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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.”
Gately’s last interview published…
Oct 20th
Stephen Gately patched up a decade-long rift with his mother in one of his final acts before his death, his final interview has revealed.
Stephen Gately patched up a decade-long rift with his mother in one of his final acts before his death, his final interview has revealed.
The pair had quarrelled since 1999 when his mother gave an interview to a tabloid newspaper on the day he came out as gay, with their relationship particularly strained over the last five years.
But in an interview with Reveal magazine, given two weeks before he died, the former Boyzone singer said he flew to Dublin to make peace with his mother.
Stephen told the magazine: “There were tears and I told her I loved her very much and I’d always be there for her.
“I told her I was wrong and I should never have let it get that far.”
Stephen said he was “ashamed” that he wasn’t getting on with his mother and the arguments had started over “the silliest thing”.
The Irish singer spoke candidly about coming to terms with depression after Boyzone split and how he rejected anti-depressants because they made him feel like a zombie.
But it was finding husband Andrew Cowles that eventually helped the singer get his life back on track and the pair had even discussed starting a family together.
Stephen died of a cardiogenic pulmonary oedema two weeks ago in the home he shared with Cowles on the Spanish island of Mallorca.
The full interview appears in this week’s edition of Reveal.
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’:
Louis to miss live shows this weekend….
Oct 16th
As the world of pop mourns the loss of Stephen Gately, a spokesperson for The X Factor released the following statement with regard to Louis’ attendance at this weekend’s live shows:
‘Due to recent tragic events, Louis Walsh will not be appearing on either the Saturday or Sunday live The X Factor shows this weekend as he is attending Stephen Gately’s funeral. Louis has been in close contact with his acts throughout the week, although his opinions will not be represented in the show this weekend.’
Our thoughts are with Stephen’s family and friends at this sad time.
X Factor in chaos over Louis’ grief……
Oct 14th
From the London Lite:
Louis Walsh is “unlikely” to appear on X Factor this Saturday as he is attending Stephen Gately’s funeral, his agent said today.
It will mean the 57-year-old will be in Dublin to pay his final respects to the Boyzone star just hours before the show.
Walsh will crucially not be there to introduce his acts and defend them against the criticism from fellow judges. Producers were meeting today to discuss the format of Sunday’s live results show if Walsh cannot appear at all this weekend. He missed last Sunday’s X Factor after being told just before that Gately had been found dead in his apartment in Majorca. Today Walsh paid a tearful tribute to his friend, saying “We’re all in shock. Nobody can believe it – Boyzone, me nobody. The boys are devestated. It’s like theyy have lost their very best friend, and me too. Stephen was never happier when I met him last Monday. I never saw him in better health or better form. We had a laugh as usual, things were going so well – I still can’t believe he’s gone.”
The pop manager’s fellow X Factor judge Simon Cowell said: “We all know how close Louis and Stephen were and how much he meant to Louis. We will all support Louis in whatever he needs to do and have total respect and understanding of his wishes.”
Today a spokesman for Walsh said a decision has not yet been made on whether he would fly back to London to be on the show on Sunday. She said “I spoke to him last night and it is highly unlikely he will appear on Saturday’s X Factor as he’ll be in Ireland. I’m not sure about whether he will be on Sunday’s show, it will depend on how he feels. But I can tell you, even though it’s been a difficult week, he has been in constant touch with his bands.” Before the date of the funeral was announced, Cowell’s sidekick Sinitta said she thought Walsh would be on the show as he did not want to let down his two remaining acts – John and Edward and Miss Frank.
An X Factor spokesman said Walsh had been carrying on as normal as best he could under the circumstances, had chosen songs for his acts and was “very much in the loop” with their progress.
But they added that as the date of the funeral was only announced last night, no decision had yet been made on the format of Saturday’s show.
Gately’s family last nnight revealed that the singer’s funeral would take place on Saturday at St Laurence O’Toole’s Church in Dublin – a few hundred yards from where he grew up.
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.
