A man who was being honored at an award show caused controversy by yelling "n*****" while two black actors were on stage.

A movie about a man with Tourette's syndrome won multiple awards over the weekend at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards, Britain's Oscars equivalent.

'Tourette's makes you say that?'

John Davidson, the inspiration for the film, was in the audience to see "I Swear" take home three trophies, but the event was not without controversy related to his affliction.

Jarring outburst

As actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting the award for best visual effects — the first award of the night — Davidson was heard yelling the N-word, causing an abrupt pause in the show until Lindo decided to carry on with the presentation.

According to the Mirror, Davidson was also heard shouting phrases like "shut the f**k up" and "boring" during the award show, and even said "f**k you" during the presentation for the best children's and family film.

However, several Hollywood personalities took issue with Davidson's racial slur, with one even saying it was not an accident.

'Infuriating' reaction

After writer Jemele Hill asked if "Black people are just supposed to be ok with being disrespected and dehumanized so that other people don't feel bad," actor Wendell Pierce ("The Wire") added that he felt the reason behind the cursing did not matter.

"It's infuriating that the first reaction wasn't complete and full throatted [sic] apologies to Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan," he wrote on X. "The insult to them takes priority. It doesn't matter the reasoning for the racist slur."

Actor and singer Jamie Foxx took his statements one step further and claimed Davidson meant what he said.

"Nah he meant that s**t," Foxx wrote in response to the video on Instagram, the Guardian reported.

Foxx made additional comments, including, "Out of all the words, you could've said Tourette's makes you say that?" Foxx added, followed by, "Unacceptable."

Royal ruckus

Davidson has been a well-known activist for his syndrome in the U.K. for decades since he appeared in a BBC documentary in 1989 called "John's Not Mad."

He has previously admitted that he yelled, "F**k the Queen," when he met the late monarch.

According to advocacy group Tourette Association of America, the phenomenon is known as coprolalia and affects a small percentage of those with Tourette's.

The inability to control "obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks" comes from the "overwhelming urge" to twitch, shout, or swear.

"The particular manifestation of such language may have to do with the individual's stronger emotional content in certain parts of the brain" but is "not indicative of their personal convictions (such as in the context of racial slurs)."

The BBC apologized for the remarks heard on air, with a spokesperson saying, "Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards 2026. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette's syndrome, and was not intentional. We apologise for any offence caused by the language heard."

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Brave Hollywood stars hit Sundance red carpet in defiance of ICE 'gestapo' terror

A Hollywood star's job is never easy. And it's especially hard in today's political climate, when "gestapo"-like law enforcement arrests people whose only crime is being in our country illegally.

Such is the grim report from this year's Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

'An illegal army is being mounted against US citizens.'

'What are we gonna do?'

Take actor Ed Norton. What was supposed to be a lighthearted chat about his new polyamory sex comedy, "The Invite," with co-stars Seth Rogen and Olivia Wilde soon turned decidedly dark as the specter of Trump's immigration policy loomed.

"These days it's, like, 'What are we gonna do about masked gestapo shooting American citizens?'" Norton said.

"Have you found an answer?" actor Seth Rogen laughed.

"We are sitting here talking about movies while an illegal army is being mounted against U.S. citizens," Norton responded.

"Yep," Wilde agreed.

ICE to meet you

The harrowing discussion petered out after about 30 seconds, with the celebrities gamely returning to the discussion of their craft.

However, Wilde's "ICE OUT" lapel button, paired with a laid-back prep ensemble of striped button-down, gray sweatshirt and white barrel-cut jeans — and finished off with a baggy denim jacket in a playful nod to the "Canadian tuxedo" — remained a haunting reminder of what was at stake.

The previous day, Wilde sported the same button on her very on-trend red-carpet ensemble of black "naked dress" — its sheer lace bodice featuring a sweetheart neckline, visible bra cups, and thin straps. The button was pinned high on the bodice, ensuring it remained visible above the neckline.

Actress 'horrified'

Wilde, whose floor-length dress flared slightly before giving way to a thigh-high slit trimmed in matching lace, elaborated on her message to the Associated Press.

"I'm horrified by this string of murders that we are somehow legitimizing and normalizing," Wilde said. "And I think Americans are all horrified. I think it's insane and hideous."

"It's really difficult to be here and to be celebrating something so joyous and beautiful and positive when we know what's happening on the streets," she added.

"Americans are out on the streets marching and demanding justice, and we're there with them. And if we can do anything with our platforms, you know, we can speak out and demand that ICE get out," she said, echoing the two-word phrase emblazoned on her button.

Boots on the ground

Elsewhere at the festival, Natalie Portman turned heads with her Luna black zip boots from Moon Boot ($250), the perfect complement to her cozy sweater-and-jeans look. But as with Wilde, all eyes were on her "ICE OUT" button.

The "Star Wars" star minced no words when criticizing the Trump administration's policies, suggesting that it was the "worst" approach to the problem of illegal immigration, instead of the "best."

"What they're doing is really the worst of the worst of humanity," she told Deadline. "And then we have the best of humanity for the way people are showing up for each other."

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FREE WILLY: Miffed Maher blames Hollywood speech police for awards snubs

Bill Maher's first-ever Golden Globes nomination didn't exactly leave him giddy with excitement.

Days before losing to fellow Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television nominee Ricky Gervais, the caustic comic seemed resigned to defeat.

'I speak freely, and this woke town f**king hates that.'

Speech impediment

In a conversation with his "Club Random" podcast guest Joel Edgerton, Maher said he knows exactly why he's always ignored when Hollywood hands out the hardware.

"Obviously, it's something I said. Well, it's everything I said."

"I speak freely, and this woke town f**king hates that," Maher continued. "And that's OK. I've made my peace with that. So I know how this goes."

Maher noted that he's never won an Emmy either, despite a combined 33 nominations (a figure Variety later corrected to 41) for his shows "Politically Incorrect" and "Club Random."

Thanks to the Globes' new Best Podcast category, the pot-addled pundit has a whole new way to get snubbed. This year the award went to "Good Hang with Amy Poehler." "Club Random" failed to secure a nomination.

I'm with stupid

As Maher's rant built up steam, he rejected Edgerton's gentle suggestion that as "two white dudes," they should be careful with their critiques.

"The epicenter of woke stupid is this town. It really is," Maher said, referring to accusations of "cultural appropriation," which he said has been levied against everyone from Elvis Presley to Bradley Cooper.

"[Elvis] sang the way he sang. He grew up in the South. I mean, the cultures mixed, you know. I don't — I think it's just pointless to hate him for it," Maher said.

Photo by Kevork Djansezian/CBS via Getty Images

Nose woes

As for Cooper, Maher mocked those who accused him of "Jewface" for wearing a prosthetic nose to play Leonard Bernstein.

"The 'Jew nose' they called it. ... I mean, 'Jew nose?' Do they even know how stupid they sound?" Maher asked.

"I mean, to use that word. They made up this horrible word and then were like, 'Oh, but we're the good people. We're saying, whoa, no Jew nose.' It's just so silly."

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AI can fake a face — but not a soul

The New York Times recently profiled Scott Jacqmein, an actor from Dallas who sold his likeness to TikTok for $750 and a free trip to the Bay Area. He hasn’t landed any TV shows, movies, or commercials, but his AI-generated likeness has — a virtual version of Jacqmein is now “acting” in countless ads on TikTok. As the Times put it, Jacqmein “fields one or two texts a week from acquaintances and friends who are pretty sure they have seen him pitching a peculiar range of businesses on TikTok.”

Now, Jacqmein “has regrets.” But why? He consented to sell his likeness. His image isn’t being used illegally. He wanted to act, and now — at least digitally — he’s acting. His regrets seem less about ethics and more about economics.

The more perfect the imitation, the greater the lie. What people crave isn’t flawless illusion — it’s authenticity.

Times reporter Sapna Maheshwari suggests as much. Her story centers on the lack of royalties and legal protections for people like Jacqmein.

She also raises moral concerns, citing examples where digital avatars were used to promote objectionable products or deliver offensive messages. In one case, Jacqmein’s AI double pitched a “male performance supplement.” In another, a TikTok employee allegedly unleashed AI avatars reciting passages from Hitler’s “Mein Kampf.” TikTok removed the tool that made the videos possible after CNN brought the story to light.

When faces become property

These incidents blur into a larger problem — the same one raised by deepfakes. In recent months, digital impostors have mimicked public figures from Bishop Robert Barron to the pope. The Vatican itself has had to denounce fake homilies generated in the likeness of Leo XIV. Such fabrications can mislead, defame, or humiliate.

But the deepest problem with digital avatars isn’t that they deceive. It’s that they aren’t real.

Even if Jacqmein were paid handsomely and religious figures embraced synthetic preaching as legitimate evangelism, something about the whole enterprise would remain wrong. Selling one’s likeness is a transaction of the soul. It’s unsettling because it treats what’s uniquely human — voice, gesture, and presence — as property to be cloned and sold.

When a person licenses his “digital twin,” he doesn’t just part with data. He commodifies identity itself. The actor’s expressions, tone, and mannerisms become a bundle of intellectual property. Someone else owns them now.

That’s why audiences instinctively recoil at watching AI puppets masquerade and mimic people. Even if the illusion is technically impressive, it feels hollow. A digital replica can’t evoke the same moral or emotional response as a real human being.

Selling the soul

This isn’t a new theme in art or philosophy. In a classic “Simpsons” episode, Bart sells his soul to his pal Milhouse for $5 and soon feels hollow, haunted by nightmares, convinced he’s lost something essential. The joke carries a metaphysical truth: When we surrender what defines us as human — even symbolically — we suffer a real loss.

For those who believe in an immortal soul, as Jesuit philosopher Robert Spitzer argues in “Science at the Doorstep to God,” this loss is more than psychological. To sell one’s likeness is to treat the image of the divine within as a market commodity. The transaction might seem trivial — a harmless digital contract — but the symbolism runs deep.

Oscar Wilde captured this inversion of morality in “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” His protagonist stays eternally young while his portrait, the mirror of his soul, decays. In our digital age, the roles are reversed: The AI avatar remains young and flawless while the human model ages, forgotten and spiritually diminished.

Jacqmein can’t destroy his portrait. It’s contractually owned by someone else. If he wants to stop his digital self from hawking supplements or energy drinks, he’ll need lawyers — and he’ll probably lose. He’s condemned to watch his AI double enjoy a flourishing career while he struggles to pay rent. The scenario reads like a lost episode of “Black Mirror” — a man trapped in a parody of his own success. (In fact, “The Waldo Moment” and “Hang the DJ” come close to this.)

Photo by imaginima via Getty Images

The moral exit

The conventional answer to this dilemma is regulation: copyright reforms, consent standards, watermarking requirements. But the real solution begins with refusal. Actors shouldn’t sell their avatars. Consumers shouldn’t support platforms that replace people with synthetic ghosts.

If TikTok and other media giants populate their feeds with digital clones, users should boycott them and demand “fair-trade human content.” Just as conscientious shoppers insist on buying ethically sourced goods, viewers should insist on art and advertising made by living, breathing humans.

Tech evangelists argue that AI avatars will soon become indistinguishable from the people they’re modeled on. But that misses the point. The more perfect the imitation, the greater the lie. What people crave isn’t flawless illusion — it’s authenticity. They want to see imperfection, effort, and presence. They want to see life.

If we surrender that, we’ll lose something far more valuable than any acting career or TikTok deal. We’ll lose the very thing that makes us human.

Chris Pratt mocks Trump haters for being 'allergic' to good policy, defends RFK Jr.

Actor Chris Pratt says it's not hard for him to back Robert F. Kennedy Jr., despite him being a member of the Trump administration.

Pratt is married to Katherine Schwarzenegger, whose mother, Maria Shriver, is part of the Kennedy family. This has put the actor in close reach of RFK Jr., the United States secretary of Health and Human Services.

Comedian Bill Maher recently asked Pratt about his connection to the Kennedys and wanted to know what type of criticism he has faced over the relationship.

'I'll put Clorox in my children's cereal myself!'

Pratt opined that the media has taken a lot of shots at him and others through unnamed sources that he believes do not exist at all.

"In politics, you inherit enemies," he told Maher on "Club Random." "And when you jump in on the bandwagon with the most divisive president ever, it makes sense that you're going to be made to look terrible."

Both Maher and Pratt agreed that there is something the media cannot take away from RFK Jr.: He is fighting big industry on behalf of the American people. Particularly, as Maher described, Kennedy Jr. is over the target regarding toxic ingredients in food and pharmaceuticals being used by children.

Still, Pratt said he finds it nonsensical for anyone to criticize the HHS secretary simply for being in Trump's orbit.

"I'd hate to be so mired in hatred for the president that any success from his administration is something I'd have an allergic reaction to — to be like, 'Oh, well, if they do it, I don't want it to happen. I'll put Clorox in my children's cereal myself!'" he joked with Maher.

Putting it simply, Pratt explained that a lot of discourse could emerge just from the two political sides being somewhat reasonable.

"You know, it's like, come on, be reasonable here," Pratt added. "There are certain things that would be a good thing to have. I want them all to be successful," he said of the Trump administration.

Pratt and Maher had a lot to agree on during the podcast, especially when it came to supporting American troops. Maher revealed that his parents met in the U.S. Army, and despite not always agreeing with foreign policy, he has always had a "soft spot" for the Army.

In the same breath, Maher had a strong message for those who label the U.S. as a horrible place to live.

"If you think we're the worst country in the world, then just f**king do some research. Just f**king noodle around the internet. You will find a lot of people who did a lot of worse things," he said.

The host and his guest then shared a unique perspective about being a media figure that has the luxury, or curse, of being able to read about themselves through the eyes of others.

(L-R) Chris Pratt, Katherine Schwarzenegger, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Christina Schwarzenegger attend the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix's "FUBAR" on May 22, 2023. Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

"Politics, it's a nasty business," Pratt declared. "I've seen how the person you are can be such a contrast to the person that people are being told that you are."

At the same time, the actor said he would only be doing himself a disservice if he were to constantly rebuke claims that are made in the media.

"Proverb 26:20, 'For lack of wood the fire will go out,'" Pratt cited, explaining that he would rather let something that's "not real" be "liked" by 300,000 people than address the fake claim to 50 million people.

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Denzel Washington crushes reporter who asks about 'black cast' members: 'I follow the Lord. That's it'

Denzel Washington does not care about social media, followers, or the idea that he could be canceled.

The iconic actor took part in a press junket for his new film, "Highest 2 Lowest," along with director Spike Lee, which included multiple questions about social media followings and public perception.

While Lee has historically been more controversial than the actor, the pair have worked together on many well-received movies and seemingly formed such a strong bond that Washington had no problem taking the lead on many of the more poignant questions they were asked.

Washington first showed reporters that he is not the biggest fan of today's media landscape when he was asked about having a mostly black cast in his upcoming movie.

'You just have to do something stupid. You just have to get people to follow you.'

"You have never shied away from starring or acting, producing, directing films with a predominantly black cast," Associated Press reporter Gary Gerard Hamilton prompted the actor. The reporter then asked Washington what allowed him to be "unafraid of tackling those projects."

Washington immediately pointed out that he cares about talent, not what other people think.

"Well, it's a different time when I started. I'm not concerned with what people think about me. I don't care about that. Especially now. When I was younger, you didn't, you know, I didn't grow up like your generation is growing up where a zillion people are watching you all the time and you're looking to be followed all the time. And, you know, you actually had to be good at what you did," he said.

"You don't have to be good now," Washington continued. "You just have to be eccentric. You just have to do something stupid. You just have to get people to follow you."

It was at that point director Lee knew exactly how to set up his pal to hit another home run.

"Who were you following, too, right?" Lee asked Washington.

Washington answered, "I'm a leading man, you know. I don't follow nobody. I follow the Lord. That's it. That's the only following I'm doing is my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. I'm not following anybody else on this planet. Period."

Washington's takedown of the leading questions would soon get a follow-up when he was similarly approached by a different reporter.

The next day, Complex News released its own interview with Lee and Washington, featuring journalist Jillian Hardeman-Webb. The reporter went down a similar line of questioning with the 68- and 70-year-olds, respectively. However, she, too, found out the hard way that Washington is not concerned with anyone's critiques.

"Do you guys consider being 'canceled'?" Hardeman-Webb asked.

"What does that mean? To be canceled?" Washington chimed back.

"It means you lose public support," the reporter explained.

"Who cares?" Washington replied. "What made public support so important to begin with?"

Hardeman-Webb attempted to explain that "followers now are currency," but by this point she had already unlocked another one of Washington's epic rants about who and what he is willing to follow.

"I don't care who's following who. Okay? You can't lead and follow at the same time, and you can't follow and lead at the same time. I don't follow anybody. I follow the heavenly spirit," Washington declared.

The veteran performer continued to preach to the journalist, who is reportedly 29 years old, about why he follows God.

"I follow God," Washington exclaimed. "I don't follow man. I have faith in God. I have hope in man, but look around — it ain't working out so well."

He concluded, "Forget being followed. You can't be canceled if you haven't signed up. Don't sign up. Don't get me started. ... I could care less."

What stood out in both interviews was each reporter taking in Washington's remarks and seemingly having a positive reaction to his religious sentiments.

While many people may still have many lessons to learn about follower "currency," Washington's injection of an alternative view of social media and its surrounding culture should only deepen the conversation about the actual need for personal branding.

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Bad performance or bad politics? A list of the most-hated actors

Even the most promising films can be easily derailed by an awkward actor or a poor casting decision, and Pat Gray of “Pat Gray Unleashed” has an entire list of ten culprits compiled by MSN.

The first actor on the list is Steven Seagal, who Gray comments “ruins a movie just by being in it,” and the second actor is James Corden. Corden is well-known for “The Late Late Show” and his “Carpool Karaoke: The Series,” but he’s lesser known for the films he’s partaken in and apparently ruined.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him in a movie,” Gray comments, shocked that Corden has been in the movie “Cats,” which he’s “heard is one of the worst movies ever produced.”

Jared Leto is number three on the list, followed by Jada Pinkett Smith, who has been accused of overacting and “making things worse rather than elevating them.”

Funny guy Kevin Hart takes spot number five, but this is the first one Gray takes issue with.

“I don’t know if I agree with that,” Gray says. “I like Kevin Hart. He’s funny.”

Supermodel Cara Delevingne followed Hart at number six, and Amy Schumer followed Delevingne at number seven. The rest of the list is Nick Cannon at number eight, Jennifer Lopez at number nine, and Russell Brand at number ten.

Brand is the second name on the list who Gray disagrees with, noting that he believes it’s “just because they don’t like his politics.”

An actor who didn’t make the list and Gray thinks should have is “the kid who played young Anakin in 'Star Wars.'”

“That poor guy,” Gray says, adding, “He’s gotten never-ending crap for being so bad. I feel bad for him, but yeah, you were terrible. One of the worst performances of all time.”

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Wednesday Western: The top Western social media accounts

Social media has played an interesting role in the revival of Western cinema. I’ve compiled a list of social media accounts dedicated to Westerns.

This article doesn’t include blogs, podcasts, websites, or magazines. I’m currently working on an article for each, so definitely let me know any of these that I need to know about in the comments section, or send me an email.

The following list is by no means comprehensive. And at first glance, it may seem like a random assortment. The accounts vary in audience size, output, and content organization. They employ different media and delivery methods. Some are public; some require you to answer a questionnaire. Each of them is unique.

What unites them is a frontier spirit, a liveliness.

Official John Wayne - Instagram

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by John Wayne "The Duke" (@johnwayneofficial)

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of The Duke.

The official John Wayne Instagram page is probably my favorite Western social media account. The X account is also solid. But the Instagram account is far better.

It delivers the perfect number and flow of posts. And the descriptions, titles, and photos are all flawlessly assembled. I’d be shocked if it weren’t run by social media or marketing/PR professionals.

This is the proper handling of the John Wayne legacy. The people in charge of maintaining it make sure that the Duke’s legacy is truly an experience. All of it is interconnected through John Wayne Enterprises: the John Wayne Museum, the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, the John Wayne Grit Series, among others.

You can buy John Wayne cookbooks and a collection of cocktail recipes, coffee, ornamental cups and top-class clothing — all of which will appear in this series in exciting ways.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by John Wayne "The Duke" (@johnwayneofficial)

All of these converge at the Instagram account.

It’s comforting to see a passionate group of people devoted to the upkeep of the Duke’s invaluable legacy.

If all that weren’t good enough, they just launched a collaboration with Broken Bow Country, a friend of the Wednesday Western series, as captured in this profile.

Broken Bow Country: Meet the 17-year-old behind a viral Western clothing brandwww.theblaze.com

In fact, during our interview, we connected on the Duke and our admiration for the official John Wayne account.

Scrolling through this account, it feels like you’re reading a biography of the Duke, told in vignettes and accompanied by pictures, music, and video.

Some of the posts are simply gorgeous. They provide a holistic view of the Duke, a man unlike any other. They offer great commentary on various Wayne films and media appearances. They help you understand who John Wayne was behind the legend, as in this post about his prolific love of chess.

Other times, it’s playful, as with the incredibly creative inclusion of holidays, like this recent celebration of National Sunglasses Day.

The posts hit every emotion as we navigate John Wayne’s love life and comforts and disappointments and truest victories.

And America, you become closer to this great country. Just check out this 4th of July post. And, man, how about this one? Who else deserves to be the biggest movie star of all time?

Just Westerns - YouTube

Just Westerns is an entrepreneurial feat animated by one man’s love for Westerns. He has mastered the possibilities that YouTube offers.

And that narrator’s voice: That’s Marc Reynard, the Englishman in charge of Just Westerns, the unofficial home of Westerns on YouTube.

This dude is undoubtedly one of us.

He examines the genre from creative and at times surprising angles, like this video about the fate of “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly 2.” You read that right: There was supposed to be a sequel.

His videos are smooth, well produced, well crafted, well written, sharp, fun, lovely, informative.

He also does something that I wish we had more of: He hypes upcoming and anticipated Westerns and compiles year-end lists and legitimizes the artistic merit of video games: “20 Best Western Video Games.” He also covers Wednesday Western favorite "Old Henry" (2021)

We need more of all of this. Best of all, you can feel his passion.

My only complaint is that the channel has only 30 videos. I went through them all at a steady clip.

But even this turns out to be further proof that you’re getting content that is authentically wholesome. Marc addresses it in his YouTube bio: “Please bear with me, I am a solo creator without the resources or manpower that larger channels typically have, so I am unfortunately unable to upload as regularly as I like, especially as I am committed to prioritizing quality over quantity.”

Take your time, brother. Personally, I think it's worth the wait.

r/Westerns - Reddit

Reddit can be a nasty place, especially if your politics are anything to the right of Bernie Sanders. And you can’t avoid the ideological slapfests, either. Leftist goons stir it up in every subreddit, constantly, and they’re almost always combative, even in the subreddits devoted to woodwork or kittens.

The Westerns subreddit is a clear exception. It’s a community. It feels like the town square of a dust-ridden Western town.

Check out this thread about “For a Few Dollars More.”

The mixed-media format of Reddit allows for a variety of sources: pictures, movies, trailers, interviews, text-only, even gifs. It might be the most versatile resource on this list.

It’s a great place for recommendations and commentary. Unlike much of the rest of Reddit, which is disproportionately loaded with young white liberal men, there’s an even spread of people of all ages.

These Redditors routinely swap personal stories about the various movies and actors. Some of their stories are poignant and evocative.

Back to the Old Western - Facebook

Facebook is a great place for Western fans. Instagram is too image-centered to accommodate text, and it doesn’t support links. Meanwhile, the microblogging experience of X is limited in its scope and impatient in its daunting pace — the temperament and vibe of Westerns don’t do well in such a frantic environment.

Facebook circumnavigates all of this, finally able to beat all the much lighter apps. For once, it finds an advantage to its cluttered user interface.

This bulk allows users to upload and share every type of content. No limitations. It’s the only platform capable of this, besides Reddit, but I’m not about to equate the megalith Facebook with the niche subreddit.

Besides, Facebook outperforms Reddit anyway. Its Pages function allows for an immersive blogging experience, run by moderators and admins who are passionate about their content and free to run their operation without much interference, right down to the parameters of the group’s privacy.

Back to the old western | Charles Bronson as Chino in classic western film 'The Valdez Horses' in 1973 | Facebookwww.facebook.com

Back to the Old Western is the perfect example of these principles. It is active, with a constant flow of posts, often aggregated from fan pages — the Duke and Sam Elliot, mostly.

The comments sections are fairly quiet, but most of the time people add substance or passion to the movie or actor being celebrated.

Chatter isn’t as important as it is on Reddit. The admins really know their stuff, offering a healthy range of mainstream Westerns, cult classics, and oddities, like this post celebrating Brigitte Bardot and Claudia Cardinale for their roles in “The Legend of Frenchie King” (1971), a wild little movie that will get its Wednesday Western spotlight in due time.

A Word on Westerns - YouTube

BLAZING SADDLES! The fart scene changed my life, says Burton Gilliam A WORD ON WESTERNSwww.youtube.com

I made a point to place Just Westerns higher up than A Word on Westerns, because Just Westerns is the passion project of an ordinary guy who loves Westerns, while A Word on Westerns is a proper television series. An exceedingly good one, with just as much passion and gusto.

It’s a fantastic channel. A Word on Westerns is sort of like a Western-only version of TMC, which is a thrilling reality. That’s the dream.

The channel features entire movies, each with a brief but thorough introduction by Rob Word, a double feature as part of the segment Word’s Wayback.

These are mostly 1930s and 1940s Westerns.

YouTube is an oddity on this list, because so many of the major Western channels exclusively post full movies. What a joy it is to find a rare Western on YouTube. But these channels lack the commentary and artistry that characterize the two YouTube channels I’ve included on this list.

A Word on Westerns blends the rustic ease of the Old West with the hypersonic immediacy of our infinite now. You can also access lectures, speeches, and clever projects like this "Gunsmoke" mash-up.

Smartest of all, it makes good use of the Shorts function on YouTube, will brief clips about various topics, from Robert Mitchum to stories of mutilation.

Western Podcast - X

The Western Podcast X page is small but mighty, with some impressive followers and praise from True West magazine.

Have you seen #HorizonAmericanSaga yet? If so, share your thoughts with us! We'll record a full podcast episode about the film in two weeks when Andrew is back from his vacation in Europe. In the meantime, here's Matt's highly positive take on Kevin Costner's latest Western epic. https://t.co/baVzZE4vPK
— @WesternPodcast (@WesternPodcast) June 28, 2024

It’s an offshoot of the marvelous podcast hosted by our friend Western apostle Andrew Patrick Nelson and the excellent Matthew Chernov, a screenwriter and a journalist with bylines in Variety, Entertainment Weekly, IMBd.com. Yahoo News, and about a hundred other outlets. His insight thrives with the joy of curiosity.

Andrew's Instagram account will keep you up to date with his media appearances and projects, with the occasional infusion of Hair Metal.

These boys are the real deal. Andrew just began his new job as chief curator of Western Spirit, Scottsdale's Museum of the West. Before that, he taught film history. As a professor at the University of Utah, Andrew guided his students through the badlands full of robbers and coyotes, only to unmask the villains hiding behind all their props and plywood scenery.

Why Millennials & Zoomers Should Watch Westerns | Andrew Patrick Nelson | Alignwww.youtube.com

Both of them are impressively smart with a tenderness for beauty, but not at the cost of a good story or a complicated hero.

They take their time with content, even tweets, but this adds to the reverence of their decision-making process. If you haven't taken the dive into their work already, do it.They have a gift for revealing the beautiful, intricate paradoxes of Western movies. They speak with screenwriters, historians, authors, journalists, musicians, directors, costume designers, and more.

They tell stories. They examine personal reactions to various films. They navigate themes of universality and timelessness within the motion of transcendence, while also exposing the flimsiness of any given cultural era.

Is Stagecoach the best movie ever made? Interview with Andrew Patrick Nelsonwww.youtube.com

They have a gift for discerning the role of Western movies in relation to our unexplained world, differentiating these fictions from their context and influence. But also, more impressively, they succeed in witnessing the presence of our entire universe in one tiny section of cinema history.

Both of them have helped yours truly at many points along our journey so far. They have guided me through the desert more than once.

Kevin Costner and Modern West - X

Kevin Costner & MW (@modernwest) on X

Kevin Costner & MW (@modernwest) on Xx.com

Kevin Costner is this era’s Clint Eastwood. He fights to keep the Western in public view, devoting himself to projects animated by passion, even if his wallet takes a hit. The victory is worth the risk.

He has ushered in a new era for the genre. His success with "Yellowstone" and its Western universe of shows has accelerated the Western’s resurgence. But it’s more than that. We're also witnessing a flourishing of the Western as an ethos, a style, a mode of thought, an approach to life.

So did you realize that Kevin Costner has a country band? Founded in 2007, Kevin Costner and Modern West deliver rowdy songs written for the culturally forgotten people of America. The band's history is tinged with tragedy.

The Kevin Costner and Modern West account is technically the band’s, but it posts tons of Costner content, all hand-picked and polished by a team of social media professionals.

Best Cowboy Movies Forever - Facebook

Best cowboy movies forever | Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, and Van Heflin in "Shane" (1953) | Facebookwww.facebook.com

There are several variations on the “Western” + “Forever” title, but I’m going with Best Cowboy Movies Forever. I enjoy the way the account profiles various actors, like this post about Lee Van Cleef.

It also includes Westerns from every different era. This is important. It’s good to hop around in this way. I’m partial to the 1939-1960 era of the genre, so I can plant myself in that time exclusively if I’m not careful.

The page rarely ventures into the current scene. But this isn’t a problem. It’s important to offer due reverence to the originators.

Old West - Actors, Films, and Legends - Facebook

www.facebook.com

Old West zooms in so that we get a portrait view of an incredible variety of Western actors, films, and legends, like this post devoted to Myron Halle or this homage to Elsa Martinelli. I value any source that prioritizes the lesser-known figures in the genre. Because, as we all know, the Western genre is overflowing with stories, entire generations of actors, producers, directors, screenwriters — you name it — whose fascinating tales deserve to be recounted.

As much as I love the giants of the genre, I derive incredible joy from learning about these forgotten figures.

Passion for Western Movies - Instagram

View this profile on Instagram
Passion for western movies (@western_movies) • Instagram photos and videos

Passion for Western Movies makes great use of Instagram’s Reels format.

The account does a lot of this kind of multi-movie post, offering a list of movies connected by timeframe or theme.

Passion for Western Movies lives up to its name, able to glide around the history of the Western genre, seemingly without partiality. It also features lesser-known movies, like this post about "The Hunting Party," which features Gene Hackman.

Broken Bow Country - Instagram

I’m a bit biased on this one, because I think Colton is an absolute legend, but Broken Bow Country is perfect for this list.

The Western experience you get is fairly rough around the edges, in a distinctly modern way. But modernity never wins against Broken Bow Country.

It’s unique for many reasons but primarily because, in addition to its Western ethos, it is a clothing retailer and printmaker. No other creator on our list offers this level of art and style.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Kevin Ryan (@kevin_yerp_ryan)

Then you’ve got the lore, the storytelling that comes with his posts, the war hymns of country-Western rebels and the toll their rebellion often took on their lives.

The past month has been wild for Colton. Early in July, he landed a collaboration with John Wayne Enterprises. The T-shirts are fantastic. In fact, I’m wearing one of them in the cover photo for Wednesday Western.

Then, a gunman on a sloped roof tried to murder former President Donald Trump, who was days away from officially accepting his party’s nomination.

In the panicky hours that followed, many people succumbed to their emotions, others to their resolve. I won’t pretend to have remained cool.

But Colton did. Following the Trump assassination attempt, he designed a T-shirt honoring one of the most American moments in human history, as Trump rose with his fist in the air. And he donated all of the money to a charity for Corey Comperatore, the man who died shielding his family from one of the gunman’s bullets.

This was a controversial move. He even faced the nasty comments about how the shooter shouldn’t have missed or that the deaths of the victims were “completely deserved.”

He lost a few thousand followers, but he describes it as “inconsequential when you think about the people that it's helping to support.”

In a press release, he said, “This has nothing to do with politics, I was incredibly moved by what happened and I wanted to use my platform to do something that extended beyond the controversy and the arguing.”

Lancer TV Blog - Facebook

Last and certainly not least, Lancer TV Blog on Facebook. It is run by a friend of mine, an avid supporter of Wednesday Western.

Unlike every other entry included on this list, Lancer TV Blog focuses entirely on one show, a show that hardly anyone knows. This reversal in focus is good for a movie lover’s mental sharpness.

I’m working on a deep dive into "Lancer," so I won’t say too much.

Beyond the merits of the show and its cast, "Lancer" is an underdog story still in the middle stages, badgered by uncertainty. Because the show hasn’t had a reboot, despite success throughout its two (long) seasons on CBS. So it’s not an issue of merit; the show deserves a second wind. It would very likely expand its audience.

But none of that matters for the art trapped in the murk of a waiting area, a zone of uncertainty. And the gifted athlete eventually starts to wobble. Filmstock degrades. All technology collapses. Call it the inevitable disintegration of a lively body, in this case a body of art.

Even the most perfect masterpieces eventually crumble. But what if that happens to be your masterpiece? What if it’s your tiny heaven, all tangled up in red tape? Life has enough of this disintegration as it is. Our entertainment needs to be clean, enjoyable, and easily accessible. Or so claims the majority.

Well, thank God for the passionate workers of cultural excavation. They dig and fight. They protect, sustain, and preserve. Without them, life would be less beautiful. Without them, our society would be weaker and tamer and less able to see a way out.

"Lancer" episodes run an hour. This extended run time fundamentally changes the character and depth of a TV show. It’s amazing what an episode can accomplish in one hour that it simply can’t in 30 minutes.

What you’ll find, as you scroll through the posts on the Lancer Facebook page, is purity. This fandom rewards people with a tiny kingdom, a crafted world they can always turn to. That experience should rile up every single person.

There’s a fidelity to their affection that is heartwarming. The Lancer TV Blog connects you to this incredibly pure relation. It’s just there, like sand across the winds of time.

'Sopranos' star Drea de Matteo says Hollywood will 'take me out into the woods and shoot me for not endorsing Biden'

Actress Drea de Matteo said there are many silent supporters of Donald Trump in Hollywood while also expressing disappointment in fellow Italians like Robert De Niro for their political activism.

In an interview with Fox News' Jesse Watters, the 52-year-old was asked about the presence of Trump voters in the liberal stronghold.

"Is there a quiet Trump voter out there in Hollywood?" Watters asked.

"I think there is a lot of them. I think there are a lot of — that was a hard intro to watch. I'm sorry," de Matteo said, responding to footage of a recent Joe Biden fundraiser.

De Matteo then condemned fellow Italians like actor Robert De Niro and former health official Dr. Anthony Fauci.

"It's the Italians, man. We're talking about Fauci, we're talking about De Niro. I am mortified right now by my people. I don't understand what we're doing here," she added.

'There are very few people that are willing to speak out.'

"There are a lot of quiet Trump supporters, there are a lot of [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] supporters," she continued, per Mediaite. "I wonder how much these actors got paid to endorse Biden at this point. I am curious. I wonder if De Niro got paid a location fee because he traveled to the courtroom to do that."

De Matteo was referring to a recent appearance by De Niro outside the courthouse in New York City where Trump's case was tried, where he spoke poorly of the former president and had confrontations with Trump supporters.

Host Watters then asked the actress whether she was privy to any information about how celebrities get work-around deals in order to endorse political candidates, such as lining up movie roles or securing book deals.

"I don't really maneuver inside that industry. I never have," she claimed. She added that the cast of "The Sopranos" were considered outcasts in the television industry.

"Even though we were critically acclaimed, we still were outcasts. So I'm still an outcast; here I am. They're going to take me out into the woods and shoot me for not endorsing Biden," she added.

The actress was likely referring to her exit from the hit show, in which her character was shot in the woods after mob members found out she was working for the FBI.

"I do know that people are tired of it, and there are very few people that are willing to speak out," she said in a previous interview, according to Variety. "They probably will vote Republican, and that's people who would never normally, but people are afraid. This doesn't feel like a democracy any more.”

De Matteo was previously spotlighted in recent news stories after she opened an account on OnlyFans — a website typically viewed as a subscription service for pornography or other explicit material — because her house was going into foreclosure.

"Why did I join OnlyFans? When we launched, we had ... I'd say, a couple hundred bucks left in the bank, I'm not kidding," Complex reported the actress said. "My house was going into foreclosure. Did I do it out of desperation? F** yes, I did."

The Italian has also stated that she was forced to "switch careers and figure new things out" because her industry thinks she's "a savage” because she does not believe in COVID vaccine mandates.

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Jarring outburst

'Infuriating' reaction

Royal ruckus

'What are we gonna do?'

ICE to meet you

Actress 'horrified'

Boots on the ground

Speech impediment

I'm with stupid

Nose woes

When faces become property

Selling the soul

The moral exit

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