Posted June 19, 20232 yr @1670028808462782465 @1670056309905928195 Pride event drops Howard Donald over Twitter likes Take That member Howard Donald has apologised for his "huge error" in liking social media posts that he said were "derogatory towards the LGBTQIA+ community". The singer, 55, has since been dropped from appearing at a Pride festival. Donald said he was sorry and had "let everyone down" by "my uneducated actions". The performer had been due to play a solo show at Groovebox's Nottingham Pride Festival event in July. Groovebox thanked the public for "alerting us to the situation". According to Pink News, Donald "liked" Tweets that included criticism of a campaign promoting period product inclusivity featuring trans men, and a tweet calling for Disney to be "defunded" for holding a Pride in Concert event in June. He had also reportedly liked posts by controversial influencer Andrew Tate. The BBC has been unable to substantiate activity on Mr Donald's Twitter account which has been deleted. In an Instagram story on Saturday, the singer wrote: "I have made a huge error in my judgement (by) liking social media posts that are derogatory towards the LGBTQIA+ community and for that, I am deeply sorry and I know I have let everyone down. "I am really disappointed in myself and I am sorry for any hurt that I have caused by my uneducated actions. "I clearly have a lot to learn and it's a priority for me that I do this." In a statement on social media, Groovebox Festival said: "In light of recent events, Howard Donald will no longer be playing at our Nottingham Pride Festival on Saturday 29 July at Binks Yard. "We would like to offer our thanks to the public for alerting us to the situation this morning and also appreciate your patience while we spoke to the relevant parties." The statement added organisers were working on finding a replacement act. Take That are due to headline the British Summer Time festival in Hyde Park, London, on 1 July. Source
June 19, 20232 yr I am surprised this has not not made bigger news. He has apologised but i cant believe how foolish he has been.
June 19, 20232 yr He's shown his true colours with those likes, hope the fans who are part of the community remember this.
June 19, 20232 yr Those tweets he liked were not 10 years ago (not that that’s any better!!)… they’re very, very recent… likely as he was in negotiations with Pride events… he can save his apologies.
June 19, 20232 yr I find it unbelieveable that he'd have these views, but also to be dumb enough to like these tweets publicly for anyone to see... wow. I don't think there's any coming back from this in terms of his solo endeavours, I'm sure no LGBTQ+ event will want him now. I guess it won't have much of a knock on effect on Take That though.
June 19, 20232 yr I think a "Howard shows true colours" would be a better title for this thread than he "becomes the new target for cancel squad." Those posts he liked were not even ambiguous or something that it takes a high educational IQ to understand, they are downright homophobic and anti-LGBTQ+. Shame on him he can shove his apologies as far as I am concerned.
June 19, 20232 yr well, i am surprised about the surprise, There had been similar likes and even comments since years from him
June 19, 20232 yr Yeah I presume it is a joke as surely nobody can be that tone deaf? (I say this as a deaf person lol). It’s not funny though. The guy is pretty gross liking posts saying to boycott Disney for having a pride event but then wanting to take money to perform at pride events.
June 19, 20232 yr I think a "Howard shows true colours" would be a better title for this thread than he "becomes the new target for cancel squad." I think Howard Donald isn't the only one here showing their true colours, either. Anyway, this is unfortunate.
July 7, 20232 yr He's shown his true colours with those likes, hope the fans who are part of the community remember this. He's behaved foolishly but if he is remorseful and doesn't do it again, I don't know if it should be remembered/held against him forever.
July 7, 20232 yr He's behaved foolishly but if he is remorseful and doesn't do it again, I don't know if it should be remembered/held against him forever. He may not make them public again, but he may well still hold those hateful views.
