Ex-pat British entertainer Michael Barrymore has attracted spies from a homophobic British tabloid, who appear to be monitoring his daily activities in New Zealand in an attempt to continue dishing dirt on him back at home. Barrymore arrived in New Zealand in late November saying he was here to stay, following relentless media pressure in Britain following his coming out and an incident involving the accidental death of a man in the pool of his London home two years ago which was falsely blown up by British tabloids into a wild gay sex and drug orgy. Tabloid spies have been following Barrymore as he house-hunts with his Kiwi partner Shaun Davis in Auckland, with the Sunday People reporting that an estate agent had shown Barrymore and Davis a $4m clifftop home overlooking an area “regularly raided by police as a gay pick-up spot”. The area is not specified, but the People quotes “community cop” Craig Stephen, who says "I get calls from residents very upset about gay activity on the beach and in the public toilets, particularly in hot weather." Craig Stephen is the Community Constable for Ponsonby. GayNZ.com contacted him to confirm the story and his comments but did not receive a response. GayNZ.com is unaware of any beaches falling within Stephen's jurisdiction that have been targeted by police.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 17th December 2003 - 12:00pm