Weeks after catching backlash for his comments about gender affirmation surgery, Paul Stanley is backing Pride month. 

"I think everybody has a right to be who they are, and life's too short to be anyone else," he told a TMZ camera crew. "Everyone should celebrate who they are. Be proud of who you are as long as its something worth being proud of."

When asked if being transgender is something to be proud of, he replied, "What's the criteria for being proud is being a good person, not transgender or any other gender."

The supportive comments might be surprising, as they come a month after he said teaching children about gender affirmation surgery and gender identity is a slippery slope.

"There is a BIG difference between teaching acceptance and normalizing and even encouraging participation in a lifestyle that confuses young children into questioning their sexual identification as though some sort of game and then parents in some cases allow it," he wrote on Instagram on April 30. "There ARE individuals who as adults may decide reassignment is their needed choice but turning this into a game or parents normalizing it as some sort of natural alternative or believing that because a little boy likes to play dress up in his sister's clothes or a girl in her brother's, we should lead them steps further down a path that's far from the innocence of what they are doing." 

Is unclear why the KISS co-founder and guitarist sounded off on the matter at the time. 

"With many children who have no real sense of sexuality or sexual experiences caught up in the 'fun' of using pronouns and saying what they identify as, some adults mistakenly confuse teaching acceptance with normalizing and encouraging a situation that has been a struggle for those truly affected and have turned it into a sad and dangerous fad," he continued.

A few days later, Paul backpedaled a bit in a broader statement. 

"While my thoughts were clear, my words clearly were not," he tweeted. "I support those struggling with their sexual identity while enduring constant hostility and those whose path leads them to reassignment surgery. It's hard to fathom the kind of conviction that one must feel to take those steps."

He continued, "A paragraph or two will remain far too short to fully convey my thoughts or point of view, so I will leave that for another time and place."

"Top Chef" is about to have a very different flavor.

On Friday, June 2, Padma Lakshmi announced that she is leaving the popular Bravo show after 17 years and 19 seasons.

"After much soul searching, I have made the difficult decision to leave Top Chef," the host and judge wrote on Instagram. "Having completed a glorious 20th season as host and executive producer, I am extremely proud to have been part of building such a successful show and the impact it has had in the worlds of television and food."

Padma has been a mainstay on the show since its second season.

"After 17 years, many of the cast and crew are like family to me and I will miss working alongside them dearly. I feel it's time to move on and make space for 'Taste the Nation,' my books and other creative pursuits," she continued.

Hulu's "Taste the Nation" is in its second season.

Padma concluded by thanking supporters of the show. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Padma Lakshmi (@padmalakshmi)

Following the annoucement, a NBCUniversal spokesperson told People magazine, "Padma Lakshmi leaves behind an incredible legacy on Bravo's 'Top Chef.' Her impact on the Emmy, James Beard and Critics' Choice Award-winning series is undeniable. We are grateful to Padma for being a consummate host, judge and executive producer, and for bringing her ingenuity and exceptional palate to each episode where she ate every bite of food on the series for over 17 years and 19 seasons. She will always be part of the 'Top Chef' and the NBCUniversal family and has a seat at the judges' table anytime."  

Many of Padma's celebrity pals weighed in on her shocking news.

"End of an era and an incredible run. You were such an amazing partner and a BRILLIANT host," Andy Cohen commented. "I have such great memories of our TC days."

Buddha Lo, who won season 19 of "Top Chef," wrote, "I feel honored to be a part of your magical journey @padmalakshmi."

Padma's announcement comes just days before the finale of "Top Chef: World All-Stars" is set to air.

The body of Jefferson Machado, a South American soap star who has been missing for four months, was found encased in cement, stuffed in a trunk and buried in the ground, according to a media reports. 

Brazilian authorities confirmed that Jeff's remains were found deeply buried in the backyard of a home in Campo Grande, Brazil. The actor's family also confirmed the news on Facebook. 

Jeff, who starred on the Brazilian religious telenovela "Reis," was first reported missing in late January after his eight dogs were found alone and abandoned — something friends said Jeff would have never intentionally done. Prior to the grisly discovery, Jeff had not been seen or heard from since Jan. 27, 2023. 

After his remains were found, an attorney for Jeff's family released a statement indicating that the actor was strangled. The death, the lawyer admitted, was "brutal."

"It is with regret that I share the sad news of the passing of actor Jeff Machado, whose body was found with strangulation signs. This discovery confronts us with the cruelty present in our society, motivating us to seek truth and justice in the face of such impactful cases," Jairo Magalhães Pereira said. "Preliminary information indicates that the actor's body was found in a trunk, buried in a hole of considerable depth. This situation deeply saddens us and indignant in the face of the suffering faced by Jeff."

The home where Jeff's body was found belonged to his friend. That unidentified friend is now a person of interest in the crime. 

"My commitment as a lawyer is to seek tirelessly for truth and justice. It is my responsibility to ensure that everyone involved in this brutal crime is held accountable and punished, and that Jeff's family finds the support they need to get through this very painful time," the attorney said. 

Jairo told Record TV Rio in Rio De Janeiro that Jeff's neck had a "line" in it and he was identified using fingerprints. 

"He had his arms tied behind his head and buried in a trunk that is very similar to the ones in his own house," he said.

During the heart of Todd Chrisley's fraud trial last year, a former male business partner claimed under oath to have had a secret affair with the reality TV star. Now, Todd and his wife, Julie Chrisley, are calling the man, Mark Braddock, a "liar."

In Todd and Julie Chrisley's 124-page appeal, they say Mark fabricated "everything" to cover up crimes. However, DailyMail.com reports the paperwork makes no mention of the alleged relationship Todd and Mark had in 2005.

"Braddock lied about everything [so] it was not necessary," the Chrisley lawyer told the U.K.-based outlet. 

In the summer of 2022, the "Chrisley Knows Best" parents were found guilty of bank fraud and tax evasion. A few months later, Todd was sentenced to 12 years in prison while his wife was sentenced to seven years in prison for the same crimes; both also got another 16 months of probation and were ordered to pay more than $17 million in restitution.

In their appeal, the Chrisleys claim their fourth amendment rights were violated and insist that there was "insufficient evidence of the bank fraud counts" and "procedural errors." They also claim the prosecution "relied exclusively on the testimony of Mark Braddock" — which they say left a lot to be desired. 

"Braddock's testimony about Julie was sparse. He testified only that he had discussed with her whether certain documents looked real or not and the need to keep projecting a positive financial picture so Todd could keep getting loans," the Chrisleys allege. 

Mark and Todd had a falling out a decade ago, which is when Mark — whom the media has dubbed a "scorned gay lover" — blew the whistle on the reality TV duo. Prior to that, Mark and Todd were allegedly engaged in a consensual affair. While in court, Mark even claimed someone knew about the relationship, noting that he and Todd payed a blackmailer $38,000 to stay quiet.

Todd later addressed the claims on his "Chrisley Confessions" podcast. 

"What's insulted me the most is that, out of all these 54 years, for me to finally be accused of being with a man, it would be someone who looked like Mark Braddock," Todd said. "That is the one thing that is the most insulting. To say that I couldn't pull something better than that… There's better to be had by Todd Chrisley than that."

Todd called Mark a "toad" and "someone that looks like a thumb."

The FBI — the country's top law enforcement department — has been contacted in the wake of the "Vanderpump Rules" cheating scandal after death threats were made against Raquel Leviss. 

In the months since the former beauty queen's affair with Tom Sandoval came to light, Raquel and her family have been on the receiving end of "violent and graphic" threats online and over the phone, TMZ reported, citing Raquel's rep.

Although Raquel understands that people are upset about the Scandoval, as it's become known, she rightly feels that death threats are taking things too far. 

The FBI has been coy about its involvement in the case.

"FBI neither confirms nor denies investigations. Obviously, we review all allegations reported to us and encourage anyone who believes their life is in imminent danger to call 911," an agency spokesman said in a statement.

The scandal dominated headlines when it first emerged, but the pot was stirred again when the first part of the season 10 reunion special aired on Bravo on May 24. Raquel appeared on the reunion show —which was taped in late March — but she checked into a mental health treatment facility afterward. She hasn't been seen in public since, but Ariana Madix — the woman Tom cheated on — told Andy Cohen that Raquel has been sending Tom letters from the facility.

Despite the bad blood between Tom and Ariana, the former couple has continued to live in their shared home in Los Angeles, though they sleep in separate bedrooms and only communicate via an intermediary. Earlier in the week, photos appeared to show Ariana moving out and filling up a U-Haul truck, but it was later revealed that the images were staged to promote her new partnership with a financial company. 

"I'm moving up, not out. Well, not yet at least. It's time to get my financial house in order. I will have more to share with you very very soon," she said.

Ariana has publicly said she wants to sell the house and completely cut Tom out of her life. 

Lizzo is strongly considering putting music and touring in her rearview mirror after incessant online fat-shaming. 

The Grammy winner was livid after reading a social media comment from one follower this week. "How is Lizzo still THIS fat when she's constantly moving this much on stage?! I wonder what she must be eating," the cruel message said.

In responding to the message, the "Truth Hurts" singer wrote, "JUST logged on and the app and this is the type of s*** I see about me on a daily basis. It's really starting to make me hate the world." 

She added, "Then someone in the comments said I eat 'lots of fast food.' I LITERALLY STOPPED EATING FAST FOOD YEARS AGO… I'm tired of explaining myself all the time and I just wanna get on this app w/out seeing my name in some bull****."

Not mincing words, Lizzo admitted to getting "heated" while saying her critics know "nothing" about her.

Lizzo continued to defend her body, claiming she eats clean and works out. She also stressed that she's trying to live healthy and not "BE smaller." The "Juice" songstress then spoke of her "hatred" toward Twitter.

"The Love definitely do not outweigh the Hate on social media… all because I'm fat???? This is CRAZY," she said. "Y'all don't know how close I be to giving up on everyone and quitting and enjoying my money and my man on a F****** FARM…"

"I hate it here," she said of Twitter.

A "heated" Lizzo proclaimed that she "never" searches for her name, but her timeline is still littered with people commenting on her physical appearance. 

"I swear I just wanna look at dance videos and science news and this s*** comes in every day…," she said. 

Lizzo also took her feelings to Instagram while attaching a video from a recent concert where she hits at trolls. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lizzo (@lizzobeeating)

"I WILL NEVER SHUT UP ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT YALL MAKE IT FOR FAT PEOPLE TO SIMPLY EXIST. MINDING YOUR BUSINESS IS *FREE*," she wrote alongside the video. "IF THE INTERNET WAS LIMITED AND ONE COMMENT TOOK 24HRS TO POST I WONDER WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA WOULD BE LIKE."

In the concert video, Lizzo held up a sign that was given to her by a fan. It read: "I'm sorry people on Twitter suck. You are beautiful and special."

Motherhood is not supposed to be amusing like this.

Stassi Schroeder claims she was kicked off an amusement park ride at Universal Studios this week because she's expecting a child. 

The "Vanderpump Rules" alum expressed her frustration on her Instagram Story on Wednesday, May 31, telling followers that she was ready to enjoy the Secret Life of Pets ride before things went sideways. 

"Don't worry about it, don't worry about it," she vented while fighting off emotions. In a caption, she fumed, "They just had to stop the Secret Life of Pets ride to kick me off because I'm pregnant. I'm not embarrassed or anything. Also it goes like negative two miles an hour like."

Universal Studios in Universal City, Calif., does have restrictions for women expecting — the theme park's website says expectant women are prohibited from enjoying 10 attractions, including the Secret Life of Pets ride. Page Six pointed out that Stassi was allowed to partake in the WaterWorld stunt show and several other park attractions.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Stassi Schroeder Clark (@stassischroeder)

This past spring, Stassi and husband Beau Clark announced on Instagram that they were expecting a second child.

"Secrets stress me out," she wrote on social media whole debuting her tiny-at-the-time baby bump. "Baby #2, I love you so much already."

In April, the couple announced that they would be welcoming a boy into their fold. 

"I knew the whole entire time that we were having a boy," she said on her  "The Good The Bad The Baby" podcast in March. "I kept saying it. I felt it. It was a vibe. I don't know how to f****** explain it."

Stassi and Beau share 2-year-old daughter Hartford, who the former reality TV star recently called the "funniest, brightest, spunkiest, friendliest, sassiest, most confident, ketchup-loving girl out there."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Stassi Schroeder Clark (@stassischroeder)

"I love being a girl mom," Stassi previously said before knowing the sex of her second child. "I love the idea of being surrounded by feminine energy. Two little girls. How f****** cool is that?"

Now, she and her husband of nearly three years are excited to discover "what it's like to have a son."

Paul Reubens is suing a man who he claims stole a collection of props from "Pee-wee's Playhouse."

The man, however, claims Paul doesn't own the items, which include, among other things, the Dog Chair, the Floory puppets, Mr. Window and several cue cards — all items that fans of the show would easily recognize. 

The actor, who famously played Pee-wee Herman in movies and on TV for decades, claims he loaned items from "Pee-wee's Playhouse" to James Comisar and his memorabilia company, The Comisar Collection. The idea, Paul says in the lawsuit, was to display the items at the "Museum of Television." In addition, Paul alleged that he and James agreed the "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" star would get the items back upon request. 

Paul soon discovered there was no museum and alleged that James has been keeping the items for his private collection, TMZ reported. Then, after Paul demanded the items be returned, he maintains that James gave him the cold shoulder and said the iconic props were "gifted" to him. James even sold some items at auction and kept the money, Paul alleged in the lawsuit. 

The actor is asking the court to force a return of the Pee-wee property. If the already-purchased items cannot be retrieved, he's willing to take $1 million, he says.

Following the lawsuit, James issued a statement and countered Paul's allegations. 

"I am sad to learn that Mr. Reubens has resorted to the threat of a lawsuit to improperly seek the return of items that he simply does not own. In addition to those items personally given to me by Mr. Reubens in lieu of sending them to the landfill, without conditions or promises, Mr. Reubens seeks the return of material that was the property of film studios, production companies, and individual creators — none of which he is entitled to."

He continued, "Over the ensuing three decades, I have cared for, conserved, and preserved these items at my considerable expense — and with Mr. Reubens' complete and continual knowledge of their whereabouts. Beyond his baseless accusations, Mr. Reubens has simply not shown that any of these items are his property."

Paul is asking for an injunction to stop the sale of whatever props from the show are left. 

Robert Englund is just not ready for prime time again. 

The actor will forever be tied to the Freddy Krueger character he played in eight "Nightmare on Elm Street" films, but he doesn't foresee himself scaring the world again. 

"I'm too old and thick to play Freddy now," he told Variety to promote the "Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story" documentary. "I just can't do fight scenes for more than one take anymore, I've got a bad neck and bad back and arthritis in my right wrist. So I have to hang it up."

Robert, however, would "love" a cameo should Freddy get remade. And, he has an idea about how to resurrect the "Nightmare on Elm Street" films in modern times.

"You'd have to deal with technology and culture," he says. "For instance, if one of the girls was an influencer, it would be interesting for Freddy to somehow haunt her subconscious and manifest himself, perhaps exploit everybody that followed her."

While the Freddy Krueger character is known (and feared,) Robert isn't letting his famed character's notoriety go to his head.

"I know who icons are," he said. "I'm not an icon. Maybe Freddy Krueger is, but I'm not. I'm just a character actor, a utility actor who's been very lucky."

Back when Robert played the terrifying child killer from 1984 to 2003, the horror genre wasn't as respected as it is today.

"I felt there was a cultural shift that people recognized," he says. "Horror is the punk rock of cinema in its own way. There was a recognition of pulp as a great ingredient in our cultural world. There's room for pulp and melodrama, and the door opened wider for horror."