Mel Gibson at a Tuesday night event at President-elect Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago said he'd "have to kill someone" if any of his nine children got sex-trafficked.

The Hollywood actor-director spoke at the America’s Future Champions for America Celebration Gala, which the likes of Kid Rock and Tucker Carlson also attended.

'We’ll see how much this administration can claw back from the Philistines.'

Video of the "Lethal Weapon" franchise star speaking to the crowd shows him taking note of the “thinly veiled Marxism” America is enduring under President Joe Biden — as well as what he called a “four-year grace period” the country will enjoy under Trump's incoming administration.

"But we have to work hard," Gibson said before adding that "the president’s got a big job on his hands to turn this place around; a lot of damage was done. And they continue to start fires, just like around my house."

He also thanked retired Gen. Michael Flynn, who served in Trump’s first administration, for his work against sex trafficking, saying he's “exposing all these wolves in sheep’s clothing that prey upon our young.”

Then Gibson warned what he'd do if anything happened to his children.

“I mean, I got nine kids. ... If one of them got stolen or trafficked or something, I’d have to kill someone,” he stated matter-of-factly, after which the crowd erupted in applause. Gibson is one of several executive producers for 2023's "Sound of Freedom" movie about the battle against child sex trafficking.

In closing, Gibson — with a noticeable enthusiastic grit to his voice — stated that he hopes "in the next four years we can get back some of that precious commodity that this country has, that commodity called freedom, all right? We’ll see how much this administration can claw back from the Philistines.”

You can view Gibson's remarks here.

Gibson's faith — and endurance

Gibson — who directed and financed 2004's box-office behemoth "The Passion of the Christ" — has been open about his Catholicism.

In July he showed support for conservative Catholic Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, whom the Vatican excommunicated. Gibson praised Viganò for calling out "core problems" within the Catholic Church and, in Gibson's view, "the illegitimacy of [Pope] Francis." Gibson is a sedevacantist, or someone who believes the Holy See is vacant and the last legitimate pope was Pope Pius XII, who died in 1958. Sedevacantists reject the authority of the Second Vatican Council.

A fellow actor in 2021 urged Hollywood to "Cancel Mel Gibson" for being a "raging anti-Semite" — and promptly received a cyber spanking for dusting off "old news" and pushing "censorship."

It's pretty common knowledge that nearly 20 years ago, Gibson went on a drunken, anti-Semitic rant in the back of police car and then endured a huge tailspin. He and his longtime wife divorced, a subsequent relationship came unglued amid battery accusations, there was a child custody battle — and of course, Hollywood shunned him.

Gibson, of course, apologized for his words and worked on putting his life back together ever since. Of particular note is that he reportedly educated himself about the Holocaust and quietly conducted related endeavors, such as his philanthropic work to help Holocaust survivors in eight countries through the Survivor Mitzvah Project.

'Unless you are completely without sin'

In the spirit of digging up old news, way back in 2011, actor Robert Downey Jr. chided a star-studded audience on Gibson's behalf during a speech for an award that Downey specifically had Gibson present to him.

"I humbly ask that you join me, unless you are completely without sin — in which case you picked the wrong f***ing industry — in forgiving my friend his trespasses, offering him the same clean slate that you have me, and allowing him to continue his great and ongoing contribution to our collective art without shame," Downey said in regard to Gibson.

Before those pointed words, Downey revealed to listeners how Gibson had helped him — before Gibson's own downfall:

When I couldn't get sober, he told me not to give up hope, and he urged me to find my faith. It didn't have to be his or anyone else's as long as it was rooted in forgiveness. And I couldn't get hired, so he cast me in a lead of a movie that was actually developed for him. And he kept a roof over my head, and he kept food on the table. And most importantly he said that if I accepted responsibility for my wrongdoings, and if I embraced that part of my soul that was ugly — "hugging the cactus," he calls it — he said that if I hugged the cactus long enough I'd become a man of some humility, and that my life would take on a new meaning, and I did, and it worked. All he asked in return was that someday I'd help the next guy in some small way. It's reasonable to assume that at the time he didn't imagine that the next guy would be him or that someday was tonight!

Downey added that Gibson had "hugged the cactus long enough!" Check out the clip here.

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Eau de Trump intoxicates Jill — but late-night losers still stink

Can someone check in on Rosie O’Donnell?

The former host of “The View” isn’t taking President Donald Trump’s re-election well. She’s far from alone. At least the comedienne didn’t check herself into a facility a la Rob Reiner.

Who wouldn’t want to be orphaned after watching your parents get gunned down by a common street thug? So much privilege!

Although maybe that would have saved her from broadcasting her paranoid meltdown on TikTok.

Her most recent post finds O’Donnell oversharing about a possible cold sore, complaining about MAGA members “taunting” her and looking much worse for the wear.

Still, she's less painful to watch than the boorish Sunny Hostin — or anyone else on "The View."

Colbert gets that not-so-fresh feeling

Even an avowed Trump hater like O’Donnell must have smiled at the president-elect’s newest troll move.

Trump shared news about a branded cologne product on Truth Social, using a recent photograph to help sell it.

The image? A snapshot of first lady Jill Biden looking at Trump with a sort of adoration. The real estate mogul, never one to miss a marketing opportunity, used the photograph in a cheeky attempt to sell some product.

Funny, funny stuff. Unless you’re a late-night talk show host, that is.

Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Fallon all took turns swatting Trump for the hilarious move. Kimmel’s weak-tea response?

“He had to use that picture because he doesn’t have a picture of his own wife smiling at him.”

Colbert’s crack?

“In response, Dr. Biden used the photo to sell her new line of pepper spray.”

Slightly better, but still lame.

Trump can do plenty of things, but we’d love it if he could make Late Night Great Again …

Now please 'mansplain' why we should care

Bill Maher and actor Zachary Levi agreed to disagree ... a lot ... during their recent chat on the comedian’s “Club Random” podcast. Maher repeatedly lauded the “Shazam!” alum for his intelligence and demeanor, with both men clearly having a blast in the thoughtful exchange.

Tell that to Laura Benanti. The Broadway actress, who mocks former and future first lady Melania Trump on “The Late Show,” slammed Levi on a recent podcast interview. She said everyone enjoys his company but not her.

“'He’s so great!’ And I was like, ‘No, he’s not. He’s sucking up all the f***ing energy in this room. He wants to mansplain everybody’s part to them.'”

Easy, Laura — we already love Zach. No need to hype him up even more ...

Focker shocker

Just when we thought the world was healing, we get an uppercut from Hollywood Inc.

Yes, Trump’s Cabinet picks appear primed for Senate approval, Daniel Penny is a free man, and woke is on the run.

But we still have another Fockers movie to endure.

Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro will reportedly reunite for a fourth “Meet the Parents” film. The first movie proved delightful, with De Niro playing against his tough-guy screen shtick.

By the time “Little Fockers” came around in 2010, we begged for the sweet release of death. Now, this ...

Who's Hugh

Hugh Grant became a star thanks to witty turns in films like “Four Weddings and a Funeral.” The term “foppish” became glued to his brand, from his floppy do to his stammering shtick.

At 64, Grant is no longer the British beau but a versatile, in-demand character actor. Last year, he played a puckish Oompa Loompa in “Wonka.” Now, he’s the dangerous neighbor putting two Mormon missionaries through their paces in “Heretic.”

The film features blood, gore, and more, along with tricky conversations about faith. It’s hardly a tale to be shared at a post-church chat, but it gets the genre job done. And according to the Golden Globes, it falls smack in the middle of the comedy or musical category.

Yes, the head-scratching awards group gave Grant a Best Actor, Comedy or Musical nomination. Somewhere, Pia Zadora is smiling ...

Activate the bat (virtue) signal!

We can’t get enough of Batman stories, but the scribe behind a new "Dark Knight" story thinks Bruce Wayne deserves a lecture on privilege.

That’s liberal DC Comics writer Tom Taylor, who has the Man of Steel tut-tutting Wayne over his wealth and white skin in the new "Detective Comics #1091."

Superman is right, of course. Who wouldn’t want to be orphaned after watching your parents get gunned down by a common street thug? So much privilege!

Superman better watch out — this DEI nonsense has proved to be kryptonite to many an iconic brand.

Bob Dylan begins, Nosferatu returns, and Sonic battles Mufasa for the Christmas crown

Merry Christmas and welcome back to the Align Movie Guide, your easy-to-follow guide to the films worth your hard-earned money.

Thanksgiving offered hungry moviegoers a veritable big-screen buffet with "Wicked," "Moana 2," and "Gladiator II" on the menu.

Families eager to get out of the house responded to the tune of $400 million in ticket sales — Hollywood's highest-grossing Turkey Day weekend ever.

Will the studios close out the year with some crowd-pleasing Christmas cheer? Let's take a look.

'Mufasa: The Lion King' | Dec. 20 | Disney

"Hakuna matata" is not a phrase you'll hear much at Disney these days. After a series of woke misfires, the studio has struggled to regain the public's trust; this prequel to the 2019 "live action" remake probably won’t do anything to shift the needle.

"Mufasa: The Lion King" tells the origin story of Mufasa and his wayward brother, Scar. The film also features the return of Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, Simba, Nala, and Simba’s daughter Kiara (not seen since "The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride").

The first trailer for the film was ratioed to oblivion, with fans criticizing bland visual effects carried over from the 2019 film. Others were unimpressed that the film ignores established lore of Mufasa’s rise to power, retconning him as an orphan this time around.

On the plus side, the actual Lin-Manuel Miranda is writing new songs for the film, which should satisfy those irked by the “imitation Lin-Manuel knockoffs” of "Moana 2." Will it be enough to outgross a blue hedgehog with a movie coming out the same day?

'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' | Dec. 20 | Paramount

The "Sonic the Hedgehog" franchise is the gift that keeps on giving for Paramount, despite an initial horrifying character design that screamed "game over." Sometimes it pays to listen to your audience.

The latest installment introduces fan-favorite nemesis Shadow (Keanu Reeves), whose power is so great that Sonic (Ben Schwartz) and his friends Tails (Colleen O'Shaughnessey) must form an unlikely alliance with Sonic’s archenemy, Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) as well as his grandfather (also played by Carrey).

Two Jim Carreys in one movie? That’s an easy yes for me. Disney may be king of the multiplex jungle, but this blurry blue upstart may have what it takes to steal the crown. Which one will you be seeing on December 20?

'The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim' | Dec. 13 | Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. returns to Middle-earth with this animated epic, the first of many new "Lord of the Rings" films coming from the studio. "The War of the Rohirrim" goes back 200 years before Frodo took the ring to Mordor and follows Hèra (Gaia Wise) and her father, king of Rohan, Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox) as they make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg, against an enemy led by Dunlending lord Wulf (Luca Pasqualino).

Directed by anime veteran Kenji Kamiyama ("Blade Runner: Black Lotus"), the film also brings back two characters from the "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" trilogies: Éowyn (Miranda Otto) and Saruman the White (the late Christopher Lee, using archived audio from the previous films).

Let's hope that recent grumbling about the "girlbossing" of Hèra is exaggerated and that this new installment helps us all forget Amazon's execrable "The Rings of Power."

'A Complete Unknown' | Dec. 25 | Searchlight Pictures

After the disappointment of "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," James Mangold excavates America's rock and roll past with Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown." Timothee Chalamet portrays the Minnesota-born Robert Zimmerman, who conquers the New York folk scene only to throw it all away by bringing an electric guitar to Newport.

Based on the book "Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties," "A Complete Unknown" features a stellar cast, including Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie, Dan Fogler as Albert Grossman, and Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash.

With a soundtrack featuring some of the most beloved songs of the 1960s, early buzz for Elle Fanning's performance, and talk of a Best Picture Academy Award, the stars seem aligned for "A Complete Unknown" to be the complete package when it comes to holiday season entertainment.

'Nosferatu' | Dec. 25 | Focus Features

A good remake requires a delicate balance. The director must respect the source material while also risking doing something new with it. Early signs indicate that Robert Eggers hit the sweet spot with his upcoming version of F.W. Murnau's silent classic.

In 1838 Germany, Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp) is stalked by an ancient Transylvanian vampire, Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård). As her interest turns into obsession, she opens the door to untold horrors for herself and her loved ones. Eggers' "Nosferatu" has already been praised as a true Gothic horror film, the likes of which have not been seen in quite some time.

Anyone familiar with the director's previous work should expect something cinematically gorgeous and rich in story. Horror may not be everyone’s cup of tea during the holidays, but anyone brave enough to succumb to "Nosferatu" may find themselves richly rewarded.

'Kraven the Hunter' | Dec. 12 | Sony

After mixed results with "Venom," "Madame Web," and "Morbius," Sony is about to release its third Spider-Man film (without Spider-Man): "Kraven the Hunter." Based on the popular villain from the Spider-Man comics, Kraven (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) blazes a bloody trail of vengeance as he goes against his mob-boss father (Russell Crowe) and the Rhino (Alessandro Nivola).

Word on the street is this one could be more "Venom: The Last Dance" (closing in on $500 million in box office since its October 25 debut) than "Madame Web" (closing in on "was that a real movie or did I dream it?" status).

While the R rating bodes well for a faithful depiction of the notoriously violent Kraven, the desperate marketing campaign (the first eight minutes of the film were released online) is suspicious. As is Taylor-Johnson publicly begging audiences to give the film a chance. The big holiday hit Sony's stalking may turn out to be just another lump of coal.

'Homestead' | Dec. 20 | Angel Studios

Want to avoid supporting Hollywood all together? Angel Studios has you covered with family-friendly apocalyptic thriller "Homestead."

When a bomb goes off in Los Angeles, a former Green Beret and other survivors take refuge from the ensuing societal collapse at an eccentric prepper’s mountain fortress. The group must overcome threats of violence and scarce resources to protect their own.

Neal McDonough, fresh off his last Angel Studios film, "The Shift," leads a cast that includes Dawn Olivieri, Bailey Chase, and Olivia Sanabia. "Homestead" — which will spin off into a series for the Angel Studios streaming service — continues the studio's tradition of wholesome, well-made entertainment for those fed up with mainstream excesses.

It may not be the holly-est, jolliest film to be hitting theaters, but the exceptional talent involved should make it an offbeat Yuletide treat.

Here are some lesser-known titles you may want to keep an eye on this Christmas.

'That Christmas' | Dec. 4 | Netflix

Based on the book by Richard Curtis: A blizzard hits a seaside town, setting off intertwined tales of family, friends, love, and loneliness — and Santa making a big mistake. Starring Bill Nighy, Guz Khan, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, and Brian Cox as Santa. Directed by Simon Otto.

'Werewolves' | Dec. 6 | Briarcliff Entertainment

Two scientists try to stop a mutation that turns people into werewolves after being touched by a supermoon the year before. Starring Frank Grillo, Katrina Law, Lou Diamond Phillips, and IIfenesh Hadera. Directed by Steven C. Miller.

'Nightbitch' | Dec. 6 | Searchlight Pictures

An artist who pauses her career to be a stay-at-home mom seeks a new chapter in her life and encounters just that when her nightly routine takes a surreal turn and her maternal instincts begin to manifest in canine form. Starring Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Zoe Chao, Mary Holland, and Jessica Harper. Directed by Marielle Heller.

'The Order' | Dec. 6 | Vertical Entertainment

A string of violent robberies in the Pacific Northwest leads veteran FBI agent Terry Husk (Jude Law) to a white supremacist group that plans to overthrow the federal government. Also starring Nicholas Hoult, Jurnee Smollett, Tye Sheridan, Alison Oliver, and Marc Maron. Directed by Justin Kurzel.

'The Return' | Dec. 6 | Bleecker Street Media

A retelling of Homer’s "Odyssey:" After 20 years away, Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognizable. The king finds much has changed since he left to fight in the Trojan War. His beloved wife, Penelope (Juliette Binoche), is a prisoner in her own home and hounded to choose a new husband. Their son faces death at the hands of suitors who see him as an obstacle in their pursuit of Penelope and the kingdom. Odysseus is no longer the mighty warrior his people remember, but he must face his past to save his family. Also starring Charlie Plummer, Amir Wilson, Jaz Hutchins, Tom Rhys Harries, and Marwan Kenzari. Directed by Uberto Pasolini.

'Y2K' | Dec. 6 | A24

On the last night of 1999, two high school juniors crash a New Year's Eve party, only to find themselves fighting for their lives when Y2K becomes a reality. Starring Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, Julian Dennison, Kyle Mooney (who also directs), Alicia Silverstone, and Fred Durst.

'Mary' | Dec. 6 | Netflix

A retelling of the life of Mary, mother of Jesus, and the birth of Jesus Christ. In this timeless coming-of-age story, Mary is shunned following an otherworldly conception and forced to flee when Herod's insatiable thirst for power ignites a murderous pursuit of the newborn. Starring Noa Cohen, Ido Tako, Stephanie Nur, Mili Avital, and Anthony Hopkins as King Herod. Directed by D.J. Caruso.

'Maria' | Dec. 11 | Netflix

Famed opera singer Maria Callas (Angelina Jolie) retreats to Paris in the 1970s after a glamorous yet tumultuous life in the public eye. Also starring Haluk Bilginer, Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Valeria Golino, and Caspar Phillipson as John F. Kennedy. Directed by Pablo Larraín.

'Carry On' | Dec. 13 | Netflix

A mysterious traveler blackmails Ethan Kopek, a young TSA officer, to let a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Day flight. But Ethan is not so easily persuaded to let this traveler’s sinister holiday plans go unstopped. Starring Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman, Logan Marshall-Green, Sofia Carson, Theo Rossi, and Dean Norris. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra.

'Babygirl' | Dec. 25 | A24

A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with a much younger intern. Starring Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas, and Sophie Wilde. Directed by Halina Reijn.

Complete list by date:

"That Christmas" | Dec. 4
"Werewolves" | Dec. 6
"Nightbitch" | Dec. 6
"The Order" | Dec. 6
"The Return" | Dec. 6
"Y2K" | Dec. 6
"Mary" | Dec. 6
"Maria" | Dec. 11
"Kraven the Hunter" | Dec. 12
"The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" | Dec. 13
"Carry On" | Dec. 13
"Mufasa: The Lion King" | Dec. 20
"Sonic the Hedgehog 3" | Dec. 20
"Homestead" | Dec. 20
"Nosferatu" | Dec. 25
"Babygirl" | Dec. 25
"A Complete Unknown" | Dec. 25

'SNL' blasted for 'absolutely disgusting' jokes on 'Weekend Update' in relation to fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO

"Saturday Night Live" took a beating for "absolutely disgusting" jokes — as one commenter put it — on its latest "Weekend Update" segment in relation to the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week.

"Weekend Update" led its segment Saturday with jokes in connection with the fatal shooting in Manhattan.

'Disgusting. I couldn’t watch this segment. The victim’s family and friends are very much grieving right now.'

“This week, New York City officials sent a tough message on crime: ‘If you shoot somebody in the middle of the street, you better get on your bike, hop on a bus, and get the heck out of here, mister,’” co-host Colin Jost quipped to begin the segment — to quite a bit of laughter.

Jost continued: “The manhunt continues for the assassin who gunned down the CEO of UnitedHealthcare on Wednesday, and it really says something about America that a guy was murdered in cold blood and the two main reactions were, ‘Yeah, well, health care stinks!’ And also, ‘Girl, that shooter hot.'”

Jost added with an incredulous giggle that the suspect "just bicycled away" after the shooting: "Probably because they have every cop in the city guarding our Christmas tree." The Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Plaza took place hours after the shooting.

“The NYPD now believes the suspect left the city on a bus from Port Authority," Jost also said. "Uh, thanks, but a Port Authority passenger who looks like a murderer actually widens the search."

With that, Michael Che took over and said, “New York City police say that they were able to get the smiling picture of the suspect after the man apparently was caught on camera at a local hostel flirting with a female employee, whose name has been reported as, ‘Lucky S. Bechalive.'"

Despite the consistent laughter the co-hosts' jokes elicited, a number of other folks didn't take kindly to their humor.

“Disgusting. I couldn’t watch this segment. The victim’s family and friends are very much grieving right now,” one observer wrote beneath a YouTube video of the segment, according to the New York Post.

“Agreed," another commenter responded, the Post noted. "I don’t usually watch SNL, and I can see by the segment and comments supporting it that I will no longer be watching it. Joking about someone’s murder like that is absolutely disgusting… a family is grieving right now."

The paper added that a X user wrote, “Classless."

You can view the "Weekend Update" segment here.

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Blaze News exclusive: 'I've attended these parties': Former Diddy protégé recalls 'dark hours' with 'extra activities'

A hip-hop artist who was previously signed to Sean "Diddy" Combs' record label revealed his experience at the infamous parties that have become the center of federal investigations.

Diddy was raided by federal authorities in March 2024, with subsequent accusations against the record producer ranging from sexual assault to poisoning. Diddy has denied all charges against him, and these claims have not been proven in court.

'I come from Philly, and the culture is different here. Muslim culture. So we really don't get into, you know, the Baphomet [worship] and the shady practices of the industry business.'

Rapper E. Ness, who usually goes by just Ness (born Lloyd Mathis), spoke exclusively to Blaze News about his time on Diddy's Bad Boy Records.

'Another time zone'

Ness was signed to the label under Universal Records after competing in the MTV hit show "Making the Band 2," winning a spot in the hip-hop group called Da Band in 2002. Around 2006, Ness signed under Warner Atlantic Music Group as a solo artist but still with Diddy's label.

While Ness initially described his relationship with Diddy as "strictly professional" and akin to an apprenticeship, he revealed that it was obvious there were some events happening at his boss' parties that went against his beliefs.

"I've attended these parties," Ness confirmed. "There's a certain time where the standardized party ends, and then you enter to another time zone where the extra activities occur."

When asked if he was permitted to stay in the later hours of the party, or if it was for an inner circle only, Ness explained that it wasn't a matter of permission.

"Most of the times, I'm partying out to the point that I don't even make it into those dark hours where it becomes, you know, spooky."

"Me, I'm just a street guy from a smaller home, and I just was brought up a little bit different," he continued. "When I'm tired, I'm tired. When I'm curious, I'm curious. And when I'm not, I'm not."

The Philadelphia native added that at a certain time of night, he was typically ready to leave if he felt he had "stayed long enough" or "outstayed" his welcome.

The price of fame

Ness mentioned multiple times that his beliefs and upbringing meant he wasn't willing to participate in certain activities. While he didn't describe what the "extra activities" were in relation to Diddy's parties, he touched on the disturbing aspects regarding why his time in the spotlight seemingly ended.

"There was never a fallout [with the label]," Ness affirmed, answering rumors that he was on poor terms with Bad Boy Records.

"It's just some things that some certain artists do that ... other artists aren't willing to do," he went on.

After briefly contemplating, Ness again stated it wasn't worth it to him to sacrifice his beliefs for success.

"Basically, what I wanna say is, once you get to a certain level of success, you have people from the hierarchy approach you about which direction you wanna go to. If you wanna stay a subpar, mid-tier-level artist, or you wanna become a full-fledged superstar."

He continued, "I come from Philly and the culture is different here. Muslim culture. So we really don't get into, you know, the Baphomet [worship] and the shady practices of the industry business."

After so casually mentioning Baphomet, a deity from the Knights Templar that is colloquially used to portray Satanic beliefs, Ness eventually recited what he was told regarding the underbelly of celebrity.

"I was around certain people, and they would pull my coattail, pull me to the side, kind of explain to me the, I would say, the steps you would have to take to allow yourself to be approached to enter into that new level."

Lighting a cigar, Ness cited freemasonry while remembering he was told that if the "next step" is taken, "There's no questions asked."

"Looking back on it, there's other ways that you could prove yourself to these people: sacrifice, public humiliation, and same-sex [intercourse]."

"It's just too much for the price of fame. And I wasn't willing to pay that price at that time," he pondered.

Ness called these requirements "evil," while adding an artist's success should be based on talent, without the musician having to "compromise" themselves in any way.

Lloyd 'E. Ness' Mathis (left), with Sean 'Diddy' Combs, and Jayceon 'The Game' Taylor (right) at BB King for Justo's Mixtape Awards in New York City, New York, on March 9, 2005. Photo by Julia Beverly/Getty Images

'Diddy Do It?'

Despite his industry experience and "activities" he could only speculate on, Ness said his relationship with Diddy never had any "weird energy."

"I never seen a lot of the things that he's being accused of. Yeah, he was a shrewd businessman and sometimes, you know, he could be emotional and bark at people, but that just comes with the headaches and the everyday obstacles of putting out fires in the music business."

Outside of music, Ness said he never saw "any sexual deviance," and his relationship with Diddy was kept professional.

He called the music mogul a "jack of all trades but a master of none," doing whatever it took to get the job done. Whether that was getting on the phone, mixing music, or making sure hair is styled properly, Diddy "always moved the chains."

Diddy's work ethic sounded admirable, but he was always in a cutthroat pursuit to deliver numbers "at all costs."

In that vein, Ness recalled how Diddy treated the MTV show that originated his fame. He described it as a stepping stone for Diddy to prove that he was capable of putting out a hit show, and his attentiveness to the music that he was to promote gradually faded.

Ness claimed the success of "Making the Band 2" allowed Diddy to make a plethora of new shows, like "I Want to Work for Diddy" and "P. Diddy's Starmaker."

While Ness' new song "Diddy Do It?" is purposefully capitalizing off headlines and his past, he said the lyrics are meant to poke fun at celebrity in general and how quickly a star can be taken down by the industry.

"You can be reverent and celebrated and praised for 20, 30 years. And then, as soon as you ruffle feathers, you could be attacked, and your empire can come crumbl[ing] down."

Ness concluded, "It's almost like putting up a mirror at the same success that young black Americans strive to get in the status quo. It's the same thing that ultimately could break you and send you right back to a dark place that you don't wanna be."

Ness has amassed nearly 250,000 Instagram followers and can be seen in battle raps all across the country.

Was Lincoln gay? New doc conscripts American icon to LGBT cause

Abraham Lincoln holds a mythic position in the American consciousness. He’s respected across the political spectrum. He redrew America’s social contract and self-image. And because he led the country through the Civil War and abolition, he’s now accorded a status befitting a Greek god, cast in bronze and marble.

Lincoln is essential to the American social contract, which makes him essential to any political cause seeking to reframe the national project. He’s criticized by “woke” leftists and alt-righters as a symbol of the neo-liberal consensus and used as a symbol of equality and unity by those in power.

One of the saddest things about the modern world is that the concept of close male friendship has functionally been destroyed.

It’s no surprise, then, that the LGBT movement would come to claim him as well. While no American presidents have ever been openly "gay" as such, a handful have attracted questions concerning their sexual proclivities. Lincoln’s predecessor James Buchanan, for example, was America’s only bachelor president, a pink flag for certain historians looking to "out" him.

Lincoln's outsized stature naturally makes him a far more tempting catch. As transgender and gay issues increasingly dominate the discourse, there have been more than a few attempts to use speculation about Lincoln’s private life and vague comments in his letters to canonize our 16th president as an official "queer" icon.

A deliberate provocation

A recent documentary boldly announces its intention in its blunt title: "Lover of Men: The Untold Story of Abraham Lincoln."

The film was released this fall to general praise from the press and backlash from conservative media. The filmmakers mostly laughed off said backlash, telling the Hollywood Reporter that they were “thrilled” that Ben Shapiro, Alex Jones, and Elon Musk were furious about it. “The reason that they notice the film is because it is compelling. This story is provocative,” said director Shaun Peterson.

The case "Lover of Men" makes goes roughly like this: Lincoln had very close relationships with multiple men throughout his adult life, relationships that were arguably more intimate than traditional friendships. He shared beds with men for months or years at a time, revealed details of his sex life to them in letters, and openly expressed his deep emotional connection to them.

The film essentially argues that Lincoln was LGBT avant la lettre, living an identity that would today be recognized as "queer," "fluid," or "non-conforming." Whether Lincoln actually had sex with any of these men is largely immaterial.

Strange bedfellows

"Lover of Men" dismisses most of the immediate rebuttals with a shrug; the first among them being that beds in the 19th century were expensive and scarce, and it wasn’t uncommon for inns to assign multiple men to a bed or for male friends to share beds.

Peterson's argument relies upon the common modern assumption that intimacy and sexuality are deeply entwined things. The possibility that two men would share deep affection without any hint of the erotic is mostly overlooked because the alternative soundbite — Lincoln was gay! — proves irresistible.

Ironically, Peterson's eagerness to reach this conclusion tells us more about the America of today than it does about Lincoln's era. One of the saddest things about the modern world is that the concept of close male friendship has functionally been destroyed. Even progressive feminists will admit that one of the privileges women enjoy is the ability to form intimate, non-sexual relationships without any hint of Eros.

Men consequently tend to be lonelier than women and have more trouble intimately bonding.

Part of this can be attributed to a decline in fraternal organizations, with most male-only organizations now admitting women. Part of it is also the growing masculine insecurity with being perceived as unmasculine.

The erosion of male friendship

Still, the pernicious influence of the LGBT lobby's tendency to cast public male intimacy as gay should not be underestimated. One needs only recall the particularly fanciful attempts to affirm the secret, sexual passion between "Lord of the Rings" protagonists Frodo and Sam, despite all evidence to the contrary, not least of which is author J.R.R. Tolkien's devout Catholicism.

The result is a negative feedback loop. Men have fewer and fewer opportunities to express themselves. They are criticized for not being emotional; at the same time, any emotional expression is seized upon as evidence of homosexuality.

Tolkien's close friend C.S. Lewis, himself a target of LGBT revisionists, diagnosed the problem more than 60 years ago in his book "The Four Loves": “Those who cannot conceive Friendship as a substantive love but only as a disguise or elaboration of Eros betray the fact that they have never had a Friend. The rest of us know that though we can have erotic love and friendship for the same person yet in some ways nothing is less like a Friendship than a love affair.”

Was Lincoln "closeted"? It's certainly possible — but it seems likely that the claim is beyond proving. "Lover of Men" takes this as reason enough to indulge its speculation. As one interviewee argues, “If the naysayers had their way, there wouldn’t be a gay history because you couldn’t prove it.”

And yet "Lover of Men" is not content to settle for the past. Appropriating Lincoln’s life as a story of repressed homosexuality is a means to entrenching the LGBT movement's power in the present; one commentator goes so far as to say the 14th Amendment should be extended to Americans identifying as transgender.

Whatever one's personal opinions on the matter, using Lincoln as a vehicle for modern-day activism in this way is bad history. We don’t know the secrets of Lincoln’s cloistered heart, and neither do the historians Peterson has assembled. We should be happy to admit our ignorance; some things are meant to remain a mystery.

Bill Maher: I've run out of Trump jokes!

How does a wannabe blockbuster deal with bad buzz?

You start by giving away the movie for free or at least the first eight minutes.

'I did all the Trump stuff before anybody. I called him a con man before anyone, I did "he’s a mafia boss," I was the one who said he wasn’t going to concede the election, I’ve done it.'

“Kraven the Hunter,” which gives us the origin of the titular pelt-wearing Spider-Man nemesis, got bumped around the release schedule thanks to the dueling Hollywood strikes.

Oh, and the film’s trailer didn’t exactly light a fire under most potential moviegoers.

Now, Sony is offering a free look at the film’s opening scene before its Dec. 20 release date. See? It’s not so bad, right?

The film’s star is also doing his best to flush out elusive fans.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, rumored to be in the running for the next 007, told ScreenRant.com readers to ignore the rumors and take the ride.

“So really come see this movie, man. Come see this movie. I promise you it won't disappoint. It's got all the beats that you want and more. I think it could be an audience’s sort of villain favorite, definitely go toe-to-toe with some other people down the line, man."

Sounds sincere, no? At least it’s better than telling audiences they should “never know peace.”

Gender-gypped

Woke is getting pummeled of late following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory. This development won’t help.

Some minor league awards shows have gone gender neutral with their categories, a sign of the oh, so progressive times. That means the best performer wins in each category, not the best male actor or actress.

Can you sense where this is going?

The recent Gotham Awards honored three men with acting trophies, leaving the female performers behind. Most mainstream media outlets ignored that inconvenient truth, but World of Reel (a more honest, rebellious site) mentioned it.

The folks behind the annual Oscar telecast have flirted with the gender-neutral concept without committing to the practice. Here’s betting the Gotham scenario likely put a dent in those plans.

Greer's 'Family' fumble

Regrets, actress Judy Greer has a few.

One, really. A really, really big one.

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” star revealed that she passed up an audition to play Claire Dunphy on ABC’s “Modern Family.” She feared the matriarch role would typecast her.

“In a movie, people kind of see it and then they forget. In a TV show, it’s just like, you’re a mom. That’s it.”

The show went on to earn two Emmys for the eventual Claire Dunphy, Julie Bowen. “Modern Family” ran for 11 celebrated seasons and became one of TV’s funniest sitcoms.

There’s no guarantee Greer would have landed the part, of course. She had a good shot, though. She’s a deeply underrated performer and excels in comic roles. Consider her recurring part on “Arrested Development” as exhibit A.

Full of quit

Don’t go, Bill!

The host of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” hinted he might quit the long-running show rather than deal with four more years of President Trump. Here’s what he confessed to his podcast show’s guest Jane Fonda.

“I’m s****ing my pants. I mean, I may quit because I don’t want to do another ... I did all the Trump stuff before anybody. I called him a con man before anyone, I did ‘he’s a mafia boss,’ I was the one who said he wasn’t going to concede the election, I’ve done it.”

There’s something healthy about Maher’s approach. Political jokes can get stale over time. Remember all the “President Clinton is randy” gags following Monica Gate? What about the dumb Dubya bits that flowed during President George W. Bush’s two terms in office?

Maher recognizes it’s harder to find something new to say and share about Trump this time around. Or maybe he’s just as much a sore loser as Rob Reiner, who confessed he checked into a “facility” following Election Day.

Maher would be better served by digging beneath Trump’s blustery surface and mocking the mogul’s oh, so mockable critics. And he’s capable of doing just that.

The comic is one of the few honest brokers on late-night TV. He’s routinely lashed out at woke overreach, mocked the left’s embrace of policies that frighten most voters, and stood tall for free speech when others took a knee.

You can’t go, Bill! Late-night TV needs someone who isn’t on the DNC payroll.

Documentary 'The Philadelphia Eleven': Mythmaking for a dying Christian denomination

Of all the divisions troubling Protestantism today, perhaps none is as hotly debated as women’s ordination.

All seven mainline Protestant denominations have adopted the practice, while evangelical and fundamentalist denominations have defiantly refused to entertain the notion on biblical grounds.

Even progressives in the church were apprehensive about this direct assault on the 'patriarchal' status quo, fearing that it would undermine the legitimacy of the church.

Scripture seems to speak quite clearly on women’s capacity for leadership in 1 Timothy 2:12. As St. Paul writes, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man."

But as advocates for women’s ordination argue, female religious leaders in the New Testament like Phoebe, Priscilla, Lydia, and Mary seemed to hold positions of greater respect than St. Paul suggests. Many point out that Phoebe is described as a deacon or deaconess (diakonos) in Romans, which would suggest that there was a model of female authority within the church.

However, the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, which claim apostolic succession and a direct ecclesiastical connection to the apostles, are defiantly against the practice and defend male-only holy orders as the orthodox teaching of the church.

On July 29, 1974, 11 female priests were ordained in the Episcopal Church. The act was largely symbolic, but real change soon followed. Those ordinations became legitimate in 1976 when the House of Bishops conditionally recognized them.

In response, hundreds of parishes broke away from the Episcopal Church as part of the Continuing Anglican movement, paving the way for the founding of the rival Anglican Church in North America in 2009. Ironically enough, that denomination is now split over women’s ordination.

Margo Guernsey’s new documentary “The Philadelphia Eleven” commemorates the 50th anniversary of this watershed moment through interviews with several of the surviving 11.

It’s clear that Guernsey sees women’s ordination as a righteous act of liberationist defiance progress; these women, she writes, “provide a vision for what a just and inclusive community looks like in practice.”

The women in the film depict their quest for greater female participation in the church as inspired by the civil rights movement. It was also an act of “obedience to the Spirit,” which took precedence over adherence to tradition.

The film admits how radical this was. Even progressives in the church were apprehensive about this direct assault on the “patriarchal” status quo, fearing that it would undermine the legitimacy of the church.

In retrospect, it’s clear that their fears were justified.

The ceremony caused extensive turmoil within the Episcopal Church. Several clergy involved had their careers severely damaged. Dozens of bishops and priests condemned the ceremony as an illegal farce, even as the women publicly defended their ordinations as valid. One quoted St. Paul during a television appearance: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

It did little good in the short term, as none of the woman were able to find positions. Ultimately, however, they won. By 1988, the Episcopal Church would even ordinate its first female bishop.

“Half of the human population was acknowledged as being important enough to take on one of the strongest institutions in the world,” said Philadelphia 11 member Nancy Wittig.

That’s certainly one way to look at it. Another way is to acknowledge that the institution Wittig and her cohort defeated is now but a shadow of its former self.

The Episcopal Church has continued down the path the Philadelphia 11 set it on, abandoning traditional Christian teaching on other issues like sexuality and abortion. It revised its canons to the point that bishops aren’t allowed to deny women’s ordinations.

The church now is deeply committed to social justice and tolerance, and it does much admirable work in trying to address many of the world’s wrongs. But it is also on the precipice of demographic collapse and will functionally cease to exist by 2040.

The Philadelphia 11 may have turned the tide against the patriarchy within their church and given women permission to be priests, but the resulting schism may prove too deeply wounding to celebrate their victory beyond the passing of this generation. It leaves a film like “ThePhiladelphia Eleven” balancing awkwardly over the abyss.

How ‘Gladiator II’ Rejected Masculinity

In 'Gladiator,' Maximus embodied masculinity in the highest order. In 'Gladiator II,' masculinity is treated like a bad joke.

No regrets for Hamas-happy 'Scream' queen

Boo-hoo, Melissa.

Actress Melissa Barrera is opening up about her brief Hollywood exile following some ghastly comments said after Oct. 7.

'We haven’t seen this before in our country. So Americans who don’t travel, who 80% don’t have a passport, who are uneducated, are in their extraordinary naivete.'

The “Scream” star appeared to be Hollywood’s next “It” girl before she took a side in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

That cost her a part in “Scream 7” and appeared to chase some studios away.

“It was quiet for, like, 10 months ... I was still getting offers for small things here and there – I’m not going to lie and say there was nothing — but [the message] was, like, ‘Oh, she probably doesn’t have work, she’ll say yes to anything.’”

What did she say? She called Israeli’s counterattack against Hamas “genocide and ethnic cleansing” and suggested the Jews control the media.

She currently has three new projects in the works, for what it’s worth. Some exile.

Now, compare that to conservative actors who face years of shunning for sharing conservative thoughts. Think Kevin Sorbo, James Woods, and many more.

Sorry, “Scream” queen. We’ll save our sympathies for them ...

Stiller not sorry

Ben Stiller admits comedians work with cultural handcuffs today.

Yes, cancel culture isn’t as muscular as in recent years, and the woke mind virus has taken some body blows of late. Take a bow, Christopher Rufo, Robby Starbuck, and Matt Walsh.

Still, comic actors have to tread carefully when trying to crack us up. Stiller said as much while reflecting on his celebrated 2008 comedy “Tropic Thunder.” The film’s politically incorrect yuks are legendary, including Robert Downey Jr. donning blackface to play a vain actor desperate for Oscar fame and fortune.

Obviously, in this environment, edgier comedy is just harder to do. ... Definitely not at the scale we made it at, too, in terms of the economics of the business. I think even at the time we were fortunate to get it made, and I credit that, actually, to Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks. He read it and was like, ‘All right, let’s make this thing.’ It’s a very inside movie when you think about it.

He's right, of course. Stiller also refuses to publicly apologize for making the film, no small measure given the cultural pressures facing him. Remember, blackface sitcom episodes were memory-holed in the wake of George Floyd’s 2020 death.

Still, wouldn’t a better reaction be to do it all over again? Make another raucous comedy that’s smart, satirical, and hits below the belt. Stiller has the clout to do it, the celebrity Rolodex, and the wit.

Don’t just lament the cultural scolds. Defy them ...

Stone cold

At least she didn’t call us “Deplorables.”

Actress Sharon Stone lashed out at the election results by insulting more than half the nation.

“We haven’t seen this before in our country. So Americans who don’t travel, who 80% don’t have a passport, who are uneducated, are in their extraordinary naivete.”

Now, let’s see if she follows that up by making good on her threat to leave the country under a Trump 2.0 administration. We may lose a third “Basic Instinct,” but somehow we’ll survive ...

Diddy's OJ play

It’s the only card he has left.

Sean Combs played the Race Card™ during his latest legal maneuver to avoid decades of jail time. The superstar singer/actor/producer is facing charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, part of an elaborate lifestyle that was covered up for far too long.

Suddenly, his infamous “freak-off” parties and lavish lifestyle are under new, withering scrutiny, and his future looks bleak. So he charged his legal team with slamming the prosecution as being racially motivated.

"The government’s arguments that asking his children to post birthday wishes on Instagram and that he is not entitled to publicly express his opinion that this prosecution is racially motivated are, quite simply, an unconstitutional effort to silence him,” read a letter to the court on his legal team’s behalf.

This could be the trial of the new century, and it’s already taking a page from the O.J. Simpson playbook ...

Are you not entertained?

They just can’t help themselves.

Hollywood stars just can't resist making everything about President-elect Donald Trump

Legendary director Ridley Scott is the latest to catch DJT fever, comparing a villain in “Gladiator 2” to the 45th and 47th president.

Denzel Washington’s Macrinus proves formidable in the Hollywood sequel, a power broker who uses the heroic main character played by Paul Mescal for his own nefarious purposes.

He evolved into a very rich merchant selling s*** to the Roman armies — food, oil, wine, cloth, weapons, everything. He maybe had a million men spread around Europe. So he was a billionaire at the time, so why wouldn’t he [have ambitions toward the throne]? ‘Why not me?’ He’s also a gangster — very close to Trump. A clever gangster. He creates chaos and from chaos he can evolve.

Whatever you say, Ridley. The rest of us are over here munching our popcorn and trying to escape from the 24-hour news cycle.