Arts & Entertainment
Bijou Phillips apologizes for gay-shaming Daniel Franzese on set of ‘Bully’
the two actors starred in the 2001 film together
(Daniel Franzese. Photo by Bigstock.)
Bijou Phillips has apologized for gay-shaming and harassing her “Bully” co-star Daniel Franzese.
Franzese, also known for his roles on “Mean Girls” and “Looking,” accused Phillips of being homophobic and fat-shaming him on the set of the 2001 film “Bully.”
Citing Ellen Page’s decision to call out actor Brett Ratner for outing her as a teen, Franzese detailed his story of abuse he suffered from Phillips on Facebook.
“She kept loudly saying ‘Are you gay?!’ and laughing while the producers and photographer did nothing to stop her,” Franzese writes about Phillips.
“She continued to say ‘Are You Gay?!’ Like 10 times making sure to be loud enough for everyone to hear I reluctantly told her i was bi. Which at the time was how I was choosing to identify as ‘Q’ wasn’t known to be an option yet and to be honest I don’t know that I had many gay experiences at the time my life,” Franzese went on. “She cackled and said ’HA! He’s bi! And then when I showed up to work the next day in front of the crew she was screaming ‘Oh look! The Bi guy is here!’”
Franzese also says Phillips laughed at him when he had to take his shirt off for a scene.
“So I take my shirt off in the scene and she breaks character and she pointed at my body and at the top of her lungs yelled “Ewwww gross!!!” She laughed and pointed at me and continued to berate me. they call cut and I had to walk off set to collect myself,” Franzese writes.
Phillips told TMZ that she apologizes for her behavior as a teenager and has also privately apologized to Franzese.
“I was a teenager and reckless in my behavior. I know Daniel to be a trustworthy and honest person, and to find out through social media that I was not the friend I thought I was to him made me so sad,” Phillips told TMZ.“I am so mortified by this behavior and have contacted Daniel and apologized to him privately. I am not and never have been homophobic. I have nothing but love for the LGBTQ community and Daniel.”
Franzese tweeted that he accepts Phillips apology but that her story is only one of many he has faced in the film industry.
Thread: I forgive @BijouPhillips because I don’t know her private story either. I shared this story only to bring light to a dark memory.
— Daniel Franzese (@WhatsupDanny) November 13, 2017
It was 18years ago. She has sent me an apology I accept. It would be nice to see her make a donation to @TrevorProject or something.
— Daniel Franzese (@WhatsupDanny) November 13, 2017
This is not the only tale of horror or horrible people I have been around in the film industry.
— Daniel Franzese (@WhatsupDanny) November 13, 2017
I’m not a perfect person by any means but I always try to treat people with respect. Especially as an adult.
— Daniel Franzese (@WhatsupDanny) November 13, 2017
Hopefully we can move forward into a future where film sets are a more professional environment.
— Daniel Franzese (@WhatsupDanny) November 13, 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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