Gayety

Tag: Bridesmaids

  • ‘King of Drag’ Crowns King Molasses as First-Ever Champion in Historic Drag King Series

    ‘King of Drag’ Crowns King Molasses as First-Ever Champion in Historic Drag King Series

    Drag royalty has a new face, and this time, it’s bearded, bold, and breaking boundaries.

    Revry, the world’s first LGBTQ+ streaming platform, has officially crowned King Molasses as the inaugural winner of King of Drag, the first-ever drag king competition series. After six weeks of fierce battles and boundary-pushing performances, King Molasses emerged victorious from a diverse lineup of ten competitors, making herstory as the series’ first reigning monarch.

    A Royal Roster

    The show’s eclectic cast featured standout kings including Alexander the Great, Buck Wylde, Dick Von Dyke, and Tuna Melt, but it was King Molasses who ultimately snatched the crown. The final decision followed weeks of challenges that blended comedy, charisma, and commentary, especially on masculinity in modern drag culture.

    “I want my reign to establish our credibility as artists,” King Molasses told Entertainment Weekly in a post-win interview. “We’re always going to be compared to drag queens, but I want my reign to put to bed the ambiguity about what a drag king is.”

    Hosted by a Legend, Celebrated Around the World

    King of Drag debuted on June 22 exclusively on Revry, with comedian and LGBTQ+ trailblazer Murray Hill serving as the series’ host. Hill, beloved for their roles in Somebody Somewhere and Drag Me to Dinner, guided the competition with wit, wisdom, and a whole lot of attitude.

    The premiere sparked over 200 global watch parties, including enthusiastic turnouts in Brazil, South Africa, and Taiwan. It’s clear the hunger for drag king visibility spans far beyond U.S. borders.

    The Judges’ Court and Star-Studded Guests

    Each episode saw King Molasses perform for a panel known as The Kings Court, made up of drag luminaries including Tenderoni, Gottmik, Sasha Velour, Wang Newton, and Revry CEO Damian Pelliccione.

    Celebrity guest judges added some serious sparkle to the runway, from Bridesmaids director Paul Feig to Drag Latina star Carmen Carrera, Somebody Somewhere stars Bridget Everett and Jeff Hiller, and actress Lisa Rinna.

    A Cultural Reset for Drag Kings

    Co-created by Revry co-founders Damian Pelliccione and Christopher J. Rodriguez, and co-produced by The Silo (the team behind The International Vogue League), King of Drag is being hailed as one of Revry’s most ambitious original series to date.

    “King Molasses exemplifies everything we hoped to showcase,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “Their authenticity and artistry were undeniable.”

    Pelliccione echoed the sentiment, adding: “We’re thrilled to crown them as our first-ever King of Drag.”

    Unlike drag queen-centered shows, King of Drag spotlighted the unique art of drag kings, performers who exaggerate masculinity through satire, swagger, and subversion. The cast represented trans masc individuals, nonbinary artists, and cis women, showing the wide spectrum of gender performance within drag.

    Now Streaming: The Revolution Will Be Bearded

    Whether you’re a longtime fan of drag kings or just discovering this electrifying corner of queer culture, now’s your chance to catch every lip sync, laugh, and look. The full first season of King of Drag is available to stream exclusively at Revry.com.

    The series is proudly sponsored by e.l.f. Cosmetics, a brand that champions bold self-expression for every eye, lip, and face.

    In the words of King Molasses: the reign has just begun.

  • Paul Feig Donates $300,000 to LGBTQ+ Youth Advocacy Groups Amid Rising Anti-Trans Policies

    Paul Feig Donates $300,000 to LGBTQ+ Youth Advocacy Groups Amid Rising Anti-Trans Policies

    Paul Feig, the director of A Simple Favor and Bridesmaids, along with his wife Laurie, has donated $300,000 to three major LGBTQ+ youth advocacy organizations: The Trevor Project, Trans Lifeline, and It Gets Better. The donation comes at a time when the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender individuals, is facing increasing threats to their rights and protections.

    In an exclusive statement to Variety, Feig expressed his concern over recent attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender people. “In recent weeks we have witnessed the dismantling of crucial protections for the health and safety of the LGBTQ+ community and, particularly, the transgender community,” Feig said. “I can’t sit idly by and watch as my friends, colleagues and the LGBTQ+ community as a whole — our fellow citizens — are stripped of their rights.”

    The donation follows reports that the Trump administration is enforcing policies that remove transgender troops from the U.S. military and has eliminated references to transgender people and gender-affirming care from official government websites and databases. LGBTQ+ rights organizations and activists have filed legal challenges to these policies.

    The Trevor Project, one of the organizations benefiting from the donation, provides a suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ+ youth, while Trans Lifeline offers emotional and financial support to transgender individuals in crisis. It Gets Better works to uplift and empower LGBTQ+ youth by amplifying stories of queer adults and providing resources for young people worldwide.

    Myles Markham, Director of Development at Trans Lifeline, emphasized the significance of Feig’s donation, especially given the current climate. “In a year where anti-trans sentiment and federal marginalization is at an all-time high, support and generosity for our community from powerful storytellers like Paul couldn’t be more timely or valuable,” Markham said. “Contributions like this not only mean critical services will reach more folks in need, but they also send a message of hope and possibility.”

    Kevin Wong, Senior Vice President of Marketing at The Trevor Project, highlighted the urgency of the donation. “Every 45 seconds, at least one LGBTQ+ young person in the U.S. attempts suicide. This gift will bolster our crisis counselors’ ability to support the increase in young people who are reaching out with fears about how the current barrage of negative political news will impact their lives,” Wong said.

    It Gets Better’s Executive Director, Brian Wenke, also expressed gratitude, noting that Feig’s contribution would further their mission to support LGBTQ+ youth. “Paul’s storytelling has long resonated with our community, a reminder that representation isn’t just visibility — it’s power,” Wenke said. “With this support, we remain focused on building a world where LGBTQ+ young people feel seen, supported, and can recognize their own limitless potential.”

    Feig’s recent contributions come as he prepares for the release of his latest film, Another Simple Favor, which will premiere at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin on March 7. The film will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video starting May 1. Feig also has another project, The Housemaid, starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, set for release during the holiday season.