X Factor’s Matt Terry comes out as gay saying ‘I’m taking back control’
X FACTOR star Matt Terry has come out as gay and told how he is “taking back control” after breaking his silence on his sexuality for the first time.
The Bromley-born singer, 30, was the winner of the 13th series back in 2016, beating Saara Aalto to the ITV show’s crown.
He has told Gay Times how he is “proud” and “no longer afraid” to open up on his past relationship with a man – which he was forced to keep secret due to the pressures of the show.
Matt’s debut single, When Christmas Comes Around, peaked at number three four years ago.
Yet he told the publication how, at the time, he was forced to tell his partner to keep their love a secret.
He confessed: “I said to him, ‘You’re not allowed to tell anyone about this’ and he loved me enough to do so.
“It’s such a regret of mine, and I’m just really sorry.”
Matt candidly lets slip an apology to him – the first man he fell in love with – in new track His Car.
He told how it was “the only song I’ve struggle to record” due to the power ballad’s poignant meaning.
He explained: “That’s my story. That’s my truth. And it’s one of the most important stories I’m going to tell.
“I’ve been hiding who I was, and I haven’t really opened up. I’ve never let anybody in. This song is an apology to the first man I fell in love with because I asked a lot of him.
“I said to him, ‘You’re not allowed to tell anyone about this’ and he loved me enough to do so.
“Six, seven, years later, I realise that’s not something we should be doing, and it’s not something you should ask somebody.”
The cruise ship singer told how he is now “making as much noise as he can” for the LGBTQIA+ community.
We previously reported how Matt was forced to deny a romance with co-star Freddy Parker during his time on the show.
All change
Meanwhile, away from his personal life, Matt looked completely different following a transformation for a new job.
He proved a huge fan-favourite performing on cruise ships treating holidaymakers who were willing to pay an extra £25-35 to his vocals as well as a three course dinner.
He also stripped down to his pants in a clap back at the trolls who plagued his X Factor experience with bodyshaming comments.
Raw reveal
Just last month, he exclusively told us he would “never understand” why he was dropped from his record label.
It comes after the release of single Ghost Of Me this year.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun on the breakdown of his relationship with his former label, he told us: “I have spoken to RCA, but I’ve never really asked sort of what happened, because I don’t know if I want to know.
“I think it’s sort of like I believe that I’m where I’m meant to be, you know.
“I trust my path, I believe that where I’m at right now, in this very moment, is where I’m supposed to be.
“I do question… Hold on. I’ve got hundreds of millions of streams. I generated millions of pounds. I have collaborations with Enrique Iglesias, Sean Paul, Red One; I have hits that I’ve written for other people and artists over the world, and yet they still didn’t want to do a second album, so I don’t know. Will I ever understand that? No.
“I know the the president of RCA that was there at the time isn’t there anymore. But who knows? Maybe one day I’ll ask the question. But for now I don’t need to know. I’m okay with where I am.”