Former Strictly Come Dancing star Michelle Visage has revealed she’s been the secret rock helping Phillip Schofield deal with the fallout after he told the world he was gay.
The RuPaul’s Drag Race star is in constant contact via WhatsApp with the This Morning presenter to make sure he’s “mentally okay” after he came out on telly to nationwide surprise.
Visage told the Daily Star: “I found what he did very brave because no matter how he would live his life it would be in the public eye, I didn’t want him to feel ostracised or outcast.
“I felt this air of everybody attacking rather than celebrating.
“I know it’s not an easy thing to do in your older years rather than being a teenager, and it’s not easy then either.
“It’s never easy, but being in the public eye amplified it ten times.”
Phillip Schofield was supported by Michelle Visage
Earlier this year Schofield revealed how touched he had been when LGBT+ advocator Visage reached out to him: “Before we all got locked down, I had lunch with Michelle Visage.
“She’s one of those really kind, compassionate people and I’ve known her on and off the telly, and she was one of those people that messaged me.”
Since then they have become firm pals and although unable to physically meet due to pandemic restrictions they still keep in touch via text messages.
Michelle Visage has opened up about Schofe bond
The American, who won The Ally prize at the Attitude Awards this week, explained: “I do talk to him quite a bit, we WhatsApp each other.
“We’re very tech forward.
“And once everything in life returns to normal and I’m back there we will definitely do something together.
“We absolutely will get back together.
“I want him to know he’s not alone.”
Schofield has spoken about an “inner conflict” since revealing his sexuality to the world but it was Visage who told him to “stop beating himself up”.
He added: “We went out, and I said, ‘I feel like I’ve joined a club, but I don’t know whether I’ve got the right credentials. Can I put a rainbow after stuff that I’ve said?’
“And she said, ‘Of course you can!’’.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
