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Indie Pop Band MUNA Isn’t Scared to Celebrate Pride Amid Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation

The musician band MUNA exemplifies their unwavering commitment to the LGBTQ+ community by prioritizing the commemoration of Pride Month, even amidst…

Sumila Tuladhar

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The musician band MUNA exemplifies their unwavering commitment to the LGBTQ+ community by prioritizing the commemoration of Pride Month, even amidst their demanding schedule.

On June 1, 2023, MUNA performed on the stage at New York City’s historic Stonewall Inn. Their performance was a significant part of the annual Pride kick-off event presented by Jägermeister, symbolizing MUNA’s steadfast support and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.

Likewise, their performance added significance due to the backdrop of over 490 bills currently being considered by the U.S. government, specifically targeting LGBTQ+ rights. 

The organizers also intentionally booked MUNA for the show, recognizing the importance of their presence and message in the face of these challenging circumstances.

After their impactful performance, MUNA member Naomi McPherson expressed to People, “What better and more iconic way to ring in the month than by doing this?”

McPherson also noted that Pride month felt different this year, expressing, “It’s jarring to think about our journey over the past 10 years and how much more dystopian things have gotten for queer people.”

MUNA is a huge supporter of the LGBTQ+ community.

MUNA is a huge supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. (Source: Instagram)

Similarly, Stacy Lentz, co-owner of the bar and CEO of its nonprofit organization, the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, stated, “It’s really important for the younger generation to understand what happened here in 1969 at Stonewall. We could have those rights taken away.”

He added, “That’s why it was important to get an up-and-coming, amazing, top-notch young group with so many followers out there that people love to come and perform at this event. We’re raising awareness about this horrific legislation that’s happening.”

Moreover, MUNA recently concluded a nationwide tour supporting their self-titled 2022 album, with a significant number of their shows taking place in states where LGBTQ+ individuals are facing targeted legislation.

However, band member Katie Galvin noted that audiences had shown remarkable resilience despite the legislative bullying and targeted harm faced by many queer people outside of concert venues.

Galvin also recognized the unfortunate reality of individuals being displaced from their communities. She mentioned the heart-wrenching situations in states like Texas, where families are being torn apart, and children are being separated from parents who support their transitions.

In agreement with their bandmate, McPherson acknowledged that a significant portion of their audience comprises open-minded and dedicated younger fans. They expressed optimism that, with this generation, an artist’s queerness would become inconsequential in determining their mainstream appeal.

McPherson also strongly emphasizes the significance of queer individuals finding community. He highlighted the importance of building systems of care that will provide support during challenging times.  

After their performance at the Stonewall Inn, MUNA resumed their touring duties alongside Swift on the Eras Tour. On June 4, 2023, they delighted their Chicago hometown with a show. The band eagerly anticipates future tour stops in Ohio, Missouri, and Colorado, as the entire experience has been an absolute blast for them.

Furthermore, reflecting on the Stonewall Inn event, member Josette Maskin shared her admiration, stating, “Watching the Taylor show is a lesson in being the best musician alive.”

Maskin expressed gratitude for the opportunity to witness and perform alongside Swift, emphasizing the warm reception from Taylor’s fans, who have been incredibly gracious.

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Fans Shocked as Zoe LaVerne Reveals Her Parents Are Siblings but It’s Not Incest

Social media sensation Zoe LaVerne left her fans shocked when she revealed during a live session that both of her parents are siblings. However, Zoe…

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Social media sensation Zoe LaVerne left her fans shocked when she revealed during a live session that both of her parents are siblings. 

However, Zoe quickly clarified that despite the familial connection, she does not consider it incestuous. 

She explained, “So my mom and my dad, because like my dad and my mom Debbie, since they are siblings, it sounds incest but it’s not. It’s really confusing to talk about.” 

As expected, Zoe’s live confession spread like wildfire across various online platforms, with tea pages, such as teatoktalk, sharing the video on their pages. 

The moment viewers caught wind of the video, they wasted no time expressing their opinions, with one fan commenting, “girl, it’s definitely incest.” 

Another exclaimed, “tf she means it’s not incest when they’re literally siblings who had children together.” LaVerne’s revelation seemed to have divided her audience, with some questioning her explanation.

However, amidst the wave of criticism, some fans stepped forward to defend LaVerne and shed more light on the situation. 

Fans' reaction after Zoe LaVerne revealed her parents are siblings.

Fans’ reaction after Zoe LaVerne revealed her parents are siblings. (Source: Instagram)

One supporter highlighted, “Y’all, her mom is her aunt who adopted her. She didn’t explain it very well, but let’s not be weird about this.” 

Another fan chimed in, saying, “Guys, she talked about it a long time ago. Her mother died because of alcohol abuse, as I remember, and her auntie adopted her and took care of her, and Zoe calls her mom.”

The following comment read, “Her “mom” is her aunt that had to take custody of her, not her biological mother. Her wording was very weird and an explanation on her part would’ve been good…”

A look at Zoe LaVerne’s family

LaVerne’s adoptive parents’ names are Debbie Pemberton, originally her aunt, and Douglas Wright. Additionally, she has two brothers: her biological brother, Eric Pemberton, and her stepbrother, Cameron.

LaVerne cherishes her relationships with her family, taking the time to express gratitude to them, especially to her mother.

Zoe LaVerne and her mother Debbie Pemberton.

Zoe LaVerne and her mother, Debbie Pemberton. (Source: zoexlaverne/Instagram)

On January 23, 2023, she wished her mother a Happy Birthday by posting several pictures on her Instagram and calling her “best friend.”

She expressed, “happy birthday to my best friend. i love you so so much mom. it breaks my heart that you don’t know it’s your birthday but all that matter is you’re here with us. i love you.”

Similarly, on May 14, 2023, on the occasion of Mother’s Day, the social media star took to Instagram to share a lovely picture with her mother, Debbie and wrote a heartfelt message.

She wrote, “happy mother’s day to this woman right here. i love you more than words can ever explain. thank you for everything you have ever done for me. you deserve the world.”

On May 17, 2021, LaVerne wished her father a Happy Birthday by posting a picture of her and her father and expressing that she loves her very much.

Zoe LaVerne’s biological parents were drug addicts

During a live session, LaVerne opened up about her difficult past and revealed that her biological parents were drug addicts. 

She expressed her frustration at the video being leaked without her consent, as she had chosen not to share this part of her story yet. 

LaVerne emphasized that her mom, Debbie, who adopted her at birth, is her true mother, even though she may not be her birth mother. 

Her biological mother, Melinda, and her biological father, Billy, struggled with addiction, and Melinda even considered having abortions. 

However, Debbie fought for LaVerne’s custody and won, providing her with a loving home and support. 

She expressed her gratitude for her adoptive parents, as they have been there for her since the beginning and have played a significant role in shaping who she is today. 

LaVerne also shared the heartbreaking news that her biological mother was murdered when she was only three years old, while her father died of a drug overdose when she was around six or seven. 

Despite not knowing her biological parents personally, she acknowledged that her adoptive parents, Debbie and Douglas, are her true parents, as they provided her with love, care, and stable life. 

She praised Debbie for fighting to have her as her own and expressed her love and appreciation for the life she has been given. 

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Zoe LaVerne Gets Emotional Talking about Mom Whose Cancer Has Returned

Zoe LaVerne candidly spoke about the difficult and painful journey her family has been facing due to her mother, Debbie Pemberton’s health in a…

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Zoe LaVerne candidly spoke about the difficult and painful journey her family has been facing due to her mother, Debbie Pemberton’s health in a series of emotional videos. 

She began by apologizing for her vulnerability and assured her viewers that she didn’t want any sympathy but wanted to share her story because her mom would want her fans to know what was happening. 

She said, “I don’t want sympathy. I don’t want you to feel sorry for me. I genuinely just wanted to tell you guys this story because I know that a lot of you guys really loved my mom, and she would want you guys to know what’s going on.”

@zoelaverne

part 2 will be up after this.❤️

♬ original sound – Zoe LaVerne

Her life completely fell apart when her mom’s health started deteriorating in early November 2022. Her mom’s incapacity to use a coffee maker, which at first glance seemed like a harmless joke, turned out to be the first indication of a serious stroke.

Her right half of the brain was damaged during the stroke, which made it difficult for her to remember things and communicate. She, her mother, and her family set out on a difficult path, spending Christmas and Thanksgiving in the hospital.

Moreover, in January 2023, they received another devastating news– the return of her mother’s cancer. However, this time, her mother chose not to disclose her condition.

Zoe LaVerne and her mother Debbie Pemberton.

Zoe LaVerne and her mother Debbie Pemberton. (Source: Instagram)

LaVerne expressed, “In January of 2023, we found out that my mom had cancer again. And she didn’t tell anybody in the family that she had cancer. Nobody knew. And we all really think it was because she didn’t wanna do chemo or radiation anymore.”

Part 2 revealed the heartbreaking introduction of hospice care, indicating that her mother’s condition has worsened. LaVerne, at only 22 years old, grappled with the idea of losing her mom.

She talked about periods when she felt vulnerable and strong, and how her father gave her her mother’s medal as a priceless keepsake during these difficult times.

“They made it clear that she could die anytime soon. My dad last night gave me my mom’s medal as she always wore. And it really meant a lot to me because this is a very difficult time in my life right now,” she noted.

In the final part, she reflected on her mother’s strong connection with her online community and the role her mother played in motivating her to pursue social media. 

She acknowledged the support and prayers from her fans and the positive impact it has had on her mother’s condition, with her regaining some strength.

That being said, Pemberton, originally her aunt, and Douglas Wright adopted LaVerne when she was just a baby. During a live session, she insisted that despite Pemberton wasn’t her biological mother, she was her real mother.

Speaking about her biological parents, her mom, Melinda, was murdered, while her father, Billy, died of a drug overdose.

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Zara Larsson Reacts to Accusations of Using F Slur on TikTok

Zara Larsson, a Swedish pop singer, responded to accusations that she used a homophobic F slur to insult a TikToker and said she would leave the…

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Zara Larsson Reacts to Accusations of Using F Slur on TikTok

Zara Larsson, a Swedish pop singer, responded to accusations that she used a homophobic F slur to insult a TikToker and said she would leave the app.

In a recent TikTok video, Larsson responded to the allegations, telling her 1.4 million followers, “I hate that I have to do this.”

She said that the photograph was manipulated and that someone had created a replica of a phony comment that seemed to portray her uttering a gay slur.

The 25-year-old, who was preparing to celebrate her birthday at the time of the video, spoke to her fans while wearing a shawl. 

She confessed that she had received a ton of comments blaming her for penning the slur and said that the occurrence had “ruined TikTok” for her.

‘Ain’t My Fault’ singer started by saying, “Hey ya’ll. I’m getting ready to go out. It’s my birthday today. I hate that I have to do this, especially on my birthday. I’ve already talked about it twice in my story, but they disappeared.”

Larsson continued by saying that she refrained from using racial slurs. She claimed that she responded, “Yet here you are commenting,” to a person she didn’t know who commented, “You’re so irrelevant, your music sucks.”

Further, the singer added, “Sometimes I can’t hold my tongue, like I need to say something. He edited that comment saying I called him something else, which I didn’t do. Everyone who knows me knows I would never call someone a slur.”

She also wondered whether the post was still up, but the commenter had blocked her, and the singer had also done the same because she was “pissed.”

The artist said she used to enjoy TikTok but that “this has kind of ruined the experience for me,” adding that she would be taking a break from the social media site.

Zara Larsson.

Zara Larsson. (Source: zaralarsson/Instagarm)

Finally, in an effort to defend herself, she assured her supporters one last time that she was not the kind of person who would refer to someone else as an “F-slur” in a comment.

Although the modified image is nowhere to be discovered, many of her followers felt it was fake and defended her right away.

“You’re so kind and sweet and your fans know that you never would write something like that,” a fan noted.

This is not the first time Zara Larsson has been brought into controversy

Back in 2019, when Larsson claimed James Charles slipped into her ex-boyfriend Brian Whittaker’s social media DMs many times, she found herself in the middle of yet another homophobia controversy.

She tweeted, “I’m cackling cause he hit up my boyfriend in the dms several times knowing damn well he’s straight.”

Larsson made the remarks during Charles’ well-known public argument with Tati Westbrook, who charged the YouTuber with influencing people’s sexual orientation.

She was accused of indicating that the “LGBTQ family is predatory” before clarifying that Charles had only made one attempt to hit up Whittaker.

Later, Larsson apologized to Charles and said, “I’m sorry for sending all of the hate that James received in his direction. I’m sorry for not thinking about the consequences.”

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