JoJo Siwa to receive GLSEN award
Social media sensation JoJo Siwa will be honored by the LGBTQ education group GLSEN next month for her anti-bullying and advocacy efforts.
The organization says it will recognize the 19-yearold singer, dancer and content creator with its Gamechanger Award at an Oct. 14 gala in California.
Siwa appeared on the reality television series “Dance Moms” and made history on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” as the first contestant to dance with a same-sex partner.
Melanie WillinghamJaggers, executive director of GLSEN, said Siwa will be honored for her focus on anti-bullying and being a “fierce advocate for kindness, self-acceptance” for the LGBTQ community. She said Siwa handled coming out as a pansexual last year with “such grace.”
‘Rings of Power’ cast denounces threats:
The cast of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” issued a statement Wednesday that denounced threats, harassment and racism facing actors of color by people who have complained about the series’ racially diverse Middle-earth.
The cast said the show reflects the multicultural world that “The Lord of the Rings” author J.R.R. Tolkien envisioned. The Amazon Prime Video series takes place in the second age of Middleearth and prominently features actors of color in roles such as an Elven soldier, a queen regent, Harfoots (Hobbits’ ancestors) and a Dwarf princess.
“Our world has never been all white, fantasy has never been all white, Middle-earth is not all white,” the cast said in the statement, thanking fans for their support. “BIPOC belong in Middle-earth,
and they are here to stay.”
Martin sues nephew:
Puerto Rican superstar Ricky Martin filed a lawsuit Wednesday against his nephew that accused him of extortion, malicious persecution, abuse of law and damages — stemming from false allegations of sexual abuse. Martin’s lawyers said the claim by the nephew, which he has since recanted, has cost the singer millions of dollars in lost income.
The lawsuit alleges that Martin has been “persecuted, besieged, harassed, stalked and extorted” by his “troubled” nephew for economic reasons. It further alleges that if the nephew doesn’t obtain any financial benefit, he would continue to “assassinate the reputation and integrity of the artist.”
New ‘Dancing with the Stars’ cast revealed:
The new celebrity dancers for the upcoming season of “Dancing with the Stars” were announced Thursday, including “Jersey Shore’s” Vinny
Guadagnino, actor Selma Blair, actor Wayne Brady, singer Jordin Sparks,
“The Real Housewives of New Jersey” reality star Teresa Giudice, drag queen Shangela and “Good Morning America’s” Sam Champion.
Other dancers include actor Joseph Baena, singer Jessie James Decker, “90210” alum Trevor Donovan, “CODA’s” Daniel Durant, “Charlie’s Angels” star Cheryl Ladd, actor Jason Lewis, TikTok star Charli and mom Heidi D’Amelio, and former “Bachelorette” Gabby Windey.
Season 31 hosted by Tyra Banks and Alfonso Ribeiro debuts Sept. 19 on Disney+.
Sept. 9 birthdays: Actor Topol is 87. Singer Dee
Dee Sharp is 77. Guitarist John McFee is 72. Actor Tom Wopat is 71. Actor Angela Cartwright is 70. Actor Hugh Grant is 62. Actor Constance Marie is
57. Actor Adam Sandler is
56. Actor Eric Stonestreet is 51. Singer Michael
Buble is 47. Actor Michelle Williams is 42.