Category Entertainment News

Following the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the definition of a woman and sex in the Equality Act, pop star Sam Smith has issued a powerful message on social media.

Sam Smith has issued a powerful message following the Supreme Court ruling the definition of a woman and sex in the Equality Act relates to “a biological woman and biological sex”. The controversial decision has been branded as “erasure” of transgender people by critics.

Five senior judges made the choice to define the terms “women” and “sex” as biological woman and biological sex. It has raised questions over access to single-sex spaces and protections based on sex, especially for trans rights.

Singer Sam, who uses the pronouns they/them and doesn’t identify as a woman, responded to the decision with a powerful message of solidarity. Sam wrote in a social media post, “Trans people exist.

“A world without trans people has never existed and never will. Trans rights are human rights. I am heartbroken for our community. But we cannot and will not be erased. We are real.”

Sam’s words were echoed by Celebrity Big Brother star Kellie Maloney, who said life will become “very dangerous” for trans people. “This ruling has put a lot of fear in a lot of people,” said Kellie.

The campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS), which mandates 50% female representation on public boards, brought the decision after a lengthy legal battle over the definition of a woman in Scottish legislation.

Its effects are anticipated to be felt throughout Northern Ireland, Wales, and England. GRC-certified transgender people are entitled to sex-based protections, according to the Scottish government, while GRC-certified individuals are only limited to those who were born female.

The issue was whether or not a GRC-certified person who recognized their gender as a woman should be treated as a woman under the 2010 Equality Act.

The decision was made by UK Supreme Court Judge Lord Hodge, who defended the law’s protection against discrimination.

He said, “The Equality Act 2010 unanimously recognizes a biological woman and biological sex. However, we advise against viewing this judgment as a victory for one or more social groups over another.

The government responded, saying that the decision provided clarity in areas like sports clubs, hospitals, and refuges. The decision raises the possibility of additional laws regulating access to facilities, including changing rooms. However, judges emphasized that transgender people’s discrimination protections were not being violated.

A Government spokesman said: “We have always supported the protection of single sex spaces based on biological sex. This ruling brings clarity and confidence, for women and service providers such as hospitals, refuges, and sports clubs. Single sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by this government.”

Harry Potter author JK Rowling was among those praising the verdict and in recent years has been very vocal about trans people and their rights. She said on X: “It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, they’ve protected the rights of women and girls across the UK. @ForWomenScot I’m so proud to know you.”

The writer continued, “Trans people have lost no rights today, although I doubt some (not all) will be angry that the Supreme Court upheld women’s sex-based rights.”

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Shelby Tribble and Sam Mucklow, stars of “The Only Way Is Essex,” have revealed the couple’s son. On social media, they shared their joyous news with their first-ever adorable photos of their child.

Abel’s father, Shelby and Sam, had already revealed the name of their son and were already parents to him. The couple wrote, “We are completely in love with you,” next to their post. After receiving another beautiful boy, our hearts are now doubled.

They gave his distinctive name, “Our Teskey,” when he was revealed. As Teskey slept in his cot, the couple shared a sweet first glimpse of him in a blue baby grow.

They also recalled the time their son Abel and they discovered they were having another boy. Following Teskey’s arrival, their famous friends and supporters rushed to congratulate them.

Rosie Anna Williams of Love Island remarked, “Oh my goodness! Congratulations to everyone involved. Shelb is gorgeous, according to Amber Davies.

Shelby’s mother, Karen, gushed, “Absolutely besotted and in love with the beautiful perfect little Teskey” and that his big brother, Abel, is a contented little brother to his grandpa’s opulent, beautiful grandson xxxxxxx.

Welcome to the world, our gorgeous baby boy, said Chloe Meadows of TOWIE. In October, Shelby and Sam made the announcement that they were starting a family.

Along with their son Abel, they posted their happy news in an adorable photo on social media. A picture of their ultrasound scan, along with a yellow cake with the words “oh baby” was shared by Shelby and Sam. The couple then shared images of their son and their son assimilating wine glasses into the cake.

As the cake revealed their baby’s gender, they all held their hands in the air for the sweet black and white photo. Baby Number 2 is coming soon, Shelby simply captioned the post.

Sam and Shelby first met when they first appeared on the ITVBe reality show in 2018 and later confirmed their relationship.

After three difficult days in the hospital, they gave birth to son Abel back in November 2020. The couple’s ups and downs were revealed in shock when they split up in October 2023.

The couple’s romantic relationship is over, according to a source who later added that “Shelby is being supported by family and friends.” “They’re still co-parenting their child together and want to keep things normal for Abel,” the source told the Sun at the time.

On TikTok, Shelby also made an apologie for the breakup, sharing a video with audio that read, “This is a song i wrote about men… It is called ew..”. She continued, “Am I speaking for the majority of us at this point?”

Shelby and Sam took a picture together on Instagram last summer while they were on vacation in Ibiza. After Sam left Shelby’s posts, the pair were reunited, and fans were delighted that Sam and Sam had the opportunity to reconnect.

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ExCLUSIVE: Musician Michael Aldag has teased new music that is influenced by the Killers, the 1975, and the Bastille after gaining a worldwide following his witty social commentary on TikTok.

Michael Aldag, a TikTok sensation, rose to fame back in 2020 with his incisive observational sketches about daily life and teased new music, promising that fans will soon hear tracks in the vein of The Killers and Lewis Capaldi.

The 23-year-old from West Kirby, Merseyside is gearing up for a memorable summer, with fresh tracks on the horizon in the form of his ‘ The Carousel ‘ EP – which he is aiming to release in the coming months. Entitled, Tonsillitis, and Ghosted, his previous works, which combined lyrical reflections on Gen Z life with energizing anthemic choruses, were popular with listeners.

His social media posts during lockdown garnered attention from around the world, as he experienced the power of viral content first hand. His TikTok videos, which saw him lampoon aspects of modern life from a young person’s perspective, helped him to carve out a niche for himself as an unlikely social commentator and he boats over 900,000 followers on the platform – along with a further 220,000 on Instagram.

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Aldag’s level-headed outlook, reflecting on what transpired to become a national overnight viral sensation five years ago, demonstrates maturity beyond his young age. He said: “I started doing the sketch videos when I was 18 and I remember doing my first video after being added into uni group chats and it doing my head in!

“I was sat on my couch doing nothing, writing songs in my room and watching Netflix. So I thought ‘I’ll keep doing them’. That kind of grew and as that grew, my music did too. I would sit on TikTok live and would tell people that I had a new song out.

“So it wasn’t planned out. Social media definitely helped me find and grow an audience, which, I suppose, was very important.

He admits to having a life that is frequently ‘splished’ between juggling his duties on TikTok, representing himself, and organizing gigs. Coming off the back of a secret performance at Liverpool’s famous Jacaranda – which launched the Beatles to superstardom and has welcomed esteemed artists such as Blossoms in recent times – he appears enthused when asked about the process of making music.

He still remembers that time in his life as his most productive when he first began to write when he was 14 when he first started to write in his bedroom. However, the craft of songwriting remains his first love, with his passion for his art palpable.

“When I was 16 years old, I really got into that and would spend the night making and producing songs just to get lost in that world.” Then, as the clock would indicate, I would need to go to bed the following morning to get ready for school.

” I’d just be taking my laptop everywhere and producing stuff. I still try to do that, but I also enjoy sharing ideas with a producer about writing on my guitar and keyboard piano.

The Merseysider acknowledges seeing the Killers’ Brandon Flowers perform when he was a teenager as a major seminal moment in his journey to embarking on a career in music himself. He recalled: “I think that was one of those moments where you feel like your life slowed down, I remember watching him and the Killers when I was 15 in the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool – it was incredible.

He was such a fantastic performer, and I can recall just before that, when I first first heard about these songs as a teenager. Seeing their show, with all the massive lights, it wasn’t trying to be coy, it was like ‘ here’s one banger and here’s one after that ‘ and he was just singing his heart out.

“I got really jealous, I think,” the statement read. I wanted to be in the audience and do it because it was one of those times when I couldn’t bear being there. It’s when you try and do it that you realize just how much hard work it takes”!

Aldag anticipates releasing new material in the upcoming months, with “The Carousel” representing some of his most introspective pieces of work to date. His previously unheard tracks are included in his previously unheard collection. The starlet has gained notoriety for his clever depictions of northern life, but it’s obvious that he is more at ease than ever writing about his own struggles with romance, broken relationships, and dealing with heartache.

He acknowledges that the lyrics to the tracks “Three Minutes” and “Happy” have a more melancholy lyrical undertone than the tracks that are The 1975-esque, with catchy pop choruses and bright, uplifting melodies.

Aldag, who co-wrote these songs with producer and former Eurovision contestant Robin Stjernberg, does not shy away from admitting that he is unapologetically baring his soul like never before. They first worked together last year, with their songwriting partnership having blossomed ever since their initial encounter in a studio in Stockholm.

We had never met each other before, but we were put into a session because it was freezing in the middle of winter. We wrote the first song for that. Both of us were feeling quite jaded and feeling like we were doing things that we didn’t feel rewarded by and out of nowhere]the song] happened”, Aldag remembers.

“I just went with what came naturally,” I said as a result. It’s difficult to sing that song because I was very honest with the lyrics.

They are just heartbreaking songs, but what we’ve done with “Three Minutes” is write something that’s a sort of 80s dance-inspired disco tune. Similar to “Happy,” but lyrically speaking, it is pretty devastating but has a snare kick going all the way through.

Addressing inevitable comparisons which will come with Lewis Capaldi for his vocal delivery on the title track, he admits: “I probably sound like Lewis Capaldi when he’s got a sore throat! I love that song – from there that song sparked the rest of the music.

“From there, I thought, “There’s something in that experience that I had.” That was the embryo of that song and then that grew and became all the different sides of it, which became the rest of the music. We hope to have a cool world in place.

Aldag also makes an announcement about making his first concept record of his career, with all the songs being based on the same source of inspiration that Aldag has used to create this project. He said: “I then tried to tell a story in the lyrics of this relationship and of the nature of it going round and round like a carousel – that’s where the whole thing has come from. In that regard, yes, it’s a concept album.

It’s been very jarring in my music before, and it’s even more blatantly so at times, but with this, it’s still my life and true, and I tried to explore different sounds and create a distinctive sound with Robin.

With his upcoming release, “The Carousel,” which is scheduled for the summer, Aldag is now aiming to build on his previous successes. The youngster is also brimming with excitement about playing his songs for audiences at festivals including Chris Evans ‘ CarFest this year.

I’m eager to play CarFest, he continued. I remember it vividly because it was my first festival when I first played it on my acoustic guitar when I was 17 years old. I was so nervous. I was pounding my head. I’m still recording a Shaun Mendes cover, so maybe I’ll take that back for nostalgia.

Zak Starkey, the band’s drummer, has been fired from The Who after decades, but that’s not the only tragedy he’s experienced as a result of being born into the wild world of rock and roll.

Zak Starkey has suffered a major blow, being fired from The Who after joining as their full time drummer in 1996. Considering his hugely successful career and birth into rock royalty, it’s surprising his name hasn’t always been in the headlines – but he’s had plenty of ups and downs behind the scenes.

Multi-instrumentalist Zak, 59, is the first child of The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and his first wife Maureen Cox. He had an illustrious childhood, growing up around major stars while enjoying private education and a home in a gated community in Surrey.

Zak went on to grow his own family, marrying his second wife Sharna Liguz – better known a Sshh – in 2022, the year after they welcomed their daughter Luna Lee Lightnin.

Everything seemed to be going perfectly for the talented performer until this month, when Zak was booted from The Who following their two shows at the Royal Albert Hall at the end of March. Zak – who spent much of his childhood with The Who’s original drummer Keith Moon – admitted to being “surprised and saddened” by the sudden break, which followed a few months of instability.

Back in January, Zak experienced a terrifying health scare that forced him to drop out of a gig with Mantra of the Cosmos, which he and Sshh formed. The band, which counts Oasis and Ride guitarist Andy Bell alongside Happy Mondays stars Shaun Ryder and Bez as its core members, was due to perform a secret set in Soho, London, when Zak was rushed for medical attention.

Just hours before he was due on stage, doctors found multiple blood clots in his leg, and was placed on a two-week course of blood thinners alongside being ordered to immediate bed rest.

Zak has addressed his health issues, and blasted the idea that they had anything to do with his firing from The Who. In a statement provided to the Rolling Stone, he emphasised: “In January, I suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf. This is now completely healed and does not affect my drumming or running.”

Zak, who refers to the band as his “family” and drummer Moon, who died of an overdose in 1978, was given the guts of his departure from The Who.

Moon is known as one of the greatest drummers in history, but also one of the wildest. “He was one of my dad’s best friends. When my brother, sister, and I used to stay with my dad there, we would occasionally spend a few days at Keith’s house. Keith was the babysitter. We would just hang out and talk about anything, really–girls, surfing, bands, drums. He was a really fantastic guy to hang out with,” Zak said of his impact during a chat with the Modern Drummer.

Unfortunately, Zak’s uncle may have passed on more than just his drumming abilities, in blood, to him. When Zak was a boy, Moon gave him his first-ever drum kit, which tragically he later sold when he was 26.

The kit went for £12,000 at Sotheby’s, and Zak admitted that he needed the money because he found himself trapped in a corner with financial and drug issues. “I wish I’d never sold it, but, at the time, I owed some drug dealers and the taxman a lot of money,” he told Hi-Fi Plus.

Prior to his marriage to Sshh, the drummer was married to Sarah Menikides from 1985 to 2021. Zak was just 19 when he first tied the knot, and by this point was reportedly already deeply embroiled in the drug world.

According to an anonymous source, “When [Sarah] met him about three years ago, Zak was drinking heavily and doing drugs, and Ringo was disgusted with him, and not even speaking to him.

Sarah, however, sort of reached him. She made the distinction between drinking and using drugs, not alcohol. If he returns to his former, he was once a rogue. Zak’s return to normalcy with his father is another positive outcome of the relationship, according to the source.

Unlike his second wedding – which saw stars such as Liam Gallagher and Johnny Marr descend on a huge Hollywood ceremony – the first was secretly held at a London registry office. “Ringo didn’t go to the wedding, because Zak wanted to avoid publicity. But he did hold the reception for them afterwards at his mansion,” the source added of Zak’s teen nuptials.

Things clearly changed for Zak later in life, and he can count working with major groups such as Oasis and The Lightning Seeds into his impressive CV. The star also has a label that he runs with Sshh, Trojan Jamaica, which they set up shortly before moving to the island nation.

“Jamaica is the most productive musical country I’ve ever been to. It’s second to none, in fact. The other great thing about it is everyone’s really f*****g happy. There’s no pressure. It flows, “ he told Rock Cellar Magazine. He and Sshh moved there in 2017 after being invited to play in Jamaica the year before, and ended up staying in tropical bliss for three years while also cranking out plenty of music.

And, it seems things might be on the up for Zak despite his very public firing. The long-awaited Oasis reunion tour is kicking off this summer, and they’re said to have their eye on Zak to return to the fold as their drummer.

Body language expert Judi James has given her verdict on the new photos of Zara McDermott and Louis Tomlinson’s passionate smooch in Malibu after their romantic trip

Loved up Louis Tomlinson and Zara McDermott’s ‘intense’ kiss could suggest one has more passionate feelings than the other, a body language expert has claimed.

New photos which emerged today show the pair locking lips as Zara leaves their Malibu Air BnB after a romantic break in the United States of America with Louis. In the pictures, the pair are saying goodbye in Malibu as they kiss and hold hands before Zara, 28, heads to the airport following her romantic trip with the One Direction star, 33. In the photographs, Zara is wearing a blue Rotate Sunday tracksuit top and matching joggers along with a pair of white and green Adidas trainers.

Clearly comfortable in Louis’ company she went makeup-free for the occasion as her blonde locks tumbled down her back as she sported a pair of glasses with a bold black trip and a pair of small gold hoop earrings. Louis wore a navy blue hooded top and a pair of black tracksuit bottoms with a white trim going down the side.

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Louis wore black socks as he stepped onto the driveway to say goodbye to his new belle, who’s romance was ‘soft launched’ while they were in the US together last week. Clearly on cloud nine Louis is seen holding out his hand to Zara, who is walking ahead of him, before she grasps his hand and the pair share a smooch.

The embrace sees Louis tightly holding onto Zara’s jumper as they lock lips. And, body language expert Judi James has now given her take – revealing the display might hint that Louis has stronger feelings for Zara, who has a ‘cooler response’.

She exclusively told the Mirror: “This is a sweet, intense-looking public kiss and the signals from Louis’s body language suggest feelings of longing and regret as he kisses Zara goodbye in Malibu.

“His head is straight as he leans in and he seems to grip her arm tightly as though reluctant to let her go and keen to leave a trace of the strength of his emotions to stay with her.

He’s run out in his socks to plant this kiss and his angle of lean and his closed eyes suggests he means it.

“Zara though is showing a slightly cooler response. Her head arches away slightly and instead of tilting her head to make the kiss a little more passionate and sensual she keeps her own head upright. Her response to his almost desperate-looking grasp of her sleeve is to keep her hand with her phone in it held away here.”

The pair jetted off to the US together earlier this month, weeks after they were spotted enjoying a meal together at a cosy Suffolk hotel. While on their trip, the pair shared matching photographs of a view from a Stereophonics concert and Zara ‘soft launched’ their romance by sharing a photo of her breakfast featuring Louis’ arm in the background.

Zara and Louis are yet to discuss their romance publicly, but haven’t held back on public displays of affection as they were recently snapped holding hands while out in America.

It comes just a few months after Zara’s split from her longterm boyfriend Sam Thompson, who is also reportedly stepping back into the dating world. Zara and I’m A Celebrity… star Sam had been together for five years before their split in December.

Sam has been rumoured to be dating Too Hot To Handle star Lucy Syed, after reportedly getting cosy in a Chelsea nightclub. A source has since claimed the pair have been exchanging messages on Instagram since their cosy nightclub appearance. As the claims of his new romance came to light, Sam shared a cryptic post on his Instagram stories, sharing a photo of himself smiling before he gushed: “What a day” followed by a smiling face and red love heart emojis.

Sam and Zara first started dating in May 2019, with Sam telling OK! magazine Zara made the first move. Trouble hit paradise for the pair early on as it was revealed Zara cheated on Sam while on The X Factor: Celebrity and the pair split briefly. Zara was seen grovelling in viral Made In Chelsea scenes as she begged for Sam to forgive her – he refused to at first but eventually decided to move past Zara’s cheating and the pair reunited.

Adrian Araouzou, the groom of Married At First Sight Australia, has revealed some of the behind-the-scenes rumors and provides insight into what it’s really like on the show.

Married At First Sight Australia has been packed with drama, feuds and scandal this year from the hopeful bride and grooms looking for love. But amid the drama and bust-ups, one groom has revealed what it’s really like to be a part of the show.

Adrian Araouzou was matched with Awhina Rutene on the show, and now the Aussie groom has revealed some behind-the-scenes secrets.

From how the application process works to not being able to speak to any of the other couples while in the apartments, the 36-year-old lifts the lid on what really goes on during the popular dating show.

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Adrian shared some things with TikTok during his “MAFS gossip sesh.” The groom videoed himself in the kitchen, saying, “I’m going to drop all the goss.” First of all, the groom instructed the applicant to avoid doing this.

“When you are applying for a partner, you are asked what you want and what you don’t want,” says the director. “I advise anyone who wants to enter the show to refrain from mentioning your non-negotiables.” Adrian alleges that by doing this, there are a good chance that they will give it to you.

He claimed it was done without incident and that “it’s for the drama” and that it actually happened to him. He continued, “For example, I said I didn’t want anyone to have a child because it becomes complicated, and what did they give me? ” Someone who has a child.

The married couples move into their apartments after Adrian revealed another secret that many people may not be aware of. You are forbidden from speaking to the other couples once you are in the apartments, they claim, because they “don’t want the drama to unfold in the corridors,” and they further claim that you are advised to return to your room if you are caught with them.

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He explained that everyone has designated time slots for exercise in the gym, so that you can “don’t cross paths in the corridor” and that it’s because they can “save all the drama for TV.” Additionally, Adrian addressed the claims that the actors are “paid actors,” and added, “That’s one thing I can assure you, they are not. They are simply numerous personalities in one place.

The groom claimed that the goal of the show is to “create good TV” after a few weeks and that once you are on it, you begin to “understand the objective.” He asserted that it is important to “create drama” at a dinner party. You are aware that the quicker you can get out and get home, you can.

He claimed that most people would laugh off and move on after the dinner party if they were involved in a drama. People can stay friends after a show, they say. And he concluded, “It’s all real, real people, real drama, real gossip, real feelings,” and praised the production team’s “excellent work ethic” that led to “the best TV”

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