Tag Archives: Lee Daniels

Ellen DeGeneres Among 133 Stars To Sign Billboard Petition Demanding Gun Control

Some of Hollywood’s biggest influencers have expressed their frustrations at the U.S. Senate rejection of the proposed measures gun proposals.

The Senate rejected four new gun control proposals on Monday.

Billboard magazine organised the petition following the rejection of four new gun control proposals by the U.S. Senate on Monday (20Jun16).

The appeal letter features on the cover of the latest issue of the magazine, released on Wednesday (22Jun16).

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The cover reads

As leading artists and executives in the music industry, we are adding our voices to the chorus of Americans demanding change,”

The names of all 133 actors and music stars, and 57 executives, that are backing the campaign also feature on the front and back of the publication.

Standing along side Ellen DeGeneres are Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Barbra Streisand, Beck, Billy Joel, Bonnie Raitt, Calvin Harris, Carole King, Cher, , Elvis Costello, James Corden, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, Lee Daniels, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Meghan Trainor, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Selena Gomez, Tony Bennett, Yoko Ono and Zayn Malik also feature in the list.

The lengthy letter reads:

Music always has been celebrated communally, on dancefloors and at concert halls. But this life-affirming ritual, like so many other daily experiences – going to school or church or work – now is threatened, because of the gun violence in this country.

The one thing that connects the recent tragedies in Orlando is that it is far too easy for dangerous people to get their hands on guns.”

The tragedies referred to in Orlando, Florida, include the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub by gunman Omar Mateen and the assassination of singer Christina Grimmie by shooter Kevin Loibl at a fan meet and greet in the city.

The letter continues to list the ways that Congress should be doing more to prevent gun violence in America, such as “require a background check for every gun sale” and “make it illegal for suspected terrorists to legally buy guns”.

Fox’s ‘Empire’ is Casting a Butch Female Rapper for Season 2

According to reports, the Empire’s producers are on the hunt for an actress to play the recurring, potentially breakout role of Betty Barz – a “moody, outspoken” teenage rapper who’ll be introduced in Season 2.

Betty, who’s also known as “Betty Gathers” and “The Queen O’ 16S” is described as African-American, “unapologetically butch,” and something of a hometown hero in her “Brownsville-Never-Ran-Never-Will, Brooklyn” neighbourhood.

Her undeniable talent has led to her winning “more rhyme battles and girls’ hearts than the best male vets on her block.”

We’re guessing “winning girls’ hearts” means the new character is a lesbian, but then again…

The character is set to be introduced in the season opener of the show titled “The Devils Are Here” and despite the fact that she’s “charismatic and witty with a street lean,” the artist’s road to fame with the titular entertainment company won’t be an easy one.

Co-created by out director Lee Daniels, the first season was lauded for shining a spotlight on a range of LGBT issues, among them child abuse, coming out, and homophobia in the world of hip-hop. But there’s always more ground to cover.

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The show already features AzMarie’s (America’s Next Top Model star, partner to Raven-Symoné), who plays character is Chicken – a masculine of centre, queer woman of colour.

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Chicken is best friends with Hakeem, played by Yazz the Greatest, heir apparent of the Empire throne. Chicken collaborates with Hakeem musically throughout the show and was the DJ for Hakeem’s premiere at the opening of New York’s City hottest nightclub, Leviticus, during the climax of Empire’s second episode. She is also set to be in season two.

Empire‘s Season 2 premiere is being written by executive producers Danny Strong and The L word’s Ilene Chaiken.

AzMarie Livingston Gets a Part on Ilene Chaiken’s New Project Empire

AzMarie Livingston is not a novice when it comes to acting. She her first acting role was in DTLA as Melanie Griffith‘s girlfriend.

Now she’s working on her next big acting break role on Fox’s upcoming hip hop drama ‘Empire’.

https://twitter.com/iamaziam/status/508605463613935616

With Out Academy Award nominee, director Lee Daniels (‘Precious’ and ‘The Butler’), Emmy Award winner Danny Strong leading, along with show-runner Ilene Chaiken behind the project, there is a strong LGBT essence to this project.

And it has been hinted that AzMarie will be playing someone queer. Her character is named ‘Chicken’.

Empire is described as “… a sexy and powerful new drama about the head of a music empire whose three sons and ex-wife all battle for his throne.”

The all-star cast includes Terrence Howard as the king of hip-hop, Taraji P. Henson, Jussie Smollett (playing Howard’s the gay son) and Gabourey Sidibe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a96Cjx0vfFo

Empire won’t air until 2015, but we’re excited to see what this great team comes up with.