During a guest appearance on HBO’s Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace, the 80-year-old Copacabana singer said he didn’t think it was important to announce his sexuality during the earlier decades of his career.
Manilow came out in 2017, almost three years after he married his husband and manager Garry Kief in a private ceremony. The couple have been together for 45 years now, though they’ve kept much of their relationship away from the public eye.
When he came out to People magazine in 2017, Manilow — whose real name is Barry Pincus — worried he’d be “disappointing” some of his fans by revealing his sexuality. Instead, Manilow, who was 73 at the time, said the reaction from his fanbase was “beautiful.”
Despite his current feelings of nonchalance about his own coming out, Manilow said announcing his sexuality as his career was booming would have been a bad idea.
“Now being gay is no big deal,” he explained. “Back in the ’70s it would have killed a career.”
Regardless, the usually very private Manilow said he thinks “everybody knew that Garry and I were a couple all those years.”
“Really, Garry and I’ve been together for so long,” he said. “It just never dawned on me that we’re going to come out. But when we got married, it was a big deal, so we did.”
Manilow credited Kief for saving his life. He said he is thankful he had Kief to support him as his music career was taking off, despite keeping their relationship under wraps.
“As my career exploded, it was just crazy. And, you know, going back to an empty hotel room, you can get into a lot of trouble if you’re alone night after night after night,” Manilow explained. “But I met Garry right around when it was exploding. And I didn’t have to go back to those empty hotel rooms. I had somebody to cry with or to celebrate with.”
Manilow said he did not wish an isolated hotel room for any young people.
“It was pretty lonely until I met Garry. And then it was fun,” he smiled.
Kief is not Manilow’s first spouse. In 1964, Manilow married his high school sweetheart, Susan Deixler. They were married for one year.
Manilow told CNN’s Wallace he “really did love” Deixler, but added “the gay thing was pretty, pretty strong. I couldn’t deny it.”
The singer said he knew he was gay before marrying Deixler, but their marriage ended because Manilow couldn’t be the committed husband his then-wife needed. He revealed that his sexuality was not the reason his marriage failed.
“We had a very nice marriage, it was great, but I was away every night making music, as a young musician would be,” Manilow described. “It wasn’t good for me, and it wasn’t good for her.”
“I couldn’t be the proper husband,” he continued. “I was out making music every night, sowing my wild oats. I wasn’t ready to settle down.”
Brooklyn-born Manilow skyrocketed to international fame in 1974 after his release of the ever-popular pop-rock ballad Mandy. He became one of the biggest-selling musicians of all time. Prior to his success as a singer-songwriter, Manilow was behind a number of famous commercial jingles for brands like State Farm and Band-Aid — a gig that he has said helped him create catchy hooks for his own hit songs.
Taylor Swift’s Chiefs Game Outfit Called ‘Cringe’ – Fans Say She Looks Like a Teen!
Taylor Swift’s outfit at the Kansas City Chiefs game has caused a lot of talk online.
On October 7, 2024, Taylor Swift made a big entrance at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to watch her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, play against the New Orleans Saints. Many were excited to see her, especially since she had missed two of his previous games. Her appearance was highly anticipated, and fans were eager to see what she would wear.
Her absence from earlier games sparked breakup rumors between her and Kelce. But by attending the game, she silenced those rumors and attracted a lot of attention from fans and photographers. Swift walked into the stadium wearing a short plaid dress and tall black boots.
In a close-up photo, Swift’s slight smile and fresh look were highlighted. Her dress had an off-shoulder design, which showcased her gold jewelry nicely. In another picture, she smiled even more broadly, with her bangs framing her face. Her hair was pulled back in a casual ponytail, combining a glamorous and simple style.
One of the most talked-about parts of her look was the glittery freckles on her face, which sparkled under the stadium lights.
Once her photos were shared online, people quickly voiced their opinions, which ranged from praise to criticism. One user joked, “I was wondering where my tablecloth [sic] went.” Another commenter criticized her boots, saying, “Bizarre boots!! They look awful on her.” Other comments included, “Is she dressed for football or a nightclub?” and “Grow up; she looks like a high school girl [sic].”
Many comments focused on her footwear, with remarks like, “She can’t walk in those boots. So dumb…” But other fans defended her, saying, “She’s a wonderful human and so talented!” Another fan chimed in, “She’s awesome. She’s looking pretty niiice [sic].” One user who wasn’t a big fan of Swift added, “Not exactly a fan…but loving her outfit!”
Her facial glitter also caught attention. One fan commented, “The face glitter? Are you kidding? She’s so cute!” Another said, “Taylor Swift makes the whole place shimmer.”
This isn’t the first time Swift has faced criticism for her outfits at Kelce’s games. Previously, on September 15, she attended a game wearing a red, oversized Kansas City Chiefs t-shirt as a mini dress, which fans labeled as “so trashy.” She paired it with thigh-high black leather boots, a black crossbody bag, and gold chains. Her signature hoop earrings and bold red lipstick completed her look, while her blonde hair fell in messy waves.
Swift made a fashion statement as she arrived and later cheered from the Chiefs’ VIP suite. While some fans loved her bold style, others were not impressed. One user questioned, “With all her money, that’s what she wears?”
More negative comments followed, with one saying, “Omg… again her outfit is so trashy… what’s happening to her?” Another remarked, “Looking like an old-fashioned street walker as usual.” Critics also pointed out that her outfit seemed out of place compared to other players’ wives and girlfriends, who wore more traditional game-day clothing. One commenter said, “She dresses like a teenager.”
Some wondered if her changing style was part of a strategy to gain publicity since her relationship with Kelce became public. “Her outfits are getting goofier. Does she really need the attention? Seems since Kelce, she’s all about PR,” wrote one user.
Critics said her style didn’t fit with the more traditional game-day outfits worn by the wives and girlfriends of other players. One commenter said, “She dresses like a teenager.” Some even wondered if her changing style was a way to get more attention since her relationship with Kelce became public. One person wrote, “Her outfits are getting goofier. Does she really need the attention? Seems since Kelce she’s all about PR.”
This wasn’t the first time Swift’s outfit at a game had sparked criticism. Back on September 15, 2024, she wore a red oversized Kansas City Chiefs tee to a game between the Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals. Some fans didn’t like how she turned the tee into a mini dress.
She paired the look with thigh-high black leather boots, a black crossbody bag, and gold chains. Hoop earrings and her bold red lipstick completed the outfit, while her blonde hair was styled in messy waves. She later cheered from the Chiefs’ VIP suite.
Some fans didn’t like this outfit either. One user asked, “With all her money, that’s what she wears?” Another said, “Omg… again her outfit is so trashy… what’s happening to her?” Some even compared her look to that of an “old-fashioned street walker.”
No matter what people think about her outfits, Swift continues to grab attention wherever she goes—on and off the football field.
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