Will Young claims Pop Idol bosses told him to hide his sexuality on the show but he refused to be ‘kicked back in the closet’
As an ardent fan, I find myself deeply moved and admiring of Will Young, who has bravely navigated through the tumultuous waves of fame while remaining steadfastly true to himself. His journey, riddled with obstacles and challenges, serves as a powerful testament to his resilience and courage.
Will Young has claimed that Pop Idol bosses told him to keep his sexuality a secret.
In 2002, following his triumph on the talent show, the performer, aged 45 at the time, chose to make public his sexuality, as rumors swirled that a tabloid was about to expose him as homosexual.
During that interview, the 23-year-old Will openly shared: “I find it ordinary and there’s no cause for shame. I identify as gay and I embrace that aspect of myself. frankly, I don’t understand why people make such a big deal about it.”
It’s likely that this won’t be new information for many, as I’ve been cautious about sharing and haven’t been vocal about my personal preferences regarding my sexuality.
Nevertheless, Will asserts that his supervisors had suggested he shouldn’t disclose his homosexuality, which ultimately led him to respond with a blunt “off with you”.
In a conversation with Rylan on his latest BBC Sounds podcast titled “How To Be In The Spotlight”, Will expressed: “I was advised to remain silent. I simply informed them I wouldn’t follow that advice.”
Reflecting on my life journey, I can’t help but feel a sense of frustration and exasperation at times when I have had to hide my true self due to societal norms and expectations. As a closeted individual who struggled for years to come to terms with my identity, I find it disheartening when I am met with intolerance or rejection.
In addition, the star disclosed that efforts to conceal his sexuality persisted even during his professional career. He confided in Rylan that a record company executive demanded him to re-sing his famous song because they felt he sounded too effeminate.
As an ardent enthusiast, I found myself in a situation where a record executive suggested my performance of “Leave Right Now” was perceived as overly effeminate. Consequently, I was advised to re-record the track to ensure it aligned more with mainstream expectations.
I collaborated with Annie Lennox’s music producer, and after resending the same vocals, he responded enthusiastically, saying, “Great! I really like it!”
In the year 2009, I produced a captivating black-and-white music video. There was a scene where I danced with a male mannequin, and the record label suggested removing it from the final edit, citing reasons that, to me, seemed rooted in homophobia. Essentially, they felt it was too suggestive of my sexuality.
The Jealousy singer also spoke about the homophobic threats he had experienced after coming out.
He described being chased and fearing for his life while walking out with his boyfriend.
He mentioned: “I felt rather vulnerable, and it’s important to recall that during that period, hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community were unfortunately quite prevalent.”
Regrettably, the situation remains unchanged. My fears were justified as there were instances where individuals pursued me and my partner, threatening us with knives. It was truly harrowing. Yet, I refused to lead a life built on falsehoods.
TopMob has contacted ITV for comment.
Elsewhere in the interview, Will discussed his time on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
In 2016, the program’s chart-topper decided to leave the BBC show, and he asserted that he was given a warning: if he left the show, the network would never collaborate with him again.
At the time Will cited ‘personal reasons’ and ‘anxiety’ as the reason for his and his partner
Karen Hauer chose to leave the show after week three, and later confessed that she sought counseling following thoughts about taking her own life due to being eliminated.
Will revealed: ‘I tried to pull out of it, but I was sort of pressured to do it. It was sort of like “Well, if you pull out, the BBC will never work with you again”.’
‘That was one of the things that was said to me, so I did it, but I knew I wasn’t well enough.’
As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it this way: In spite of certain challenging encounters with fame, the celebrity I spoke to remained optimistic. When asked about the struggles some stars face with public scrutiny, he couldn’t fathom why they complain about being in the limelight.
He said: ‘It’s quite fun sometimes in the spotlight. Everyone moans about it – stop moaning!
‘I did have a moment when I was like, “this is amazing”.
In the course of working on that movie, I ventured to Los Angeles for its grand American debut. Fresh off a video project in Cuba and gearing up for the release of my third album, I walked the red carpet and found myself at the Four Seasons hotel.
As a seasoned musician with a wealth of experience in scoring films, I must say that working on Judi Dench and Stephen Frears’ upcoming production has been nothing short of mind-blowing! Not only am I responsible for crafting the music for this masterpiece, but I also have the privilege of being cast as an actor in it. The whole experience has been utterly surreal, a true testament to the unpredictable nature of life and the opportunities that come our way when we least expect them. It’s moments like these that make me grateful for my journey so far and eager for what the future may bring.
‘This is literally because I entered a talent show.’
The singer-songwriter recently announced his first new music in more than two years.
His newest album, titled “Light It Up,” features the song “Falling Deep,” which is reminiscent of the ’80s and represents his first studio album release since 2021.
The new album will come with a 50-date tour throughout the UK, and regarding his forthcoming work, the artist mentioned that he found himself in a state he hadn’t expected to return to.
He expressed: “I find myself in a location I never anticipated reaching. I never believed I’d return to making such great pop music as I am now, and I’m truly enjoying it.”
Read More
- ZEX PREDICTION. ZEX cryptocurrency
- Adin Ross goes live with Donald Trump; Gives former US President a Cybertruck
- G PREDICTION. G cryptocurrency
- 2024 HoK Championship announced for October in Indonesia
- Clash of Clans Troops Tier List for August 2024
- SPEC PREDICTION. SPEC cryptocurrency
- Max releases first look at upcoming horror series Welcome to Derry and The Last of Us season 2
- Kate Mulgrew says a Dal/Gwyn romance is right for Star Trek: Prodigy
- CRV PREDICTION. CRV cryptocurrency
- When does NASCAR return (and when are the Olympics finished)?
2024-08-07 15:22