06/25/2007
Singer Paolo Nutini Leaves Gay Fan Disappointed
Paolo Nutini is no Enrique Iglesias. The rising Scottish singer/songwriter says that after an incident at a recent concert he'll not make the mistake of making eye contact with a male fan again:
"When I first started gigging, people were giving me all of these words of advice. They said: 'Find a girl in the audience and sing to her, let her be the focus of the song.' But once when I did it a guy came up to me later and said, 'I saw you looking at me throughout that song.' I said: 'I'm sorry man, I think there was a girl right beside you.' And he went: 'Aw, it wasn't me?' It was the most awkward moment. He said: 'So you're not gay?' and I said: 'No.' The dude walked away then came up again and shook my hand. He sort of went, 'I'm sorry about that, see you later.' And then he left his number in my hand! Ten out of 10 for trying but ever since then I've not run the risk again."
Nutini, whose single "Last Request" (below) recently charted in the UK top 10, will be performing at the Live Earth concerts in London on July 7th. But he won't be making eye contact with you.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 12:13 PM EST by Andy in Music, News, Paolo Nutini | Permalink
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if that is true, then what a creepy moment...you still give your number to a guy who is not gay, or worse, even if he were gay and hiding is clearly not interested in you...that would kinda turn me off to being to open because it would be opening a totally unfamiliar can of worms....and clearly some worms are C-R-A-Z-A-Y.
Posted by: marlo | Jun 25, 2007 12:28:50 PM
um, what is crazy is his problem with someone being attracted to him. your job is for people to want to buy your art because they like it or you. who the fuck cares if they like you and you don't like them. does he not know of the concept of groupies?!?!
what is the risk of a fan thinking you are into them? was it hard to be honest and say no? did that number make him confront smoe internal gay issue? just say no, but thanks, and move on. if they stalk you...hire security.
Posted by: nycredneck | Jun 25, 2007 12:36:21 PM
Performers get all kinds of offers from all kinds of different people. It's just a part of the business. I don't know this performer's work at all but it does seem like he's trying to let everyone know he's not gay without offending anyone. Marlo, if he were going to be openly gay this wouldn't stop him, if he's closeted this story makes a good cover.
Posted by: Daniel | Jun 25, 2007 1:06:10 PM
I'm a little confused. The guy doesn't sing to other guys because he's not gay and doesn't want people to be disappointed like this guy was... and you're mad at him?
Posted by: brkndrm | Jun 25, 2007 1:06:36 PM
eh, he's not that cute
Posted by: Dave | Jun 25, 2007 1:16:24 PM
Funny, I've been listening to Paolo for a while now and I never got confused about whether or not he was gay because...well, I just really didn't give a shit. Seems to me that nobody else in journalism really has either. The nice thing is, that he didn't scream at the sycophantic dreamer and use any bigoted epithets or have the guy beaten to the ground by security. As the storyline suggests, this must have happened much earlier when he was playing small venues. You won't be shaking his hand anytime soon unless you've scored some serious VIP.
Posted by: FizziekruntNT | Jun 25, 2007 1:18:53 PM
Not sure what the problem here is. It sounds like the guy is explaining why he isn't going to be making eyes with any of his female fans anymore.
I think he was just trying to come up with a funny story for an interview. More importantly, if his story is accurate, he was unfailingly polite with a persistent male suitor - so, you know, there might be better targets for outrage.
Posted by: karashi | Jun 25, 2007 1:21:22 PM
Wow, this guy is as popular as Mika!
Posted by: Wayne | Jun 25, 2007 1:21:46 PM
He is damn hot, no one that hot could be straight!
Posted by: D | Jun 25, 2007 1:51:52 PM
I like his hair...
Posted by: Michael W. | Jun 25, 2007 2:29:35 PM
The 'problem' is that there is a contingent of commentators here that insist if a celebrity doesn't fully endorse homosexuality by, you know, becoming gay, then they are jerks who should be scorned. Anything less than "so now I like men" is taken as homophobia.
Posted by: ohmy | Jun 25, 2007 2:59:36 PM
This guy is as straight as an arrow. His songs are dedicated to a childhood girlfriend, Teri Brogan. He is unassuming and he is down to earth. He is so gorgeous to boot, his voice, very unique. I like him a lot, can you tell???? Give him a chance, listen to him, he's fuckin' awesome!!!
Posted by: Cee | Jun 25, 2007 3:02:00 PM
enrique is my hero. this guy's not very cute. enrique, on the other hand, is gorgeous.
Posted by: juliana | Jun 25, 2007 3:19:03 PM
what an ass that he can't simply consider it flattering that someone thought him attractive.
Posted by: peterparker | Jun 25, 2007 3:47:01 PM
Who?
Posted by: anon | Jun 25, 2007 4:45:48 PM
He has really BIG lips. You finish what I'm thinking~!
Posted by: John | Jun 25, 2007 4:54:45 PM
Why is he an ass Peterparker??? Just exactly what did he do to be called that?? He told a little story, and no where in it was he in any way mocking or putting down the guy that came up to him.
OHMY....actually, even though you are right, you don't quite go far enough....the commentators(many of them)after finding out the performer is gay....then proceed to tear him or her apart for their fashion sense or some other bitchy percieved slight.
If I was in the public eye....I would avoid gay groups entirely based on a lot of the commentators in this foruem.
Juliana....please, he's not a hero...he's a fucking singer. Hero's are the Doctors who work on AIDS treatments, or the people who go and take care of the elderly, or the sick, or give of themselves for others way beyond the normal.
Your whats wrong with society today, gay or str8....your priorities are all screwed up.
I know that what you said is hyperbole....but I've also read your past posts....a little less star worship and a bit more opening of your eyes to the real world would be in order.
Flame on.
Posted by: Joshua | Jun 25, 2007 5:11:04 PM
I understand how he feels. I don't make eye contact with women anymore either because I'm tired of being hit on. Especially the older ones because you know, their biological clocks are ticking and....
....oh who the f*%& am I kidding? I love the attention and I'm flattered when anyone pays me a compliment. It would be nice if all straight guys could see it that way too.
Posted by: mark m | Jun 25, 2007 5:57:46 PM
sorry but that fan because a loser when, after finding out the gay wasn't gay, (or as someone said, not interested) still comes back and secretly gives him his phone number?! that the singer is the asshole?! sorry, but it is becoming pretty clear why celebs have bolted themselves in the closet...
Posted by: henry | Jun 25, 2007 6:20:08 PM
so a fan freaked him out. so what? I'm sure he'll learn to deal with it. The bigger issue is that he is not a good singer. His attempt at "rehab" sucked and I haven't heard anything better from him yet.
Posted by: tufe | Jun 25, 2007 9:09:00 PM
"10 out of 10 for trying" ... HA!
Posted by: Jules | Jun 25, 2007 9:15:08 PM
"...but ever since then I've not run the risk again."
Exactly what "risk" is involved in being hit on by a gay guy? That someone will see it and embarrass him? That he might "catch" his gayness and get turned on?
Paolo, I like your music but please grow the fuck up!
Posted by: soulbrotha | Jun 25, 2007 10:14:07 PM
Joshua...no, he didn't mock the guy, but he made it pretty clear that he was uncomfortable that a guy found him attractive...after all, he said "...ever since then i've not run the risk again."...as if having a guy think you are hot is one of the worst things that could possibly happen...clearly the guy is freaked out and grossed out by the attention of gay men...rather than simply being pleased that another human being found him attractive, he chooses instead to make it into something that was awful. puh-leeze! and *that* is why i think he is an ass.
xo,
peterparker
Posted by: peterparker | Jun 26, 2007 4:22:33 AM
Jeez, listen to Joshua and give Paolo (who's only 20, remember) a break - it's a vaguely amusing throw-away story which, no matter how you view it, just isn't offensive at all - Peterparker, I'm generally am full agreement with your comments but you really are exaggerating what Paolo has said - I can "run the risk" of being late to work or missing my favourite television show, this expression doesn't imply dramatic consequences - maybe he just meant that he doesn't wan to run the risk of misleading other gay gays into thinking he's available to them - there's no implication that he's "freaked out and grossed out by the attention of gay men" - the fact that he even tells this story suggests that it's no big deal to him (would a homophobe be able to recount this story without making his distaste apparent?)If you were an out performer and were accosted by a woman who tried to force herself upon you, how do you think you'd feel or react? Probably with less equanimity than Paolo did in this situation...
Posted by: JOHN | Jun 26, 2007 5:46:05 AM
Oh boy, can't wait to buy one of this twit's albums. Hold me back!
Posted by: *rolling eyes* | Jun 26, 2007 7:18:18 AM
some gays just can't handle rejection....even someone elses rejection. LOL
Posted by: Good Lord | Jun 26, 2007 5:11:35 PM
LMAO Good Lord....right on!!!
Posted by: Joshua | Jun 26, 2007 7:05:02 PM