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Eloy de Jong Says Boyband Years Forced Him to Hide He Was Gay

His account spotlights industry rules that pushed boybands to project straight availability to female fans.

Overview

  • Eloy de Jong recounts in RTL’s three-hour Bravo anniversary documentary, aired Sunday, how he concealed his sexuality to protect Caught In The Act’s success.
  • He says a manager told the group, “Luckily there are no gay men in my band,” which he took as a clear order to stay closeted.
  • He describes answering a BravoTV question about his “dream woman” by imagining a man instead, so his response would still sound sincere on air.
  • He recalls a secret relationship with Boyzone’s Stephen Gately through 2002, years lived in fear of being outed, and their decision to tell their story in Bravo.
  • He later honored Gately, who died in 2009, with a 2018 German version of Boyzone’s “No Matter What,” reflecting on a legacy shaped by teen media gatekeepers.