Arts & Entertainment
Trans actress Jen Richards reveals she lost role due to Louis C.K. scandal
the star was meant to voice a cartoon character on a TBS project

(Screenshot via YouTube.)
TV is losing a transgender character in the fallout of Louis C.K.’s sexual harassment scandal.
Transgender actress Jen Richards revealed she was meant to voice a transgender character on C.K.’s animated TBS series “The Cops.”
TBS suspended production on the series after C.K. admitted to masturbating in front of numerous women.
“Welp. I guess I can say this now: I was one of the stars of ‘The Cops’. There was going to be an animated trans character, voiced by a trans actress, on network television. The consequences of these actions go far,” Richards tweets.
Welp. I guess I can say this now: I was one of the stars of ‘The Cops’. There was going to be an animated trans character, voiced by a trans actress, on network television. The consequences of these actions go far. https://t.co/J8fEg5HuDY
— Jen Richards (@SmartAssJen) November 11, 2017
Richards continued on that she is disappointed that transgender representation on network TV has to suffer in the wake of C.K.’s actions.
“I know this isn’t about me, but I was really excited to voice a cartoon character. To have a badass, openly trans character on network t.v. would have been awesome,” Richards tweets.
Fuck. That announcement kinda took the “look at all these amazing women” wind out of my sails. I know this isn’t about me, but I was really excited to voice a cartoon character. To have a badass, openly trans character on network t.v. would have been awesome. Oh well.
— Jen Richards (@SmartAssJen) November 11, 2017
However, Richards notes she’s grateful women are speaking out about sexual misconduct.
“For the record, I will mourn my own lost opportunity for a moment, but I’ll continue to loudly celebrate a complete sea change in the gendered power dynamics of every corner of society. This is so much bigger than any one of us, and in the end will benefit everyone. I know that,” Richards tweets.
For the record, I will mourn my own lost opportunity for a moment, but I’ll continue to loudly celebrate a complete sea change in the gendered power dynamics of every corner of society. This is so much bigger than any one of us, and in the end will benefit everyone. I know that.
— Jen Richards (@SmartAssJen) November 11, 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.
