News Round-Up: June 7, 2018

(image via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• I know, I know - It's Thursday and shirting is hard...

• The story of the secret love affair between two of the most popular leading men of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Tab Hunter and Anthony Perkins, is heading to the big screen thanks to Zachary Quinto and J.J. Abrams.

• A Southern California mother has been sentenced to life in prison and her boyfriend was sentenced to death for the killing of an 8-year-old boy who prosecutors say was punished because the couple believed he was gay. #Good

• A new poll by Quinnipiac University shows a majority of Americans - 58% - don't find football players taking a knee during the national anthem to be 'unpatriotic.'

• Porn star and Donald Trump paramour Stormy Daniels is launching a new perfume and it's name is... TRUTH.

• Season 2 of Netflix's Queer Eye lands June 15. The Fab Five have a whole new crop of men to makeover — and a woman!

"We're doing a lady," says Bobby. "I haven't done a lady in years," responds apparent bisexual legend Antoni. Check out the new trailer below!

#TakeAKnee Movement Spreads After Trump Attacks Pro Athletes For Silent Protest

After Donald Trump continued his attack on NFL players who choose to take a knee during the National Anthem, the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday morning announced they will not appear on the field until the ceremony has concluded.

Trump took to Twitter this morning saying owners of NFL teams should fire players who refuse to stand for the National Anthem in a silent protest of racism and injustice.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin broke the news to CBS: "We will not bow on the field. We're not participating in the anthem today."

"These are very divisive times for our country. For us, as a football team, it's about us remaining solid. We are not going to be divided by anything said by anyone. That's the thing that I posted to our guys. I said, 'If you feel the need to do anything, I'm going to be supportive of that. As Americans, you have that right.' But whatever we do, we're gonna do 100 percent, we're gonna do together. We're not gonna let divisive times or divisive individuals affect our agenda. This collection of men, we're chasing something here in 2017, and we're not gonna play politics with football players, with football coaches."

"We're not participating in the anthem today. Not to be disrespectful to the anthem, to remove ourselves from the circumstance. People shouldn't have to choose. If a guy wants to go about his normal business and participate in the anthem, he shouldn't be forced to choose sides. If a guy feels the need to do something, he shouldn't be separated from his teammate who chooses not to. So we're not participating today. That's our decision. We're gonna be 100 percent. We came here to play a football game. That's our intentions, and we're going to play and play to win."

And over in London, where the Jaguars and the Ravens are playing, players linked arms in solidarity.

This is quite moving to see these men stand together on principle.

This is just beginning of the #TakeTheKnee protests.

RETWEET to show solidarity with the NFL PLAYERS who #TakeAKnee#TakeAStandTakeAKnee pic.twitter.com/eNBssSDrI4

— Red T Raccoon (@RedTRaccoon) September 24, 2017

And it got bigger from there. Via USAToday:

Several players from the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons were among those who chose not to stand for the anthem. The Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets stood with arms locked, though some players from those teams chose to kneel.

Statement from #Patriots Chairman & CEO Robert Kraft: pic.twitter.com/f5DJeK0Woj

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 24, 2017

And now the movement has spread to Major League Baseball as the Oakland A's catcher, Bruce Maxwell, became the first MLB player to take a knee. Note: Maxwell comes from a military family.

A's catcher Bruce Maxwell becomes the first MLB player to kneel for the national anthem. pic.twitter.com/oFnOdpY2tX

— SI MLB (@si_mlb) September 24, 2017

Trump Doubles Down On NFL Attacks: "Stand For The National Anthem Or Get Fired"

Athletically-challenged Donald Trump doubled down on his attacks on NFL players who choose to take a knee during the playing of the national anthem before football games saying they should "find something else to do!"

"If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL, or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect....our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU'RE FIRED. Find something else to do!"

This follows his comments last night at a rally in Alabama where he told the crowd, “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a b—- off the field right now. He is fired.'”

Mind you, this is all going on while thousands of Americans in Puerto Rico are trying to survive without electric power after being savaged by Hurricane Maria. But Trump is picking fights with football players over 1st Amendment rights.

If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL,or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

...our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU'RE FIRED. Find something else to do!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

Just so we're clear...

NFL Slaps Back At Donald Trump's Attacks On Players "Taking A Knee"

Roger Goodell

Donald Trump started a firestorm last night at a rally in Alabama when he attacked NFL football players who take a knee during the national anthem.

From USAToday:

"Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a b---- off the field right now. Out. He's fired. He's fired!”

The audience then chanted "USA!”

"You know, some owner's going to do that," Trump continued. "He's going to say, 'That guy who disrespects our flag, he's fired.'"

He encouraged fans to walk out of stadiums if they see a player taking a knee in protest.

This is where I should probably point out that "taking a knee" is basically a First Amendment right. The U.S. Constitution protects free speech and freedom of expression.

Let's see, where have we seen citizens forced to stand and swear allegiance to a flag/country that they don't feel treats them with justice? Let me think, it'll come to me... #Hitler #Nazis

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Trump's "divisive comments" were unacceptable, "showing an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities."

Watch Goodell's response below.

“This union...will never back down when it comes to protecting the constitutional rights of our players as citizens as well as their safety as men who compete in a game that exposes them to great risks,” said DeMaurice Smith, head of the NFL Players Association, via Twitter.

We will never back down. We no longer can afford to stick to sports. pic.twitter.com/Ec3Bc4qt9h

— DeMaurice Smith (@DeSmithNFLPA) September 23, 2017

An entire island full of Americans in Puerto Rico are without power right now, and @POTUS is cursing out NFL players at his campaign rally.

— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) September 23, 2017

Working people are hurting. Puerto Rico is underwater. The President is starting a flame war with an NBA player. Unbelievable. https://t.co/eLp2ccGyHN

— David Cicilline (@davidcicilline) September 23, 2017

But the best response to Trump's rant came from Kaepernick's mom: "Guess that makes me a proud bitch!"

Guess that makes me a proud bitch!

— Teresa Kaepernick (@B4IleaveU) September 23, 2017