's athletic bodies in a Nov. 26 Instagram pic, the "Should Have Known Better"...


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Halftime: Germany is holding up well against Spain.


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Tom Pelphrey Cradles Kaley Cuoco’s Baby Bump in Adorable Selfie

Kaley Cuoco, Tom Pelphrey Kaley Cuoco is in full mommy mode. The actress, who is expecting her first child with Tom Pelphrey, shared an adorable new pic of the parents-to-be on her Instagram Stories on Nov. 26. In the a...


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The lineups are out: two changes for Germany.


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Saturday, November 26, 2022

Argentina has a choice to make: Go for a win, or try to avoid a loss.


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Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita Have 2 Adorable Kids - Meet Their Sons

Jesse Tyler Ferguson portrayed a doting dad for 11 seasons on "Modern Family," and now that the show has wrapped, the actor is living the real deal with husband Justin Mikita. The couple tied the knot in New York City back in 2013, and nearly a decade later, they're dads to two sweet boys.

Ferguson and Mikita welcomed their first child, Beckett Mercer Ferguson-Mikita, in 2020 and were "overjoyed and excited" about their newly minted parent status, a rep for Ferguson told Entertainment Weekly at the time. Two weeks after the little one entered the world, Ferguson raved over Mikita in an anniversary post on Instagram, writing, "7 years ago today I married you. Two weeks ago I got to see you become a dad. We are entering a whole new chapter and I couldn't be happier to be doing it with you. Happy anniversary @justinmikita. Beckett is so lucky to have you and so am I."

From then on, it was clear that both Ferguson and Mikita were enjoying every second of their life as a family of three, often showing off their son on Instagram and sharing sweet family photos. In November 2022, the couple were blessed with another sweet baby boy: Sullivan Louis Ferguson-Mikita, whom they welcomed via surrogate.

"We are overjoyed to be a family of four," Ferguson wrote in an announcement post, also thanking infertility and reproductive endocrinology specialist Shahin Ghadir, MD, FACOG; their surrogate; and all the nurses and doctors who helped bring their baby into the world safely.

Read on to learn more about the Ferguson-Mikita family of four.



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This is not the start Argentina wanted.


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Madonna Shares Rare Family Photo Featuring All 6 of Her Kids in Celebration of Thanksgiving

It's not often Madonna shares a family photo featuring all six of her children, but this Thanksgiving, she wanted the world to know just how thankful she is for her kids. The 64-year-old posted a collection of photos from her family's holiday on her Instagram on Nov. 25, including one featuring her and her six children. Additionally, she also shared pictures of the kids DJing, a plate featuring a piece of paper for guests to write what they're thankful for on, and a snap of her sipping some wine. The "Like a Prayer" singer captioned the post, "What I'm thankful for…………. 💛."

Madonna kicked off her carousel of photos with a picture of her and her oldest daughter, 26-year-old Lourdes Leon, whom she shares with Carlos Leon. She then shared a group photo featuring all of her kids: Lourdes; Rocco (22), whose father is director Guy Ritchie; and David (17), Mercy (16), and 10-year-old twins Stella and Estere, who were all born in Malawi and adopted by the pop star. From there, she shared several snaps of the kids hanging out with her and each other, while also having fun with some DJing equipment.

While the Grammy winner rarely shares full family photos, she's never been shy about telling the world just how much she loves being a mom. In 2020, she even got her first ever tattoo at age 62 in honor of her kids. At the time, she shared a photo of the inking process on Instagram, and she later revealed her wrist tattoo features all of her children's initials. In April, she revealed her newer tattoos on Instagram, including a matching one she shares with David.

For Madonna, having a large family has always been her dream, and she treasures her time with her kids. In a 2017 interview with People, the singer opened up about her adoption journey. "It's inexplicable," Madonna said of meeting her children for the first time. "It's like saying, 'Why do you fall in love with the people you fall in love with?' You look into the eyes of somebody, you feel their soul, you feel touched by them - that's it."



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Inside Madison LeCroy and Brett Randle's Lavish Honeymoon

Madison LeCroy, Brett Randle, Honeymoon, Bali, Instagram Madison LeCroy brought her Southern charm to Southeast Asia to celebrate her new marriage. Days after marrying Brett Randle in a courthouse ceremony in Charleston, S.C. and then exchanging vows...


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Mexico’s love-hate relationship with Argentina haunts the team’s World Cup matchup.


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Friday, November 25, 2022

A quiet start to holiday shopping at Union Square in San Francisco


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Jennifer Lopez Reveals Her Ninth Album's Title, Release Date, and Tracklist

Image Source: Annie Leibovitz

It's been almost a decade since Jennifer Lopez released an album, but she's gearing up to drop her most personal project to date. On Nov. 25, the 53-year-old singer announced the title of her ninth studio album on the 20th anniversary of her "This Is Me...Then" album, calling her return to music, "This Is Me…Now." According to a media alert shared with POPSUGAR, Lopez's forthcoming project "chronicles the emotional, spiritual, and psychological journey that she has taken over the past two decades."

" . . . When I make my best music or my best art is when I'm happy and full and feel lots of love."

Lopez opened up about her ninth album in her December cover story for Vogue, published Nov. 8, with the outlet calling it "the most honest work she has ever done."

"Kind of a culmination of who I am as a person and an artist," Lopez said of the forthcoming album. "People think they know things about what happened to me along the way, the men I was with - but they really have no idea, and a lot of times they get it so wrong. There's a part of me that was hiding a side of myself from everyone. And I feel like I'm at a place in my life, finally, where I have something to say about it."

" . . . When I make my best music or my best art is when I'm happy and full and feel lots of love," Lopez added, a sentiment that also serves as the tone for her new album. Vogue's Rob Haskell noted that he listened to a few rough cuts from Lopez's project, describing them as "plaintive, confessional songs, reflections on the trials of her past, upbeat jams celebrating love and sex."

Per Lopez's media alert, "This Is Me…Now" - billed as an "emotionally raw and honest" album - will introduce other "very personal projects" from the singer-actor next year, with more details to come. Lopez released her last solo album, "A.K.A.," in 2014. She also recorded the "Marry Me" soundtrack alongside her costar Maluma, which arrived in February.

For the past few years, the singer has mainly focused on her many film projects, which include her upcoming Netflix thrillers "Atlas" and "The Mother," plus her "Shotgun Wedding" rom-com, the latter two slated to premiere in 2023.

While Lopez's fans get ready to hear the new material she's been working on, read ahead for everything we know about her next album so far.

Jennifer Lopez's Ninth Album Title

The name of Lopez's next album, "This Is Me…Now," serves as an ode to "This Is Me…Then" - which Lopez released in 2002 during the early years of her relationship with Ben Affleck. The album features "confessional songs, reflections on the trials of [Lopez's] past, and upbeat celebrations of love." It also spotlights Lopez's "tough childhood, unsuccessful relationships, and [her] incredible emotional journey."

Jennifer Lopez's Ninth Album Release Date

An exact release date has yet to be announced, but per an Instagram post shared by Lopez, her "musical experience" will arrive sometime in 2023.

Jennifer Lopez's Ninth Album Track List

The tracklist for "This Is Me…Now" reads as follows:

  1. "This Is Me … Now"
  2. "To Be Yours"
  3. "Mad in Love"
  4. "Can't Get Enough"
  5. "Rebound"
  6. "Not. Going. Anywhere."
  7. "Dear Ben Pt. ll"
  8. "Hummingbird"
  9. "Hearts and Flowers"
  10. "Broken Like Me"
  11. "This Time Around"
  12. "Midnight Trip to Vegas"
  13. "Greatest Love Story Never Told"


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Wayfair Black Friday Sale: $.64 Ornaments, Storage Bins for $4 & More

E! Insider, Wayfair Black Friday We independently selected these deals and products because we love them, and we think you might like them at these prices. E! has affiliate relationships, so we may get a commission if you...


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Catholic Church Issues Guidelines for Ethical Investing


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The Flenory Brothers Navigate New Territory, Family Drama, and More in the "BMF" Season 2 Trailer

"BMF" returns for another explosive season next year, and the stakes are much higher this time as the Flenory brothers and their operation move down to Atlanta. We last saw Meech (Demetrius "Lil Meech" Flenory Jr.) and Terry (Da'Vinchi) slowly drifting apart as heat from law enforcement closes in on their drug business in the season one finale. And things don't seem to get any easier as the two encounter a whole new set of problems in season two.

"Expanding beyond Detroit to Lansing, Ohio, and even the South, the brothers face nearly insurmountable obstacles, are confronted with a shocking discovery about a member of their own crew, and battle for every inch of territory," season two's logline reads. In a previous interview with POPSUGAR, Flenory Jr. said season two is "really just going to blow the audience away." "I can tell you that [Big Meech] has to elevate his mind," he added. "Everything about him is elevating, so he's becoming bigger, wealthier, [and] wiser."

Per "BMF"'s season two trailer, which arrived on Nov. 25, Big Meech is planning a nationwide takeover as he officially establishes his reformed crew as the infamous Black Mafia Family. But his mindset and business aren't the only things we'll see change in season two. Following the Flenory family drama that unraveled in season one, this season will surely dig into their fallout as Meech and Terry follow their own pursuits - as well as a new love interest for the latter, aka LaLa's Markisha Taylor.

In an October interview with Entertainment Tonight, Russell Hornsby - who portrays the Flenory family's patriarch, Charles - said of season two: "We'll see how the Flenory brothers' actions affect the relationship between [wife] Lucille and Charles . . . drama at its best!"

Ahead of "BMF" season two, Starz released a documentary titled "The BMF Documentary: Blowing Money Fast," an eight-part event that began Oct. 23, detailing the true story that inspired the hit crime drama, as told by former members, insiders, associates, and celebrities close to the family. Come January, viewers will get to see how the real-life events match up to "BMF"'s dramatized retelling as the story continues.

Read ahead for everything we know about "BMF" season two, including its premiere date, trailer, and new and returning cast.



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Thursday, November 24, 2022

Sheriff’s Deputies Are Indicted in Fatal Shooting of Man Who Called 911


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Taylor Lautner and Taylor Dome's Relationship Timeline Tells a Cute Love Story

While we have so many favorite celebrity couples, we especially have a soft spot for Taylor Lautner and Taylor Dome. The "Twilight" actor started dating the nurse sometime in 2018. They were together for three years before they got engaged in November 2021 and tied the knot a year later. Over the years, Lautner and Dome have made very few public appearances, so we've only ever seen glimpses of their relationship on social media. But whenever they do appear on each other's Instagrams, the stars are always smiling, hugging, and giving each other the biggest heart eyes.

Considering Lautner's relationship history reportedly includes A-listers like Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez, you might be wondering how he met Dome and how their relationship blossomed over the years. Get this: Dome was a huge "Twilight" fan like many of us. In a June 2022 Instagram video, Dome even reveals she used to have a crush on Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) from the films. Lautner, who played Jacob Black, adorably responded to Dome's video by commenting, "bout time I won something," referencing Edward and Jacob's love triangle with Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) throughout the franchise.

Lautner and Dome's relationship timeline is seriously so cute. Keep reading to see their biggest relationship moments.



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Al Roker Home From Hospital as He Misses Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

Al Roker, Instagram For the first time in 27 years, NBC's annual broadcast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade did not feature a beloved familiar face: Al Roker. The fan-favorite Today show weather anchor did not...


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He’s a Paralympian, a Surgeon and Now the First Disabled Astronaut


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Late drama can’t drag this game out of Ronaldo’s shadow.


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Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Your Turkey Day Politics Quiz Is Here


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Getting Into Drag With the Stars of "We're Here" Proves Queerness Is Always Political

Image Source: HBO

It's raining in New York this November morning, one of the first really cold rains of the season. But Shangela's suite at an upscale Manhattan hotel is warm and floral. Orchestral Taylor Swift plays in the background, and a candle burns on her coffee table.

Shangela loves a scented candle. Lighting one is part of her self-care routine after long days filming "We're Here." The unscripted series follows "RuPaul's Drag Race" alums Shangela, Eureka O'Hara, and Bob the Drag Queen (who won "Drag Race" season eight) as they travel to small towns across the United States to support newly minted drag children in putting on a celebratory revue.

In the final scene of each episode, the queens' drag children perform. The queer and trans performers, many of them people of color, bathe in the cathartic roar of community support many didn't know they had. The straight participants also transform in solidarity with their LGBTQ+ loved ones, the cis men's shells of masculinity cracking like eggs, exposing their glistening femininity to the rainbow lights. Each episode has bathed me in tears, popping the grape skin of that place inside me that holds the sugary pain of queerness and letting it drain.

This morning, I'm interviewing the queens about season three, which drops on HBO on Nov. 25. They're all in New York City at the same hotel, getting prepped for a big day of press, their hair and makeup teams swirling around them in their respective rooms. Despite the gloomy weather and early wakeup call, Shangela's warmth fills her suite like a radiator.

"I think it's very important to put on an armor of self-love and confidence to go out into the world," she says. Today, her armor is red satin: a dress with a short, off-the-shoulder sleeve; a gathered slitted skirt; and a boned sweetheart bodice. Her jewelry adds gold accents. "I thought I'd go for something very Mariah Carey-inspired today," she quips.

Cozy with the scent of Zen Garden and Shangela's visceral glamor, the room feels safe. These days, the landscape for LGBTQ+ people is anything but. In 2022, lawmakers across the United States introduced 155 pieces of anti-trans legislation alone. Fascist groups across the country showed up to threaten numerous Pride and drag events - in at least one instance, onlookers reported, with the apparent complicity of police.

And what the queens and I don't know in the Manhattan hotel is that just four days later, a man with a gun would enter a queer nightclub in Colorado Springs, CO, during a drag show. He would kill five people and injure at least 18.

The queens encountered racism and heterosexism in many of the towns they visited in seasons one and two of "We're Here." But in season three, the queer- and transphobia coils more tightly with violence. In the town of St. George, UT, a city official resigned amid backlash for granting a permit for the "We're Here" drag show. In Granbury, TX, Shangela is forced to relocate a Drag Queen Story Hour after the first venue receives threats.

Similar threats to Drag Queen Story Hours have repeatedly made headlines this year. I ask Shangela about the underlying - and false - accusation that queer and trans people are more likely to harm children. After all, I say, "The kids are queer and trans!"

"Honey, they are," Shangela replies. "And it's important for them to know that they are not alone in their own identity. They are not weird or different. They shouldn't be ostracized or hidden."

"My drag and my Blackness and my activism and my queerness have always been - they're really interwoven."

As Shangela puts the finishing touches on her look, I navigate a labyrinth of hallways and elevators to Bob the Drag Queen's room. Bob, too, affirms that what harms kids is discrimination, not representation. The slurs against queer role models are "a tactic by conservatives, because when you say you're just protecting kids, you can justify anything," she says.

Bob floats into her suite's sitting room wearing a golden trapeze dress, small pearls embellishing a net overskirt. Her updo is a heavy beehive the color of dripping honey. The dress was made by Godoy and inspired by Angeria on "RuPaul's Drag Race." "It's very comfortable," she says, perfect for a long day of press. "When I'm uncomfortable, I become a monster. I just want to be as comfortable as possible, for the sake of those around me."

"A monster, but like, in a hot, queer way," I say.

"Exactly," Bob agrees. "A Lady Gaga monster."

Since at least the 1700s, dominant European and white American culture has accused folks we'd today call queer and trans of monstrosity. This violent desire to control those who defy the gender binary, combined with white supremacy, underlies the anti-trans legislation and rhetoric we see today.

In Granbury, the first episode of season three, the queens reclaim this monstrosity by staging a freak-show-themed drag performance. Freak shows were historically a way for white European and American society to dehumanize colonized and disabled people. In the "We're Here" freak show, however, Eureka emerges on stage radiant in her fat queerness. She wears enormous prosthetics resembling an alien from a horror movie, evoking the aesthetic lineage of tentacled drag queens.

Image Source: HBO / Greg Endries

Drag has always been political, a means for marginalized people - especially Black trans femmes - to control their own narrative. When she was in her 20s in New York, Bob did activism in drag as part of a series of wedding-themed protest performances for marriage equality.

"My drag and my Blackness and my activism and my queerness have always been - they're really interwoven," she tells me. "It's like threads in a sheet. You can't separate the web without destroying the sheet."

She draws on the legacy of Black queer and trans resistance in her new single, "Black." I ask her about the music video's protest imagery - Black queer folks triumphing over hooded figures, Jan. 6 insurrectionists, and a police car - and how she connects it to "We're Here."

"A lot of times, queer people in spaces feel just kinda unsafe around police officials. And I think that's fair," Bob explains. "I mean, the whole queer liberation started with an uprising against the police."

Shangela, Bob, and Eureka are threatened with the possibility of police violence in season one, when a Branson, MO, resident calls the cops on them simply for existing in public.

"We actually ended up having an officer on our show," Bob tells me. "I was like, 'Whoa, if I'm going to be with an officer, I'm going to talk about these issues.'"

This is news to me, but Eureka later confirms that the trio take on a police officer as one of their drag children. The episode, which I haven't seen, comes later on in season three.

"This is a queer person that chose this line of profession," Eureka says, explaining the show treats the police officer's experience of gender. "So more than ever, of course we're going to show up and support that person, regardless of issues with blue lives, or police issues, or anything to that nature." Later in our conversation, she poses: "What does a police officer look like that represents us in that world? Do we have allies in the police force?"

It's a question the modern queer movement has long asked - and which many of us have answered with a resounding "no." It isn't just that LGBTQ+ people don't have allies among the police - for many, there is a fundamental incompatibility between the institution of policing and the goal of queer liberation.

As Bob reminds us, Pride began as a series of riots against police at places like Stonewall and Compton's Cafeteria. These uprisings were led by drag queens and Black trans women and femmes, like Marsha P. Johnson.

The state violence that instigated these riots hasn't gone away. In the past several years, police have arrested and brutalized protesters for LGBTQ+ and Black liberation at Prides and protests across the country. Prison and policing systems subject queer and trans folks to violence every day - from the ongoing threats to queer families in Texas and beyond to the traumatic impacts of incarceration on trans people.

Inspired by the work of Black abolitionist queer and feminist thinkers like Angela Davis and the Black-led 2020 uprisings against racism, multiple events, such as Abolitionist Pride, have created police-free spaces for LGBTQ+ protest and celebration. Activist efforts have also led Prides in New York and San Francisco to either ban or limit uniformed police.

When I went to interview the cast of "We're Here," I thought, naively, that I'd be able to write a simple, cute piece about the importance of visibility. But queer culture teaches us it's never that easy.

"If I'm not in pain, I don't feel like I'm fully in drag," Eureka says, referring to the squeeze of the corset she dons as she gets ready. The corset is a metaphor for gender itself - the way it hurts even when it fits, even when it's beautiful.

As I write this, many of the people who were shot in Colorado Springs remain in the hospital. Communities continue to mourn those who were killed. It's a painful detail that, on Saturday night, the crowd had gathered to celebrate trans lives in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance. Grief nests within grief. What would it take to make a world in which the loved ones we've lost still lived?

I think of how "We're Here" - in its centering of Black, Indigenous, and trans queer narratives - reminds us that coming out is for all of us but especially for those most marginalized. Coming out - being able to move outside in freedom and having a safe place to come home to - is for the person trying a femme look for the first time (Shangela recommends a dab of perfume). For the baby queer trapped in a hostile family. For all our queer and trans siblings who are incarcerated.

One day, I know - because our elders passed their hope to us - the pain of the corset will only be the corset. One day, we will glue on our lashes and look up to see a liberated world.



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TikTok Star Khaby Lame Reveals What It's Like to Spend a "Whole Day" With Snoop Dogg

In our Q&A series Last Call, we get down to the bottom of every last thing with some of our favorite celebs - from the last time they were starstruck to the last song they listened to. This week, Khaby Lame takes our call.

At 22, Khaby Lame is a global sensation. With an audience of more than 152 million followers, Lame is the most-followed TikTok star in the world, but he hasn't let his rapid climb to success stop him from striving for more. Famous for his silent videos mocking overcomplicated life hacks, Lame broke his silence and spoke with POPSUGAR, answering some of our most pressing questions about who he is off camera and how TikTok fame has inundated his life with unexpected - and unparalleled - opportunities.

"I would like to be a well-rounded actor."

Most recently, Lame starred alongside Jason Sudeikis, EA Sports Twitch streamer Edwin Castro, and other familiar faces in McDonald's FIFA World Cup "Wanna Go to McDonald's?" campaign. Not only did Lame get to share his love of Big Macs with the world, but the ad, which gave him a speaking role, was also one of his first ventures into the acting world.

"I would like to be a well-rounded actor," says Lame, who began his TikTok career after he was laid off from his job as a factory worker in Italy at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. "I'd like to play a role where I can make people laugh." While Lame loves comedies, he says he would also like to take on more serious roles, similar to what some of his favorite actors have done: Michael B. Jordan, Will Smith, and Omar Sy.

Since rising to TikTok fame, Lame has been honored as a special guest at the 2021 Venice Film Festival, integrated himself into the fashion world by partnering with Hugo Boss, met numerous celebrities, and even spent an entire day with Snoop Dogg. Keep reading to hear more about Lame's experience with the "Drop It Like It's Hot" rapper, his current favorite songs and movies, and more.

What was the last movie you watched?

"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." I loved being a part of the London premiere, because Black Panther is one of my favorite movie franchises.

What was the last book you read?

My book, "Super Easy"!

What was the last song you listened to?

"Circo Loco" by Drake.

What is the last photo or video on your phone?

Footage from the fireman video I filmed for "Black Panther."

When was the last time you were starstruck?

When I met Snoop Dogg. I have always listened to his music. We spent a nice day together playing basketball, shooting a video together, eating together - a whole day. The advice that Snoop gave was to always be myself, keep working really hard, and keep trying new things.

What is the last thing you did for self-care?

I showered this morning.

What was the last trip you took?

London to Milan for the "Black Panther" premiere.

What was the last gift you received?

Some T-shirts for Halloween - typical Halloween T-shirts with pumpkins and witches.

Last piece of advice you received that changed your life?

Always be good to other people.

See Lame's new McDonald's commercial ahead.



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