Everyone’s been talking about reality star/professional dancer Curtis Pritchard lately.
Earlier this month, the 23-year-old Love Island contestant told the Sun that he didn’t feel comfortable labeling his sexuality and “wouldn’t rule out” being in a relationship with a guy.
“You can never put a label on anything,” he said. “It’s a cliche to say, but love is blind. I can never ever say what will happen in the future.”
Later, he went on Good Morning Britain, where he doubled down on his comments, even as the hosts pressured him to do what he expressly said he didn’t want to do: label his sexuality.
“I’m not labeling anything,” he reiterated, “because I don’t feel like I need to label anything.”
‘I never want to label what the future is going to be because I don’t think anyone can really ever do that.’#LoveIsland's Curtis Pritchard addresses rumours about his sexuality. pic.twitter.com/RsAPJxo6sY
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) August 8, 2019
The exchange prompted plenty of criticism online, with many people feeling the line of questioning was disrespectful given the fact that Pritchard clearly stated that he wasn’t going to label himself.
But, evidently, Judge Robert Rinder, the openly gay star of the U.K. reality courtroom series Judge Rinder, is not one of those people.
In a new op-ed published by the Evening Standard, the 41-year-old judge has quite a few opinions about how Pritchard has handled his own coming out.
“I am all for privacy, but if you are the one to start a public discussion about your sexuality, you can reasonably be asked to see that conversation through,” Rinder writes, adding that he was “hugely underwhelmed” by Pritchard’s dodging the question on Good Morning Britain regarding his sexuality.
Rinder added, “Appearing on Love Island is an invitation to have your sex life discussed–suggesting afterwards that you might be bisexual is a guarantee that someone is going to want to know more.”
Rinder goes on to accuse Pritchard of exploiting his sexuality for attention, writing that he believes “that the pink pound can be a useful market to tap” but that there is a difference between “appealing to a gay audience” and “being all-out disingenuous.”
“People who know they’re straight, but refuse to label themselves in order to appeal to a broader audience, are at best indulging in financially motivated, crass flirtation and, at worst, being a cynical tease,” he opines.
We’re pretty sure Pritchard couldn’t care less what Rinder has to say, however. He’s been living his best life on Instagram while partying with Channing Tatum at male strip shows.
Related: PHOTOS: Reality star Curtis Pritchard spotted partying at a male strip club
jjose712
Maybe Pritchard couldn’t care less about what Rinder has to say, but that doesn’t change the fact that Rinder is totally right
Brian
But look at all the publicity he’s gotten from it. From his vantage point, it’s been a huge success.
Chrisk
Watching him do the interview was allot of tap dancing. It’s simple questions that anyone should be able to answer. This would be very close to Aaron Carters publicity stunt but I’m still getting gay vibes from him.
Brexit
It follows on from his brother A J Pritchard’s recent Gay Times interview when he expressed similar views about his own sexuality. Clearly a family trait!!!
nitejonboy
Once the show ends he’ll go back to being a nobody that no ones ever heard of. He’s just another pretty face with no talent. We have enough of those already.
Donston
I’m of multiple minds here. No one should be forced to say that they’re “straight”. Just like no one should feel forced to embrace gay, bi, queer, fluid, etc. identities. If someone wants to express that they don’t feel too comfortable with embracing any identity, that they’re not sure what their future is and express that they’re not sure where they are on the romantic, sexual, affection, relationship spectrum, then it should all be respected. Besides, there’s a sea of “labels”, and they all have some type of drawbacks and expectations, and you hear so much day-to-day contradictions about what each means. I definitely understand wanting to avoid it all. The problem is when identity or a lack of identity is mostly driven by fear, shame, resentment, manipulation, economics and/or sociology. “Coming out”, being honest, being with who you want to be with- these are not things that require identification. On the other hand, ambiguity is “cool” and “subversive” and a way to maneuver yourself through sociological pressures. And it’s always been used as a marketing device and to build a certain image. While this dude is clearly using ambiguity and his general sex appeal to try and gain appeal and attention. On the other other hand, the dude is in his early twenties and still has a ways to go.
But ultimately, this a person no one will care about in a few months.
thisisnotreal
Yeah I’m with you on this one. On one hand I feel like there are many situations where you do not have the right to ask someone to dearly define their sexuality so blatantly because it’s a HIGHLY personal issue and that kind of question coming from anyone who doesn’t have a very close relationship with you in the first place is often considered very disrespectful and rude. But on the other hand I also agree that once you open that can of worms by saying anything even remotely resembling what your sexuality is, that in a way you are giving people the open door to ask for clarification on your statements for whatever reasons they have. And after willingly opening that can of worms I don’t feel like people should be forced to accept it if you suddenly backpedal and throw your hands up and say “sorry I changed my mind I don’t want to discuss this anymore”, you open the door you need to be prepared to step out the door or don’t open it yet. As for the whole being deliberately vague to be “cool” or “subversive”…just ugh. I’m not even that old and I’m already tired of this whole generational thing of deliberately trying so hard to be vague and mysterious and “different” just so people can feel special about themselves instead of realizing they aren’t one in a million and it’s all been said or done or felt before at some point in human history.
Donston
The thing is identity, sexual behaviors, who you date, who you love and want to be with- they’re all so intrinsically tied to ego, sociology, economics and politics, especially if you are a “public figure”. In my day-2-day life I don’t feel any real conflicts pressure to embrace identity and I don’t sense pressures on others. The real conflicts usually come more from expressing yourself honestly, being self-comfortable, and openly being with who you really want to be with. It’s media and social media where most of the identity pressures are. The “no labels” thing does seem to be more than partly driven by things like fear, internalized homophobia, narcissism, manipulation, obsession with wanting to be detached from anything. Being “straight” is now seen as “closed-minded” by some. Being “gay” means being a completely homosexual who is grossed out by women and wants nothing to do with them in some people’s eyes. While being “bi” means whenever the hell that individual wants it to. The reality is that the romantic, sexual, affection, relationship spectrum is incredibly wide and diverse. And they can change through time. So, I do understand the usefulness of the “no labels” thing. But you have to confront the problematic aspects of everything, which a lot of people don’t, no matter what identities they do or do not embrace. People either embrace or dismiss whatever identities without acknowledging the issues and benefits to all of it.
Cam
He started the discussion then didn’t want the discussion.
Donston
I don’t watch the show. In fact, if it weren’t for this site I wouldn’t know of its or this dude’s existence. From what I can tell, there was an “incident” on the show where he got drunk and tried cuddling up with a guy and talked about how much he loved that guy. He likely felt the need to respond to that moment (as well as a need to milk it for the attention).
I’m honestly not getting the hostility, even if he is trying to “gay bait”. Attempting to force people to embrace an identity or over-explain their sense of self or their orientation doesn’t do anything for anyone. It’s certainly not gonna make that person embrace an identity or be more real. It just justifies a lot of people’s homophobia, internalized homophobia, shame, fear, manipulation, etc. And I feel “gay media” is making a bigger deal out of this than what it is. No one else seems to care about this dude or his identity. If anything, they’re just using him to talk about wider issues or using his six pack for click-bait.
DarkZephyr
@Donston,
I don’t think anybody is trying to force him to embrace some identity. I think that since he already opened this can of worms and the bleeping closet is no damned bleeping joke, some people would just like him to be honest about the identity he actually does embrace. “Unlabeled” is not a sexual orientation or identify for God’s sake. Any drunk cuddling he did on TV that he feels he needs to comment on is his own bloody fault.
Man About Town
“Everyone’s been talking about reality star/professional dancer Curtis Pritchard lately.” A few exceptions: myself, and every person I know. (Whoops! Just blew it, didn’t I…)
DarkZephyr
Everyone should come out when they’re ready, but yeah, initiating the conversation yourself by publicly making some vague, cryptic comment about not wanting to label yourself definitely seems like an invitation to discussion to me. On a personal level, I feel that “refusing to label yourself” is a bullsh** cop out. You are what you are, whatever it is. There is no such thing as “unlabeled” when it comes to sexual orientation. To me, it turns the horrors of the closet that many of us were forced to endure (and some of us sadly still have to endure) out of necessity and self preservation into a goddamned joke.
As for this hot mess of a statement…
“We’re pretty sure Pritchard couldn’t care less what Rinder has to say, however. He’s been living his best life on Instagram while partying with Channing Tatum at male strip shows.”
Queerty, I usually roll my eyes when I see trolls make snarky comments about your articles but c’mon. Posting selfies on instagram is somebody’s “best life”? Give me a break. I don’t think I have ever cringed so hard at one of your articles, Queerty.
Donston
Is he someone who put some vague nonsense out there for the sake of appeasing people or for attention? Perhaps so. But people should have the right to tell what they want to and then move on with their lives. It isn’t anyone’s personal responsibility to give people details or to embrace an identity. You’re trying to force people to live their lives for identity and social politics. And some folks simply aren’t here for that. That’s fine. And if someone wishes to be closeted forever that’s fine as well. You simply can’t control people’s identities, their sense of self and how they present themselves to the world. So, trying to do so is futile and doesn’t assist progression. Furthermore, “coming out” doesn’t mean embracing an identity. Promoting honesty, freedom, self-love, and being with/loving whoever you want to be with/love is not about identity. There are plenty of people who embrace whatever identity, but they’re still manipulation, they’re still “confused”, they still don’t know what they want, they’re still hateful, they’re still resentful, their identities don’t match up with the general consensus of that identity. Identity is not the cure for anything. While sexuality and where you are on the romantic, sexual, affection, relationship spectrum can be very confusing, individual stuff that can evolve with time. I understand the importance of words and identities. But it’s obvious that this structure of identity obsession is leading to a lot of divisions. An evolution in expressing ourselves and communicating honestly needs to happen. We can’t just keep saying “do it our way” when that way isn’t working for a lot of folks and a lot of people’s circumstances, and it’s being rejected by many.
I do agree that Queerty’s posts about him have been problematic and hypocritical.
DarkZephyr
@Donston
“You’re trying to force people to live their lives for identity and social politics.”
Are you flipping serious right now, Dude? Where in the HELL did I indicate that I am trying to “force” anybody do do jack sh**? He put some dumb a** gay baiting bull crap out there for all the world and I am expressing my opinion about it. Plain and simple. I don’t have any respect for gay baiters. Sorry.
Donston
Saying that not embracing an identity is a “cop out” does mean that you’re trying to force people to embrace the system you want them to. Is he baiting, shaming, erasing, figuring things out? Who knows. But if he was currently openly dating a guy yet refused to embrace an identity would you immediately claim that he’s “baiting”? While the argument for people erasing and shaming if they don’t embrace an identity is becoming passe. Many people are keeping it real and living their lives freely and honestly without embracing a particular identity. So, identity is becoming more and more about politics and categorization and personal choice. And I understand why they still have a purpose personally, socially and politically. I just don’t think it’s worth taking very seriously any longer when folks choose not the follow the code. It’s ultimately their lives, their journeys, their sense of self, their relationships, etc. Being hostile towards people that aren’t aligning themselves the way you want just creates more division and bitterness and manipulation, and it contributes to internalized homophobia and anti-gay rhetoric. And to me it disrespects the reality that a lot of people have very difficult internal and external struggles.
No matter how many identities folks come up with, there will never be a perfect system. And the romantic, sexual, affection, relationship, sense of gender spectrum is very wide and diverse. This doesn’t mean identities have to die or people are being “erased”. It just means everyone’s going to go about things their own way. It’s time to not be resentful towards that. As I continue to say, the obsession with identity promotion needs to come second to promoting honesty, freedom, self-comfort, mental health and loving/being with who you want to love/be with.
DarkZephyr
Dude, he doesn’t even know me and I have never spoken a word to him. He is not being “forced” to do squat by my expressed opinion. He will never even know that I exist, let alone harbor any opinions about him. Believe me, nothing I express will ever compel him to do a thing. Rest assured of that.
I don’t appreciate people like yourself and him that demonize coming out of the closet and being genuinely true to yourself, but you guys gotta do what you gotta do. My opinion won’t do a thing to change that. So kindly back off.
dhmonarch89
so- why isn’t it considered bi shaming when you won’t label yourself but say you could be with either? Isn’t the ability to be with/fall for either BISEXUALITY??? Why is that so hard to say?
whateverokok
Dotson’s right. And for the record “unlabeled” Is an identity. It very well could be a sexual orientation as well. We don’t get to dictate what someone’s identity or sexual orientation is. That is up for the individual to decide. Not us.
DarkZephyr
Nobody’s “dictating” a thing. We are expressing our opinions. Mine is that if you are attracted to men and women, you are bisexual. If you are attracted to the opposite sex, you are straight. If you are attracted to the same sex, you are gay. If you are attracted to human beings regardless of their sex or gender identity, you are pan. Demonizing that is absurd and offensive to me after what I have had to live through as a gay man who grew up in the 1990s. Do you think the people who kicked the shit out of me and almost killed me on multiple occasions would have cared if I said “I choose not to label myself!!” I can’t even with pieces of work like you.