Queer singer Darren Hayes ran afoul with a critical fan for acting too young and gay for his age over the weekend. In short order, the crooner read the fan for filth.
Hayes, 49, first hit the big time as half of the singing duo Savage Garden in the 1990s. Originally from Australia, the group managed to find success in the United States with their songs “I Want You,” “Truly Madly Deeply,” and “To the Moon and Back.”
The group split in 2002; in 2005, Hayes launched a successful solo venture. He continued to release singles and perform until 2013 when he left the music scene in favor of a stand-up comedy career.
2022 has seen Hayes return to music after his long hiatus, with the release of his song “Let’s Try Being in Love” and its accompanying video starring actor Scott Evans. The singer, who is openly gay, also used the release of the single to unveil a more flamboyant and sexualized image. His most recent song, “Do You Remember,” furthered that mission. Unfortunately, not all his fans appear to be on board.
One alleged fan, who goes by the name “Ray Marsh” on message boards, voiced his disapproval of Hayes’ new stage persona.
“Darren is like Madonna,” the hater wrote on social media. “He has a lot of fans, but he has to remember that when you are getting older gyrating your hips sexually is not libertine, it is just a bit gross. If you look at Gay adult films, people over 40 don’t ever get any great sales. Being too sexual after 40 does not make you fashionable – it just puts you in the Harvey Weinstein category.”
How being flamboyant, sexual, and unapologetically gay somehow equates to being anything like being a convicted serial rapist is beyond us. We fail to see the parallel. Moving on…
“He is not going to make any money out of this song. He should have tried to get a younger singer to do it, and then produce it himself so that he would have a higher chance of making money. I am a Gay male and I find his dress and mannerisms are too camp – It won’t appeal to Gay men, and he is too old to appeal to teen girls.”
I've got bad news for this guy and anyone else who doesn't like my 'mannerisms'. I'm only going to get MORE FUCKING GAY. Happy Easter btw! Gay gay gay gay gay. pic.twitter.com/GgAP2uWBc8
— Darren Hayes (@darrenhayes) April 17, 2022
Several weeks after the post appeared on social media, Hayes addressed it. He took to Twitter on April 17 to offer a harsh rebuttal to his critic.
“I’ve got bad news for this guy and anyone else who doesn’t like my ‘mannerisms,'” Hayes tweeted. “I’m only going to get MORE F*CKING GAY. Happy Easter btw! Gay gay gay gay gay.”
To be fair – did he not get it when I was twirling around singing Tears of Pearls?
— Darren Hayes (@darrenhayes) April 17, 2022
“To be fair,” Hayes then added in a subsequent tweet, “did he not get it when I was twirling around singing Tears of Pearls?” He also later added a gif of Channing Tatum from the film Hail Ceasar holding a man upside down with his face in the man’s bottom.
— Darren Hayes (@darrenhayes) April 18, 2022
Fans of Hayes, predictably, have rushed to Twitter to defend their beloved singer. Have a look at some of our favorite responses, along with his video for “Let’s Try Being in Love.”
I wish you had come out and embraced yourself earlier because I live for this version of yourself. Uninhibited, ready to perform, and ready to grab the world by the balls. Keep going and drop that album king I’ve been waiting 11 years.
— Dru Quintal (@thekingofpop) April 17, 2022
The person who wrote his words is incredibly disrespectful. You can appreciate someone without worrying about their intimate life. And I would remind her that we all get older. ? Stay yourself it's the most important thing in life. ?? #love pic.twitter.com/Z1h3347wRL
— Carmen Bidalot ?? (@PriscaCb15) April 17, 2022
Personally I’d be FURIOUS if those hips ever stopped gyrating. You’re such a sexy MF!!
— Brendan Maclean (@macleanbrendan) April 17, 2022
Ray seems as fun as algae.
— Kirsty Webeck (@KirstyWebeck) April 17, 2022
Oh geez. Don’t listen to people like him who live their lives in insecurity. You just be your most authentic self as much as you like because that’s how we love to see you. ? pic.twitter.com/BjQoXve4d4
— ?Oziandra_rain ????? (@RainOziandra) April 17, 2022
I love that he thinks music is only for money too…..it's self expression…if it makes the artist happy then goal met. And happens to touch people and positively affect them, then all the better. Artists don't often create for money…not the point. Oy some folks…
— Jo: Unadulterated (@JoUnadulterated) April 17, 2022
It's just self-hatred. He must be repulsed by the aspects of himself that he sees in me – so he tries to stifle it in others. Sad.
— Darren Hayes (@darrenhayes) April 17, 2022
Related: Gay Pop Singer Darren Hayes Opens Up About His Marriage To High-School Girlfriend
Polaro
Let’s cancel Ray Marsh for horrible ageism. Older gays made it easier to be gay when we were younger – we fought the battles when there was real blood in the streets. Now older gays are going to have to make it easier to be an older gay for these ageist twinks when they get older; if they are lucky to live long enough.
white-queer-african
@Polaro, I share your sentiments. Most of today’s young gay people just believe that it has always been ok to be out and proud. When you try and educate them about the battles, the tears, the lost loved ones, they look at you in utter disbelieve. Then they go back to their tablets or cellphones.
Polaro
@white-queer-african I can’t quite figure out how humans have been changed by technology, but I am confident they have been. While on the surface it seems to have made them more sympathetic, I feel deep down they are just insecure value signalers with no real sympathy at all. Technology that should have made us feel more connected seems to have made everyone into unhappy loners.
strix1
Most of the comments I read online for whatever topic are negative. Someone posts something they are passionate about and a few people support it then the trolls arrive and hate on the poster then start attacking the people supporting the original poster. Even on Queerty, you can post a positive article about a LGBTQ actor and within 3 comments someone will ask why Queerty is glorifying the actor and they are posting nasty comments. You can’t win…sure, it’s an opinion, but make it constructive and not destructive.