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10.01.2023 – 10.31.2023 September 2025
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LOS ANGELES 1
THE LOS ANGELES LGBT NEWSPAPER
Crumbl Sawyer Hemsley BurbankCo-Founder Mayor Faces Backlash Over Comes Playful Out as Cites Gay After Intense Online Speculation Video, Critics Anti-LGBTQ+ Bias Cookie Brand’s CoMayor Konstantine Founder Broke His AnthonyMonday DefendsAfter Silence ActionsofAmid Weeks Growing Controversy Over Online Chatter Video Sawyer Hemsley, co-founder and chief
branding officer of Crumbl Cookies, announced MondayQuintana that he is gay, By Dolores addressing a wave of speculation about his BurbanklifeMayor Konstantine is personal that had intensifiedAnthony on social facing criticism media in recentfrom days.conservatives following theAcirculation video showing confirmed him being companyof aspokesperson spanked by statement a drag queen duringSalt an Lake event Hemsley’s to The on the weekend Tribune but saidofheSeptember declined 10. to Anthony provide has responded that some of hisdid critics are additional comment. Hemsley not say motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias and that the whether a specific event prompted his incident was decision to harmless. speak out. The digital outlet In the video, posted that by thediscussion Wisenuts podcast, The Cut reported about Mayor Anthony is seen being spanked by his sexuality escalated last week after a drag artist, backed by the Village People’s “Macho Man.” Anthony described the events as “shenanigans” and emphasized that it was
an influencer’s post drew more than 17 million views. all in good fun. He went on to reveal that a Hemsley, who has helped secretly recorded video was build madeCrumbl during into a social media powerhouse withwith morea the event and subsequently shared than 6 million Instagram followers and prominent hate group. over 10 million on TikTok, received an In a post on his Instagram account, Anthony outpouring of support following his post. stated, “For several days, extremist right-wing The Instagram post reads, “Over the past organizations, including Fox News, have little while, there have been people online spread misleading information to fuel fear, trying to define me, twist things, and share discrimination, and hate. I will always be a conversations in ways that feel harmful. proud supporter of the LGBTQ+ community Instead of letting others write my story, I and drag performers.” want to share it in my own words. He added, “On a busy Saturday filled with The truth is, over the past few years, various independent gatherings, I attended I’ve come to understand and accept that the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats’ private I’m gay. It’s taken me a long time to really fundraiser for their organization. Notably, process this part of myself and even longer there were no officially endorsed candidates to feel comfortable enough to say it out or state and federal political figures present. loud. For most of my life, I didn’t have the The event was open to young adults ages 15 clarity to answer the questions or respond and above. However, there were no attendees to the rumors. Coming to terms with it has below 18. Additionally, no children were been overwhelming and, at times, scary present.” — but it has also brought me peace, joy, While not specifying the particular and authenticity that I wouldn’t trade hate for group in question, it is possible that Anthony was referring to the Twitter account, now known as X, called “Libs of TikTok,” which
anything. I grewthe upvideo withand values and beliefs that I reposted garnered over 8 million still deeply love and respect, which made views. this journey more complicated. But In response to the video, the Libs of TikTokI remain for my foundation, even account grateful claimed that children were present as workedMayor to embrace thisdisputed truth about at I’ve the event. Anthony this myself. assertion, stating that “actually, there weren’t I know some people may21+ have questions any children at this private event. But of or evenlying judgments, butbrand my for hope is that course, is totally on you.” kindness, and lovepointed will lead the While theempathy, account correctly out that way. I’ve learned so much through this individuals aged 15 and older were permitted to attend,—theabout event’s organizer, the Santa process strength, compassion, Clarita Democrats, released a statement and theValley importance of living authentically. clarifying individuals under age of At the that endno of the day, I’mthedeeply 18 were in attendance. thankful: for the opportunities I’ve had, Anthony during forMayor the people whoreiterated support this me, point and for the a City Council meeting chance to live and shareand myexpressed story. It’shisa concern that the video’s circulation had ledI’ll to journey of growth and honesty, and one city officials receiving “some of the most vile never stop being grateful for.” hate speech that I haveinever seen.” Crumbl, founded Utah in 2017, has Anthony encouraged those concerns grown rapidly into a nationalwith brand with about his actions to communicate with him hundreds of locations and a menu anchored directly via email at kanthony@burbankca. by its rotating lineup of oversized cookies.
gov. He stated, “If you want to talk to me about what happened over the weekend, send me an email. Send me an email. I will talk to
you about it. There is no reason to involve all of the other people who were not at a public event, not at a government-sponsored event. It wasn’t even in the city of Burbank.” In a statement released on Tuesday, the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats voiced their support for Mayor Anthony and strongly denounced the sensationalized and inaccurate portrayal of their event for political purposes that promoted fear, homophobia, transphobia, and bigotry. The Democrats reaffirmed their commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and drag performers, refusing to engage with what they referred to as “fake outrage.”
Lil Nas X Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Charges After Alleged City Confrontation Bomb ThreatStudio Temporarily Halts “Lil Nas Rapper Faces Years in Prison After Being Charged With Assaulting Police of World Premiere Officers
Ventura Boulevard. Police said Hill charged at them when they attempted to detain him, injuring at least three officers in the process. He was taken to a hospital out of concern for a possible overdose, Thomson Hall,into where documentary was set then booked jailthe after several hours of to be screened. observation. Lung stated, standard Hill spent three“Our days in custodysecurity before measures placewith duringconditions this time, posting remained $75,000 inbail, and the screening withina slight requiring him tocommenced participate drug delay. To our knowledge, this was general treatment. One of his attorneys,a Christy threat and not directed at the"This film orwas thejust artist.” O'Connor, told the court, an aberrant episode in an otherwise productive life." She added, "There's nothing in the record that drugs were even a part of this.”, as quoted by NBC Los Angeles. The charges are more severe than initial reports, suggesting only misdemeanor allegations. If convicted on all counts, Hill faces up to five years in state prison. The case is being prosecuted by the Van Nuys Branch of the District Attorney’s Office following an investigation by the LAPD’s North Hollywood Division.
X: Long Live Montero” Premiere at TIFF Documentary Was Rapper Lil Nas X, whose legal name is Montero Lamar Hill, has been charged Screened After with four felony counts after allegedly assaulting Los Angeles police officers who 20-Minute Delay responded to a disturbance in Studio City
last week, according to a press release from the Los Angeles District Attorney. By Dolores Quintana Hill, 26, of Van Nuys, faces three counts premiere “Lil on Nasa X: Longofficer Live ofThe battery with of injury police Montero” at the of Toronto International Film and one count resisting an executive Festival faced anot momentary setbackhis on officer. (TIFF) He pleaded guilty during Saturday nightindue a bomb threat. Court. A arraignment VantoNuys Superior Judy Lung,hearing TIFF’s Vice President for of Public preliminary is scheduled Sept. Affairs and Communications, confirmed to 15. CTV Toronto via a around written 5:40 statement TheNews incident occurred a.m. that the festival alerted to an investigation on August 21,was when officers responded to reports of a naked walkingatalong “in the vicinity of the man red carpet” Roy
A spokesperson for the Toronto police informed CTV News Toronto that the threat had been conveyed to the festival’s private security by a passerby. “Out of an abundance of caution, the Toronto police and the private
security swept the scene and cleared it within 20 minutes,” noted Constable Victor Kwong. Toronto police also clarified that the threat had a general nature and did not specifically target any individual or entity.
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