Olly Alexander Opens Up About Past Body Abuse and Party Excess During Teen Sexuality Struggle
Olly Alexander has revealed that he 'abused his body' and engaged in excessive partying during his teenage years as he grappled with coming to terms with his sexuality. The 35-year-old singer, who rose to prominence as the lead vocalist of the English pop band Years & Years, shared these intimate details during a recent appearance on Paloma Faith's podcast, Mad Sad Bad with Paloma Faith, on Tuesday.
A Candid Conversation on Fame and Identity
During the frank discussion, Alexander reflected on his journey to fame, his battle with denial about his sexuality, and his wild partying years in London. He described this period as formative, explaining how it shaped his understanding of himself and his community.
Speaking on the podcast, Alexander said: 'My party years were a very formative time for me, and I met a lot of people and was very excited to be around other queer people who looked how I wanted to look, and could express themselves in such a celebratory liberation.'
Struggles with Denial and Escalation
He continued, revealing the depth of his internal conflict: 'I was still in denial about my sexuality until I was like 19, until I found a friend and I could be honest with her.' Alexander described how quickly his party lifestyle escalated, noting the ease with which one can dive too deep into nightlife.
'It's very easy to go in too deep, every night you're out, it's like a 3,4 day weekend of having not been to bed ... it can go too far,' he added. 'I loved a lot of that time, but I definitely abused my body in ways I'm not sure I'm proud of.'
Recalling London Nightlife and Its Impact
Recalling his nights out, Alexander painted a vivid picture of his experiences: 'We'd do Soho bars, and then I graduated to going out in East London, and then it would be every weekend... end up at East Bloc 6am, go to an afters, go to some guy's house... it was a very formative time for me.'
Listeners can access the full interview with Paloma Faith on Mad Sad Bad now, where Alexander delves deeper into these personal revelations.
Connection to 'It's A Sin' and Confronting Fears
This latest interview follows Alexander's previous reflections on how starring in the drama series It's A Sin helped him confront his 'fear of HIV and sex'. Set in 1980s London, the Russell T. Davies-scripted show won multiple awards for its poignant portrayal of a gay community devastated by AIDS.
Alexander played Richie Tozer, a fun-loving young actor who ultimately succumbs to the disease. His performance earned him multiple award nominations, and the show itself won a BAFTA TV award for its harrowing depiction of the AIDS crisis.
Unpacking Inherited Fears and Shame
In a September issue of Tatler last year, Alexander admitted that accepting the role helped him face uncomfortable truths. He said: 'I didn’t realise it until I went towards it, but I had inherited this fear around HIV and sex, which is connected to the shame I had about being gay. It helped me unpack all of that. I never understood actors who say they brought their characters home with them until I did.'
In It's A Sin, Tozer is openly gay among friends but closeted to his parents until they discover he has AIDS. Off-screen, Alexander has always been open about his sexuality, though he recalled a media advisor warning him not to 'come out' publicly when he first entered the music industry in his twenties.
'You’d never give that advice now, and it was terrible advice then,' he remarked. 'I knew it was never really going to be an option for me, but it did feel like a fork-in-the-road moment.'
Alexander's candid revelations highlight the complex interplay between personal identity, societal pressures, and the journey toward self-acceptance, offering a raw and honest glimpse into his past struggles and growth.
