Flaunt Weeekly
The organizers of a Dolly Parton musical currently touring the UK have issued a statement condemning homophobic abuse being directed at the cast during performances.
In a social media post, the producers of Here You Come Again said: “In light of homophobic comments and abuse directed at our company, the producers of Here You Come Again condemn this abhorrent behaviour in the strongest way.
“Individuals making such comments are not welcome at our show. They have been – and will be – ejected from the theatre immediately. We stand against all forms of prejudice and are extremely proud of the inclusivity and respect which Here You Come Again celebrates.”
The intervention comes after Stevie Webb, one of the stars of Here You Come Againposted a TikTok video chronicling incidents of abuse the cast had endured on the road.
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Webb revealed that a performance at Manchester’s Opera House last week was temporarily halted after a “woman was so disgusted there was a gay character.” He said the woman was ejected after a “massive ruckus” in which other audience members called out her homophobia. ATG Entertainment, which runs the venue, told BBC News that it took a “zero tolerance” approach to abuse.
Webb added that some of the worst abuse had occurred during performances in London. “I remember one guy who was shouting the F-[word] slur,” he said. “It has really opened my eyes because we’re in such a bubble in this industry. But traveling the country and seeing how many people literally cannot bear to see a gay person depicted on stage – it’s wild.”
Here You Come Again was originally written for U.S. audiences by two-time Emmy-winner Bruce Vilanch with Gabriel Barre (who also directs) and Tricia Paoluccio (who also plays Dolly). The musical comedy features the country music singer appearing like a fairy godmother to give life lessons in song to a stricken fan. It features songs including Jolene, 9 to 5and Islands in the Stream.
The homophobic incidents come as a new bio-musical about Parton, titled Hello, I’m Dollyis prepping for a bow on Broadway in 2026, with the country legend writing the music, co-writing the book, and serving as a producer.
