Louise Redknapp has been accused by Eternal’s former manager of trying to “throw her bandmates under a bus” after she pulled out of a reunion tour claiming two members of the girl band had refused to play any LGBTQ+ gigs.
According to Redknapp’s representatives, sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett would not play the dates because they believe that the gay community is being “hijacked” by the transgender community.
Denis Ingoldsby, who repped the girlband back in their 90s heyday, has now furiously defended the Bennett siblings, who remain his clients, and says they are “devastated” and accused Redknapp’s team of misrepresenting details of a private email.
Redknapp’s team have since refuted Ingoldsby’s claims, saying they stand by their decision to go public on the dispute.
Speaking to The Mirror, Ingoldsby claims that there were no confirmed, or contracted dates, in place for the reunion. Which Redknapp’s team have denied to the publication.
Ingoldsby said: “Louise and her team have thrown them under the bus and everyone is totally appalled at their bullying behaviour by totally misrepresenting the situation to suit their own agenda.’
He claimed that the sisters sent an email to Louise’s camp saying they ‘loved’ playing Pride and the ‘ethos of the event.’
Ingoldsby added that the dispute is “nothing about gay rights,” and that the sisters have played “numerous LGBTQ+ gigs”.
He continued: “Vernie said she had some concerns about the Pride movement being hijacked – and she is not alone – but this has now been weaponised against her, with Louise’s team trying to get her cancelled.”
Redknapp’s publicist Simon Jones has stated that they stand by their previous comments, telling the publication: “Denis Ingoldsby was not involved in the discussions about the Eternal reunion including all four members over the last two years. Easther and Vernie can try and dress this up however they wish.
“The fact remains that the duo said they would only do the Eternal reunion if no Pride or LGBTQ+ festivals were included.
“Louise would obviously not agree to excluding the LGBTQ+ community from their touring plans. We as a team absolutely do not agree with dividing the LGBTQ+ community or excluding trans people.”
The Standard has contacted representatives for Easther and Vernie Bennett and Louise Redknapp for further comment.
