National Enquirer (February 16, 2009) breaks the story of New Kids On The Block's Jonathan Knight being outed by his lover. From the lovey-dovey pix, it would appear it was worth it—after all, his homosexuality has been an open secret.
Kyle Wilker, 27, tells the rag Jonathan realized he "preferred guys to girls" after dating Tiffany. (Sorry, Tiff. Ouch.) "We had a wonderful relationship. I was in love with him and I believe he was in love with me."
Still, this "beautiful, romantic story" came to an end after 18 months with Wilker now telling the 'bloid that Jonathan likes to stay at home and watch TV and read. "I call him a straight guy who happens to be gay."
Lance Bass made a similar comment...why do so many gay people think other gay people are happily leading lives as boring as straights?
So it's one member of every boy-band! Let's go down (so to speak) the list and pick the scandals about to break! O-Town? LFO? Backstreet Boys?
Or ... will NKOTB have two? Hee.
Posted by: steve | February 04, 2009 at 11:34 PM
Interesting. I never paid them much mind. I took my baby sister (who is 30 now) to see them in 1989 or 1990 and Tiffany opened. I wasn't much for the music or the show but I should have brought earplugs. I remember thinking that night that Jon and Jordan were cuties though. Never ever gave it a second thought until you posted this though.
When N'SYNC came around I was hoping that the family member would be Joey Fatone. My gaydar is so far out of sync now, I should just retire it to the closet.
Interesting read Matthew. Thank you for posting the story!
Posted by: Trub | February 04, 2009 at 11:56 PM
good lord this isn't even a new kids on the block that is semi famous. big whoop.
Posted by: Rickardo | February 05, 2009 at 12:17 AM
This is old news. They already mentioned that Jonathan is gay last year, around the time the group got back together. I forgot the source, but geez...
Posted by: C | February 05, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Yawn.
Posted by: j | February 05, 2009 at 11:59 AM
really...who the hell cares?...this is 2009 not 1909...let him be..
liz b
Posted by: liz | February 05, 2009 at 03:33 PM
nobody's picking on him, people! but come ON - if you don't feel compelled to speculate in public about the sexuality of C-listers, you ain't even HUMAN!
Posted by: steve | February 05, 2009 at 10:55 PM
C-list, E-list more like! :D
He was on Oprah some years ago and he suffers terribly from anxiety. That guy who sold the story is a real jerk.
Posted by: Heph | February 06, 2009 at 06:44 AM
Maybe Jonathan suffers from anxiety because of his fear that being open about who he is would cost him his reputation? Or maybe the anxiety thing was manufactured as an excuse not to get back together with NKOTB, which might ignite gay rumors that would not have been very strong when he was a teen. Who knows.
But one thing I'll say is: I find it utterly fascinating that so many people find this story so reprehensible and so beyond the pale. If that is your reaction, why is it considered SUCH a low blow to reveal a star's homosexuality, but nobody blinks an eye at the much more deeply personal facts and rumors that are regularly doled out about famous people every day on the 'Net and in magazines and in newspapers?
Homosexuality is STILL considered some crazy taboo subject, even in 2009. Half the people who object to outing do so because they find homosexuality disgusting and embarrassing and therefore either DON'T wanna hear about it or feel sorry for anyone afflicted with it. The other half seem to feel homosexuality should be a protected piece of information, more so than heterosexuality (and more so than actual straight-sex acts, which are always reported), more than drug use (example: why are people not outraged by the person who sold the Phelps bong picture? why are they not outraged that this picture exists? even his defenders have the mentality—appropriately—that "if you let yourself be photographed, it's gonna get out there" so why not feel the same about Knight?), more than criminal behavior, more than mental illness...you name it, the 'bloids have reported it. But people react most strongly to homosexuality being reported.
As long as that is the case, don't expect major progress on gay rights.
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | February 06, 2009 at 07:13 AM
so??? JON WE LOVE YOU ANYMWAys and a person that love someone don`t sellt he story to the first one for moneyy .. that means hes a jerk and stupid person .. GO JON you are the bestttt
Posted by: dora | February 06, 2009 at 07:21 AM
Let me see if I got this right...they broke up because Jon does not like to live at the clubs (when he is in a 'relationship') and get bent 6 nights a week??
WOW!!! Kyle sounds like he's as deep as a birdbath...if so, then good riddance.
Posted by: Eric | February 06, 2009 at 09:46 AM
I know Kyle.First of all He is not a model his a dragqueen. I saw him dressed woman clothes at Rise club in Boston.
Posted by: Roomanix | February 10, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Okay, Roomanix...pictures! :0)
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | February 10, 2009 at 08:46 AM
Has anyone seen this issue out on magazine stands? Every store I go to hoping to find this article does not have the February 16th issue.
Posted by: Bec | February 19, 2009 at 04:32 AM
The tabloids publish ahead of sked, so this issue is now two weeks old. The March 2, 2009, issues are the ones on sale now.
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | February 19, 2009 at 08:37 AM
Aww it breaks my heart I loved him since I was 8 years old. It explains why hes not married though. I still love his personality his so quiet and shy. LOVE YA!!
Posted by: Eva | March 17, 2009 at 06:48 PM
WTF pick on someone else hes not gay
Posted by: Barbara | March 25, 2009 at 09:57 PM
Oh, Barbara...nobody's picking on him. He's just gay.
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | March 25, 2009 at 10:12 PM
i saw the nkotb in winnipeg april 9, and they were awsome,...leave jon ALONE...he's coool.. i love ya jon
Posted by: jamie | April 11, 2009 at 02:41 PM