Olly Alexander recalls first crush and coming out to his parents

It’s no secret that we reckon Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander is one of Britain’s best gay pop stars in, well, years, but the 25-year-old has revealed that despite his outspoken position as a gay rights advocate now, he struggled as much as the next person when it came to accepting his sexuality.

In a wide-ranging interview with Metro Weekly, Olly has shed light on his experience of growing up gay in rural Gloucestershire, saying that he realised he was gay after developing a crush on a school friend, but that he was bullied for not fitting in with his classmates.

“I had a crush on a friend at school, who was a boy, and I didn’t totally understand what it was at the time,” he explained. “This was when I was 13. But I just knew I wanted spend all my time around him and kiss him. And that was probably the first time. I mean, when I watched Disney movies as a kid, I liked the girls because they looked pretty and nice. But I wanted to see more of Aladdin than Jasmine.

“I didn’t fit in at school ever. I felt very much like a misfit. I went out of my way to be different as well; I’d wear eyeliner to school and paint my nails. I wanted to be different as well as feeling very different and I didn’t like a lot of the kids at school. They kind of went for me.”

He added: “I was bullied quite a bit. But it tapered off by the time I was 15. I could stand up for myself by then.

The Shine singer, who is currently in a ridiculously cute relationship with Clean Bandit’s Neil Amin-Smith, went on the recount how he came out to his mum after moving to London to pursue his music and acting career – adding that he’s “pretty sure” his dad, who he is no longer in touch with, knows too.

“I didn’t really come out to my mum until I was about 20,” he said. “I had moved to London when I was 18, as soon as I had enough money to do that. I talked to my mum over the phone and I told her I was gay, and she was like, “Yeah, that makes sense, that’s cool.” Didn’t really bat an eyelid.

“Afterwards I felt like I should never have been afraid to tell her, because she’s always been a very supportive, liberal mum. There was no reason for me to have been afraid. I guess that everyone struggles with coming out, whoever you are, but it was a great experience.”

He added: I haven’t really seen [my dad] since my parents divorced. I have totally lost communication with him — out of choice. And I think he knows now, yeah, I’m pretty sure he knows. But it didn’t seem kind of relevant to bring up or to get in touch because of it.”

Meanwhile it’s hoped that Olly will be making sweet music with another pop cutie, Troye Sivan, whose request for a duet prompted the him to suggest a Brandy and Monica The Boy Is Mine-style collaboration. Erm, soon please?!

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