benhewis.com
Me, Myself and Ibuprofen!
Columnist defends Gately comments….
Oct 23rd
Jan Moir has expressed regret over her Daily Mail column on late Boyzone star Stephen Gately, while maintaining that aspects of his death were “sleazy”.
But she insists that there was nothing homophobic in the column, published on the day before the singer’s funeral.
The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) received more than 21,000 complaints about the piece, which called Gately’s death “strange, lonely and troubling”.
“I regret any affront caused,” writes Moir in her latest Mail column.
She goes on to apologise to Gately’s family and friends for any distress caused by her column’s “insensitive timing”.
However, the writer stands by her earlier assertion that the circumstances surrounding his death were “more than a little sleazy”.
She also maintains there was “nothing natural” about his demise on 11 October, but claims her remarks have been “misinterpreted”.
“What I meant by ‘nothing natural’ was that the natural duration of his life had been tragically shortened in a way that was shocking and out of the ordinary.
‘Over-reaction’
“Absolutely none of this had anything to do with his sexuality.”
Moir faced particular censure for suggesting that Gately’s death had struck a blow to the “happy-ever-after myth of civil partnerships”.
In her follow-up column, though, she insists there was “nothing in my article that could not be applied to a heterosexual couple as well as to a homosexual one”.
According to the PCC, Moir’s column provoked the most complaints ever made about a single newspaper article.
In Friday’s Daily Mail, however, the writer suggests that the “hysterical over-reaction” was part of “an orchestrated campaign”.
Her column, she continues, was “generally and gleefully accepted into folklore as a homophobic rant”.
According to Moir, though, she received “thousands of supportive emails” from readers who felt it “perfectly reasonable” for her to comment on Gately’s death.
Celebrities, friends and family gathered in Dublin last Saturday for the singer’s funeral.
Among them was X Factor judge Louis Walsh, who absented himself from the ITV1 show to attend the ceremony.
According to the show’s creative director, though, Walsh will be back this weekend to resume his duties.
“Louis is definitely going to be back,” said Brian Friedman. “We’ve been talking about his song choices and I think they’re really good.”
Boyzone sing at Stephen Gately’s funeral “In This Life”….
Oct 18th
Here is Boyzone singing ‘In This Life’ at Stephen’s funeral:
And here is Ronan’s touching tribute to his ‘brother’:
RIP Stephen Gately….
Oct 11th
Boyzone singer Stephen Gately has been found dead at the age of 33. He died on Saturday while on holiday in Majorca.
Spanish police said there were no signs of suspicious circumstances but that the cause of death was not yet known.
Gately was on holiday with his long-term partner Andy Cowles. A statement from the singer’s bandmates said they were “devastated” at the news.
They are expected to travel to Majorca. The Irish band had six UK number one hits in the 1990s and reformed in 2007.
The band’s statement said: “Ronan, Keith, Mikey and Shane are devastated by the news and send their deepest sympathies to Stephen’s family and his many friends all over the world.”
Police said they were called to a house near Port d’Andratx on the western tip of the island on Saturday afternoon.
“At the moment it is not known how he died,” the police spokesman said. “There are no signs of suspicious circumstances.”
Boyzone manager Louis Walsh, who is due to appear as a judge on The X Factor results show on Sunday, told the News of the World newspaper: “We’re all absolutely devastated.”
He said: “I’m in complete shock. I was only with him on Monday at an awards ceremony. We don’t know much about what’s happened yet.
“I only heard after The X Factor and we will rally around each other this week. He was a great man.”
Bertie Ahern, former Irish Taoiseach, described Gately as a personal friend and his death as a “huge, huge tragedy” for Irish music and culture.
Singer Sir Elton John said: “David and I are stunned by this tragedy. Stephen was the kindest, gentlest soul.
“We send our love and condolences to his partner Andy and to all his friends everywhere.”
Writing on the micro-blogging website Twitter, broadcaster Stephen Fry said: “Just heard the very sad news about dear Stephen Gately.
“What a dreadful shock. He was loveable and sweet-natured and will be hugely missed.”
Music journalist Paul Gambaccini said: “It’s sad on a personal level and a professional level.”
Boyzone sold more singles than Take That in the 1990s, he said, and had 16 Top 5 singles.
