Saturday night at London's G-A-Y club, singer Enrique Iglesias treated a crowd of mostly gay men to a special performance of his hit "Hero," in which he brought a male audience member up on stage and serenaded him. He ended the performance by singing to the lucky guy while wrapping his arms around him, then planting a kiss on his forehead.
A fan who attended the concert said he asked, "Should I bring a girl or guy to the stage?"
And of course the public went mental and shouted, "Guy guy guy!" To which Iglesias responded, "Oh shit, it is a guy then!"
Enrique started looking at the crowd and ordered the venue to turn the lights on. He looked and looked until he found this Filipino guy and invited him to the stage. He started singing "Hero" and said, "Let's pretend I am gay for few minutes."
Another fan who was there Saturday night said:
I was there on Saturday night, and may it be noted for the record what a fantastically good sport Enrique was.Obviously straight as a die, but clearly a pro at working the gay crowds. This was not the first time he has done this kind of show. He walked down the narrow gangplank into the crowd and there were men with their hands literally squeezing his crotch and backside to the extent that at one point he had to cup the Iglesias cojones for dear life.
Here's some video of the event:
Obviously, Enrique has a new album to sell (it's called Insomniac and it comes out June 12), so who knows if he did this because he really wanted to, or he was hoping to court a fanbase that's a wide open sea for any male star to fish into? Either way, it's working. I've heard many gay men say after watching the video and hearing about it they have pre-ordered his new album, and even ordered his old ones.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
I guess I'm out of it -- I hadn't realized Rufus Wainwright was gay. Am I the last to find out?
2 - Jet in Columbus
Great article, I should warn you and other BC writers that U-tube has become notorius for suddenly pulling videos from use (like they did with the one you included), and I've completely stopped depending on then.
I loved the article Chris "Keep it up"
Jet
3 - Chris Evans
It seems you are the last one, Phillip. Haha
4 - Ian Johnson
We thought it was actually mainly positive.
Iglesias is clearly there to promote a recording, but that venue is a prestigious London place to do that. The thing we commented most strongly on at Gay Market News was that he could have done the record promotion only but he chose to go much further. In doing so he was positioning his 'brand', if you will, in a way that was appropriate to the occasion and smart from a marketing standpoint.
In a world where mainstream society often sees male homosexuality as odd or 'difficult' going as far as he did means he is chooing to show respect for the space in which he found himself a guest.
I tend very strongly not to the cynical on this one, but am really quite respectful of him for doing this. - Ian Johnson.
5 - laura
enrique that is really sweet what u did im laura im 14 u biggest dont worry im not crazy u said or shit i thought u run off stage but u staid that is so sweeti love u songsi think u got more gay poeple liking u now im not gay by the way wish i could of been there u are a great singer and really cute u biggest fan laura ps i fancy u lots.xxx byexxx
6 - sula
Interesting how you choose black and gay and compare their reaction and finally said it is because they they have inferiority issues.. umm...
So when a white and straight decided to look a black girls is oohh my God... He is just totally different.. You are not getting to deep into any analysis here, better next time keep it to yourself.
7 - lala
wasnt it like a women he kissed, when i saw the video i thought its a girl she had boobs.
8 - bethany evans
honestly i dnt belive ur gay but i dnt care lol ur fitttttttxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
9 - bman
How is this brilliant, rhetorical argument? Hope the Dude's writing for a Good Magazinbe!!!