“I am deeply sorry and I know I have let everyone down,” Donald wrote in a statement.
Howard Donald of Take That performs on stage during the Coronation Concert on May 7, 2023 in Windsor, England. Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Take That‘s Howard Donald, who was scheduled to perform as a solo artist at Groovebox’s Nottingham Pride Festival in July, has been removed from the fest’s lineup. The move came on Saturday (June 17), when Donald apologized for “liking social media posts that are derogatory towards the LGBTQIA+ community.”
“In light of recent events, Howard Donald will no longer be playing at our Nottingham Pride Festival on Saturday 29th July at Binks Yard. We would like to offer our thanks to the public for alerting us to the situation this morning and also appreciate your patience whilst we spoke to the relevant parties,” Groovebox wrote in a statement published on Saturday, after telling festivalgoers earlier in the day that the organization was dealing with a “a situation that’s evolving, in relation to an artist on our Nottingham Pride line-up.”
“I have made a huge error in my judgement liking social media posts that are derogatory towards the LGBTQIA+ community and for that, I am deeply sorry and I know I have let everyone down,” Donald wrote in an Instagram Story on Saturday (June 17).
Donald added, “I am really disappointed in myself and I am sorry for any hurt that I have caused by my uneducated actions. I clearly have a lot to learn and it’s a priority for me that I do this.”
Donald’s Twitter account has been deleted as of press time, but screenshots of transphobic and homophobic tweets that he allegedly liked were shared among other media outlets and on social media.
Nottingham Pride is working on confirming a replacement headliner to take Donald’s spot. Horse Meat Disco, Tayce, Danny Beard and ESSEL remain on the event’s lineup.
Take That currently consists of Donald as well as Gary Barlow and Mark Owen, though Jason Orange and Robbie Williams originally rounded out the group. The English boy band took the U.K. and the rest of Europe by storm, but only had one hit in the U.S., 1995’s “Back for Good,” which peaked at No. 7 on the Hot 100 songs chart.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.