Broadway's Denee Benton Blasts Ron DeSantis at Tony Awards, Calls Him 'Grand Wizard of Florida'

Attorneys for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis filed a motion on Monday to dismiss the Walt Disney Co’s lawsuit against him, claiing it is “meritless” and that the governor has “legislative immunity.”It’s the latest in the legal battle between the Republican presidential hopeful and the studio which began with clashes over Florida’s now-binding “Don’t Say Gay” law and DeSantis’ failed attempts to strip the company’s special district status.“In 1967, a sweetheart deal with the State vested Walt Disney Parks and Resorts (Disney) with unprecedented power to govern itself,” the motion began, referring to the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID). Attorneys went on to bash Disney’s “carte blanche,” writing, “Disney could exercise eminent domain, permitting it to annex territory even outside the District’s borders, all without legislative approval.

Attorneys for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis claim that he is immune from The Walt Disney Co.’s lawsuit over his effort to strip to the company of control over a special district covering its theme parks and resort in the state.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suffered his third high-profile legal setback in the past month today as Judge Gregory A. Presnell of the Federal District Court in Orlando issued a preliminary injunction blocking a new DeSantis-backed law that prohibits businesses from allowing children to attend “adult performances.” DeSantis signed the bill into law just last month.

Lea Michele had a busy night at the 2023 Tony Awards on Sunday (June 11) in New York City, but she still managed to pack in some meaningful reunions with special people from her past.

It was contentious yet cordial. Both parties were assertive but didn’t shout (well, maybe a little). Yes, there was some talking over each other as California Gov. Gavin Newsom sat down with Sean Hannity for an interview on Fox News’ Hannity, but it was almost a respite from the daily yelling heads on cable news.

Lea Michele finally had the moment that she and Rachel Berry have been waiting for!On Sunday, the singer took the stage at the 76th Annual Tony Awards at the United Palace Theater in New York City, where she performed «Don't Rain on My Parade,» from the Broadway musical , in which she plays Fanny Brice.Following the performance, Michele took to Instagram to celebrate the moment which garnered a standing ovation from the Tonys audience. «I thought a lot about what to say for this post. There’s so much to say.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Washington Heights, a neighborhood in northern Manhattan that’s best known to theater lovers as the setting of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first hit show, played host to thousands in the Broadway community on Sunday night. The 76th annual Tony Awards moved uptown to the United Palace Theater, the third venue change in three years for Broadway’s biggest night. This one surprised even Miranda, who excitedly dolled out high-fives to those camped outside the venue as he walked to the red carpet. Once he was inside the lavishly decorated theater (“It looks like Beyonce’s screening room,” Nathan Lane later observed while presenting an award with his “Producers” partner-in-crime Matthew Broderick), Miranda jokingly thanked everyone for coming all the way to 176th Street. “Never in my wildest dreams…” he said before presenting a life achievement award to “Cabaret” composer John Kander during the non-televised portion of the Tonys.

It’s a Glee reunion!

not have had any writers on Sunday night due to the ongoing strike, but host Ariana DeBose and some presenters had some pretty quick jokes off the cuff — including Denée Benton. She brought the house down when she referred to Florida governor Ron DeSantis as “the current Grand Wizard” in the state.The moment came when Benton took the stage to present this year’s Excellence in Theatre Education Award from Carnegie Mellon University.

NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers left the football field for a night to attend the 2023 Tony Awards — and his appearance at Broadway’s biggest night quickly went viral.

Jodie Comer won the Best Actress in a Play prize at the 2023 Tony Awards on Sunday night. The Killing Eve star, who had already won the Olivier for Prima Facie in London, continued her awards haul by collecting the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for her portrayal of a defence lawyer named Tessa who is the victim of a sexual assault. "To every person who feels represented by Tessa, this has been my greatest honour," Comer said in her acceptance speech.

Anna Wintour was on hand to watch her daughter Bee Carrozzini win a Tony at the 2023 Tony Awards on Sunday night (June 11).

Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond put on a masterclass when they took the stage at the 2023 Tony Awards on Sunday night (June 11) in New York City.

Against all odds, the show went on.On Sunday night, the 76th Annual Tony Awards was performed without a script due to the ongoing writers’ strike and was staged far, far away from its usual Midtown venue of Radio City Music Hall. Instead, the ceremony honoring Broadway plays and musicals was put on at the United Palace in Washington Heights way up on 176th Street.And with no lines professionally written, there were none of the usual skits or banter that make award shows chug along. Well, almost none.At one cringeworthy point, host Ariana DeBose ripped off Ellen DeGeneres’ celebrity selfie bit from the Oscars but lost her train of thought.“I don’t know what these notes stand for,” the “West Side Story” Oscar winner said awkwardly.

Aaron Rodgers left the football field for a night to attend the 2023 Tony Awards — and his appearance at Broadway's biggest night quickly went viral. Rodgers and his New York Jets teammate, C.J. Uzomah, were spotted posing on the red carpet at the 76th annual event held at United Palace in New York. The football star — who was recently transferred to the Jets and has been spotted attending events such as Taylor Swift's Eras Tour — cleaned up nice for the occasion in a metallic brown suit.Fans couldn't help but notice the New York Jets quarterback looking hilariously confused in the Tony Awards audience and took to Twitter to share screenshots of the broadcast. «Aaron Rodgers looks like he just spotted a member of his family at the Tonys,» one Twitter user wrote. Aaron Rodgers looks like he just spotted a member of his family at the Tonys.

Aaron Rodgers left the football field for a night to attend the 2023 Tony Awards — and his appearance at Broadway's biggest night quickly went viral. Rodgers and his New York Jets teammate, C.J. Uzomah, were spotted posing on the red carpet at the 76th annual event held at United Palace in New York. The football star — who was recently transferred to the Jets and has been spotted attending events such as Taylor Swift's Eras Tour — cleaned up nice for the occasion in a metallic brown suit.Fans couldn't help but notice the New York Jets quarterback looking hilariously confused in the Tony Awards audience and took to Twitter to share screenshots of the broadcast. «Aaron Rodgers looks like he just spotted a member of his family at the Tonys,» one Twitter user wrote. Aaron Rodgers looks like he just spotted a member of his family at the Tonys.

76th annual Tony Awards, Lea Michele and the cast of delivered a show-stopping rendition of «Don't Rain on My Parade»live on stage at the United Palace Theatre in New York City. The performance comes 10 months after Michele took over as Fanny Brice from Beanie Feldstein in the 2022 Broadway revival. Michele's performance closed out Broadway's biggest night and after she belted the musical number she was met with a standing ovation from the Tony Awards crowd. Barbra Streisand is somewhere watching Lea Michele do Funny Girl #TonyAwardspic.twitter.com/C981o6WAh7Since taking the stage in the lead role, Michele has earned critical acclaim for her performance, with many feeling that she was deserving of awards recognition even though replacements do not qualify for most stage and theater honors. The Tony Awards performance also marks the final stretch for Michele and, which is slated to close on Sept.

Lorna Courtney switched up her look in the middle of her performance at the 2023 Tony Awards.

actress Denée Benton used her time at the 2023 Tony Awards to get in a particularly well-received dig on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.Benton took the stage to present a special award at this year's star-studded show and used the unscripted nature of the night — due to the WGA strike — to slam the controversial politician.«Hi. I'm Denée Benton, actor and proud [Carnegie Mellon University] alum. Earlier tonight, CMU and the Tony Awards presented the 2023 Excellence in Theater Education Award, and while I am certain that the current Grand Wizard — I'm sorry, excuse me, Governor of my home state of Florida...» Benton's well-timed faux-misspeak, comparing equating DeSantis with the Ku Klux Klan, received a resounding cheer and round of applause from the audience, and Benton couldn't keep from laughing at the response.Pushing on through the surprised by supportive cheers, Benton continued, «I am sure that he will be changing the name of this following town immediately, but we were honored to present this award to the truly incredible and life-changing Jason Zembuch Young, [for] enhancing the lives of students at South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida.»Denée Benton WENT THERE and called out Ron DeSantis omg “While I’m certain that the current Grand Wizard — I’m sorry.

William Earl Actor Denée Benton took aim at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during Sunday’s Tony Awards telecast, referring to the Republican presidential hopeful as a “Grand Wizard” as she presented an award for theater education. On CBS’ live telecast, Benton saluted the 2023 recipient of the excellence in theater education award, Jason Zembuch Young of South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida. Benton noted that she is a Florida native and she made reference to DeSantis’ many controversial moves on civil rights in the state by connecting him to the Klu Klux Klan white supremacist organization. “I’m certain that the curent grand wizard — I’m sorry, excuse me, governor of my home state of Florida,” Benton said, to a roar of applause from the crowd at New York’s United Palace Theater. She seemed to nod to DeSantis’ legislative push in Florida to enact racist and discriminatory policies restricting school curriculums on American history, among other disturbing moves during his time in office.