“American Idol” has completed the arduous and super expensive process of snagging 3 judges for the show’s reboot … and it didn’t come a day too soon. Sources connected with the production tell TMZ, ABC and Fremantle, which co-own the show, will…
Showing posts with label Bryan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bryan. Show all posts
Friday, September 29, 2017
Monday, September 25, 2017
Luke Bryan to Judge American Idol? Hmmm...
Considering how much American Idol is paying Katy Perry to be a judge on their new iteration of the series, you’d think that they’d have an easier time filling out the judges’ table.
Now it sounds like Luke Bryan is being considered to judge the talent competition.
That … could be both good and bad for the show.
We should preface this by acknowledging that there have been a number of reports of big names being considered or even courted by ABC for their American Idol revival.
We heard Kim Kardashian’s name a while back, but haven’t heard it again since.
Frankly, it makes a lot of sense for Kim to not take this. She’s a reality star and a businesswoman and, oh by the way, a mother of two with a third on the way.
Being a TV judge on a show like that is a cushy job, but it could take her away from her family a lot.
(Not just from her children, but from Kanye)
Given that we haven’t heard a peep about Kim and American Idol since, it’s probably safe to say that she won’t be at the judges’ table.
Much more recently, we heard that ABC and the show’s producers were preparing an offer for Selena Gomez to judge American Idol.
That would be a truly inspired choice.
Unlike Kim and some other names that have been thrown out there, Selena is a singer and in fact an amazing vocalist.
Hearing “Naturally” in 2010 absolutely transformed my life because it was and remains the greatest song that I have ever heard, ever, in my life.
Selena would be the “nice judge,” as Katy Perry is expected to be the more critical, Simon Cowell-like voice in the group.
That makes sense, as Selena Gomez is a person secure in who she is, while one can imagine that Katy Perry, who seems to be in the process of changing her image (but also somehow always in the process of changing her image), would love to seem “mean” on TV.
Selena Gomez has an incomparably massive social media presence and producers reportedly hope that she would draw in viewers.
But … we haven’t heard anything about her accepting the gig.
And, looking at Selena Gomez’s life and career — and also looking at her ongoing health battle — you have to wonder why in the world she would agree to take it.
If they ever worked up the nerve to make the offer, that is.
So now, Variety reports that Luke Bryan might be an American Idol judge.
In case you’ve forgotten since the last time that we talked about Country Music, Luke Bryan is a Country singer.
American idol could be a sweet gig for him, though he apparently makes tens of millions a year.
(If you don’t listen to country music, that sounds … mind-boggling … but it really is big in more places than you’d think! And not everyone who listens to it lives in rural areas or flyover states or whatever)
Here’s how Luke Bryan could be a strong choice for American Idol:
That series has always played well with the rural white demographic, and much (though, as we said, not all) of Luke Bryan’s fan base matches that description.
We don’t mean that they’re all farmers, but a lot of white people in small town America might feel encouraged to watch if they are a fan of one of the show’s judges.
It could also be a mistake.
Katy Perry is white. Luke Bryan is white.
You absolutely cannot and should not have an all-white panel to judge contestants. Especially given that there are music genres with strong ethnic and racial associations.
This iteration of American Idol is expected to have a three-person panel of judges rather than one of four, so casting Luke Bryan might box them into a corner.
Unless, of course, they already know who their third judge is going to be.
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Luke Bryan Nabs Second Judge"s Seat on "American Idol" Alongside Katy Perry
Luke Bryan has reportedly landed the second seat as a judge on the rebooted “American Idol” series alongside Katy Perry … this just a week before taped auditions begin. According to Variety … Luke is confirmed as the 2nd judge, but the details…
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo: Spin-Off Series in the Works?!
Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo already seem out of love … or, at least, seem to be playing up their affections for the camera.
But that doesn"t mean that they"re canceling their plans to marry, even if they haven"t quite set a date yet.
They are making some plans, though — which leads people to wonder if Rachel and Bryan have a spin-off reality series in the works.
Rachel Lindsay shocked fans to their cores when she dumped Peter Kraus in the season finale of The Bachelorette.
She looked massively torn up about it, and left Peter in a sobbing heap.
It was hard to watch, even for those of us who knew that it was coming.
The fact that she ignored good sense and her own family and choose Bryan Abasolo was hard for a lot of people to process.
Since then, Rachel"s choice has been overshadowed by the injustice of Peter Kraus not being the next Bachelor.
Because, ultimately, it"s Rachel"s life to live and she gets to choose her fiance. She chose Bryan Abasolo.
We don"t have to understand, we just need to realize that it"s her life and that maybe she"s looking for different traits than most viewers.
And you know, Rachel seems happy enough.
At least, Rachel and Bryan are still together. That"s more than we can say for a lot of Bachelor couples.
In this clip below, in which Wendy Williams doesn"t appear to be able to keep things straight between Peter Kraus and Bryan Abasolo and mixes up their professions, Rachel has some news.
It"s not, like, her big announcement. This is a detail that she slips in, almost as if it"s incidental or an afterthought.
Wendy asks Bryan Abasolo (after he joins them on the couch) whether he"s going to continue being a chiropractor.
(This is after she jokes about his job, but … that"s Wendy Williams, for you)
Bryan mentions that he"s taking a break from it at the moment but will get his chiropractor"s license to practice in California, which is where they"re going next.
Rachel Lindsay mentions that she plans to get her law license in California.
Wendy Williams casts a little doubt on that.
Wendy points out that many people go on reality television for the purpose of finding out if they can be successful television personalities.
Rachel clearly has what it takes, so now that she and Bryan have tested the waters, they might go on reality television again.
Like, say, in a spin-off.
Wendy then asks them, point-blank, if they plan to have their wedding on camera.
They both admit that it"s a possibility, that they haven"t ruled it out.
(We told you ages ago that Rachel Lindsay is already planning her wedding, right down to who isn"t invited, and that cameras might be there)
Other couples from the Bachelor franchise haven"t had the most success when cameras follow them around for every moment of their new relationship.
But while Lauren Bushnell and Ben Higgins broke up because they couldn"t communicate honestly with each other and be on camera at the same time … maybe that won"t be the case for Rachel and Bryan.
Not because true love conquers all, but … kind of the opposite.
If their engagement is, at this point, a business arrangement so that they can both seek fame and fortune as a reality couple … cameras wouldn"t hurt that relationship one bit.
We don"t know that this is the case, but since the two were described as acting like business partners except when the cameras are rolling … you have to wonder.
A reality spin-off really does sound like the only explanation for why they"d willingly move to California.
And they didn"t exactly deny it in this video:
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo: Already Out of Love?!?
We hope you’re sitting down for this.
We hope you aren’t operating any heavy machinery.
We hope you’re prepared for your jaw to go crashing to the floor.
Okay, here we go…
Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo may not get married after all.
We know this is an unexpected possibility for two people who met on reality television and who got engaged after a bunch of exotic dates in front of ABC cameras, but a Life & Style source swears it’s true.
Speaking to this tabloid, the anonymous insider says he or she spotted Rachel and Bryan at a recent New York Fashion Week event and, well, they looked anything but smitten.
“Rachel and Bryan looked more like business partners than a couple,” the witness tells the magazine of The Bachelorette stars, adding:
“They didn’t show any kind of affection. I’m shocked they haven’t officially ended things yet.”
The onlooker says Lindsay and Abasolo played up their supposed romance any time a camera was in sight, but then dropped all pretending once they thought they were alone.
“It looked like a contractual relationship, where they had to go through the motions,” writes Life & Style.
Considering the very (VERY!) low success rate of couples that meet on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, this isn’t exactly stunning.
But Lindsay and Abasolo have made a point to gush over each other more than the usual tandems that emerge from these programs.
Addressing his fiancee just over a month ago, for example, Abasolo wrote the following on Instagram:
“Every single day literally gets better and better with you and reaffirms that God placed you in my path for a reason…
“What shines above all else is the deep love, loyalty, respect and admiration we have for each other and that’s what will continue to carry us through into our future.”
Lindsay, who became the first African-American to be named The Bachelorette, also couldn’t help but write very nice things about her chosen man on social media earlier this summer.
“Bryan you have shown me a love that I’ve never had before. You’ve challenged me in ways I could have never imagined,” she praised, concluding:
“Thank you for always taking the high road and thank you for loving me unconditionally.
“I love you with all of me @thebryanabasolo and more than I could ever define to you! I am so excited to spend forever with you.”
How sweet, right?
Nope, more like how FAKE, this new report alleges.
Do you believe in Rachel and Bryan’s love?
Do you think these two will get married? Vote below:
Saturday, September 2, 2017
Luke Bryan Receives "American Idol" Offer to Join Katy Perry as Judge
Luke Bryan could be sitting next to Katy Perry very soon … as the second judge on the panel of the new “American Idol.” Our ‘A.I.’ sources tell us … producers have reached out to Luke and made him an offer. We don’t know how Luke responded to…
Monday, August 21, 2017
Bryan Abasolo: My Grandma LOVES Rachel Lindsay!
Rachel Lindsay’s final choice on The Bachelorette was not exactly popular within the Bachelor Nation.
Though Rachel and Bryan Abasolo are still together and engaged, a lot of fans didn’t approve of the union, thinking that, basically, Bryan Abasolo just says whatever Rachel wants to hear and wondering how long that could last.
The couple found one very important person who approves of their union, however: Bryan Abasolo’s grandmother. And this photo of the three of them together is worth seeing.
Rachel Lindsay must really love Bryan Abasolo.
Not only because she chose him over Peter Kraus and not only because they’re still engaged, months after they wrapped filming on The Bachelorette.
But Rachel loves Bryan so much that she’s willing to spend time celebrating their engagement down in Miami, Florida.
In August.
You know how I sometimes refer to L.A. as a “desert hellscape” because that is an accurate description of the American southwest?
Well, Florida is worse.
Large areas of the southeastern US are hot and humid during the summer, because life is full of suffering.
But Florida takes that to a whole other level, with summers filled with short, daily rainstorms that leave you only slightly more damp than the humid air itself.
Rachel Lindsay is from Texas, where it’s all kinds of hot, but while all heat is a source of absolute misery for non-reptiles, a dry heat is always, always preferable.
On the positive side, Bryan Abasolo’s grandma lives in Miami and Rachel got to meet her and pass the all-important grandma test.
Look at that grandma!
She’s so cute!
Bryan captioned the photo:
“Grandma’s approval is always important…of course she passed the test w/ flying colors. #Miami #familytime #grandmaslove”
(She meaning Rachel Lindsay, of course)
It’s no surprise that Rachel Lindsay would win Grandma’s approval.
She’s gorgeous and charming, which is why she became the Bachelorette in the first place.
Sadly, some people don’t get along with their in-laws. Ever.
(And based on what we saw on the show, Rachel Lindsay’s family doesn’t care for Bryan Abasolo)
Rachel seems very happy with her choice.
As much as people can’t understand why Rachel would turn down someone like Peter Kraus, let’s look at it from Rachel’s perspective:
Rachel Lindsay wants a larger-than-life romance straight out of a fairytale.
To Rachel, Bryan Abasolo’s willingness to get married and declare his love immediately was even more important than Peter Kraus’ abs.
Many fans pointed out that Peter’s statement that he wasn’t sure that he’d be ready to propose at the end of the season was affirming how seriously he takes relationships and his desire to get to know Rachel off-camera.
To Rachel, however, it came across as a red flag about commitment issues.
Calling Peter Kraus a manipulator, Rachel described sensing an emotional “push and pull” from Peter.
Honestly, that may just have more to do with Rachel’s relationship history and the baggage from it than it does with Peter.
And you know what?
Maybe Bryan Abasolo and Rachel Lindsay really are perfectly suited for each other.
We may have to accept that Peter Kraus might not be the next Bachelor, because life is defined by suffering we guess.
We would love to see him find a partner whose views about love and romance and relationships really mesh with his.
Plus, you know, Peter charmed audiences and has a lot of fans, so that’s a huge bonus.
But let’s prepare ourselves for alternatives, okay?
The Bachelor may star Dean Unglert for all that we know, which would also be amazing.
We have to wonder if Rachel Lindsay will watch a season if it stars one of her exes.
Monday, August 14, 2017
Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo: Yup, We"re Still Together!
Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo hate to disappoint the critics.
But they have news for anyone who thought their Bachelorette-inspired love was nothing but a reality show creation:
Suck it up! We’re still together! And happier than ever!
The couple, who met on the aforementioned ABC series and who then agreed to marry on last Monday’s emotional finale, celebrated their engagement in Dallas over the weekend.
They did so by making a few promotional appearances and also by partying with their friends and loved ones.
“My world,” the 37-year old chiropractor wrote as a caption to the above image, directing his message to his fiancee and adding:
“@therachlindsay #brachel #engagementparty #dallas #bachelorette #bachelornation.”
Lindsay, who lives in Dallas, selected Abasolo over runner-up Peter Kraus to wrap up the season 13 finale of The Bachelorette, which aired just seven days ago.
The couple is considering a wedding in late 2018, and is also considering a family.
But they aren’t sure when they should procreate.
“We definitely want to get married first and enjoy each other,” Lindsay said last week during a conference call with reporters. “But, you know, sooner than later. It’s hard to say.”
Adds Abasolo on the topic of kids:
“She wants four with the fourth being an accident down the line and I want three.
“And she’ll probably win in the end and we’ll have four.”
Rachel made it clear at the outset of her Bachelorette journey that she had focused on work for too long, rising high in her Texas law firm at the expense of finding love.
But now she’s apparently found it with Abasolo, over whom she’s been openly gushing on social media.
Addressing her soulmate last week, Lindsay wrote the following:
You have shown me a love that I’ve never had before.
You’ve challenged me in ways I could have never imagined.
This road was not easy but you have been my rock and still are my rock through it all.
We found love in such a public way but the depths of our love is something that only we will know and will have between each other forever.
I would do it all over again if it led me back to you. You are my better half and thank you for being just who you are and never changing for anyone.
Very sweet words.
Very beautiful words.
Very romantic words.
But very believable words?
Some are not so certain.
Based on the history of couples that got together on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, the odds are against these two ever making it down the aisle.
What do YOU think?
Will Lindsay and Abasolo get married?
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
Rachel Lindsay to Bryan Abasolo: You Are My EVERYthing!
We can’t say for certain whether or not Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo will get married.
Based on the history of The Bachelorette, the odds are strongly against this lawyer and this doctor finding eternal love in each other’s arms.
But one thing we can absolutely say beyond all shadows of any doubt:
No star and no winning suitor have ever gushed so candidly about each other after revealing to the public that they’re engaged.
On an emotional Bachelorette finale this past Monday night, Lindsay saved her final rose for Abasolo, turning down fan favorite Peter Kraus in the process and excitedly accepting Bryan’s proposal before he could even finish saying all the words.
Shortly after this episode aired, the engaged couple made all the usual media stops: Jimmy Kimmel Live, Kelly Ripa, Good Morning America, etc.
They sure looked like two people in love and they sure sound that way on Instagram.
“Every single day literally gets better and better with you and reaffirms that God placed you in my path for a reason,” Abasolo wrote on Tuesday morning.
He concluded:
“We’ve gone through so much… the ups, the downs, the challenges…
“But in the end, what shines above all else is the deep love, loyalty, respect and admiration we have for each other and that’s what will continue to carry us through into our future.”
Pretty sweet and romantic, right?
How would Lindsay possibly top it?
This is how:
“This day was a dream come true! Bryan you have shown me a love that I’ve never had before. You’ve challenged me in ways I could have never imagined,” the latest Bachelorette wrote as a caption to her own photo of the pair, adding:
“This road was not easy but you have been my rock and still are my rock through it all. We found love in such a public way but the depths of our love is something that only we will know and will have between each other forever.
“I would do it all over again if it led me back to you. You are my better half and thank you for being just who you are and never changing for anyone.”
The beautiful star ended on a gracious and uplifting note:
Thank you for always taking the high road and thank you for loving me unconditionally.
I love you with all of me @thebryanabasolo and more than I could ever define to you! I am so excited to spend forever with you.
The couple has not said much about its upcoming marriage, except that it will likely take place in the winter of 2018.
It may even be televised.
Some, however, believe that Lindsay made a poor choice and that no vows will ever be exchanged between her and Abasolo.
Are you one of those people? Sound off below and respond:
Do you think Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abaolo will get married?
Eric Bigger: Rachel Lindsay Made a Mistake by Choosing Bryan Abasolo!
Does anyone else feel like they’re still recovering from Rachel Lindsay’s decision on the Bachelorette finale?
That final breakup was every bit as brutal as we’d been told.
We have to remember that there was another person involved: Eric Bigger. He had a much closer perspective to everything that was going on and, well, he has his own reasons for thinking that Rachel made the wrong choice.
Eric Bigger seemed to slip a lot of people’s minds towards the end of the season.
It isn’t because he isn’t handsome or charming or a great contestant on The Bachelorette.
No, it was about context and chemistry.
Peter Kraus seemed like he was such a perfect suitor for Rachel Lindsay, so he got a lot of attention.
Bryan Abasolo seemed like he was just telling Rachel what she wanted to hear — but Rachel seemed like she was eating it up.
(And, clearly, she did)
So Bryan got plenty of attention.
Who was left?
Eric.
Charming, handsome Eric who made it to the final three but wasn’t nearly as polarizing.
But even if a lot of fans couldn’t really see him with Rachel, we absolutely want to hear what he has to say about Rachel’s final choice.
On a podcast interview, Eric Bigger reveals his thoughts about Rachel Lindsay and the big finale:
“Honestly, from watching the show last night for the first time, I don’t think she picked the right man in that moment.”
You know how sometimes things don’t come across on camera?
Like, older phones can’t take a decent picture of the moon.
Sometimes you see someone really hot but they just look “reasonably attractive” over camera.
(You can be hot without being photogenic, folks)
Not everything comes across over the screen … and from what Eric is saying, that was the case with Bryan and Rachel.
“Prior to seeing the show, I always thought Bryan was the guy for her once I left.”
We should note that Eric likes Bryan a lot, which is more than we can say for a lot of fans.
And there was more:
“I love him … but I felt bad for him. It seemed like he was a rebound.”
Well, the proposal came the day after an epic, tear-filled breakup … so that’s literally true.
“I could be wrong, but that’s what it looked like in my eyes and maybe the feelings they had for each other is different from what I see. But man, it was tough.”
Yep.
Eric then offered his own analysis of Rachel and her motivations:
“Rachel put herself in a bind from saying ‘I want a proposal.’ So she held herself accountable in a place where I think it was pride.”
He explains what he means.
“Her pride wouldn’t let her not do what she wanted to do and that was she wanted a proposal and Peter didn’t want that. So if it wasn’t a proposal, then you’re out, which I get.”
She went into this to get the man and relationship that she wanted.
But she may have missed out on the man she really wanted by choosing a relationship that would fit her imagined timeline.
“Sometimes it’s hard, it’s really hard. She made her decision and she’s off to the races, but I just think if she never would’ve said, ‘I want a proposal,’ and made that the priority, she would’ve been okay.”
Don’t let your expectations box you into a corner that you can’t get out of, folks.
And speaking of people whose hasty words might force them into a corner:
You might be thinking that you can’t concentrate on The Bachelorette and its aftermath when there’s a looming threat of nuclear war.
For us, though, we think that concentrating on the stuff that you normally care about is the key to not losing your mind when the world is frightening.
(A lesson taught by the aftermath of 9/11)
So yes, let’s keep talking about whether or not Peter Kraus should be the next Bachelor.
(He should)
Let’s talk about how how Rachel Lindsay’s planning her wedding already and hope that she gets the ceremony on camera.
Let’s keep caring about stuff like eclipses and reality shows and video games and what restaurant’s opening around the corner because that’s how we keep being people.
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
"Bachelorette" Rachel Lindsay"s PDA with Fiance Bryan Abasolo, All for the Cameras
Rachel Lindsay must know it’s just a matter of time before the world loses interest in her season of “The Bachelorette” … so she’s milking the spotlight. Rachel and her new fiance, Bryan Abasolo, were swarmed by paps Tuesday as they arrived…
Bryan Abasolo: I Can Finally Reveal the Truth About Rachel Lindsay!
Bryan Abasolo has been waiting for this moment.
He’s been biting his tongue, remaining silent, counting down the days until August 7, 2017.
But now the doctor can finally speak his mind. He can finally tell the world what he really thinks of Rachel Lindsay.
And here it is:
HE’S TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH HER!!!!!!
On The Bachelorette finale last night, Lindsay saved her final rose for Abasolo, who responded by getting down on one knee and asking for Rachel’s hand in marriage.
Non-Spoiler Alert: She said yes!
“Right here in this moment, standing with you, I see my forever and I see my future,” she actually said in full on air, telling her future husband:
“I just wanna tell you that I love you and I’m in love with you and I can’t imagine spending my life with anyone else.”
Beautiful words and a lovely sentiment, right?
Just a few hours later, Abasolo replied with his own special message on Instagram.
“Rachel my love, my rock!! It’s felt like forever, but the wait is finally over!!!” he wrote as a caption to the image above.
“No longer do I have to hide the fact that you are and always have been the one for me! No longer do I have to keep secret how in love w you I truly am from the rest of the world!”
Bryan, of course, proposed to Rachel several weeks ago.
But he and his fiancee signed a contract with ABC.
They could not tell anyone that they ended up together, lest they ruin the Season 13 conclusion.
With the exciting secret now out, however, Abasolo is free to gush over his soulmate.
“Hearing you say “yes” on the top of that castle in Spain was the greatest moment of my life!” he continued on Instagram.
“I was optimistic about what could be prior to stepping out of that limo but never in my wildest dreams could I had foreseen us building such a strong foundation and deep bond in the last 6 months.
“Every single day literally gets better and better with you and reaffirms that God placed you in my path for a reason.”
What? No. We’re not crying reading this note.
YOU’RE the one who is crying!
Concluded Abaolo in his love letter to Lindsay:
We’ve gone through so much…the ups, the downs, the challenges…but in the end, what shines above all else is the deep love, loyalty, respect and admiration we have for each other and that’s what will continue to carry us through into our future.
I can’t wait to start our new life together full of fun and adventure! I am so blessed and lucky to have you and I promise to cherish you forever! I love you baby!
As for when Rachel and Bryan will get married? It’s unclear at this time.
As for where the ceremony will take place? Probably in Texas, Lindsay’s home state.
Will it be televised? You never know.
Where are Abasolo and Lindsay right now? “On cloud 9,” the former wrote as a caption to the above snapshot of this engaged couple on board an airplane.
You gotta admit: he’s good.
Thursday, July 27, 2017
The Bachelorette Tweets: Twitter Does NOT Like Bryan Abasolo
The Bachelorette is nearing its end.
If you"ve been following The Bachelorette Spoilers, then you already know who Rachel Lindsay is going to choose — whether you like her ultimate choice or not.
Following hometown dates and hometown heartbreak for Dean Unglert, who is now a favorite to be the next Bachelor, it was time for Rachel"s remaining suitors to meet her family.
Rachel"s family members had some definite opinions about the men Rachel was considering, because of course they did.
But Twitter has some opinions of their own.
Long story short? They love Peter Kraus (as they should) and, collectively, Twitter cannot stand Bryan Abasolo.
They tweeted out memes and comparisons and some scathing opinions.
Sometimes the internet brings people together for the right reasons.
1. This first one sums up what Twitter thinks of Rachel’s judgement
Peter just seems to be the perfect deal, while Bryan seems to talk like an unconvincing old-timey fairytale prince.
2. Same
A lot of us make faces at the television when it’s deserved.
3. THIS is unfair …
This is unfair to Gaston, who is much more handsome than Bryan Abasolo.
4. At least his name’s on the list …
(Sort of)
5. Family is important
We don’t think that their immediate dislike of Bryan is going to be enough to sway Rachel, though.
6. They might lose some fans
Though, honestly, plenty of people threaten to quit and then come crawling back. We’ve all been there.
Friday, July 14, 2017
Thomas Dekker Comes Out as Gay ... After Bryan Fuller Outs Him!
People have more or less “known” that Thomas Dekker wasn’t straight for a while. Part of that’s gaydar, part of that had to do with some of the roles that he’s taken … actually it was mostly just gaydar.
People “knew” before Colton Haynes came out, too. It’s important to let people actually come out in their own time. Thomas Dekker’s emotional coming out essay is powerful, but we sure wish that he’d gotten to share it at a time of his choosing.
Unfortunately, his official coming out was prompted by Bryan Fuller just … outing him on stage.
Thomas Dekker is known for his acting roles on TV shows like Heroes, The Secret Circle, and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. He’s also starred in movies, including Kaboom! which is super trippy but we love it.
It’s getting close to time for my annual The Secret Circle rewatch, so I’m not claiming to be psychic when I say that Thomas Dekker’s been on my mind lately. He’s been doing some directing, lately.
Apparently, Bryan Fuller was, too — because he recently referred to a well-known story of Thomas Dekker’s management team freaking out about his Heroes character being gay and, fearing that Thomas would be typecast, insisted that his character be straight.
That was, needless to say, controversial.
Given the circumstances, Thomas Dekker’s coming out essay is bittersweet.
But it’s absolutely worth the read:
“My sexual orientation once again came into question this week when a prominent gay man used an awards acceptance speech to ‘out’ me.”
Thomas returns the favor, pointing the finger of blame at Bryan Fuller — who fully deserves a serious callout — without naming any names.
Turnabout is fair play, as they say.
“While he did not mention me by name, the explicit details of his reference made it easy for the public and media to connect the dots.”
Yep.
Some people might have been surprised to learn that Thomas wasn’t already out. Like when Anderson Cooper came out.
“While it is an odd situation, I thank him because it presents a prime opportunity for me to publicly say that I am indeed a man who proudly loves other men.”
That thank-you doesn’t seem super genuine, but we’re so glad that Thomas is seizing the opportunity to come out.
He deserves to live a happy and authentic life, you know?
“In fact, this April, I married my husband and I could not be happier.”
That is fantastic news.
“I have never lied to the press about the fluidity of my sexuality but this man claiming that I came out is not true.”
Nobody should be outed against their will.
It can endanger people’s lives — or, at the very least, steal their moment from them.
But Thomas wasn’t about to let that happen.
“Because I have not ‘officially’ until this moment. I simply refuse to be robbed of the glorious joy that belongs to me. To say the words myself. ‘I’m gay’. Those words are a badge of honor that no one can steal.”
Some had speculated that he might be bisexual, but he’s gay.
(Though a lot of LGBT folks use “gay” as an umbrella term, we’ll go with the label that he prefers)
“Sexuality and who you love is a deeply personal and complicated thing. For some of us, it takes to cultivate, discover and conclude.”
That’s super true. Some people marry and have children before they realize “oh, wait … I’m not straight.”
“It is not something anyone should ever be ashamed of and certainly not something anyone should be rushed into.”
That’s a well-deserved jab in Bryan Fuller’s direction, but probably aimed at others who may have pushed him to come out.
“I agree with many who believe it is an important responsibility for LGBTQ persons with a platform to come out.”
That’s true, for sure.
“It has the power to change minds, challenge beliefs and make others feel understood and supported.”
Representation matters, as they say.
“It can strengthen the progression of our community and help disarm those who discriminate against us.”
There’s still a lot of anti-LGBT campaigning and sentiment, even within the US.
“It is a brave, powerful and important thing to do but it is also a deeply personal decision. One that should only be made when you are ready.”
Some LGBT folks never come out, and that’s okay.
“If we are to stand strong in the gay community, our mission should be support, not exclusion; love, not shame.”
That is just beautifully written.
“I choose not to look back on the past with a regretful heart but rather focus on the future with a hopeful one.”
Good for him, right?!
“A future where myself and all others can feel free to express their true selves with honor and dignity.”
Ideally, a future where young actors don’t arrive in Hollywood and get told that they can’t come out or they won’t get cast in the roles that they want.
“I embrace you, any of you, with open arms, kindness, faith and patience.”
He’s so good, you guys.
“For all of you who have supported me, before and now, I thank you from the bottom of my fledgling heart.”
That’s such a poetic way to phrase that. Thomas Dekker is a man of many talents.
“Be proud of who you are. No matter how long it takes.”
Few coming out letters are this moving or well-written. Wow.
Is The Secret Circle still on Netflix? Kidding — we don’t even have to check to know that it definitely is.
It looks like it’s time for another rewatch.
Thursday, July 6, 2017
Peter Kraus & Dean Unglert: Throwing Shade at Bryan Abasolo!
While The Bachelorette spoilers predicted all three men in the scene below would make it this far, we never saw this coming:
Peter Kraus and Dean Unglert seem to be forming a mini-alliance of sorts against their fellow contender, Dr. Bryan Abasolo.
The aforementioned trio, along with Eric Bigger, are seen as the four frontrunners remaining in the quest for Rachel Lindsay"s heart.
You don"t need Bachelorette spoilers to tell you that when the field is narrowed down to a select few, tensions are at an all-time high.
As such, Peter and Dean can be seen playing a game of chess together – and throwing shade at Bryan – in the deleted scene below.
While this was being filmed, Abasolo was on a date with Rachel in Oslo, Norway, a topic that Unglert and Kraus couldn"t help but discuss.
“I think when he gets back, he’ll have a swagger to his step,” Peter said of the duo"s rival, who they clearly view as such.
“More so of a swagger,” Dean agreed.
“Because you can tell sometimes by the way he talks, he like kind of squints his eye and leans back a little bit … he’s like so confident.”
That"s not too bad of a diss right there, but then Peter also went on to say that Bryan comes across a little too smooth for his liking.
“I think she needs a leader,” Peter said, adding, “I think she needs a guy who has genuine confidence that’s not cockiness or arrogance.”
Ouch. They referenced his remark on a group date where he boasted of being the first to kiss Rachel on the first night in the mansion.
It wasn"t just any reference, either.
Will, who said at the time that he would be the second person to kiss Rach, was told by Bryan that he could enjoy his “sloppy seconds.”
To Peter, that was a bit off-putting.
“I wouldn’t want someone like that for her,” he told Dean, setting the stage for what should be a very interesting couple of weeks ahead.
One more episode remains before hometown dates, which are followed by overnight dates and the epic Bachelorette season finale.
Watch the shade-throwing below.
Friday, June 2, 2017
Mariah Carey to Bryan Tanaka: Marry Me NOW!
Dating is one thing, but is Mariah Carey really ready to get married to boytoy dancer Bryan Tanaka?
Reportedly, she’s not only ready to tie the knot but actively pressuring him to propose.
“Bryan’s eating out of her palm again now and Mariah’s desperate to seal the deal before they get sabotaged again,” an insider claims.
The report that Mariah is pressuring Bryan comes from RadarOnline and their source.
We’d really rather hear it directly from Mariah … though obviously she’d never just come out and say that.
It’s not a casual Katy Perry diss, after all.
Not everyone’s onboard with their relationship, either.
“So many people from both their circles have tried to keep them apart, but she’s convinced they have what it takes to last the course,” the source says.
Well, all sides being against the union sounds like a tragic romance. Not always the best set-up when there are children in the mix.
Even the anonymous insider cautioned that Mariah’s feelings aren’t set in stone:
“Obviously, her feelings change like the wind each day, but to be fair Bryan has a hold over her that no other guy’s had for a long time.”
Yes, even the unidentified tipster has doubts.
Again, it’s usually healthy to view things coming from “a source” with a grain of salt.
But this isn’t the least believable story in the world.
Bryan was her backup dancer back in 2006, so they’ve known each other for eleven years.
That is a long-ass time to know someone, even just as friends.
And, um, they’re clearly more than that.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, we do need to think a little about context.
Mariah’s breakup with billionaire James Packer was, well, reportedly because of all kinds of things, from allegations of cheating with Bryan Tanaka to extravagant spending habits.
The spending thing sounds pretty realistic to us — financial disagreements are a very common, if not terribly salacious, reason for breakups.
But if she was spending too much for James’ liking, how is she going to go from being a sugar baby to a sugar momma?
Well, as much of a sugar baby as Mariah could have been since she’s worth half a billion — and as much of a sugar baby as Bryan can be if he’s worth around a million.
It’s all relative, apparently.
Still, it doesn’t seem like it’s the best next step for her to take in a relationship.
Maybe she isn’t thinking with her head right now.
Hopefully, she’ll make the best decision for herself and her children.
You don’t want to get married based on thirst alone. Not when you’re nearly fifty.
And super not when you have kids.
Monday, April 10, 2017
Mariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka: It"s Over!
Mariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka’s relationship could not stand the test of time.
Yes, another celebrity couple has called it quits, but should we have seen this one coming a mile off? Probably.
Mariah Carey is one of the most opinionated celebrities out there. Whether she’s throwing shade at other celebrities and just generally thinking she’s better than them, Mariah has solidified herself as a diva.
Could that be the reason why the duo have called time on their relationship? Not according to TMZ.
Apparently, Bryan was super jealous of Mariah’s relationship with her ex-husband, Nick Cannon.
As you are probably well aware, Mariah shares twins Moroccan and Monroe with Nick, so it’s not hard to imagine the couple maintaining a relationship for their kids.
There is such a thing as co-parenting, and the pair appears to be following through on that to ensure their children are not missing out.
They do still take family holidays for their children, but Bryan was not impressed by this, and that was said to be part of the reason the relationship came to a close.
Things went from bad-to-worse for the couple when Mariah and Nick took the twins to the Kids’ Choice Awards in March. Bryan was allegedly left red-faced because of how close the former couple was.
He even went as far as demanding Mariah returned home and left Nick in the lurch.
Jealousy is not a good foundation to build any relationship upon, so it kind of made sense for them to call it quits.
Bryan’s taste for expensive things is also said to be part of the reason for the demise of the relationship.
We all knew Mariah liked expensive things. She’s been a superstar for the better part of thirty years, so it makes sense that she would.
However, Mariah was not a fan of footing the bill for Bryan’s expensive taste, which included brands like Gucci and Balmain.
Maybe his salary as Mariah’s backing dancer is not as lucrative as one would think.
Their relationship became the focal point of E! reality series Mariah’s World. The show was surprisingly decent and showed a nicer side to Mariah.
However, there were a lot of scenes thrown in at the last minute when it emerged that Mariah and James Packer were over.
What do you think about all of this?
Sound off below!
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