Celebrity News
Lizzo makes $50K donation to Marsha P. Johnson Institute
Singer is vocal LGBTQ ally
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2023/06/Lizzo-About-Damn-Time.jpg)
When Lizzo sings “If I’m shinin,’ everybody gonna shine,ā in her hit song, “Juice,” she means it. Proof of that came this week on Instagram when the LGBTQ ally announced the first winner of her annual Juneteenth Giveback Campaign is the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, a national nonprofit based in Richmond, Calif., dedicated to the protection and defense of Black transgender people.
And she did so in song: āOn the first day of Juneteenth, Lizzo gave to me,ā she sang in her video, posted Tuesday, as she revealed her $50,000 gift to MPJI.
āThatās right, we know who Marsha P. Johnson is. We know what Marsha P. Johnson has done for the LGBTQ, emphasis on that āT,ā Q community,ā said Lizzo to her 13.5 million followers. āThank you so much to the people at the Marsha P. Johnson Institute. You deserve this, and I hope this helps you so much as you help protect our Black trans family.ā
āWhat the Marsha P. Johnson Institute does is protects and defends the rights of Black transgender people. They do this by organizing community, advocating for the people, and creating an intentional healing community, developing transformative leadership and promoting collective power,ā she said.
āWe are overjoyed for the shoutout from Lizzo today, the generosity of her sharing her platform and the recognition of MPJI and its work,ā said Elle Moxley, MPJIās executive director. āThe resources from this campaign will ensure the protection and defense of Black transgender people continue at a time where it is so vitally needed. We are so grateful for the support of Lizzo and her fans.ā
As one of Time Magazineās Persons of the Year for 2019 and a 2023 Grammy winner, Lizzo is more than a pop star but an inspiration to millions of fans for her body-positive attitude, her self-confidence on stage and in her videos, her empowering music and her activism. Sheās also the founder of her own clothing line, Yitty. In 2021, she made headlines when she publicly corrected a paparazzo for using āshe/herā pronouns and misgendering Demi Levato.
As part of her campaign, now in its 4th year, Lizzo recognizes Black-led grassroots organizations and businesses and encourages her fans to join her in supporting each of the five organizations she highlights this week. Fans who take action by donating are entered into a drawing for an all-expenses paid trip to see her perform at Fuji Rock in Japan later this year.
This weekās other nonprofits receiving gifts are: Black Girls Smile, Sphinx Music, the University of Houston and Save Our Sisters United.
Find out more about Lizzoās 4th annual Juneteenth Giveback Campaign by clicking here.
Celebrity News
Adele shuts down ‘Pride sucks’ heckler at Las Vegas show
British singer is a long-time LGBTQ ally
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/06/Adele_screen_capture_insert_via_YouTube.jpg)
British pop megastar and longtime LGBTQ ally Adele reacted to a member of the audience who repeatedly yelled “Pride Sucks” in between songs during her show Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Adele, who is continuing her iconic residency,Ā Weekends with Adele, at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, has been a strong LGBTQ supporter. Last year, she celebrated Pride Month during her Las Vegas residency wearing a black dress with a rainbow flag train and Pride-themed confetti.Ā
Sitting down on the piano bench next to her pianist bantering with the audience which is routine, the singer eviscerated the unseen audience member:
āDid you come to my fucking show to say Pride sucks? Are you fucking stupid?ā Adele angrily said reacting. āDonāt be so fucking ridiculous. If you have nothing nice to say, shut up, alright?ā
The incident, which was caught on cell phone footage and posted to X, has since gone viral:
Adele goes off on audience member who yelled āPride sucksā at her concert tonight:
— Pop Base (@PopBase) June 2, 2024
āDid you come to my f*cking show and just say that Pride sucks? Are you f*cking stupid? Donāt be so f*cking ridiculous. If you have nothing nice to say, shut up, alright?ā pic.twitter.com/M3yl2mdzLV
Adele did not hold back when an audience member yelled āPride sucks!ā during her Las Vegas residency on Saturday night.
— Variety (@Variety) June 2, 2024
āDid you come to my f—ing show and just say that Pride sucks?" the singer said. "Are you f—ing stupid?" https://t.co/tDbvFCJRcT
āHappy Pride… not to you thoughā (points to the man who yelled Pride sucks). š#WeekendsWithAdele
— Adele Daily (@adeledailynet) June 2, 2024
pic.twitter.com/Jl0dqymy40
Celebrity News
Actor Richard Dreyfuss mocks transgender people in misogynistic rant
āJawsā star appeared at suburban Boston theater
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/05/Dreyfuss-in-dress.jpg)
Patrons at The Cabot theater in the suburban Boston town of Beverly were all set to celebrate the 49th anniversary viewing of the classic 1975 Steven Spielberg horror film “Jaws,” along with a question and answer with one of the film’s stars actor Richard Dreyfuss, when from the minute Dreyfuss appeared on stage, the event derailed.
Dreyfuss walked onto the stage wearing a blue floral pattern house dress, pausing to turn away from the audience and shake his hips suggestively, actions that were caught on multiple mobile phone video footage posted online. Then two stage hands appeared and tore the dress off the actor who then took his seat opposite the event’s moderator.
According to Variety and the Boston Globe’s reporting, Dreyfuss ranted about subjects reported to include transgender people, Barbra Streisand, the #MeToo movement, and women in general. As attendee Diane Wolfe described it toĀ the Boston Globe, ā[Dreyfuss] said that the parents of trans youth, allowing them to transition, was bad parenting and that someday those kids might change their minds.ā
![](https://www.losangelesblade.com/content/files/2024/05/The-Cabot-advert-for-event-600x597.jpg)
A number of members of the audience took offense and left the venue. On The Cabot’s Facebook page one attendee wrote: āThis was disgusting. How could The Cabot not have vetted his act better. Apparently (I found out too late), he has a reputation for spewing this kind of racist, homophobic, misogynistic bull crap.ā
The Cabot has since limited commenting on its page.
The Cabot Executive Director J. Casey Soward on Sunday apologized in a statement that read:
āWe regret that an event that was meant to be a conversation to celebrate an iconic movie instead became a platform for political views. We take full responsibility for the oversight in not anticipating the direction of the conversation and for the discomfort it caused to many patrons,ā Soward said. āWe are in active dialogue with our patrons about their experience and are committed to learning from this event how to better enact our mission of entertaining, educating and inspiring our community.ā
WBSM News Talk Sports Radio in New BedfordāFall RiverĀ reported that The Cabot also sent an email, that the station had been forwarded, to those who purchased tickets apologizing.
āDear Cabot Patrons,
I am writing to address an important matter concerning last nightās event with Richard Dreyfuss at The Cabot.
We deeply regret that Mr. Dreyfussās comments during the event were not in line with the values of inclusivity and respect that we uphold at The Cabot. We understand that his remarks were distressing and offensive to many of our community members, and for that, we sincerely apologize.
At The Cabot, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of our community. The views expressed by Mr. Dreyfuss do not reflect our beliefs, and we do not endorse them in any way.
We take full responsibility for the oversight in not anticipating the direction of the conversation and for any discomfort it caused.
We are taking immediate steps to ensure that such an incident does not happen again. This includes more rigorous vetting of our event participants and more proactive communication strategies to keep our audience informed.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support of The Cabot.
We value your feedback and are dedicated to learning from this experience to better serve our community.ā
The actor has a lengthy record of anti-trans remarks and bigotry. He has directed transphobic rants about trans youth affirming their gender and has taken aim at the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences calling out the Academy’s diversity efforts in a 2023 PBSā Firing Line broadcast saying that the Academy’s focus on diversity āmakes me vomit.ā
āWeāre so fragile that we canāt have our feelings hurt,ā he also said. āWe donāt know how to stand up and bop the bully in the face.ā
Deadline reported that Dreyfuss apparently made similar comments at a Friday nightĀ “Jaws”Ā screening at the Music Hall in Portsmouth, N.H. āI live in Mass, but The Cabot showing was all booked so I saw him in N.H. on May 24,ā a Facebook commenter wrote. āHe made anti-gay remarks that night too.ā
The actor has not responded to requests by multiple media outlets for comment.
Celebrity News
John Waters released from hospital after car accident
Crash took place in Baltimore County
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2022/02/John_Waters_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
BY TAJI BURRIS | Baltimore filmmaker John Waters was released from the hospital Tuesday morning following a car accident.
The 78-year-old released a statement saying that although he was hurt in the Baltimore County crash, he did not sustain major injuries.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
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