The Week in Headlines: Cynthia Nixon, London Olympics & Rihanna | TQS Magazine

This week: Cynthia Nixon has added fuel to a nature vs nurture debate, Danny Boyle promises the Bard and a bell at the Olympics and a Rihanna-Roberts alliance breathes colour into televised fashion designer contests.

Cynthia Nixon labels her sexuality a ‘choice’

Sex and the City actress Cynthia Nixon caused outrage amongst gay rights groups this week after she claimed in a New York Times Magazine interview that being gay is a ‘choice’ for her. The actress, best known for playing Miranda Hobbes in the Sex and the City television series and films, said:

“I understand that for many people it’s not, but for me it’s a choice, and you don’t get to define my gayness for me.”

Nixon was in a 15 year relationship with Danny Mozes, father of two of her children, before she met her fiancée Christine Marinoni. The actress added:

“I say it doesn’t matter if we flew here or we swam here, it matters that we are here and we are one group and let us stop trying to make a litmus test for who is considered gay and who is not.”

I feel that Nixon makes a valid point that ‘it doesn’t matter if we flew here or we swam here’, but perhaps the US gay rights movement is still not in a stable position for the star to be adding potential ammunition to continuing anti-gay sentiment. We need only consider the anti-gay politics of US presidential candidate Rick Santorum and other political figures in the US, such as Michele Bachmann. When all is said and done, I completely agree that it shouldn’t matter whether one’s sexuality is innate or not. Unlike the Sex and the City star, I believe I was born gay. The only ‘choice’ involved was at 18 years old when I decided to lock lips with my best friend’s 28-year-old, male boss in the middle of a busy straight bar near my family home. With the mother of all hangovers, I ‘came out’ to my immediate family the next morning having known I’d liked men all my life. True story- an example of the spectrum of sexuality to which Nixon refers.

Shakespeare-inspired Theme Announced for London 2012 Olympics

The ‘Isles of Wonder’ theme of the opening and closing ceremonies for the London 2012 Olympics was announced by the games’ artistic director, British film director Danny Boyle. Boyle, of Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire fame, revealed in a BBC News interview that the theme is inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest and will feature a 27 tonne bell, cast by the foundry that made Big Ben, which will be inscribed with a quote from the Shakespeare play:

“Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises”

The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place on 27 July and will feature NHS staff, local school pupils and some 15,000 performers. The BBC reports that the Executive Director of the ceremonies, Steven Daldry- known for directing Billy Elliott- equates the scale of the ceremonies to producing 165 West End musicals at the same time.

Personally, I was more enthralled by the suggestion made by phoney Tweeter @Queen_ UK, who posted the bogus opinion of Her Majesty:

“The 2012 Olympic opening ceremony will be called “Isles of Wonder”, narrowly beating one’s personal favourite “The Empire Strikes Back”.”

Isles of Wonder could represent countless aspects of British culture and history. As such, I feel that Boyle might be cleverly withholding most of the details in order to leave us in suspense. The general concern is that the ceremonies will not live up to the astonishing shows of Beijing 2008 and the awe-inspiring whale illusion of the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010 (see link). Is there a chance that Boyle might alienate viewers from other nations with his focus on British humour? Will his Trainspotting-esque unique concepts feature heavily to the detriment of entertaining 80,000 spectators and a worldwide audience of four billion people? The pressure is on, Boyle. TQS are watching you.

Rihanna to produce new UK Talent Show for Fashion Designers

A new British television show, which will air on Sky Living, has been announced with Bajan singer Rihanna confirmed as the show’s executive producer. The show, which is yet to be named, will be hosted by Girls Aloud singer Nicola Roberts. Grazia reports that the competition will challenge aspiring designers to create the unique, outrageous designs with which Rihanna and Roberts have become synonymous.

Yes, you did read this correctly: Rihanna and the legendary Nicola Roberts in one program. I’m salivating. It is not yet confirmed how much Rihanna will appear in the show, but her creative input will undoubtedly bring some unique visions to a concept that was getting quite tired: Project Catwalk, Project Runway etc etc. Roberts told NY magazine that she was “so flattered” when Rihanna asked her to appear on the show. Expect an abundance of leather, fluorescence, studs and fashions that would make an Ann Summers assistant blush.

The show is scheduled to begin filming this summer. Aspiring contestants can find out more about the application process here.

To close the week: As promised, here are the whales of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremony. Take note, Danny Boyle:

Words: @J_fishman