25 September 2023 , 12:01
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Louise Redknapp's close friend and publicist Simon Jones has hit out at Eternal's Easther and Vernie Bennett – her former bandmates.
It comes just days after the Mirror revealed Louise and Kéllé made the decision to pull out of an upcoming reunion for the quartet. The group were due to announce a huge tour for next year but transphobic comments by the Bennett sisters left both Redknapp and Bryan disgusted.
Easther and Vernie had refused to play festivals including Pride and objected to supporting the Trans community. This would have been the first time in almost three decades that the four members would have performed together since Louise walked away in 1995.
Louise Redknapp's friend and publicist Simon Jones has slammed her former Eternal bandmates (WireImage)
Kéllé and Louise were set to join Eternal on the road but have since pulled out (Getty Images)Now, Simon Jones who handles Louise's media work has spoken out in a scathing statement. He told the BBC: "A message was sent to the team putting together the Eternal reunion stating that if it was to go ahead, neither Vernie nor Easther would perform at Pride shows or LGBTQ+ festivals. This was because the duo felt that the gay community was being hijacked by the trans community and they do not support this.
"Louise is a huge supporter and ally of the LGBTQ+ community and both herself and Kéllé told the duo they would not work with anyone who held these views, and as such the reunion as a four would not be going ahead. The team behind the proposed Eternal reunion are gay including management, PR and tour promoter, and neither myself nor any of the team would work with artists who held such views about the trans community."
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Speaking to us over the weekend, a source said: "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. Louise and Kelle were stunned and pulled out immediately – Louise's fan base is 98 percent gay men. She and Kelle 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."
Louise has since spoken out on Instagram where she shared the LGBTQ+ flag, which included the colours representing the transgender community, with the caption: "Always & Forever."