Arts & Entertainment
‘Jenny Jones’ murderer released on parole after killing gay friend who confessed crush
Jonathan Schmitz served 22 years of his sentence
(Jonathan Schmitz on the unaired episode of ‘Jenny Jones.’ Screenshot via YouTube.)
A Michigan man who was convicted of the 1995 murder of his gay friend after he revealed he had a same-sex crush on him on a national TV show has been released from prison on parole.
32-year-old Scott Amedure and mutual friend Donna Riley brought then 24-year-old Jonathan Schmitz onto an episode of “The Jenny Jones Show” titled “Same Sex Crushes,” in which admirers confessed their affections to their secret crushes. Reportedly, Schmitz agreed to appear on the show thinking his admirer was female.
Jones prods Amedure to reveal his sexual thoughts about Schmitz and then replays Amedure’s spoken thoughts for Schmitz to hear. Schmitz appears embarrassed on the show and insists he’s not gay.
The episode never aired.
Three days after the show’s taping, Schmitz shot and killed Amedure at his mobile home. Schmitz confessed to authorities he murdered Amedure for embarrassing him on national TV. In 1996 Schmitz was sentenced to 25-50 years for second-degree murder.
Schmitz, now 47, served 22 years and was released on parole for good behavior from Parnall Correctional Facility in Jackson, Michigan.
Amedure’s older brother, Frank Amedure Jr., told PEOPLE the family isn’t happy about Schmitz’s release but some family members don’t place the blame entirely on him.
“I guess it’s like any other person who’s lost a family member to murder — they wouldn’t feel comfortable about the murderer being released,” Frank tells PEOPLE. “It might be easier if he [Schmitz] was old, an old gray-haired man. But he’s still pretty young at 47 — he’s still got a lot to go, and my brother doesn’t. But there’s a side of, at least me and maybe some of my family members, that we do feel he was victimized in all of this, and so we can empathize with all of that.”
The family has been vocal that they blame the producers of “The Jenny Jones Show” for manipulating Schmitz making them the catalyst in Scott’s murder. The family sued the show and was granted $25 million, but the Michigan Court of Appeals overturned the verdict.
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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