Joshua Rush speaks about playing Disney Channel’s first gay character
Last year, teen Disney show Andi Mack made headlines, and got banned across Africa, after Joshua Rush’s character, Cyrus Goodman, came out as gay. In the first episode of the second season, shown in the US in October, Cyrus bravely told his friend Buffy (Sofia Wylie) that he had feelings for another boy. This meant […]
‘Inxeba’ banned because gay sex will cause “tension in society”
The Film & Publication Board Appeals Tribunal (FPBAT) has confirmed that homophobia is behind why it gave Inxeba (The Wound) an adult-only rating, effectively banning it. On Friday, the tribunal finally released the justifications for its decision last week to change the film’s original rating of 16LS to X18 (usually reserved for pornographic material), outraging […]
Review: Call Me By Your Name
At first glance you might suspect that Call Me By Your Name, nominated for the best picture Oscar, is another one of those pretentious European art film releases. It has many of the warning signs: There’s the languid pace, the Italian countryside setting, academic discussions and a precocious teen who plays classical piano and speaks […]
Brendan Fraser says he was molested by SA-born Hollywood chief
American actor Brendan Fraser has claimed that his career faltered after he was groped by a South African-born Hollywood bigwig. In a new interview with GQ, titled Whatever Happened to Brendan Fraser, the 49-year-old star revealed that the incident had a profound impact on his personal and professional life. According to Fraser, the sexual misconduct […]
“We’re not going anywhere” – Nakhane Touré’s powerful response to ‘Inxeba’ ban
Nakhane Touré, the star of Inxeba (The Wound), has reacted with defiance to the news that the film has effectively been banned in South Africa. Touré, who’s received international acclaim for his role as a closeted Xhosa factory worker in the gay love story, has been subjected to death threats for starring in the movie. In a […]
Britney Spears to be honoured for supporting LGBTQ community
Pop icon Britney Spears is set to be honoured for being an LGBTQ supporter and ally at the 29th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. The multi-platinum, Grammy-winning star will receive the LGBTQ media lobby group’s Vanguard Award on Thursday, 12 April in Los Angeles. The award is presented to media professionals “who have made a significant […]
Bitter court dispute puts Brenda Fassie movie on hold
A movie about one of South Africa’s greatest LGBT icons has been stalled over a dispute about who owns the rights to Brenda Fassie’s music. Last month, it was revealed with great fanfare that UK-based production company, Showbizbee, alongside Brenda’s son, Bongani, would be producing the eagerly anticipated biopic. The company even announced a nationwide open […]
Threatened ‘Inxeba (The Wound)’ cast go into hiding
Amid reports that cast members of Inxeba (The Wound) have been moved to a place of safety, the SA Human Rights Commission has condemned threats of violence around the film’s release. On Thursday, the Herald reported that Inxeba’s actors have been provided with a “place of refuge”. Producer Elias Ribeiro was quoted by the newspaper as saying: […]
SA’s first LGBTI TV show celebrates coming out the closet
A new series that explores the diverse experiences of coming out the closet is said to be the first television show in South Africa to specifically target the LGBTI community. I Was In the Closet, hosted by the Reverend Dr Tebo Moema, aims to highlight both the triumphs and the struggles faced by members of the LGBTI […]
Katy Perry says she’d write ‘I Kissed a Girl’ differently today
American pop singer and songwriter Katy Perry has revealed that she has some reservations about her massive decade-old hit I Kissed a Girl. The song, which launched the singer into stardom with the chorus, “I kissed a girl and I liked it,” sparked much debate at the time of its release. While some saw it […]