THEGAYUK

Category: Celebrity

  • 10 Things I Learnt at A Steps Concert

    On Friday 1st December, a moment that I had been hoping would happen for twenty years finally arrived… I attended a Steps concert.

    Back in the day, as a thirteen-year-old gay boy, I was one of their biggest fans. Sadly, I never got to see them live, so when they reformed and announced a tour, I knew I had to get tickets and join them for a party on the dancefloor.

    With the sassiest drag queen in the land, Sassi Afrika, in tow, I sashayed into the arena with high expectations. It was worth the twenty-year wait, as they put on a five-star show, but it was also a great learning experience. Here are ten things I learnt by attending a Steps concert.

    They know how to make an entrance

    The entrance was terrific and set the tone for the rest of the show. Dancers with red cloaks and golden glitter face masks moved around the stage carrying flame torches. Steps then arrived on stage, with their identities hidden by red cloaks and glitter face masks too. Dancers then pulled off the cloaks, the masks came off, and the band burst into singing their comeback single, “Scared of the Dark”.

    They know their audience

    Looking around at the crowd gathered at the arena confirmed my suspicions that the audience would be mainly made up of gay men and ladies of a certain age. There were probably more gay men at Steps than were at the Kylie Minogue concert I went to a few years ago. The rest of the audience was mostly people in their 30s and 40s who were big Steps fans two decades ago.

    Throughout the show, there were nice references to many of their fans being gay. A male dancer accompanied H. When the backing dancers had their own performance segment, there was a male dance couple and a female dance couple. H was jokingly flirting with one of the male dancers, which was quite entertaining. Finally, at one point in the show the words ‘Love Wins’ was displayed on a screen in rainbow coloured letters. They were all nice touches that gave a nod to their gay fans. It seemed genuine too, rather than contrived.

    Heterosexual men attend Steps concerts

    Who knew? There were heterosexual couples in attendance, and at one point a man got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend. Thankfully she said yes. I always thought that concert proposals were a bit cringe and embarrassing, but having seen one with my own eyes, it was actually quite beautiful and added to what was already a great night.

    Lee can sing

    Again, who knew? I had thought that Lee’s main purpose was to provide some eye candy. While he is very handsome, he can also sing. In the early days of Steps, Lee didn’t really have an opportunity to sing. However, on their new album, he has more singing duties. This enabled him to sing solo parts during the concert, and I was surprised by how good his vocals are. They were on a par with everyone else’s. In fact, everyone’s vocals on the night were outstanding.

    They throw everything at their live shows

    This concert was visually one of the best I have ever been to. The lighting and fantastic set added so much to a brilliant show. The dance routines were spot on and completely in time. The backing dancers were amazing. The audience interaction and previously mentioned nods to their gay fans were really nice touches. It was clear that this is a group who are at the top of their game and happy to show everyone just how good they are. It was a world-class concert.

    Vengaboys are a fantastic support act


    When Vengaboys burst on to the stage, I was happy to hop on the Vengabus with them. Their one-hour set was full on and packed with high energy dance routines and impressive live vocals. I’d forgotten how many hits Vengaboys had and it was nice to hear them again. One thing puzzled me though. Vengaboys do not appear to have aged a day in twenty years. I need to know their secret.

    Steps fans are the friendliest

    I’ve been to a lot of concerts, and there is normally an idiot somewhere nearby. So, it was nice to chat with some lovely people at the Steps concert, share dance routines and have a good laugh with them. Complete strangers were talking to each other, dancing with each other, and have a fantastic time. It was nice to see and experience that.

    Glitter is a must

    I let the side down by not wearing any glitter, devil horns or flashing hat. Much of the audience was dressed up for the gig, and glitter was popular. If I see Steps again, I’m going head to toe in glitter. As the saying goes, when in doubt, add more glitter.

    Sassi Afrika knows every dance Steps routine

    Sassi Afrika is a glorious creature and had been teasing the dance routines. However, nothing prepared me for the show that she put on next to me. From beginning to end, Sassi did every single dance routine, and each move was spot on. If Steps ever need a replacement for Claire, they should give Sassi a call.

    Time has been kind to Steps songs

    We all know that Steps were known for being a bit cheesy in their heyday. However, time has been very kind to their songs. Each song sounded fantastic and somehow better today than when they were released. The material from their new album is very good and very relevant for today’s market. It’s a Steps sound, but with a mature twist. With such an outstanding back catalogue of classic hits, this was always going to be a great show.

     

    Tickets are available for Glasgow Date (7th December), Cardiff (10th December)

  • House Of Cards Fans Attack Anthony Rapp For Destroying Netflix Series

    Star Trek Discovery actor, Anthony Rapp reveals the hate and threats he’s received since breaking the story about “sexual advances” allegedly made by Kevin Spacey.

    Due to licensing this article must be read on our website

    It took a lot of bravery for “Star Trek” actor Anthony Rapp to share with the rest of the world the sexual harassment story he endured at the hands of “House of Cards” star Kevin Spacey. He told Buzzfeed last October that Spacey harassed him in 1986 when he was only 14 years old. (more…)

  • Tragedy for Sir Elton after mother passes away

    Elton John is “in shock” after his mother passed away.

    Sir Elton has said that he is in shock following the death of his mother, Sheila Farebrother. Taking to social media, the singer-songwriter, said, that he was so sad to hear that his mother had passed away. In his post, he thanked her for everything and said that he would miss her so much.

    Sir Elton was born, Reginald Dwight and was an only child.

    Her death, tragically, comes just months after the mother and son, reconciled over a “petty” argument in 2008. Sir Elton and his mother fell out after he asked her to end a friendship with two friends, Bob Halley and John Reid. Halley was a former employee of Sir Elton. Mr Reid had been the singer’s manager.

    Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ms Farebrother said, “I told him: ‘I’m not about to do that and drop them,” then to my utter amazement, he told me he hated me. And he then banged the phone down. Imagine! To me, his mother!”

    For her 90th birthday, two years ago, Sir Elton reached out, and the two managed to settle their relationship.

    Sheila Farebrother was 92 when she died.

  • Jack Maynard: I’ve got lots of gay friends

    *Face Palm*

    Disgraced YouTuber and former, I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here contestant, Jack Maynard has told The Sun that he’s got lots of gay friends… and that he doesn’t have a problem with anyone.

    The YouTuber, left the Aussie jungle, in November, following from revelations that there were racist and homophobic tweets sent from his Twitter account. He sent the tweets before he became famous on the YouTube platform. He also revealed that the person he aimed the homophobic insults at wasn’t gay and that the messages were “careless”.

    Speaking to The Sun, he said,  “I’m straight but don’t have a problem with anyone. I don’t have a problem with any sexuality whatsoever. I’ve got lots of gay friends and absolutely love them.”

    Explaining why he sent the offensive Tweet Jack offered, “Sadly, this was in an argument with someone I knew from back home that just got very out of hand.”

    “The person wasn’t gay; it was just a really careless insult. I wasn’t thinking about what I was saying; I was just retaliating in a really, really horrible way.”

    He added: “It’s a disgusting word and I’m disgusted with myself for even using it. I’d never, ever use that word now to describe someone, to insult someone.”

  • Are the Kilted Coaches gay?

    Those kilted yoga fitness gurus have got a massive fan base – but there is one questions that their supporters are keen to know…

    Are they gay?

    So the kilted pair first met doing a paper round 20 years ago – and the rest, as they say, is history…

    But apparently the lads keep on getting one question over and over – are they gay (and together)

    So watch the video – it’s a long one, but skip ahead to 11.35 for the big reveal, but not before disclosing that they are both family men with kids. But guys, if you’re hoping for a bit of a Scottish Brokeback Mountain love up, you’ll be disappointed…  The dynamic duo opens up, however about the homophobic internet trolls that live in their comment sections – before adding, “our sexual orientation shouldn’t come into it”.

    Too right – we’re not watching because you might be gay… we’re watching because you’re super hot and get naked… a lot.

    Anyway watch the lads have a natter about life together (but not together… together)

  • Katie Hopkins just deleted every tweet she’s ever sent

    Self-professed gay icon wannabe, Katie Hopkins has deleted every tweet she’s ever written.

    After it was revealed that Katie Hopkins and the Mail Online had “mutually agreed” not extend her contract, Katie Hopkins has deleted every tweet she’s ever sent on the Twitter platform.

    The controversial columnist, former radio present and reality TV star has deleted all but some retweets following on from a bumpy 2017 – where she was sued by food writer Jack Monroe for libel, left her radio show on LBC and now seemingly quit the Mail Online.

    It is not known why Hopkins deleted her entire catalogue of Tweets. The Mail Online issued a statement to Press Gazette saying, “Katie’s contract was not renewed by mutual consent.”

    Following the news of Hopkins’ departure from the Mail Online, her name trended on Twitter.  As it stands her Twitter account is still active and she is followed by over 850,000 people.

    Hopkins’ left LBC in May 2017, following calls for a boycott of the station from Guardian writer, Owen Jones. He suggested that guests who contributed to the station should withdraw their services until the station removed Hopkins from its roster of presenters.

    Following the suicide bombing in Manchester early this year, Katie Hopkins sent a series of tweets from her Twitter account, after a number of terror-related incidents were reported in the aftermath of the bombing. In one tweet she questioned whether it was “Ramadan” yet and called upon “Western men” to “stand up, demand action” and not to carry on as normal.

    Hopkins’ moved from writing for The Sun to the Mail Online in November 2015. During her time writing for both outlets, she drew a lot of criticism for her stance on immigration and Islam.

  • Adam Lambert just reminded us all that he was doing Gender Fluid waayyy before Piers Morgan was getting all angst about it

    8 years ago… Piers… Genderfluidity is not new.

    So another week another outrage about gender fluidity from Piers Morgan… It happens a lot on twitter.

    Well, our favourite American Idol legend, Adam Lambert reminded us that he was going gender fluid waayyyy before Piers was getting his knickers in a twist about it.

    Taking to Instagram, Adam shared two covers from his first ever album, For Your Entertainment, saying, “I was feelin my gender fluid (and fully photoshopped) glam rock fantasy.”

    The album, Adam’s first, was released 8 years ago.

    Giving some insight about his first release, Adam revealed that many retailers were actually “uncomfortable” with the initial cover and the record label cowed to them, providing a second image for the cover.

    He said, “The powers that be released a second cover for retailers who felt ‘uncomfortable’ w the original. (Even though I was still fully painted) Hahha seems so funny now…. but just 8 yrs ago it was a much different climate.”

    We’re not so sure Adam… that the climate is that different, judging by comments by Piers.

  • Brandon Myers leaves (actually nothing) to the imagination

    Mirror mirror on the wall who has the biggest of them all?

    (C) BRANDON MYERS / INSTAGRAM

    Damm those pesky adjacent mirrors at your spa. You think you’re covering yourself up… but it turns out you’re just giving the world an even bigger show. And by bigger, we of course me, eye-watering.

    The Bromans star was just hanging out… and although he’s usually quite open with his body, maybe this picture on Instagram just showed a little too much… or maybe, actually this wasn’t an accident at all.

    If you’re wondering where exactly you should be looking – it’s not actually any of his reflections.

    Either way, we’re all good with this.

     

     

  • Is Louis Walsh gay?

    The king of X Factor judges, Louis Walsh is back in one of the most famous seats in Britain.

    One of the things that many of our readers ask about Louis Walsh is about his sexuality. Louis himself has remained elusive about who he’s had relationships with – despite being asked, by many publications. So here’s what we found out about Louis…

    1)  Is he gay? Scores of people visit THEGAYUK’s website each week during The X Factor looking to find out if Louis Walsh is gay. Well, he’s remained tight-lipped about his love life. He’s often deflected questions when asked about his romantic life.

    In 2013 in an interview with the Sunday Times, when asked whether he was gay or straight he replied, “I can’t… Don’t go there. I can’t. I think your private life is your private life…I’m happy. Happy as Larry!”

    He’s never been married and has never publicly acknowledged anyone as a partner, however, he was spotted by one of our showbiz insiders at the Balans restaurant in South Beach, Florida, accompanied by a lovely looking tall dark and handsome type a few years back.

     

    Has Louis Walsh had plastic surgery?

    Botox? Has his face been freshened up? Is Sharon the only judge on this year’s show not to have been freshened up? In 2015 he told the Daily Mail that he hadn’t had botox, but that he had had a hair transplant. However, in 2009 the Mirror reported that he had in fact gone under the knife. So which are we to believe. Well, he certainly looks fresher now than he did in 2007.

    How old is Louis Walsh?

    He’s the oldest judge on X Factor, he’s currently 65. Mrs O is a year young at 64. Then Simon at 57 and Nicole’s the baby at 39.

    What was Louis Walsh’s first job?

    The first job was pulling pints at an establishment called the Blues Inn. Although we really can’t see him as the next Peggy Mitchell can you?

    Who is Louis Walsh a fan of?

    Joan Rivers fan. Apparently, Louis Walsh was besotted with gay icon Joan Rivers. If he could have any three celebs over dinner he’d apparent pic Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Joan Rivers. Well, two out of three isn’t bad going.

  • Freddie Mercury was unsure about his sexuality and revealed his worries to his girlfriend

    In an eye-opening interview with the iconic designer and creator of the heritage 60’s fashion label BIBA, Barbara Hulanicki talked about her friendship with the legend Freddie Mercury – and his love of her make up range.

    By FreddieMercurySinging21978.jpg: Carl Lenderderivative work: Lošmi – FreddieMercurySinging21978.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7798754

    Speaking to THEGAYUK in 2015 Barbara revealed, that in her company’s early days it “… attracted some very special customers too including Freddie Mercury who loved their make-up. Barbara reveals the iconic singer was dating her shop manager, Mary Austin. Mary Austin was known as the girlfriend of Freddie Mercury. She was left the majority of his estate when he died of AIDS-related illnesses in 1991.

    Barbara explains that one day she found Mary crying and that she admitted that Freddie had confided his worries about his sexuality.

    “However one day I came across a very distraught Mary crying her eyes out and when I asked what the matter was, she told me that Freddie didn’t know if he was going to be gay or straight.”

    Freddie Mercury died in Kensington, from Bronchopneumonia brought on by AIDS in 1991.

    Freddie himself never publicly came out as gay or bisexual but did tell The NME in December 1974, “Let’s put it this way: there were times when I was young and green. It’s a thing schoolboys go through. I’ve had my share of schoolboy pranks. I’m not going to elaborate further.”

    Among other highlights, Barbara is also famed for giving Anna Wintour her start in fashion.

    TGUK: And did the future Grand Dame of Vogue Anna Wintour really start her career as your Saturday girl?

    BH: Yes.

    TGUK: So you taught her all she knows? (laughs) And do you think that Ms Wintour has this first job down on her resume?

    BH: No comment.

    TGUK: Well if you are going to be tactful about this, can you agree that she may have copied her signature habit of wearing oversized glasses from you?

    (Roars laughing)

    Read the full interview with Barbara Hulanicki in issue 9 of TheGayUK available on Apple And Android or click here

  • Jack Maynard apologises for tweets in highly edited Youtube video

    YouTuber and former I’m A Celebrity star, Jack Maynard has finally spoken up after homophobic and racist tweets were discovered on his Twitter timelines.

    It’s taken Jack Maynard nearly three days since leaving the jungle to issue his own statement surrounding the reasons why he left the Jungle on Tuesday.

     

    He posted a video on YouTube apologising for his language. He titled the video, “My Explanation”. However, the video, in which he said he was “really, really sorry”, was highly edited and Jack himself seemingly found it difficult to look directly at his audience throughout his throughout the four and a half-minute video.

    In the video, he said, “As you can already tell I’m back in London, I have left the jungle in Australia where I was before this. To be honest, I just want to start off with that I’m sorry, I’m just really, really sorry,” he said.

    “The least you deserved was for me to come home and sit down and talk to you and explain everything that has been going on.”

    “I’m sure most of you have seen that a lot of stuff have been written in the press over the last few days so I thought the least you deserved was for me to come home and just sit down and talk to you and explain everything that has been going on.

    “I’m so sorry to anyone that I offended, anyone I upset, anyone I made feel uncomfortable.”

    “I’ve messed up I’ve been really stupid in the past and tweeted some horrible things, some pretty disgusting things that I’m just ashamed of,”  he continued.

    “I was young, I was stupid, I was careless I just wasn’t thinking back when I’d just left school and I didn’t know what I was doing getting into arguments with people on Twitter before I knew I’d have any impact online.”

    “I’m just so embarrassed, we’ve had such an amazing year,” he said.

    “One of the reasons I went on the show was because I saw it as a huge achievement to see off the year and I feel like I completely messed it up.

    “All I can do is beg and encourage that you guys don’t make the same mistake as well.

    “Don’t put anything online you wouldn’t say to your mum.”

    Fall from grace

    Jack Maynard’s departure from ITV’s flagship show came after the Sun, unearthed numerous tweets from the YouTuber, the tweets included the use of the “n-word”, which were used to describe a friend and “faggots” which was used as a slur.

    The term “retard” was also used as an insult towards people.

    The tweets date back up to six years when he was a teenager at the time of publishing these tweets.

    The video, posted on Maynard’s official channel on YouTube has been watched nearly 1,000,000 times since it was published.