The Emmy-winning reality host suggested to NPR’s Terry Gross that he leases mineral rights for his Wyoming/South Dakota ranch to fracking companies. RuPaul owns the ranch with his husband, Georges LeBar.
Gross asked if Ru & Georges raise cattle or horses on the ranch. RuPaul suggested, in the contemporary era, ranches have a different function. “Well, a modern ranch,” RuPaul told Gross, “21st-century ranch, is really land management. It is – you lease the mineral rights to oil companies. And you sell water to oil companies. And then you lease the grazing rights to different ranchers. So it’s land management. Yeah.”
NPR listeners didn’t take the news lightly. “‘RuPaul is fracking’ is exactly as impossible for my brain to parse as ‘Elizabeth Warren holocaust tattoo’ and yet both are true and both will be forgotten completely by next Sunday,” said user Six Rats in a Trenchcoat.
“I love how RuPaul admitting to fracking is like, only the eighth craziest thing to happen today,” user Patient Zero OnlyFans tweeted.
after hearing the phrase “rupaul is fracking” and there being even the smallest element of truth to it was the one thing i needed to fully believe we are no longer connected to any tiny of part of reality
“rupaul is fracking” is exactly as impossible for my brain to parse as “elizabeth warren holocaust tattoo” and yet both are true and both will be forgotten completely by next sunday
— six rats in a trenchcoat (@kimchi_baby_) March 16, 2020
Fracking involves extracting hydrocarbons from minerals like shale to create petrochemicals suitable for synthesizing gasoline or other fossil fuel products. The practice has attracted criticism for environmental concerns, including poisoning of groundwater, causing earthquakes, and contributing to climate change.
Johnson + Johnson Says its HIV Drug is Not an Effective Treatment Against COVID-19
Johnson + Johnson responded on Monday to reports that its HIV drug darunavir is an effective treatment against coronavirus.
The company did say it is testing various treatments for COVID-19 using some of its antiviral compounds, including darunavir.
The statement comes amid reports from around the world of limited success with HIV medicines against the virus, specifically two uses of lopinavir/ritonavir in Spain and in India.
Wrote Johnson + Johnson: “Considering the large public health and humanitarian implications, we are committed to global efforts to care for those affected, contain the current outbreak and develop measures to tackle future outbreaks. We support broad access to information, and we strongly believe that the development of evidence-based intervention guidelines for COVID-19 is critical. HIV protease inhibitors are being considered as therapeutic options for COVID-19. We believe this use is based on limited, unpublished virologic and clinical data in the treatment of patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus.”
“Our first commitment is to the HIV patients who rely on darunavir,” they added. ‘”Darunavir (DRV) is a protease inhibitor marketed by Janssen. It is currently only approved for use with a “boosting” agent, and in combination use with other antiretrovirals, for the treatment of HIV-1. Of note, DRV should not be administered without a boosting agent (ritonavir or cobicistat) as previous studies of unboosted DRV resulted in subtherapeutic drug levels and was associated with a higher rate of adverse events.”
J+J added: “Many Janssen compounds, including darunavir, are in the process of being evaluated in-vitro for potential antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. Janssen has also provided DVR-based medicines to support three clinical studies in China. As soon as these data become available, we will update this information.”
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The out-lesbian stand-up comic has spent years as a fixture of comedy on both sides of the Atlantic, appearing on shows like The Daily Show and Last Comic Standing talking about her life as a British born woman of Nigerian descent. Almost two years ago, a chance phone call with Chuck Lorre, creator of hit series like Mike & Molly and Two and a Half Men, landed Yashere the most lucrative opportunity in the history of her career: writing, producing, acting in and creating the first American sitcom about a Nigerian family living in the US, Bob Hearts Abishola. The series airs Monday nights on CBS.
Yashere also just walked in the door of her Toluca Lake home as we greet her on the phone; she’s spent all day on set writing and filming her scenes as Kemi, the best friend of the titular Abishola. She has agreed to chat with Queerty about the show, the upcoming season finale, her work as a stand-up comic, and her own multicultural background.
Bob Hearts Abishola airs Monday nights on CBS Mondays 8:30/7:30c. Catch Gina live at Netflix Is A Joke Fest’s STAND OUT: An LGBTQ+ Celebration show on May 1st at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.
How has your life changed since getting the show? Are you getting more offers?
I’m in one place, in that I’m used to stand up. I’ve been on the road for 25 years traveling doing comedy. That has completely come to a stop since this show has taken over my life. I’m in LA and I bought a house near Warner Bros., and I’m there every day. In preproduction, I’m writing from 10am-5pm every day. Then when we’re into production, I’m there writing every day and also shooting. I’ve got four jobs on this show: co-creator, writer, producer and actor. So it’s non-stop.
When do you sleep?
On Sundays.
[Laughter]
How did you get hooked up with Chuck Lorre?
Literally, it was a call. Chuck had an idea that he wanted to do a show with Billy Gardell [who plays Bob] where he plays a man who falls in love with an African immigrant. So they did some research, came up on Nigeria, and wanted to make her Nigerian. But they knew…they needed to find a comedian, preferably a female Nigerian to help write it. So they did a Google search for Nigerian female comedians, and I was one of the few that came up. They watched a set I did talking about Nigerian culture. And they called me to a meeting.
Wow.
I was originally brought in as a consultant. But as I provided more and more help, Chuck wanted me to stay to co-create the show. It was from a meeting that was supposed to last a day or two, and it turned into me staying for two and a half weeks and writing a pilot. CBS picked it up, and the rest is history. I bought the house and ordered all the furniture online in six days.
Pictured (L-R): Billy Gardell as Bob, Gina Yashere as Kemi, and Folake Olowofoyeku as Abishola. Photo: Michael Yarish CBS 2019 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved
That’s a great Hollywood story. And a crazy one. I gather, in that event, you’re someone who likes a challenge.
I do love a challenge. I moved to America on a whim. Growing up, you guys always had better TV shows.
Well, let me ask you this then. How does the challenge of writing and acting in a show different from stand-up comedy? Which is harder?
For one, a stand-up comedy routine is very solo. It’s me writing by myself for me to perform. So I’ve never been in a writer’s room before. I’ve been offered, but always turned it down. I was a stand-up comic and didn’t want a day job. I didn’t want to write for anybody else.
Sure.
But when this first came up, my temptation was to turn it down. Luckily my brother & my best friend called me and told me what a f*cking idiot I was being.
[Laughter]
So it’s a massive change. At first it was just me, Chuck, Eddie and Al writing the pilot. I was surprised at how quickly I took to it. I’ve been coming up with jokes and writing a long time, so the jokes came easy to me. What I’m learning now is the discipline of writing a script, and that I did not have. I feel like I’m taking a crash course with the best in the business. People would pay millions just to be in the same room with Chuck.
Now having seen the show and your stand up, I was really struck by the parallels and recurring themes. Life as a woman, life as an immigrant, as a person of color, being queer.
Yes.
I was curious to see that Abishola’s main insecurity is living up to her duty as a woman. Is that something you feel personally?
Abisohola’s life and her insecurities and her expectations as a Nigerian woman come from my culture, from my family. So Abishola is kind of based on my mother’s experience: her whole story about ending up in America because her husband couldn’t get work as a civil engineer, and him going back to Africa is basically the story of my parents. My mom was in England. My dad was a lawyer. They studied there. But in England, in the 60s, they didn’t allow black lawyers to practice. So my dad went back to Nigeria to practice law. But my mom said “Our children are British. I want to stay here and give them opportunities.”
Sure.
So all Abishola’s sense of being comes from women in my family of that generation. I’ve kind of broken all of those, but that is from my mum.
So what do the women of your family think about the show and the way it portrays Nigerian women?
They love it. It’s very authentic. When you see Africans on typical TV shows, it’s very generalized. They’re not specific about country, tribe, language. Every country, every tribe has its own traditions. American television has never had the specificity that our show has. So Nigerians are really loving that they can recognize themselves. And Americans, in general, enjoy the show because it’s showing interesting funny people from different backgrounds.
When I talk to LGBTQ comics, I’m always curious: how does performing in front of a predominantly queer audience differ from a straight one in your experience?
Well, ok, so as a comedian I didn’t start talking about my sexuality until much, much later in my career. And I mean the last few years. I made a point of not focusing on that. I’m a woman, and I’m black—I already have those two things against me as it were, in this industry. I didn’t want to add another label to that. So I made a point of writing material that wasn’t about my sexuality so I could talk about different subjects. But as a gay comic in front of a gay audience—it’s like being a black comic in front of a black audience. When you talk about things specific to that audience they respond to that knowledge and shared experience. But I’m always aware of being a gay comic using material written for a gay audience. With any audience, I try to be authentically myself, and I talk about all aspects of my life. But, at the same time, you have to read your audience. That’s part of being an entertainer.
Sure. Now you said you worked in comedy before you wanted to talk about your sexuality in your routine. Were you ever advised against talking about being gay or coming out by your agent? Your management?
Oh, I was advised by many people not to do it. Mainly, other black people who were like black audiences are super homophobic.
Pictured (L-R): Folake Olowofoyeku as Abishola, Gina Yashere as Kemi, and Vernee Watson as Gloria. Photo: Michael Yarish/CBS 2020 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Really?
They said I’d lose my audience. But most of the time, it was me. Coming out—I wasn’t sure what to do at that point. I’m black and I’m female. So I needed to overcome those hurdles in this industry. I didn’t want to get pushed into a smaller box.
That makes sense. I’ve also heard it said from other women in comedy—Kathy Griffin, Aisha Tyler, Margaret Cho—that comedy is very much male-driven, and that female comics are often harassed or just treated badly. Is that true for you?
Oh yes and no. I know a lot of female comics feel like they were pushed into being a certain kind of comic. A lot of female comics when I started felt like they weren’t being appreciated, and were almost apologetic on stage. They were pushed into that style of comedy by audiences and because male comics were not accepting. I’ve never been that kind of personality. I’m very forthright. I didn’t give a f*ck. This is me. This is how I am. My style of comedy is quite in your face and aggressive, and it kind of helps in that audiences are like this is a woman not to be f*cked with. That persona helps me in the business in a way to get work because I wasn’t “that” kind of female comic. I was not apologizing for who I am. I’m not trying to be anything that I’m not.
That’s wonderful.
And male comics were just not accepting of female comics. We’d get the sh*tty gigs. We get booked to be the “woman on the floor.” Most of my career, I’ve usually been the only woman. They usually only book onewoman like we’re a f*cking novelty act. This is the kind of stuff we had to put up with.
That’s amazing to me. The funniest people I know are women.
That’s it.
So do we know about season two yet?
We don’t know about season two yet, but I’m pretty positive. I’m feeling good. I think we’ve made a really good show, and I think people really like it. I’m feeling good about the possibility.
Pictured (L-R): Gina Yashere as Kemi. Photo: Michael Yarish/2019 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
I saw the ratings numbers, and it looks like they’ve actually been going up. That bodes well.
In these times, for a first season show, a show where half the cast is African immigrants, you know what I mean? It’s kind of crazy. But it’s a show about positivity and love and acceptance. I think people need that right now.
So what’s next for you, apart from a potential season two?
Well, I’m actually really enjoying being behind the scenes, writing and producing. I have an idea for a show based on my life, which is where my comedy comes from, about a woman who repairs elevators for a living. That’s what I did before I started comedy. So I have a whole story. I want to produce more shows, but stand-up is my first love. I’m never going to stop doing [comedy] shows. As soon as the show wraps, I’ll be in New York doing the Gotham Comedy Tour. And then I’ll be back on the road.
Bob Hearts Abishola airs Monday nights on CBS Mondays 8:30/7:30c. Catch Gina live at Netflix Is A Joke Fest’s STAND OUT: An LGBTQ+ Celebration show on May 1st at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.
Said Gillum in a statement: “After conversation with my family and deep reflection, I have made the decision to seek help, guidance and enter a rehabilitiation facility at this time. This has been a wake-up call for me. Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse. I witnessed my father suffer from alcoholism and I know the damaging effects it can have when untreated. I also know that alcoholism is often a symptom of deeper struggles. I am committed to doing the personal work to heal fully and show up in the world as a more complete person. I now need to firmly focus on myself and my family. I will be stepping down from all public facing roles for the foreseeable future. I want to apologize to my family, friends and the people of Florida who have supported me and put their faith in me over the years. I ask that you respect my and my family’s privacy during this time. Thank you.”
HRC Endorses Judge Jill Karofsky for Wisconsin Supreme Court
HRC announced its endorsement of Judge Jill Karofsky in her bid for Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Throughout her time in the judiciary, Judge Karofsky has proven herself to be a judge who focuses on fairness and equality. In an interview with WUWM, Karofsky described her judicial philosophy:
“My judicial philosophy is that every single person in my courtroom should be treated with dignity and respect and fairness, that the rule of law has to be followed in every case, whether or not I personally agree with that. Anyone who comes into my courtroom can see that I look at the law, I apply it to the facts of the case and I apply it in a fair and equal way, no matter who is in my courtroom.”
Over the coming weeks, HRC will be devoting significant resources to turning out the 675,000 Equality Voters across the state of Wisconsin to ensure pro-equality leaders like Judge Karofsky are elected to office.
“Wisconsin is at a turning point. Leaders like Judge Karofsky are exactly what Wisconsin needs to create a more just and equal state,” said HRC Wisconsin State Director Wendy Strout. “Her dedication to equality and fairness and commitment to uprooting corruption make her uniquely qualified to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The Human Rights Campaign is proud to endorse Judge Karofsky.”
“This campaign is about upholding the law and defending the rights of all, not just the privileged few,” said Judge Jill Karofsky. “I’m honored to have the endorsement of one the nation’s largest civil rights organizations and appreciate the support of the Human Rights Campaign and its members.”
HRC has prioritized investments and organizing in Wisconsin since 2017, and had 17 staff on the ground in the state in the closing weeks of the 2018 election. In the midterm elections, HRC members and supporters completed over 1,480 volunteer shifts. In the final four days of GOTV alone, our staff and volunteers knocked on over 11,300 doors. Members and supporters also sent over 52,000 text messages to voters in the final weeks with voting resources. Since launching, we’ve helped over 1,500 Wisconsinites register to vote by mail, online, and at in-person events. HRC hosted 22 Equality Action Academy trainings to give HRC members and supporters the tools they need to take action locally in legislative advocacy and in support of pro-equality candidates.
In the 2018 midterms, HRC helped register more than 32,000 voters and recruited more than 4,200 volunteers, who worked over 8,500 shifts and clocked more than 30,000 volunteer hours. In the critical final four days of the campaign, HRC staff and volunteers in get-out-the-vote efforts alone knocked on more than 80,000 doors, and held 36,400 conversations with voters at their doors and by phone on behalf of our endorsed candidates. HRC’s unprecedented grassroots mobilization represented an investment of approximately $26 million to recruit volunteers, mobilize constituents, register voters and grow the organization’s grassroots army in an all-out effort to pull the emergency brake on the hateful anti-LGBTQ agenda of the Trump-Pence administration and elect a Congress that would hold them accountable.
Paid for by Human Rights Campaign PAC (www.hrc.org) and authorized by JILL FOR JUSTICE
