Brian McFadden has defended Louis Walsh following his polarising appearance on the Boyzone documentary as he admitted he “came out of it bad”. The X Factor judge managed the Irish boy group as they catapulted to fame.
Earlier this year, a Sky documentary series Boyzone: No Matter What followed the highs and lows of their career, with archive and new interviews with Keith Duffy, Stephen Gately, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating, and Shane Lynch as well as manager Louis.
However, Louis came under fire from many viewers who saw him enjoying the success of Boyzone, but also his “cruel” treatment of the band.
Ronan and Shane even recalled the huge press attention surrounding the band and how Louis planted the stories without the boyband knowing. Fans also criticised Louis for his smile when he saw the front page of Stephen being outed.
Keith called the treatment that Stephen received “absolutely scandalous” while their manager smiled and remarked: “He got the front page”.
Amid the backlash, Westlife’s Brian has come to the defence of Louis, who also managed him. Speaking to Ryan Tubridy on Virgin Radio UK, he said: “I felt sorry for Louis Walsh. I have to say, I think Louis got a bit of a bum steer in that, to be honest with you.
“[He came out of it] terrible. But I understand why… I’m not going to blame the editing, but there was bits I was like, I know how Louis is saying that and then they’ll show this horrible story about maybe Stephen, and you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s awful.
“And then it would cut to Louis going, ‘I don’t care. I’d do it again’. And you’re, like, Oh, no… That’s not what he’s [meant]…”
Brian confessed: “He came out of it bad. I think he didn’t understand the temperature of the room and what it was going to be. I think he thought it was another fluff piece, like these talking head shows that they do.
“I thought he thought it was one of them and didn’t realise how dark and sensitive it was going to be.”
Boyzone frontman Ronan accused Louis of ditching him during his subsequent solo career as well as making some ‘really b****y comments’.
Sharing what it was like working with Louis in the early days of their careers, Shane said he “promised us the sun, moon and stars”. However, the X Factor star then laughed quipping: “They believed their own publicity. They forgot I wrote it.”
Union J star, Jaymi Hensley-Marmon, who was mentored by the music mogul in 2011 on the X Factor, also came to Louis defence after the documentary.
He said: “My experience of LouLou is one of pure honesty, care, friendship, and compassion! One of if not the most genuine person I have met in this rollercoaster of showbiz.
“As a member of a “Louis Walsh” boyband , I can say he has always had my back. This Is a truly unremarkably caring man who I am honoured to call a friend! Not what tv producers want you to see, remember that!”
After the documentary aired, Louis revealed he was having chemotherapy when he agreed to appear. He was determined to take part in the show and decided to open up on his secret health battle with waldenstrom macroglobulinaemia while on Celebrity Big Brother.
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