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Drag Race Star Slams JK Rowling's Transphobia
Rowling didn’t stop there. In 2020, she published a 3,600-word essay outlining her take on “sex and gender issues,” brimming with misinformation and railing against those who “accept and admit that there is no material difference between trans women and themselves.”
Her comments were even condemned by Harry Potter movie actors, including Daniel Radcliffe, who released a statement to The Trevor Project:
“Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.”
Other celebrities have also publicly distanced themselves from Rowling, who continues to double, triple, and quadruple down on her anti-trans rhetoric.
So when Ziwe asked Jinkx Monsoon if JK Rowling would make a good Roxie Hart in Chicago, the queen of reading to filth didn’t hold back.
Feigning confusion, Jinkx deadpanned:
“Who is this? Who is this, Jake? Who is he? JK Rowling.”
When Ziwe clarified that Rowling “is a she,” Jinkx quipped that the name “JK” doesn’t exactly scream femininity.
Oh snap, Jinkx Monsoon just performed the verbal version of an Avada Kedavra spell.
Then, with a sly smirk, Jinkx took the opportunity to dig deeper:
“I know that oftentimes, female authors use initials so that people assume it’s a male writer. So, I have to presume that J.K. Rowling was unsatisfied with the way that the world saw her, and then she transitioned herself into a new personality so that the world would perceive her the way she wanted to be perceived…”
Ziwe’s reaction? A knowing sip from her drink and a simple, stunned: “Gagging.”
A quick refresher for the uncultured: Jinkx Monsoon is the first two-time winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, snatching the crown in Season 5 and again in All Stars 7, earning the title “Queen of All Queens.” Monsoon is also known for her celebrity impersonations, including Judy Garland and Natasha Lyonne.
You can catch the shady exchange around the 23:50 mark in Ziwe’s interview—and yes, it’s worth watching all of it:
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As for Rowling, she has claimed that the name “JK” was her publisher’s idea to hide her gender, telling CNN’s Christiane Amanpour:
“Because, basically, they were trying to disguise my gender. And obviously, that lasted about three seconds, because – which is wonderful. I’m certainly not complaining, but the book won an award, and I got a big advance from America, and I got a lot of publicity. So I was outed as a woman.”
But here’s a question for Rowling: if gender disguise wasn’t such a big deal, why is she still using the name?
Let’s not forget: Rowling also penned her Cormoran Strike detective novels under the male pseudonym “Robert Galbraith.” The next installment under that name, The Hallmarked Man, drops September 2nd.
It’s pretty funny how Rowling dislikes identity fluidity, unless it involves her own pseudonyms.
During the interview, Jinkx also discussed her acclaimed Broadway career—from starring as Ruth in Pirates! The Penzance Musical to joining the cast of the Tony-winning Oh, Mary! starting today. She opened up about balancing stage success with the very real experience of facing transphobia in public and online.
When asked which rights she gives “less of a f--k about: women’s rights or gay rights,” Monsoon gave a thoughtful—and mint-chewing—reply:
“Women’s rights have to come first for gay rights to come because gay rights won’t happen if women aren’t liberated fully.”
The internet, predictably, lit up with praise for Monsoon’s wit and wisdom.
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You can catch Jinkx Monsoon on Broadway in Oh, Mary! and her tour with fellow RuPaul Drag Show contestant BenDeLaCreme for The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show, touring from November 12 to December 30.
And you can catch comedian, writer, and fabulous host Ziwe at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from August 19 to August 24.
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Comedian Matt Rife Just Bought The Haunted Annabelle House—And This Can't End Well
Matt Rife, well-known for his edgy stand-up comedy and interactions with audiences, has just announced that he has purchased the Connecticut home and occult museum of OG paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.
In addition to owning the home and museum, he is now responsible for guarding and protecting the more than 700 haunted and cursed artifacts throughout the property. Though he does not legally own these, he owns the property and is legally and morally obligated to protect the artifacts.
Rife said:
"I’m incredibly honored to have taken over one of the most prominent properties in paranormal history."
"This is the most random hobby ever, but it’s so f**king cool, man."
You can see his video announcement here:
Rife also wrote on his Instagram that he was especially interested in appearing alongside the Annabelle doll, who was a leading entity character in the Conjuring and Annabelle films.
"I have officially purchased Ed and Lorraine Warren’s home and Occult Museum, including being the legal guardian for at least the next 5 years, of the entire haunted collection, including THE ANNABELLE DOLL, with my good friend, Elton Castee!!"
"If you know me, you know I’m obsessed with the paranormal and all things haunted. You also may know The Conjuring films are my favorite scary movies of all time. So I’m incredibly honored to have taken over one of the most prominent properties in paranormal history."
"Ed and Lorain Warren arguably put demonology and paranormal into the mainstream and are the very heart of some of the most famous haunted stories of all time, The Conjuring House, Amityville Horror, etc."
"We plan to open the house for overnight stays and museum tours so you yourself can experience and learn all the haunted history surrounding this amazing place."
You can see the announcement here, along with a series of historical Annabelle doll photos.
Some fans thought this was a very, very bad idea.
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Other fans found Rife's fascination to be concerning, if not also a red flag.
Another concerning element about this, at least for some, is the possibility of a supernatural smackdown because of Rife joking around or doing something potentially "disrespectful."
Relatedly, consider the speculation around Sam & Colby, a popular pair of YouTubers best known for exploring abandoned locales and ghost hunting in "haunted" houses. While visiting the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida, the pair came face-to-face with Robert the Doll, who is said to be the "most haunted doll in history."
Colby made several jokes and also played "the blinking game" with the doll, only to later feel nauseous. There were suspicions that the doll could make people fill, even fatally so, if he felt like he or his home had been disrespected. Before leaving the location, Brock apologized to the doll.
He was later diagnosed with testicular cancer, and while he has undergone treatment and is now considered cancer-free, some speculate that Robert the Doll had something to do with his illness.
With the whirlwind of rumors and ghost stories surrounding Annabelle, there is no telling what could be stirred up with a comedian like Matt Rife. But at least there will be quite the story to tell.
Jason Momoa's New Look Surprises!
In a video posted to Instagram, the actor captured his beard shaving moment while speaking passionately about Mananalu, his brand of recyclable aluminum water bottles.
The name “Mananalu” blends two Hawaiian words: “mana,” meaning the sacred spirit of life, and “nalu,” a powerful ocean wave. Through his “Drink One, Remove One” campaign, Momoa channels that energy into action, removing one plastic bottle from the ocean for every aluminum one sold, creating a ripple effect of positive change.
Mid-shave, Momoa mused:
“I think it’s been about six years, maybe a little bit more, since I did Dune. What was really special about that is that when…I started launching Mananalu."
"At that time, there wasn’t–I think we were one of the first ones ever to release the aluminum bottle. And now, six years later, airports are banning some of these plastics, all of these positive things are happening.”
In partnership with Boomerang Water, Momoa is now aiming to help eliminate single-use plastics, which make up 75% of ocean pollution—including plastic bags, wrappers, food containers, cutlery, and bottles. Boomerang’s closed-loop refill stations let users top off aluminum bottles and return them to “recovery stands” for reuse, reducing waste at the source.
The refill stations are currently available at select Hawaii hotels, including Romer House Waikiki, Kaimana Beach Hotel, and ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach. Aluminum bottles will also be distributed at Kamehameha Schools, with expansion plans across the islands.
In a separate interview with Spectrum News Hawaii, the actor called the partnership a “game changer,” adding:
“I'm just trying to leave a better place for my children. I feel like I have a duty.”
So what did Momoa think of the freshly shaved look? “Goddammit, I hate it,” he grimaced to the camera—before giving director Denis Villeneuve a begrudging pass: “Only for you, Denis.”
You can watch the Instagram video below:
Fans may recall Momoa’s first beard-shaving PSA from 2019, where he walked through a beach littered with plastic waste to raise awareness of plastic pollution ahead of the original Dune film.
While walking through a beach landscape of plastic pollution, the actor said in the video:
“I just want to do this to raise awareness that plastics are killing our planet — and I think I have a solution. I don't want to bitch about it. There's only one thing that can help our planet and save our planet, as long as we recycle, and that's aluminum."
The 2019 video can be seen here:
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With his return to Dune, it’s likely (spoiler alert) that Momoa’s Duncan Idaho will follow the arc laid out in Frank Herbert’s novels—resurrected as a clone in Dune Messiah, the third installment.
Trying to avoid spoilers, Momoa teased on The Today Show:
“Well, I’m not sure if I’m going to get in trouble or not, but it’s the same thing like ‘Game of Thrones’, you know what I mean? If you didn’t read the books, it’s not my fault, right? Yeah, there’s going to be … I’m going to be coming back.”
As for the internet? Let’s just say Momoa’s beard-free look got people swooning, sweating, and swearing.
You can view their reactions below:
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Dune: Part Three began filming in Budapest on July 8 and is being shot using IMAX cameras. Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Florence Pugh are expected to reprise their roles, with the film set for release in December 2026.
Jason Momoa is also making waves on the small screen with Chief of War, a sweeping Hawaiian historical drama that premiered last Friday on Apple TV+. Set between 1782 and 1810, the series follows the epic and often brutal journey of Momoa’s character Ka‘iana, a warrior chief who turned against Kamehameha I’s unification campaign of the Hawaiian islands.
You can watch the trailer here (beard intact).
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Trump Lashes Out At 'Racist Sleazebag' Radio Host Over Prediction Of How Epstein Will Alter GOP
It was against this backdrop that Charlamagne tha God, who co-hosts the popular syndicated radio show The Breakfast Club, weighed in on the scandal's impact on the Republican Party's wider political prospects in conversation with Trump's daughter-in-law, telling her:
“I think that traditional conservatives are going to take the Republican Party back. I think there’s a political coup going on right now in the Republican Party that people aren’t paying attention to. I think that this Epstein thing is going to be a way for traditional conservatives to take their party back."
"I really do. I think that they know this is the issue that has gotten the base riled up. The base, the MAGA base, isn't letting this issue go, and for the first time they know they can probably take their party back and not piss off the MAGA base."
"I think they're going to do that."
You can hear what he said in the video below.
An angry Trump followed up with this attack in a post on Truth Social the following day that did not at all address the substance of what Charlamagne tha God was saying:
"The very wonderful and talented Lara Trump, whose show is a big ratings success, put racist sleazebag Charlamagne “The God” (Why is he allowed to use the word “GOD” when describing himself? Can anyone imagine the uproar there would be if I used that nickname?)."
"He’s a Low IQ individual, has no idea what words are coming out of his mouth, and knows nothing about me or what I have done - like just ending 5 Wars, including a 31 year bloodbath between Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, where Seven Million people have died, and there was no end in sight."
"He didn’t know that, or India and Pakistan or, wiping out Iran’s nuclear capabilities, or closing the horrendous open Border, or creating the greatest economy, where prices and Inflation have come way down, and where STUPID and CORRUPT JOE BIDEN set the record for doing the Worst Job as President, EVER."
"But this dope, Charlamagne, would vote for Sleepy Joe or Kamala? Remember, one year ago our Country was DEAD, now it’s the “HOTTEST” Country anywhere in the World. MAGA!!!"
You can see Trump's post below.
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Many have mocked Trump's reaction, highlighting how desperate he's become to get ahead of a scandal that shows no signs of going away.
Trump's outburst came as Republicans are cautioning him not to pardon Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for aiding Epstein's sex trafficking of minors and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Republican lawmakers fear such a move could appear as a reward for her recent efforts to distance Trump from Epstein’s crimes, or worse, stoke conspiracy theories about a government cover-up to shield powerful figures connected to Epstein.
Those concerns have intensified after Todd Blanche, the Justice Department’s second-in-command, met with Maxwell on July 24 and 25 to discuss Epstein’s offenses and potential involvement by others.
Justin Timberlake Reveals Health Diagnosis After Fans Call Him Out For Barely Singing At His Concerts
In the first video they shared, Timberlake was alone on stage with no backup singers or dancers, with minimal stage lighting or other effects.
Timberlake sang, "I got this..." from "I Got This Feelin'" before setting the microphone down on the stage, clapping, and casually dancing around the stage while the crowd carried the song.
You can watch the video here:
In another video, Timberlake sang the lower register portions of "Cry Me a River," and the audience had clearly quieted down in their efforts to carry the concert from earlier in the show.
You can watch the second video here:
Fellow TikTokers were in awe that the show was this bad and were angry on TikToker @allyourlife0's behalf.
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In Romania, TikToker @stereogum shared their experience at a concert in July, where Timberlake appeared on stage in sunglasses and a hooded jacket and spent more time halfheartedly dancing around the stage than singing.
At this concert, from the very beginning, the crowd was not having it and minimally participated in singing the songs, which left awkward lulls and mumbled parts in the song.
You can watch the video here:
Fellow TikTokers struggled to fathom the ridiculous situation.
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The critiques got so bad that parodies of Timberlake's performance began to surface.
An incredibly popular one was this viral hit featuring Sean Colby holding out a mic while drinking coffee.
Fellow TikTokers were left cackling over the accuracy of the parody.
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With all of the fallout online, Timberlake finally spoke up on Instagram at the beginning of August.
The post featured a lengthy reflection on his Forget Tomorrow World Tour, featuring photos from his performance, backstage, and at other behind-the-scenes events during the tour.
But the caption proved to be far more illuminating and surprising than the photos were.
Timberlake wrote:
"Well, as these two incredible years come to an end and I look forward to the future, I wanted to write something from the heart. It’s not an easy task to try to contextualize the whirlwind of touring, but I will try…"
"This has been the most fun, emotional, gratifying, physically demanding, and, at times, grueling experience. I have been doing this for 30+ years (which feels crazy to say) and have given all that I have to this. I could not have done it without my family, friends, The TN Kids, and all of YOUR support."
"As many of you know, I’m a pretty private person. But as I’m reflecting on the tour and festival tour, I want to tell you a little bit about what’s going on with me."
It was then that Timberlake revealed his struggles with Lyme disease.
"Among other things, I’ve been battling some health issues, and was diagnosed with Lyme disease, which I don’t say so you feel bad for me, but to shed some light on what I’ve been up against behind the scenes."
"If you’ve experienced this disease or know someone who has, then you’re aware: living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically. When I first got the diagnosis, I was shocked for sure. But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness."
"I was faced with a personal decision. Stop touring? Or, keep going and figure it out. I decided the joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling. I’m so glad I kept going."
"Not only did I prove my mental tenacity to myself, but I now have so many special moments with all of you that I will never forget. I was reluctant to talk about this because I was always raised to keep something like this to yourself. But I am trying to be more transparent about my struggles so that they aren’t misinterpreted."
Timberlake also wanted to be a voice of hope for other people navigating Lyme disease.
"I'm sharing all of this with the hope that we can all find a way to be more connected. I’d like to do my part to help others experiencing this disease, too."
"To every one of you who came to see me on 'The Forget Tomorrow Tour' or 'JT Live ‘25' (or any other tour or show throughout the years, for that matter)… your energy and love continue to humble me. Your signs, messages, and DIY t-shirts have made me laugh and smile so many times. And, hearing and watching you all sing these songs, word for word, at the top of your lungs, will forever leave me in awe. You have made my dreams come true."
"To my crew, band, singers, and dancers… tour life really is like nothing else. It takes a special type of person to be able to do it, much less do it well. You all have been such a beautiful family away from home for me. I will always treasure our time these last couple of years together. I can’t wait to see what everyone gets up to next. I know it will be exciting!"
"There really is no way to put into words the feeling of being on a stage and getting to share the experience of live music with all of you. It's a vibration of frequency that is unmatched. Sacred to me. I honestly don’t know what my future is onstage, but I'll always cherish this run! And all of them before! It’s been the stuff of LEGEND for me."
"If you’ve made it this far in this caption, you deserve a medal. My heart is filled with gratitude! Love each other. Be good to each other. Don’t take it for granted."
"To Jess, Silas, and Phin… nothing is more powerful than your unconditional love. You are my heart and my home. I’m on my way… With love, JT."
You can see the post here:
Fans were supportive of Timberlake's journey and struggles and wished him the best.
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All of the complaints, videos, and parodies seemed to fall away when Timberlake revealed his diagnosis, and the comments were overwhelmingly positive.
Would it have been nice for Timberlake to reveal his diagnosis before touring, so people knew what to expect and what they were paying for? Sure, but it's still a great reminder that we can never know what someone else is going through, and that it's best to lead with kindness.