Arts & Entertainment
Daily Beast writer apologizes for outing Olympians seven months later
the reporter says the should not have been ‘conceived, written or published’
Daily Beast writer Nico Hines has issued an apology for outing Olympians seven months ago in an article during the Rio Olympic games saying that the story, “never should have been conceived, written or published.”
In an article titled “I Got Three Grindr Dates in an Hour in the Olympic Village,” the straight and married writer created profiles for dating apps Grindr, Jack’d, Tindr and Bumble and reported on Olympians looking for hookups. His reports gave physical descriptions of the athletes and raised concerns that the athletes could be outed. The story was criticized as homophobic and dangerous, and eventually removed from the site.
Hines secluded himself from the public eye, his Twitter page remained silent for months, but now has posted an apology on the Daily Beast saying the story should never have been published.
“The story about athletes using dating apps in the Olympic village did not ask consent and did not advance the public good,” Hines writes. “The article intruded into the lives of people who had a right to be left alone. For some readers it brought up old, ugly LGBTQ stereotypes. And I didn’t accurately represent myself during the reporting of the piece. These were all profound failures, and I’m sorry for them. The lens of privilege distorted my worldview.”
“I was insensitive to the fears that constantly grip some people’s lives and it was wrong to even introduce the possibility that someone’s privacy could have been compromised,” Hines continued. “That fear is all the more acute in some of the countries whose athletes were gathered together inside the Olympic village. For anyone who was left in fear for their safety back home, I am truly sorry.”
Not everyone was willing to accept the apology including OutSports writer Cyd Zeigler who thinks Hines should have apologized last August.
“Now it just looks like you wanted your job back and had to put out this academic press release to get there,” Zeigler writes in a response piece to the apology.
Twitter was also not so forgiving with some still believing the apology came too late.
If it takes you 7 months to apologize, you’re probably still an asshole. Not sure what The Daily Beast is thinking: https://t.co/qa6fz5ryGP
— Zack Ford (@ZackFord) March 21, 2017
You didn’t learn a damn thing, @NicoHines. Not one freakin’ thing. https://t.co/G5QChRqg6g
— Mike ?️? (@bross_mike) March 21, 2017
Hey @NicoHines, it literally took 7 months for you to apologize. https://t.co/sDMh56wTQw
— A Real Bore Vidal (@kevinjn) March 21, 2017
Celebrity News
Madonna announces release date for new album
‘Confessions II’ marks return to the dance floor
Pop icon Madonna on Wednesday announced that her 15th studio album will be released on July 3.
Titled “Confessions II,” the new album is a sequel to 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” an Abba and disco-infused hit.
The new album reunites Madonna with producer Stuart Price, who also helmed the original “Confessions” album. It’s her first album of new material since 2019’s “Madame X.”
“We must dance, celebrate, and pray with our bodies,” Madonna said in a press release. “These are things that we’ve been doing for thousands of years — they really are spiritual practices. After all, the dance floor is a ritualistic space. It’s a place where you connect — with your wounds, with your fragility. To rave is an art. It’s about pushing your limits and connecting to a community of like-minded people,” continued the statement. “Sound, light, and vibration reshape our perceptions. Pulling us into a trance-like state. The repetition of the bass, we don’t just hear it but we feel it. Altering our consciousness and dissolving ego and time.”
Denali (@denalifoxx) of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” performed at Pitchers DC on April 9 for the Thirst Trap Thursday drag show. Other performers included Cake Pop!, Brooke N Hymen, Stacy Monique-Max and Silver Ware Sidora.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Arts & Entertainment
In an act of artistic defiance, Baltimore Center Stage stays focused on DEI
‘Maybe it’s a triple-down’
By LESLIE GRAY STREETER | I’m always tickled when people complain about artists “going political.” The inherent nature of art, of creation and free expression, is political. This becomes obvious when entire governments try to threaten it out of existence, like in 2025, when the brand-new presidential administration demanded organizations halt so-called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming or risk federal funding.
Baltimore Center Stage’s response? A resounding and hearty “Nah.” A year later, they’re still doubling down on diversity.
“Maybe it’s a triple-down,” said Ken-Matt Martin, the theater’s producing director, chuckling.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
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Comings & Goings
Minimal version of ‘Streetcar Named Desire’ heading to Dupont Underground
