Years and Years frontman Olly Alexander has condemned brands who try to profit from rainbow-themed products during Pride month.
Taking to Instagram to post an email a brand had sent his manager, the 28-year-old popstar said this year’s barrage of rainbow capitalism has felt especially ‘icky’.
‘[Redacted] have an amazing Pride collection,’ read the email. ‘I was hoping that OIly Alexander might be able to do a post for us?’
The Desire singer was less than impressed with the request, revealing: ‘My manager has been getting requests like this every day, I’m guessing it was emailed out to a bunch of people, no details on what this amazing pride collection is or what this big famous brand with lots of money plan to do with any “proceeds”.
‘I just…. the bare minimum approach here makes me laugh.’
As reported by Pink News, Olly goes on the explain he isn’t completely against brands acknowledging Pride month as ‘representation matters’, but ‘it’s hard not to feel this years 2019 pride collection of mouthwash, t-shirts (socks shoes jumpers glasses hats) banks and sandwiches has felt especially icky.’
This year Listerine have come under fire for releasing a rainbow bottle of mouthwash and Marks and Spencer’s LGBT (lettuce, guacamole, bacon and tomato) sandwich started a national conversation about whether capitalising on the so-called pink pound had gone far enough.
‘Corporate pride/rainbow capitalism might be hideous but at least queer people are getting paid,’ Olly continued. ‘I know there are well intentioned people behind many of these campaigns but….just no.
‘Re-doing your logo in a rainbow and ‘dOnAtInG a PoRTiOn Of pRoCeEds’ is not enough!!!!
‘I wish brands would realise how embarrassing this kind of s**t is.’
The star’s followers commented on the post in support of his statement, with Ru Paul’s Drag Race season seven winner Violet Chachki agreeing: ‘SCALDING HOT TEA’.
Fellow musician Sam Smith commented: ‘❤️amen,’ while Christine and the Queens also wrote: ‘Amen to that.’
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