Mika and Jamie Laing open the 2025 Attitude Awards with hilarious speech: ‘A straight man is on the stage’
The 2025 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, powered by Jaguar kicked off in dazzling style as the pair used their humour to tackle the night
By Aaron Sugg
Pop icon Mika and entrepreneur Jamie Laing set the scene for the 2025 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, powered by Jaguar, this evening (8 October) as our dashing co-hosts of this year’s ceremony.
Mika, who previously won his very own Attitude Award in 2019, and Laing, Candy Kittens CEO, brought a fresh, fun and unexpected electricity to the stage.
First up, the ‘Grace Kelly’ singer stepped onto the stage, introduced by Attitude editor-in-chief Cliff Joannou.
“Half Lebanese, fully homosexual” – Mika introduces himself at the 2025 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards
Dressed in a blue, Mika leapt onto the stage as he introduced himself. Setting the tone for the night, he addressed the star-studded crowd: “Half of you are dressed like you’re going to the opera. The other half like you’re going to a sex dungeon.”
To mark the special occasion, Attitude did not settle for just one host. Instead, they did one better, delivering true diversity…
Introducing his co-host as someone “who’s never been in a dark room, doesn’t know the dance to ‘Abracadabra’, and thinks a harness is something you put on a horse,” Mika welcomed Jamie Laing to the stage.
“Straight men are now on stage at the Attitude Awards” – Jamie Laing joked as he took the stage
Laing appeared in a Casey Hayford suit, quipping: “Diversity has gone too far. A straight man is on the stage at the Attitude Awards.”
The pair went on to joke about gay saunas in Soho, with Jamie jesting he had got lost on the way to the Attitude Awards, “I thought it was a cocktail lounge,” he said.
The pair bounced off each other, Mika describing Laing as an “entrepreneur, broadcaster, a man who’s built a career out of talking about his feelings… and selling sweets,” he quipped.
Jamie on Mike, said: “Mika, who’s singing voice is so high it can only be heard by dogs and Maria Carey.”
Though hilariously camp and playful, the duo also addressed pressing issues facing the LGBTQ+ community in.
“We’ve watched the UK slip further down the European equality rankings” – Mika addresses conversion therapy and trans rights
Mika said: “Having an ally on this stage tonight actually matters, because allyship means standing shoulder to shoulder with the community – adding your voice to ours and making it impossible for anyone to pretend like we stand here alone.”
The ‘Grace Kelly’ singer added: “This year, we’ve seen yet more delays on the government banning so-called conversion therapy. We’ve had court rulings that put trans rights under threat even further. And we’ve watched the UK slip further down the European equality rankings – being pushed back faster than a bad wig in a wind tunnel.”
Jamie added: “And it isn’t just about policies and headlines; it’s about people. People still made to feel they can’t be themselves at work, at school, or even at home.”
“Solidarity inside and outside the community has never mattered more” – Mika on the current political climate facing the LGBTQ+ community
Concluding, Mika said: “Which is why solidarity inside and outside the community has never mattered more.
Pulling it back to the awards, the pair spoke about what the ceremony is all about: “The courage of creativity and visibility that inspire change and about recognising the people who lead the way.”
Before introducing Josh Cavallo to present the first award of the night, the Icon Award, the pair said together: “Welcome to the 2025 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, powered by Jaguar!”
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