Maxi Shield, the Australian drag performer best known for being a standout contestant on "RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under," has died.
The news of her death was announced by fellow drag queen and friend, Vanity, who said in part via Instagram ... "We are all mourning the loss of an incredible icon, friend, and our beloved sister. Thank you for the laughs, the cackles, and the magic you brought into our lives."
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It's not clear when Maxi -- born Kristopher Elliot -- died, and a cause was also not disclosed by Vanity, but Maxi announced last fall she'd been diagnosed with throat cancer.
Cynthia Erivo is clearing the air after months of online speculation that she and Ariana Grande were secretly more than just Wicked co-stars.
During the press tour for Wicked, fans dissected every emotional interview as well as each lingering hug and hand hold between the two ... with some social media users insisting their bond looked romantic.
In a recent interview, Cynthia addressed what she called a "strange fascination" with their friendship, explaining that some people struggled to understand how two women could be deeply close without it turning into a love story. She made clear there was no secret relationship ... just a genuine connection forged while bringing Elphaba and Glinda to life.
"Silence of the Lambs" totally missed the mark when it came to handling gender identity onscreen ... so says one of the movie's biggest stars.
Ted Levine -- the actor who played Buffalo Bill in the hit 1991 film -- finally addressed the controversy surrounding his character in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
If you haven't seen the movie, Buffalo Bill is a serial killer who flays women and wears their skin over his own ... which, in more recent years, many have claimed makes the character an unflattering portrayal of transgender or gender nonconforming people.
3:35 PM PT -- A spokesperson for Miss America refutes Kayleigh's claim, telling TMZ ... "Just to clarify. She did NOT lose her crown. She retained her crown. She simply did not go forward because she refused to sign the contract every other contestant signed. This was just one of numerous lies by her."
Beauty pageant winner Kayleigh Bush used to admire Miss America, but now she's ripping the organization for being unable to define what a woman is ... along with disagreements over trans women, which led to her being stripped of her crown.
We got Kayleigh on Capitol Hill and our photog asked her about her beef with Miss America ... and she explained how some controversial language in her Miss America contract led to a falling out.
Kayleigh was crowned Miss North Florida in September 2024, but two months later, she was stripped of her crown ... because she refused to sign a contract with Miss America that she says went against her beliefs ... namely, that women also include biological males who undergo transgender reassignment surgery.
Nicki Minaj says she's got no problem with transgender people, as long as they're adults ... but minors are a different story.
TMZ obtained a clip from Nicki's interview with Katie Miller ... and Nicki explains her thoughts on trans folks.
In a nutshell, Nicki says adults can do whatever they want with their bodies -- more power to them -- but she says it's a different ballgame when kids are seeking out gender-affirming surgeries.
Michael Rapaport's putting the blame on riffing for his controversial comment about Colton Underwood on the hit show "Traitors" ... claiming the seemingly homophobic remark came out while he was spitballing at the table, and no one interrupted him.
The actor further clarified his low moment in an interview with Andy Cohen on 'Watch What Happens Live' Tuesday night ... telling the host he wasn't taking a shot at Colton's previous reluctance to come out as gay -- he was just running his mouth.
Rapaport says he went into defense mode when Colton and his alliance came after him ... and, he simply started rattling off arguments against Colton and his costars, believing someone else at the table would eventually jump in.
Hudson Williams spends a substantial amount of time sans clothes in HBO's "Heated Rivalry" ... so who better to give the "Shut Up Evan" podcast step-by-step instructions for how to put on a cock sock?
This interview did not disappoint ... Hudson starts with the description -- "It's like a ballet slipper meets a Crown Royal bag." Got it. Now for the technique ...
Hudson admitted he learned everything he knows from costar Connor Storrie. While Hudson struggled to figure out the modesty cover, Connor cracked it almost immediately.
Nicki Minaj's foray into politics has been a slap in the face to her gay fans ... reality star Tiffany Pollardtells TMZ.
We caught up with the "Flavor of Love" star -- who recently came out as queer and non-binary -- in West Hollywood earlier this week ... and we asked them about whether they feel Nicki betrayed her LGBTQ+ Barbz.
Pollard says the community loves Nicki's music ... but they haven't loved her recent rhetoric -- with Tiffany adding it feels Minaj has lost her way.
Miss Lawrence is weighing in on the hearsay Bad Bunny might rock a dress at his Super Bowl Halftime show next month -- and she’s got ONE message for him ... if you’re gonna do it, do it right!!!
TMZ caught up with Miss Lawrence at LAX Friday ... and she tells us she’s all for gender-fluid fashion, but says if Bad Bunny goes there, she hopes it brings real visibility to the LGBTQ community -- especially Black LGBTQ folks.
Catch the full clip ... 'cause Miss Lawrence breaks it down -- if BB's being used as a vessel to normalize what her community looks like on massive stages, then it better be done with purpose.
A push from "Heated Rivalry" helped a real-life hockey player share his truth about his sexuality ... and now he hopes to be a source of inspiration, too.
After tuning in to the hit show about rivals-turned-lovers, Minnesota native Jesse Kortuem decided to pen his coming-out story earlier this month ... and it’s turning into a mission bigger than the sport.
We caught up with Kortuem in NYC on Wednesday to see how his message is being received.
Hudson Williamsand Connor Storrie of the hit show "Heated Rivalry" are slated to take their star power to a global stage ... as they have been announced as torchbearers for the Olympics!!
News of their involvement dropped Thursday morning ... but it was not revealed when exactly the two would be strapping up their running shoes for the Olympic tradition in Italy. The torch is currently on its way to Trieste, about 262 miles from Milan.
It's no surprise that the 2026 Winter Games tapped the two for the torch relay ... as their show has taken the world by storm ... which features two hockey players hiding their relationship.
Karamo Brownfell out with three of his "Queer Eye" co-stars after a hot mic moment his own mom overheard on set ... TMZ has learned.
Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... the cast -- Karamo, Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness, and Jeremiah Brent -- were filming Season 10 last summer in Washington, D.C., when Karamo brought his mom to set for a visit one day. We're told she was given production headphones and observed filming from nearby.
At one point, Karamo stepped away from the group ... and while he was gone, Antoni, Tan and Jonathan were overheard speaking negatively about Karamo, including criticizing certain lifestyle choices he makes. Unfortunately for the three guys, Karamo's mom heard the entire conversation through her headphones and later told her son what was said.
D.L. Hughley has some strong words for Nicki Minajafter her online tirade against Don Lemonfollowing an incident at a church in Minnesota Sunday, where Don was reporting from amid a crowd of protesters.
We caught up with D.L. at LAX Monday, and he told us while Nicki is focused on Lemon ... she really needs to worry about keeping her husband off of "To Catch a Predator."
As you know ... Nicki attacked Don on X, calling him a homophobic slur for reporting on the protest at a Minnesota church.
She wrote, "DON 'C*** SUCKIN' LEMON IS DISGUSTING." Don is a married gay man.
D.L. told us he finds it amazing how "many on the right" hate transgender and gay people "more than they do pedophiles."
He joked ... "Damn Don Lemon, Nicki Minaj needs to be worried about Chris Hansen."
1:08 PM PT -- Nicki's paying attention to Don's reaction, and the media's, to her comment. In a new X post she says, "LOL!!! And i purposely wrote it that way b/c I knew that would be the only way to get the c**k suckas to post about it."
She also warned, "I'm glad they're angry. They're about to get angrier" ... and included a pic of a Chucky doll flipping the bird.
Don Lemon is going off on Nicki Minaj! The former CNN news anchor stopped by "TMZ Live" and unloaded on the rapper, telling her to "sit the f*** down" ... and while she's at it -- "get a life and grow some brains."
As you know ... Nicki bashed Don on X, calling him a homophobic slur, writing, "DON 'C*** SUCKIN' LEMON IS DISGUSTING." Don is gay, and married real estate agent Tim Malone in 2024.
But Don told us Nicki is an ignorant, bigoted woman who's been weighing in on things she doesn't understand.
Harveyand Charles are usually a tight team ... but Michael Rapaport's "Traitors" comments stirred up some trouble in paradise -- with the two men passionately debating on "TMZ Live."
Our two colleagues discussed the reaction to Rapaport claiming Colton Underwood -- a gay man who was looking for a wife on "The Bachelor" while he was still in the closet -- would be an incredible secret-keeper ... and that received quite a negative reaction from his costars. Michael later apologized to Colton.
Check out the clip ... Harvey's actually stepping up for Michael here -- telling Charles that he thinks Michael's referring to Colton keeping the secret from millions of people on national TV.
Michael Rapaport's explosive comments before his banishment pissed off "Traitors" cast members ... which was par for the course while shooting -- because we've learned they couldn't stand the guy the entire time.
A source close to the production of Season 4 tells TMZ ... the cast thought Michael was "toxic" on set -- and they were all very happy when his time on the show came to an end this week on the fifth episode.
We're also told a rumor circulated on set that the network thought viewers would be so put off by his behavior ... Peacock pushed out his final episode early to get him off fans' TVs.
