FEATURE: Always and Forever: Inspiring and Troubling: The Reaction to Eternal Members’ Support of the Trans Community

FEATURE:

 

 

Always and Forever

IN THIS PHOTO: Louise Redknapp

 

Inspiring and Troubling: The Reaction to Eternal Members’ Support of the Trans Community

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ONE of the most head-spinning aspect…

 PHOTO CREDIT: Lisett Kruusimäe/Pexels

of social media is how it can inspire joy and disbelief at the same time. How a single post or story can be met with enormous positivity and pride; the backlash and poison that some meet it with. There is enough horror and darkness in the world without having to read a tsunami of ignorance and hatred so many people receive when they post something positive and supportive. I have just been on Instagram and seen a recent post from actress Kate Beckinsale. She posted a long message thanking fans for their support – though she also mentioned how she has received a lot of hate too. People who leave such awful comments to posts and videos that should receive nothing but love and appreciation. It can be a risk for any high-profile person to post something that can be perceived as political. Political views can divide people. Artists can support gun control in the U.S., though there will be a vocal and disturbed faction who will pile on and attack them. Others might support women’s rights concerning body autonomy. A radical and right-wing group might attack them. The subject of L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ rights, and especially showing support for the trans community, is something that has come up in the news a lot. Where we have music villains such as the ever-odious Matty Healy using an ableist slur in a tweet he sent to Lucy Dacus (boygenius), he does not receive the same sort of judgement and condemnation as some artists do when they are saying something very positive. In the case of the trans community, Róisín Murphy posted something recently to her Facebook account that addressed her concerns about children using puberty blockers. Whilst I don’t think she has been ‘cancelled’ – she is playing gigs and has done some interviews about her new album, Hit Parade -, the fact is that her label Ninja Tune seemingly blocked promotion widely enough is cause for concern and justification.

 IN THIS PHOTO: Eternal’s Kéllé Bryan/PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images

A seemingly disproportionate response and punishment to an artist that posted an opinion, apologised quickly, and yet has had this curfew and critical spotlight put on her. Even though I do not completely support or agree with what Murphy said – it is a more complex issue that one would do well to read up about more – and it would be nice to see more artists positively posting about the trans community and artists showing their allyship, she has received far too much heat and unfair repercussions. Whether it is misogyny, or the wrong-headiness and nastiness that is ever-present on social media, Murphy was subjected to a lot of undue criticism. At a moment when the trans community need support and every day they have to see such stupid and ill-informed comments about them online, we need to back and augment those artists that come out and show their support. Nail their colours to the mast in an inspiring way! This takes me to Eternal members Louise Redknapp and Kéllé Bryan. I did not know this, but the legendary girl group (as horrible as that term is…) – their hits include Power of a Woman, Stay, Angel of Mine, I Wanna Be the Only One - were reformed and planning on going on tour. At a time when there has been resurgence of popular groups (S Club 7 among them) from the past getting together and turning back time, one of the iconic girl groups getting onto the stage would have been amazing! Despite the fact Redknapp left Eternal in 1995 to embark on a solo career, I think that many fans were excited to think of her back in the fold. The quartet getting together once more. Fellow members Easther and Vernie Bennett have caused a split. Alongside Louise Redknapp, Kéllé Bryan has also backed out of those reunion dates. Pink News fill is us on the details:

“The 90s British R&B group Eternal – made up of Redknapp, Bryan and sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett – were planning a reunion tour in 2024, with performances at Mighty Hoopla and Pride festivals.

However, problems arose when the Bennett sisters reportedly refused to perform at LGBTQ+ events such as Pride, because they don’t agree with their support for the trans community.

According to The Mirror, Redknapp and Bryan were taken aback by the Bennetts’ stance, and split from the group in June.

A source told the publication: “Louise, Kelle, Easther and Vernie had all signed up to perform a huge nationwide tour next year, culminating with a huge show at pop festival Mighty Hoopla, which is loved by the gay community.

“Then in June the girls received an email from Easther and Vernie who refused to play any gay festivals or Pride. They said they can’t support the LGBTQ+ community now it has an alliance with the trans community, a stance Vernie in particular has been public about on socials.”

The source added that Redknapp’s fan base is “98 per cent gay men”, and she and Bryan believe everyone is welcome to their shows. “It’s a real shame for their fans who have been waiting such a long time for this moment,” they told The Mirror.

With successes like “Stay” and “I Wanna Be The Only One”, Eternal sold 10 million records worldwide and became global idols of the 1990s. Always and Forever, the group’s debut album, sold over a million copies in the UK, becoming the first album by a female band ever to reach that milestone.

The group split in 2000 and briefly reunited in 2014 for ITV’s The Big Reunion, although Redknapp was notably absent.

Eternal fans have praised Redknapp and Bryan for their decision to abandon the tour in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.

One fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Louise Redknapp and Kéllé Bryan nixing a lucrative comeback tour with Eternal because the other two members refused to play Pride events despite their massive gay following. Now that’s what I call being an ally.”

Another wrote: “This is what true allyship is – standing up for a community that’s stood by you.”

A third social media user posted that although it’s “heartbreaking” that the band won’t be getting back together in the same way, they have “lots of respect to Louise and Kéllé for refusing that cheque” and standing with LGBTQ+ people. “We won’t be going to see you Easther and Vernie,” the fan added.

Easther and Vernie Bennett remain in Eternal and are said to be touring next year without Redknapp or Bryan”.

I am surprised this hasn’t been reacted to by music journalists. Maybe more considered think-pieces are coming. I wanted to react to this. One only needs to look at the comments under Louise Redknapp’s post – showing support to the trans community always and forever (that was the title of the group’s 1993 album; it turns thirty in November) – to see the kind of bile and backlash artists get when they stand up and ally themselves! In this case, she has chosen a lucrative reformation payout and potential new musical possibilities to stand up and against the Bennett sisters. Alongside Kéllé Bryan, I feel there is now this irreparable crack. It is good that Redknapp and Bryan did not put aside principles in order to head back onto the stage. It made me think about the way genuinely problematic artists who are courting controversy and do not engage their brain seem to get away with it and do not get that much hate. When you do something brave and  positive like aligning yourself with transgender people and the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ community, then you get this wave of vile comments. The transphobes who feel that supporting that community is supporting violence against women. That they (trans friends and supporters) are misguided and homophobic. More and more, it makes me feel like there needs to be a lot more discussion about the trans community. Quite a few artists have expressed views and chosen their side as it were – Alice Cooper thinking the trans movement is a ‘fad’ for example -, and it opens up conversation, yet it does muddle and muddy things. At the centre is the trans community themselves. They get these powerful allies. They also have to read the most disgusting and stupid comments. Kudos to Louise Redknapp and Kéllé Bryan for their support – and also having to read such unnecessary hatred and attack. Let’s hope their allyship inspires other artists! They don’t want to be the only ones. As Redknapp said with her tweet: she will back and stand behind the trans community…

ALWAYS and forever.

Sam Liddicott