Bowen Yang Makes Emmy History With Fourth Nomination

Bowen Yang has officially made Emmy history by becoming the most-nominated Asian male performer in the acting categories, securing his fourth nomination for Saturday Night Live.

Bowen with Las Cultaristas partner Matt Rogers. Instagram: @fayedunaway
Bowen with Las Cultaristas partner Matt Rogers. Instagram: @fayedunaway

Yang earned the nod for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, thanks to another season of standout performances and unforgettable sketches on the legendary NBC late-night show.

He joins a talented list of fellow nominees this year, including Ike Barinholtz for The Studio, Colman Domingo for The Four Seasons, Harrison Ford and Michael Urie for Shrinking, Jeff Hiller for Somebody Somewhere, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach for The Bear.

While Sandra Oh still holds the overall record for most nominations by an Asian performer with fourteen, Yang’s fourth acting nomination cements his legacy as a trailblazer for Asian men in television comedy.

Yang first made headlines in 2018 when he was hired as a writer on SNL before becoming the show’s first Asian cast member.

In 2021, he became the first featured player on the show to be nominated for an Emmy in an acting category, a historic moment that set the stage for the accolades to come.

Bowen at a party with Dylan Efron. Instagram: @fayedunaway
Bowen at a party with Dylan Efron. Instagram: @fayedunaway

This year, SNL celebrated its 50th anniversary, and Yang featured prominently in the commemorative specials.

Reflecting on the experience, Yang called being a part of SNL 50 “something I’ll reflect on for the rest of my life.”

His season highlights included a wide range of comedic brilliance, from reuniting with his Wicked co-star Ariana Grande in “Charades With Mom,” to the college-bro spoof “One Uppers” alongside Jack Black.

But perhaps the most laugh-out-loud moment was Yang’s portrayal of Moo Deng, a talking baby hippo with serious sass.

Instagram: @fayedunaway
Instagram: @fayedunaway

Outside the studio, Yang continues to make waves in entertainment.

He co-hosts the popular podcast Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and was recently named to Variety’s Comedy Impact List for 2025.

He also stars as Pfannee in the highly anticipated film adaptation of Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu, opposite Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jeff Goldblum.

The film marks the first of two major motion picture releases based on the hit Broadway musical, with Wicked: For Good scheduled to follow on November 21.

From breaking barriers on SNL to casting spells on the big screen, Bowen Yang continues to shine—one joke, one nomination, and one fierce performance at a time.

Conservatives Fume Over Gay Dads on Frontier Reality Show

Jason and Joe Hanna-Riggs, a married gay couple from Dallas, are making waves — and drawing ire — for appearing in the new reality series Back to the Frontier, which premiered on July 10 on HBO Max and Magnolia Network.

Instagram: @2\_dallas\_dads
Instagram: @2_dallas_dads

The show challenges three modern-day families to give up 21st-century conveniences and live as homesteaders in the 1880s, with no running water or electricity.

Among the families chosen were Jason and Joe, along with their twin 10-year-old sons, Ethan and Lucas, making them the first same-sex family to participate in the series.

While many viewers celebrated the inclusion of a queer family, conservative Christian voices erupted in outrage.

Instagram: @2\_dallas\_dads
Instagram: @2_dallas_dads

Anti-LGBTQ+ pastor Franklin Graham expressed disappointment online, calling their participation “sin” and warning it promoted a lifestyle contrary to “God’s design.”

Other Christian commentators took it even further, accusing the show of promoting “pederasty” and “sodomite couples,” with one commentator on the site Crossmap alleging the show engaged in “worldly brainwashing.”

Many of these reactions appeared to stem from an assumption that Chip and Joanna Gaines — executive producers of the show and co-founders of the Magnolia Network — shared their conservative values.

Instagram: @2\_dallas\_dads
Instagram: @2_dallas_dads

Chip Gaines, however, responded on social media by urging critics to ask questions and show compassion, writing, “Talk, ask questions, listen… maybe even learn.”

Jason Hanna spoke to Queerty about what inspired their participation in the show, saying he saw another gay couple in promotional materials and wanted to contribute to visibility and representation.

He shared that their boys were born via surrogacy in 2014, during a time when they faced legal barriers to being recognized as co-parents, and that this appearance is part of a broader journey to normalize same-sex families.

Instagram: @2\_dallas\_dads
Instagram: @2_dallas_dads

On Instagram, the couple — known as @2_dallas_dads — posted about the challenge and honor of participating, noting, “We traveled back with two other families to give up modern comforts and embark on a journey back to the 1800s frontier.”

They admitted the experience was physically and emotionally taxing, but said it was worth the struggle to continue advocating for same-sex families and fighting for broader acceptance.

The family’s inclusion in the show has drawn praise from LGBTQ+ groups and supporters who see it as a positive step for visibility, especially in traditionally conservative spaces like reality TV about rural family life.

As controversy simmers, the Hanna-Riggs family is staying focused on the bigger picture: showing that queer families are, simply, families — no more, no less — navigating parenthood, survival, and prejudice with love, humor, and grit.

Conan Gray’s ‘Vodka Cranberry’ Is a Queer Heartbreak Anthem

Conan Gray is diving deep into queer heartbreak with the release of his newest single Vodka Cranberry, a delicate and emotional ballad laced with longing and cinematic drama.

Instagram: @conangray
Instagram: @conangray

Dropped on July 11 via Republic Records and Universal Music Canada, Vodka Cranberry serves as the second single from Gray’s upcoming album Wishbone, set for release on August 15.

The track reunites Gray with producer Dan Nigro, known for his ability to craft sweeping, emotionally charged soundscapes.

Gray’s vocals, aching and vulnerable, explore the slow ache of a breakup that never quite resolves, a wound that throbs instead of heals.

“Vodka Cranberry” isn’t just a song—it’s a slow burn of sorrow and storytelling, unfolding like a cinematic short film for the ears.

The emotional depth of the track is amplified by a lush music video directed by Danica Kleinknecht (also known as Mk.gee), shot on Kodak 35mm film in Gray’s home state of Texas.

Instagram: @conangray
Instagram: @conangray

The video continues the visual narrative introduced in his earlier single This Song, starring Corey Fogelmanis from Girl Meets World as Gray’s onscreen love interest.

The story follows a couple, Wilson and Brandon, on a romantic road trip across the American Southwest, filled with dreamlike moments—tent cuddles, gas station snacks, lakeside kisses—and a sense of tender queer intimacy.

Instagram: @conangray
Instagram: @conangray

But as the journey continues, cracks begin to show. In a dimly lit dive bar, Conan’s character reaches for his partner’s hand and is met with silence, foreshadowing the heartbreak to come.

Eventually, the montage of memories gives way to a gut-wrenching twist as his lover quietly slips away while Gray’s character sleeps, leaving behind only tears and the jingle of keys.

Fans have reacted passionately online, flooding social media with comments like “album of the year already” and “this mv completely destroyed me.”

Instagram: @conangray
Instagram: @conangray

Many praised the video for its authenticity and emotional depth, as well as its unapologetic commitment to telling queer stories with nuance and beauty.

Some fans have already admitted to adding the track to their “cry in the shower” playlists.

With Wishbone set to arrive this August, it’s clear that Gray is leaning even further into cinematic storytelling, coupling raw vulnerability with striking queer visuals.

If Vodka Cranberry is any indication, Gray’s next album will be a heartbreak symphony wrapped in queer romance—and his most personal work yet.

Boy George Critiques Queer Identity Politics: “We’re Not a Monolith”

Boy George is no stranger to stirring conversation, and in a recent interview, the iconic Culture Club frontman opened up about his complex relationship with LGBTQ+ identity politics.

Boy George. Instagram: @boygeorgeofficial
Boy George. Instagram: @boygeorgeofficial

Speaking to The Times, the openly gay pop legend expressed his belief that modern queer identity politics haven’t helped the community as much as many might think.

“I don’t think it’s helped anyone,” George said, emphasizing that queer people shouldn’t be lumped into one group or ideology.

“We’re not a thing,” he added. “It’s like, ‘This is what Black people are, this is what Jewish people are, this is what trans people are.’ No!”

George argued that identity politics often miss the mark by treating marginalized groups as homogenous, when in fact everyone is fundamentally different.

Boy George in Moulin Rogue this spring. Instagram: @boygeorgeofficial
Boy George in Moulin Rogue this spring. Instagram: @boygeorgeofficial

“Everybody is diverse because nobody is like anybody else,” he said. “So you’re starting from the wrong perspective.”

Never one to shy away from blunt phrasing, George added, “Nobody gets to choose what color eyes they have, how big their penis is, how fat their arse is.”

Boy George in Moulin Rogue this spring. Instagram: @boygeorgeofficial
Boy George in Moulin Rogue this spring. Instagram: @boygeorgeofficial

Earlier in the conversation, the “Karma Chameleon” singer also reflected on transphobia, especially in digital spaces, saying, “Trans people are the new people to hate,” and questioned how much of that hostility actually exists offline.

“There’s the world on the internet, which is hideous and full of anger. Then there’s the real world, which is entirely different.”

George has faced controversy before, including accusations of transphobia in 2020 after tweeting “Leave your pronouns at the door!”

However, he has repeatedly defended the trans community, including during his ongoing feud with J.K. Rowling, calling the Harry Potter author “a rich, bored bully” for her anti-trans rhetoric.

For George, labels and sexual orientation are not the point.

“If I’m lucky, my own sexuality takes up about three hours a month,” he quipped. “We’ve all got cats to feed, families to visit, jobs to do.”

He recalled a quote from his youth: “Being gay is like eating a bag of crisps. It’s so not important.”

In a nod to his theatrical roots, George also spoke about his 2002 musical Taboo, based on his friend Leigh Bowery.

The show explored themes of fluidity and nonconformity, including Bowery’s unconventional relationship with his wife Nicola, which George described as “tender and full of love.”

Reflecting on Leigh Bowery’s legacy, George said, “He wouldn’t have wanted to be called a blueprint for gay identity. He would have hated that.”

As he works to revive Taboo in a new era of queer dialogue, Boy George remains, as ever, defiantly himself—refusing easy categorization and asking bold, uncomfortable questions about how we define each other.

Gay Actor Derek Dixon on Tyler Perry’s Alleged Sexual Assault

Tyler Perry, the powerhouse media mogul behind dozens of films, plays, and the hit BET series The Oval, is now at the center of multiple sexual misconduct allegations that are sending shockwaves through the entertainment industry.

Instagram: @derek\_\_dixon
Instagram: @derek__dixon

The most high-profile of these comes from Derek Dixon, an actor who appeared in over 80 episodes of The Oval. In June 2025, Dixon filed a $260 million lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, accusing Perry of sexual assault, harassment, and coercion.

Dixon, who identifies as an out gay man, claims that Perry made several unwanted sexual advances toward him, including groping, pinning him against a wall, and sneaking into his bed uninvited. He alleges a pattern of predatory behavior, claiming that Perry exploited his position of power over male actors in his productions.

Instagram: @derek\_\_dixon
Instagram: @derek__dixon

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Dixon said, “Everyone deserves to go to work and do their job without their boss trying to have sex with them.” He filed a sexual harassment complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in June 2024 and left the show shortly after.

Braxton Wells, another actor, also came forward in July 2025 with even more disturbing allegations. In a series of Instagram videos, Wells accused Mark E. Swinton, the senior vice president of scripted programming at Tyler Perry Studios, of grooming and raping him under false pretenses. He alleges that Swinton flew him from Los Angeles to Georgia and used his position of influence to commit the assault.

Wells claims that Perry was aware of the incident and complicit in covering it up. In his video, Wells called out multiple names linked to Perry’s studio, including Swinton, Perry himself, and other alleged enablers, accusing them of hiding behind NDAs, lawyers, and Hollywood politics.

Instagram: @derek\_\_dixon
Instagram: @derek__dixon

“You built your empire on the image of a God-fearing man,” Wells said, “but when darkness crept in through your own executive, you chose silence.”

These aren’t the first accusations linked to Perry’s orbit. In late 2023, actor Christian Keyes, who worked on Diary of a Mad Black Woman, went live on Instagram to describe being sexually harassed for years by an unnamed “Black Hollywood billionaire.” While he never directly named Perry, many drew conclusions based on their professional history together.

Perry’s legal team has firmly denied the allegations. Attorney Matthew Boyd called Dixon’s lawsuit “a scam” and said Perry would not be intimidated. “Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail,” Boyd said in a statement.

Despite the denials, the allegations have raised questions about power dynamics and abuse within Perry’s empire, which has long positioned itself as faith-driven and family-oriented. Neither Perry nor anyone from Tyler Perry Studios has issued a public statement in response to Braxton Wells’s accusations as of now.

While the court cases are just beginning to unfold, these claims have cast a shadow over one of Hollywood’s most powerful figures, signaling a moment of reckoning for an empire built on personal narrative, inspiration—and now, scrutiny.