Union J’s Jaymi Hensley: I’ve heard musicians be told to stay in the closet
A member of the boyband Union J has said has seen musicians be told not to come out.
Jaymi Hensley, speaking at National Student Pride, said he had put off coming out as gay because he wanted to be “judged on the music”.
He said: “I was very lucky, the show and [record label] Syco were very supportive. They wanted me to do it from the offset. I’ve been very lucky and very supported.”
But he went on to say that he knew of others who had been told not to come out.
Hensley continued: “I’ve seen it happen to other people in the industry, they’re told ‘you can’t come out, it’s not going to do well for your sales’.
“I like to think I’m testament that it means bugger all – I’ve got as much of a female fanbase as the other three band members, I just like boys.”
Hensley came out as gay publicly in 2012 and credited former X Factor judge Louis Walsh in helping him with the decision.
He later revealed that his dad found out he was gay when he bumped into him on a date.
Another singer from Union J opened up about his sexuality earlier this week to put an end to internet ‘speculation’ – but he said he doesn’t want a label put on it.
22-year-old George Shelley came out in a video posted to YouTube.
