Eternal reunion collapses after disagreements over playing Pride.

[ArabeIIaScott]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12554597/Louise-Redknapp-pulls-Eternal-reunion-bandmates-REFUSE-play-LGBTQ-festivals-Pride-claims-hijacked-trans-community.html

'Louise Redknapp pulls out of Eternal reunion after her bandmates REFUSE to play LGBTQ+ festivals and Pride over claims they are being 'hijacked' by the trans community'

Yes completely agree with all that.

All of that history for disagreement over an issue that is so very valid for debate.

It's upsetting this is where we're going - severing of ties over points of view, and then public shaming/ virtue signalling.

I know they have had previous friction but without the Bennett's talents, Louise's career wouldn't have unfolded the way it did. And I don't think E and V made public denouncements when Louise left the group all those years ago.

I'm a lesbian and wouldn't touch Pride with a barge pole these days.

And when I did attend Pride as a teenager, many years ago, I certainly would not have attended with my Mum. 🤢

I applaud the Bennett sisters.

Well done half of Eternal.

As for coming onto threads and saying "please don't @ me"...give over. You either engage or you don't. I think we are all a bit wise to the "innocent" attempts to police threads or set rules on them. MN set the rules. Don't like it? Find somewhere else. But you'll find all those other places pretty much only allow the TRA perspective, which is food for thought.

Yes, the shame is that Louise Redknapp is so quick to ditch her friends and band mates because she has a different take on something. To me that doesn't indicate that she's 'virtuous' and an ally, more that she's disloyal to long time friends to chase $£s. Shame on her.

This was covered as part of the showbiz stories on Forth Radio this morning with a clear tone of how awful that Easther and Vernie are anti trans and who cares about Eternal anyway. Disappointing as I had thought perhaps Arlene might have got it.

Do you have any reason to think that they are homophobic, other than them being religious?

I don't think they would be complaining about the gay community being hijacked by the trans community if they had a problem with gay people.

Homophobia is a serious accusation and I don't think it's right to say that without more evidence than someone being religious. The most religious person I know (who is actually a vicar) is extremely pro LGBT rights.

A lot of Louise's 'work' consists of LGBTQ gigs. I doubt she has any particular convictions and goes with the money.

Actions have consequences and the Bennett sisters are finding this out. If they’re going to hold these views, they can take the consequences without crying “poor me”.

They’ve always had a reputation as a pretty rotten pair and this has solidified it for me.

Vernie went back to University and qualified as a lawyer, which is not the usual path followed after leaving a girl band.

Not sure if they are doing the right thing and it may be twisted against them. I think it may have been better for them just publicise their views about women's rights and see if Pride had a problem

Do they believe that? Can you link to where they've said this, please?

Personally I would not feel safe performing at Pride if I had previously been outspoken about my views on women's rights. Although it sounds as though their objection is actually that the trans rights movement has piggybacked on the gay rights movement, but that also has the obvious potential to create tension at Pride, even though it is a legitimate point of view.

Why should they perform to what might be a hostile audience?

Performing at Pride isn't compulsory.

Sounds like something Dolores Umbridge would say.

Can you explain why you think they are so very rotten?

Actually there has been no statement from either of the sisters, the press report is based on Louise leaking stuff.

Well it sounds like she has no issues stabbing them in the back then.

I honestly can't see what the issue is. Two people in Eternal (arguably the more talented pair) don't want to play a specific festival because it clashes with their beliefs. They are not in any way trying to persuade any other people that they shouldn't play and they're not saying the festival shouldn't go ahead. So I'm very surprised to see how they're being described here.

Its not the first time that Louise has thrown someone else under the bus for attention.

If they’re going to hold these views, they can take the consequences without crying “poor me”.

This sounds threatening. The reports we have are from Louise's publicist who's gone on the record, saying:

"Louise's publicist, Simon Jones, said: 'A message was sent to the team putting together the Eternal reunion stating that if it was to go ahead, neither Vernie nor Easther would perform at Pride shows or LGBTQ+ festivals.

'This was because the duo felt that the gay community was being hijacked by the trans community and they do not support this.
'Louise is a huge supporter and ally of the LGBTQ+ community and both herself and Kelle told the duo they would not work with anyone who held these views, and as such the reunion as a four would not be going ahead.
'The team behind the proposed Eternal reunion are gay including management, PR and tour promoter, and neither myself nor any of the team would work with artists who held such views about the trans community.'"

The view that gay people are adversely affected by this movement is not an unusual one. And it's one that can be evidenced, be it via ROGD in young girls, or the fact lesbians can't even have their own dating spaces.

What "consequences" then, should the two sisters "take"?

I haven’t seen any statements by the sisters to say they do not support same sex relationships. I said I would not be surprised if they did not support such relationships due to their religious beliefs. It’s a guess based on an interview I saw many years ago when Esther was talking about the Old Testament and what the Bible meant to her. I could be wrong, but as I said, I would not be surprised if that was the real reason behind the refusal to play Pride. However it would not generate the same media noise that the comments from Louise have done.

It’s a guess

I see, thank you.

I think if anything that would generate more drama.

It would definitely cast Louise in a more positive light and the Bennett sisters in a more negative light if Louise's team were able to say, "The Bennett sisters are homophobic and transphobic" rather than just, "The Bennett sisters are transphobic".

So I highly doubt this is the case.

Their bullying behaviour drove two members out of the band.

If they’ve said it, how has she stabbed them in the back?

If I had been bullied out of a band I wouldn't have been up for doing a reunion in the first place.

You’re being ridiculous. There’s nothing “threatening” about it. The consequences obvious - Louise and Kelle pulling out of the tour.

That would be really, really relevant if you were a member of the band.