Louise Redknapp takes veiled swipe at former bandmates as she admits feeling ‘miserable, lonely and like the odd one out’ in Eternal and insists ‘it wasn’t a hard decision’ to pull out of reunion tour over trans rights row

Louise Redknapp has take a veiled dig at her former Eternal bandmates, after the group’s LGBTQ+ feud in 2023 derailed plans for a reunion.

The singer, 50, formed the R&B girl group with Kéllé Bryan and sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett in 1992, but said she was ‘miserable’ and ‘lonely’ in the band.

Louise ended up leaving to pursue a solo career in 1995, and admitted while it ‘wasn’t part of the plan’, she and her bandmates ‘were just quite different characters.’

And she took another swipe at Easther and Vernie, as she declared the queer community ‘held me up at my darkest moments’ and standing by them was ‘non-negotiable’ while reflecting on her trans rights row with the sisters.

In a new interview with the Independent, Louise responded to being named ‘the Beyoncé’ of the band, admitting: ‘That couldn’t be further from the truth. I felt really lost. I didn’t feel like I was adding anything. My confidence was low. All I’d ever wanted to be was a pop star and I was miserable.’

She explained that when Eternal supported Take That on tour, she had bonded with Robbie Williams over their mutual feelings of being ‘lonely’ and like they were ‘the odd ones out within our bands’.

Recalling her exit from the group, she said: ‘It felt weak to leave but actually, looking back, it was strong – I knew I was really sad. I was in my early twenties, and you shouldn’t be sad at that stage in your life. It wasn’t part of the plan, as I actually really enjoyed being part of the band. We were just quite different characters.’ 

While she also reflected on her decision to pull out of an Eternal reunion tour with Kelle in September 2023, because Vernie and Easther had reportedly refused to play any scheduled LBGTQ+ gigs over claims the community had been ‘hijacked’ by the trans movement. 

Louise reiterated her support for trans rights and the LBGTQ+, saying she respected the Bennett sisters’ had their beliefs, but she had to stand by her own principles.

She said: ‘There are some non-negotiables in my world. The queer community has stuck by me from day one. I wouldn’t have a music career without them, and they have held me up at my darkest moments. I respect that you have your beliefs and that’s where you stand in your life – but that doesn’t mean it has to be my life. I have my path, they have their path. For me, it wasn’t a hard decision to make.’

Eternal, who shot to stardom in the nineties, had been planning a huge reunion tour for last year, with the highlights including performances at Pride and Mighty Hoopla.

Both festivals celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, however the tour dates apparently did not go down well with Devout Christian sisters Easther and Vernie.

It was revealed that Louise and her team received a message from Vernie and Easther, stating they would not be involved in any Pride shows or LGBTQ+ festivals.

Louise’s publicist said: ‘A message was sent to the team putting together the Eternal reunion stating that if it was to go ahead, neither Vernie nor Easther would perform at Pride shows or LGBTQ+ festivals.

‘This was because the duo felt that the gay community was being hijacked by the trans community and they do not support this. 

‘Louise is a huge supporter and ally of the LGBTQ+ community and both herself and Kelle told the duo they would not work with anyone who held these views, and as such the reunion as a four would not be going ahead. 

‘The team behind the proposed Eternal reunion are gay including management, PR and tour promoter, and neither myself nor any of the team would work with artists who held such views about the trans community.’

Vernie seemingly refuted the claims made by Louise’s team as she released a statement about how she has been ‘blessed to connect with so many diverse and wonderful people from all walks of life during my career.’

While Eternal’s original manager Denis Ingoldsby furiously defended Easther and Vernie, who remain his clients, previously insisting they are ‘devastated’ and accusing Louise’s team of misrepresenting details of a private email.

He told Sky News: ‘Louise and her team have thrown them under the bus and everyone is totally appalled at their bullying behaviour by totally misrepresenting the situation to suit their own agenda.

‘The girls sent an email to Louise’s camp saying they loved playing Pride, and they loved the ethos of the event.

‘For her camp to go on the record suggesting they are homophobic is utterly outrageous. This is nothing about gay rights.’

Denis claimed that Vernie’s comments about ‘having concerns’ over trans right were being ‘weaponized against her’.

He added: ‘Vernie said she had some concerns about the Pride movement being hijacked – and she is not alone – but this has now been weaponized against her, with Louise’s team trying to get her cancelled.’

However, Louise’s publicist Simon Jones, who also represents the likes of RAYE, Girls Aloud, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson, hit back at Denis’ claims and stated that they stand by their previous comments.

He told the publication: ‘Denis Ingoldsby was not involved in the discussions about the Eternal reunion including all four members over the last two years. Easther and Vernie can try and dress this up however they wish. 

‘The fact remains that the duo said they would only do the Eternal reunion if no Pride or LGBTQ+ festivals were included.

‘Louise would obviously not agree to excluding the LGBTQ+ community from their touring plans. We as a team absolutely do not agree with dividing the LGBTQ+ community or excluding trans people.’

He added: ‘Absolutely nothing has been misrepresented. We have simply explained the reason why the Eternal reunion is not going ahead with Louise and Kelle.

‘It is a fact that an email was sent saying that Vernie and Easther would only do the Eternal reunion if no Pride or LGBTQ+ festivals were included in the plan.

‘Louise would obviously not agree to excluding the LGBTQ+ community from the band’s touring plans, and as such notified the duo that she would not be taking part.’

Louise addressed her decision to step down from the tour by sharing the Progress Pride Flag on her Instagram Stories, writing: ‘Always and forever’.

The flag was created in 2018 by nonbinary artist Daniel Quasar, and is largely based on the iconic 1978 rainbow flag. 

The stripes of black and brown represent marginalized LGBTIQ+ people of colour and the triad of blue, pink, and white are from the trans flag.

The row came as the culmination of long-running tension dating back to Louise’s exit from the band in 1995 and her status as the UK’s number one sex symbol and lad’s mag favourite, which was said to have raised eyebrows with the Bennett sisters.

At the time Vernie and Easther subtly let it be known in magazine interviews that her sexy image didn’t quite sit well with them as devout Christians.

Louise made a telling statement on Loose Women about the row over the reunion tour, indicating the state of her relationship with the sisters.  

‘I would have always loved to have done a reunion with the girls,’ she said. ‘I have a lot of love for what we have done together and me and Kelle are still the best of friends.’