It’s an exciting time for Los Javis (Javier Calvo, 35, and Javier Ambrossi, 42), with predictions that their film could be a Best Picture Oscar contender. It’s a major international breakthrough for the directors who have served as main judges of Drag Race España and Drag Race España: All Stars since season one. However, behind the scenes of La Bola Negra, their relationship came to an end.

The pair had been romantic and professional partners for 13 years. The gay filmmakers announced their separation in November 2025. 

They are said to have separated in the middle of shooting the movie. However, the break-up seems amicable, and they remain as writing, directing, and producing partners.

Who are Los Javis?

The directorial duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi are widely known as ‘Los Javis ’. Both are Spanish writers, producers, directors, and actors.

They wrote and directed the stage play La llamada, which was later adapted into a film in 2017.

At the film’s premiere, Ambrossi got down on one knee and proposed to Calvo. The moment became an iconic image in LGBTQ+ Spanish culture. Though they never married, they told the media they kept postponing the wedding because they were so busy.

Both got the phrase “Lo hacemos y ya vemos”, which translates to “we’ll do it and we’ll see” from La llamada, tattooed on their forearms.

The pair then went into TV, where they made Veneno, Vestidas de Azul and La Mesías.

For La Bola Negra, Los Javis won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director.

Did Los Javis break up?

During the production of La Bola Negra, Los Javis ended their relationship.

“It wasn’t upsetting,” Calvo said about their breakup to IndieWire. “Every movie for us is cathartic in a way. We learn something from the things we write and it has to change us.

“And when we started to write this movie, we started to face passion and love and honouring the love stories that couldn’t happen in the past.

“We knew our relationship was going to either go one way or another after we cross this moving fire. Somehow in the middle of the shooting: ‘We should be family and not have a romantic relationship.’”

Ambrossi added that they weren’t fighting but the act of writing this film did lead them to question their relationship.

He explained: “When you’re writing about desire, and when you’re writing about impossible love, and when you face the fact that not so long ago, some people were not able to love, especially gay men and LGBTQ people. Then you force yourself to ask, ‘Am I honouring the past with my present?’ And the truth is we weren’t.”

Calvo also added: “It’s about what happens when you deny yourself. You miss life. We’re writing all these lines: ‘Evolve. Don’t lie to yourself. Just be honest.’ We were mature: ‘This is over.’ But something new starts, way more beautiful, which is being partners. We’re writing our next movie, half in English, half in Spanish.”

What is the plot of La Bola Negra?

La Bola Negra is a majestic, queer historical epic that jumps through time across three storylines.

Inspired by the unfinished work of Federico García Lorca and Alberto Conejero’s play La Piedra Oscura, Los Javis’ spellbinding film weaves together a triptych of portraits. Each brings a different essence of the fight for queer liberation and desire.

There’s Carlos (Milo Quifes) in 1932, who is desperate to be part of an exclusive social club, despite being voted against because of rumours that he’s gay.

Then there’s Sebastián (Guitarricadelafuente) in the 1937 Spanish Civil War. He sees an attack on his village and is forced to join the Nationalist forces. He’s positioned to be a guard for prisoner of war Rafael Rodríguez Rapún (Miguel Bernardeau).

Finally, there’s Alberto (Carlos González) in 2017. He is a queer historian trying to navigate his estranged family’s history.

Who stars in La Bola Negra?

As already mentioned, Milo Quifes, Guitarricadelafuente and Carlos González are the ilm’s three leads.

However, there are some other amiliar faces in the film.

Notably, Penélope Cruz is Nené Romero, an important character in the 1937 timeline. She is a beloved woman who is entertaining the troops. Cruz delivers a sparkling performance with irresistible charm. Nené also introduces Sebastián to queer hero Edmond de Bries.

Also, Glenn Close appears in the 2017 narrative thread as Isabelle Durand. Isabelle is a historian and scholar who helps Alberto map out his family’s history.

The supporting cast is rounded out by Lola Dueñas, Julio Torres, Yenesi and many more.

La Bola Negra is out in UK cinemas on 6 November and is then set to be available on Netflix.

The post The heartbreaking story behind La Bola Negra as directors split during filming appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Speaking to Norton, the 68-year-old comedian said: “I’ve nothing really going on and I really miss being on TV. I miss a lot about it, laughing with the writers and the audience. I think about doing stuff here.”

DeGeneres also joked about the UK’s TV landscape, suggesting it is “pretty easy” to land a slot.

“I think it is pretty easy to get on TV here, you have a pottery show, you have a sewing show, and you even have a show about people watching TV shows!” she said.

Ellen DeGeneres on coming out

DeGeneres also spoke about her coming out and the different reactions she experienced in the US and the UK.

“In the US they were not very thrilled about my character or me coming out so for it to be celebrated in London was such an honour,” she told Norton. “To be treated that way when everyone else was done with me was extraordinary.”

DeGeneres came out publicly in 1997, and her sitcom Ellen featured a then-groundbreaking coming-out storyline for its lead character. She later hosted The Ellen DeGeneres Show for 19 seasons, becoming one of the defining faces of US daytime TV across the 2000s and 2010s.

She has been married to actor and producer Portia de Rossi since 2008.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show workplace allegations

In 2020, 10 former employees of The Ellen DeGeneres Show alleged a “toxic” on-set atmosphere involving “racism, fear, and intimidation”, and also alleged the show failed to address executives sexually harassing female employees.

DeGeneres later apologised to staff in a statement that read, in part: “Obviously, something changed, and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case. And for that, I am sorry.”

In 2021, DeGeneres said it “broke her heart” when former and current employees alleged the set of her show was a toxic workplace, as detailed.

The Graham Norton Show is airing on BBC One on Friday 16 October at 10.40pm, and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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Eric Swanson, who performs as Miss Bouvèé, bought 50 bricks from the former crossing at 12th Street and Ocean Drive through a city auction. In an Instagram post, she said supporters can receive a brick depending on how much they donate, with the proceeds going to the two Pride organisations.

Miss Bouvèé set two fundraising goals in the post: $15,000 for Naples Pride and $7,500 for Key West Pride. More than half of the Naples target has already been raised, and $600 has been raised so far towards the Key West goal.

For Miss Bouvèé, the bricks are more than a keepsake. “This is a part of our history,” she wrote on Instagram. “Your donation helps history continue to be made.”

How to get a brick and where the money goes

Using links supplied by Miss Bouvèé, donors can give straight to Naples Pride or Key West Pride, after which she organises the bricks’ pickup, delivery or shipping.

Supporters can request individual bricks, framed rainbow-painted bricks, or framed sets of six bricks. Each option includes a commemorative plaque identifying the crosswalk’s original location, plus the dates it was installed and removed.

Miss Bouvèé also said she painted some of the remaining bricks so that all six rainbow colours were represented, after finding that certain colours were in short supply.

Why Miami Beach removed its rainbow crosswalk

Miami Beach’s rainbow crosswalk was installed in November 2018, before being dismantled in October 2025 after Florida officials ordered cities to eliminate street art from public roadways. Miami Beach challenged the order unsuccessfully, before the Florida Department of Transportation dismantled the crosswalk. Many of the original bricks were repurposed for a nearby pedestrian pathway.

Miss Bouvèé is a Florida-based drag performer and community figure, and drag artists across the US have increasingly become visible organisers and fundraisers for LGBTQ+ causes. In March 2026, she was among the queens who visited seven-year-old LGBTQ+ ally Anwyn Watts in hospital for a sing-along in Naples, Florida.

People who want to take part in the fundraiser can request a brick through Miss Bouvèé’s brick inquiry form.

The post Florida drag queen sells bricks from removed rainbow crosswalk to help fund Pride celebrations appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The show sees 30 neurodivergent and autistic adults interviewing celebrities. Each episode focuses on a different celebrity in the hot seat, where they are asked “unpredictable and direct questions”. The UK version has seen Rylan Clark take on questions about cheating, while Stephen Fry was asked about his sexual preferences.

The rules of the show are very simple: “No subjects are out of bounds, no question is off the table.”

One of Canada’s most popular stars at the moment is Williams, and there’s already a lot of excitement about his appearance on the show.

In Heated Rivalry, Williams plays Shane Hollander, a character widely interpreted to be autistic, which is something novel author Rachel Reid has also confirmed.

‘I’m going to ask you about your sex life…’

The first trailer sees Williams being asked a series of questions, from explicit to emotional, about his sex life and also his relationship with co-star Connor Storrie.

“I’m going to ask you about your sex life,” one interview introduces. Williams grins and responds: “Hell yeah!”

“What do you like to fantasise about?” is another question seemingly asked to Williams. “That’s a good one,” he can be heard replying.

Later, the actor is asked: “Did you ever feel something for Connor [Storrie] that was more than friendship?”

It’s not just the raunchy questions; things also seem to get emotional.

In response to a question, Williams shares: “I feel that when I’m falling down that hole of being lonely, your friends and family are like the climbing pegs that you pull yourself back into life by.”

Celebrity guests in the second season alongside Williams are The Hangover‘s Zach Galifianakis and This Is the End actor Jay Baruchel.

Also appearing is three-time Olympic gold medalist Marie-Philip Poulin and Miss Universe Canada Ashley Callingbull and singer-songwriter Lights.

“The response to The Assembly’s first season was incredible,” says Jennifer Dettman, Executive Director, Unscripted Content, CBC.

“Our interviewers bring such a fresh, honest energy to the traditional talk show, and we’re excited to showcase more engaging conversations with some of the most well-known national and international celebrities.”

“This season of The Assembly is full of surprises and promises to deliver even more of the heart, humour and authentic conversations that can only happen on a show like this,” says executive producer Stephen Sawchuk.

The Assembly is set to air on CBC TV on November 1.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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The 23-year-old came out to Big Brother in the Diary Room early on in the series, and was praised by viewers for his openness and vulnerability, with many celebrating the bisexual representation on a national television show. Later, during the episode which aired on 13 October he came out to his co-star, Yasmin.

Now, Frankie has mentioned that he had already come out to his girlfriend, which caused some confusion with fans after he previously said he was single. But his coming out to Yasmin is what caused a real stir among viewers, despite their earlier praise.

He told Yasmin: “I found out only a year-and-a-half ago. Over the years, I’d always chase money, I’d always chase fame, to some degree. I always chased validation all the time, and was just trying to fill a void. In the end, I just looked at myself and thought, ‘There’s something wrong.’ I was basically wearing a mask all my life, living a lie.”

Frankie explained he went into a “bad state” when he came to terms with his sexuality, before adding: “I could never get with a boy. I wouldn’t, I just wouldn’t. I just wouldn’t be able to bring myself to do it.”

That, and his comments about chasing fame and money, have led some viewers to believe he may not be telling the truth. Some have even compared him to Cameron Cole, who came out as gay in a tear-jerking moment on Big Brother in 2018 and went on to win the series.

After the 13 October episode, social media was filled with viewers questioning him – how can he be bisexual if he would never get with a man? Is he coming out to try and create a storyline for himself? Is he actually bisexual?

For starters, lying about his sexuality to tug at viewers’ heartstrings on national television would be an incredibly silly thing to do. While his social media is deactivated while he’s in the house, viewers have found screenshots of his accounts, which suggest he could be trying to go down the influencer route, with prank videos and the like, having around 22,000 followers on TikTok.

And if he does plan on “chasing fame”, as he has admitted he has done in the past, staging a fake coming out would get him off to a bad start in a time when authenticity sells.

On top of that, PR specialist Kayley Cornelius spoke to PinkNews about the reality of reality television, reminding viewers that what they see is a small chunk of what actually happens.

Cornelius said: “Coming out on a reality TV show can be a big moment for someone, but it also opens them up to public scrutiny, particularly when their personal life becomes part of the storyline.

“Viewers can be quick to question someone’s motives, especially when they’re sharing something personal in front of the cameras. However, it’s important to remember that we only see a small, edited snapshot of life in the house and the conversations that have led up to this moment, so there can be a lot more to their story than what makes it to screen.

“Accusing someone of using their sexuality for a storyline can be damaging, as it risks undermining a very personal experience.

“Ultimately, viewers are only seeing a small, edited snapshot of someone’s life, and there will always be conversations and personal experiences that happen away from the cameras. It’s important to remember that we don’t know the full story behind someone’s journey, so what we see on screen shouldn’t necessarily be taken as the complete picture.”

‘There is no right or wrong way to be bi’

Aside from that, though, the social media criticism highlights a problem many bisexual people face, even from some within the LGBTQ+ community.

Speaking to PinkNews, Matthew James Belfield, Head of Marketing, Communications and Editorial for LGBT Foundation said: “As someone who’s bi, I know coming out can be complicated, but imagine doing it in a high-pressure environment like the Big Brother house. Frankie’s experience shows that there is no right or wrong way to be bi. There is no single bi experience, and bisexuality takes many forms.

“One of the biggest misconceptions, particularly about bi men, is that being bi is simply a stepping stone to coming out as gay. That stereotype still exists, but it doesn’t reflect reality. A person’s sexuality isn’t defined by who they’re dating, and people remain part of the LGBTQ+ community regardless of their relationship.

“It was encouraging to hear Frankie speak about the support he received from his girlfriend. Their relationship highlights the trust, understanding and acceptance that can make these conversations easier. Part of being open about your sexuality is being honest with the people who matter to you.

“At LGBT Foundation, we support many people who are exploring their identity. We do that by encouraging people to approach these conversations with curiosity and understanding. People’s understanding of themselves can evolve over time, and that’s something to celebrate. Everyone deserves the space to be themselves, on their own terms.”

‘You don’t need to prove yourself to anyone!’

Rin Harris, Education Manager at Brook, agreed, telling PinkNews: “Coming out is different for everyone. Depending on your previous experiences and circumstances, it may be a lot harder for some people to both understand who they’re attracted to and what they want to do about it – if anything. There is no one ‘correct’ way to be bisexual, it varies between individuals.

“Bisexual people don’t necessarily experience attraction to different genders in the same way, at the same time, or to the same degree. Some bi people might never have a relationship with someone of the same gender. Others might only have relationships with someone of the same gender. Some people might feel confident in their sexuality from a young age, while others may take years to be ready to express how they feel. All of these are valid experiences, and you don’t need to prove yourself to anyone!”

‘He’s clearly battling demons’

Celebrity Big Brother runner-up and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK champ Danny Beard also weighed in on The Group Chat on 14 October, saying: “I think he’s clearly battling demons. I think, if he’s said he’s bisexual, we have to take that on face value. I think anyone debating around that, if someone says this and that, you’re online debating, there’s no room in my life for that.”

Host GK Barry, who is also queer, suggested Frankie could be dealing with “internalised homophobia”, offering: “You want to say bisexual, but you don’t want to go too far in case people are like, ‘No, that’s a bit much.'”

Co-host Kate Lawler agreed, remembering his tears when he came out in the Diary Room. She said: “I believe that there is somebody, and we don’t know who, that he just feels won’t accept it.”

Whatever Frankie’s situation, it is his to share if and when he feels comfortable – and online accusations won’t make it any easier, either way.

Big Brother continues Sunday to Friday at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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Fry, 42, was banished at the roundtable in Thursday night’s episode. She started the competition as a Faithful before later being recruited as a Traitor by Acaster and Jama following Richard E Grant’s banishment.

Speaking to Ed Gamble on Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked, Fry said she had done her homework before arriving at the castle. “So basically, I did all my work in advance. I went through all of the series before and this is me working out my calculations,” she said, showing her notes.

“I used the same technique that Alan Turing used to crack the enigma machine . I would have made such a good Faithful, you guys,” Fry added.

How to spot a Traitor

Fry then shared what she called her “giveaways” for identifying Traitors. “One, a Traitor will make a burn vote in the first three episodes,” she said. “James has done it, Maya has done it.” A “burn vote” would be a random vote, rather than one that may follow the crowd or suspicions.

She also suggested Acaster and Jama had “slightly given themselves away” by switching their vote so quickly from Julie Hesmondhalgh to Fry, describing it as a telltale move when Traitors “pile on” without having previously voted that way.

Another pattern, Fry claimed, is that Traitors avoid being seen as a group. “You’ll never see three Traitors in a car together, you’ll never see three Traitors sitting next to each other at breakfast,” she said.

Fry is a British mathematician, author and broadcaster known for making maths accessible to mainstream audiences, including through BBC documentaries and factual series about technology, data and everyday systems.

What’s happened on Celebrity Traitors so far?

The series is half way through, with the Faithful having banished two of their own (Julie Hesmondhalgh and Myha’la) and two Traitors (Grant and Fry). Three contestants have been “murdered” by the Traitors: Amol Rajan, Bella Ramsey and Rob Beckett.

Earlier in the run, Grant and fellow Traitor Maya Jama chose to recruit Acaster, a move that shaped the game’s alliances from the start.

In the latest episode, Jama and Acaster brought in content creator King Kenny as a Traitor, restoring the turret total to three.

Celebrity Traitors continues tonight at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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The 24-year-old is currently starring in the second season of The Celebrity Traitors. While he’s on the TV hunting for Traitors, he’s just dropped his fourth single, with his debut EP “The Great Forever” on the horizon. 

The pop boy began releasing music independently in 2025. “Good Light” is a melodically reflective musing on losing a lover and craving them back one last time.

He sings: “I want your body on my body / Take whatever I can get / I know it’s over but right now / Oh, I ain’t over it yet.”

In the indie-pop song, he voices that the relationship is over. Yet, he can’t help but romanticise time with his partner.

‘In short it’s about sleeping with your ex’

Speaking on the track, Bash notes: “’Good Light’ is a song about nostalgia. Not just sonically nostalgic for some of the 2000s songs I love, but thematically it’s about romanticising nostalgia for someone, holding onto the past and wanting to relive something that no longer exists. 

“In short it’s about sleeping with your ex. (Do not try this at home, Bash takes no responsibility if this song makes you want to romanticise someone from your past).”

The song follows “Pretty People,” another track that reflects on heartbreak. Croft has previously used his songwriting to express his queerness. In his track “Tokyo”, he references a whirlwind queer romance while in the south of France.

Croft has also used his platform for activism. He co-created the “Queer Was Always Here” initiative with fellow actor Connor Jessup in 2023.

“Queer Was Always Here is a community dedicated to queer lives, queer art and queer history,” the organisation’s website reads. “We work in partnership with Choose Love to secure futures for LGBTQIA+ refugees and displaced people around the world.”

Croft is currently appearing on the popular BBC show The Celebrity Traitors alongside several other LGBTQ+ stars. They also include comedian Joe Lycett, as well as The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey and Industry’s Myha’la, who have been eliminated.

Speaking about his music career, Croft told Dork: “Seeing the effect that someone like Harry Styles had when he wore nail polish or wore pearls, straight men started doing it. It proved to me that with culture and pop culture, the reason that queer people have always felt so connected to it is that it pushes the boundaries of what’s allowed.

“I also think queer music has been put in a genre of ‘queer music’. I don’t want to make queer music, I want to make pop music which is from a queer perspective, and the difference being a lot of the queer identity which is in culture is specific parts that are completely unique to being queer.

“A lot of my experience is all the same things that everyone feels. Queer people also fall in love, have heartbreaks, feel lonely, feel jealous, and I just feel there are things that aren’t being said that I want to say and that feel important.”

“Good Light” is out now. Bash Croft’s debut EP ‘The Great Forever’ does not yet have a release date.  

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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In the published findings, the FIFA SMPS report said: “The French players were the most abused team across all platforms, with over 18,000 abusive instances.” It added: “Racism (33%) was the joint largest category alongside General Abuse. They were also the nation targeted with the highest volumes of Homophobia.”

FIFA’s Social Media Protection Service (SMPS) analysis said human analysts confirmed 240,000 messages were abusive, out of the more than 17.1million posts related to the tournament. They reported this was an 11-times increase compared with the men’s World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

A breakdown in the analysis said 20 per cent of posts included racial abuse, while seven per cent were homophobic.

The nature of the posts was described as “homophobic slurs and sexualised language often used to insult or taunt individuals”.

How did FIFA measure online abuse?

FIFA uses the SMPS to shield players from abuse, using AI software called “Threat Matrix” to filter out discrimination before it reaches recipients.

FIFA said the service also gathers material that could be used beyond moderation: “As part of the evolution of SMPS, the service also collates evidence for law enforcement and over 100 examples have been identified which pass the legal thresholds for preparing legal case files against them,” FIFA said.

What did the report say about the most targeted player?

The summary included one reference to an unnamed player, who “received over 10,000 instances of abuse”. The player was the leading target of “homophobia, sexism and transphobia”.

In 2023, close to 22 per cent of players monitored at the Women’s World Cup received hateful messages, with sexist, sexual and homophobic abuse making up almost half of detected abusive posts.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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The protesters wore masks and hats to conceal their identities and lay down on the red carpet during arrivals. They were quickly removed by security.

The action took place as celebrities arrived for the special performance, including Vanessa Feltz, Richard Arnold, Anne Hegerty and Angellica Bell.

What happened at the Palace Theatre red carpet?

The protest targeted the London production of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, the long-running West End show set in the Wizarding World. The “Rowling money kills” slogan appeared to criticise JK Rowling, the author of the best-selling Harry Potter book series.

Rowling has faced controversy in recent years because of her vocal stance on gender identity. She has previously said she thinks biological sex is “real” and “immutable”, and has criticised self-declared gender identity as “quasi-religious” and “anti-science”. Rowling has denied being transphobic and has previously said she respects “every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them”.

The Palace Theatre has previously been the focus of trans rights protests linked to Rowling’s comments. In January, trans people drew hundreds of chalk messages outside the theatre during a showing of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child as audiences queued to go in.

Why was there a gala for Harry Potter And The Cursed Child?

The gala marked the arrival of a newly reworked version of the show in London. Harry Potter And The Cursed Child is a stage play written by Jack Thorne, based on an original story by Thorne, Rowling and John Tiffany, and it premiered in the West End in 2016.

It has since been reworked as a one-part show with a running time of just under three hours. It is significantly shorter than the original two-part version, which ran for more than five hours and could be watched across a matinee and evening performance in one day, or over two separate evenings.

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The French film from writer-director Pierre-Ange Carlotti stars Beckham and Paul Kircher as rival tennis stars. Some have already begun comparing it to Heated Rivalry and Challengers.

The synopsis frames the rivalry as something more intimate: “For the first time, he faces an opponent of an entirely different nature, love.”

It continues: “A force as exhilarating as it is destabilising, and far more dangerous than anything he has encountered on the court.”

The supporting cast also includes Guillaume Canet, Benjamin Voisin and Catherine Deneuve.

Early reactions to the trailer have been mixed. Some criticising Beckham’s casting: “Nepo baby with a damn smart agent.”

In the trailer’s comments, another wrote: “This shows the Beckhams will do anything for money.”

Beckham is the second son of David and Victoria Beckham and has grown up in the public eye as part of one of Britain’s most high-profile celebrity families. At 24, he has modelled for Yves Saint Laurent and Balenciaga.

‘His acting debut being a queer character? I’m sat!’

Others seem more genuinely hopeful about the project. One user replied to the trailer: “Heated Rivalry but Tennis.”

Another wrote: “His acting debut being a queer character? I’m sat!”

In the trailer, Beckham and Kircher’s characters seem to circle each other. In particular, Beckham’s character is repeatedly teasing Kircher’s tennis player about his queer feelings.

“It’s not my fault if you’re f****** in love with me,” Beckham says. The line is paired with a montage of the pair getting sweaty on the court and in bed together.

In another scene, Beckham’s character tells a press conference: “I don’t want to sound like I want to be his boyfriend.”

Some quickly pointed out that the line is a quote from real-life tennis star Rafa Nadal. In 2017 at the US Open, Nadal was asked what he admires about his rival, Roger Federer.

He famously stumbled over his words and said: “I don’t want to look like I am, I want to be his boyfriend.”

Beckham’s character seems to reference that exact moment. Tennis fans also picked up on it. “I respect the creator because they said what if Nadal was queer,” one comment about that moment reads.

Later in the trailer, the film takes a dark turn. Knives are pulled, and Beckham’s slumped-over body is dragged across a hallway.

Then, on a clay tennis court, Kircher sits over Beckham’s seemingly dead body and eats his bloody organs. It’s a stark tonal shift from the initially established competitive sports drama.

Forty Love is set for release in France on 25 November. A UK release date is yet to be confirmed.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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Lupez died in the early hours of Wednesday (14 October) in Mendoza, Argentina, from heart cancer, LGBTQ Nation reports. She was one of the first Argentine women to undergo gender-affirming surgery and became a celebrated performer at a time when transgender people faced widespread discrimination, harassment and the threat of arrest.

Born on 28 March 1944 in Guaymallén, Argentina, Lupez knew from childhood that she was a girl, despite being raised in a society that regarded transgender identities as an illness or moral failing.

How Ana Lupez defied anti-trans policing

According to Argentine newspaper Diario Uno, she recalled experiencing panic attacks when her mother insisted on dressing her in boys’ clothes. Her mother eventually took her to hospital in an attempt to understand what was happening.

“From a young age, I believed I was a girl and behaved like one,” Lupez said. “My poor mother didn’t understand and took me to the doctor to be ‘cured’.”

Even in hospital, however, Lupez found ways to perform. She recalled dressing in bedsheets and putting on shows for other patients, while nurses told her mother that her child was “strange”.

After her mother remarried and had seven more children, Lupez left home at 14. She survived through work at circuses and harvest festivals before moving to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at 15 to perform in cabarets.

At 20, she relocated to Montevideo, Uruguay, where she appeared alongside other transgender performers on comedy programme Telecataplúm. They encouraged her to develop her talents through transformismo, a form of drag and gender performance.

Lupez also studied ballet and Argentine folk dance. By the end of the 1960s, she was performing at the Teatro Maipo and Teatro El Nacional in Buenos Aires.

But her growing success came with significant risks. Police scrutinised her for wearing clothing they considered inappropriate for her sex, leaving her vulnerable to arrest, That Eric Alper reports. Across much of South America at the time, laws targeting cross-dressing and broadly worded public morality and vagrancy rules were used to harass and detain transgender women.

The dangers intensified under Argentina’s military dictatorship, which persecuted gender-nonconforming people and artists viewed as political or ideological threats. In 1979, Lupez left her home country and eventually settled in Spain, where she found greater freedom to live and perform.

She made her debut at Madrid’s Gay Club before joining Barcelona de Noche in 1981. The venue, known as “the Gay Cathedral”, was a celebrated queer nightlife destination run by countercultural performer and impresario Antonio Gracia José, known as Pierrot.

Lupez became a headline star, appearing in productions including Locas de Amorrr (Crazy Women of Love). She later performed in Madrid stage shows such as E.L.L.A.S. and Escándalo Gay (Gay Scandal), eventually leading productions at the New Centaurus cabaret venue.

Making trans history

In 1986, Lupez underwent gender-affirming surgery in Barcelona, describing the experience as a profound personal liberation.

“I was the first trans woman to have surgery in Spain… when the law was passed, and was the first Argentinian to do so, when nobody [in Argentina] talked about it,” she said.

“For me, it was an indescribable liberation, because for me, of everything I’ve achieved in my life, my greatest triumph was becoming a woman.”

She celebrated the milestone through her stage show Ya Soy Yo (It’s Me Now), which featured her original song “Soy lo prohibido” (I Am the Forbidden).

The following year, Lupez purchased Barcelona de Noche alongside two Argentine colleagues. She launched further productions, including Las Tretas de Ana (Ana’s Tricks) and Un Desplume Diferente (A Different Kind of Plucking). Although the venue closed in September 1990, her career continued to flourish.

During the following decade, she appeared in film and television, including the movie Las edades de Lulú (The Ages of Lulu) and television programmes Eva y Adán (Eve and Adam) and Agencia Matrimonial (Marriage Agency).

She later moved to the Canary Islands, where she ran the Paradise Show Theatre in Maspalomas, as well as two restaurants and a custom shoe shop.

After the death of her longtime partner in 2003, Lupez returned to Argentina to be closer to her loved ones. She sold many of her belongings to finance a comeback performance, Otro tipo de Mujer (Another Type of Woman), in Buenos Aires in 2006.

She eventually retired in Benidorm, on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Miss Transformarte event in 2019.

Reflecting on her career, Lupez said she had achieved more success than she ever imagined. But professional recognition was not what mattered most to her.

“What I am most proud of is having achieved the dignity I sought as a woman,” she said.

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The 41-year-old shared hospital photos and videos in an Instagram post announcing Sonny’s birth, writing: “Well who do we have here then?! Welcome to the world Sonny Best, you little smasher.”

Big Brother host Best also praised Rose in the caption, adding: “@tobiroseofficial you’re a miracle and I love you so much. A couple of tired new parents (see last slide) but oh my goodness aren’t we lucky xxx.”

In one clip filmed from the hospital, Best jokes to camera: “I got this really cool new thing today, lots of people get them, but they are pretty cool,” before panning down to the baby.

Will Best on becoming a dad

Best also spoke about becoming a dad in a pre-recorded clip shown on Strictly: It Takes Two. “I do have some big news to share…. My amazing, beautiful fiancée and I have got a baby now, we’ve got a little baby,” he said.

He then added: “Sunday morning he arrived. And he’s amazing, and Tobes is doing really well. And yeah, it’s the most surreal, wonderful thing. I haven’t slept for a couple days!”

Rose also joked about the reality of juggling a newborn with Strictly rehearsals, commenting: “What’s worse Will Best, a new born baby and no sleep, learning the jive on no sleep OR learning the jive at the same time as having a new born baby AND no sleep?”

Strictly stars react

Best is currently competing on Strictly Come Dancing, the long-running BBC One series that pairs celebrities with professional dancers for weekly live performances. He is also known for hosting Big Brother alongside AJ Odudu.

Congratulations quickly rolled in from familiar Strictly faces. Host Josh Widdicombe said: “Holy moly! Congratulations mate!”, as Johannes Radebe said: “Huge congratulations to you both.”

Delta Goodrem, who will not dance this week due to an injury, wrote: “Congratulations!” while pro dancer Julian Caillon said: “Yes!!! Congrats mate! So happy for you guys.”

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

The post Strictly’s Will Best welcomes first child and reveals sweet name appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Dade Phelan, the former speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, told Texas Monthly that Republicans are increasingly worried about their political future, with some fearing the party could lose its control in Texas.

“People are freaking out,” Phelan said. “You see it in their faces.”

His concerns reflect wider anxiety within the Republican Party. On 14 October, Politico spoke to five senior Republican lawmakers who agreed that the party was likely to lose control of the US House of Representatives.

As Republicans confront the possibility of electoral losses, Phelan says their continued focus on transgender people, and in particular trans athletes, is failing to connect with voters.

What did Phelan say?

“We’re still running transgender ads. It’s just not resonating,” he said.

“Let’s be honest. The 8 to 10% of voters in the middle who are going to decide this election, when they hear stuff about boys in girls’ sports, they don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

Phelan argued that the issue has been repeatedly pushed by Republicans despite having little relevance to the everyday lives of many voters.

“This never happened in their communities, and they’ve been hearing about it for so many years, and so many other people have been accused of it,” he said. “What Republicans are talking about is just not what the swing voter is really interested in.”

His comments come amid years of Republican-led efforts to restrict transgender rights, including legislation targeting trans participation in school sports, access to gender-affirming healthcare and the recognition of transgender people in public life.

Republicans have frequently made transgender athletes a focus of their campaigns, framing their participation in women’s and girls’ sports as a threat to fairness and safety.

Phelan remains a member of the Texas House but is not seeking re-election.

With electoral pressure mounting, his comments also raise questions about whether the party’s continued focus on transgender people will help it retain support or, rather, distract from the issues that matter most to undecided voters.

The post Republican challenges his party’s obsession with trans people: “It’s just not resonating” appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

That means that both trans patients and staff will be forced to use wards, bathrooms or changing rooms “on the basis of biological sex”, after previous guidelines allowed them to use the facilities they preferred.

The guidance states: “Single-sex services, such as hospital accomodation, should be provided on the basis of biological sex.”

It goes on to say trans people “should be accommodated in line with their sex as registered at birth”, or given the option of single rooms to avoid the risk of discrimination.

The update comes 18 months after the April 2025 Supreme Court ruling, which stated that “the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex”.

The guidance also makes clear that decisions regarding the facilities which a trans person uses should be made on a case-by-case basis, ensuring clinical needs are met, while maintaining the dignity and safety of trans and other patients. In some cases, clinical need will override priority, reports the BBC.

‘This guidance will not survive contact with reality in resource-strapped hospitals’

Following the updated guidelines, TransActual and Trans+ Solidarity Alliance said: “This NHS guidance emphasises clinical judgement as the priority over blanket exclusion, but leaves individual healthcare professionals unclear on how to safely look after trans patients. Forcing trans people into spaces based on our sex assigned at birth will never be the most clinically appropriate decision, and will push trans people away from accessing care. 

“Doctors and nurses need to be able to prioritise looking after the person in front of them, not juggling scarce side rooms and writing breach reports to keep trans people safe.

“This guidance will not survive contact with reality in resource-strapped hospitals and will create unworkable operational challenges. The government failing to get a grip of this legal mess is sadly putting politics over patient care.”

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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Alongside the side-by-side images, the celebrity hairstylist wrote: “30 pounds down, before and after. I saw dancing as entertainment, but the physical side is something else.”

He competed on the current series with professional dancer Amy Dowden, though they became the first to be eliminated.

Pro dancer Dowden responded in the comment section with a flame emoji.

Chris Appleton’s Strictly exit

Earlier this month, Appleton and Dowden were knocked out following a dance-off against actress Jaime Winstone and her partner Carlos Gu. Dancing a Cha-cha-cha to the Baywatch theme tune, ‘I’m Always Here’, they were beaten when the judges unanimously opted to save their opponents.

The exit marked an early end to Appleton’s run, after he had teased BFF Kim Kardashian could end up in the audience one week.

Speaking on the BBC One show after he was eliminated, Appleton said: “It’s been such a whirlwind of emotion, I’m 43, I got good at what I’m doing which is hair and to come into something like this, I felt so out of my comfort zone.”

He went on: “I saw myself in a way I’ve never seen myself and it challenged me in ways that I never knew I could be challenged.

“I’m very grateful for everyone that has been involved. All the celebrities, cast and crew, it has just been so amazing to be part of such a special thing that I grew up watching and I feel very proud to be part of it.”

Emotional goodbyes

After leaving the competition, Appleton became tearful while appearing on It Takes Two, reacting to a montage of his highlights from the series.

“Why did you have to show that? Oh my God, it’s just been a phenomenal experience,” he said. “I said to my kids… I can’t even talk… just challenge yourself and do it anyway.”

Dowden also reflected on their exit, saying: “From the first day to dancing on Saturday night, he grew and grew and grew and I’m just gutted that we didn’t get the chance to continue. I honestly think there was so much more to come.”

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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The RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner made the comments on Big Brother: The Group Chat, alongside hosts GK Barry and Kate Lawler, saying he had “gone right off” Philip following what he repeatedly called the “fridge comment”.

“Don’t get me started on him, because I loved the Queen of Scotty Road when he came in,” Beard said.

Philip sparked a conversation about trans people and what it means to be an ally, after he claimed some people say they “identify as a fridge”, whereas there was only “he or she” when he was younger.

Beard went on: “And the fridge comment… I’m not into anyone from any kind of community pulling up the ladder behind them. Language changes, communities change, we should fight for all of our community and not try to alienate… certainly not our trans siblings.”

‘Get in the bin!’

Beard also pointed to Big Brother history while criticising the remark, referencing Nadia Almada’s win in 2004.

“And we look back, 2004, one of the best winners ever, Nadia. Proud trans woman. And then we cut to 2026 and we’ve got people making fridge comments? Get in the bin!” he said.

Philip, 53, has also caused controversy among viewers after he slammed co-star Twinks, who is bisexual, for her use of the word “queer”.

In fact, he was so upset with it, that he used it as part of his reason to nominate her this week. Now, Twinks faces eviction against another queer housemate, Rob, and Yasmin, who got a “killer nomination”.

Danny Beard criticises Omar El Mayer

Beard also said his opinion had shifted on another housemate, Omar El Mayer.

“Not vibing with Omar. I don’t like the way he speaks. Not just to women, though, clock this, to men he thinks are ‘less than’,” he told GK and Lawler.

Omar has attracted criticism from viewers for his behaviour towards love interest Rhianna, claiming he is being overly controlling of her.

Big Brother continues Sunday to Thursday at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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Last week’s episodes saw Coronation Street legend Hesmondhalgh voted out at the roundtable, only for her to reveal she was a Faithful.

Speaking to The Times, Acaster said the version viewers saw made it look as if singer James Blunt’s suspicion of Hesmondhalgh centred on the first immunity shield of the series.

Acaster said the real spark came much earlier, during the shoulder tap sequence for the Traitors’ pick at the beginning of the competition.

“What actually happened is that when they did the shoulder tap for the Traitors’ pick at the beginning, James told Julie who he thought was acting suspiciously around the table,” he said.

‘That’s why Julie got voted off’

Acaster went on to describe speaking to Hesmondhalgh at an early stage of the game, when the Traitors had been selected but did not yet know one another’s identities. At that point, he said, a Traitor might avoid sharing theories in case they accidentally incriminated another Traitor.

He said Hesmondhalgh later challenged Blunt in front of the group for not sharing his theories, and Blunt privately felt that was unfair because he believed he already had.

Acaster added that, when it came to the roundtable, Blunt pointed to the contradiction as “evidence of lying”, and “that’s why Julie got voted off,” he said.

What happened on screen?

In the broadcast, Blunt suggested Hesmondhalgh receiving the first shield could have been part of a twist, after she was deemed the most trustworthy by the group.

Acaster was the first Traitor recruit of the series, after being brought in by Maya Jama and Richard E Grant. He also said he had been looking forward to playing as a Faithful: “I was looking forward to being a little detective, solving puzzles and looking for clues.”

Celebrity Traitors returns tonight at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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Jacob Tierney, who wrote and directed the hit gay hockey romance, made the comments during an appearance on Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM show, Radio Andy.

When Cohen suggested the NHL had “met the moment” by embracing the show’s success, Tierney pushed back, asking: “Have they?”

Tierney then doubled down, telling Cohen: “They just hired four r*pists to play for them,” before adding: “The NHL is not meeting the moment.”

He went on to argue the league should have to prove it is welcoming, saying: “It’s up to the NHL to actually convince anybody that this is a safe space for people.” Tierney later added: “Every day they do prove that it’s not. They are not doing what they should be doing to make their sport an inclusive place.”

What did Jacob Tierney mean by ‘four r*pists’?

It is unclear what specific incident Tierney was referring to, although the filmmaker appeared to reference a high-profile sexual assault case involving five former Canadian hockey players, who were acquitted of the charges. Tierney criticised the NHL’s decision to reinstate players involved in the case.

Why the NHL and Heated Rivalry keep colliding

Tierney’s comments come as Heated Rivalry continues to break out beyond romance fandom. In January 2026, Cohen debated the show on a New Year’s Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper as the craze went mainstream.

The NHL has also faced scrutiny over LGBTQ+ visibility in recent years, including a 2023 controversy in which some players refused to wear Pride jerseys and the league banned Pride Tape.

While the show has brought renewed attention to hockey, Tierney argued that marketing campaigns alone are not enough to address the league’s wider cultural problems.

“They really need to deal with their own toxic culture,” he said. “And they’re not.”

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Grand Prairie Independent School District (GPISD), in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, confirmed it had pulled South Grand Prairie High School’s musical after senior Ana Mota was selected to play Seymour, a florist who discovers a bloodthirsty plant while pursuing a romantic relationship with his colleague Audrey.

According to theatre writer Howard Sherman, who reported on the controversy through his publication Downstage Center, Mota was told approximately a week into rehearsals that she would have to give up the role. The part would instead go to the male understudy, while Mota would be offered the role of Audrey, sharing it with another student.

“I was frustrated because I had earned a role and I worked hard for it, and I wasn’t allowed to play it,” Mota told WFAA-TV, adding: “It’s not a compromise at all. It feels more like a punishment to everyone in the cast.”

In an open letter published on Instagram, she argued that the district was excluding her from an educational opportunity because she is a girl.

Why did GPISD cancel Little Shop of Horrors?

In a statement reported by The Dallas Morning News, Grand Prairie ISD said its decision followed concerns about the musical’s romantic storyline and themes involving an abusive relationship.

“When District leadership learned of this issue and in consideration of themes in the musical involving an abusive relationship, a decision was made to pull that production and find something more appropriate,” the district said.

It added that the decision was made as part of its ongoing effort to ensure its programmes complied with SB 12 and other applicable laws.

However, Friendly Atheist via Substack questioned why the production became a concern only after Mota was cast as Seymour. The school had previously staged Little Shop of Horrors four years ago, and the Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy, another school within the same district, is also performing the musical this year

Texas Senate Bill 12 took effect on 1 September 2025 and places restrictions on school instruction, activities and programming related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Mother considers legal action

Jimenez-Mota said the dispute represented a wider problem beyond one student losing a role in a school production.

Speaking to Sherman, she criticised what she described as the intimidation created by laws targeting LGBTQ+ people and artistic expression.

“I don’t know at what point we became this,” she said, arguing that lawmakers should be more concerned with issues such as access to healthcare, housing, food insecurity and gun violence.

She also said the family was considering legal action if the district refused to reverse its decision.

Mota has argued that removing her from the role violated Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education programmes that receive federal funding. Whether the district’s actions violated the law would be a matter for legal assessment.

‘This isn’t drag at all’, student says

Mota said she has played male roles before, including Jack in Into the Woods, and described the casting process as gender-blind. She told the Dallas Morning News: “This isn’t drag at all.”

Her mother, Nancy Jimenez, also challenged the district’s reasoning, saying: “The law in itself doesn’t even apply to this situation,” in comments aired by NBC DFW.

High school theatre productions often use gender-blind casting, in part because student participation and vocal ranges do not always match the roles written in scripts.

In 2023, a trans boy was barred from playing a leading male role in a Texas school production of Oklahoma!, after the district said it would use the sex of the role as identified in the script when casting.

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The film, starring Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex, the bisexual son of the United States president, and Nicholas Galitzine, the gay British Prince Henry, has been Rated R “for sexual content/nudity and language”.

While the title led to speculation that Alex and Henry may be getting married, Galitzine and Zakhar Perez have instead said it will follow the wedding of Henry’s younger sister, Princess Beatrice.

Either way, fans of the franchise are excited, and hoping for some saucy scenes, which Casey McQuiston has already promised.

One said on X: “Can’t wait to see He-Man and his boyfriend get it on.” Another said: “Taylor showing more of that a**.” A third wrote: “TZP better deliver on the full frontal he’s been teasing about for months!” As another said: “Oh I am sat! We are gonna be so fed.”

Some others, however, pointed out that the original Red, White & Royal Blue was also given an R-rating, attempting to lower expectations.

The US film ratings director shows both films are Rated R, however the wording for the reasoning is slightly different. The first movie had “some sexual content, partial nudity and language”, while the wording for the sequel suggests there may be more than “some” sexual content or “partial” nudity.

In the UK, the original was given a 12 rating, for “language, sex, sex references”. The sequel’s UK rating has not yet been confirmed.

What do we know about Red, White & Royal Wedding?

Red, White & Royal Wedding was confirmed in May 2024, with the title following in October 2025.

It’s not clear exactly what the plot will be, as the first movie was based on Casey McQuiston’s novel of the same name. McQuiston has not published a sequel, but was involved in writing the script. Either way, it is set to follow Henry and Alex’s love story.

More returning cast members include Uma Thurman, Sarah Shahi, Rachel Hilson, Stephen Gry and Clifton Collins Jr, Thomas Flynn, Aneesh Sheth and Malcolm Atobrah. They will be joined by newbies Henry Ashton, Lena Headey, Chloe Fineman and Alex Høgh Andersen.

Filming started in January 2026, and was finished by March.

A release date has not yet been announced, but with the film officially getting its rating, we’ll likely get news soon.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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The 52-year-old singer-songwriter, who is currently appearing on The Celebrity Traitors, addressed the renewed chatter about his real name in posts on X.

Blunt wrote that he was born James Hillier Blount and decided to simplify the spelling for his stage name. He also pointed out his real name “is on the first line of his Wikipedia page” and not a big secret.

In a follow-up post, he added: “For clarity, Blount and Blunt are pronounced the same way. But I simplified it to Blunt as I was tired of people rhyming my name with ‘count’.”

He previously said in 2014: “My real name is James Blount, but I changed it as people teased me that it rhymed with ‘count.’”

James Blunt’s BBC telling-off

Blunt also recently got in trouble with the BBC after sharing the official press photograph promoting his Celebrity Traitors involvement and tagging tailor Barrington Ayre. The image showed him in a tweed suit, though it also featured the broadcaster’s and show’s logos.

A BBC spokesperson told Metro: “The BBC has clear guidelines in place around commercial activity which we take very seriously, and players have been reminded of this. The social media posts referred to have been taken down.”

The Celebrity Traitors continues

The Celebrity Traitors continues on 15 October, with the fate of four vulnerable Faithfuls set to be confirmed.

At the end of last Friday’s episode, Ross Kemp, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett were chosen for the Traitors’ shortlist.

What Traitors Maya Jama, James Acaster and Hannah Fry don’t know, though, is that those at risk had a chance to save themselves, as host Claudia Winkleman presented them with a shield.

After a debate, the men decided to give Pinnock the shield, meaning if the Traitors try to “murder” her, then she will be saved.

Whatever happens, it’s sure to cause suspicion.

The Celebrity Traitors continues Thursday night at 8pm on BBC One.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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The pair will face Friday’s public vote alongside Yasmin, who was already up for eviction after receiving a “killer nomination” in the previous episode. The housemate who receives the most votes to evict will leave the house on Friday.

When the results were announced, gay housemate Rob, who faced eviction last week, appeared unfazed, telling the group: “Round two, baby.”

Bisexual housemate Twinks, who joined the house two weeks ago and could not be nominated last week, was equally defiant, adding: “Haters gonna hate.”

On X, the mood was far less relaxed. One viewer complained: “Two women and a gay man up for eviction. This series of BBUK started off so well but the most vile housemates keep staying and we’re yet to lose one of the boring men.”

Another wrote: “I have to choose between an amazing, white, queer woman. A neurodivergent, gay man. And a plus-size black woman. It’s so insane I can’t vote for any of them they should all stay.”

Why did housemates nominate Twinks and Rob?

The episode also the reasons housemates gave for putting Rob and Twinks in danger.

Explaining her nomination, Rochelle said she does “like Twinks”, but added that “very quickly she becomes a feminist and political. They’re not things I wanna get into”.

Frankie, who is bisexual, also nominated Twinks, saying she was “control-ive”.

Philip, who is gay, nominated Twinks too, furious that she had used the word “queer” around him, following his strong words in an earlier episode.

Rob drew criticism too. Rhianna said: “Since he found out a lot of people don’t like his singing, he’s continued to be annoying… He did it out of spitefulness.” Phillip accused Rob of “acting in front of the cameras”.

After the fallout, Samuel was shown pacing in the garden, saying to himself: “Why does Rob have to go through it again, why does Twinks have to when she’s been nothing but wonderful?”

Who else was close to the eviction line-up?

Rochelle narrowly avoided the public vote with four nominations. Omar and Rhianna received two nominations each, while Lynx, Catrin, Phillip and Sam each received one. Frankie and Harry received none.

The latest flashpoint follows a tense run for the series. Last week, Big Brother received 1,654 Ofcom complaints, with the biggest spikes linked to episodes featuring clashes involving Johanne and Rochelle and allegations of “bullying” behaviour towards Twinks.

Big Brother airs at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

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In the episode, the 30-year-old model discussed speculation around her friendship with Cara Delevingne, 34, saying: “We should address this. It’s because of our love for each other. People think I’m a lesbian to this day,” before declaring: “I’m not.”

Jenner then suggested she would be open to the idea of hooking up with a woman.

What did Kendall Jenner say about Cara Delevingne?

Jenner also shut down rumours that she and Delevingne were ever romantically involved.

“There’s definitely a rumour that she and I dated or something in the past, which is not true,” she said. “I love Cara. She’s my sister, and that never happened.”

Jenner added that she and Delevingne have been friends for “11 or 12 years”, and said Delevingne “made me feel really safe and welcome in the modelling world.”

The discussion followed footage in the show’s season eight trailer, released in September 2026, in which Jenner was seen addressing the same gossip and saying she had nothing against getting with Delevingne.

‘Never say never, right?’

Jenner went on to reflect on the idea of being queer, saying: “For the record, I think being a lesbian would be fun and amazing.” She also said she thought dating women would be more enjoyable and less hassle, adding that “men suck”.

At the same time, Jenner added: “I just have never had a desire to have sex with women,” before concluding: “Never say never, right?”

Jenner is an American model and reality TV personality who rose to fame through Keeping Up with the Kardashians and the wider Kardashian-Jenner media empire, and is known for keeping her private life comparatively guarded despite intense tabloid attention.

The episode arrives after years of online speculation about Jenner’s sexuality, including claims tied to her “tomboy” image and her closeness with friends including Delevingne.

She’s currently dating Euphoria star Jacob Elordi.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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Cathy was challenged on NBC’s Today about Chick-fil-A’s controversial record on LGBTQ+ issues, while also being asked for a response to criticism of the brand.

Cathy did not address the specific concerns about the company’s previous donations, or if Chick-fil-A’s position on LGBTQ+ equality had changed.

Instead, he leaned into the customer experience, saying: “For anybody that hasn’t tried us, we’d love for you to come try and have our great-tasting food and the hospitality that we’re known for.”

He added that the chain aimed to serve anyone who came in to dine.

Presenter Craig Melvin pushed back on the answer, implying Cathy did not seem keen to talk about that chapter in the company’s past. Cathy continued to emphasise hospitality and customer service.

In 2019, Chick-fil-A said it would shift its charitable donations towards organisations focused on education, homelessness and hunger. Cathy became chief executive in 2021, taking over from his father.

Chick-fil-A and the church

The interview also touched on Chick-fil-A’s long-standing practice of closing on Sundays. Cathy justified the policy on the grounds that it gives employees a chance to rest, be with their families and, if they want to, go to church.

Chick-fil-A has long been associated with conservative Christian values, including its Sunday closure policy. The company has faced backlash and boycotts over past donations and leadership comments perceived as anti-LGBTQ+.

Chick-fil-A facing protests in the UK

The scrutiny has followed the chain into Britain. In March, human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell led a protest outside Chick-fil-A’s first London restaurant in Kingston upon Thames when it opened. Campaigners asked business to give assurances that it would not support organisations opposing LGBTQ+ equality in future.

The Peter Tatchell Foundation alleged that, before the protest, Chick-fil-A had failed to respond to repeated requests for meetings and written assurances, and called on the company to make a public pledge to stop any financial backing for organisations campaigning against LGBTQ+ rights.

Tatchell also cited concerns about historic donations by Chick-fil-A’s charitable arm to groups including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Focus on the Family and the National Christian Charitable Foundation.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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The 45-year-old Canadian actor, best known for playing Stevie Budd, swapped the character’s signature long brown hair for a bubblegum-coloured cut on the show’s sofa. One fan reaction to the appearance read: “I can’t believe it’s Stevie from Schitt’s Creek on Lorraine! I would never have known!”

Another commenter added: “Loving Schitt’s Creek Stevie’s new pink hair, but I had no idea it was her!”

Emily Hampshire on Stevie

During her chat with host Lorraine Kelly, Hampshire spoke about being clocked in public for her deadpan motel clerk character, and how different she is from the role.

“I have people come up to me on the street, and they recognise me as Stevie, they are like, ‘Wow, you are nothing like Stevie! Take it down a notch!” she said.

Hampshire also said she felt “very lucky” to have been part of Schitt’s Creek, which ran from 2014 for six years.

Created by Eugene and Dan Levy, the sitcom originally aired on CBC in Canada before finding a huge international audience via streaming. It is also widely celebrated for its warm, queer-inclusive storytelling, including David Rose’s pansexuality and his romance with Patrick.

Why was Emily Hampshire on Lorraine?

Hampshire, who is pansexual, appeared on Lorraine to discuss her new TV project with Paul Bettany, 55. Viewers can now watch her starring alongside Bettany in VisionQuest on Disney+, which premiered on 14 October in the UK.

In VisionQuest, Hampshire plays E.D.I.T.H. – an AI created by Stark that previously acted as a defence system, but has been reprogrammed to bring fun.

Hampshire has continued to take on new projects since Schitt’s Creek ended. In August, she was among the names announced for Heated Rivalry season 2, joining a cast line-up that also included Canada’s Drag Race winner Priyanka.

She will play Vanessa, a friend of Tough Guy character Fabian Salah, who will be played by Shaheen Jafargholi.

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Appearing on the White Wine Question Time podcast, the Church of England priest and broadcaster said: “I wish I hadn’t been so angry with him because he was already feeling bad enough without me being angry with him.”

Oldham died in 2019 from alcohol-related liver disease aged 43. Coles, 64, said living with addiction can leave partners feeling powerless, explaining that he “couldn’t stop it” and “couldn’t understand” why Oldham was doing it “to himself” and “to us”.

‘I wasn’t going to leave him’

Coles, who was in a civil partnership with Oldham for nine years, said he had “one rule” during his husband’s illness, “which is that I wasn’t going to leave him,” he said.

He has spoken publicly before about the impact of addiction on their life together. In 2021, he said Oldham used alcohol as an “anaesthetic” when life was difficult, before his drinking worsened over time.

Coles also spoke about how grief still sits alongside everyday life. “I still say his name out loud now sometimes,” he said, adding that he does not want to “lose the loss”.

Dickie Cant and living with grief

Coles said he is now in a relationship with actor Richard “Dickie” Cant, 62, and that they have been together for four years after meeting on a dating app. Cant has appeared in Netflix’s The Crown and Channel 4’s It’s A Sin.

“One of the things I love about Dickie, my new partner, is that he’s very respectful of the loss around which I live my life,” Coles said. “And he also knows [the loss] is not his, but it’s mine. That’s very good that he understands that and respects that. But then he’s a very understanding and respectful person.”

Coles said: “Life’s great now.” He went on to say he is “really enjoying” his sixties and has “a new partner who’s fantastic”.

Coles also said the couple, who share a home in East Sussex, have been discussing getting a dog. “I want a corgi. I want a Cardigan Welsh corgi, not the Queen’s corgi, but the kind of working corgi,” he said.

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“I was like, ‘I’m not showing your d****,’” Tierney said, speaking to actor Andrew Rannells to promote his book I’ll Believe in Anything: The Making of Heated Rivalry Season 1 (The Annotated Scripts).

Tierney said Williams and Storrie were “very game” when it came to filming the show’s steamy sex scenes, and that both actors were willing to “show everything”.

He added that the decision came down to what he wanted to put on screen, rather than any reluctance from the cast.

Why did Jacob Tierney turn down full-frontal?

Tierney told Rannells the choice was his, and recalled making that clear early on. “It’s about what I wanted to show,” he said, before adding: “I was like, ‘I’m not showing your d****.’”

He also spoke about the negotiations involved in filming intimate scenes, including how productions work around intimacy garments and performers’ boundaries.

How were Heated Rivalry’s sex scenes choreographed?

Tierney discussed the role of intimacy coordinator Chala Hunter, saying: “So, that all happens long before we’re on set.”

He said he tried to write sex scenes “as specifically as I could” so there would be “no mystery as to what’s happening”, describing how stressful it can be when actors are told to improvise. “This is a nightmare,” he said. “I don’t want to improv my way through this.”

Tierney compared choreographing sex scenes to learning dance steps, so performers know the technical movements and what needs to be hidden and when. He also said he sent early drafts of scripts to actors and asked them to confirm they were comfortable with the material before filming.

The show’s sex scenes have been a major talking point since it blew up online, and in 2025 its NSFW reputation was already clear.

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Speaking to People, the actor said: “There was a time in my life I was like, ‘I don’t wanna talk about Casper. How dare you? I’m a thespian,’ you know?”

Sawa, now 48, played the human version of Casper the friendly ghost when he was 16. He said he has since made peace with the role’s long shadow, adding: “But… I gotta embrace it. It’s why I’m here. It’s what got me here.”

He also admitted the film’s most famous line still comes up, no matter what else he does. “Doesn’t matter what I do nowadays. It doesn’t matter how cool the project is, I will always have to say, ‘Can I keep you?’ to somebody at some point. There will always be Casper stuff,” he said.

Why Devon Sawa can’t escape ‘Can I keep you?’

For many millennials, Sawa’s brief appearance as human Casper is one of the film’s most replayed moments, topped by the scene where he asks Chritstina Ricci’s Kat if he can stay with her.

In Casper, Kat moves with her dad (Bill Pullman) into a haunted mansion, where she strikes up a friendship with Casper. Sawa appears when Casper emerges in human form during a touching dance scene.

Directed by Brad Silberling, the film was a major hit and earned about $291million worldwide and still has a cult fanbase nowadays, more than two decades later.

It is not unusual for actors to push back against the roles that define them. In 2023, Jacob Elordi said he didn’t want to make ‘ridiculous’ Kissing Booth movies as he tried to move on from the franchise that made him a breakout star.

From Casper to Eminem’s ‘Stan’

Sawa also reflected on another pop culture moment that has stuck with audiences: Eminem’s 2000 music video for ‘Stan’, in which he played the obsessive fan at the centre of the story.

Recalling the rapper on set, Sawa said: “I remember him being focused and just there to work. He was there to work – that’s what I remember.”

Sawa has been acting ever since his role in Casper. He has appeared in a number of horror movies, as well as television shows including Hacks, Magnum PI, Hawaii Five-0 and, most recently, Disney+ series Coven Academy.

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The singer, best known for marmite track “You’re Beautiful”, was chosen as a Faithful by host Claudia Winkleman, however he has raised suspicion among the other contestants.

Of course, it’s misplaced suspicion at the moment – he may end up being a Traitor, the way the Faithfuls are picking them out and the recruitments are going – but it turns out he may have been hiding a few things from his co-stars.

For starters, his actual name is James Hillier Blount. His surname “Blunt” is just a stage name.

Blunt – or Blount – has spoken of his military background. He was a lieutenant in the British Army after the Kosovo War, being part of the force between 1996 and 2002.

During that time, he was also the captain of the Household Cavalry ski team, winning the Royal Armoured Corps giant slalom in 2000.

James Blunt gets a telling off

The name revelation comes after the BBC confirmed they had given James Blunt a telling off over a recent social media post.

He had posted an official publicity photo from Celebrity Traitors which showed him in a tweed suit, from tailor Barrington Ayre. It reportedly also featured both the BBC and Celebrity Traitors logo.

Blunt tagged the brand, also writing: “The name’s Blunt. James Blunt.”

The BBC confirmed to Metro that Blunt’s post breached the broadcaster’s guidelines about advertising.

A spokesperson told them: “The BBC has clear guidelines in place around commercial activity which we take very seriously and players have been reminded of this. The social media posts referred to have been taken down.”

While it’s reported Blunt was supplied with the suit, it’s not known whether there was any arrangement between them to promote it.

The Celebrity Traitors continues Thursday night at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

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The former Arizona Senate candidate joined a wave of right-wing speculation about Talarico’s health by sharing a screenshot of an AI-generated answer about recovery from “bottom surgery”. The insinuation was unsupported, and the recovery timeline in the screenshot did not match the period Talarico had been away from public campaign events.

Lake posted the screenshot on 8 October, responding to online chatter about Talarico’s absence from the campaign trail. The AI-generated response suggested it could take six to eight weeks to return to normal work activities after the procedure.

Talarico’s campaign had already informed reporters that he was recovering from the flu, which had hit him particularly hard because he has type 1 diabetes.

According to The Texas Tribune, nine days separated Talarico’s public appearances. He participated virtually in a US Hispanic Business Council event on 30 September, in which he mentioned he had gotten the flu, before returning to public campaigning at the Austin City Limits music festival on 9 October.

Competing conspiracy theories spread

Lake’s suggestion was one of several unsupported stories circulating among right-wing commentators about Talarico’s health.

President Donald Trump had claimed Talarico was absent for 12 days in a Truth Social post, helping fuel speculation about why the candidate had temporarily stepped back from public appearances. Many conservative political figures, including Elon Musk, then amplified a separate claim that Talarico had checked himself into a mental health facility in Ohio.

The Lindner Center of HOPE, the Ohio clinic named in the rumour, explicitly denied the claim.

Some commentators later retracted their posts. Right-wing commentator Carmine Sabia issued an apology on X, writing: “I apologize for sharing the false report about James Talarico receiving mental health treatment. I relied on the reporting available then, but I got it wrong and retract it.”

The pro-Trump account Celtic Mission published a poll asking whether Talarico was depressed “because she had the top surgery” or “because he had the bottom surgery”. Another account, Tim the Tool Man, which promotes himself as a “Conservative network startup veteran” and the director of production for right-wing YouTuber Steven Crowder’s podcast, asserted that Talarico was “recovering from bottom surgery”.

None of these posts provided concrete evidence for the speculative claims about Talarico.

Talarico has already explained his absence

Talarico, a Democratic state representative running for the US Senate in Texas, has been a prominent supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and LGBTQ+ rights. The “bottom surgery” conspiracy being pushed by opponents of his appears to draw on hostility towards his politics and his support for transgender people, rather than any substantiated information about his health. In May, he was hit by a separate false claim when Stephen Miller falsely said that James Talarico was transgender.

Lake, who previously ran unsuccessfully for governor and the US Senate in Arizona, currently serves as a senior adviser at the US Agency for Global Media under the Trump administration. Trump also nominated her to be US ambassador to Jamaica, though her confirmation remains pending.

In March, a federal judge ruled that Lake’s separate service as acting CEO of the US Agency for Global Media violated federal law.

Lake has also previously raised an unsubstantiated claim against US Representative Greg Stanton when she accused of having a ‘gay lover’ during a congressional hearing last year.

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