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Daily Record
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
90s pop star warns celebs to be 'very afraid' ahead of autobiography release
Celebrity Big Brother contestant Kavana says he was 'broken by addiction' as he opens up in his upcoming book. The pop star of the nineties, Anthony Kavanagh, is warning celebs to be 'very afraid' ahead of the release of his autobiography. More well known by his stage name Kavana, the 47-year-old became a pop sensation with hits such as I Can Make You Feel Good, MFEO and Crazy Chance. Anthony is set to release his explosive memoir - Pop Scars - in July, in which he has promised to tell all about his experiences in the limelight. While talking about his battles with addiction, the singer is also said to lift the lid on the supposedly 'innocent' 90s pop scene. Nearly three decades ago, Anthony graced the covers of teen pop magazines, including Smash Hits, as a bright-eyed 20-year old. However, since then, he has been candid about his addiction problems over the years, reports the Mirror. For example, last year he shared a post on Instagram that included before and after photos of his recovery battle, along with the caption: "Recovery is possible." He has also spoken about his drastic change in appearance compared to how he looked a year and half prior, when he was in one of his lowest states, and what steps he had taken to get help. In the comments, he wrote: "On #addictionawarenessweek I want to make anyone struggling aware that recovery is possible. 20 months ago I was lost, broken and hopeless. Ask for help, I'm so glad I did." Many of his celebrity pals flooded the comments with encouraging messages, including former Bad Boys Inc singer Matthew Pateman who said: "Proud of you." Steps' H Watkins also added a heartfelt "Proud friend", while 911's Lee Brennan wrote: "Superstar". While he has many friends who support him, with the upcoming release of his 'explosive' book, some of his friends and acquaintances may be in for a surprise. Speaking to Attitude magazine back in 2017, Anthony promised that he would write an exposing memoir about his experience in the music industry. He said: "I am very excited about it. It's more of a memoir, I'll save the autobiography for when I'm older. It'll be warts [and all] and recalls what was happening back in the pop industry back in the 90s and when I went to live in Hollywood. "There are some really outrageous stories that most people wouldn't know about. Yes, people should be afraid…very afraid." The former star has since promoted his book on his Instagram, claiming that it is "for the underdog". Posting a picture of the front cover that shows an image of Kavana back in the 90s, he said: "Can't believe I'm saying this but I actually wrote a book. "Like by myself, like those grown ups do. POP SCARS covers all things 90s pop but more importantly what happens AFTER fame." He continued: "It's about teenage fame, loss, addiction and hope, and how not to iron a white Kappa tracksuit. It's been described as 'Laugh out loud, jaw dropping, and heartfelt' but you can decide that. Come join the ride with me. More news to come. This is for the underdog." Kavana didn't disappear after his pop career ended, as he remained in the spotlight through a variety of television appearances. This includes starring in Hollyoaks: In the City in 2006, being a finalist on TV competition Grease Is the Word in 2007, auditioning for The Voice in 2014 and coming seventh in Celebrity Big Brother in 2015. In 2014, the star came out as gay as he revealed a past secret romance with Boyzone's Stephen Gately. However, his battle with addiction followed as he confessed to feeling "guilty and sick" about his relapse. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. He said: "Ok. I think it's important for me to be transparent about my recovery. I relapsed after 100 days of sobriety. I feel guilty and sick and I hate myself after letting the people I love down. I thought I knew better. I have to start again."
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
90s pop star 'broken by addiction' warns celebs to be 'very afraid' over exposé
Former 90s pop star and Celebrity Big Brother contestant Kavana has been very candid about his addiction battles, but now he's promised to be honest over his heyday experiences too Nineties pop sensation Anthony Kavanagh warned celebs to be 'very afraid' over his upcoming autobiography. The now-47 year old singer who had a string of hits including I Can Make You Feel Good, Crazy Chance and MFEO using the stage name Kavana, made the threat prior to the release of his explosive memoir, Pop Scars, which he's promising will tell all about his experience with fame. The singer has been candid about his battles with addiction since hitting the spotlight as a fresh-faced 20 year old nearly three decades ago, when he graced the covers of teen pop magazines including Smash Hits. Last year, he candidly shared on Instagram a before-and-after photo that illustrated his journey from a dark place last year to a successful recovery, along with an encouraging caption for his fans: "Recovery is possible." He spoke about how vastly different he looked compared to one and a half years previously, when he was at a low ebb, and explained how he'd taken steps to get help. Leaving a powerful comment with his images, he said: "On #addictionawarenessweek I want to make anyone struggling aware that recovery is possible. 20 months ago I was lost, broken and hopeless. Ask for help, I'm so glad I did." Celebrity pals rallied around with messages of encouragement, including former Bad Boys Inc singer Matthew Pateman who declared, "Proud of you," while Steps' H Watkins chimed in with a heartfelt, "Proud friend," and 911's Lee Brennan added: "Superstar." But with the release of the book , some of his friends and acquaintances in the industry could be in for a shock. Back in 2017, Anthony spoke to Attitude magazine and promised that he'd write a revealing memoir about his time in the music industry, to lift the lid on the wild goings on of the seemingly-innocent 90s pop scene. He told the publication: "I am very excited about it. It's more of a memoir, I'll save the autobiography for when I'm older. It'll be warts [and all] and recalls what was happening back in the pop industry back in the 90s and when I went to live in Hollywood. There are some really outrageous stories that most people wouldn't know about. Yes, people should be afraid…very afraid." And it seems the former idol is excited about what's to come, as he recently promoted the book on his Instagram page. Alongside a shot of its cover, featuring an image of Kavana at the height of his success, he said: "Can't believe I'm saying this but I actually wrote a book. Like by myself, like those grown ups do. POP SCARS covers all things 90s pop but more importantly what happens AFTER fame." And he continued: "It's about teenage fame, loss, addiction and hope, and how not to iron a white Kappa tracksuit. It's been described as 'Laugh out loud, jaw dropping, and heartfelt' but you can decide that. Come join the ride with me. More news to come. This is for the underdog." After his pop career ended, Anthony stayed in the spotlight, going on to star in Hollyoaks: In The City in 2006, before becoming a finalist on the TV competition Grease Is the Word in 2007, auditioning for The Voice on ITV and finishing seventh on Celebrity Big Brother in 2015. He later revealed a 12-month stalking hell. He also came out as gay in 2014, revealing a past secret romance with Stephen Gately from Boyzone. But his addiction battle followed, with Anthony previously confessing he felt "guilty and sick" for relapsing, saying: "Ok. I think it's important for me to be transparent about my recovery. I relapsed after 100 days of sobriety. I feel guilty and sick and I hate myself after letting the people I love down. I thought I knew better. I have to start again."
New York Times
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
To Create a ‘Portrait of the Modern Dandy,' the Met Enlisted a Superstar
Last year, when the Metropolitan Museum of Art invited a young photographer to shoot its highly anticipated spring 2025 fashion exhibition, the museum got something it probably wasn't expecting: a counteroffer. That may be because the invitation wasn't extended to just any young photographer but to Tyler Mitchell, who in 2018 became the first Black photographer to shoot a Vogue cover. (He was 23, and his subject was Beyoncé.) Although he said he would be happy to photograph objects from the exhibition — a cultural and sartorial examination of Black dandies — for a planned catalog, Mr. Mitchell came back to the Costume Institute with a pitch of his own: Instead of just immortalizing the garments in static shots, he would also showcase them as they were worn throughout history. 'The fact that we are for the first time talking about specifically the history of Black men's wear, this is an embodied conversation, and most of it lives on through photography,' Mr. Mitchell said in a recent phone interview. 'So it felt urgent to go beyond simply object documentation and go into real human lifestyle.' Now 29, Mr. Mitchell has made a name for himself exploring Black life through his work. In 2020, he published his debut photography monograph, 'I Can Make You Feel Good'; two years later, he had a solo exhibition at a London Gagosian gallery. In a 30-page photo spread and accompanying essay in the catalog for the Metropolitan exhibition, called 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,' Mr. Mitchell continues his exploration, investigating the ideas behind dandyism and examining its contemporary interpretations. The photos feature models wearing garments from the exhibition, in addition to self-described dandies like Iké Udé, Dandy Wellington and Michael Henry Adams, many wearing their own finery. The photo essay showcases several generations of Black men. In one image, a young boy wears a two-piece ensemble of deep blue crushed velvet, trimmed with cowrie shells and crystals, by the designer Grace Wales Bonner. Another shows a tableau of men in formal dress who also happen to sport an assortment of dramatic headpieces. Mr. Mitchell said he had wanted the photographs to be an interplay between the young and the old, highlighting the way different generations show up in different settings. 'I could see it quite immediately,' Mr. Mitchell said. 'When I was hearing the theme, ideas were coming. I wanted so badly to do something that could really support the show and also be a celebration of the current moment.' In simplest terms, the word 'dandy' is often used to describe someone, usually a man, who is deeply devoted to his own style. The Costume Institute show, which opens on May 10, was partly inspired by 'Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity' by Monica L. Miller, a professor of Africana studies at Barnard College. In the book, Professor Miller, who is also the guest curator of the exhibit, takes a close look at the Black dandy as a figure who emerged from 18th-century Europe, where Black male servants were made to dress up, essentially turning them into commodities. Eventually, Black people reclaimed the dandy identity, inverting the negative associations as a defiant show of power. Guided by Professor Miller's research, Mr. Mitchell worked with the museum's curatorial staff and a small team of frequent collaborators. He said he drew inspiration from a 'kaleidoscope' of artists: Isaac Julien, Toni Morrison, Greg Tate, James Van Der Zee and other figures from the Harlem Renaissance. 'It was a real creative exercise because we also kind of went above and beyond just the garments that were in the show,' he said. 'And so it became this kind of creative expression and essay, beyond the remit of just documenting the looks.' In his accompanying essay, titled 'Portrait of the Modern Dandy,' Mr. Mitchell recalled a white friend's astonishment after visiting Atlanta and seeing how Black people dressed up for situations that didn't necessarily call for elevated attire. Mr. Mitchell, who grew up in Marietta, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta, was surprised to hear this: In his experience, Black people in the South had always dressed that way. 'If you were just going to the mall, it was more than enough occasion to show up and show out, and dress by your own rules and your own agenda,' he said. He also carries with him memories of his mother and his wider community having high expectations of him to present respectfully, whether at church, school or elsewhere. (Dressing mindfully has historically been a way for Black people to avoid being negatively profiled.) That obligation 'felt crushing as an angsty kid,' Mr. Mitchell recalled, but he eventually found a way to express his personal style freely, sometimes even within those parameters — a loophole of sorts that he called the very essence of dandyism. 'I didn't know that word then growing up, but I identified with it from so young because in the South there's a particular emphasis placed on respectability,' he said. 'I think dandyism emerges out of the discourse around respectability and wanting to very intentionally subvert those ideas and wittily reclaim them for one's own self.' According to the Met, the exhibition also aims to highlight the current men's wear renaissance, one in which different designers, stylists and wearers are taking risks and broadening traditional definitions of masculine attire. Mr. Mitchell calls this evolution a 'beautifully anarchic moment,' especially for Black men. That helps 'open up possibilities of expression,' he said, and lets younger men avoid 'some of the challenges I had growing up, which is, What's the archetype that you will fit into as a Black man in Atlanta?' 'That's the shift I've noticed, and that's what I think it means for Black men today,' he added. 'That they can grow up in a world where there aren't those binaries.'
