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Dee Snider is speaking out amid the backlash surrounding his support for Paul Stanley‘s factually inaccurate tweets about gender-affirming health care.
“Why did the San Fransisco Gay Pride Parade invite me, Dee Snider, to be a Grand Marshal in their parade and sing ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ on the center stage at what could possibly be the most important LGBTQIA+ gathering in the organization’s long history?” the rocker wrote in a statement posted to Facebook on Friday (May 5). SF Pride revealed earlier this week that the organization was “on the cusp” of announcing the 1984 Twisted Sister hit as the “rallying cry” of this year’s celebration, but have since decided to “part ways” with Snider.
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“I was not aware the Transgender community expects fealty and total agreement with all their beliefs and any variation or deviation is considered ‘transphobic,’” Snider continued in his statement. “So, my lifetime of supporting the Transgender community’s right to identify as they want and honoring whatever changes they may make in how they present themselves to the world isn’t enough? Why not?”
The controversy began on April 30, when Kiss singer-guitarist Paul Stanley shared an unprompted statement about his concern toward the “dangerous fad” of children being given access to gender-affirming care. “There is a BIG difference between teaching acceptance and normalizing and even encouraging participation in a lifestyle that confuses young children into questioning their sexual identification,” he wrote. While he noted that adults “may decide reassignment is their needed choice,” children shouldn’t be eligible. Stanley has since walked back his comments.
Snider retweeted Stanley’s original statement, writing, “You know what? There was a time where I ‘felt pretty’ too. Glad my parents didn’t jump to any rash conclusions!”
The Twisted Sister rocker continued, “Parents need to be less reactionary; Right and Left. No need to steer the child in either direction. Let the kid figure it out for themselves knowing their family is supportive. I had a vet/cop harda– dad who, while he shook his head A LOT…let me do my thing.”
A common misconception is that “gender-affirming care” is limited to gender affirmation surgeries. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the care also includes counseling about coming out as transgender, the use of pronouns that most identify with the individual, speech therapy to help match vocal characteristics and aid with non-surgical gender presentation such as breast binding or padding, genital tucking or hip padding.
Many medical organizations like the Endocrine Society and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health already do not recommend gender-affirming surgery before the patient is 18 years old, but it is worth noting that claims about “irreversible” procedures are largely false. In an interview with Billboard, Dr. Joshua D. Safer, MD, explained that surgeries are “typically reserved for adults,” with only particular cases requiring more immediate intervention. “Prior to any gender-affirming medical or surgical intervention, all minors must have an intake with a knowledgeable mental health provider internal to our system. Once deemed ready for a medical/surgical intervention, the processes we have for adults are then brought into play,” he said.
Additionally, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association, all have noted that gender-affirming care is not dangerous for trans youth. In most cases, it’s actually beneficial and at times life saving.
“I’ve recently stated I do not believe young children are ready to decide their gender allocation,” Snider added in his statement. “I believe their choices should be supported and accepted by their parents, but I do not think kids have the mental capabilities to make rational, logical decisions on things of a magnitude that will affect them for the rest of their lives. I do not believe they are mentally developed enough.”
Snider went on to describe himself as a “proud moderate,” noting that the “Transgender community needs moderates who support their choices, even if we don’t agree with every one of their edicts. For some Transgender people (not all) to accuse supporters, like me, of transphobia is not a good look for their cause.”
See his full post here.
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King Charles III is set to officially be crowned as head of the British royal family. Viewers from all over the world are expected to tune in for the first British coronation in 70 years.
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Keep reading for more details on coronation weekend and how to watch from the U.S..
When Is the Coronation?
The coronation of King Charles and his wife, Camila, will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday (May 6). King Charles will become the 40th Sovereign to be crowned at Westminster Abbey where coronations have been held since the year 1066.
Members of the British royal family, including Prince William and Prince Harry, will be in attendance along with friends and family of their majesties.
International representatives from 203 countries will also be in attendance, including approximately 100 heads of state. Additionally, 400 young people representing charities chosen by King Charles, Queen Camila and the U.K. Government, “will have the opportunity to watch the Coronation Service and Processions from inside St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey,” according to a news release from Buckingham Palace.
How to Watch the Coronation for Free
Prior to the coronation, King Charles and Queen Camila will participate in the “King’s Procession” from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. The coronation is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. BST/6 a.m. ET. Both the procession and coronation service will broadcast live on BBC One, BBC 2 and BBC iPlayer.
How can you watch the coronation in the U.S.? The coronation will broadcast live on CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, BBC America and cable news networks. The ceremony will also stream live on the royal family’s YouTube page.
Coronation coverage starts at 5 a.m. ET in the U.S. Want to watch free? Stream CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox and BBC America with a free trial from DirectTV Stream or Fubo.
Paramount+ offers live access to CBS when you subscribe to the Premium plan (free trial included), while Peacock subscribers can stream NBC live on the Premium Plus plan. Sling and Hulu + Live TV also offer live television at an affordable price. And if you want to stream internationally, you can use ExpressVPN to watch the coronation live on streaming platforms and networks like CBS and NBC.
Coronation Concert: Performance Lineup & How to Watch
American Idol judges Katy Perry and Lionel Richie will take the stage for the coronation concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday (May 7). The concert will broadcast on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sound and BBC Radio 2. BBC iPlayer only works in the U.K., but you can watch from the U.S. on ExpressVPN.
Other coronation concert performers include Andrea Bocelli, Nicole Scherzinger, Tiwa Savage, Paloma Faith, Frey Riding and Sir Bryn Terfel.
In the mood for more royal coverage? Get your royal fix by streaming hit shows and must-watch documentaries like The Crown and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on Netflix and The Princess on HBO Max.
He may have sung that he wanted to “rock and roll all night and party every day,” but Kiss singer-guitarist Paul Stanley‘s last few days have been pretty lacking in the “party” department.
After making factually inaccurate comments via Twitter about gender-affirming care for minors earlier this week, Stanley walked back his original statement on Thursday (May 4). “While my thoughts were clear, my words clearly were not,” he wrote.
In his original statement, Stanley forwarded misinformation about gender-affirming care for youths, saying that “irreversible” procedures shouldn’t be performed on children (despite the facts saying that the vast majority of this kind of care is reversible and often medically necessary for trans kids). “There is a BIG difference between teaching acceptance and normalizing and even encouraging participation in a lifestyle that confuses young children into questioning their sexual identification,” Stanley wrote.
But in his new statement, he focused on those currently undergoing the transition process, expressing his admiration for their bravery in being themselves. “Most importantly and above all else, I support those struggling with their sexual identity while enduring constant hostility and those whose path leads them to reassignment surgery,” he said. “It’s hard to fathom the kind of conviction that one must feel to take those steps.”
Closing his new statement, Stanley opted not to clarify his original statement, insisting that social media may not be the best place for genuine discourse. “A paragraph or two will remain far too short to fully convey my thoughts or point of view, so I will leave that for another time and place,” he wrote.
See Stanley’s latest statement below:
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From Revlon to ConAir and Dyson, the world of blow dryers has expanded substantially in the last few years and having so many choices can actually make it easier to find the best option for your hair.
How do you find the best hair dryer? That usually depends on how much you can afford to spend, but finding the perfect blow dryer for your hair type can make a huge difference.
Take It From TikTok: You Can Get a Dyson Airwrap Dupe Right Now for Just $39
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Whether you have straight, kinky, coily, curly and even frizzy hair, you should expect to spend at least a couple hundred bucks for a high-quality hair dryer (think of it as more of an investment than a splurge).
RevAir‘s reverse hair dryer is designed different hair types and it’s built to last. The hair dryer uses patented reverse-air technology that dries, stretches and smooths your hair “3x faster than traditional methods by sending air in the natural direction of the cuticle.”
Available at Amazon and RevAir.com, the viral hair dryer was out of stock for several months last year but it’s back in time for Mother’s Day, Memorial Day and other shopping holidays. RevAir emits less heat than flat irons and traditional blow dryers, making it healthier for your hair, and it promises not to change your natural curl pattern.
RevAir
RevAir Reverse Air Dryer
$360 (with code: MOM10) $399 -8925% off% OFF
The $400 sticker price might be a bit shocking at first, but if you’re the type to get blow outs regularly, RevAir will save you money in the long run — and it’s on sale for Mother’s Day.
As we all should know by now, heat can have negative and positive effects on your hair. We use heat to straighten and dry our hair but it can also damage your follicles and cuticles.
Hair science can be complicated, but one thing to note is that hair has negative and positive ions, which is where ionic and ceramic hair dryers come into play. What’s the difference? Ionic hair dryers use lower temperatures and positive ions to break through water molecules, thus drying your hair faster.
Although ceramic dryers heat up quickly and evenly, they tend to be pricier than your average blow dryer. Ceramic hair dryers are recommended for fine hair or fragile hair, while ionic is recommended for thicker hair.
RevAir falls in its own category as it combines a vacuum suction method with a motor that “gently draws” moisture out of your hair without the excessive heat. The hair dryer features three heat settings, seven tension settings, and uniquely designed wands to protect your hair from breakage and cut down on drying time.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Fit for a queen! Netflix’s heavily anticipated Queen Charlotte series, a six-episode Bridgerton prequel, premieres Thursday (May 4). To celebrate, the Netflix Shop released a royal collection of teas and a five-piece beauty kit.
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Consisting of three flavors, the $15 tea comes in a beautiful tin can featuring photos of a young Queen Charlotte, King George and Lady Danburry. Flavors include Queen Charlotte Royal Celebration Tea, which is a fruity and aromatic black tea, while Lady Danburry Topaz Citrus Tea serves up a blend of orange and lemon. There’s also a berry-flavored Amethyst Tea.
Want them all? The Queen Charlotte Three Tea Gift Set comes with all three flavors for $50.
Netflix Shop
Queen Charlotte Three Tea Gift
$50
Also new to the Netflix Shop, the Queen Charlotte x Elemis Kit ($75). Designed in partnership with Shondaland’s Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, the beauty kit comes packaged in a custom velvet pouch and features Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm, along with the brand’s rose marine cream, facial oils and hair pins.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story chronicles a young Queen Charlotte’s marriage to King George III, which sparks an “epic love story and transforms high society,” according to the series description. The show’s soundtrack features renditions of SZA’s “Nobody Gets Me,” Beyoncé’s “Halo” and “Déjà Vu,” an orchestral version of Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You” and more.
The real-life Queen Charlotte, who ruled over Great Britain and Ireland and was a descendant of Black Portuguese royals, was born in Germany and learned English after marrying Britain’s King George III. Queen Charlotte ruled from 1761 until her death in 1818.
Need a Mother’s Day gift for the Bridgerton fan in your life? Shop the Netflix Queen Charlotte tea collection below.
Netflix Shop
Queen Charlotte Royal Celebration Tea
$15
Young Lady Danbury Topaz Citrus Tea
$15.50
Netflix Shop
Queen Charlotte Amethyst Berry
$15.50
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Traveling to a galaxy far, far away? In honor of May the 4th, Fossil released a special collection of Star Wars watches that will help you get to your destination on time.
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The limited collection marks 40 years since Return of the Jedi and features leather and stainless steel watches inspired by the iconic characters of Star Wars.
Priced from $160 to $370, each watch incorporates design elements that pay homage to Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, R2-D2, C-3PO, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Darth Vader, Boba Fett and other characters from the franchise.
Aside from watches, the collection features dog tags, a charm bracelet and earrings with images of R2-D2, Yoda and C-3PO.
Elsewhere in the galaxy of Star Wars merch, the Disney store unveiled a bunch of new products for Star Wars Day like this Cal Kestis Customized Lightsaber Hilt ($400) from the Return of the Jedi 40th anniversary collection. Lego unveiled a Star Wars X-Wing Starfighter Set ($240), the Emperor’s Throne Room Diorama ($99.99) and other buildable sets for its Lego Star Wars celebration, which ends on May 11.
Want to binge Star Wars content? Disney+ is the home of all things Stars Wars. From movies to animated series such as Star Wars Visions and Star Wars Young Jedi Adventures alongside fan favorite live-action shows like The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor, Disney+ has everything you need for a Star Wars binge fest.
Shop the Fossil x Star Wars collection below, and for more gear, check out our list of the 30 best gifts for Star Wars fans.
Fossil
Fossil x Star Wars Limited-Edition Star Wars Endor Leia Leather Watch
$270
Inspired by a design that Leia Organa (a.k.a. Carrie Fisher) wore in Return of the Jedi, this leather watch features a semi-transparent black dial with cut out windows and etched braiding detail on the back of the watch.
Fossil
Fossil x Star War Limited-Edition Luke Skywalker Leather Watch
$270
A black leather band and black-and-white matte dial make up the Luke Skywalker watch.
Fossil
Limited-Edition Star Wars C-3PO Automatic Stainless Steel Watch
$370
Celebrate your favorite humanoid with this C-P3O watch from the Fossil x Star Wars collection. The gold design is of course inspired by the loveable robot and there’s also a pretty cool character illustration hidden on the back.
Fossil
Fossil x Star Wars Limited-Edition R2-D2 Automatic Stainless Steel Watch
$370
For the galaxy’s bravest droid, this stainless-steel watch has an R2-D2-inspired dial with a minute hand shaped like R2’s unit arms.
HBO’s The Idol is about to get the summer sizzling on streaming service Max. To further drum up anticipation for its premiere, HBO and The Weeknd shared a teaser poster for the show — which the singer stars in alongside actress Lily-Rose Depp — on Thursday (May 4).
The image shows The Weeknd as his character Tedros and Depp as pop star Jocelyn. The duo wears dark sunglasses and stylish ensembles while sitting in the back of a red convertible with its top down, as a sunny sky and Los Angeles palm trees serve as the backdrop. In the car, Depp and The Weeknd interlock hands while she leans back into his chest.
“We all crave things that aren’t good for us,” the premium network’s Twitter account captioned the post. “#THEIDOL premieres June 4 on Max.” The Weeknd also shared the snap to his own account, writing that fans should “buckle the f–k up” for the show’s arrival.
With about a month before The Idol‘s premiere, The Weeknd released “Double Fantasy,” a track in collaboration with Future that is set to appear on the album’s official soundtrack, on April 28. And though the “Blinding Lights” singer was not scheduled to do a set at Coachella, he made an appearance during Metro Boomin’s performance to give the song a live debut.
See the poster for The Idol below.
Sure, you can buy yourself flowers. But, if you’d rather buy yourself flower-print pieces from Betsey Johnson’s rhinestone collection, Miley Cyrus‘ Happy Hippie Foundation will receive $1 from each purchase — a new partnership that will benefit LGBTQ youth throughout Mental Health Awareness Month.
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Launching this month, the year-long partnership will focus its May effort on supporting young LGBTQ people in need. Not only will revenue from Johnson’s best-selling floral collection of sparkly shoes and bags go toward funding Happy Hippie, but customers looking to purchase products outside the select assortment will also be invited to donate to the foundation at checkout.
“Miley and I share so much history and I admire her greatly,” said the designer in a statement. “Thank you so much, Miley, for creating Happy Hippie. I can’t wait to collaborate with you on this. Faith, hope, and charity are everything — what you give is what you get. So let’s give back.”
Betsey Johnson x Miley Cryrus
Courtesy of Betsey Johnson
More fruits of Cyrus and Johnson’s partnership will be announced throughout the next year.
The “Flowers” singer has long been linked to Johnson, having worn the Y2K fashion maven’s designs back in 2008 during season three of her breakthrough Disney Channel show Hannah Montana. Cyrus also attended her prom in a Betsey Johnson dress, according to a release.
In 2015, the Grammy nominee founded Happy Hippie to rally donations and essential programs for vulnerable populations, including homeless youth, LGBTQ youth, youth aging out of foster care, people living with HIV/AIDS, and more. The foundation’s partnership with Betsey Johnson will provide support groups to youth and families of youth exploring gender at a time when nearly half of all LGBTQ youth have seriously considered suicide and more than half were unable to access needed mental health care, according to a release.
“I’m so excited that Happy Hippie is partnering with Betsey Johnson, starting this May with Mental Health Awareness Month,” said Cyrus in a statement. “Betsey Johnson shares our belief in rallying youth to fight injustice, and this collaboration couldn’t come at a better time when the needs have increased. Thanks to Betsey Johnson for sharing our mission of inclusion and self-expression, no matter who you are.”
Yung Miami may be in a situationship with Diddy, but that doesn’t mean she can’t acknowledge what a beautiful woman Megan Thee Stallion is.
During a recent appearance on Revolt’s The Jason Lee Show, Miami (aka Caresha) and Lee played a rapid-fire game of “smash or pass” with a series of celebrity photos. When Megan Thee Stallion came up, the “Rap Freaks” rapper wasted no time answering. “I’ma smash all day and tomorrow,” Caresha said. “Megan just gives me like … she really could take me up and throw down.”
Lee immediately followed up by asking if Miami had ever been with a woman before and whether or not she identified as bisexual, and the rapper nodded in confirmation. “Sexually I have been with a woman before,” she said. “I love it … I really do like girls, [but] I won’t be in a relationship with a girl.”
The City Girls star has been open about her adoration for Megan Thee Stallion before — and the feeling might be mutual. In a 2021 tweet, the “Savage” rapper wrote that she “was too shy to tell her in person but @YungMiami305 I want to date.” Miami quickly quoted Megan’s tweet, adding, “I been wanted you too, so what’s up?”
This isn’t the first time Yung Miami has made headlines when talking about sexuality, either — back in 2013, the rapper wrote in a since-deleted tweet that if she ever found out a son of hers was gay, that she would “beat that boy so baddd [sic].” In an interview on The Breakfast Club in 2018, the rapper defended her comments, saying, “I have absolutely nothing against gay people, but I wouldn’t want my son to be gay.”
Check out Yung Miami’s interview with Jason Lee above.
The British invasion was the theme. But at the conclusion of The Masked Singer’s episode on Wednesday night, an American beauty queen was sent packing.
Fox’s quirky series has reached the pointy end of the season, with just four contestants remaining in the game.
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Make that three, after UFO was unmasked on the latest show.
Episode 12 of the current ninth season was devoted to the British wave. California Roll tackled Radiohead’s “Creep,” Macaw sang Elton John’s “Your Song,” UFO performed the late Amy Winehouse’s “Tears Dry On Their Own,” and Medusa hit Adele’s “Someone Like You.”
The singer with the fewest votes is out.
Sadly for UFO, she took off for her last flight on The Masked Singer.
When the helmet came off, Olivia Culpo came out smiling. “That was fun you guys,” remarked the model, influencer and former Miss Universe.
Culpo’s talent has remained a secret until now. “I’m no Nicole Scherzinger but I like to sing in the shower,” she quipped.
And will she pursue a career in singing after her QF run? Well, no, the shower will remain her platform. “I might just bump it up a notch in there.”
Pussycat Doll Scherzinger remarked that Culpo had the best energy and spirit among this season’s contestants, but that wasn’t enough to see her progress to the final.
Culpo thanked the show for the opportunity and, “although I had a mask on, this is more of my personality that I got to share for the first time. So much of what I feel I have to do is not about that, people don’t want to see your personality. So, this was really really fun for me.”
With Culpo (as UFO) heading home, she joins the likes of Lou Diamond Phillips (Mantis), Dee Snider (Doll), Grandmaster Flash (Polar Bear), Debbie Gibson (Night Owl) as unmasked singers.
This season’s batch of celebrities boast a combined 28 Emmy nominations, six Grammy wins, 10 gold albums, four Golden Globe nominations, two Tony Award nominations, and four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, according to producers.
