Will Young has slammed BRIT Awards bosses over their suggestion he should kiss George Michael on stage to land a performance spot at the show. 

The singer, who shot to fame on ‘Pop Idol’ in 2002 has been nominated for a total of nine awards, winning two, including British Breakthrough Act and British Single of the Year for Your Game. 

Despite never having performed at the ceremony, Will says he was once asked to take to the stage, calling the experience “very weird”. 

“It was suggested, you know, ‘Could you do a performance with George Michael where we get you to kiss like Britney [Spears] and Madonna?,” he tells The Independent, referring to the pair’s kiss at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards.

However, the Leave Right Now star passed on the opportunity, recalling: “I was like, ‘Is that the only way I’m going to get a performance?’ It was very weird, and I felt very snubbed by the BRITs. 

“And I feel very validated in thinking that,” he adds. “I sold a f**k load of records and I always worked very hard to put out good music and a brilliant album.”

Admitting he never felt accepted by the awards show because of his reality TV roots, Will insists:

“I just find it the most vile, toxic atmosphere.

“It’s like going into a school playground with people just swinging d**ks. It makes me feel sick. It doesn’t feel accepting. It’s all about being cool, you know, putting people down. I always felt like an outsider because I came from a talent show.”

Despite the reservations, Will, who this week released his eighth album ‘Crying on the Bathroom Floor’, did enjoy the 2021 ceremony, praising Elton John’s and Olly Alexander’s “brilliant” It’s a Sin duet.   

“Normally I hate the BRITS. But I think I liked it this year because there was no audience… It was a different vibe. Well, maybe I’m in a better place now, I don’t know.”

In our review of the star’s new album, Retro Pop called the record “a triumph” that provides a “blueprint for future covers albums”.