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Mr. Gay World 2021 Louw Breytenbach has said thanks, but no thanks, to the title just weeks after he won.
The 31-year-old South African human rights activist won the competition on October 30, but revealed via his publicist that his relationship with the Mr. Gay World organization has since “deteriorated” because of contractual disputes.
Breytenbach was taken aback when he realized the Mr. Gay World contract, which he has refused to sign, stipulates the organization be his exclusive agent for any bookings or acting gigs. He already has an agent for TV roles, and he’d like to keep it that way.
“I don’t need them to manage whatever TV opportunities I get,” he said. “My suggestion was that they manage me based on opportunities pertaining to the pageant and my role as Mr. Gay World.”
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Breytenbach further claims the initial contract he received made vague mention of “remuneration,” but any mention of being paid was removed from an amended version.
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He also balked at the clause which stipulated a €5,000 fine should he step down as Mr. Gay World during his time in the position.
“This penalty is unlawful,” he said. “What if they are in breach of contract, should I still pay the penalty? This does not make sense.”
And then there was his uneasiness about the organization’s “inability to be audited when they refused to divulge how funds are used for the Mr Gay World Foundation.”
“I think it is my right to know what happens to [the] money that I raise for the organization in my capacity as Mr Gay World. Who is benefiting from all of [these] sponsorships?”
The contract caused him to worry his image was being “abused,” reports The Citizen.
“I am disappointed as I really thought the Mr Gay World competition was a platform I could use to broaden my charity work,” Breytenbach said. “I also thought they had the interests of the LGBTQI+ community at heart. Sadly, I was wrong.”
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For its part, Mr. Gay World issued this response:
“Mr Gay World confirms it has received the resignation of the current titleholder, Louw Breytenbach from South Africa, following a contractual dispute, despite our best attempts to resolve the matter amicably and reasonably.
We also note the unfortunate press release issued on Mr Breytenbach’s behalf which includes a series of defamatory allegations about the organization and its officials.
We strongly refute these allegations and thoroughly reject Mr Breytenbach’s version of the events as described. Mr Gay World is meeting with its legal team to decide what steps to take and will not issue any further comment for the moment.
ZzBomb
It’s important to always read the fine print.
TomG
He si=aid he did not sign the contract so there is none so it’s a moot point.
Kevan1
Good for him. Smart man.
AZ71
Yea…those rules are ridiculous. Asking him to give up his acting agent for the Mr Gay World agent is absurd.
rikard_pearson
“I really thought the Mr Gay World competition was a platform I could use to broaden my charity work,” ha ha ha ha Mr you are not the queen you think you are.
SDR94103
she a tiny lil thing.
Openminded
The pic certainly makes it look that way. Maybe the other dude is just super tall.
Dadams77
What does his size have to do with anything? Or are we body shaming short people? I am 5′ 11″ by the way in case anyone thinks am too sensitive because I am a “short guy”.
nm4047
@ Dadams77
body shaming? was your comment really a comment in support or was your closing comment a hidden bias on what your think about short guys
dali
Twa. Look it up.
greekboy
What has the organization done in the past? Let’s see a detailed list if this dude’s charity work. In other words, complete visibility and then I’ll judge
Ken A.
They’re not consulting with their legal team. He did do a NO NO, he discussed the contract, while not illegal since he didn’t sign anything, revealed their nefarious ways. We own you. basically it was saying. And he did the right thing for him. Now, they’re throwing a hissy fit. The never refited anything though.
justwannaleaveonecomment
As a screenwriter this is why I don’t do screenplay competitions. The feedback is probably great but I’ve seen a few that maybe don’t necessarily own what you submit but there are some weird obligations for winners.
Jaquelope
Their response was basically a pile of gibberish. Sound and fury, signifying nothing. As @greekboy (above) wrote, “What has the organization done in the past?” I’m sure many people wonder the same thing.
Joshua333
I mean it sounds a bit like going RuPauls Drag Race and singing your rights to any money you make away to WoW. “Oh but they should have known it would be like this and that’s how it is,” you know they’re people who want to be able to have control over their own life too, right?
Sqwoah
that eyebrow in that last photo tho
IanHunter
Not just the eyebrow but the moles.
Mr. Stadnick
Good for him for reading the contract and then exposing them. Franky Mr. Gay World sounds like a total scam to make money for someone other than the man they gave the title. What a poxy title too!
Fahd
Seems to me he did the right thing for himself and his charity work. Thanks for not being silent about the “whys”. Who knew the people associated with Mr. Gay World could be so shady?
Openminded
This organization sounds much like the thousands of “Little Miss this and that” pageants. Just wanting to line their pockets. Smart man to read and understand the contract. I’d imagine too many ego maniacs have quickly signed on just for the presumed fame. A good investigation into this organization could probably make a good book or movie.
WSnyder
Their ‘Press Release’ is too finely crafted, too legally obtuse to be believable. They very much sound like grifters, creating a pageant, then expecting to profit off it without really having to do anything for the winner, just banking on his success.
Tombear
I bet he smells good!
Yidan
wow shady
Dr Bob
Isn’t this a scholarship competition?
PollyDarton
Bossy Bottom.
Cam
So many of these Pageant and reality show contracts would get thrown out in court.
Remember Project Runway used to try to put i the contract that they owned 10% of anything the designer did for the rest of their life or some bull like that, until one of the winners refused to agree and went public with the contract.
ShiningSex
True.
Also speaking of PR, it’s the kiss of death for many fashion designers. It actually is NOT a plus to have been on there. Only a couple have been successful despite being on the show, that’s VERY rare and obvious that being on there doesn’t mean success is around the corner for designers.
Many have complained that they’re not taken seriously after having been on the show.
ShiningSex
what a bore. these contests are a bore.
also, you should know before entering what it would entail if you won. DUH!!!!
guess he’s not that smart to have looked at it.
it’s not held as a secret until you win.
nm4047
appears his agent did ‘his’ job and read the contract to find he was to be sidelined. 🙂 Maybe a little too much credit being given to this little fella that he actually was the one that read the contract.
barryaksarben
GOOD FOR HIM! I have heard of the org before but cant for the life of me ever see a single charitable thing they have actually done. I fear they are using the gay community for making money. I hope not> i think they need to issue a REAL press release and prove they are doing good or they need to disband and stop fleecing the sheep. Obviously it is a very good thing he already had an agent to actually read and understand the contract