Pop star Mika gets gay death threat

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • March 23, 2007 - 17:49

Mika, real name Mica Penniman, was educated at the exclusive Westminster School.

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Singer Mika has revealed that one fan has reacted particularly badly to his refusal to comment on his sexuality.

The 23-year-old's hit single Grace Kelly spent weeks at the top of the charts and his debut album Life In Cartoon Motion has sold half a million copies since it was released last month.

The Beirut-born pop singer has revealed that he gets hate messages and even a death threat.

"It was over whether I am gay or not. He wasn't happy that I won't talk about my personal life like that. Sometimes I think that I have made it, other times it is a bit worrying," he told thisislondon.co.uk

Some commentators have judged that his reticence about his sexuality is a smart move for any artist aspiring to a career in America.

Mika has been spotted by music industry giant Tommy Mottola and will be given a chance to break the US market, where so many Brit acts have failed before him.

The tousle-locked 23-year-old, whose family fled war-torn Lebanon when he was a child, has shot to fame in the last year.

His camp performances have sent gay pulses racing, but he refuses to be drawn.

"I never talk about anything to do with my sexuality. I just don't think I need to. People ask me all the time. But I just don't see the point," he said, according to contactmusic.com

"In order to survive I've kind of shut up different parts of my life, and that's one of them, especially this early in my career.

"I don't really feel that it's necessary to know in terms of my music. Some people make records that are defined by their sexuality but mine really are not. It does play a lot with campness. It has a theatricality to it. Why not? It's pop music!"

However, he told the Daily Mirror earlier this month:

"People say, 'You don't talk about sexuality because you're worried about success in the US.' I say, 'Have you heard the f****** album? There's a song about a married man who has a homosexual affair. There's no enigma."

Mika, real name Mica Penniman, was educated at the exclusive Westminster School.

He was classically trained at the Royal College of Music and has been favourably compared to Freddie Mercury, George Michael, Scissor Sisters, Rufus Wainwright, and Sir Elton John.

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