Category: News

Bad Bunny, Christina Aguilera, and actor Jeremy Pope are the celebs being honored at this year’s GLAAD Awards.

Bad Bunny is earning GLAAD’s Vanguard award, intended for those who constantly present LGBTQ+ allyship. Previous Vanguard recipients include Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Cher, and Janet Jackson.

“Bad Bunny uses his role as one of the world’s most popular music artists to boldly shine a light on LGBTQ people and issues, including transgender equality and ending violence against trans women of color,” GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis shared via Variety. “By consistently advocating for our community, elevating our stories and demanding action from anti-LGBTQ leaders, Bad Bunny redefines the positive influence Latin music artists can have within the LGBTQ community, and has set an example for all artists.”

Aguilera is set to receive GLAAD’s Advocate for Change award, as she has raised over $500 million for HIV research through Mac Cosmetics. She has also been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

Meanwhile, Pope, who starred in FX’s show, Pose, is getting the Stephen F. Kolzak award for being a “LGBTQ media professional who has increased queer visibility and acceptance through their work,” according to the publication.

In addition, there are over 250+ nominees that are up for possible awards in the 33 categories. The 2023 GLAAD Awards will be held on March 30 at Los Angeles’ Beverly Hilton.

Paul Rudd last prepped to get into Ant-Man shape for back-to-back Marvel movies, including 2018’s Ant-Man And The Wasp (seen above) and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, in which he delivered the funniest joke of the movie while also being in fighting form. Since then, the pandemic happened, which probably saw Rudd (like many people) eat a few donuts. Rudd had to get back into the suit for the upcoming Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania, so the donuts had to go. And the workouts recommenced.

As 53-year-old Rudd (who still looks about 40 at most) told Men’s Health, this time around was much harder. This sounds a lot like proof that Rudd is actually human. Losing a few pounds was definitely harder for him than it was five years prior, and this goes to show that Rudd might actually be experiencing the aging process. Here’s what he told the publication:

“I worked really hard to get back into shape for Quantumania, and I realized, Oh my God, this is so much harder than it was [for the last Ant-Man project]. I had fallen off more than I had in the past. All of a sudden my clothes fit tight. And I thought, God, this sucks. I can’t even wear these pants. So I’d say to myself, Well, I might as well just eat some of these cookies. I was irritable and self-conscious. I just wasn’t in a good mood. I really beat myself up.”

In all fairness, Rudd was also probably thinking about being up against the extremely swole Jonathan Majors. He surely works hard as well but had an edge by overlapping a bodybuilding biopic during the course of portraying Kang, the MCU’s newest big bad, who is going over well with critics. Yet Rudd did succeed at putting down the cookies and dialing up his workouts. We’ll soon see the results when Ant-Man 3 arrives in theaters on February 17.

(Via Men’s Health)

After the 2023 Grammys this past weekend, Madonna (who presented an award on stage) became a trending topic on Twitter as some users commented on her appearance. Now, Madonna has responded.

In an Instagram post shared last night (February 7), she addressed the “Close-up photos of me Taken with a long lens camera By a press photographer that Would distort anyone’s face,” writing in part, “I have never apologized for any of the creative choices I have made nor the way that I look or dress and I’m not going to start. I have been degraded by the media since the beginning of my career but I understand that this is all a test and I am happy to do the trailblazing so that all the women behind me can have an easier time in the years to come.”

She concluded, “In the words of Beyonce ‘ You-won’t break my soul’, I look forward to many more years of subversive behavior -pushing boundaries-Standing up to the patriarchy -and Most of all enjoying my life. Bow down b*tches!”

Find Madonna’s post below.

“It was an honor for me to Introduce.
Kim Petras and Sam Smith at the Grammys. I wanted to give the last award which was Album of the year, but I thought it was more important that I present the first trans- woman performing at the Grammys– a History making moment!! And on top of that she won a Grammy!! [heart emoji]

Instead of focusing on what I said in my speech which was about giving thanks for the fearlessness of artists like Sam and Kim- Many people chose to only talk about Close-up photos of me Taken with a long lens camera By a press photographer that Would distort anyone’s face!!

Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny That permeates the world we live in.
A world that refuses to celebrate women past the age of 45 And feels the need to punish her If she continues to be strong willed, hard-working and adventurous.

I have never apologized for any of the creative choices I have made nor the way that I look or dress and I’m not going to start. I have been degraded by the media since the beginning of my career but I understand that this is all a test and I am happy to do the trailblazing so that all the women behind me can have an easier time in the years to come.
In the words of Beyonce ‘ You-won’t break my soul’,

I look forward to many more years of subversive behavior -pushing boundaries-Standing up to the patriarchy -and Most of all enjoying my life.

Bow down b*tches!”

Madonna is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

On April 5, 1984, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored his 31,420th point in the NBA, which broke the league’s all-time scoring record previously held by Wilt Chamberlain. For decades, that record felt unbreakable, but in recent years, it became clear that LeBron James would likely eclipse the mark one day. Well, that day was yesterday (February 7): In the Los Angeles Lakers’ losing effort against the Oklahoma City Thunder, James made the record-breaking shot near the end of the third quarter and put himself atop the all-time list.

Now, the NBA icon has received congratulatory message from music stars like Drake, Rihanna, Snoop Dogg, and Kendrick Lamar.

Various celebrities recorded videos congratulating James on his historic achievement, with Snoop saying in his, “In the words of the great Snoop Dogg: ‘La-da-da-da-da!’ It’s the one and only LBJ: LeBron James! Great work, baby. Appreciate the love. Love what you do, keep doing what you’re doing, more buckets, more points, more love.”

Drake said in his clip, seemingly filmed at James’ high school gym, “LeBron: what a legendary night in NBA history. You’re breaking the all-time scoring record, and to honor that, I had to come back to the place that it all started: Akron, Ohio. Every journey has its beginning and tonight…” As he spoke, though, the illusion was broken thanks to a green screen malfunction, revealing a club environment behind him. He continued, “I lied, I lied to you. I’m actually still at the club in Miami, but definitely all the girls say congrats, though, right girls? Congrats, right?”

In a more straightforward video, Lamar said, “To see you with this type of accomplishment, it always give a confirmation of, you can be great no matter where you come from.”

In her tribute, Rihanna said, “It is important to recognize greatness and great accomplishments. […] If course, you’re no stranger to breaking records, but this record, this is one to be more than just acknowledged: this is one to be celebrated.”

Bad Bunny didn’t record a video, but he was there in person to give LeBron a hug after the record was broken.

Meanwhile, on Twitter, John Legend wrote, “Congratulations @KingJames !!!! This man has been in the spotlight and burdened with the highest expectations since he was a teenager. And he’s done nothing but exceed those expectations and build a historic legacy. What an incredible accomplishment!”

Check out the videos above and find some other tweets about James’ accomplishment below.

For years, Shaquille O’Neal has told the story of how he never heard from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar while he was on the Lakers, something that motivated Shaq in his time in L.A. to prove to Kareem he was one of the greats.

That disconnect between two of the best centers ever has apparently weighed on Kareem’s mind for some time, and on Tuesday night he wanted to publicly make some amends with Shaq and did so in a touching moment on TNT’s postgame show. Abdul-Jabbar joined the Tuesday night TNT desk to discuss LeBron James passing him as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, but took time at the end to make sure Shaq knew that he never had a problem with him and that he wanted Shaq to know that he loved him and appreciated his game and how he dominated.

It’s about as vulnerable a moment as you’ll get between two legends of the game on television, and it’s a pretty incredible thing to watch. You can tell how much it means to Shaq, who makes sure Kareem knows he doesn’t harbor any beef with the legend, but it’s clearly something that’s weighed on him for some time. For Kareem to ensure he had a chance to say this publicly to Shaq takes quite a bit, and I think for Shaq in particular, who lamented how long it took for he and Kobe to reconcile after Bryant’s passing, hearing this from someone he admired so much and never quite felt that same love back meant a lot.

In case you somehow hadn’t heard by now, LeBron James entered Tuesday’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder needing 36 points to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career NBA scoring record of 38,387. And in case you hadn’t heard the follow-up to that news, he broke it late in the third quarter and ended with 38 points on the night.

After the game, James fielded questions and praise from TNT’s panel of Shaquille O’Neal, Candace Parker, Jamal Crawford and Adam Lefkoe. As the postgame interview wound down, James’ former teammate, O’Neal, directed a final question toward the NBA’s new king of scoring: Does this accomplishment make him the greatest to ever play?

“I said at the beginning of this show, I wish that I would’ve had this moment, the chance to pass up Kareem,” O’Neal began. “You now have passed up Kareem. I know what my attitude would’ve been. Does this now make you the greatest player of all time? Are you now the GOAT?”

Initially, James chuckled at O’Neal’s inquiry and didn’t address it directly.

“I’m gonna let everybody else decide who that is,” James said. “But it’s great barbershop talk.”

O’Neal wouldn’t allow for that.

“No, no. I wanna hear you say it, Bron Bron,” O’Neal interjected with a smile. “Say it with your chest, Bron, Bron.”

Finally, James relented cautiously.

“I’m gonna take myself against anybody who’s ever played this game,” James said. “But everyone’s gonna have their favorite. Everyone’s gonna decide who their favorite is. But I know what I’ve brought to the table. … I always feel like I’m the best to ever play this game, but there’s so many other great ones that I’m happy to just be a part of their journey.”

Amid a night full of celebration for James, wrapping up his on-court presence with some playful commentary from a former teammate was quite fun. The two clearly enjoyed it, especially O’Neal, who delighted in pressing his friend on the topic.

On Tuesday evening, LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to break a record many believed would never be broken. With a jumper late in the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder, James reached 38,388 career points, setting the all-time record with a 36-point showing in less than three quarters, and the game was stopped for an extensive presentation featuring James, Abdul-Jabbar, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

James also signed off with an expletive that seemed to properly address the gravity of the moment, as he fought off tears to thank his family, teammates, the NBA, and the fans for getting him to this point where he could make history.

In the aftermath of the record-setting moment, luminaries from around the sports world reacted to James in wide-ranging fashion. His colleagues from around the NBA, past and present, took to Twitter to offer their reaction to witnessing greatness in real time, with many of the game’s best offering their congratulations to James on his achievement.

James’ long-time sponsor Nike also had a fitting tribute prepared for the commercial break immediately following the shot going down.

There was also a package of recorded congratulations from celebrities that aired at the start of the fourth quarter on TNT.

It was an incredible moment in NBA history, with a fitting finish to James’ record chase as he drilled a stepback that’s become one of his patented moves to take the top spot.

The NBA has a new scoring king. During Tuesday night’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James officially scored point number 38,388, meaning he surpassed the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most points scored in a career.

The moment came in the final seconds of the third quarter. With the crowd — which featured Abdul-Jabbar and a host of other celebrities — at Crypto.com Arena desperate to see the record fall, James backed down Kenrich Williams at the elbow before hitting a fadeaway jumper at the free throw line. The game stopped as a result of the bucket, which led to a ceremony to celebrate his accomplishment.

James’ pursuit of his fellow Laker was one of the main storylines surrounding the franchise entering this season. He entered the year with 37,062 career points, putting him 1,325 behind Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time mark. Still, while it was viewed as a foregone conclusion that James would obtain the top spot on the list assuming he remained healthy, he’s managed to do this in the midst of one of his most prolific years as a scorer in his NBA career — entering Tuesday night’s slate of games, James averaged 30 points per game, which would mark the fourth time he’s hit that mark and the second time he’s done it as a member of the Lakers.

Abdul-Jabbar has spoken numerous times about how excited he is to see James supplant him atop the all-time scoring list. After years of waiting, that day has finally come.

Last year, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs made their highly anticipated comeback with the fiery new album Cool It Down. They’re still not done taking over the indie world. They were already set to play a bunch of festivals, but now they’ve announced they’ll be heading out on a whole tour. They also just unveiled the music video for the track “Blacktop.”

The tour will kick off in Washington, DC in May. Festivals they’ll be hitting include Kilby Block Party, Shaky Knees, Boston Calling, and more. About the “Blacktop” video, Karen O shared a statement:

“‘Blacktop’ stuck out to me early on, the demo was very stripped down instrumentally and emotionally. It was a step towards what radical closeness feels like after a long separation. Each record has one of these diamonds in the rough that just feels like flying to me. It felt right to keep the video as stripped down and dare I say beautiful in its naïveté. David Black put us in front of his 70s analog video camera with the intention to pull stills for band shots. He had me sing to ‘Blacktop’ before I had even memorized the lyrics, I thought I knew the song by heart but it felt like an introduction, like meeting it for the first time. It wasn’t intended to end up as a video and as a return to the earliest visuals from the record it completes a circle, we’re so happy we have it, a simple layered performance for a deceptively simple song. We hope you enjoy.”

Check out the full tour dates below.

05/03 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem
05/05 – Atlanta, GA @ Shaky Knees Music Festival
05/07 – Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall +
05/09 – Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory +
05/12 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Block Party
05/13 – Pasadena, CA @ Just Like Heaven
05/26 – Allston, MA @ Boston Calling Music Festival
06/01 – Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
06/03 – Minneapolis, MN @ Armory *
06/05 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre *
06/07 – Redmond, WA @ Marymoor Live *
06/08 – Troutdale, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield *
06/10 – Berkeley, CA @ The Greek Theatre *
07/28-30 – Yuzawa, JP @ Fuji Rock Festival
08/25 – London, EN @ All Points East
08/26 – Paris, FR @ Rock en Seine
08/28 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
08/29 – Berlin, DE @ Columbiahalle

+ with The Faint
* with Perfume Genius

It took four days and 15 votes, as well as a near-altercation, but Kevin McCarthy did it: He got elected Speaker of the House. His reward? He had to sit behind Joe Biden, a president deeply unpopular amongst the GOP, during his second State of the Unio. He had a tough job to do: He had to never, ever, ever applaud or smile or make any facial expressions whatsoever when Biden touted the many good things that have happened in America under his watch. And so he spent 80 minutes looking like a miserable robot.

It began upbeat. Biden and McCarthy, who have had meetings about the debt ceiling that McCarthy has said have gone well, shared a clearly jovial rapport after Biden congratulated him on the new gig. “I don’t want to ruin your reputation, but I look forward to working with you,” Biden cracked. McCarthy laughed.

But as soon as Biden moved onto things like low unemployment, McCarthy knew he had to shut down and hold as blank an expression as possible, lest some Fox News dork wanted to make a molehill out of him applauding, lets’s say, affordable insulin.

In fact, there were a lot of times when McCarthy didn’t applaud objectively good things.

Rather than pay sole attention to Biden’s speech, people started scanning McCarthy’s face, to see if they could scan moments when he was wondering when he should applaud and how much that would enrage his easy-enraged base.

McCarthy’s resting misery face reminded a lot of people of a recent awards show look.

There were other jokes.

For the record, he did appear to shush the many GOP hecklers (possibly Marjorie Taylor Greene that time) during one of her many, many outbursts that evening.

In short, McCarthy spent the entire 80 minutes of Biden’s speech looking like he was zoning out, doing absolutely nothing while on live television, beamed to millions of TVs across the nation. And yet he somehow found time to tweet.

“One hour into this speech, and President Biden hasn’t mentioned China or our border once,” he “wrote.” Of course, it was his social media team, who were tweeting out his thoughts while he was literally doing nothing, in front of the entire country. Did they think GOP voters wouldn’t notice?

What’s more, they tweeted it just as Biden had talked about the border.

Did McCarthy even listen to Biden’s speech? Maybe he can catch up on it later, after he finds out that one of his new minions appeared to get into it with a GOP senator.