Stephen Gately’s Civil Partner Launched Complaint over Daily Mail article
The Press Complaints Commission (PPC) has revealed that Stephen Gately’s civil partner, Andrew Cowles, was among the 25,000 people who launched complaints with the watchdog of press standards after a controversial article ran in the Daily Mail.
The article, published just one day prior to Gately’s funeral, entertained the notion that Gately’s death was unnatural and perhaps there had been a cover up of some sorts. Authored by Jan Moir, a columnist with the prominent UK newspaper, the article created a frenzy with fans of the late Boyzone member. Labeled as anti-gay and homophobic, Ms. Moir admitted that the article was insensitive in timing, but adamantly states that she is not a homophobe.
Gately, who died at the young age of 33 while vacationing in Majorca, left behind his long time partner Andrew Cowles who also launched an official complaint to the PCC after reading the article written by Ms. Moir.
The PCC revealed that they had received over 25,000 lodged complaints in the wake of the story being ran, which is a record for highest number every received pertaining to one specific story. The article first ran under the title “Why there was nothing ‘natural’ about Stephen Gately’s death” on the webpage for the Daily Mail, however in print was published as “A strange, lonely, and troubling death”.
The PCC has announced that they will be reviewing the article and the complaints to ascertain as to whether the article infringes on accuracy as well as discrimination. The article was published back in October after Gately’s death, and the report is expected to come out in due course.