John Fashanu: my brother Justin wasn't gay
Former Wimbledon striker John Fashanu believes his brother Justin may have made up stories about his private life.
By Telegraph staff
7:58PM GMT 16 Mar 2012
Justin Fashanu committed suicide in 1998 after revealing all about his homosexuality in an interview in 1990.
But in an interview with TalkSPORT to be broadcast at 10pm on March 17, John has insisted that Justin was a publicity-seeker who made up stories to get money and attention.
“I don’t believe he was gay. Number two, I don’t believe he had affairs with MPs and number three I don’t believe he was having an affair with one of the young ladies from Coronation Street – it was just nonsense. Showbiz.
“If you had a brother who came out and said, ‘Hey listen, I’m gay’ we’d welcome you, say ‘No problem’ but if you had someone who came out and said, ‘I’m a spaceman’ when you’re not a spaceman then that’s a bit silly.
“It’s a macho man’s game and I think there are reasons why we haven’t had any gay footballers come out. I don’t believe there will be.
"I’m not saying there aren’t some there, but I can tell you in twenty years of playing all my matches I have never come across a gay footballer.
“I’m not someone who says, ‘I’ve got black friends, they’re all good people.’ I’m not going to say ‘I’ve got gay friends, who are all good people.’
"It’s unfortunate because I don’t believe he was, and if he was, who gives a rat’s arse? So what? But don’t go and sell your stories or make up stories for money for goodness sake.
He added: "I’m heterosexual, will I make it on to the front page of the newspapers?”
“My daughter was very close to her uncle and it has taken a long time for her to understand that Justin wasn’t really gay, he just wanted attention.
"I remember Justin coming out with another story about him dating Coronation Street lady as well. Again, that was another made up story to get front pages.
"When I said this to Justin he’d say, ‘I need publicity, I need publicity.’ That was where he’d derive his attention and his money.
“It wasn’t the fact of him being gay, or whether he’s white or whether he’s black, that was never a concern to me whatsoever.
"What was a concern to me was somebody going and screaming on the rooftops “I’m black” or “I’m heterosexual” or “I’m gay” to get publicity or money. Making up stories to get attention.”
When asked about the state of their relationship around the time Justin hanged himself, Fashanu said: “Strained, I would say.
"I had to look at my mother who had cancer at the time, I had to take the mantle of being head of the family because Justin was not acting accordingly.
"My mum could not understand for the life of her she couldn’t understand this man, her son, so I made it clear that I could do whatever’s necessary to protect my family.
"Some people might say it’s selfish, my daughter said to me, ‘You’re my Daddy, I love you, but you were selfish, you disowned your brother.’
"I said, ‘I didn’t disown my brother, but I pushed him further away because of the challenges that he was going to bring into our family.”
What did he think about his brother’s suicide?
“What does one think? Obviously you’re devastated.
"Ironically, two days beforehand I said to one of my brothers, ‘We have a challenge here. I think that Justin, the way he’s talking, he’s become a loose cannon.’
"I couldn’t get hold of him. I couldn’t get to him. If I gave him money, he was like a bar of soap. If I do this, it’ll go the other way.
“It was very difficult to show him love, to try and put our arms around him because once we’d spent the evening together, we’ve had a lovely dinner, we’ve all talked and kissed and cuddled and made up it was wonderful and then we’d hear another story in the newspaper. It was a very challenging situation.
“The whole family was devastated, no more than my mother because on the day, the 19 February, the day he committed suicide, one year later was the day she died.
"So I lost my mother and I lost my brother and that’s what I was trying to do. I was trying not to lose my brother and trying not to lose my mother.
"I might have been able to reach out with an olive branch instead of reaching out with a cane.”
Former Wimbledon striker John Fashanu believes his brother Justin may have made up stories about his private life.
By Telegraph staff
7:58PM GMT 16 Mar 2012
Justin Fashanu committed suicide in 1998 after revealing all about his homosexuality in an interview in 1990.
But in an interview with TalkSPORT to be broadcast at 10pm on March 17, John has insisted that Justin was a publicity-seeker who made up stories to get money and attention.
“I don’t believe he was gay. Number two, I don’t believe he had affairs with MPs and number three I don’t believe he was having an affair with one of the young ladies from Coronation Street – it was just nonsense. Showbiz.
“If you had a brother who came out and said, ‘Hey listen, I’m gay’ we’d welcome you, say ‘No problem’ but if you had someone who came out and said, ‘I’m a spaceman’ when you’re not a spaceman then that’s a bit silly.
“It’s a macho man’s game and I think there are reasons why we haven’t had any gay footballers come out. I don’t believe there will be.
"I’m not saying there aren’t some there, but I can tell you in twenty years of playing all my matches I have never come across a gay footballer.
“I’m not someone who says, ‘I’ve got black friends, they’re all good people.’ I’m not going to say ‘I’ve got gay friends, who are all good people.’
"It’s unfortunate because I don’t believe he was, and if he was, who gives a rat’s arse? So what? But don’t go and sell your stories or make up stories for money for goodness sake.
He added: "I’m heterosexual, will I make it on to the front page of the newspapers?”
“My daughter was very close to her uncle and it has taken a long time for her to understand that Justin wasn’t really gay, he just wanted attention.
"I remember Justin coming out with another story about him dating Coronation Street lady as well. Again, that was another made up story to get front pages.
"When I said this to Justin he’d say, ‘I need publicity, I need publicity.’ That was where he’d derive his attention and his money.
“It wasn’t the fact of him being gay, or whether he’s white or whether he’s black, that was never a concern to me whatsoever.
"What was a concern to me was somebody going and screaming on the rooftops “I’m black” or “I’m heterosexual” or “I’m gay” to get publicity or money. Making up stories to get attention.”
When asked about the state of their relationship around the time Justin hanged himself, Fashanu said: “Strained, I would say.
"I had to look at my mother who had cancer at the time, I had to take the mantle of being head of the family because Justin was not acting accordingly.
"My mum could not understand for the life of her she couldn’t understand this man, her son, so I made it clear that I could do whatever’s necessary to protect my family.
"Some people might say it’s selfish, my daughter said to me, ‘You’re my Daddy, I love you, but you were selfish, you disowned your brother.’
"I said, ‘I didn’t disown my brother, but I pushed him further away because of the challenges that he was going to bring into our family.”
What did he think about his brother’s suicide?
“What does one think? Obviously you’re devastated.
"Ironically, two days beforehand I said to one of my brothers, ‘We have a challenge here. I think that Justin, the way he’s talking, he’s become a loose cannon.’
"I couldn’t get hold of him. I couldn’t get to him. If I gave him money, he was like a bar of soap. If I do this, it’ll go the other way.
“It was very difficult to show him love, to try and put our arms around him because once we’d spent the evening together, we’ve had a lovely dinner, we’ve all talked and kissed and cuddled and made up it was wonderful and then we’d hear another story in the newspaper. It was a very challenging situation.
“The whole family was devastated, no more than my mother because on the day, the 19 February, the day he committed suicide, one year later was the day she died.
"So I lost my mother and I lost my brother and that’s what I was trying to do. I was trying not to lose my brother and trying not to lose my mother.
"I might have been able to reach out with an olive branch instead of reaching out with a cane.”
I think you'd get sussed pretty quickly if you did that.
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