Will Young is candid about homophobia in the music industry and how he was told he would have to kiss George Michael onstage if he wanted to perform at an awards ceremony.
The singer, 43, came out as gay shortly after winning Pop Idol in 2002, but revealed at Metro’s Pride party, which celebrates 50 years of Pride, that things were very different in the music industry at the time when it came to LGBTQ people. people.
During a Q&A onstage at The Box Soho, Will revealed that he had been told by a record company executive to have a ‘Madonna and Britney moment’ and kiss George Michael if he was performing with the British.
He explained: ‘They tried to persuade me to perform with the British. They said, “We can only get you on The Brits if you perform with George Michael and kiss at the end.”
“I was like – this is exclusive – the only way I could reach The Brits is if we… [George and I] did a duet, then did a Madonna/Britney thing.’
Will revealed, “But I said no. It’s a sign of what it was like then.’
Will also opened up about homophobia within the industry, adding, “I’m probably in a pretty privileged position. I noticed that when people realized they could start making money with it, it was like, make him gay, make him gay.
“It changed pretty quickly. There were certain artists, they said, “We need songs like that,” so that’s interesting.
‘I remember a record company head who said I sounded too gay on a song, and I felt it. Then this man called Steve Lipson, whose brilliant producer he just didn’t change and sent him back.”
Will was one of the guests at Metro’s Pride party, where Richard Hartley-Parkinson, editor-in-chief of Metro.co.uk, spoke about the continued importance of Pride 50 years later.
He told the audience: “A lot of people say we are safe in this, the largest city in the world. But, and I’m sorry to burst that London bubble, that’s not my lived experience.
‘I still struggle to hold my husband’s hand because of the abuse we have endured, including an incident just 10 years ago in central London on the night of Pride where my then boyfriend and I live for us feared because of the intimidation and bullying we had. we experienced.
‘That intimidation is not just something that LGBTQ people experience on the street. According to the Albert Kennedy Trust, half of young people in the UK fear being deported for having revealed their sexuality and far too many feel threatened by family members before they become homeless. That’s why we support the Albert Kennedy Trust.’
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Metro.co.uk celebrates 50 years of Pride
This year marks 50 years of Pride, so it seems only fitting that Metro.co.uk continues in our continued LGBTQ+ support, through a wealth of content that not only celebrates all things Pride, but also shares stories, taking the time to reflect and raise awareness for the community this Pride Month.
And we also have some great names on board to help us out. From a list of celebrity guest editors taking over the site for a week, including: rob rinder† Nicholas Adams† Peter Tatchelli† Kimberly Hart Simpson† John White† Anna Richardson and dr. Ranjas well as the will of Sir Ian McKellen and Drag Race stars the Vivienne, Lawrence Chaney and Aunt Kofi offer their insights.
During Pride Month, which runs from June 1 – 30, metro.co.uk will also support Kyiv Pride, a Ukrainian charity forced to work harder than ever to protect the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in times of conflict, and the youth homelessness charity AKT. Click here to learn more about their work and what you can do to support them.
In front of metro.co.uk‘s latest Pride coverage, click here.
