Mikey Graham's daughter, Sienna, has fiercely defended her father after he faced criticism for his limited participation in Boyzone's final concerts last week. The Irish singer, 53, joined bandmates Shane Lynch, Ronan Keating, and Keith Duffy on stage at London's Emirates Stadium on Friday and Saturday for what were billed as the group's last performances.
Although the shows were promoted as a full reunion for the first time in nearly a decade, only Lynch, Keating, and Duffy opened the concert as a trio. Graham appeared midway through the set for a handful of songs and returned later as the band prepared to bow out for the final time. While some praised Graham, who had previously stated he would not participate in a full reunion, he also became the target of online trolling.
Sienna Graham Speaks Out
Now, Sienna has spoken for the first time, revealing the immense effort it took for her father to return to the spotlight. "No one will ever know the extent that it took my dad to get to this point and get onto this stage and perform to many people in that way," she told Evoke. "As his daughter, all I can say is that I am incredibly proud of him, and that is the bottom line."
She added: "I think with the documentary and everything, everyone has come into the shows with so much awareness of what everyone has been through over the years. I almost feel that because of that awareness, it also enhances the pride we all feel. This shows that you can go through struggles and come out the other end, and that there is so much joy to be had within this world and starting fresh."
Sienna explained that seeing comments criticizing her father can be tough, but above all, she is "incredibly proud" of his achievements. Boyzone has sold over 25 million records worldwide, cementing them as one of the most successful pop acts in music history.
Emotional Moments and Family Involvement
While the family had conversations before the performances, Sienna noted that Mikey is "secure" and she was glad he took part in the two gigs. Seeing her father on stage was an emotional moment due to his confidence, and Sienna even "welled up" during the shows. Mikey was not the only Graham family member involved; Sienna directed, produced, and edited the visuals displayed on giant screens throughout the concerts, including interviews with the "Boyzone kids" such as Jay Duffy, Billie Rae Lynch, Missy Keating, Jack Keating, and Ali Keating.
During their Sky documentary, Mikey revealed he fell into depression after the band split in 2000. "I don't want to go back to how I felt for many years," he said. "To see them for too long would remind me of that, and my future is way too important to me to waste it looking back on my past."
The band formed in 1993 and also included Stephen Gately, who tragically died at his home in Mallorca on October 10, 2009, aged 33, due to a pulmonary oedema from an undiagnosed heart condition.
