Romanian YouTuber faces homophobic abuse online after releasing song
Openly gay Constantin 4U found asylum in London after fleeing Romania
By Steve Brown
An openly gay Romanian singer has faced online homophobic abuse after releasing a new song.
YouTuber, Constantin 4U – who paints himself gold – released his semi-biographical song ‘One Boy from a Little Town’ and has racked up more than one million views and although he fled his home country and found asylum in London, the singer has faced continuous abuse online.
After releasing the Brexit-inspired song, many commented that once Brexit goes through he will be forced out of the country and one wrote: “why the fuck is this glitter puff on my page?”
While commenting on the abuse which has left him in a dark place, he said: “I’ve been so upset, I feel too intimated to go out on the streets and have thought about contacting the police.
“I was forced to leave Romania because I was gay and now, I’m feeling forced out again. These trolls shouldn’t be able to get away with their comments.
“’One Boy from a Little Town’ is a tribute to immigrants and a reminder to the British people of the tremendous contributions immigrants have made, so it’s heartbreaking to receive such horrifying threats and malicious comments.”
The singer went on to say how he found safety in London after fleeing Romania in 2010 because of homophobic abuse and bullying.
He continued: “My life in London was very difficult to start because I didn’t know anyone, and I could speak a word of English.
“However, I felt both respected and accepted, a far cry from the suffering experience throughout my childhood and teen years.
“Britain helped me discover myself as an artist and I’ve been working with some amazing writers who have helped me through my journey.
“Moving to London was the best thing that veer happened to me and it’s become my home.
“However, since releasing my music video I have seen a different side to the British public and my social media accounts have been bombarded with ignorant comments about Brexit and disgusting hateful remarks about me and my sexuality.
“The Brexit debate raging in the UK weighed heavily on my mind when I produced ‘One Boy from a Little Town’.
“While the video is about my life, when I produced it, I was thinking of the many people from Europe who left their homes, families and old lives behind – like me – hoping for a new life and opportunity in the UK. The opportunities now, however, are very worrying.”
Watch the official video to his song below: