Interview: ‘I’m A Celebrity’ star Brian Friedman talks love and marriage

He’s one of the star recruits on the latest season of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, which means 37-year-old creative director Brian Friedman will have to do without many of his creature comforts for the near future – and that includes his partner, 39-year-old Daniel Brown.

With same-sex marriage legal across the US, Brian and Daniel are planning their big day. But for those of you expecting a big showbiz do with Britney Spears conducting the service, Simon Cowell as ring bearer and Stevi Ritchie as the cabaret act, you’d be wrong. “We haven’t decided yet, but we may want to keep it private and low key, just for us,” says Brian. “And then perhaps we’ll throw a big party afterwards, so everyone can feel part of it.” Here, the couple share their engagement story and wedding plans.

How did you both meet?

Brian: I was in West Hollywood to meet Alexandra Burke for dinner with  a friend, but she was stuck in the studio, so we went to The Abbey instead.

Daniel: I also went out to meet some friends, but they never showed up so…At the end of the night I was leaving and I heard these guys shouting at me.

Brian: When I saw him, I was immediately taken and started shouting at him!

Daniel: I continued walking, but when I saw that Brian was cute, I went over and introduced myself. He and his friend said, “Come and have a drink with us,” and I said, “It’s 2am – everything is closed. Where are you going to drink?” Brian’s friend said, “Back at Brian’s house!” I said, “I don’t think so – I have to work in the morning.” When we realised that we lived near each other I said I’d drop by for a drink. So, I went to his house and we ended up having our first kiss in the cabana in his backyard. We’ve been together ever since.

How long after you met did you realise that marriage would be on the cards?

Brian: We started dating and we were inseparable. He was pretty much at my house every single day. He did keep his place for three years, though.

Daniel: After three years I thought we’d be together and get married at some point.

Brian: But we didn’t really start talking about it until they made it legal and California overturned the law. Then I started talking to our friends and family about it. I was even asking them to find out what kind of ring Daniel would want.

Daniel: I’d just say, “Oh he knows what I’d want.”

Brian: So every time they came back to me, they just said, “He keeps saying that you know!” Shortly after, we went shopping in Vegas and casually looked at some rings. I used that day to really gauge what he liked.

Did you ever envisage getting married when you were younger?

Brian: I never really thought I would ever get married, because when I came out it was not legal. But then as soon as all that happened, it clicked for me and I knew that I was ready.

Daniel: I always dreamed about marrying a man and having a wedding like everybody else – it just never dawned on me that it was not legal or that someone could tell me I couldn’t. I would do whatever the hell I wanted if I loved somebody.

 

Take us back to when you came out, Brian…

Brian: I knew from a very young age that I was gay. I remember having crushes on other boys in school from as early as five or six years old. When I realised that no other boys shared the same feeling that I did, I knew it was something I had to hide away. I started dancing at 11 and eventually met other boys who were gay. It took me some time, but a close friend made me feel safe enough to confide in him and, at the age of 16, I finally came out to him and to myself fully. Coming out to my mom was far more traumatic! She was coming to see me in LA from Arizona and at the time I had a boyfriend living with me. Whenever my family came to visit me in the past I would hide all the pictures and my boyfriend would have to pack up and go away. But this time I was ready to tell my mom. So, as she was at the airport in Arizona, I called her and said, “I think you need to sit down – I have to tell you something,” and she was like, “What’s wrong?” I started crying and told her, “I’m gay,” and my mom said, “Darling, I know!” and I said, “What?” and she replied, “I know, it’s OK!” Once she arrived in LA, it was incredible to have that huge weight lifted. I had been keeping a huge part of who I was hidden for so long and developed anxiety over it. To have those feelings gone was so freeing. I never actually came out to the rest of my family. I assumed mom told everyone because they just knew. Coming out to her was one of the best moments of my life!

 

You both have a son…

Brian: Yeah, Zack, who was one of my students. He’s from a little town in New Mexico and won an award to travel the country with an event that I am creative director of called The Pulse On Tour as an assistant for all of the faculty. Back home he lived with his grandmother in a very small town with no opportunity for him to do what he loves. At 15, he came to LA to train in dance and was able to participate in a show at a club. Daniel and I went to support him and watch the performance. An agent said to me, “Who is that?”

I let her know he was a student of mine and that we needed to get him to LA. She agreed to sign him as a client. I saw a little of myself in Zack and wanted him to get working on his craft. We asked his grandparents if they’d let him come and stay with us. They agreed to let him come out for a few weeks to try it out. His grandpa drove him out and stayed with us for a few days and ended up leaving him. Zack lived with us for about two-and-a-half years. After his 18th birthday he got his first apartment down the street from us. He’s been working all around the world. We’re proud of him!

This interview first appeared in the Attitude special issue Love & Marriage, which is still available to download from Pocketmags.com or to purchase in print from newsstand.co.uk.