News Round-Up: March 11, 2019

Jonas Brothers score their very first #1 song

Some news items you might have missed:

• The Jonas Brothers have officially topped the Billboard Hot 100 with their come-back single “Sucker." It's the Jo Bros first number one (previous high was #5) and first boy band #1 in sixteen years.

• Democratic Presidential contender Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) said this weekend that she never supported conversion therapy, despite working for an organization that promoted it.

• Milwaukee beat out Houston and Miami for the 2020 Democratic Convention scheduled for July 13-16, 2020. Since the Democratic ticket barely lost usually 'true blue' Wisconsin in 2016, this makes perfect sense.

• This idiot not only got a beat down for grabbing the employee at McDonalds, but he was sentenced to 60 days in jail. The customer was apparently irate he couldn't find a straw. Watch him get more than he bargained for below.

• Jussie Smollett's lawyer, Mark Geragos, says the former Empire star is getting 'gang-banged' by the media.

• A Brazilian politician called same-sex kissing ‘obscene’ and suggested it could be punishable with prison time.

• Speaking of Brazil, Donald Trump has invited the country's newly-installed, virulently anti-LGBTQ president, Jair Bolsonaro, to visit at the White House. #OfCourse

•Music icon Olivia Newton-John celebrates the release of her first memoir, Don't Stop Believin'.

With her trademark positive outlook, the Grease star shares personal anecdotes including a new afterword (added after the Australian printing) of her stay in her own hospital, the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research  Centre, last fall when she experienced a fractured sacrum.

The four-time Grammy Award winner went undercover for a few weeks for treatment and shares how proud she is of the world-class facility.

She also shares never-before-told stories from her 50+ year-old career in entertainment.

You can order the book on Amazon here.

News Round-Up: March 1, 2019

Pietro Boselli (image via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• If anyone was ever born to wear a white Speedo, it's Pietro Boselli (above).

• Drag series Canada's a Drag will return for a second season.

• Mike Pence says he couldn't be more proud of his wife teaching at an anti-LGBTQ school.

• The mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska, vetoed legislation that would have protected LGBTQ people from discrimination.

• If you wanted to see this year's 'Hottest Chorus Boys on Broadway,' you could click here for a peek.

• Meghan Markle and Prince Harry plan to raise their child in a gender-neutral nursery and environment.

• The Jonas Brothers dropped their first new music in six years at midnight last night - "Sucker."

The first round of Jonas fame was a bit too young/teeny bopper for me, but now that the guys have grown up (and so well, may I add?) I'm happy to give them a peek.

The good news is the new track is a catchy pop bop that's easy to listen to, and the video is fun with the guys and their wives/significant others playing house in a huge Edwardian mansion.

They've taken some plot points from the recently Oscar-nominated The Favourite, but I'm not getting bogged down in that while Nick, Joe and Kevin offer such 'easy on the eyes' candy.

Take a look below.

Jonas Brothers: "It's over for now"

Since I've posted about the Jonas Brothers recently (especially Nick Jonas and his ever-fab biceps), I thought I'd share this from PEOPLE, who seem to have the inside scoop on the recent cancellation of the Jo-Bro tour:

Nearly three weeks after the Jonas Brothers announced they were canceling their tour due to a "deep rift within the band," the brothers tell PEOPLE that they've decided to call it quits.

"It's over for now," Kevin Jonas says.

"It's really hard to say 'forever,' " says Nick. "We're closing a chapter, for sure."

"It was a unanimous decision," says Joe.

Although drug abuse rumors abounded, PEOPLE quotes Nick Jonas as saying he "felt trapped" and had to tell his brother how he felt, which led to the break up of the band.

Jonas Brothers cancel 19 city tour over argument

Not sure what happened, but it looks like a disagreement over this past weekend resulted in the Jonas Brothers tour (slated to start this coming Friday) has been cancelled.

From the Today Show:

Spokesman Jesse Derris confirmed a report by People magazine that there was a "deep rift" in the group, and a "big disagreement over their music direction."

According to the magazine, a weekend argument among brothers Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas resulted in the tour's cancellation.

The tour was scheduled to begin Friday. As of Wednesday afternoon, the Jonas Brothers website was still advertising the 19 concerts and still allowed visitors to click through to buy tickets.

Ticket holders should instead seek a refund wherever they bought their tickets, Derris told TODAY.
The Jonas Brothers won the breakthrough artist honor at the 2008 American Music Awards. In 2008 and 2009, they starred in their own Disney Channel original series.

The Jonas Brothers talk gay rumors and twerking in OUT Magazine

Pictured (from left): Joe, Kevin, and Nick Jonas | Photography by Kai Z Feng

Out Magazine has released pics and a "behind the scenes" video from the recent photo shoot with the Jonas Brothers.

In the accompanying Q&A the brothers address taking time off, gay rumors and how much "twerking" is enough...

• On taking time off to focus on solo projects:

Kevin: For seven years, it was nonstop. We had moments where we got frustrated with one another and we really just needed time alone. You can imagine what it’s like for a band to be together all the time, but imagine if they’re family, too. Taking that break was so nice because we worked our asses off, but we did things for ourselves. Then, we came back at the right time to do this all over again.


• Addressing the constant rumors of "boy banders" being gay:

Joe: We have a lot of gay friends and gay fans. It’s a boy band stereotype; people assume, but we don’t take offense.

Nick: Prior to us being a band, I was a super theater geek. I loved theater and I still do, and I care about fashion, and I care about a lot of things that I feel like stereotypes are attached to.

Joe: [Being in Out] is a moment for us for sure. We keep saying, “Well, it’s about time.”


• On whether twerking has reached a saturation point:

Joe: I’m great [with twerking]. I’m with it.

Nick: I’m against it. I’ve just reached my limit. It’s just done. It’s too much.

Joe: Bring it on. I’m a fan. I just think it’s appropriate for the right people. Not everyone can twerk.

Nick: Anybody that’s on Diplo’s page — have you seen his Instagram? It’s impressive.

Kevin: I’m straight down the middle. The right amount at the right time.