Gay star thinks ‘homophobia’ was behind BBC decision to ban chart-topping hit

Holly Johnson, the frontman of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, says he believes homophobia played a part in the BBC’s decision to ban one of the band’s much-loved songs.

Released in 1983, “Relax” was banned by the BBC despite the track spending five weeks at the top of the UK singles chart.

Speaking to the i paper recently, Johnson said that while the ban “added a frisson of danger and rebellion to the group”, it denied “a young person’s dream” of appearing on the then hugely popular chart show Top of the Pops.

“I felt it was based on viewing the video, not listening to the record,” Johnson said. “I felt there was homophobia involved, and they let their imaginations that run wild, thinking, because I’m gay, it’s all about gay sex, and we can’t have that.”

He insisted that “there’s no reference to gay sex” in the song, which sold more than 2.07 million copies in the UK and spent a total of 70 weeks in the chart. He did concede that “perhaps there is a reference to ejaculation”.

Given that the lyrics include the words, “Relax, don’t do it/When you want to come”, that seems difficult to deny. The accompanying video featured men in latex and leather outfits and a number drag queens.

But Johnson told the newspaper “it was a bit of a storm in a teacup”.

The BBC reversed the decision in 1984, in the face mockery from the public and the fact that it was being played on virtually all commercial pop stations. The track was followed by “Two Tribes” and “The Power of Love”, both of which also hit the top spot.

Johnson is set to be portrayed by It’s a Sin star Callum Scott Howells in an upcoming biopic, based on the singer’s memoir A Bone in My Flute.

Relax was first announced in 2023 and will be directed by Bernard Rose, the man behind the original music video.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.