Olly Alexander avoids going online due to homophobic ‘rape jokes’
The Years & Years frontman says he has a responsibility to speak out against homophobia.
Olly Alexander says he has been forced to avoid social media due to anti-gay bullying.
The singer says that he has learned not to check Twitter because he wants to avoid rape threats and other abuse.
āI get trolled,ā he told this weekās NME. āThe usual stuff ā sometimes itās homophobic, like gay hate.
āBut I donāt understand why people ā@ā me on Twitter to say āOlly Alexander canāt singā or āOlly Alexander, youāre ugly as f**kā.
āIf weāve been on TV I donāt go on Twitter for a while after,ā he added.
āI get some people who are really gross and make rape jokes about me.ā
āItās f**ked up. Thatās why I canāt read too much anymore because I donāt need to be seeing that shit.ā
Alexander also explained why he has become such a staunch advocate for the LGBT community and mental health organisations.
āThere was just this stage where I realised that people were listening to what I was saying and I could actually say something I believe in and, like ā why wasnāt I doing that?ā he explained.
āItās not because I think I have a responsibility as a popstar or whatever; itās because I think I have a responsibility as a human being.
āI care more about that than trying to maintain a distance or keep any kind of mystique going as an artist.ā
The āShineā singer has been vocal about the need for gay role models, recently releasing a music video celebrating sexuality.
The 25-year-old revealed last month that growing up in a āstraight worldā caused him to suffer from anxiety and depression.
He continues to win praise for his frank and open approach to sexuality, and his willingness to help young fans come to terms with their own identity.
