Will Young admits gay ‘shame’ has left him addicted to porn and alcohol
By Will Stroude
Will Young has spoken candidly about his mental health struggles, admitting that his internal battle with the “shame” of being gay has left him addicted to porn and alcohol.
Speaking during special mental health panel at National Student Pride in London last Saturday (February 6), the Jealousy singer told the audience that sex and drugs helped him fill the ‘void’ he felt after coming to terms with his sexuality.
“I was a love addict, I still am an addict, addicted to porn, certainly addicted to alcohol,” he explained to students. “I’d never been on a date without having at least two drinks before I’d left the house and I didn’t even notice that was a problem.
“Drugs I didn’t really get into. I toyed around with it, but it didn’t really stick with me so much.”
He added: “I will keep coming back to shame because it’s such a fundamental thing. Until I conquered it, I just kept having sex to fill the void, watching porn, shopping, anything.
“I think we are told that as soon as we come out everything will be OK, but it’s just not the case.”
The 37-year-old also used his appearance to hit out at Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, who he accused of not “giving a shit” about the LGBT youth.
“It breaks my heart that there are going to be more and more generations of young LGBT people that are going to continue to have a lack of nurture and have this internalised shame which can be changed within the education system”, he said.
“I don’t see the Education Secretary, who I am not a huge fan of at all, addressing this at all.”
Listen to Will’s comments during National Student Pride’s mental health panel below:
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