He's lovin Angels instead

So Robbie Williams has won his libel trial. By suing, like Tom Cruise before him, he has alerted the world to a story that most people would not have read otherwise.

Since his days in Take That, a band so directly aimed at the gay market they might as well have had pink pound signs tatooed on their well-toned hides, Robbie has played up the ambiguity surrounding his sexuality. This is a man whose first self-penned single I Hope I'm Old Before I Die included the lyric 'Am I Straight or Gay?'. Robbie's sexuality does not concern me, but I find his hypocrisy offensive.

The definition of a libel, which Robbie successfully sued for, is an untrue written statement that discredits somebody and exposes them to contempt, ridicule and hatred.

What makes Robbie's 2-finger gesture to the gay community all the more objectionable is that it was performed in the same week that gay civil unions were made legal in the UK. Many teenage boys and girls have to endure soul destroying bullying at school because they are gay. In our media-saturated world they probably look there for some alleviation of their suffering. Just as it was looking like world might be ready to accomodate same sex relationships a teen idol demonstrates that some people still see homosexuality as something worthy of ridicule, hatred and contempt.



I hope Elton takes back his wedding invitation.