The Daily Sting, Tuesday: Gay Teen Wins ‘Big Brother UK,’ New ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ Announced
Let’s take a look at some of the biggest headlines of gay interest this Tuesday, starting with the fact that last night Big Brother UK declared an openly gay teen the winner of its final season. The teen, who actually came out while on the show, dedicated his win to the LGBTQ community. And People magazine has announced the 2018 Sexiest Man Alive. Who is it? And do you agree?
In other headlines, Harvard scientists think they may have found (finally!) proof of alien life, the theme for Sydney Mardi Gras 2019 has been announced, and an Aussie TV news show has delved into the mysterious death of a gay man who had fully immersed himself in the fetish community … with dangerous consequences.
From a gay win on Big Brother UK to a brand-new Sexiest Man Alive, here are the day’s queerest headlines:
1. Gay 19-Year-Old Wins Big Brother UK, Dedicates Win to Queer Community (TV)
Here's the moment @EmmaWillis announced the FINAL Big Brother champion! 🎉 #BBUK #BBUKFinal pic.twitter.com/VJdwSOdaaQ
— Big Brother UK (@bbuk) November 5, 2018
Last night was the big finale of the final season of Big Brother UK, as the BBC’s Channel 5 has announced it will not be producing any future seasons of the reality competition series. The show’s winner, Cameron Cole, is a 19-year-old vlogger who actually came out as gay man on the show one month prior. “I didn’t plan to do it [come out on national television], but it’s an incredible feeling to know that I helped people out,” Cole told Digital Spy following his win. “It’s made everything worth it. I hope that it has inspired people as much as possible. Lots of people come out every day and they don’t do it on national television.”
2. Wait, Scientists Think They May Have Found an Alien Spacecraft? For Real? (News)
Back in October 2017, astronomers discovered an object hurtling through the dark expanses of space at nearly 200,000 miles per hour. Was it an alien spacecraft sent to investigate us Earthlings? Well, maybe, say scientists at Harvard University. A scientific paper published by the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics has called the object ‘Oumuamua (Hawaiian for “a messenger that reaches out from the distant past”) and say it might have an “artificial origin.” And, yeah, those same scientists admit it’s an “exotic scenario,” but still, you guys ….
3. British Actor Idris Elba Has Been Named People‘s New Sexiest Man Alive (Celebrities)
Each year the American entertainment mag People crowns one man the “Sexiest Man Alive,” and this year the honor goes to 46-year-old British actor Idris Elba, whose response was something along the lines of “Come on, no way. Really?” and who called it “an ego boost for sure.” In addition to his acting work (The Wire, Luther, Marvel‘s Thor franchise) he’s a DJ, studies kickboxing in Thailand and has his own clothing line, Shoot The Rehearsal. For years he’s been rumored to take over the mantle of James Bond, though nothing has been confirmed as of yet.
4. The Theme for Sydney Mardi Gras 2019 Has Been Announced (Travel)
The 41st annual Sydney Mardi Gras Festival will take place Feb. 15–March 3, 2019, and in a just-released video (above) the theme for the big celebration, “Fearless,” was announced. The three-minute video, which includes footage of some of the very first marches in Sydney and speaks to a few queer activists, also points out the fact that more than 70 countries in the world continue to criminalize homosexuality.
5. When a Fetish Goes Too Far: Understanding the Death of Jack Chapman (News)
When Jack Chapman (better known as “Pup Tank” among gay fetish circles) passed away on Oct. 15, his lover Dylan Hafertepen (himself popular for a website and mailing list called “Noodles and Beef” in which he shared photos and stories of his day-to-day life) claimed it was due to an undiagnosed lung condition. But the truth surrounding Chapman’s passing have proven to be much shadier. The above news segment, which ran in Chapman’s homeland of Australia, digs into the peculiar circumstances surrounding Chapman’s death, which can’t be separated from his dedication to an extreme dom/sub lifestyle and erotic body modification.
