Culture

MTV has dropped an apparently ill-conceived idea for a reality show about people as young as 18 willing to have the network document their journey to losing their virginity -- a "fame-for-sex" concept that many found troubling.

"Young adulthood is a time for exploration. New relationships, fresh experiences and sexual firsts," read the casting call posted online earlier this month by MTV, the same network that brought audiences the "Jersey Shore" and "Teen Mom."

MTV's open call for participants willing to share the pursuit of their "sexual firsts" with television viewers reportedly drew swift condemnation from concerned parents and other members of the public, leading the popular network to reconsider its plans. more >>

A rumor that actor Robin Williams has died seems to have been sparked from a misunderstanding, and fans of the Hollywood star can rest assured that he is alive and well.

The Internet started buzzing Monday with stories from various sources that Williams had fallen to his death while shooting a movie at an Austrian mountain range, but it now appears that the story is entirely false – Williams has not been involved in any accident, and was apparently nowhere near the region of Kitzbuhel in Austria where he was believed to have fallen.

It is unclear how exactly the rumor got started, but Contact Music shared that actress Goldie Hawn, who is Kate Hudson's mother, might have inadvertantly started the rumor on Twitter by posting a message that read: "Correction! Robin Gibbs has sadly passed. RIP jcm1009: goldiehawn Actor Robin Williams Falls To his death." more >>

As Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Diamond Jubilee, which marks her 60-year anniversary as head of the British monarchy, a poll has found that most British people agree that she should continue to have an important faith role in the country.

Around 73 percent of respondents to a poll conducted by Comres agreed that the queen should keep her title as "Defender of the Faith," which was first given to Henry VIII. The title makes her the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, making her formally superior to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Only 25 percent of respondents said that they do not think Queen Elizabeth II should play any faith role or have any faith title at all.

Earlier this year, the queen celebrated the first of her Jubilee events with a multifaith reception at Lambeth Palace, where she shared that she believes the Church of England's role in the country is often misunderstood and underappreciated, the BBC reported. more >>

A prominent DC Comics character will soon become gay, publisher Dan Didio revealed at a Kapow Comic Convention in London this past weekend. Although the comic book publisher has remained mum on the character's identity, fans have already been speculating on who this "prominent gay character" will be.

According to comic book website Bleeding Cool, DC Comics Vice President Bob Wayne indicated that the company's opinion on homosexuality "has evolved," just as President Barack Obama said of his opinion of same-sex marriage, which he supports

Didio added that now one of the existing comic book characters will become "one of our most prominent gay characters." more >>

Christians in the Philippines are speaking out against upcoming concerts by Lady Gaga, arguing that the singer has a negative influence on young Filipinos because her attitude promotes "godlessness."

Catholic leaders are now calling on religious groups to boycott Gaga's upcoming concerts, which are part of her "Born This Way" tour in Manila, scheduled for Pasay City on May 21 and 22.

"Her attitude seems to promote godlessness, offensive to any religion," Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, a member of the Permanent Council of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, told reporters, according to Philippine Daily Inquirer. more >>

Britain's most senior Roman Catholic cardinal gave a stern warning earlier this week against the dangers of secularism and claimed that secular values fostered violence and helped establish the totalitarian regimes that killed millions in the 20th century.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, who stepped down as leader of England's Catholics three years ago, warned during a speech in front of other Catholics in Leicester, England, that the rise of atheism in Britain is "very, very dangerous" and accused secularists of trying to drive Christianity out of the country.

"In the name of tolerance it seems to me tolerance is being abolished," Murphy-O'Connor stressed. He presented as evidence the British government's attempts to redefine the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman to include same-sex couples. Both Catholic and Anglican officials in Britain remain opposed to this movement, but the steady rise of secularism in the nation may pave the way for such plans to become a reality. more >>