Take That star AXED for transphobic Twitter ‘likes’

Take That singer Howard Donald will no longer play at a pride festival after liking social media posts which were derogatory to gay and trans people.

The pop singer was told his solo services were no longer required by Groovebox’s Nottingham Pride Festival yesterday after his controversial Twitter activities emerged.

Donald, 55, who also still performs alongside Gary Barlow and Mark Owen as Take That, appeared to like a tweet that stated “transitioning children is profound abuse”, and one stating “no woman has a penis”.

He also gave approval to a post demanding Disney be “defunded”, apparently for advertising an appearance by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles as part of its own pride festivities.

According to screenshots of his now deleted Twitter profile, he also liked an anti-vax post as well as one discussing the “Great Reset”, a conspiracy theory claiming a global elite is using the Covid pandemic to dismantle capitalism and enforce radical social change.

First reported by LGBTQ+ news website Pink News, Donald also liked a tweet claiming “Covid was a scam” and another by notorious misogynist Andrew Tate.

Take That members Barlow and Owen have not yet commented on the scandal publicly. Whether the group — widely thought of as gay icons – choose to take action against Donald remains to be seen.

Take That have been working on an album in recent months and are set to headline the British Summer Time festival in coming weeks.

A film adaptation of Greatest Days — a musical about the group — has also just been released.

After the interactions were spotted, Donald posted a grovelling apology on Instagram, saying: “I have made a huge error in my judgement (by) liking social media posts that are derogatory towards the LGBTQIA+ community.”

“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.”

However, the damage among the group’s LGBTQ+ fanbase may already be done.

One listener wrote online: “He hates us yet he’ll still happily try to take our money. He’s a hateful hypocrite.”

In a widely viewed tweet, trans newsreader India Willoughby said that Donald’s actions were “deeply disappointing”, adding: “The LGBT community made that band.”

She went on to point out examples of the group tapping into the LGBTQ+ market, such as by appearing on the cover of gay magazine Attitude.

Announcing he was no longer welcome to play, Groovebox Festival said: “Howard Donald will no longer be playing at our Nottingham Pride Festival… We would like to offer our thanks to the public for alerting us to the situation this morning and also appreciate your patience whilst we spoke to the relevant parties.”