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X Factor Star McElderry Comes Out As GayAfter Twitter Account Hacked

07/31/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
X Factor winner Joe McElderry is gay. He was forced to reveal his sexuality after hackers broke into his Twitter account and outed him. One of the messages posted by the hackers was “It’s been difficult living a lie for so many years…” The nineteen year old man from South Shields, Tyne and Wear, on the River Tyne, not far from Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne in the north of England, felt shocked at first, but ultimately decided that he should just go ahead and open up about his sexual orientation.

He certainly would not be the first, or only, gay British celebrity as evidenced by Sir Ian McKellen and the late Freddie Mercury.

Oh his official website, McElderry, known as Georgie Joe, stated:

“I have always been a very honest person and so it is important for me to continue to be honest. It has been the most amazing year so far and I feel so privileged. It’s also been a time of real self realisation and I feel as if I have grown up so much in these few months. There has been speculation about my sexuality in the past and I have always been honest at the time I have been asked. Over the past few weeks I have really had time to reflect and to realise who I am.

“I spoke to my friends and family about this in the last few days and it was important to do the same for you all as you have been so supportive. I have had nothing but support from you and many of you have been very open in saying that you will continue to support me whatever my sexuality. It is important to me to let you know first, so that you know the stories in the papers are true. I made the choice to speak openly about this. Everything is going well and I?m really happy to be able to move forward from here.”

At first he was angry at the Twitter hackers, but then he though about their message and thought to himself “Well, they’re not that far from the truth.” He has said “ I think the Twitter thing was the point when I realised I was gay. I’m feeling good about it, it’s liberating. Now I can just get on with my life.” He only just disclosed his sexuality to his mother after visiting her in Newcastle. He had a girlfriend for three years while at school.

Indeed, apparently, he had not really thought about himself as being gay until this incident happened, of course he won with a cover of Milly Cyrus’s “The Climb”. He has told reporters “I thought ‘Actually, my feelings have changed – this is how I feel now.’ The penny has dropped.” He did, apparently, kiss a boy before he went on the X Factor.

X Factor boss Simon Cowell, famous to American audiences as the acerbic and mean tempered judge on American Idol, phoned and offered his support to McElderry after the news broke.

McElderry is working on his debut album.

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