Dannii Minogue

While promoting I Kissed a Girl, Minogue stated 'I identify as queer in a weird way', a phrase widely reported as her coming out. She subsequently clarified on Instagram that she was not announcing that she was lesbian or queer, that she was straight and in a long-term heterosexual relationship, while describing herself as a longstanding ally of the LGBTQIA+ community.

State of the evidence

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Not applicable

Attribution

The ambiguous phrase is attributable to Minogue; headlines announcing that she had come out as queer were subsequently corrected by her.

Tom Bower's unofficial biography of Simon Cowell, Sweet Revenge, revealed a past affair between Cowell and Dannii Minogue when they worked on The X Factor. The Guardian reported that Bower had had to ask several times before Cowell confirmed the relationship, and Cowell subsequently offered a general apology to people embarrassed by the book's revelations.

State of the evidence

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Attribution

No wrongdoing is attributed to Minogue; the controversy arose from the media disclosure of a past relationship.

Dannii Minogue's arrival on The X Factor judging panel gave rise to a prolonged public feud with Sharon Osbourne and, at times, Louis Walsh. Minogue claimed they had deliberately made her uncomfortable and attacked her; Osbourne, in turn, called Minogue manipulative and claimed she was '99 %' of the reason for her departure. On-set arguments and disputes over song choices sustained the conflict.

State of the evidence

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Attribution

Accusations of manipulation, bullying and exclusion are reciprocal and have not been formally established.

After Danyl Johnson's performance on The X Factor, Minogue made a remark indirectly referring to his bisexuality, which had already been discussed in the press. Ofcom received 3 964 complaints, many alleging that the comment was malicious, homophobic or humiliating. Minogue apologised the following day and explained that the subject had been joked about with Johnson during rehearsals and that, according to her, he was not offended. Ofcom concluded that the reference was justified by the context, found no derogatory or homophobic intent and declared the programme 'Not in breach' of Rule 2.3.

State of the evidence

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Attribution

The remark is directly attributable to Minogue; the regulatory outcome nevertheless found no breach of the Code.

Following a GQ interview in which Minogue reportedly said Jean-Marie Le Pen had 'struck a chord with people' and referred to signs in 'Asian' in Australia, the British National Party used the remarks to claim she supported its anti-immigration position. The Anti-Nazi League criticised her. Minogue said she was mortified to be associated with the BNP and maintained that she had been misquoted.

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Attribution

The remarks reported by GQ were attributed to Minogue, but she said she had been misquoted and rejected any support for the BNP.

Following professional and financial difficulties, Dannii Minogue agreed to a nude Playboy photo shoot in 1995. Her father strongly opposed it, and the decision triggered public debate over her image. Years later, Minogue continued to defend the shoot as a personally liberating and feminist decision, emphasising the control she had exercised over it.

State of the evidence

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Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Minogue accepts responsibility for her choice to pose nude; no illegality was involved.