Ex-Dancing On Ice judge Jason Gardiner says he was ‘shocked’ when Phillip Schofield came out as gay
JASON Gardiner has spoken of his shock at Phillip Schofield’s coming out — and urged him to do more to help gay rights.
It comes after the Dancing On Ice host, 58, opened up about his sexuality in February last year on ITV’s This Morning.
Jason, 49, said: “There were rumours around him being gay but I took them with a pinch of salt.
“I’d always got on with his wife Steph, she is an ex-dancer. I was shocked as to why he came out and did not announce he was seeing anyone.”
Jason believes high-profile Phillip is in a great position to support gay rights.
But he added: “I don’t hear anything about him being outraged about what is happening to his new community.
“For some people I’ve spoken to, it doesn’t make sense — if you’re not going to actually get on board with the LGBTQ+ community and try and advance some of the injustices that are happening, then what the hell did you have to announce you were gay for?
“It was clearly a very brave thing to do.”
Jason was confused by the timing of the revelation but added: “I respected that he came out.
“It’s never easy to come out at any age.
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“He came out of the closet to stay locked down.
“The whole timing of it was off, it didn’t have any rhyme or reason. He wasn’t in love with another man.
“He just wanted to get it off his chest — so it was like, ‘OK, thanks for sharing Phil . . . but why?’”
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