Lana Wachowski Opens Up About Difficult Past and Attempted Suicide

Lana Wachowski Opens Up About Difficult Past and Attempted SuicideTransgender 'Cloud Atlas' co-director speaks at Human Rights Campaign gala $(document).ready(function() { $('.socialActionsTop .pageActions .email-content').hover( function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.email').show(); }, function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.email').hide(); } ); $('.socialActionsTop .pageActions .print-page').hover( function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.print').show(); }, function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.print').hide(); } ); }); By

Cloud Atlas co-director Lana Wachowski opened up about her difficult past of growing up transgender in a speech at the Human Rights Campaign's gala fundraiser in San Francisco this weekend, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Wachowski, one half of the sibling duo behind The Matrix trilogy, said that when she was a young adult, she nearly committed suicide on a subway platform before a man nearby stared her down. "I don't know why he wouldn't look away," said Wachowski. "All I know is that because he didn't, I am still here." Wachowski also shared an incident in which she was beaten by a Catholic nun for not joining a line of boys and shared the support she received from her mother and father upon coming out. "Having good parents is just like the lottery," she added.

Wachowski attended the gala to accept the Visibility Award for her recent decision to dispel her previous policy of avoiding press, public appearances and open acknowledgement of her "transition" into becoming a woman. She also noted that she dislikes that word "because of its complicity in a binary gender narrative."

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Death of Chris Lighty Ruled a Suicide

Chris Lighty attends the Artist Managers From A - Z Event.

New York City medical examiners have officially ruled the death of Chris Lighty a suicide, the Daily News reports. The influential hip-hop manager died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on Thursday at the age of 44. 

Lighty was found dead in the back yard of his Bronx home, where he had reportedly been arguing with his estranged wife, Veronica Lighty. Veronica Lighty told the Daily News that her husband, who had made millions in endorsement deals for artists including 50 Cent, LL Cool J and Missy Elliot, was suffering from financial stress. Sources said he owed more than $300,000 to the IRS in unpaid state and federal taxes.

"He was in a lot of pain and he possibly had some financial difficulties," said family friend Norman Downes.

Lighty, whose clients included hip-hop and pop megastars like Busta Rhymes, Sean "Diddy" Combs and Mariah Carey, has been the subject of wide-ranging tributes among his music-industry peers in the days following his death.

"RIP Chris Lighty," Russell Simmons tweeted. "Today, we lost a hip-hop hero and one of its greatest architects..."

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Death of Chris Lighty Ruled a Suicide

Chris Lighty attends the Artist Managers From A - Z Event.

New York City medical examiners have officially ruled the death of Chris Lighty a suicide, the Daily News reports. The influential hip-hop manager died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on Thursday at the age of 44. 

Lighty was found dead in the back yard of his Bronx home, where he had reportedly been arguing with his estranged wife, Veronica Lighty. Veronica Lighty told the Daily News that her husband, who had made millions in endorsement deals for artists including 50 Cent, LL Cool J and Missy Elliot, was suffering from financial stress. Sources said he owed more than $300,000 to the IRS in unpaid state and federal taxes.

"He was in a lot of pain and he possibly had some financial difficulties," said family friend Norman Downes.

Lighty, whose clients included hip-hop and pop megastars like Busta Rhymes, Sean "Diddy" Combs and Mariah Carey, has been the subject of wide-ranging tributes among his music-industry peers in the days following his death.

"RIP Chris Lighty," Russell Simmons tweeted. "Today, we lost a hip-hop hero and one of its greatest architects..."

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Don Cornelius Officially Ruled a Suicide

Don Cornelius onstage at the 2009 BET Awards

Coroners have ruled that Soul Train host Don Cornelius' death last week was a suicide. A post mortem carried out on Friday determined that the television icon shot himself in the head. Toxicology test results have not been determined.

Cornelius, who was 75, was found in his home in Sherman Oaks, California last Wednesday. As of yet, there has been no explanation about what might have led Cornelius to take his own life. Tony Cornelius, the host's son, released a statement last week requesting that the media back off the story. "At this time, we respectfully ask that you allow our family and friends the privacy necessary to get through this difficult time," he said in a statement to CNN. "We thank all the well-wishers and the fans who have supported the Soul Train legacy."

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Don Cornelius Officially Ruled a Suicide

Don Cornelius onstage at the 2009 BET Awards

Coroners have ruled that Soul Train host Don Cornelius' death last week was a suicide. A post mortem carried out on Friday determined that the television icon shot himself in the head. Toxicology test results have not been determined.

Cornelius, who was 75, was found in his home in Sherman Oaks, California last Wednesday. As of yet, there has been no explanation about what might have led Cornelius to take his own life. Tony Cornelius, the host's son, released a statement last week requesting that the media back off the story. "At this time, we respectfully ask that you allow our family and friends the privacy necessary to get through this difficult time," he said in a statement to CNN. "We thank all the well-wishers and the fans who have supported the Soul Train legacy."

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Artist-Musician Mike Kelley Dead of Apparent Suicide

Renowned contemporary artist Mike Kelley, who had close and lifelong ties to the experimental rock world, was found dead of apparent suicide on Tuesday at his home in South Pasadena, California. He was 57.

Kelley grew up in Detroit and attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he co-founded the "anti-rock" band Destroy All Monsters (which would eventually include members of the Stooges and the MC5) in 1973. Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, who used a photo of one of Kelley's trademark grimy fabric dolls on the cover of his band's 1992 album Dirty, compiled a three-disc set of Destroy All Monsters' music in 1994. 

Kelley, who had a punk performance group called Poetics when he attended the California Institute of the Arts, remained close to the music world after becoming an art-world luminary. Michael Stipe posted a tribute on his Tumblr calling Kelley a unique artist, "so way far out at the bow of things" and "loud and inimitable." 

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'Soul Train' Creator Don Cornelius Dead of Apparent Suicide

Host Don Cornelius on the set of 'Soul Train' in Los Angeles. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Don Cornelius, who created the long-running R&B and dance-music showcase Soul Train, was found dead in his home in Sherman Oaks, Calif., early this morning. He was 75. Law enforcement officials suspect suicide; the body was found with a gunshot wound to the head.

Trained as a journalist on WVON, an African-American talk radio station in his native Chicago, Cornelius conceived of Soul Train during the Civil Rights movement, noting there was no showcase for black music on national television. Soul Train debuted in 1971 and quickly became a popular stop for major acts such as James Brown, the O'Jays and Michael Jackson. Cornelius hosted the show from its inception until 1993; Soul Train ended its long run in its original form in 2006.

The show had a huge influence on popular culture and the pop charts. One of its themes, "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)," became a hit record, and references to Cornelius and Soul Train have appeared in dozens of songs over the years. Cornelius famously closed each episode with the parting words, "We wish you love, peace and soul."

Watch Cornelius interview a young Janet Jackson on a 1986 episode of the show: 

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Sinead O'Connor Tweets for Help After Suicide Attempt

Sinead O'Connor attends the "Albert Nobbs" soundtrack release party at Palihouse in West Hollywood.

Troubled singer Sinead O'Connor continues to battle her demons in the public eye. Yesterday, she sent out a desperate call for help on her Twitter account, only revealing afterward that the post followed a suicide attempt by pills the week prior.

"Does anyone know a psychiatrist in Dublin or Wicklow who could urgently see me today please? I'm really unwell and in danger. I desperately need to get back on meds today," tweeted the 45-year-old musician.

Following the incident, O'Connor told the Sun, a British tabloid, "God obviously wants me around – though I can't think why." She also explained, "I just had to make a cry for help."

After the first suicide effort failed, O'Connor was hospitalized for a broken ankle and made another attempt in the hospital, the Sun reports. The dramatic episode is the latest in an unsettling year for the controversial Irish singer. In September 2011, she posted a series of tweets that had suicidal implications, but later dismissed them on her blog in an open letter that said, in part, "People who express suicidal feelings are least likely to act on them. Anyone who gives u the remotest bit of shit for expressing suicidal feelings is a wanker and is to be politely asked to permanently vacate your precious company. Even if its ur mudda-fuggin Mama."

O'Connor also wed drug counselor Barry Herridge in December 2011 (her fourth marriage), and they separated after 18 days together but later reconciled.

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Sinead O'Connor Tweets for Help After Suicide Attempt

Sinead O'Connor attends the "Albert Nobbs" soundtrack release party at Palihouse in West Hollywood.

Troubled singer Sinead O'Connor continues to battle her demons in the public eye. Yesterday, she sent out a desperate call for help on her Twitter account, only revealing afterward that the post followed a suicide attempt by pills the week prior.

"Does anyone know a psychiatrist in Dublin or Wicklow who could urgently see me today please? I'm really unwell and in danger. I desperately need to get back on meds today," tweeted the 45-year-old musician.

Following the incident, O'Connor told the Sun, a British tabloid, "God obviously wants me around – though I can't think why." She also explained, "I just had to make a cry for help."

After the first suicide effort failed, O'Connor was hospitalized for a broken ankle and made another attempt in the hospital, the Sun reports. The dramatic episode is the latest in an unsettling year for the controversial Irish singer. In September 2011, she posted a series of tweets that had suicidal implications, but later dismissed them on her blog in an open letter that said, in part, "People who express suicidal feelings are least likely to act on them. Anyone who gives u the remotest bit of shit for expressing suicidal feelings is a wanker and is to be politely asked to permanently vacate your precious company. Even if its ur mudda-fuggin Mama."

O'Connor also wed drug counselor Barry Herridge in December 2011 (her fourth marriage), and they separated after 18 days together but later reconciled.

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