Gayety

Tag: Paul Feig

  • ‘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 Says He Almost Killed ‘Another Simple Favor’ – “I Was So Afraid”

    Paul Feig Says He Almost Killed ‘Another Simple Favor’ – “I Was So Afraid”

    In 2018’s A Simple Favor, suburban mommy vlogger Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) befriends the enigmatic Emily Nelson (Blake Lively), a martini-slinging fashion icon who vanishes under mysterious circumstances—leaving behind her son, her secrets, and a whole lot of murder. The film, based on Darcey Bell’s novel, was directed by Paul Feig and quickly earned cult status for its campy tone, bisexual tension, and Lively’s unforgettable three-piece suits.

    Now, Feig is back with Another Simple Favor, a sequel that doubles down on the queer-coded chaos, couture, and criminal intrigue—but it almost didn’t happen.

    “I tried to kill it many times,” Feig told Pride. “I was so afraid we were going to screw it up. But thank goodness, Laura Fischer, my producing partner, just kept pushing me.”

    The second film picks up with Stephanie as a published true crime author, only to be drawn back into Emily’s orbit when she’s invited to attend (and help plan!) Emily’s wedding in Italy. Yes, she’s somehow free despite being convicted of multiple crimes—including attempted murder.

    Prime Video

    A Queer Dynamic That’s Impossible to Ignore

    One of the standout moments from the first film was the unexpected kiss between Emily and Stephanie, which ignited conversation and memes across queer internet.

    “I love that moment in the first movie,” Feig said. “It’s so beautiful and unexpected and completely justified. Their sexuality is so fluid with their personalities in a way that feels very real to me.”

    That tension isn’t just hinted at—it’s foundational. “They are two people who complete each other—and they hate that they complete each other,” Feig said. “That’s why they’re so interesting. If they were best friends, the movie would get really boring.”

    Rather than trying to top the kiss in the sequel, Feig leaned into the characters’ chemistry in new ways. “We wanted to have that dynamic in this but not make it feel copycat. It’s a different thing, but kind of the same thing at the same time.”

    Prime Video

    How the Sequel Came to Life

    The idea for a sequel wasn’t immediate. “The seed got planted during the pandemic when the movie started getting watched a lot on streaming,” Feig explained. “There was interest from outside about possibly doing a sequel, and I normally don’t do sequels. But I just thought—these characters are great. I love working with Blake and Anna.”

    The final push came from a single story twist. “That was when I went, okay, this is going to be fun—because it surprised even me when we came up with it,” Feig said.

    Adding to the intrigue, the film weaves in callbacks to the original. “One of our writers said, ‘You’ve got this thing from the first movie,’ and we hadn’t even thought of it. That changed everything,” Feig said.

    Meet the Cast

    Prime Video

    The sequel reunites the original cast, including Henry Golding as Emily’s ex-husband Sean, who gets a far more sinister arc this time. “We told Henry, ‘We’re going to make you kind of a shitty guy this time,’” Feig laughed. “He said, ‘Make me the worst guy ever. Give me a terrible death.’ I said, ‘Okay, we can do that.’”

    Though Jean Smart couldn’t return due to scheduling, Feig filled her absence with veteran scene-stealer Elizabeth Perkins. “She just killed it,” he said. “She’s so funny and so good at playing this weird character.” Feig also brought in Tony Award winner and queer icon Alex Newell as Stephanie’s assistant.

    Where Emily and Stephanie Stand Now

    Feig was determined not to backslide the characters. “Stephanie went through the fire with Emily the first time—and won,” he said. “So she’s more mature, more advanced. When Emily comes back into her life, she’s shocked, but she’s ready to take her on.”

    And while their dynamic remains as volatile as ever, Feig confirmed it’s exactly what audiences crave. “We once screened a version where they were actual friends, and audiences hated it. They didn’t want them bonded. They wanted that tension.”

    Feig summed it up perfectly: “Drama and comedy are all about conflict. And even when they’re trying to connect, something always gets in the way. It’s like a great marriage—except, you know, with attempted murder.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWajCwdC_TM

    How Gay Is It?

    “I was thrilled by how much queer audiences connected to the first film,” Feig said. “It’s such an important audience to us, and we wanted to bring even more of that energy into the sequel.”

    As for the question of whether this sequel was made for queer fans?

    Feig smiled. “That’s always my hope.”

    Another Simple Favor is streaming now on Prime Video. Watch the full interview below.

    https://youtu.be/Ud1QrRHU6R4
  • 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.