Australian opera singer branded ‘faggot’ on live TV over rainbow tie
An opera singer was branded a “faggot” for wearing a rainbow tie to sing the Australian national anthem.
Australian politicians are currently bitterly divided over the issue of same-sex marriage – with anti-gay marriage Prime Minister Tony Abbott threatening to sack any ministers who vote for equality, despite overwhelming public support.
Opera star Kanen Breen was set to sing the national anthem at an international basketball match yesterday, between Australia and New Zealand – and opted to wear a rainbow tie to the event
However, the 42-year-old singer’s “flamboyant little protest” at the Rod Laver Arena match was not recieved well by one man in the crowd – who proceeded to shout homophobic slurs.
He told Nine Network: “I love my tie, and I wore it quite deliberately whilst singing about a nation that purports to be free and fair in a flamboyant little protest,.
“I realised I was marching into a lion’s den with this tie I had slavishly painted those colours on and splashed with glitter.
“It was a choice moment the buffoon chose, big crowd, live television, whoever this person is you have to admit they have theatrical timing, they chose their moment perfectly.
“Clearly one individual among the fans felt I was a little too fabulous – his problem, not mine.
He added: “I learned a very long time ago not to value the opinions of people for whom I have no respect.”
Fellow performer Jacqui Dark told Fairfax: “The applause died down and a solitary, angry male voice in the crowd yelled ‘F****t!’.
“I am beyond stunned by this. Beyond hurt and beyond angry. He took it in his stride, texting me that it had happened and adding ‘My work here is done’.
“The only thing worrying me is just how many families and how many kids were there, even if I had been wounded by it I am big and ugly enough to get over it but I don’t enjoy the notion that kids might think it’s the normal thing to do.”
