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Evan Ross and Nelson Nieves, the New Faces (and Bodies) for K-Swiss

Actor and Hollywood "it" boy Evan Ross is the new face for K-Swiss apparel. This two-page ad spotted in the new GQ. In addition to the print campaign, Ross can also be spotted on the footwear manufacturer's website.

Ross can be currently seen in Life is Hot in Cracktown, cast opposite Kerry Washington's intense portrayal a drug-addicted pre-op transgender prostitute.

The Evan Ross campaign come as K-Swiss wraps its successful S/S 2009 campaign with Red Models' red hot Nelson Nieves, who walked in that fabulous Sean John runway show. The print and billboard campaign has created a buzz, oh, maybe because most of the images sport a bare-chested Nieves. WHEN YOU JUMP, for those who haven't already seen them, a few more images of Nelson Nieves. Only if you're into oh-so-hot Latin boyz with abs, pecs and some hair on their chest.

Evan Ross on Kerry Washington's Transgender Role in "Cracktown"

Evan Ross continues to impress. In a new interview with BET.com's Clay Cane, the actor and Hollywood "it" boy talks about his new role in the intense addiction drama Life is Hot in Cracktown. The film is based on Buddy Giovinazzo's collection of short stories by the same name and its directed by the author. Ross tells Cane: "I was taken aback by the script in general. I was surprised they were able to make something like this. It’s hard to get films made that are that dark."

Much of the film's buzz has been around Kerry Washington who plays a drug-addicted pre-op transgender prostitute. Ross says hers is the best role in the film: "Kerry Washington’s character and just her in general in the film .... I was so taken aback by her mannerisms and different things she was doing. You can tell she wasn’t thinking about it at all, it was so precise and amazing."

The actor later adds: "People can gain understanding of reality [from the film]. No matter where they are in life, no matter how much money they have and where they are coming from. We’re all trying to find out who we are. "

Evan Ross has chosen a number of edgy roles that have landed him on the critical radar. In 2007 the actor, who is the son of the iconic Diana Ross, played a self-destructive gay, HIV positive teenager in HBO's Life Support. Many critics said this was his best work so far.

AFTER THE JUMP, watch Evan Ross and Kerry Washington in the trailer for Life in Cracktown. There are two versions of the trailer. Enjoy.

Evan Ross on Playing "Gay"

Evan Ross continues to impress us with his sensitivity.

In a refreshingly candid interview, the current Hollywood "it" boy talks to the editors of The Advocate on his recent breakout role in HBO's Life Support. (Our review HERE.) Evan played "Amare", a self-destructive gay, HIV positive teenager. The character was not stereotypical or overtly sexual—and Ross appreciated the subtlety.

It was an interesting experience. I was excited about the role. I didn’t want to play it in a way where it would come off like, Wow, you can really tell [he’s gay] from the first time you see him. I just really wanted people to love Amare for who he was—and to have an understanding of what he was going through.

On Amare's relationship with Michael, the boyfriend who was on the "down-low":

Michael didn’t want to act like he was gay in any type of way. He didn’t want any part of that; he just wanted to be with Amare on a sexual level, so after his sister left him, Amare had no one. But Michael did care about him in the end.

Ross was asked the invariable question, vis a vis "what was it like playing a gay character?" Evan's answer is very intriguing because he framed it Evan within the context of young black gay men in the hip-hop gay culture: "It was a whole different side of things I hadn’t seen before. It was interesting and new, and I’m glad I got a chance to experience it. Even with the scene when I’m in the club and I have my hoodie on and I look over at a guy and I give him a look… It was interesting for me as an actor to see his reaction."

Moving along, confirmation of Evan Ross' "it" boy status can be found in the pages of next month's Interview, the holy grail for every young up-and-coming actor or model. In the feature, Evan models Dolce & Gabbana—seen at top—and discusses his role in Pride. Much of interview is about the impact of his father's death. "It kind of set off my acting career. I felt I needed a change." He also reveals his favorite song by his mother, the iconic Miss Diana Ross: "If We Hold On Together."

Life Support will be re-broadcast on Friday March 30 at 6:30P est. It is available 24/7 via HBO on Demand.

Pride can be seen at movie theaters from coast to coast. On their front page, IMDB is linking to Rod 2.0's review of the movie and our coverage of the "bulging" Speedo controversy. Your guess is as good as ours ...

Mr. Ross [Advocate.com]

You May Want to Read ...

Evan Ross in "Life Support" [R20] Nelson George on Evan Ross [R20] Bulging "Pride" [R20] First Look: "Pride" [R20]

Un-Bulging Pride

Has the fear of a bulge migrated from the censors at the Motion Picture Association of America to Chelsea?

Here's a snap taken at the downtown F Train station at Sixth Avenue and 23rd Street. The newly-revised posters for Pride display strategically-placed waves around the edges that conceal the bulging Speedo action by hotties Kevin Phillips and Evan Ross.

Maybe the improvised and MTA-approved posters are designed to comfort matrons heading back to Coney Island during the rush hour because Pride's electronic marketing is just the opposite. If you've watched Logo recently—many of you say you will not—it's difficult to escape trailer for the film, all showing plenty of skin. Same story at their affiliated websites—such as 365gay.com and AfterElton.

The outdoor advertising is totally different in Los Angeles, where Out.com's Shana Naomi spotted the gayest ad yet, where she says "Terrence Howard is literally assuming the position—bent over forward, hands on ankles."

Meanwhile, across the pond, our British cousins can't help but laugh at the puritanical, American response top these bulging Speedos. Mark Simpson—who coined the term "sporno" to describe sports and pornography for Out—has a fun term to describe the bulge phobia: Phalliban. "The penis-panics ‘point up’ something rather ticklish about the US phalliban—in its haste to shield America’s honour from the jaw-dropping, mind-reeling horror of the silhouette of men’s bits it merely reveals that Uncle Sam is thinking rather a lot about cock. Black and white and all the delicious shades in between."

Black Speedos, Black Pride and the American ‘Phalliban’ [Mark Simpson]

Terrence's Pride [Out.com]

You May Want to Read ...

Bulging "Pride" [R20] First Look: "Pride" [R20] Law & Order: Kevin Phillips [R20] DVD Review: "Glory Road" [R20] Pimpin' Aint Easy ... [R20] Evan Ross in "Life Support" [R20] Evan Ross in "Life Support" [R20] Noah's Arc Has Sailed [R20] Deal or No Deal? [R20]

Nelson George on Evan Ross

Earlier this week, we chatted up Evan Ross' dramatic turn in HBO's Life Support, which debuts tonight on HBO. It's a plumb role—Evan is cast as a gay, HIV positive drug user who also addresses the ongoing issues surrounding homophobia and violence toward young black LGBT persons.

Nelson George directs the project which is based upon the life of his sister. In an interview at After Elton, George echoes previous statements made here on the role of homophobia in increasing black HIV rates:

"If a more open and rational dialogue could be held in the black community around homophobia, I believe significant progress could be made in lowering the rates of new infection. Central to this dialogue is the black church, a place where “don’t ask, don’t tell” has been practiced for decades. Without a more tolerant posture toward gays and a willingness to promote condom use on the part of black pastors, it will be difficult to turn the tide any time soon."

The movie and George's comments come on the same weekend the National Black Justice Coalition holds its Second Annual Black Church Summit. Pam Spaulding is live blogging from the event and her coverage includes an in-depth interview with John Amaechi, who has received mixed reviews from gays, straights and many blacks since coming out.

Amaechi makes some good points; he wants to use his multicultural background and newly-out status as a "bridge the divide between the black community and the gay community and I'm going to talk about those issues at every opportunity I get. And I'm going to talk about real dangers. The black churches where people with powerful voices spill forth rhetoric like rotten fruit from their mouths, and I'm going to challenge those people."

Nelson George's interview is fairly substantive. The only point of contention are his talking points on the "down-low" fueling the "tremendous rise of HIV infection rates in heterosexual black women." Just this week, Keith Boykin crunched some new epidemiological data that once again proves this is not the case. However, the director admits he is not an expert on such issues, and, the important point of Life Support is that is thankfully has very little to do with the popular misconceptions surrounding closeted gay black men and HIV.

Life Support [Saturday 3/10 @ 8P on HBO]

A Short Chat with Nelson George [After Elton]

Say Goodbye To The Down Low [Keith Boykin]

NBJC Black Church Summit [Pam Spaulding]

Did You Read ... ?

Evan Ross in "Life Support" [R20] Bulging "Pride" [R20] First Look: "Pride" [R20] Jody Watley on Black Homophobia [R20] "Urban Rally Against AIDS" [R20] Jonathan Perry in "The Advocate" [R20] Ending Black Homophobia Will Reduce HIV [R20] A Conversation with Keith Boykin [R20] Jason Steed on Homophobia [R20] NBA Reprimands Hardaway [R20] Michael K. Williams / "The Wire" [R20] "Out of Control: AIDS in Black America" [R20] Have Black Gay Roles Gone Beyond the "Sassy Sidekick"? [R20] Coming to a Megaplex Near You [R20] On the Next "Passions" [R20] Passions on the "Down-Low" [R20]

Evan Ross in "Life Support"

There is substantial buzz around Life Support. Rightly so.

The new HBO film is a important, political statement on the raw intersection of drugs, sexuality, HIV and relationships in the inner city. Much of the word-of-mouth is around Queen Latifah's brilliant portrayal of Ana, who coordinates a support group for women in the "Life Support" HIV/AIDS awareness center in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.

One actor who needs to be singled out is young Evan Ross. (Yes, the same one we teased the other week. Sorry.) In case you haven't heard, Evan's teenaged character is HIV positive, an addict and hustler—and gay. No pretty pictures here—Evan's clothes are disheveled, hair uncombed and is totally the opposite of his usual clean cut persona. As Bernie would say, this is acting.

His character Amare is certainly one of the more complex and multi-dimensional black gay characters in recent television history. Amare is the best friend of Ana's (estranged) daughter. He was born poz and has been openly gay and using for some time; he often sells his medications to score, or, simply doesn't take them. His disappearance becomes the central focal point of the movie—Ana takes it upon herself to find him and, in the process, re-establishes a bond with her daughter. (BTW, here is some inspired casting: Tracee Ellis Ross, Evan's real-life sister, is cast as his on-screen sibling.) Certainly not your typical case of the television-movie gay black best friend who is the sassy sidekick. Life Support is an excellent vehicle for young Evan to hone his acting chops.

This is Nelson George's feature directorial debut and based upon the life of his sister, who is HIV positive and also runs a support group. Brilliant.

Life Support (Saturday 3/10 @ 8P on HBO)

Life Support (Variety)

Latifah Addresses Serious Issues (Movieweb)

You May Want to Read ...

Bulging "Pride" (Rod 2.0) First Look: "Pride" (Rod 2.0) Noah's Arc Has Sailed (Rod 2.0) Beyond the Sassy Sidekicks? (After Elton) Primetime Reports the Black HIV Epidemic (AE) Michael K. Williams / "The Wire" (Rod 2.0) "Out of Control: AIDS in Black America" (Rod 2.0) A Conversation with Darryl Stephens (Rod 2.0) A Very Beautiful Darryl Stephens (Rod 2.0) Jason Steed on Homophobia (Rod 2.0) Doug Spearman in "The Advocate" (Rod 2.0) Hamilton Cobb: "No Big Deal Playing Gay" (Rod 2.0) Raz: "I'm Exploring Myself" (Rod 2.0)

Bulging "Pride"

Two months ago, we gave you a first look at Pride, the upcoming period film about Philadelphia's first black swim team that includes "plenty of bulging Afros, bulging muscles, and, quite a few bulging Speedos as well."

As predicted, the bulging Speedos turned quite a few heads—especially at the Motion Picture Association of America. Industry censors were reluctant to approve the new poster and advertising promoting the film because they were concerned about the "package" displayed by young Evan Ross, son of Miss Diana Ross, the first Speedo to the right of Bernie Mac. "They actually accused the film company of digitally enhancing actor Evan Ross," an insider told the New York Daily News. "The MPAA wouldn't approve the poster. Lionsgate had to get back to them with the original art to prove they hadn't manipulated anything."

Not really sure why all the fuss over young Evan 'cuz it's all about Kevin Phillips. More of his bulging action after the jump.

First Look: "Pride"

And now for something completely different. Here is a first look at Pride, which is scheduled for a March 2007 theatrical release. The historical drama is set in Philadelphia's in the early 1970s and tells the story of the city's first black swim team. Suffice to say, the period piece includes plenty of bulging Afros, bulging muscles, and, quite a few bulging Speedos as well.

Terrence Howard stars as the swim coach who molds the inner-city into state champions. Kimberly Elise and Bernie Mac co-star as well. In case you're wondering who is the hottie on the diving board, that would be the gorgeous Nate Parker. Brandon Fobbs Kevin Phillips is also seen holding the clipboard, the subject of one our previous posts here.

More:

Law & Order: Kevin Phillips (Rod 2.0)

DVD Review: "Glory Road" (Rod 2.0)