Will Young was once told he’d only be allowed to perform at awards show if he kissed George Michael on stage

Will Younger was as soon as informed the one manner he may carry out at an awards present was if he had a ‘Madonna and Britney second’ with George Michael (Image: Getty)

Will Younger has opened up on homophobia within the music trade and the way he was informed he must kiss George Michael on stage if he wished to carry out at an awards present.

The singer, 43, got here out as homosexual shortly after profitable Pop Idol in 2002 however revealed at Metro’s Delight celebration, celebrating 50 years of Delight, that issues had been very completely different within the music trade in direction of LGBT individuals on the time. 

Throughout a Q&A on stage at The Field Soho hosted by DJ, presenter and comic James Barr, Will revealed that he was informed by a document firm govt that he would wish to have a ‘Madonna and Britney second’ and kiss George Michael if he was to carry out on the Brits. 

He defined: ‘They tried to get me to carry out on the Brits. They had been like, “We are able to go solely get you on The Brits should you carry out with George Michael and also you kiss on the finish.”

‘I used to be like – this an unique – the one manner I may get on The Brits is that if we [George and I] did a duet, after which did a Madonna / Britney thingy.’

Will revealed: ‘However I mentioned no. It’s an indication of what it was like then.’

Will Younger publicly got here out as homosexual shortly after profitable Pop Idol in 2002 (Image: Alamy Inventory Picture)

He was as soon as informed to kiss George Michael on stage for a stunt however refused (Image: LEON NEAL/AFP/GettyImages)

Can even opened up on homophobia throughout the trade, including: ‘I’m most likely in fairly a privileged place. I seen that when individuals realised they may begin making a living out of it, then it was like, make him homosexual, make him homosexual. 

‘It modified fairly rapidly. There have been sure artists, they had been like, “we'd like songs like that,” in order that’s fascinating.

‘I bear in mind a head of a document firm saying I sounded too homosexual on a monitor, and despatched it again. Then this man known as Steve Lipson, whose an excellent producer, he simply didn’t change it and despatched it again.’

Will was one of many many stars at Metro’s 50 Years of Delight Get together, together with Drag Race UK icon Cheryl Gap (Image: Molly Manning)

Love Island star Megan Barton-Hanson regarded sensational in a leather-based jumpsuit on the celebration (Image: Molly Manning)

Towie’s Bobby Norris frolicked with music icon Sinitta (Image: Molly Manning)

Influencer Ashley James hit the decks to entertain the celeb crowd (Image: Molly Manning)

Will was among the many star visitors at Metro’s Delight celebration, sponsored by Go to Malta, the place Metro.co.uk’s Government Editor Richard Hartley-Parkinson spoke of the continued significance of Delight, 50 years on. 

He informed the viewers: ‘Many individuals say we’re secure on this, the best metropolis on the earth. Nonetheless, and I’m sorry to burst that London bubble, that’s not my lived expertise. 

‘I nonetheless wrestle to carry my husband’s hand due to abuse we’ve suffered, together with an incident simply 10 years in the past in central London on the night time of Delight the place my then-boyfriend and I feared for our lives due to the intimidation and harassment we had been experiencing.

‘That intimidation isn't just one thing that LGBTQ individuals expertise on the streets. In response to the Albert Kennedy Belief, half of younger individuals within the UK worry being evicted for revealing their sexuality and much too many really feel threatened by kinfolk earlier than turning into homeless. That’s why we’re supporting the Albert Kennedy Belief.’

Stars together with Love Island’s Megan Barton-Hanson, Sinitta, Dr Ranj Singh and Claire Sweeney had been in attendance on the bash, which included a Drag Bingo section and a efficiency from Drag Race UK’s Cheryl Gap, in addition to DJ units by Ashley James and DJ Fats Tony.

Metro.co.uk celebrates 50 years of Delight

This 12 months marks 50 years of Delight, so it appears solely becoming that Metro.co.uk goes above and past in our ongoing LGBTQ+ help, via a wealth of content material that not solely celebrates all issues Delight, but additionally share tales, take time to replicate and raises consciousness for the group this Delight Month.

And we’ve bought some nice names on board to assist us, too. From an inventory of well-known visitor editors taking up the location for every week that features , , ,,, and , in addition to the likes of and Drag Race stars and providing their insights. 

Throughout Delight Month, which runs from 1 - 30 June, may even be supporting Kyiv Delight, a Ukrainian charity pressured to work tougher than ever to guard the rights of the LGBTQ+ group throughout instances of battle, and youth homelessness charity AKT. To seek out out extra about their work, and what you are able to do to help them, click on right here.

For 's newest Delight protection, click on right here.