New Kids on the Block’s Jonathan Knight is a proud newlywed these days, but says he felt “a lot of pressure” to hide his true self in the early stages of his music career.
Knight, who is gay, appeared on the “Frosted Tips with Lance Bass” podcast this week, where he shared the painful memory of being told by a manager that his time as a pop singer would be “over” if he approached public sexuality. . .
“My manager knew I was gay,” Knight reminded Bass. “He pulled me aside and said, ‘If anyone finds out, then your career is over, the New Kids career.’ [are] done… sony will lose money. There was so much pressure. Looking back, it was a lot of pressure to put someone who’s just trying to figure out the world on his own.”
Kevin Mazur via Getty Images
Originally from Boston, Knight was just 17 when New Kids on the Block released their self-titled debut album in 1986. The boy band — which includes Knight’s brother Jordan, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood — became one of MTV’s most popular. tapes. two years later, when their second album, Hangin’ Tough, proved to be a worldwide success.
New Kids on the Block disbanded in 1994, but regrouped in 2008 and continue to enjoy great success as a live act.
In 2011, it was widely reported that fellow pop singer Tiffany publicly “degraded” Knight in an appearance on Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live.” However, in her conversation with Bass this week, Knight said that it actually happened two years earlier and that Tiffany is not responsible.
“A boyfriend of mine sold pictures of us to the National Enquirer,” she explained, referring to a 2009 article in the supermarket tabloid. At the time, she had already started dating her now-husband, Harley Rodriguez.
Paolo Marotta via Getty Images
He was forced to make a public statement after the headline was “horrendous,” Knight said, adding that he admired the understated ways many other stars chose to approach their sexuality.
Despite this initial setback, Knight and Rodriguez became co-contestants on the 26th season of “The Amazing Race,” which aired in 2015. Since then, Knight has credited her time on the show with CBS competition for giving him “a lot of confidence.” when it came to living authentically.
“I’m at a point in my life where I’m comfortable with myself and I allow myself to be vulnerable,” she told Entertainment Tonight in 2015. “If I’m in a situation where I’m having a crisis and it’s on TV , that’s fine with me. I’m human.”
Knight confirmed in August that he and Rodriguez, a fitness instructor, had married, but said he did not officially celebrate his wedding with family and friends due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Bass, a father of twins, and Knight also spoke about changing parenting attitudes in the LGBTQ community. Knight revealed that he and Rodriguez were looking to expand their family through surrogacy.
“We’ve been going on this journey for about five years and it hasn’t happened to us,” Knight said. “During the process, for example: “Today is the day the eggs appear [transferred]’, you are so excited and you are so happy. And then, you know, a week later it’s like, “No, you’re back to square one.”
Listen to Jonathan Knight’s interview on Frosted Tips below. His exiting comments begin at about the 23 minute mark.
