Ian Duff with his director, André Holland (Images by Matthew Rettenmund)
I spent part of 2017 and all of 2018 raving about Call Me by Your Name, but in 2016 and part of 2017, it was all about Moonlight.
I took a very special person to see it, and so will forever remember how impactful it was, not only as a piece of art, but as a bonding experience.
One of the most touching performances in the film was by André Holland, that cook at the end. So effortlessly sexy and such a seamless transition by the actor from the actor playing his younger self!
Tonight, I was excited to meet Holland, who attended a VIP reception at Tuscany Steakhouse (117 W. 58th St., NYC) in honor of his upcoming directorial debut, a play called Dutch Masters ...
— RuPaul's Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) May 8, 2017
Aside from a catastrophic performance overall by otherwise endearing, adorbs host Adam Devine, the MTV Movie & TV Awards went bold this year, awarding actors instead of actors and actresses, and honoring a gay kiss, rewarding a diverse array of performers and performances.
I mean, the network's Best Kiss Award went to the young men who smooched in Moonlight — a black, gay kiss — which years ago would be about as likely as me not spending half my day on 7Sultans mobile casino app:
Some who rail against PC will find this move into the future irritating, but in particular, I've thought for a long time the arbitrary distinctions in Best Actor/Best Actress categories have felt like relics of the past. It feels like there is a Best Actor category, and then one for Actress just 'cuz, you know, the girls can't win.
But in MTV's first stab at a gender-neutral ceremony, a girl did win — Emma Watson took home the popcorn trophy for her role in Beauty and the Beast, itself a trail-blazing film for its somewhat “gay moment.”
I almost found Watson's speech ridiculous — she gave a heartfelt speech worthy of winning an Oscar, or a Nobel Peace Prize! — until I listened on and realized she was right to make a big deal about the award, and to take the time to unpack why she won it. She was right that it wasn't just for her acting, but also for what her film represents, and while we all know the MTV Movie & TV Awards are not going to be as free of politics and vote-rigging as the Oscars, I think the show's vibe and her speech really did make progress in the culture.
Sadly, though it took a move to VH1 for RuPaul to suddenly be recognized as the true icon he is — he was named an influencer by Time out of nowhere, finally! — and though he did win for Best Reality Series, he was not allowed to accept his award from the stage. Instead, host Devine dropped it at his table.
Choosing RuPaul (indeed, inviting him to a major awards show) was a big deal, but silencing him was pretty offensive, especially when there was a lot of crappy filler during the show — I mean, they could have cut the jaw-droppingly lame opening by 60 seconds to let Ru say something funny, no?
Still, it was one false note in a show drenched in diversity — and not diversity for diversity's sake, but because diverse is what true excellence looks like.
Plus, it's always a pleasure to see Aaron Taylor-Johnson, especially when he's awarding my favorite movie of the year so far, Get Out, and seeing Maxine Waters given a hero's welcome was worth sitting through Noah Cyrus.
Press Release: Artist Alan Gutierrez unveils sculpture to “celebrate the legacy of Miami-Dade County's LGBTQ champions.” It covers 1977-2017, includes Moonlight.
Honoring those who blazed trails (Image via News Travels Fast)
Daily Kos: White Southern male voter for Trump admits he was wrong — goes viral:
Trump voter James Walker, 31, from Nashville, says: "This is the first step: showing up and being honest." pic.twitter.com/kP1vLUHxNl
SFGMC: Kathy Griffin will be honored at Crescendo, the annual San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus charity event. Also at the gala: Jinkx Monsoon, Chely Wright.
Alternet: WaPo broke Sessions story, framed it to minimize political fall-out.
Peace out of prison three days ago! (Video still via ABC)
TMZ: “Gary from Chicago” spent 20 years in the slammer on petty theft charges, was kissing Meryl Streep's hand at the Oscars three days later.
NYDN: Confirmed by PwC, partner Brian Cullinan handed his dupe Best Actress envelope to Warren Beatty. He was distracted by tweeting a pic of Emma Stone.
ExtraTV: The Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper had a heart attack, almost died was unconscious for two days, but says he is on the mend.
Bob Harper wants you to know he is okay, and still hot. (Image via Instagram)
Outsports: Former college swimmer on being gay: “If you're really young, don't let anyone tell you that you don't understand your feelings. You do.”
CNN: Local newscaster pipes up articulately on the unfairness in the case of Mack Beggs, trans wrestler being forced to wrestler girls (his birth gender):
Kenneth in the (212): Kenneth wants answers about what the rules should be regarding trans athletes — should a trans boy be wrestling girls?
