Louise Redknapp pulls out of Eternal reunion tour over trans rights row
26 September 2023, 08:34 | Updated: 26 September 2023, 08:37
Louise Redknapp has pulled out of Eternal's forthcoming UK tour following a row with bandmates over their refusal to play LGBTQ+ festivals.
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The singer, 48, was the biggest star to emerge from the UK pop band, who were in the midst of reunion tour discussions when the row erupted.
Redknapp's bandmates, sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, are said to have refused to play specific tour dates after expressing their stance on transgender issues.
According to Redknapp's publicist, her bandmates believed the "gay community was being hijacked by the trans community".
Rising to fame in the 1990s with UK hits including 'Stay', 'Power Of A Woman' and 'Just A Step From Heaven', the band's reunion was due to take place in 2024.
The band disbanded in 1995 to pursue solo singing careers, before Louise shot to fame as a solo artist.
She later married footballer Jamie Redknapp, before the couple divorced in 2017 following 19 years of marriage.
Now, the band's reunion plans appear to have been shelved, as both Redknapp and Eternal's fourth band member Kéllé Bryan are said to have walked away from discussions as a result of their bandmate's opinions.
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Redknapp's publicist, Simone Jones, has since confirmed the decision.
"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," he said.
"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 Kéllé 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."
Sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett are yet to speak out following the claims.
