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a30 people & arts
Friday 12 June 2020
'Legendary' heralds loud, proud ball culture

By AMANDA LEE MYERS experiencing the heart of
Associated Press ballroom." She defended
LOS ANGELES (AP) — FX's her and Megan as judges,
fictionalized hit show "Pose" saying the show needed
introduced many to the Hollywood names to get
underground world of ball- the proper attention it de-
room culture, in which his- serves. "You need to make
torically black and Latino sure that you're going to
LGBT youths compete in have eyeballs on a show
elaborate performances and therefore you need
on a runway. people who have big fol-
Now "Legendary" on HBO lowings," she said. "And
Max is serving up real ball- unfortunately, because
room battles to the main- of how our society is set
stream, with competitors up, the people with those
in eight "houses" vying to big followings are often
be declared the best and cis privileged people. So
take home $100,000. Judg- we are just here to try and
ing the competition are re- do our service as good al-
cording artist Megan Thee lies and open the door to
Stallion, actress and activist let everyone else in." The
Jameela Jamil, stylist and show's message of accep-
TV personality Law Roach, tance is so strong, one of
and ballroom legend Leio- This image released by HBO Max shows judges, from left, Law Roach, Megan Thee Stallion, the eight houses compet-
my Maldonado. Jameela Jamil, Leiomy Maldonado and Dominique Jackson from the series "Legendary." ing is comprised entirely
Associated Press
During battles, competitors of cis women. Wesley said
wear elaborate costumes, cepting of my sexuality," orfully as possible, is so em- much attention was on the he was involved in making
makeup and wigs. They Xa'Pariis Ebony says. "When powering." controversy. that decision, which also
vogue, dance like acrobats I did decide to finally come Although widely viewed as "I said to the show, I was has faced criticism among
and spin like ice-skaters. out to her, I was put out. a big step by the ballroom like, 'Do you think it would the ballroom community.
"It's like if ballet and break- Like, I had to sleep in parks community, "Legendary" be better if I leave?'" she "The powerful thing is that
dancing had a baby," said sometimes. But ballroom has been criticized for al- said. "And it was the ball- you get to see a house
Jamil, best known for her just really gave me a fam- lowing Jamil and Megan room community and it that's filled cisgender wom-
role on "The Good Place." ily. It really did teach me to Thee Stallion to be judges, was Dashaun and Leiomy en. You get to see a house
But "Legendary" is not just be comfortable with who I as opposed to others who who got straight on the that's filled with nothing but
about being fierce. It's am." are a part of the commu- phone with me and they gay men. You get to see
about overcoming. The ballroom community nity. were like, 'You're not going a house that's filled with a
In the first episode, one of not only offers a place Jamil in particular was sin- anywhere.' And the con- cisgendered woman, a His-
the competitors opens up where LGBT youth of col- gled out when HBO sent testants like, grabbed one panic man, a black man,
about being ostracized or feel welcome but also out a news release about of the producers and were a drag queen and a trans
from his family when he powerful, Jamil said. the show that incorrectly like, 'Don't let her leave,' woman," Wesley said. "You
came out, a sad truth for "These are people who identified her as the em- and it was because they get to see all genres of ev-
many who turned to the are living a lifestyle that so cee. The competition's em- don't believe in ostracizing erything."
ballroom community for much of our ignorant so- cee is Dashaun Wesley, a people. They believe in in- The message: It doesn't
acceptance. ciety shuns," she said. "The ballroom legend. clusion and not exclusion." matter who you are as long
"Growing up I already fact that they are doing it The backlash grew so much And that, she said, was as you can bring it to the
knew my mother wasn't ac- as boldly, as loudly, as col- that Jamil worried that too her "first big lesson of really runway.q
Chris Paul, JJ Watt to appear in

Amazon’s ‘Regular Heroes’

pearance on the fifth epi- Dr. Nana B. Afoh-Manin in munity efforts in Houston,
sode of "Regular Heroes" on Los Angeles, drive-in the- raising more than $41 mil-
Friday. ater owner Andrew Thom- lion to rebuild the Texas
He has been outspoken on as in Houston and animal Gulf Coast after Hurricane
social issues and vocal dur- rescue worker Jessica Vac- Harvey. Paisley and his
ing the pandemic as the caro in New Orleans. wife opened a free gro-
president of the NBA play- Afoh-Manin is an emer- cery store that has made
This combination photo shows, from left, Houston Texans ers' union president. gency room physician who deliveries to older adults in
defensive end J.J. Watt during a news conference in Houston on Paisley and Watt are ex- co-founded a company Nashville, Tennessee, dur-
Jan. 4, 2020, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul during a pected to take part in that offers free testing and ing the pandemic.
game against the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix on Jan. 31, 2020 and separate episodes the fol- telehealth to underinsured Alicia Keys, Kevin Hart, Nick
Brad Paisley at the 51st annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tenn.
Associated Press lowing two weeks of the people. Vaccaro's shel- Jonas and Kelly Rowland
docuseries. ter has taken in triple the have also appeared on the
By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. pear in an Amazon series The eight-episode series amount of animals since series.
AP Entertainment Writer that highlights everyday premiered on Amazon the pandemic began. Episodes six and seven will
LOS ANGELES (AP) — NFL people who are supporting Prime Video on May 8 with Thomas hosted high school feature heroes including a
star J.J. Watt, NBA player their community during the new episodes available ev- graduations at his drive-in farmer, mechanic, bus driv-
Chris Paul and country coronavirus pandemic. ery Friday through July 3. theater. er, inventor, nurse practitio-
singer Brad Paisley will ap- Paul will make a guest ap- Friday's episode will feature Watt is known for his com- ner and art supplier.q