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Disney+ Short ‘Out’ Is Pixar’s First Release With Openly Gay Lead

Now available on Disney+ is the latest installment of Pixar’s Spark Shorts series.  Out is the first project from the animation studio to feature an openly gay main character. 

The nine-minute short film follows the story of Greg, who struggles to come out to his parents ahead of his move to the city. When they show up suddenly in a surprise effort to help him pack, he magically switches bodies with his dog and tries to hide evidence of his relationship with his boyfriend, Manuel. 

Disney has been making very small advancements in terms of representation, but has received criticism for appealing to more conservative markets. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker featured the franchise’s first ever same-sex kiss at the end of the film, and the company did reveal that The Eternals will feature the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first openly gay superhero. 

Watch the trailer for Out at the link: here

Pixar short ‘Out’ features the studio’s first gay lead character

Via rss.cnn.com
 

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Rock Daypop

Guns N’ Roses Debut ‘Not In This Lifetime Selects’ Video Series

Guns N’ Roses have debuted their ‘Not In This Lifetime Selects’ video series, sharing live clips from recent dates on their world tour. The band announced the news on their social media channels, and for their first ‘Not In This Lifetime Selects’, GN’R have released a 13-minute video showcasing moments from their show in Salt Lake City, Utah, from 29, October 2019. 

Guns N’ Roses confirmed that their summer North American tour was being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The band, who previously cancelled their European tour, were due to kick off their summer run in Philadelphia on July 8 and wrap up with a performance in Missoula on August 26.

You can check the footage from GN’R’s Salt Lake City show at the link: here.

Guns N’ Roses launch Not In This Lifetime video series

Via www.loudersound.com
 

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Queen’s Brian May Suffered Heart Attack During Gardening Accident

Queen guitarist Brian May revealed to fans that he recently suffered a “small” heart attack amid dealing with his previously reported “gardening accident,” which involved tearing a gluteal muscle. After further testing revealed a compressed nerve, the guitarist then suffered the heart attack that landed him on an operating table.

May gave a video update explaining his recent health woes, saying in part, “I told you that I had a ripped muscle. Now, that was the way I was diagnosed. And we thought it was, like, a bizarre gardening accident. I didn’t realize that was amusing, really — I’d kind of forgotten that anything to do with the bum, people find amusing.” May eventually “had another MRI, but this time I had one of the lower spine. And, sure enough, we discovered that I had a compressed sciatic nerve.”

The guitarist provided detail about the heart attack that ultimately revealed three arterial blockages in his heart: “In the middle of the whole saga of the painful backside, I had a small heart attack. And I say ‘small,’ you know, it’s not something that did me any harm. It was about 40 minutes of pain in the chest, and tightness, and that feeling in the arms and sweating.”  May chose to have the stents placed rather than undergo a more involved operation open-heart surgery.

Read the rest of his message here including his video message.

Brian May Reveals He Recently Survived a ‘Small Heart Attack’

Via ultimateclassicrock.com
 

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Hilary Duff Responds To Child Sex Trafficking Allegations

Hillary Duff is shutting down reports involving one of her children. The former Disney star found herself trending on Twitter for baseless allegations regarding her participation in child sex trafficking. The rumors stemmed from a since-deleted Instagram post that showed Duff’s 8-year-old son, Luca Cruz, lying down without any clothes, and a subsequent Instagram video where the 32-year-old actress addressed the photo, which was eventually censored. “Someone pointed out on Instagram that I did a nude of him, which I did,” Duff said while showing off her family photos, “so we covered that up with [a] sticker.”

Countless fans immediately jumped to Duff’s defense, however a number of Twitter trolls continued to insinuate the picture in question was proof she was participating in child sex trafficking. Duff called the allegations disgusting and condemned the individual who started the rumor.

Duff shares Luca with her ex-husband Mike Comrie, whom she divorced in 2016. She also has a 1-year-old daughter, Banks Violet Bair, with husband Matthew Koma.

Hilary Duff Responds to Sex Trafficking Conspiracy Theory

Via popcrush.com
 

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Entertainment Daypop

Amanda Bynes Shares Update On Instagram After 2 Months In Treatment

Amanda Bynes shared a social media update with fans, revealing that she recently completed treatment for issues related to social anxiety. 

In her first Instagram post in nearly ten weeks, Bynes detailed her plans for the future, sharing that she’s still engaged and is getting “back on track” with her schooling. Along with a selfie, she wrote, “Update: Getting my Bachelor’s degree from FIDM. Taking online classes, trying to get a 4.0 GPA. Looking forward to starting my online store in the future.”

Bynes added, “Spent the last 2 months in treatment. Worked on coping skills to help with my social anxiety that caused me to drop out of school months ago.” Amanda continued, noting that she now resides in transitional living and is continuing therapy. She closed the note by acknowledging that she is still engaged, and hopes that her followers are staying safe.

Bynes enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in 2014, with intentions to secure an Associate’s of Art degree in Merchandise Product and later a Bachelor’s degree. It’s unclear whether her plans remain the same, but Amanda had told PAPER magazine she wished to one day create her own fashion line, and also make a return to acting. 

Amanda Bynes Says She’s “Back on Track” After Spending Two Months in Treatment

Via news.yahoo.com
 

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Rock Daypop

Slipknot’s Corey Taylor Completes Recording Solo Album In Quarantine

Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor has confirmed that he finished recording his debut solo album.  While appearing on Lzzy Hale of Halestorm’s “Raise Your Horns” show on the We Are Hear podcast, Taylor shared that he had about 25 songs recorded for his solo effort. 

Said Taylor: “All the songs are things that I’ve written over the years but they didn’t really fit with either band. So it’s stuff that I’ve just kind of been sitting on,” he said. “And I’ve been kind of talking about doing a solo album anyway, and I was just, like, ‘This is the perfect time to do it.'”  Taylor said he worked with Stone Sour’s Christian Martucci, guitarist Zach Throne (from his live band Corey Taylor and Friends), bassist Jason Christopher and drummer Dustin Schoenhofer on the project. 

You can hear the entire video interview at the link: here.

Slipknot and Stone Sour’s Corey Taylor Completes Solo Album

Via www.antimusic.com
 

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Journey Reveal New Lineup During Performance For UNICEF

Journey reunited with former bassist Randy Jackson and debuted new drummer Narada Michael Walden and keyboardist / vocalist Jason Derlatka during a special performance for UNICEF. The new lineup of the band made their debut during UNICEF We Won’t Stop virtual event, performing their classic  hit “Don’t Stop Believing.”

The band recently parted ways with bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith which has resulted in legal action. Bassist Randy Jackson was a member of the band in the mid-1980s and appeared on their “Raised On Radio” album, before going on to be a judge on American Idol.

Neal Schon tweeted after the performance “We were so happy to be involved with @unicef with all the amazing artists, for such a great cause thank you @merck_mercuriadis welcome to our Journey family @randyjackson @officialnarada and @jason_derlatka @journeymusicofficial Believe Friends New Music Coming”

Journey’s New Six-Piece Lineup Performs ‘Don’t Stop Believin”

Via ultimateclassicrock.com
 

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Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande Team Up For ‘Rain on Me’ Music Video

Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande have teamed up for their futuristic music video for “Rain on Me.” After dropping the single last week, Gaga and Grande teased on Twitter that the accompanying video would be coming soon

Filmed pre-pandemic, Gaga and Grande dance with their respective crews, soon coming together in the second chorus. As they dance in the rain, the video ends with a shot of Gaga and Grande hugging.

“Rain on Me” is Gaga’s second single from her forthcoming sixth album “Chromatica,” out May 29.  Watch the full video at the link: here.

Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande join forces on upbeat video, song ‘Rain On Me’ that will make you want to dance

Via www.usatoday.com
 

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CBS Picks Up John Krasinski’s YouTube Series ‘Some Good News’

Millions have tuned into John Krasinski’s show Some Good News on YouTube, which he started from his home during the pandemic. Now, Krasinski has announced he sold Some Good News to ViacomCBS, and he won’t be the host.

Krasinski started SGN after questioning why there isn’t a news network dedicated to good news only. He produced eight free episodes on YouTube, including an Office reunion/surprise wedding, a Hamilton performance, online graduations, and a virtual prom, all with famous surprise guests. 

Krasinski tweeted following the announcement: “Wow, who can believe when we started this thing together we all just wanted good news to be more fully represented in our everyday lives. And now? You quite literally ARE the good news! Thanks to you, SGN lives on, joining the ranks of this historic news network! See you all soon!” Krasinski will continue to serve as an executive producer and make cameos on SGN, but he won’t host; as of press time, a new host has not yet been named.

In the eighth — and possibly final — episode that aired last week, Krasinski announced that “we’re taking a break for now, but there is more to come! Stay tuned.” 

CBS buys John Krasinski’s uplifting YouTube series ‘Some Good News’

Via chicago.suntimes.com
 

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Shinedown’s New Track “Atlas Falls” Raises Money For COVID-19 Relief

Shinedown have unveiled the lyric video for their new single Atlas Falls, having already raised over $300,000 for COVID-19 relief with the song as part of a T-shirt bundle.

Atlas Falls was written eight years ago during the band’s Amaryllis sessions, and was originally only available with an exclusive fundraising tee for non-profit humanitarian aid organization Direct Relief.  Frontman Brent Smith says: “The response to Atlas Falls has been overwhelming, and Barry, Zach, Eric and I cannot say thank you enough to Shinedown Nation and everyone around the world that has supported Direct Relief during the COVID-19 response. The faith, the love, and the showing of humanity has just been incredible. Atlas Falls is a reminder that we are at our best when we need each other, and the only way through this is together.”

Pick up your Atlas Falls bundle at the link: here, and you can listen to Atlas Falls at the link: here

Shinedown premieres video for “Atlas Falls” charity single

Via www.msn.com
 

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