I Didn't Say It ...

Pete Buttigieg, out military vet and former Transportation Secretary, on The Felon’s “slash-and-burn” proposal to cut 80,000 employees from the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA]:

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“How can we not be pissed off when we see them coming after the workers who take care of our veterans, many of whom are veterans themselves? They’re going to slash-and-burn so much of the VA. [But] this could be an empowering moment for so many veterans, so many families and so many Americans .There’s a lot of folks in Congress who are incredibly nervous about this, a lot of congressional Republicans who know better, but … [who can at] least can be pushed, to stand up to this sort of thing.”

The very people who protect us, he wants to punish; the very job he ran from, crying that his feet hurt, he doesn’t think worthy of respect.

He cares about rich white people, Putin and hookers pissing on him; that’s all.

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Anthony Mackie, Captain America, on  playing gay roles during his career and how it helped him to be more empathetic toward gay people, including one of his own brothers:

“Growing up in the south in the 90s & 80s, you grew up homophobic, sexist and racist….that’s just a fact. So when I got to school, my roommate was gay, like I didn’t know how to deal with that. Like my brother is gay. So being a man, I used my art to better myself. I played Perry [Brother to Brother] so that I could understand my brother better, so I could understand my friends better. Going to art school, a bunch of my friends were gay. But with me, I needed to figure out what was my hold up, what was my insecurity about that. And once I played that role, I realized everybody deserves to be loved. It’s not my job to say who you love or who should love you, If you’re loved, I’m happy for you … So Perry was more a statement piece for me, with love and admiration for my brother, with the appreciation and respect for my friends, for that culture. I think it made me a better actor because I had to go so far outside the box.”

A favorite saying of mine: when you know better, you do better. And Mackie has learned better.

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Sarah McBride, Democratic Delaware Congresswoman and the first out transgender member of Congress, on the GOP being fixated on her gender identity instead of substantive policy issues affecting Americans:

“I appear to live rent-free in the minds of some of my Republican colleagues. I wish that they would spend even a fraction of the time that they spend thinking about me, thinking about how to lower the costs for American families. I wish they would spend a fraction of the time that they spend thinking about me, figuring out how to make government actually work better, rather than making it work worse in order to prove that government can’t work. The Republican Party is obsessed with culture war issues. It is weird, and it is bizarre. And the American people deserve serious legislators, serious elected officials who are focused on bringing people together to deliver real results for the American people. Not to play games, and not to engage in schoolyard taunts. We will not take a lecture on decorum from a party that incited an insurrection.”

Her remarks came just two days after Texas GOP Representative Keith Self, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, repeatedly misgendered her during a hearing,  calling her “Mister McBride.” The exchange prompted an immediate rebuke from Massachusetts Democrat Bill Keating who demanded a correction. Instead of apologizing, Self abruptly adjourned the hearing.

It's what the GOP does when confronted; they run off like rats.

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Ben Whishaw, out actor, on juggling very different projects—a spy in Black Doves, voicing Paddington Bear, and rehearsing Samuel Beckett’s "Waiting for Godot”—in an effort to avoid being pigeonholed:

“It was one of the strangest gear switches ever, but it is nice to inhabit so many different worlds. Somewhere in your mind, you have to refuse to be categorized, you have to keep very free. People love to categorize and file you somewhere and you have to really resist that ... This is something I’ve been thinking a lot about. I’m quite fascinated in how much has changed in the 20 years since I started acting. There were not roles like this [playing an openly gay hit man] … there were not depictions of queer people like this. Now you can play someone who’s not straight, and not that it’s irrelevant, but it’s not their defining characteristic—that person might have many other interesting facets. And those people can be the center of a story that appeals to a large audience … that’s new! I remember it was conveyed to me clearly that you should keep it a bit hush-hush that you’re gay and not to make much of a thing about it. Even though I wasn’t hiding it from my friends or the people in my life ... if you wanted to get roles, that was what was required of you. And I think that was it—it was a pretty tiny proportion. I can’t think of anyone who was my age. So I do really want to acknowledge the bravery and brilliance of those people, because it wasn’t nothing that we had them to look up to. And I’m grateful that we’ve moved on from that time, because it felt horrible.”

Whishaw has always marched to the beat of his own drummer, even as an out actor, trying to stay true to himself.

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Greg Casar, Democrat Congressman, on what the Democrats need to be doing:

“Today the biggest split among Democrats is between those who want to stand and fight and those who want to play dead. House Democrats united to stand and fight. Too many Senate Democrats played dead. We need more leaders from  the ‘Stand and Fight’ wing of the Democratic party.”

Stand and Fight. You work for us and we demand that you fight … or we will vote you out.

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Harvey Fierstein, playwright, actor, out gay man and live performer, on being banned from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts:

"A few folks have written to ask how I feel about [The Felon]'s takeover of The Kennedy Center. How do you think I feel? The shows I've written are now banned from being performed in our premiere American theater. Those shows, most of which have been performed there in the past, include Kinky Boots, La Cage aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy, Hairspray, Safe Sex, Casa Valentina, Spookhouse, A Catered Affair, The Sissy Duckling, Bella Bella, and more. I have been in the struggle for our civil rights for more than 50 years only to watch them snatched away by a man who actually couldn't care less. He does this stuff only to placate the religious right, so they'll look the other way as he savages our political system for his own glorification. He attacks free speech. He attacks the free press. He attacks America's allies. His only allegiance is to himself—the golden calf. My fellow Americans I warn you—this is NOT how it begins. This is how freedom ENDS! [The Felon] may have declared 'woke' as dead in America. We must prove him wrong. WAKE THE HELL UP!!!!!"

Resist.

Speak up.

Stand up.

Vote.

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I Ain't One To Gossip But ...

Now that Keeping Up With The Kardastrophes has wound down to nothingness, and the universe righted itself, Andy Kohen sat down with the Koven to discuss their, um, legacy?

It was all rather blah, from what I read since I have never watched anything Kardastrophe—I even turn off Khloé’s insipid commercials—apparently the audience was treated to Kimmy’s take on her minute’s long marriage to basketball player Kris Humphries.

Kim says she owes Humphries an apology—bitch owes the planet an apology— for the way she handled their 72-day marriage and divorce but he was apparently not in a forgiving mood, even when she ran into him the Beverly Hills Hotel a few years back and it did not go well:

“I saw him and all of his friends got up from the table, we had the tables next to each other. All of his friends got up and said hi to me and he literally just looked at me and like wouldn’t even speak to me.”

Kim says Humphries is “faith-based”—meaning religious, something Kimmy knows nothing of because she’s “fame-based”—and wanted an annulment,  which is why he claimed fraud in his filing:

“If I was mature, I would have wanted the annulment too. I wish I was only married once.”

Hey, you aren’t married now, or did you forget that Kanye already has a new side-piece he’s traveling with in Europe? You dragged Kris Humphries into marriage for a TV show and then dumped his ass when the ratings didn’t go up.

That’s what happens Kimmy when you live your life for social media.

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Britney Spears has been a pop star since the last century but has been laying low for several years now due to legal battles with her daddy about her money.

But, in a new Instagram Q&A, BritBrit says she’s not sure if she’ll ever sing again ... and the world heaved a sigh of relief.

There’s more to this story, but I want to leave it on a high note.

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Disney+’s latest superhero series, Marvel’s Falcon and the Winter Soldier, is a hit, but one of its stars, Anthony Mackie, seems a tad peevish that people online are saying his character Sam Wilson AKA the Falcon is secretly in love with Bucky Barnes AKA the Winter Soldier, played by Sebastian Stan.

First things first: I am in love with Sebastian Stan. Get that queer, Anthony. And now, back to snark …

Anthony has gone after the Twitterers who envision homo-love for Sam and Bucky, saying that two straight men can have a strong friendship without the “gay”:

“There’s so many things that people latch on to with their own devices to make themselves relevant and rational. The idea of two guys being friends and loving each other in 2021 is a problem because of the exploitation of homosexuality … It used to be guys can be friends, we can hang out, and it was cool. You can’t do that anymore, because something as pure and beautiful as homosexuality has been exploited by people who are trying to rationalize themselves.”

Wait; he calls homosexuality pure and beautiful, but doesn’t want you thinking Sam and Bucky are the new homo Sam and Diane?

Mixed messaging, Anthony. Luckily, the uber hot Sebastian Stan doesn’t share Mackie’s views; he says:

“I’m just happy that the relationship is embraced, and it should be embraced in whatever way or fashion that people desire and want it to be.”

Which is why I think they are gay and in love and that I’d like to be the meat in a Sam-and-Bucky sammich.

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In the Everything Old Is New Again File … Chris Brown has once again been accused of attacking a woman.

Police showed up at Brown’s home after a woman them saying she’d just been slapped in the face by Chris and the attack caused part of her weave to come out.

Chris responded via Instagram—because, why not—by telling everyone that the accusations are so damn “cap,” meaning people are spreading lies.

And so there you have it … known abuser Chris Brown says he did not abuse another woman.

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More from In the Everything Old Is New Again File … serial cheater, Tristan Thompson—who cheated on his baby mama with   Khloé Kardastrophe, whom he cheated on when she was pregnant—has been accused of allowing his penis out without a leash … again.

Apparently, Tristan went to the birthday party of YouTuber Tana Mongeau and was seen entering a room with 3 women and when he came out he was, um, “disheveled.” To be fair, he might have been helping them move furniture but … serial cheater.

As the story broke, though, it was reported that Tristan and Khloé broke up for the millionth time and the Koven wants you to know that the breakup happened weeks ago and so Tristan wasn’t technically cheating on Khloe … again.

Uh huh.

Note to Tristan: if you wanna end this now, just say you thought you were boning Khloé, and she’s had so many knew faces, you thought this was just the newest one.

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I Didn't Say It ...

Roger Moore, former James Bond actor, on being against the idea of a gay Bond or a black Bond or a female Bond:

“I have heard people talk about how there should be a lady Bond or a gay Bond. But they wouldn’t be Bond for the simple reason that wasn’t what Ian Fleming wrote. It is not about being homophobic or, for that matter, racist – it is simply about being true to the character. A few years ago, I said that Cuba Gooding, Jr. would make an excellent Bond, but it was a joke! Although James may have been played by a Scot, a Welshman and an Irishman, I think he should be ‘English-English.'”

Says the worst James Bond ever.

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Wale, a rapper, on how Frank Ocean won a Grammy because he's gay:

“If a dude was gay, man, he’d get a Grammy. They’re going to make fun of them, they’re gonna throw their Twitter jokes…but in the next three years there’s probably gonna be a dude who’s not even gay that’s just like ‘Man, this is my last resort’ …But nah, I would sign a gay rapper if he was dope. ‘Go ahead man, go do that thing, go do them Versace fashion shows.’ But the point I’m trying to make is it’s definitely – and people are probably going to go bad on me for saying this – but it’s an advantage to be gay in this country right now. That’s just the fact of the matter. Frank Ocean is very dope. Very very dope artist. He got pushed to the moon when he dropped his album though. He got the Grammy and everything. There’s about 30 artists in the country that sold about how much he did or more – they didn’t get any of that.”

First off, when you speak, make sure you can be understood because this shiz is all over the place.

Are they making 'fun' of gay people or giving them awards?

And, for the record, Wale, or whatever your name really is — Olubowale Victor Akintimehin — you don't win a Grammy for record sales so it makes no difference how many people sold the same number as Ocean, m'kay?

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Anthony Mackie, the actor who plays The Falcon in the Marvel movies, on whether or not the new film The Black Panther needs a black director:

“I don’t think it’s important at all. As a director your job is to tell a story. You know, they didn’t get a horse to direct Seabiscuit! The thing is I don’t think the race of the director has to do with their ability to tell a story. I think it’s all about the director’s ability to be able to relate to that story and do it justice. I think men can direct women, and two of my greatest work experiences were with female directors. So I think it all depends. May the best man—or woman—win.”

Wait. What? A horse didn't direct Seabiscuit? I want my eight bucks back. And do not try and tell me a cartoon cat didn’t direct Garfield: The Movie or I'm'a cut a bitch.

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Ken Ham, creationist, on same-sex marriage leading to full nudity:

“The doctrine of marriage is based there upon the literal history of Genesis But if that history is not true, if there was no literal Adam and Eve, then what is marriage, why is it to be a man and a woman? It’s only a man and a woman because God invented marriage, and he invented marriage when he made the first marriage, Adam and Eve.  The origin of clothing is right there in Genesis so if you abandon Genesis’ literal history of marriage and say marriage can be two men or two women or whatever you want, well why not abandon clothing?”

Wait, so God invented marriage and fashion? I know he gave Adam and Steve those fig leaves to cover their manly bits, but I never knew he created a pastor or preacher or priests or shaman or witch doctor to perform the ceremony where Adam and Eve got married.

I always thought they just shacked yup.

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Would You Hit It?

It's a simple question .... actor Anthony Mackie at the recent Captain America: BlahBlahBlah premiere.

Would.You.Hit.It?

Yes or No?