Sad news to report. According to TMZ, Alexis Arquette, transgender activist, actress/entertainer, has passed away at the age of 47.

Alexis Arquette’s most notable role was playing transvestite Georgette in the screen adaptation of controversial novel Last Exit to Brooklyn. She had bit parts in I Think I Do, Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror, The Wedding Singer, Blended and Sometimes They Come Back… Again, and in TV shows like VH1’s The Surreal Life and Bravo’s Top Design.

Born Robert, the sibling of actors David, Rosanna, Patricia and Richmond transitioned to female in 2006, which was documented in the film Alexis Arquette: She’s My Brother. Alexis’ brother Richmond posted the following on Facebook Sunday morning, using Alexis’ name she was born with;

Boy George tweeted this earlier and I hoped he had the wrong info, as no other news outlet but X17 was reporting the news, so I waited for confirmation. But it seems the sad news is true.

(via TMZ)

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It’s hard to imagine RuPaul won his FIRST Emmy last night for Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Show, but he made herstory last night when he snatched the trophy!

He’s not the only one celebrating his Emmy win. Celebrities and RuPaul’s Drag Race queens shared their love on social media last night. Check it out:

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Of course everybody in the office is just over the moon at RuPaul‘s long-overdue Emmy win last night. We hear the audience just WENT UP IN FOAM AND THUNDER when her name was announced. As it should be. She beat out some really heavy hitters: Jane Lynch, Steve Harvey… RYAN SEACREST! So, it was a win that really felt like WIN, BY GOD. The Emmy voters really sent a message. Media is changing. The world is changing. And Mama Ru is the catalyst. So from everybody at WOW, condragulations, gurl! Your “Queen of All Media” title is unchallenged!

Below are some pics from the Emmy after-party, taken by Thairin Smothers.

Ru onstage with the iconic Gloria Steinem (whom he admitted to being lesbian lovers with – GASP!)

Ru with Jane Lynch

Ru with Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey

…with Thairin Smothers

… with Ryan Murphy and friend

… with Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures producer Katharina Otto-Bernstein and her husband, art dealer Nate Bernstein

… with executive producer Tom Campbell

… with co-executive producer  Steven Corfe

… with LOGO exec Michael Lombardo

Lovely ladies Michelle Visage with Heidi Klum

… with Shark Tank‘s Robert Herjavec and his wife, Kym Johnson (from Dancing with the Stars)

… with Michelle Visage, Ben Dey, and CAA’s Jonathan Swaden

On the red carpet with Michelle and RDR costume deigner (and nightlife legend) Zaldy

Heidi Klum working the red carpet

and finally, Morgan Freeman on the red carpet.

(Photos: Thairin Smothers)

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They say the truth comes out when you’ve had a few drinks. Well, Katy Perry got drunk on Twitter last night and she spilled the tea on many things. One being, she doesn’t think when jamming to Beyoncé, she listens. (Deep.) Two, she called a lot of her haters basic (which is really funny tbh), and third, when asked if she’d collaborate with Taylor Swift, she had one surprising request.

Check it out:


Is it too late now to say sorry?

Or does she need to pull a Bey:

The balls in your court, Swift!

This post is approved by drunk tweeting worldwide:

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What a powerful image. Echoing the courage of the Unknown Protester of Tiananmen Square, a 12-year-old boy from Guanajuato, Mexico was photographed in the middle of the street trying to block the march of thousands of “pro-family” groups protesting same-sex marriage. Eleven thousand people barreling towards him, and he just stood there with his arms outstretched. Daring them to continue.

Journalist Manuel Rodriguez captured the image, telling the newspaper Regeneración:

 “At first I thought the child was only playing.”

But later, he interviewed the boy, who said, “I have an uncle who is gay and I hate the hatred.”

Wow. Just WOW.

There were nationwide marches across Mexico over the weekend. As Towleroad notes:

Same-sex marriage has been legalized in Mexico City and 9 of the nation’s 31 states. There are challenges in the 22 other states underway.

Video of the march below.

See also: Image of the Year? Little Omran, Pulled from the Rubble in Syria, Sums Up the Horror of War

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The queen of fashion, color blocking, and albums-that-need-to-come-out-like-yesterday, Solange Knowles, experienced some verbal (and physical) violence towards her family this past week at Kraftwerk’s concert in New Orleans. From her powerful essay, “And Do You Belong? I Do” she penned over the weekend, it’s not the first time she’s experienced this, nor the first for her family and friends.

Check it out it:

On the tone:

It’s the same one that yells and screams at you and your mother in your sleep when you’re on the train from Milan to Basel “give me your passport NOW.” You look around to see if anyone else is being requested this same thing only to see a kind Italian woman actually confront the agents on your behalf and ask why you are being treated this way.

On the incident:

About 20 seconds later, you hear women yell aggressively, “Sit down now, you need to sit down right now” from the box behind you. You want to be considerate, however, they were not at all considerate with their tone, their choice of words, or the fact that you just walked in and seem to be enjoying yourself.

You are also confused as to what show you went to. This is a band that were pioneers of electronic and dance music. Surely the audience is going to expect you to dance at some point.

You were planning on sitting down after this song, as long as it wasn’t one of the four songs that you really connect with and plan on getting down to.

You feel something heavy hit you on the back of your shoulder, but consider that you are imagining things because well….certainly a stranger would not have the audacity.

Moments later, you feel something again, this time smaller, less heavy, and your son and his friend tell you those ladies just hit you with a lime.

You look down only to see the half eaten lime on the ground below you.

On perceptions via social media:

The statement you made makes headlines funny enough just days after it comes to light that Air China warns their flyers not to go into Indian, Pakastani, or Black neighborhoods in order to stay safe, while Texas schools are fighting to have textbooks calling Mexicans “lazy” removed from classrooms, and while Native Americans are doing everything they can possibly to to protect their sacred land from an oil pipeline being built on graves of their descendants. You know that people of colors’ “spaces” are attacked every single day, but many will not be able to see it that way.

You are also fully aware, now that you use your platform consistently to speak out on social, racial, and feminist issues, that people who have no awareness of your work outside of gossip sites and magazines, some of which who are most likely voting for Donald Trump, have been starting to engage and/or target you in public and social media in regards to race.

You can read the full essay here. We support you Solange and if we were there, we would dance right along side you!

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After a 69-year-old Sicilian man was arrested for masturbating in front of a group of students at the University of Catania – as you do – and sentenced to three months in prison, Italy’s highest court has ruled that masturbation in public places is no longer criminal. Now anyone, anywhere can whip it out and have a tug – as long it’s not in the presence or view of minors.

Says CNN:

The defendant’s lawyer appealed the case to the country’s highest court, which ruled on the side of the accused in June but only just made its decision public. Judges ruled that public masturbation out of the presence of minors is no longer deemed criminal conduct due to a change in the law last year, which decriminalized the act.

The new iteration of the criminal code does call for imprisonment—of up to four-and-a-half years—if the act is witnessed by a minor.

BRB– booking a “sightseeing” tour of Italy right now…

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If you don’t know who John Early is, you’re about to REALLY know who he is. This past year alone he starred in two Netflix productions – the Wet Hot American Summer revival opposite Amy Poehler and The Characters. And now, you’ll be able to see him co-star opposite Jesse Plemons and Molly Shannon in this September’s anticipated dramedy Other People.

We caught up with the rising star and comedian (and yes, about that viral dance video). Check it out:

WOW: Hi John! Thanks so much for talking with me! What are you doing right now?
John: I’m trying to get a new primary care physician because my current one only takes cash or check and interrupts me when I’m describing my symptoms.

WOW: Let’s get right into it. I’ve watched your viral dance video like a bajillion times. Where did you get such fly moves?
John: Honestly the bar and bat mitzvah scene from 7th grade. I won a Mandy Moore CD in a dance contest at one of them, and I’ve literally never looked back. Also, is the vid truly viral?

WOW: I mean it has 20K views…anything with K’s behind it is a viral video in my opinion. For those of you that haven’t watched it, do yourself a favor and watch it here:

A video posted by John Early (@bejohnce) on Sep 2, 2016 at 12:40pm PDT

WOW: Who were you wearing? Inquiring fashionistas want to know!
John: I honestly don’t know! It’s my costume for an episode of Search Party which you can binge with your family Thanksgiving weekend on TBS okay? 

WOW: Oh! Well we will definitely look out for that! It had a very boy band vibe…were you a Backstreet Boy or *N Sync fan growing up?
John: I was going for white boy band appropriation of 90s female RnB greats like SWV, Total, Aaliyah, Xscape, TLC, Allure, etc.

I remember being hornier for *N Sync, but telling people I preferred the Backstreet Boys because that seemed to be the more mature choice. They were first, Kevin seemed very wise, AJ was battling alcoholism, you get it.

WOW: You just starred in “Other People” opposite Molly Shannon. Tell me what she’s like and how did it come about that you were attached to the project?
John: I actually don’t have any scenes with her, but we shot on the same day and she listened sweetly as I dissected the entirety of her performance in Year of the Dog and walked her through the many ways in which rip her off.

Chris Kelly, who wrote and directed the movie, knew me from comedy stuff in New York, and he asked me to do it!

WOW: Have you read when I met her? (Read my account here.) She was so present, real, gracious, and kind. Made me an even bigger fan!
John: Gorgeous. Yes she is the warmest person on the planet. We are so lucky!!

WOW: You also worked with Jesse Plemmons. You know I’m Kiki D’s number one fan, right? What was he like? Did he let you in about Fargo or Kirsten?
John: Jesse Plemmons is an earth angel. It was shocking for me to be across from a true actor who was like, crying and stuff. It’s a very sweet friendship the characters have so I have full tenderness transference from doing those scenes with him. Jesse if you’re reading this I just wanna take care of you.

I got no Kiki goss during the shoot. I’m in no way above that, I just forgot to get it.

WOW: What’s your favorite Kiki movie? I think mine is “Get Over It”.
John: Dick is my favorite. So good and so underrated.

WOW: You were so hilarious in Wet Hot American Summer too. Any fun stories on set? That cast must’ve been iconic to sit at video village with?
John: Thank you Jake! The Wet Hot movie and Stella are very important to me so it was extremely surreal to be included in that. The fuck you’s that Amy Poehler and I scream at each other were improvised, and that was one of the more thrilling moments of my life.  Ugh I feel like I peaked with Logan!!

WOW: Are you watching All Stars 2? If so, who are you rooting for? Top 3?
John: I’m not watching yet, but Alyssa is my girl.

WOW: It is so fun to watch your star rise. It feels like yesterday that I saw you doing stand-up at the Cake Shop in LES. Now, you’re sitting pretty with the pros. What’s next for you?
John: You are too good to me baby. I still host that show at Cake Shop! I’m still just a girl from Tennessee, with a rash, not getting paid for stand up!

Kate Berlant, Andy DeYoung and I made a mini series for Vimeo that you will freak out about. It’s major.

Follow John to see what he’s starring in (or dancing to!) next!

The post John Early Talks Backstreet Boys, Kirsten Dunst Movies, And Co-Starring With Molly Shannon appeared first on The WOW Report.

In her last public appearance, the late, great and iconic Alexis Arquette joins Barry Shils, best known for the 1995 documentary Wigstock: The Movie and Jackie Beat to discuss the ins and outs of the famed NYC event. 

Wigstock: The Movie documents the annual drag music festival held in New York City during the 1980s and 1990s featuring acts from Lady Bunny, Leigh Bowery and RuPaul.

The post #DragCon2016: Alexis Arquette, Barry Shils & Jackie Beat Talk Everything “Wigstock” appeared first on The WOW Report.

The reviews are in and Natalie Portman’s portrayal of Jackie Kennedy in “Jackie” are dynamite. The original screenplay documents Jackie’s life before and after JFK’s assassination. It was received well at the Venice Film Festival, but after Saturday’s screening in Toronto, it astonished audiences and is now Fox Searchlight Pictures green lit the project for theater distribution…and what looks like most definitely Academy consideration.

Check it out:

Pablo Larraín directed the project and stated:

“I am delighted that Fox Searchlight will be releasing ‘Jackie’ Their movies have been an important influence on me as a filmmaker, and it is a personal achievement for me to have them bring this very special story of a beautiful, sophisticated and mysterious woman to the world. Jackie was the most unknown of the known women of the 20th century.”

This wouldn’t be the first time the production company helped Portman towards Academy Award victory. They are the same studio that earned her her first Oscar win for “Black Swan” and the same producers are attached to “Jackie” and will definitely run a similar Oscar campaign.  

Check out this chilling scene:

This post is approved by:

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That was fast! South Park addresses Colin Kaepernick‘s National Anthem protests in this 30 second teaser for Wednesday’s show. A number of characters are shown at a football game, singing “The Star Spangled Banner”… but with a sliiiight change of lyrics. Watch below.

“Colin Kaepernick is brave … cops are pigs, cops are pigs
Wait, someone just took my stuff, I need to call the cops
Oh no, I just said ‘Cops are pigs’ … who’s gonna help me get my stuff?
Why did I listen to Colin Kaepernick, he’s not even any good
Oh I just got my stuff back, cops are pigs again, cops are pigs
Colin Kaepernick’s a good backup …”

South Park returns tomorrow on Comedy Central with 10 all-new episodes. (via TMZ)

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Besides living for her Hamptons/Halloween fantasy look, Celine Dion – ethereal queen of chiffon, crystals, and being the overall Webster dictionary definition of “chic” – stopped by Ellen’s studios to sing Britney’s “Work Bitch” and rap. Yes, rap.

Check it out (and fall in love):

And she is approved by rap royalty:

HA Big up @celinedion doing her version 2 “Work It” she flipped it reversed it! I see ya ayye pic.twitter.com/T45MsgiTL5

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) September 12, 2016

This post is approved by:

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OK. I get it. We’re veering into serious fanfic territory here. OBVIOUSLY Justin Timberlake is very much in love with his wife and he’s long recovered from his breakup with Britney. But it’s fun to pretend. Just watch this interview. Justin and Anna Kendrick are in Cannes promoting their upcoming animated feature Trolls. And the interviewer is nattering away in slightly broken English and just – VERY CASUALLY, and COMPLETELY UNINTENTIONALLY – uses the word “pinky” to describe Anna’s character. “Pinky,” of course, was Justin’s pet name from Britney, as any Jutney superfan will recall. Justin’s face falls. Like, SERIOUSLY FALLS. He appears to go into a dark funk. His world is crumbling. He is suddenly thrown back in in time, reliving every moment of his great love affair. Watch him closely, starting at 2:10 mark, and you too will agree. That’s some serious PTSD that’s been triggered. (via BuzzFeed)

Of course, there are inevitable comparisons to the iconic Ben Affleck/”Hello Darkness, My Old Friend” interview for Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. Somebody need to soundtrack Justin’s descent into the abyss ASAP.

The post Justin STILL Loves Britney, and Here’s the Proof appeared first on The WOW Report.

The high point of everyone’s New York Fashion Week is, of course, The Blonds show. And that has our resident blonde goddess Dianne Brill musing about the power of platinum locks. Sure, brunettes are sultry and elegant, but blondes attract the sunshine. They bring out something naughty in people. “They want to be part of your parade,” says La Brill. So by all means, if you’ve never been blonde, do yourself favor. Buy a wig. Take a selfie. See what all the hoopla is about. Watch Dianne outline the benefits below.

This message is Amanda Lepore approved.

And be sure to subscribe to the The Brill of it All!

And heres a tantalizing snippet of the Blonds S/S 2017 show…

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Okay WOWers now let’s get in formation. The queen of well, EVERYTHING, Beyoncé Giselle Carter-Knowles, is knee deep (or thigh boot, rather) in her critically acclaimed “Formation Tour,” following her HBO visual masterpiece ‘Lemonade.’ If you’re hashtag blessed enough to attend the show (and stave off hunger pains with copious amounts of Ramen so you can save up for merch swag), here’s my survival guide for getting through (and living your best) Bey concert life.

Check it out:


Bey isn’t fucking around. She has the same amount of hours in a day as you do. (Maybe extra nanny help and a bajillion dollars, but still, I digress). So that means, when you’re iCal reminds you that you’re about to lose yourself in a gluttonous state of ecstasy on Wednesday night at the Dodgers stadium, you have as many hours as she does to get your shit together for the show so that you can dance your damn mind off.

Not to tote, but this will be my third time seeing her and I’ve learned a lot about myself, my faith (lol), and how to make the most of my concert-going experience. With no further adou, here you go:

1) Have your Snapchat open and ready.

You need not hath time no fury to fuck around with Instagram. (I’m still not doing “stories” and neither should you). You can save all your grainy (drunk, let’s be honest) videos and regram them later, but you have to get through two and a half hours of live music and there’s no time to deal with the non-zoom features of other apps.

2) Have your “most-used” emojis ready. I recommend these three because (duh):

Trust me. She will sing “All Night” and “Running” and you won’t have time to type something clever because your heart will be too busy self combusting into emotional flames of glory.

3) Get TWO drinks at a time.

Bey and her hive won’t wait for you to waddle back to your seat because you want another Budweiser before she belts out “Halo,” so like Noah’s Ark, get everything in twos…two cocktails, two mocktails, two beers, two queers, two nachos…you see where I’m going with this…

4) No masks.

Seriously. DO try it at home but most definitely DON’T wear one to the show. The Beygency will confiscate and you will become drunk angry (and that’s not part of the Bey lifestyle).

5) Get a brim hat.

Think Amish, think ASOS, think Pilgrim. It’s fall isn’t it?

6) Be extra with hot sauce.

Nothing says stan like bringing a tiny bottle of Tabasc-y to the show. Who knows, you might put it on a hot dog (or whatever you people eat at ball games).

7) Wear a choker.

Nothing says “Independent Woman” like a 90’s reference. There’s a billion at Forever 21 right now (admit it, we all shop there).

8) Be the kleenex mess you wish to see in the world.

The above gif will be you so just prepare yourself for the wilderness that is the jungle of your heart post-Bey vibes.

9) Grab a fur coat.

If you’re friends are texting you “Bitch, where are you?”

And you reply: “I’m five minutes away in my Uber…”

But really this is you:

Literally borrow your roomie’s fur coat and clack into a cab IMMEDIATELY. Like life, her concert’s start on time.

10) Bee your best self.

This is me at the San Diego show. This cost me $20 online (plan for two weeks for shipping) and literally everyone will either want to take a picture with you (or drunkenly laugh at you). It’s fun.

There you have it, hunties.

You will be changed. You will die inside. You will be reborn.

The post Beyoncé ‘Formation Tour’ Attendee Survival Guide appeared first on The WOW Report.

Los Angeles- based Queer artists KizMet and SayTay show their “True Style” in new music video featuring Rica Shay. The video, filmed in Silverlake by independent director AJ Goodrich, gives us a glimpse into the uninhibited lives of these three artists. “True Style” was styled by LAG vintage and serves all the 90’s vintage looks, kiddie pool realness, and a large dose of the trio’s infectious energy.

Check it out:

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Latriiiiiiice Royale mediates the Little Women of LA panel at DragCon2016 featuring Terra Jolé, Tonya Banks, Christy McGinty Gibel and Brittney Guzman dish about the upcoming season of their television series, their experience on Rupaul’s Drag Race Season 8 and more!

‘Cause you know your girl is going to bring it to the panel like she does on Dancing with the Stars!

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We had a little internal debate here at The Wow Report on whether we should post this video at all. Friend of WOW, artist Sham Ibrahim shot the footage between 2004 and 2008 and gave permission to post it. It’s very sweet and at times funny and poignant, but so soon after Alexis Arquette‘s death, some may find it a bit morbid. But Alexis was comfortable with the subject matter. You might check what comes up for you, and sit with a minute before you react. It’s profound.

Watch.

The post #WOWExclusive: Alexis Arquette on the Eternal Question, “Is There Life After Death?” Watch appeared first on The WOW Report.

Toni with Adele

This summer, she attended a workshop held by French dancer Babson Baba Sy. When he realized who she was, he called her to the front of the class to perform for everyone… after this video went viral, Basil said,

“I’ve always been a dancer, and I will always be a dancer. Dance has been my lover, my doctor. I know I have my health because of this.”

Basil said the best way to stay as fit as she is is to,

“start dancing immediately. Run to the closest dance studio, and study the style of dance of the music you love. If you love hip-hop music, go to a hip-hop class. If you love salsa, take a salsa class. It will become infectious and you’ll keep going back.”

It seems to be working. Again, she is 72!

Watch.

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