President Trump is NOT taking homophobic potshots at Pete Buttigieg -- instead, he's saying the Democratic candidate's sexual preference won't be a factor ... for most Americans, anyway.
The door was opened wide for POTUS to make a wisecrack about Buttigieg when he was a guest Thursday on Geraldo Rivera's iHeart radio show. Geraldo asked, "Would Americans vote for a gay man to be President?"
Trump quickly said, "I think so." He went even further down the high road when he acknowledged it would be an issue for some voters, but added ... "I wouldn't be among that group to be honest with you."
Let's keep it real ... most Democratic supporters have been waiting for, and even expecting, Trump to weaponize Buttigieg's sexuality. Well, no dice. Prime example of the Prez zigging when everyone thought he'd zag.
Of course, the same can't be said for the man he honored with the Medal of Freedom ... Rush Limbaugh. When the Buttigieg subject came up on his show Wednesday, Limbaugh went on a disgustingly homophobic rant about Trump and Buttigieg appearing on a debate stage together.
He said, "Okay, how's this going to look, 37-year-old gay guy kissing his husband on stage next to Mr. Man Donald Trump? What's going to happen there?"
Limbaugh even added, "Can you see Trump have fun with that?" Clearly, he expected the President to follow in his homophobic footsteps.
Lil Nas X is applauding Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union for supporting their 12-year-old kid who is now identifying as female ... and he's also got some advice for Zaya.
The "Old Town Road" singer, who came out last year, weighed in on Zaya's big announcement Wednesday at LAX ... explaining why it's important for kids to have parents in their corner when they reveal their truth.
As you know ... the NBA legend appeared on 'The Ellen Show' Tuesday and told the world his kid identifies as a female after being born male.
Dwyane and Gabrielle are being super supportive of Zaya coming out as transgender, and their oldest son, Zaire, also says he'll always have his sibling's back ... and Lil Nas X says the family backing is super important for anyone in Zaya's shoes.
Zaya's also spoken out against folks who may disagree with her announcement ... saying, "What's the point of being on this earth if you're gonna try to be someone you're not? It's like you're not even living as yourself, which is like the dumbest concept to me."
Lil Nas X acknowledges this is just the beginning of Zaya's new life ... and he's got some sage advice for the challenges ahead.
Dwyane Wade's oldest son, Zaire, is making it crystal clear he will always have his sibling's back ... posting an emotional message to Zaya after coming out as transgender.
The NBA legend appeared on 'The Ellen Show' Tuesday and revealed his 12-year-old identified as female ... and shared how his family is supporting her.
18-year-old Zaire is now speaking out on the announcement ... saying "I have been blessed to have my best friend, Zaya with me for 12 years."
"We did everything together...we fought, we played, we laughed and we cried. But the one thing we never did was leave each other behind... "
Zaire continued ... "I’ve told you that I would lay my life down to make sure you are ten toes down and happy on this earth."
"I don’t care what they think Z, you are my best friend and I love you kid, and if it means anything, just know there’s no love lost on this side."
Zaire's always been supportive of Zaya ... and even went with her to the Miami Pride parade last year.
As for Zaya, she spoke out against those who may disagree with her announcement ... saying "What's the point of being on this earth if you're gonna try to be someone you're not? It's like you're not even living as yourself, which is like the dumbest concept to me."
"It's just like, be true and don't really care what the stereotypical way of being you is."
5:33 PM PT -- Jussie's attorney, Tina Glandian, is also questioning the timing of the indictment, saying, "the attempt to re-prosecute Mr. Smollett one year later on the eve of the Cook County State's Attorney election is clearly all about politics not justice."
UPDATE
She also says ... "After more than five months of investigation, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has not found any evidence of wrongdoing whatsoever related to the dismissal of the charges against Mr. Smollett. Rather, the charges were appropriately dismissed the first time because they were not supported by the evidence."
UPDATE
2:59 PM PT -- Foxx's campaign is calling out the timing of the special prosecutor's announcement saying, "What's questionable here is the James Comey-like timing of that charging decision, just 35 days before an election, which can only be interpreted as the further politicization of the judicial system, something voters in the era of Donald Trump should consider offensive."
Jussie Smollett is facing felony charges in Chicago again -- the special prosecutor just announced an indictment against the actor for the alleged homophobic attack against him last year.
A grand jury handed up the new indictment against Jussie on Tuesday. Dan Webb was appointed special prosecutor for the case last summer. We're told he's now facing 6 felony counts for lying to law enforcement. The indictment calls the 6 charges "disorderly conduct," but all 6 involve allegations of lying to cops.
This effectively re-opens the controversial case that led to Smollett getting fired from "Empire."
Special Prosecutor Webb says Jussie "planned and participated in a staged hate crime attack, and thereafter made numerous false statements to Chicago Police Dept. officers."
Webb adds the new charges -- pared down from 16 to 6 -- were re-filed "in the interest of justice." Webb was critical of the State's Attorney who dismissed the case, saying Kim Foxx's office had no additional evidence from what the Grand Jury had when they indicted Smollett in the first place, so the dismissal made no sense.
Jussie and his attorneys had staged a legal battle against the special prosecutor, saying it would expose him to double jeopardy. That effort was shot down in court. You'll recall Cook County prosecutors dropped all 16 felony counts against Smollett in March 2019 ... calling it a "just disposition and appropriate resolution," but not an exoneration.
That decision pissed off Chicago law enforcement -- and in August, Webb was appointed special prosecutor to investigate how the case was handled, and if there was any reason to renew charges.
A source connected to Jussie tells us, "The officers who re-investigated the case are the same ones who originally investigated it. These officers are currently being sued by Smollett. They have also spent taxpayer money on having these officers go to Los Angeles and harass members of Smollett's team and friends."
We're told Jussie still maintains his innocence, and finds the timing of the indictment interesting -- because Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx is up for re-election next month. He plans to plead not guilty.
Jussie will be arraigned February 24. We're told he faces up to 3 years in state prison if convicted.
You'll recall, Jussie claimed he was attacked on a frigid night in Chicago by 2 white men who put a rope around his neck and doused him with bleach while yelling racial and homophobic slurs.
However, 2 black men -- brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo -- were eventually detained, and told police Jussie paid them to stage the whole attack.
After the new indictment, the Osundairos' attorney, Gloria Schmidt, says they remain "fully committed to the public knowing the truth" about the so-called attack -- and will cooperate with the investigation. However, they did not testify before the new grand jury. Instead, the panel relied on the brothers' previous testimony.
"What's the point of being on this earth if you're gonna try to be someone you're not? It's like you're not even living as yourself, which is like the dumbest concept to me.
"It's just like, be true and don't really care what the stereotypical way of being you is."
She added, "Even through hard times, you gotta push through. It's worth it when you reach that point of yourself."
Gabrielle Union posted the video of Zaya talking about the announcement, saying "She's compassionate, loving, whip smart and we are so proud of her. It’s Ok to listen to, love & respect your children exactly as they are. Love and light good people."
NBA legend Dwyane Wade just revealed his 12-year-old now identifies as female ... saying his child asked him and his wife, Gabrielle Union, to call her Zaya.
"Zion, born as a boy, came home and said, 'Hey, so, I want to talk to you guys. I think going forward I'm ready to live my truth." Wade said on "The Ellen Show."
"And, I want to be referenced as she and her. I would love for you guys to call me Zaya.'"
Wade discussed his support for Zaya and the LGBTQ+ community in a powerful interview with Ellen DeGeneres ... saying he and Gabrielle couldn't be more proud of her.
“We take our roles and responsibilities as parents very seriously. So, when our child comes home with a question ... it’s our job as parents to listen to that to give them the best information that we can, the best feedback that we can, and that doesn’t change now that sexuality [and gender] is involved.”
Wade has been incredibly outspoken about his support for Zaya ... and clapped back at people criticizing her in a family photo back on Thanksgiving.
"Stupidity is a part of this world we live in — so I get it. But, here's the thing — I've been chosen to lead my family, not y'all," Wade said at the time.
"So we will continue to be us and support each other with pride, love & a smile!"
In fact, Union and Zaire Wade took Zaya to the Miami Pride parade back in 2019.
Wade went on to explain, “I looked at her and said you are a leader ... It’s our opportunity to allow you to be a voice. Right now, it’s through us because she’s 12 years old, but eventually, it will be through her.”
Oscar Isaac is damn near closing the door on that galaxy far, far away -- strongly hinting he'll never play Poe Dameron again ... Disney "overlords" be damned.
The 'Star Wars' actor was outside The Mercer in NYC when he told us he's "probably not" going to return to his role as a commander in the Resistance's Starfighter Corps ... and his tone sounded even more definitive than that.
Oscar's not necessarily done anything to ingratiate himself with Disney -- the owners of the iconic film franchise -- since the release of the final movie in the third trilogy, 'The Rise of Skywalker.'
He came out shortly afterward and said "Disney overlords were not ready" to explore a "current-thinking love story" between his Poe character and the Finn character played by John Boyega ... despite claiming he tried to push things in that direction.
Many fans viewed Isaac's outspokenness as a sign he was done with 'Star Wars,' and based on what he told us ... seems their suspicions are confirmed.
Of course, Boyega had some rough moments with the Mouse House too -- losing his 'Skywalker' script, and then that laying pipe comment.
Ross Mathews is slamming the Iowa caucus-goer who wanted to take back her vote for Pete Buttigieg after finding out he's gay ... calling her a homophobe and grossly uninformed.
We got Ross in New York City and asked about the woman's anti-gay rant after discovering Pete is married to a man.
Ross says he's blown away that someone did NOT know Pete's sexual orientation ... as he points out, presidential hopefuls like Buttigieg have only been campaigning in Iowa for 2 freakin' years!!!
The TV personality adds the woman needs to get a clue, and says everyone should do their homework on the candidates.
Ross is also questioning the woman's attempt to take back her vote for Pete ... he says a same-sex marriage should not be a deal-breaker for Prez.
While Pete's still got a long road to make it to the White House, Ross predicts there will absolutely be a gay President one day ... and he tells us why it would spell good news for the Oval Office.
Pete Buttigieg seemed to lose at least one supporter during this week's caucusing in Iowa, and it's all because the woman found he was gay AFTER she cast her vote.
Check out this video from Monday night when a caucus-goer from the city of Cresco in Howard County learns Mayor Pete is, in fact, married to a man ... which came as news to her after she'd already cast her ballot for him. She asks if she can take her vote back.
The Buttigieg precinct captain, Nikki Heever, tells her she's not sure if they can do that ... and then engages in an illuminating convo with the lady about religion and homophobia.
Heever tries to explain it shouldn't matter who a person is married to -- all that should matter in this context is what they believe in and stand for ... but this voter wasn't having it. She insisted the Bible preaches against homosexuality and stuck to her guns.
It's unclear if the woman was able to change her vote in the end, but it's pretty crazy to see that her way of thinking is alive and well ... and can literally be THE difference-maker.
We're on our way to New Hampshire, on to the nomination, and on to chart a bold new course for our country. But only if you're with me.
BTW, the results for Iowa aren't officially in yet -- but PB clearly felt he had a good night. A winner is expected to be announced later Tuesday afternoon.
Billy Porter's got some solid advice for Lil Nas X on the heels of Pastor Troy's homophobic rant ... brush the dirt off that shoulder.
We got the "Pose" star out Thursday morning in NYC and got his take on Pastor Troy's hateful message directed at Lil Nas X just days after X won 2 Grammys for his hit track "Old Town Road."
Troy's words don't bear repeating here ... but ya gotta give props to Lil Nas X -- who wore a pink leather cowboy suit to the awards show -- for one helluva clap back. Porter doesn't seem surprised .... saying there's still lots of homophobic vibes in hip-hop.
The best way to combat it? Billy essentially says Lil Nas X is pretty much already doing it. BTW ... Pastor Troy should read this and rip a page out of Irv Gotti's playbook.
Aaron Hernandez's fiancee says she doesn't know if the ex-NFL star was gay -- as suggested in a new Netflix docuseries -- but she wouldn't have cared if he was.
"I wouldn't have loved him any differently," Shayanna Jenkins said on "Good Morning America" ... "I would have understood."
The fiancee of the late Aaron Hernandez is speaking out for the first time since the release of a Netflix new docuseries on the life of the football-star turned-convicted killer. @arobach reports. https://t.co/fu296hhrc3pic.twitter.com/KuQtG0ctWI
The Netflix series, "Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez" features claims from Aaron's high school teammate, Dennis SanSoucie, who said the two had a sexual relationship before going to college.
Jenkins didn't dispute the claim -- but said it's unfair to discuss someone's sexuality when that person isn't around to have a say.
"Although I had a child with Aaron, I can't tell you how he was feeling inside," Jenkins said.
"If he did feel that way, or if he felt the urge, I wish that I was told. I wish that he would have told me because I wouldn't have loved him any differently. I would have understood. It's not shameful."
She continued, "I think it's a beautiful thing. I just wish I was able to tell him that."
Rufus Wainwright says aspiring gay parents have as just much love to offer as straight couples -- which is why he thinks a new law in Tennessee limiting that is horses**t.
We got the acclaimed singer Saturday at Sundance in Utah, and made him aware of a new bill the Governor of TN, Bill Lee, just signed which allows adoption agencies to turn down gay couples. RW and his partner, Jorn Weisbrodt, couldn't help but roll their eyes.
Check out each of their answers ... Jorn says love knows no gender, which Rufus piggybacks on by adding gay people have so much love to offer. He also says there are countless kids who need help, and a person's sexual orientation shouldn't have any bearing on that.
Pete Buttigieg is back where it all started -- the exact place he hinted he had his eyes on The White House -- but this time around he's no longer a starry-eyed, long shot mayor ... he's not even a mayor at all!
Mayor Candidate Pete spoke Thursday at the U.S. Conference of Mayors' annual winter meeting in Washington D.C. ... exactly one year after he announced he was launching a 2020 exploratory committee at the same event.
Though he wouldn't officially announce his presidential campaign until April, he made it clear at the 2019 conference his sights were set on The White House ... and spelled out exactly why he thinks he's the right guy for the job.
Flash forward to today -- we asked Buttigieg to recap the past 365 days and he tells us it's "hard to believe" ... including his early retirement as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana.
Pete stepped down from the role and passed the torch to his successor, James Mueller, on New Year's Day, so he can focus on the tough race ahead for the Democratic nomination.
Obviously, he's come a long way since his big announcement -- he's now a top-tier contender for Prez -- but there's still got a long way to go.
DJ Qualls -- who's been portrayed as America's quirkiest bro on the big screen for quite a while -- says he's gay ... and he's ready to go forward with the world knowing that.
The veteran actor -- who often plays nerdy straight dudes -- posted the news on Twitter late Friday night, saying ... "It is 11:20pm. I just came out on stage at a @jimjefferies show in San Diego." He added, "Yep, I’m gay. Been gay this whole time. Tired of worrying about what people would think of me. Tired of worrying about what it would do to my career."
It is 11:20pm. I just came out on stage at a @jimjefferies show in San Diego. Yep, I’m gay. Been gay this whole time. Tired of worrying about what people would think of me. Tired of worrying about what it would do to my career.
It's interesting ... Qualls has starred in a ton of bro-ish type of movies through his 20-plus year career, which kinda got its start with 2000's "Road Trip" -- where he played Kyle, the loner college kid who turns out to be crazy party animal ... and popular with the ladies.
Jeffree Star has confirmed what the Internet was speculating very hard about over the last 96 hours or so ... he and his longtime boyfriend, Nathan Schwandt, are dunzo.
The YouTube star and beauty influencer posted a video Saturday titled, "We Broke Up." Jeffree says he and Nate -- who first started dating in 2015 -- had, in fact, broken up ... this amid much chatter over Twitter and Instagram among their respective fans.
Jeffree says it's been a few weeks since they've split and goes on to say they're both in a state of shock ... adding that Nathan -- his soulmate, he says -- is "going through it."
As for a reason why they broke up ... Jeffree kinda dances around a hard point of contention, BUT he does get into Nathan's supposed dislike of the public spotlight JS often finds himself under and alluded to that as a part of why they started growing apart.
That said, Jeffree says they remain friends ... but now, it's time for each of them to focus on one another.
BTW ... Nathan had apparently never been in a relationship with anyone but a female until Jeffree. They started talking over Instagram in 2014, and eventually ... got together. It should also be noted ... Nathan wasn't even remotely famous before his romance with Star.
"Vanderpump Rules" star Jax Taylor knows full well what he's saying about the new cast isn't nice, but he's saying it anyway ... on the heels of attacking a fellow veteran on the show too.
Jax and his wife, costar Brittany Cartwright, were out Tuesday night in NYC and said except for 2 newbies -- Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni -- the rest of 'em aren't his cup of tea. That's putting it lightly. You gotta see his choice words.
Then there's this ... while on 'Watch What Happens Live' after the season 8 premiere Tuesday night, Jax also went after Ariana Madixin a vile way, appearing to out her as a lesbian.
Ariana was watching, apparently, and fired back on social media, saying ... "I DO like women AND men. It's called being bisexual. Ever heard of it?"
So, why does Jax have his undies in a bunch over all his costars? Hard to say what his beef is with Ariana, but as for the new blood around Lisa Vanderpump-- Jax admits he just doesn't know 'em ... and he doesn't like new people.
Now, we doubt Raquel Leviss, Beau Clark, Dayna Kathan, Danica Dow and Charli Burnett are desperately seeking Jax's approval -- but, just in case, he did say there are a few things they can do to earn their 'Vanderpump' stripes.
Matt Barnes asked Dwyane Wade straight-up what it's like raising a gay son coming from a hyper-masculine NBA background ... and what D-Wade says is powerful stuff.
Dwyane and his wife, Gabrielle Union, have been publicly supportive of 12-year-old Zion (Wade's son from a previous relationship) over the past year ... even taking him to a Gay Pride Festival in Miami Beach last April.
So, when Wade appeared on Stephen Jackson and Barnes' "All The Smoke" podcast this week ... Matt asked Dwyane about his approach to parenting a gay son.
That's when Dwyane delivered a powerful message ... saying Zion essentially forced him to learn about accepting people for who they are.
"I had to look myself in the mirror when my son at the time was 3 years old and me and my wife started having conversations about us noticing that he wasn't on the boy vibe that Zaire [Wade's other son] was on," Wade said.
"And, I had to look myself in the mirror and say, 'What if your son come home and tell you he's gay? What are you going to do? How are you going to be? How are you going to act? It ain't about him. He knows who he is. It's about you. Who are you?'"
Wade says that conversation with himself wasn't easy ... the 37-year-old told Barnes and Jackson he grew up "ignorant" and had to lean on his wife to open his eyes.
"I grew up with the same perspective as a lot of these people out here that's a little ignorant. I grew up with a similar perspective," Wade says. "And, you meet people along the way that help you take those glasses off and put on some different ones. Look through life through a different lens. That's what my wife has been able to do. So, it's been cool."
Wade has been very vocal in defending his son and his family from critics ... and he tells Barnes and Jackson he feels a duty to be a voice for others who can't speak up the way he can.
"Everybody get used to it, man," Wade says. "This is the new normal. So if anybody different, we looked at as different. You know what I'm saying? The ones that don't understand it. The ones that don't get it. The ones that are stuck in a box. You're different. Not the people that are out here living their lives, man."
As for how his son is handling it all ... Wade said, "You want to talk about strength and courage? My 12-year-old has way more than I have."
