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Eternal’s Comeback: New Album & Member, But No Louise Redknapp Amid Trans Rights Row

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Stars Vernie and Easther Bennett, who haven’t put out new music in 27 years, are preparing to do so now, following the addition of a new band member.

The sisters are planning to make their grand re-appearance by performing an exceptional comeback concert at Scala in London on April 30. They’re also working towards producing a fresh album within the upcoming months.

In an exclusive chat with The Sun, I’m thrilled to announce that my dynamic trio – Vernie, Easther, and I – are gearing up for a stunning comeback, welcoming the talented Christel Lakhdar into our group. However, it’s hard not to notice the absence of two beloved members, Kelle Bryan and Louise Redknapp, who won’t be joining us this time around. We can’t wait to bring you the magic we create together on stage!

Vernie expressed: “New tunes truly spark our enthusiasm. That’s the place where we thrive. We’ve begun asking for favorite tracks. If we can secure a hit quickly, or even create one early on, fantastic!

‘It’s got to be a great song like the ones we made before.’

Easther stated that he believes the previous album ended abruptly. He suggests there are substantial tracks, such as “How Many Tears,” that could be remade and re-introduced.

‘Sunday Morning is my favourite. I don’t know if it’s a single, but it’s my favourite.’

Regardless of the alterations in their band, Vernie and Easther anticipate that Christel’s vocal talents will be a seamless match for their 1997 hit single “I Wanna Be The Only One”, along with “Stay” and “Just A Step From Heaven”.

Discussions arose in 2023 about the band reuniting, but Louise and Kelle decided not to participate because Vernie and Easther declined to perform at any of the LGBTQ+ concerts they had planned due to allegations that the community was being manipulated by the transgender movement. They claimed it was being ‘taken over’.

Not long after, it was alleged that Louise attempted to have her previous bandmates discredited by presenting their opinions in a distorted or untruthful manner.

In a revealing comment, Louise shared on Loose Women that she had always wanted to reunite with the group. She harbors much affection for their past accomplishments, and she and Kelle remain close friends.

Vernie appears to contradict the assertions made by Louise’s team in her statement, expressing gratitude for having had the opportunity to meet and interact with an array of diverse and remarkable individuals from various backgrounds throughout her professional journey.

Vernie expressed heartfelt thanks to his family, friends, and extraordinary fans for their unwavering support of our remarkable creative journey and artistic endeavors, which will always hold a special place in his eternal gratitude.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of encountering an array of unique and remarkable individuals from various backgrounds. Each one of you has left an indelible mark on me, carrying a special place in my heart.

Although addressing all the claims and opinions swirling online currently seems unfeasible and counterintuitive, I entrust this situation to God’s care instead.

‘I truly appreciate all who continue to express love and support for my family and Eternal.’

Originally managed by Eternal’s long-time representative Denis Ingoldsby, the duo Easther and Vernie – who continue to be his clients – have vigorously defended themselves against recent allegations. Previously, he asserted that they were deeply saddened and accused Louise’s team of distorting facts from a private correspondence.

He shared with Sky News, “Louise and her group are being heavily criticized for pushing people under a proverbial bus, as they are now being accused of bullying tactics. This stems from their actions that manipulated the truth to serve their interests.

The girls emailed Louise’s camp expressing their enjoyment of playing Pride and their appreciation for the spirit of the gathering.

It’s completely unacceptable for their camp to imply they are intolerant towards the LGBTQ+ community. This has nothing to do with gay rights issues.

Denis stated to the mirror that there are currently no set or agreed-upon dates for the reunion. However, Louise’s team has refuted this claim to the press.

Or simply:

Denis told the mirror that the reunion isn’t scheduled yet, but Louise’s team says otherwise to the publication.

As a lifestyle expert, I can share that I was informed by the sisters via an email to my circle that they truly enjoy participating in Pride events, and they appreciate the values and spirit encapsulated within them.

Denis clarified that the disagreement isn’t centered around gay rights, but rather that the sisters have performed at numerous events catering to the LGBTQ+ community.

He remarked: ‘Vernie expressed worries that the Pride movement might be co-opted, and it turns out many share her sentiments. Unfortunately, these concerns are now being used against her, with Louise’s group attempting to silence her.’

Louise’s spokesperson, Simon Jones, has affirmed that their earlier statements still hold true. They informed a media outlet that: “Denis Ingoldsby did not participate in the talks regarding the Eternal reunion with all four members during the past two years. Easther and Vernie can spin it as they like.

Regardless of other circumstances, it’s clear that the pair stated their intention for the Eternal union is contingent upon exclusion of any Pride or LGBTQ+ events.

It’s clear that Louise wouldn’t support leaving out the LGBTQ+ community in their travel arrangements. As a collective, we strongly oppose any form of segregation within the LGBTQ+ community and exclusion of transgender individuals.

He added: ‘Absolutely nothing has been misrepresented.

We’ve clearly outlined that the Eternal Reunion has been cancelled for Louise and Kelle.

It’s true that there was an email stating that Vernie and Easther would participate in the Eternal reunion under the condition that no Pride or LGBTQ+ events were part of the event plan.

It’s clear that Louise wouldn’t support leaving out the LGBTQ+ community in the band’s touring arrangements. Consequently, she made it known to the duo that she won’t participate in the tour.

Louise announced her departure from the tour by posting the Progress Pride Flag on her Instagram Stories with the caption: ‘Forever and always.’

The flag we see today was designed by the artist Daniel Quasar, a non-binary individual, in the year 2018. It draws significant inspiration from the well-known rainbow flag that originated in 1978.

As a passionate advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, I proudly don this symbol of unity and resilience. The bold stripes of black and brown stand tall for those who’ve been marginalized – our fellow warriors of color within the LGBTQ+ family. And the triad of blue, pink, and white, a beacon of hope, reminds us of the trans flag, honoring their courage and strength in their journey.

In the ’90s, they skyrocketed to fame, and for the following year, they had been arranging a massive comeback tour. The tour’s marquee events were set to be their appearances at Pride and Mighty Hoopla festivals.

The festivals both honor the LGBTQ+ community, but it seems that the band members Easther and Vernie Bennett found the announced tour dates to be less than favorable.

It came to light that Louise and her group were informed by Vernie and Easther that they wouldn’t participate in any Pride events or LGBTQ+ celebrations.

The publicist of Louise announced: “It was communicated to the organizing group for the Eternal reunion that, should the event occur, neither Vernie nor Easther would participate in Pride events or LGBTQ+ celebrations.

They expressed disagreement as they believed the trans community was taking over the LGBTQ+ community, a notion they don’t endorse.

Louise firmly advocates for and stands alongside the LGBTQ+ community, and she and Kelle made it clear that they wouldn’t collaborate with individuals harboring such views. Consequently, the proposed quartet collaboration had to be cancelled due to this stance.

The group organizing the potential Eternal reunions identifies as LGBTQ+, encompassing their management, public relations, and tour promoters. I, along with the entire team, firmly stand against collaborating with artists who express negative sentiments towards the transgender community.

Over the years, Louise, currently in a relationship with Drew Michael, has showcased her skills as a solo performer at numerous Pride festivals.

Earlier this summer she took to the stage alone at Brighton Pride in August.

The Eternal tour marked the return of the band’s original members performing together for the first time since Louise left in 1995 to focus on her solo ventures.

They soared to stardom in the early nineties with hits such as Stay and I Wanna Be The Only One.

After Louise left the group, they continued for another five years before disbanding and reuniting on ITV’s The Big Reunion in 2014, without her being part of it.

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2025-01-22 23:54

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