Towie newbie Junaid Ahmed reveals flings with famous footballers and says ‘it’s sad they can’t come out’
TOWIE’S new castmember Junaid Ahmed has revealed his secret flings with famous footballers - saying it’s sad they ‘can’t come out’.
The reality star - who fans will recognise from Amazon Prime’s Lovestruck High - joined the cast of the ITVBe drama this series and is currently on set in the Dominican Republic.
Despite only filming for a few days, insiders say Junaid is already ruffling feathers on set with Towie regulars like Amber Turner.
The pair are former pals - but Junaid says they haven't spoken in “so long” - and reveals that while he refuses to “kiss and tell”, he’s got a dating history that could send shockwaves through the cast.
“I've dated footballers, on the downlow,” he tells The Sun exclusively. “A few footballers, a few reality people, but I don't kiss and tell.
“I always get footballers sliding in my DMs, and I always get closeted guys - I have never dated a gay guy in my life. I am partial to a footballer, I do love them, it is such a taboo, though.
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“But it’s also sad - how are we in 2022 and people are not comfortable to come out and be who they want to be? I always tell them, I deal with abuse on social media on a daily basis, and it does not affect me in the slightest.
“If you don't personally know me your opinion doesn't matter - I read it and laugh. Some people can't be who they want to be - we should showcase diversity and inclusion [in sport, and on TV]. I don't care about your skin colour or sexuality. If you're a nice person you're a nice person. If you are a d***head you're a d***head.”
Junaid’s revelation comes just one month after Blackpool striker Jake Daniels, 17, became the first professional footballer to come out since the late Norwich City star Justin Fashanu.
Praised by Sun columnist Karren Brady as an “overnight icon”, Jake said he had the full support of his club and teammates, telling Sky Sports: "Now is the right time to do it. I feel like I am ready to tell people my story. I want people to know the real me.
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"I have been thinking for a long time about how I want to do it, when I want to do it. I know now is the time.
"I am ready to be myself, be free and be confident with it all."
The only prominent male English footballer to have previously come out was Fashanu, who revealed he was gay in 1990. He took his own life eight years later.
Other stars — including ex-Aston Villa ace Thomas Hitzlsperger, 40, and former Hull City youth player Thomas Beattie, 35 — came out when their careers ended.
***Towie series 30 returns this summer ***
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