John Fashanu's daughter reveals grim family secret: My father disowned his own brother for being gay | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Sunday 22 January 2012

John Fashanu's daughter reveals grim family secret: My father disowned his own brother for being gay

 
 John and Justin Fashanu                                 Amal Fashanu

Trawling through film archives for a BBC documentary she was making about gay footballers, Amal Fashanu discovered the ‘dark secret’ that overshadowed her family for more than two decades.
She learned that her uncle, Justin Fashanu – Britain’s first £1 million black player and the only professional footballer to ‘come out’ as homosexual – was devastated by the rejection of his own family.

Amal, 23-year-old daughter of Justin’s brother, the former Wimbledon player-turned-TV presenter John Fashanu, has always believed football failed her uncle and that homophobia contributed to the fragile mental state that led him to take his life. 

 

                                         Justin                                                            John
But she now also believes he was pushed over the edge by rejection by the people he loved the most. In the programme, Britain’s Gay Footballers, Amal tries to discover why no other player has ‘come out’ like Justin.
She discovered the full extent of her uncle’s vilification after he revealed his sexuality in 1990 at 29. His once stellar career was dogged by sex scandals and he hanged himself eight years later, after being accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy in America.

But it was Justin’s schism with John that appears to have left the deepest cut. John condemned him in a TV interview when Justin came out, saying he would have to ‘suffer the consequences’ for going public and adding he would ‘not want to play or even get changed’ with him.
Desperate for money, his career waning, Justin sold stories to the tabloids – later proved false – about sexual liaisons with politicians and celebrities.

At the time the details were kept from Amal. ‘It was very upsetting to see the old news reports of my father disowning his own brother,’ she says. 
‘I was only ten when it happened and my parents wanted to protect me. After my parents split up, I grew up with my mother in Madrid and although I heard things, I never discussed it with my father. I knew he had not approved of Justin’s lifestyle, but the extent of his disloyalty was a shock.
‘Other members of the family have been reticent. It hurts me to think everyone abandoned him. I can’t help but think it would have taken just one supportive person to stand up for him.’

Amal graduated from Brunel University last year and is set on a modelling or TV career. When she confronted her father for her documentary, the former Gladiators host, now a businessman in Nigeria, insisted he had never been homophobic, but had been protecting the family name. 


He told her: ‘At the time, I was cross with my brother. It was the way it came out – cheap and dirty, horrible scandals day after day. Going on the front pages of the newspapers, saying you’d had sexual relationships with MPs. 


Justin was selfish. I did what I thought was right for our family and for myself.’
The brothers – former Barnardo’s Homes boys who were fostered in Norfolk –  had once forged a bond in childhood adversity. 


Both started in professional football with Norwich City in 1978. Justin was signed for £1 million in 1981 by Nottingham Forest, where manager Brian Clough bluffly challenged Justin’s taste for ‘poof clubs’, ultimately driving him from the team.

After playing for a string of clubs, injury and homophobia eventually forced Justin into coaching work in Canada, New Zealand and  America, where, in 1998, he was accused of the sex assault.
Returning to Britain, he hanged himself two days later in a back-street garage in London’s East End. It was then revealed that the assault accusation was unfounded and no arrest warrant existed.
On the morning that news of his suicide broke, an interview was published giving John’s reaction to the assault claims. John had said: ‘I just pray the accusations are not true, but we lost contact years ago and, anyway, I’m past caring. I’ve washed my hands of him.’ 

Justin’s suicide note protested his innocence but added that he did not want to heap further embarrassment on his family. He said he had felt abandoned by those he cared about.
‘What I’ve learned about him since doing this documentary is that he really wanted to be true to himself,’ says Amal. ‘But society would not accept a gay top-flight sportsman. 

‘In the 14 years since his death, no one has been brave enough to follow in his footsteps. There are about 5,000 professional footballers in the country, yet incredibly not a single one of them has come out as gay. I’m proud Justin was my uncle and that he was brave enough to say what he did. I think my dad now regrets the harsh way he responded.
‘The game needs more people like my uncle if homophobic barriers are to be removed.’

Culled from Daily Mail UK

53 comments:

bloglord said...

another gay gist....linda? pls nxt

Lasgidi grinding said...

ori e o da, what's the big deal in over 50,000 non gays, pssscchhhheeewwww. #oniranu, be finding them nau.

Yesco said...

Na wah ....feel for justin ....but lil miss looks like she wants some publicity and is riding on that story..me thinks

Anonymous said...

What is the purpose of coming out? Your sexual orientation is your business, especially knowing what it can do to your family, career, et al.

I'm not saying that anyone should disown their family member because they're gay, but by the same token if one doesn't believe being gay is right they shouldn't have to say it's right just so they don't get labeled 'homophobic'.

Anonymous said...

Abeg make we hear better story! Happy sunday Linda

Anonymous said...

Thats rubbish!naija kids abroad.mcheew

ONYEDIKING said...

9ice 1 john www.gideblog.com

mama somtee said...

please let justin rest in peace .

Otis Redding said...

My advice to this chick: Dont cause further damage. For ur family's honour, die this case. U wont gain anything by talking shit bout ur pop. Kids nowadays just say things in d public without giving it a second thought. SMH!

Dr. Otis Redding

Anonymous said...

D grl has identity crisis whether Amala or Amal she doesnt hav respect 4 her dad nd culture.Tho her dad dsownd her uncle d bible friendshp wt d world is enemity wt God.Imgine fuckn a man dt justn dull Amala nd Ewedu shuld apologse 2her dad

Chi said...

WHEN WOULD NIGERIANS WHO FEEL THEY ARE PART THE BRITISH SOCIETY UNDERSTAND THAT NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO...YOU ARE STILL BLACK.

WHAT A WHITE MAN MAY BE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH, A BLACK MAN DEFINITELY WOULD NOT.

ONLY WITH THAT MENTALITY WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SUCCEED IN THE CONTEMPORARY BRITISH SOCIETY.

How to Create a Website and make money said...

he must be crazy for doing that....

Anonymous said...

To say I wasn't expecting these kind of comments from
Nija readers wound be a lie.. I read this post this morning , but waited to see the comments before saying anything.. John disowned is brother.. Wrong.. He's dead now.. Don't be mean, and while you homophobics are quick tO judge.. You do worse things than this.. Kill, steal, destroy.. Oh he's unforgivable just cos of his sexual orientation, sorry II'm not gay, but who exactly are they harming ??? You?
His daughter is half Nigerian, never lived or brought up in Nigeria.. The quicker nigerians at home learn that If you weren't brought up in a culture, you won't think like one.. She was brought up by a white mother.. All her life, how the he'll do you want her to think like a Nigerian.. You lot need to get your head out of your backside and stop sounding silly!!! Pls let the red arrow begin!

And pls Aunty Linda.. Biko, you never post my comment! Wetin I do you?

Anonymous said...

Foolish gal, d pple paying her 2 rubbish her family mame will also send her to an early grave

Anonymous said...

This is not and has never been a secret.It is probably news to those who are coming of age now.It was all over the news in the early 90s.
This Amal should go and find something else to do.
They both distinguished themselves until Justin decided to go the wrong way.

Anonymous said...

I know Amal very well, and the truth is, she wants to be a model/actress.
In her mind, she probably believes that the publicity generated from this 'project' will get her name publicized (shebi, we now know her name?). Any thing to be on camera!

Amal is VERY detached from Nigerian culture, hence the approach she has taken.
It is known that in our culture that RESPECT is something that we cherish. And what she has done/ is doing, is showing PUBLIC DISRESPECT to her father; for the sake of media attention. There is absolutely no need to dig up a family skeletons and publicize it, for personal gain.

Even if she wanted to discuss homosexuality in sport, is it not active footballers she should interview for their opinions? She's dated enough ballers to be able to secure some exclusive interviews.

The truth is being homosexual has no relevance on the football field. Just kick the ball joh!

Anonymous said...

Linda stop watering down this gay rubbish as if you were sent by satan himself! what is phobia? Fear abi? Why I no go fear person wey de f**k man nyash? Is it natural?

Anonymous said...

People can chat shit sha, abeg we Nigerians will not accept homosexuals, abeg leave it 2 the western world, I used to have a gay manager in the UK believe me dey r worse than women if u av any arguements wiv dem, all drama queens, infact why do u av 2 come out & say u r gay if u know what u doin is right, abi keh Linda shey u dey nEed 2 announce 2 people say u be straight, abeg mk dem park well I wan see front mscheeeeew

Anonymous said...

this amal girl is very very silly- what is the point of racking over old business??? Justin Fashanu knew the risk he was taking in outing himself and still took it, so what does Amal want from us? This girl seriously needs to go and take more history lessons

mama somtee said...

amala is just trying to get back at her dad for leaving her mum end of story and looking for cheap publicity .
@ whoever said her mum was oyinbo no oooh na east african so get you facts right instead of pitying the spoilt brat.

Chikaka said...

Is this Melissa his ex-wife's daughter?

Then Anon January 22, 2012 3:44 PM her Mum isn't white.

Bianca said...

Oh no, Linda, don't go there and we are not going down that lane again. Next story....

Anonymous said...

@mama somtee
agree with what u said..but this was John's first marriage or serious relationship with some spanish woman..this girl should go sit down joor!!..bet her mom is behind all this...coming just after John wrote a piece that the most beautiful woman in his life his new wife...

Anonymous said...

this girl is the most stupid person in 2012. it is very obvious all she wanted is attention. keeping th secret from her all this year, just like to kick her mouth with my leg, for that white lie.if she want to become a celebrity, she should just do it right and show some respect for her father.

lolo uno said...

she resembu tranny for my eye abi eye dey worry me

Anonymous said...

AMAL WHAT U DONT KNOW IS THAT YOUR DAD IS EQUALLY GAY! THIS IS COMING FROM SOMEONE THAT IS A CLOSE FRIEND OF A HIGHLY PLACED GAY MAN IN NIGERIA THAT YOUR DAD, JOHN FASHANU IS SLEEPING WITH, IM SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN LAGOS KNOW THAT JOHN FASHANU IS AS GAY AS THEY COME.

PS- HE IS THE LADY IN HIS TRYSTS WITH MEN!

Anonymous said...

John Fashanu has never hidden this. So what is the story about????

chatnoir said...

Her mom is not Oyibo. But still Amal is european raised.And she looks fine as hell.And she speaks spanish too argh !

Fashanu humself is not Nigerian raised and he had a Guyanese mom. If anything she is excercising her right to speak. Publicity or not who cares.

The Great Oracle said...

Mark my prophesy! At the rate issues are raised about them, this world would be run LGBT in 100 years from now.

Good thing is that i shall not be around then. Would have done a lot of "shagging" with my WAGs.

What about you? Where do you think you will be, by the time this prophecy comes to pass?

Anonymous said...

oh yh. trueee. was in a taxi sometime last year. the taxi driver was telling us(my friends and i) how used to practice with John and his brother and also hoe he brother took his life cus he was stigmatised for being gay.

Anonymous said...

I am tired of Nigerians and their stupid hate, do you seriously think anybody will willingly chose to be Gay, to his own detriment. I think not so please don't judge
I speaking I have gay friends and trust me I pity them,they did nothing wrong,nothing at all and people who know nothing are so quick to judgE

Kemikal said...

Whoever you are, may God bless you and your family. Our fellow Nigerian, especially the ones in Naija with cheap education are damn too ignorant and backward. I'm not gay and no one in my family is gay. But if one of my bros of sisters was gay, I can't ever disown or want them dead. No. I applaud Amal for her courage. If my dad did war John Fashanu did to his own brother, for the rest of my life I'd hate my dad and give him hell. If I remember correctly, I read in one of the daily rags that Justin Fashanu was not born gay. He became gay cos from a young age at the orphanage or whatever their worthless Nigerian father and mother abandoned them, Justin Fashanu was constantly sexually molested by a gay man who worked there. Justin Fashanu did not become gay because he wanted to become gay or become a social outcast.

Anonymous said...

old news. the girl ids just an attention seeker. john fashanu's treatment of his brother is all over the internet even wikipedia has it on their page about justin. foolish attention seeker. oshi

Anonymous said...

John Fashanu... na wa 4 u o. Whatever happened to brotherhood? Why go public with ur feelings?

Anonymous said...

SOOOO??????? why now?? puhlease! let this gay issue rest abeggyyy! mhewwws!!!

Anonymous said...

let sleeping dogs lie!

Anonymous said...

I think he disowned him for coming out and not for being gay. (well if he had not come out he probably will be one of the greatest black footballers today) His career and his life started going down from the day he came out. EPL or any football league for that matter is not hollywood. IF you come out be ready to suffer the consequence.

Anonymous said...

Linda you have artistic liberty to play with your headlines. Stop copying headlines with European sentiments and posting them on a naija blog. there is nothing grimm about not liking another mans lifestyle even if the person is your child. Was the brother not correct? he said come out and suffer the consequence and that was what happened.

oscar said...

Men think before they act, Women act before they think. Bush Girl

Anonymous said...

Wat re u goin on about?u re just babbling.use punctuation marks biko

Anonymous said...

Amal should please relax. If she has a score to settle with her Dad, she can do it privately. Obviously, you found an easy path to making it fast to modelling or tv. Mum stop destroying John's name. Tomorrow we will see Melissa's kids coming up with a different story as well, since that's what sells. John was young (then), perhaps he would have handled it better with maturity (now). Moving on, he is home (Nigeria) where he belongs. Stop bringing up the past. Sorry John!

Anonymous said...

you don't force someone to come out of their shell, mind your freaking business.because you are brothers doesn't give you a right over his life

Anonymous said...

LINDA! LINDA! LINDA! YOU ARE DESTROYING NIGERIANS WITH ALL THIS YOUR GAY STORIES I HAVE TO INVESTIGATE YOUR SEXUALITY THOROUGHLY

orange said...

@ kemikai, you are a stupid foul mouthed fellow. I didnt school in Nigeria but to abuse people who are not as privileged as you like that is an indication that you suffer from deep personality disfunction. I respect people who address issues as they come and not frivolities. Getting out of Nigeria to wherever you are has not changed your mindset and thinking pattern, it has only increase your sense of insecurity and inferiority. Please grow up and act maturely. You don't have to insult 100 million Nigerians who cannot afford western education in order to drive your points home.. Every individual has a right to his/her opinion just as you, my dear.

Anonymous said...

Silly girl seeking cheap publicity.
it is old gist that John did not approve of Justin's sexuality and was uncomfortable with it.
There is no news there.
The girl should go and get a life.
I am not surprised,like her father she is a name dropper and publicity seeker.

Anonymous said...

just sad.

Anonymous said...

Dear Amal,
There's nothing secret about information that's posted all over the internet. If you just google your father's name, Justine's story and his homosexuality and your father's reaction to it will pop up. The story is even on your father's wikipedia page.

So, my even if your mother didn't discuss this with you, once you had access to a search engine, you would have had access to it. So, there's nothing secret about the information.

There's also nothing grim about it either. Your father responded the exact same way many white people responded to news of the outing of a family member with shock and disbelief. It's the time he was living in, that's the way gay family members were treated. Things have changed, people, including your father know better. So, there's nothing grim about the non-secret.

To all those supporting your disregard for your father's customs in openly confronting him and critizising him in public under the excuse of you grew up abroad. No problem. But, this is what I have to say. Never come to Nigeria to make money. That would be using your father whose culture you despise, okay. Stay abroad, never come home and we'll all be fine.

We've seen your type before. Now, you behave Western. When you hear that there's loads of money to be made in Nigeria leveraging on your father's goodwill backhome, you'll run home with your accent and expect everybody to come bowing at yoour feet. We will remind you of this day!

Anty May

Anonymous said...

@Anty May,
In summary, you are asking her not to be like her father?
She will do just what you asked her not to do because it runs in the blood.

Agudosi said...

@kemikal...i am one the millions of Nigerians that got the Cheap Education you were referring to and from your comments i can confidently tell u ..we are all smarter than you are.

Anonymous said...

I hate Nigerians...... So narrow minded look at where we are today..... most comments are just baseless and full of Naija mentality...... Hisses

1. The gal is using her opportunity and story to try and further a career in tv........ Is this wrong? I'm sure most of u watch different reality shows.

2. The case is not hidden but for me I just heard the story for the first time today. I found it enlightening knowing what happened to the brothers so that's what it was .......a tv show

3 as for being gay or not hmmmm I have no comments I Rembr the first time I met a gay guy at work I was literally scared and taken aback but I eventually got over my shock and got to know my co worker as a decent guy. Let's be more accommodating to pple that are different. That's the only way forward.........

Anonymous said...

Whatever her reasons for making this documentary, one thing is clear. John Fashanu is homophobic as the day is long and said nasty, and unforgivable things about and regarding his brother. Worst of all, he tried to excuse his remarks and behaviour in this documentary by shifting blame onto his dead brother calling him grubby etc. What a sad, pathetic and messed up man you are John Fashanu. Shame on you.

Anonymous said...

Poor guy! If I was a member of his family or his friend, I would have stood by him! I can't believe Fashanu could be so cruel!

Anonymous said...

I get so disgusted with we Nigerians... Why should someone kill himself for being gay and most people feel he should die because he is gay... most of you here are just big pretenders commenting like your life is better..... most Nigerian men sleep with men.. the Nigerian politicians who are implementing the law to kill gays and send them to 14years in jail are the same people who pays millions to even young straight boys to fuck their ass....I was chased by a senator in 2010, who offered me a full duplex in my name at the games villa Abuja ... I refused it..i am not gay ,I wish I was but there was nothing I had against him.... he is a great man... there a lot of them under full pretence ruling our country Nigeria.....lets get it real being truthful is just the best in life..most of our friends and family members are gays....they are loving and caring people....they are wonderful,lets stop being the first to caste a stone..the question is are you holy..... I love the late Fashanu and a lot of positive minded Nigerians will forever remember him..... He was perfectly made to be gay and only God has the right to judge anyone.... Amal you are such a good heart....May God bless your efforts to teach our cruel ideologies what LOVE is all about...kisses and hugs baby. .from SIR EMY.

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