Culture

Viewers left in tears after First Dates’ star admits homophobic abuse

Mar 16 2016
Written by Bobby Rae

Viewers of Channel Four’s hit TV show, First Dates, were left shocked after one participant admitted he had suffered a brutal homophobic attack.

The show, which sets up straight and gay couples, had paired 36-year-old Jay with investment banker Robbie.

During their date, the choirmaster said it had taken his parents around 10 years to accept his sexuality before revealing how he had suffered from a horrific attack.

“I was brutally attacked by seven Asian young men, when I was 17, purely because I was gay,” he said.

“I had to learn to walk again.

“It was a horrific, brutal, unprovoked attack. I was in hospital and in order to save my life I had to be fitted with a colostomy bag.”

Going on to describe how it affected him emotionally, he said: “It was quite a traumatic time for me. This whole happy bravado that you see was non-existent because my confidence just went. There was no Jay, there was no fabulous. What they set out to do they achieved.”

Shocked by the admission, his date confessed he was “a bit emotional” by hearing the event.

On Twitter, a number of users also expressed their shock at hearing the news.

One user tweeted: “Crying with happiness for Jay. I am such a softie. But wow, what a special human being #FirstDates.”

Others also commended him and hit out at the attack.