THEGAYUK

Author: News Desk

  • Gay Times suspends new editor, Josh Rivers

    The owner of Gay Times Magazine has suspended the new Editor, just weeks after he was installed in the post after antisemitic, homophobic, body shaming and anti-Asian tweets were discovered.

    Josh Rivers, the new editor of Gay Times has been suspended following the discovery by Buzzfeed, of antisemitic, lesbian hating, body shaming and anti-Asian tweets in his Twitter timeline.

    The majority of tweets, were published between 2010 and 2015, the antisemitic Tweet read,

    “I wonder if they cast that guy as “The Jew” because of that f**king ridiculously large honker of a nose. it must be a prosthetic. Must be”.

    Rivers who was working on a mandate of promoting inclusivity and diversity at the magazine has a number of incendiary comments on his Twitter account between 2010 and 2015. Some of the tweets which have been deleted described Jews as “gross” and some directed hatred towards lesbians, overweight women and men, and Asian and Chinese people.

    Previously Josh had been a marketing exec at the company.

    In a post published on Twitter, Rivers wrote, that he was “sorry”.

     

    The magazine released a statement, which said that Rivers’ past tweets did not “align with the values of Gay Times”.

  • Australia says YES to gay marriage

    The people of Austraila has voted – and the resounding answer is yes to marriage between same-sex couples.

    Australia says YES to gay marriage

    The vote, which was non-binding, showed that 61.6% of people voted in favour of allowing same-sex couples to wed, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said.

    However, as the vote is non-binding it will have to be debated by politicians before becoming law. The Country’s Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull said that he was aiming pass the legislation in Parliament by Christmas.

    He said, “[Australians] have spoken in their millions and they have voted overwhelmingly yes for marriage equality,

    “They voted yes for fairness, yes for commitment, yes for love.”

    In neighbouring New Zealand, gay marriage was legalised in 2013, it was the 13th country in the world to allow marriage between two people of the same sex.

    CONGRATULATIONS

    Numerous stars and high profile organisations reacted to the news by praising Australia for their choice. Leading the congratulatory messages was gay icon, Kylie Minogue, who has long advocated for same-sex marriage.

    Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau tweeted,

    The Sydney Opera house even got into the conversation by Tweeting a rainbow-lit version of their famous landmark.

  • Star Trek just gave us our very first gay kiss

    And it was hot and cute at the same time.

    We’ve waited for fifty-one years, whilst the likes of James T Kirk, Jean-Luc Picard, yes even Janeway had their straight / alien kisses but now, 2017, gay guys, it’s our turn.

    Yes! In the latest episode of Star Trek: Discovery, Lt. Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Chief Medical Officer Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) locked lips and it was the sweetest gay kiss we’ve ever seen. Hell, it’s the only male on male kiss we’ve ever seen in Star Trek, full stop.

    Check out the moment below

    Star Trek: Discovery become the first ST TV series to have two gay male characters in principle roles. The characters are  Lt. Paul Stamets and Chief Medical Officer Hugh Culber.

    We were first introduced to their relationship in Episode 5 when the couple brush their teeth together in their quarters and discuss their day.
    A pretty average scene, but fantastic in its representation of a gay couple as really typical.
  • Is Dan Wootton Gay?

    Is Dan Wootton Gay?

    He’s the gossip that everyone’s talking about, but who is Dan Wootton?

    is Dan Wootton gay
    © ITV Photographer: Tony Ward

    He’s a well-known figure in the gossip world – probably second only to Perez Hilton in terms of solo media gossip brands – and he works for one of Britain’s biggest newspapers, the Sun, but what else do we know about the star?

    Is Dan Wootton gay?

    Yes, folks, Dan Wootton is in fact gay. The 33-year-old journalist took to Twitter in December 2013 to announce that he was gay and pro-equality. He said, “I’m gay and I believe in equality in every way. If the media hides gay relationships then how will they ever be normalised?”. He’s one of journalism’s most prominent openly gay editors and reporters. He has attracted a fair bit of criticism from the LGBT community because of the way that he has tackled certain subjects. Last year, he attracted criticism over the way his story about Charlie Sheen’s HIV status was portrayed and he also attracted criticism after labelling George Shelley as “bisexual” after the singer was clear that he didn’t want to label himself.

    Is Dan Wootton from Austraila?

    Have you detected an accent from Dan Wootton? That soft lilt in his voice is a New Zealand accent, not Austrailian as some people mistake. He was born in Lower Hutt, which is a city in the Wellington Region of the Northern Island. He moved to the UK when he was 21.

    What is Dan Wootton’s net worth?

    It’s hard to pinpoint how much Dan Wootton is actually monetarily worth. With his day job at the Sun and his TV stints at ITV we imagine he’s pulling in a fairly good wage. A company registered in his name, however,  has a net worth of -£1,400.

    What was Dan’s first job?

    Studying at Victoria Univerity he achieved a media and political science degree. He started his journalism career as an entertainment columnist for the Dominion Post. He was also a reporter for the daily TV show, Good Morning. He moved to the UK when he was 21 and eventually found a full-time job at Broadcast magazine. In 2007, when he was 24, he came the TV editor for News of the World before joining the Sun in 2013.

    Does Dan Wootton have enemies?

    Being a reporter and keeping famous friends is a difficult task and quite a few have publicly dissed Dan over the years. In 2012, former X Factor winner Steve Brookstein took to Twitter to say, “‘All those people with HIV and not one of them is called Dan Wootton.”

    Lilly Allen threw some shade when she Tweeted, “@danwootton *rolls eyes and wonders if you ever think about why you hate young girls so much* one for your shrink perhaps?”

    Dan also faced a huge backlash after his report on Charlie Sheen’s HIV as “Hollywood HIV panic” was seen as an “insidious piece of stigma-reinforcing ‘journalism’” by Tom Hayes writing for the Independent in November 2015. Dan Wootton clarified that the startling headline of the piece was not his work.

     

     

     

  • X Factor 2017 star comes out

    As straight – and denies he’s done anything with any guy … like ever.

    Jack and Joel

    Yep even in 2017, you can come out as straight – especially when the world thinks that you are gay (supposedly) – well that’s according to X Factor‘s Joel Fishel. Oh, and in case you were ever wondering, Jack and Joel aren’t an actual real-life couple.

    Apparently even Joel’s mumma thought he was gay, saying, “if you’re gay you know that would be OK, don’t you.”

    So why do people think that Joel, who is one half of the duo Jack And Joel is gay – well he tells the Daily Star, “Everyone just presumes I’m gay and that me and Jack are a couple. But I’m straight.

    “I’ve always been a little bit camp and effeminate.

    “I used to dress up in swimming costumes when I was younger.

    “But I’ve never done anything with another guy. That’s just who I am, but I’m comfortable with my sexuality.”

    He then added that it was ironic that he had to “come out” as straight – imagine in 2017 having to come out as straight.

    He remarked that people found it “strange” that he and his performance partner, Jack Remington, who is gay, could be so close.

    Jack and Joel were eliminated from this weekend’s show, which centred around the songs of the late George Michael.

     

     

     

  • Who is going into the Jungle, full line up revealed ahead of launch show

    The lineup for I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here has been announced – and oh there’s some shockers!

    Amir Khan, Boxer

    Amir is a British professional boxer,  born and raised in Bolton, Greater Manchester, to a Punjabi Rajput family. He was born in 1986.  Khan has two sisters and one brother, Haroon “Harry” Khan, an undefeated professional boxer. He is the first cousin of English cricketer Sajid Mahmood, related through a paternal grandfather, Lal Khan Janjua, who moved to England after being discharged from the Pakistan Army.

    Jennie McAlpine, Actor

    33-year-old Jennie is most famous for her role as Fiz Brown in Coronation Street.

    Vanessa White, Singer

    White, 28, is a Britsh singer and songwriter and rose to fame in 2008 whilst in the girl band, The Saturdays. She had been dating stylist Gary Salter, but they separated in 2017.

    Jamie Lomas, Actor

    Soap actor Jamie Lomas rose to fame in EastEnders. He’s the former husband of Kym Marsh. They divorced in 2014.

    Georgia Toffolo, Reality Star

    Georgia is famous for appearing the Channel 4 reality show, Made In Chelsea.

    Rebekah Vardy, Footballer’s wife

    Rebekah is married to Jamie Vardy. They married in 2016 and together they have a daughter.

    Dennis Wise, Former Footballer

    Wise, 50 is a former Footballer and former Executive Director of Football at Newcastle United.

    Stanley Johnson, Boris’s Dad

    BoJo’s dad is going to the Celebrity Jungle.

    Shappi Khorsandi, Comedian

    Comedian Shappi, is the daughter of  Iranian satirist and poet Hadi Khorsandi, she left Iran as a child following the Islamic Revolution. In 2016 she became the president of the British Humanist Association (now known as Humanists UK)

    Jack Maynard, YouTuber

    Jack Maynard is the little brother of pop star Conor Maynard. He has 1.1 million subscribers.

     

    THEGAYUK analysis: Meh. Bring back Vorders and Joel Dommett.

  • Who is Daniel Franzese and What is he famous for?

    Daniel Franzese is an actor who has recently spoken out against harassment and body shaming, but who is he and what is he most famous for?

    Mean Girls

    In 2004, Daniel Franzese starred in Mean Girls as Damian. In 2014 he came out as gay, in an open letter published in indiewire. He also starred alongside Lisa Kudrow in her comedy, The Comeback. In 2016/17 he starred in Conviction a legal drama on ABC. He also appeared in the 2015 HBO series, Looking.

    Hollywood Criticism

    Previously Franzese has also spoken out against the “gay glass ceiling” revealing that after his role in Mean Girls (which was gay) he had been turned down by Hollywood casting directors who were looking for more ‘masculine’ actors.

    Engaged

    In 2016 Franzese revealed he was engaged to his boyfriend, Joseph Bradley Philips. Daniel proposed to Joseph in a North Hollywood, Starbucks.

  • Gaydar founder dies, just 51

    The founder of one of the world’s biggest gay chat sites, Gaydar, has died at the age of 51.

    Gaydar’s co-founder, Henry Badenhorst, has died in South Africa. He was just 51 at the time of his death. According to early reports, it appears as though Badenhorst took his own life on the 11th of November, Buzzfeed has reported.

    Close friends of the businessman confirmed his death.

    Local media in Johannesburg reported that a 51-year-old man was seen falling from the 23rd floor of Michaelangelo Towers.

    Gaydar was founded by Badenhorst along with his partner Gary Frisch in 1999 after a mutual friend of theirs spoke about how he was too busy to find a boyfriend. The pair created the website shortly after. Badenhorst and Frisch’s personal relationship ended in 2006, but they remained business partners until Frisch’s death.

    Both the co-founders of the iconic chat site are now dead.

    Frisch died after falling from a building balcony in 2007. The coroner recorded a verdict of misadventure at his inquest. A pathologist, Dr Peter Wilkins, said ketamine was found in Mr Frisch’s blood and liver.

    In 2007, Badenhorst was named in the Independent‘s now-defunct Pink List as the fourth most influential LGBT+ person in the UK.

    Editorial Analysis of Gaydar

    Founded in Cape Town, South Africa, Gaydar was revolutionary for the gay dating scene of 1999. Almost overnight it changed the way gay and bisexual men could meet and hang out online. No longer would guys have to go to gay bars and clubs to meet with other gay guys. They could do it from their homes. It was almost a decade before Grindr and other dating apps would venture onto the scene and again change the hookup rules.

    In its heydey, Gaydar had millions of accounts and would have tens of thousands of men on at any one time. It also had Gaydar Radio and two physical bar/cafe locations in central London. Both bars in London were closed in 2013 and Gaydar Radio was disbanded and all licenses were handed over to Gaydio. Although it is still popular in South Africa, the UK and Ireland Gaydar’s standing around the world has diminished.

    Gaydar was sold in May 2013 to Charlie Parsons, who created the Channel 4 show, The Big Breakfast.

    If you are affected by the reports in this article and need someone to talk to please call the Samaritans on 0845 790 9090

  • George Takei responds to sexual groping claims as “personally painful”

    George Takei has hit back at comments made by Scott R. Brunton that he sexually assaulted him in 1981.

    The Star Trek legend George Takei has made a statement following on from allegations made by a former model, Scott R. Brunton that he groped him in 1981.

    Taking to Twitter Takei said,

    I’m writing to respond to the accusations made by Scott R. Bruton. I want to assure you all that I am as shocked and bewildered at these claims as you must feel reading them.

    The events he describes back in the 1980s simply did not occur, and I do not know why he has claimed them now. I have wracked my brain to ask if I remember Mr. Brunton, and I cannot say I do.

    But I do take these claims very seriously, and I wanted to provide my response thoughtfully and not out of the moment.

    Right now it is a he said / he said situation, over alleged events nearly 40 years ago. But those that know me understand that non-consensual acts are so antithetical to my values and my practices, the very idea that someone would accuse me of this is quite personally painful.

    Brad, who is 100 percent beside me on this, as my life partner of more than 30 years and now my husband, stands fully by my side. I cannot tell you how vital it has been to have his unwavering support and love in these difficult times.

    Thanks to many of you for all the kind words and trust. It means so much to us. Yours in gratitude, George

    Brunton made an accusation, which was published by The Hollywood Reporter. THEGAYUK.com reached out Mr Brunton for comment.

  • Gary Goddard “unequivocally” denies molestation allegation

    Gary Goddard’s spokesperson has said that allegations made by actor Anthony Edwards are “false”.

    Former director and Broadway producer Gary Goddard’s spokesperson, Sam Singer, has denied that the Hollywood exec molested actor Anthony Edwards when the ER actor was just 12 years old.

    Writing for Medium, Edwards claimed that Goddard had molested him when he was a pre-teen. In his essay he said,

    “I was molested by Goddard, my best friend was raped by him — and this went on for years. The group of us, the gang, stayed quiet.”

    Goddard’s spokesman, Sam Singer said,

    “As to the allegations that Mr. Edwards made in his post today, I can unequivocally deny them on Gary’s behalf.

    “Gary first met Anthony more than 40 years ago. Gary was a mentor, teacher and a friend to Anthony, which makes this story all the more disturbing to him.”

    He continued: “Gary played an important role in helping start Anthony’s acting career and acted as his personal manager. He has nothing but the greatest respect for Anthony as a person. Gary is saddened by the false allegations.”

    Goddard himself has not issued a statement on social media.

  • Who is Anthony Edwards and What is he famous for?

    Anthony Edwards is an actor who has appeared in countless films and TV shows – but what is he most famous for?

    ER

    Anthony Edwards is probably most famous for his role in ER in which he appeared in from 1994 until 2002 and then again in 2008. All in all, he starred in 181 episodes of the long-running medical drama. He played the character, Dr Mark Greene.

    In 2013 he appeared as Hank Galliston in 10 episodes of the TV series Zero Hour. His biggest film role to date would most likely be Ray “Brains” Hackenbacker in the 2004 Thunderbirds and as Lt Nick “Goose” Bradshaw in the 1986 mega film, Top Gun with Tom Cruise.

    Personal life

    In 1994 he married his wife Jeanine Lobell and together they have four children, one son and three daughters. They live in New York City. Anthony was born in July 1962 which makes him 54/5 in 2017.

    He’s an award-winning actor, who has received a Golden Globe and six  Screen Actors Guild Awards.

    Sexual harassment allegations against Gary Goddard

    In November 2017, Anthony Edwards wrote an essay on the website Medium, alleging that Hollywood director, Broadway producer and theme park designer Gary Goddard sexually assaulted him when he was 12 years old. He claimed that Goddard was a “mentor, teacher and friend” but alleges that he “molested by Goddard”.

    These allegations have been strongly denied by Gary Goddard’s spokesperson who said,

    “Gary first met Anthony more than 40 years ago. Gary was a mentor, teacher and a friend to Anthony, which makes this story all the more disturbing to him. As to the allegations that Mr Edwards made in his post today, I can unequivocally deny them on Gary’s behalf.

    “Gary played an important role in helping start Anthony’s acting career and acted as his personal manager. He has nothing but the greatest respect for Anthony as a person. Gary is saddened by the false allegations.

    “The post by Anthony, as well as many of the news stories today reference a legal claim made against Gary approximately four years ago regarding sexual harassment. The complaint was demonstrated to be fraudulent as it was completely fabricated, and ultimately withdrawn by the complainant and his attorneys”.