Anastacia unashamedly fired five team members for ‘disgusting’ homophobic remarks

Anastacia doesn’t mince her words when it comes to the importance of LGBTQ+ allyship (Picture: Metro/REX)

‘I feel more important when the gay community thinks I’m cool,’ Anastacia declares proudly, having well and truly earned her badge of LGBTQ+ icon.

But the I’m Outta Love hitmaker isn’t just an ally on paper—it’s something she’s been putting into practice for decades, both professionally and behind closed doors.

Because of this, she’ll be honoured with the Global Recognition Award at the first-ever Metro Pride Awards this week – hosted by Rylan Clark – in celebration of her commitment to the community.

Speaking to me over Zoom amid a frantic press day, she makes it clear it’s an accolade that means a lot to her, recounting times when she’s willingly made sacrifices to protect her relationships with the queer people she cherishes.

‘At one time in my life, I fired five members of my band because they spoke disgustingly over a WhatsApp chat, and I felt it was inappropriate, so we fired ’em! Not worried about that. Bam! All in one day,’ she recalls with a sassy tone.

But that’s not all, as the star also doesn’t hesitate to get out the scissors and cut off anyone whose political stance endangers those who are vulnerable.

The I’m Outta Love hitmaker is proud to be considered a ‘gay icon’ (Picture: Tristar Media/Getty Images)

‘It’s crazy what’s happening in America, and it’s like, did this really happen? Are you kidding me?’, she asks incredulously, reflecting on the reelection of Donald Trump.

‘I have given up friends who didn’t vote because of the other friends I have in my life. You’re going to vote for our current president, knowing full well that my family and friends are being marginalised, and could get wiped off the face of the earth? Yet you like me as a person, and you say you like my friends? Well, you need to just lose my number.

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‘There isn’t a bargaining tool at this point. We’re done; there’s no forgiving.’

The Left Outside Alone vocalist stands firm on her point, stating that much of the ‘ignorance’ depicted in today’s media stems purely from ‘fear-mongering’.

‘It’s not fact-based. Once you get people to actually talk about it, they have no clue what they’re talking about,’ she laughs, proceeding to throw her support behind the trans community amid the onslaught of attacks their rights and freedoms face.

On how she enacts her allyship in everyday life, Anastacia explains: ‘When somebody has a comment to make, I’m more inquisitive as to why they feel that way. What brought them to not really think trans people need to live?

Anastacia, 56, has cut off friends and colleagues in the past for ‘disgusting’ comments (Picture: Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images)

‘I try to dig a little deeper and see if anyone is saveable in this conversation and if I can move the needle a little bit. But if somebody’s not moveable, it’s like, we don’t need you anyway.

‘But I do feel that a little bit of knowledge could go a long way. I’ll do whatever I can to try and raise awareness for someone who didn’t know any better because they didn’t, for example, have a gay person in their school.

‘I’m like, how many trans people do you know in your life? They’re not ruining you; you don’t know any! So why are you worried about trans people?’

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Anastacia praises her ‘exploratory’ upbringing, having been raised by Broadway actress Diane Hurley, who was ‘forward-thinking’ in her attitudes on life.

‘My mom was not someone who was conventional, shall we say? I had a very open and exploratory childhood with gay and Black, and freedom, and all of this reality.

‘It’s a very normal philosophy for me, but I know that isn’t true for the [LGBTQ+] community.’

She will, quite rightly, be honoured at the first-ever Metro Pride Awards, receiving the Global Recognition accolade (Picture: BabiradPicture/REX/Shutterstock)

On why allyship matters to her, she’s comfortable admitting that she’s ‘not marginalised,’ nor does she know how it feels to be in the same way as queer folk.

However, she surrounds herself with people from all walks of life and sees firsthand how ‘fear and ignorance’ results in ‘isolation and rejection’ for many.

‘And I don’t think that is something that’s acceptable,’ she asserts. ‘So I’d rather not be in somebody’s orbit if they feel differently.’

Anastacia has no problem wearing her ally cap ‘all the time,’ hence she struggles to pick out one specific example of a time when her voice has been most impactful.

Instead, her viewpoint is simple—and comes with an incredible pun.

‘We all have to be supporting each other, especially in these times. The lesbians can’t hate on the gays, the gays can’t hate on the trans… we all have to stand strong because we are all one community trying to just be who we are.

‘It’s people who love differently, that’s all it is. You don’t have to love like fricking Cinderella! Some people just like Cinderfellas!’

The Metro Pride Awards take place on February 26.

The full list of nominees for Metro Pride Awards 2025: Celebrity of the Year

Nicola Coughlan
Luke Evans
RuPaul
Russell Tovey
Jonathan Bailey
Edward Enninful
Andrew Scott
Cara Delevingne
Ncuti Gatwa
Graham Norton

Broadcaster of the Year

Rylan Clark
Jill Scott MBE
Nick Grimshaw
Scott Mills
Mobeen Azhar
Alex Scott
Robert Rinder
Dean McCullough
Riyadh Khalaf
Sue Perkins

Music Hero of the Year

DJ Fat Tony
Jodie Harsh
Lizzo
Olly Alexander
Jess Glynne
Jake Shears
Will Young
MNEK
Peggy Gou
Kehlani

Sports Hero of the Year

Tom Daley
Jake Daniels
Beth Mead
Carl Hester
Cindy Ngamba
Ralf Schumacher
Jack Laugher
Dame Kelly Holmes
Jess Carter
Lauren Hemp

LGBTQ+ Trailblazer

Seán McGirr
Mitchell Halliday
Ian Steed
Jay Birmingham
Dan Price
Alessandro Bucci
Suki Sandhu OBE
Simon Jones
Joëlle Rotsaert
Lexie Shaibu-Lenoir

Rising Star Award

Kit Connor
Yasmin Finney
The Vivienne
GK Barry
Tia Kofi
Jessica Gunning
Mawaan Rizwan
Phil Dunning
Cat Burns
Olly Shinder

Inspirational Ally

Melanie B
Sharleen Spiteri
James Corden
Annie Mac
John Bishop
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Tyrone Mings
Jade Thirlwall
Amanda Holden
Jennifer Saunders

Brand of the Year

Vodafone
Virgin Atlantic
JustEat
Arnold Clark
Tesco
British Airways
ASOS
Bentley
Netflix
Absolut Vodka

Marketing Campaign of the Year

Deliveroo – “The Open Kitchen”
The Romans x Millwall Romans Campaign
Disney – “The Power of Pride”
Uber Eats – “Serving Pride”
Adidas – “Love Unites”
McCann London and Clear Channel UK – “Fabruary”
JCDecaux UK – “Just Like Us” Partnership
Bentley – “Pride Car 2024”
Virgin Atlantic and Lucky Generals – “See the World Differently”
Open Media – #OpenAndProud

Grassroots or Charity Organisation of the Year

MindOut
AKT
Kaleidoscope Trust
Everton in the Community
BlkOut
Fighting With Pride
Just Like Us
Manchester Pride
LGBT Foundation
The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Best Breakthrough Business

Evri
Klarna
Cinch
Aer Lingus
BYOMA
Mildreds
Zymurgorium
Tonic Housing
Stonegate Group
Williams & Hirst
Matalan

Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility

Liverpool Football Club
KPMG
Asda
Nissan
Hogan Lovells
Network Rail
IKEA
Anthony Collins Solicitors
Three Mobile
Avanti West Coast

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award

Create Fertility
MSB Solicitors
Burberry
Scottish Power
National Grid
United Utilities
Pinsent Masons
AXA
Chelsea Football Club
GSK

LGBTQ+ Network Group

Spire Healthcare Group – LGBTQ+ Colleague Network
Aer Lingus – ProudFlies
KPMG – Breathe
LGBT+@Sky
Scottish Power – In-Fuse
Proud@Shell
Vodafone – LGBT+ and Friends Network
Amazon – Glamazon
Pfizer – OPEN
Macquarie – Pride EMEA Employee Network

Business of the Year

Softcat
Virgin Atlantic
DHL
Macquarie
GSK
Farrer & Co
Irwin Mitchell
Shepherd and Wedderburn
Dentons
Wickes

Most Inclusive Employer

LV=
VISA
Xero
Aon
Moody’s
Linklaters
DHL
E.ON
Coty UKI
LSEG

LGBT+ Business Leader Of The Year

David Hynam, LV=
Elliot Barton, Tatti Lashes
Rick Jackson, DHL
Julia Hoggett, London Stock Exchange
Anna Deignan, The Premier League
Bruna Gil, LINKEDIN
Jaron Soh, Voda
Deon Pillay, Legal & General
Mitchell Halliday, Made By Mitchell

Business Ally

Emma Carey, MSB
Angela Ogilvie,  Linklaters
Lauryn Yuen, TikTok
Rebecca Short, Deutsche Bank
Jasmin Fox, EA
Ruth Rowan, Avanade 
Liz Kelly, St James’s Place
Michael Salter-Church, Openreach
Alan Holmes, Clyde and Co
Rachel Pears, RPC

Lifetime Achievement Award

Announced at the ceremony

Metro Global Recognition Award

Announced at the ceremony

Outstanding Contribution to LGBTQ+ LIfe

Announced at the ceremony