Billy Masters: Karamo & Jussie, Geffen's Yacht Reunion, Patti LuPone vs. Turkey, Broadway Casting

Entertainment gossip: Karamo Brown, Jussie Smollett, David Geffen, Patti LuPone's cruise controversy, and Broadway news

"Marry her, Charley. Just because she's a thief and a hitter doesn't mean she's not a good woman in all the other departments.”

- Anjelica Huston to Jack Nicholson in "Prizzi's Honor".

 
Last week, Karamo Brown (from "Queer Eye") revealed that he is "dating a celebrity". The next day, photos were published of Karamo out with none other than Jussie Smollett (from late-night strolls on the streets of Chicago). Still, if I were sleeping with everyone I was photographed with, I'd be awfully busy...and sore. The photos were snapped at various times during a day in LA—hiking, running errands, having lunch. Nothing unusual about that. What about photos of an LAX liplock? And there's your smoking gun. Adding fuel to the fire, Smollett performed at Harlem Pride's "17 Shades of Pride" event, and a special someone was there to cheer him on. It should be noted that Jussie and Karamo have known each other for years. In fact, Smollett called Karamo "my dear friend, my brother, my comrade" when he presented him with the HRC Visibility Awards in 2018 (a video which you can see on BillyMasters.com). Normally, I'd think it's unlikely that two gay men who have been platonic friends for years suddenly started dating—unless they were both always hot for each other and unavailable. Of course, I never was interested in someone who had been with two Nigerian bodybuilders! On a podcast, Karamo said that he was "one hundred percent sure" that this beau is "the one". "I've met my equal...That's the reason why we're taking it slow and—not taking it slow, we are deep in love—but why we are not public yet, because we don't want comments. We are protecting the love we have, because I do believe this is going to be my husband. I believe this is going to be my forever person. I feel it every day." He added, "It's not like we're hiding. We go out, we do whatever. We're together, we hold hands everywhere." Bing, bing, bing!
 
In even more shocking news, David Geffen has been spotted with his ex, David Armstrong/Donovan Michaels. Not only were they spotted together, but they were on Geffen's yacht in Mallorca, Spain. You'll recall that their divorce (finalized in April) was quite contentious. Rumor has it that Geffen had to pay out roughly $15 to $30 million. Maybe he negotiated something in return for those payments—you know, like that prenup Ari made with Jackie. A sort of "pay-for-play" situation. I've always suspected Geffen didn't necessarily want a hubby, but wanted something that the husband could, shall we say, "provide". Photos will surely turn up on our website.
 
Since I'm weighing in on other people's lives, I suppose it's time for me to make a confession. As you know, I'm always on the road, or at my sumptuous beach house in Fort Lauderdale, or with Big Mama Masters in Boston. You know where I rarely am? At my West Hollywood abode. So when my good friend Armie Hammer became homeless, I had to help. "Armie," I said months ago, "Why don't you crash on my sofa?" He wondered why he couldn't sleep in my bed since it was empty, but there are limits to my friendship. I thought this was just a private arrangement, but last week he spilled the beans. According to "The Hollywood Reporter", "For a stretch, he was couch surfing, staying in friends' places while they traveled." You're welcome.
 
Every time Colton Underwood makes a revelation, I like him just a little bit less. He all but admits how calculated his "coming out process" was (a process that conveniently happened after cashing checks from three seasons wooing women on various "Bachelor" programs). "To protect myself, I would only hook up with married straight men." OK, let me stop right there—no "married straight men" are hooking up with guys. A friend of mine says he only hooks up with straight guys that want blow jobs. If they want blow jobs from other guys, they may not be gay, but they're certainly not straight. Colton clarifies: "When I was in the closet, the only time I would ever hook up with men was if they were married because they have more to lose than I did." What he's actually saying is he only hooked up with other closeted (or questioning) men. He adds, "So, if they tried to, you know, ruin my career and my life for football, they had a whole family that they'd be risking as well. It's a messed-up thing to think through." Yes, it's messed up. Colton was willing to ruin someone else's life if push came to shove. He admits, "It was just like a way to protect myself. I mean, looking back on it now, I wish I would have been a little bit more vulnerable about just talking about my struggle with my sexuality. I think there could have been something just interesting in that conversation." It certainly would have been a helluva lot more interesting than this one!
 
We keep hearing about the "Heated Rivalry" cast members picking their follow-up projects with great care. A horror film, a comedy, a short for a cellular company, etc. But very little has been said about Francois Arnaud—at least when it comes to his professional life. And then, the blockbuster announcement—he'll be one of the leads in the Broadway revival of Richard Greenberg's play "Three Days of Rain". And he'll be in good company. He'll be joined by Yvonne Strahovski (from "The Handmaid's Tale") and David Corenswet—you know, from "Superman". By the way, Arnaud and Corenswet will both be making their Broadway debuts with this production. The play has a pretty stellar lineage on the Great White Way. The original 1997 cast included Patricia Clarkson, John Slattery and Bradley Whitford. And the 2006 revival starred Julia Roberts, Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper. So, this revival (opening in February) is sizing up to be quite an event.
 
The aforementioned Bradley Whitford is also returning to the stage next year...in a revival of Aaron Sorkin's "A Few Good Men". Before it was a blockbuster film, it was a play on Broadway in 1989. Fun Fact—Whitford, who has a long history with Sorkin, made his Broadway debut in the original production as an understudy and eventually played the lead role. In the upcoming revival, he'll be assuming the role immortalized on film by Jack Nicholson. Performances begin on October 8th.
 
We interrupt this column to bring you a message from Miss Patti LuPone: "I am shocked. The Atlantis cruise I am performing on next week has been banned from entering Turkey. A ship—a magnificent ship—full of well-heeled gay men. And me. Denied entry to Turkey simply because of who is on board. I am furious, but I am sailing, as the ship will make other ports of call. I am ready to perform for all the wonderful men on this Atlantis cruise, who deserve so much better than this." Why, I am shocked! Shocked that Patti didn't use more colorful language, more capital letters, and more exclamation points!
 
Let me expound on LuPone's statement, not that she needs any help from moi. Atlantis' Mediterranean cruise departed Athens on July 5th and will end up in Venice—or will it? It had scheduled ports in the Turkish town of Kusadasi and Istanbul. Hours before the ship left Athens, Turkish officials quashed the event, claiming the charter is filled with people "known for behaviors incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values". The authorities also shut down a gay nightclub in Istanbul (not Constantinople) that was promoting the cruise. For their part, Atlantis scrambled and added stops in Cairo and Crete—which sounds more fun to me anyway. It's worth noting that the vessel for this venture is owned by Virgin Voyages and is called the Scarlet Lady.
 
If the Turks have a problem with a boatload of gay men, I wonder what they'd think of our "Ask Billy" question. Wilt in Arizona writes, "Have you seen the photos of Elliot Page? Man, he's ripped!!"
 
I can think of nothing that would make Page any happier than that comment—including the words "man" and "ripped". Of course I saw the photos. They were part of a post from Page praising coach Nolan Hansen—who, FYI, founded the Trans Boxing Club (I just got an image of Hillary Swank). Of Hansen, Page says, "He's a brilliant teacher, not just in the way he breaks down complex movements, but also in his strategic understanding of boxing and his thoughtful approach to the psychological side of the sport." I dunno about all that, but the abs speak for themselves, on BillyMasters.com.
 
When Elliot is turning my head, it's time to end yet another column. And just like that...I'm back in the States! Well, I will be by the time you read this. It's been a long trip and I'm ready to wrap up this long column. But let me first remind you to peruse BillyMasters.com—the site that clearly caters to everyone. No matter where you are, no matter how far, I'm here for you. Send your questions in to [email protected] and I promise to get back to you before Patti learns the lyrics to "Anything Goes"...in Turkish. Until next time, remember, one man's filth is another man's bible.