TV star who backed Meghan comes out as ‘queer’ after row over LGBT talent show
‘Confusion, fear and turmoil’
BRITISH actress Jameela Jamil has said she identifies as ‘queer’ – following a backlash over her being cast in an LGBTthemed programme.
Writing on Twitter, Miss Jamil – who stars in US comedy The Good Place – said it had caused her ‘confusion, fear and turmoil’ since childhood.
Miss Jamil was recognised by the Duchess of Sussex last August – in her guest-edited issue of British Vogue – for her I Weigh campaign, whose mission is to inspire greater body positivity among women. She also sparked controversy when she defended Meghan and Prince Harry’s right to fly on private jets – branding critics of the duchess racist.
US network HBO announced this week that Miss Jamil, now based in Los Angeles, would be a judge on its ‘Voguing’ contest Legendary – which pays homage to the predominantly black and Latin subculture of drag balls. But many questioned why she was cast and not an LGBT person who is black or Latino.
Miss Jamil said: ‘This is absolutely not how I wanted to come out. It’s scary as an actor to openly admit your sexuality, especially when you’re already a brown female in your thirties.’ She added: ‘I have power and a large following to bring to this show... and its beautiful contestants. Sometimes it takes those with more power to help a show get off the ground so we can elevate marginalised stars that deserve the limelight.’
Miss Jamil – currently dating British singer James Blake – did not expand on what she meant by ‘queer’. Once a derogatory term for a homosexual, it has since been reclaimed by the LGBT community as a purposefully vague way of referring to someone who isn’t straight.
She hinted at coming out last year when she told a Twitter follower that she was ‘on the spectrum but I do lean more towards boys’.