Wire report
MNEK on writing smash hits, battling self-doubt and his solo struggles: ‘I’m a fat Black gay man. Try selling that’
The artist has written for Beyoncé and been nominated for two Grammys, yet individual success has eluded him. Now he’s back with a new album that puts queer joy in the spotlight – and, he says, he’s finally ready to enjoy himself In a south-east London warehouse, Uzoechi Osisioma Emenike, more commonly known as MNEK, is sitting on a bench in a makeshift locker room surrounded by semi-naked men. One particularly muscular individual suggestively adjusts a jockstrap, while another, taller and toned, removes his vest before eyeing MNEK with a loaded gaze. It’s a lot of sexual tension for a Tuesday morning. But such is the life of a pop star on the set of a music video. “It is very gay, you’re not wrong there,” MNEK says, while getting his makeup done for the shoot. The video being filmed is for the fittingly titled Muscle Marys.., the third single from the 31-year-old south Londoner’s second
coverage / Wire report
Get updates, read source context, send useful records, share the story, or support the reporting work from the reading page.
The artist has written for Beyoncé and been nominated for two Grammys, yet individual success has eluded him. Now he’s back with a new album that puts queer joy in the spotlight – and, he says, he’s finally ready to enjoy himself In a south-east London warehouse, Uzoechi Osisioma Emenike, more commonly known as MNEK, is sitting on a bench in a makeshift locker room surrounded by semi-naked men. One particularly muscular individual suggestively adjusts a jockstrap, while another, taller and toned, removes his vest before eyeing MNEK with a loaded gaze. It’s a lot of sexual tension for a Tuesday morning. But such is the life of a pop star on the set of a music video. “It is very gay, you’re not wrong there,” MNEK says, while getting his makeup done for the shoot. The video being filmed is for the fittingly titled Muscle Marys.., the third single from the 31-year-old south Londoner’s second
Check the original link, updates, and responses when a detail is contested.
Open topic or search related wording such as records, sources, agencies, dates, and locations.
What happened
According to The Guardian’s source item, MNEK on writing smash hits, battling self-doubt and his solo struggles: ‘I’m a fat Black gay man. Try selling that’, The artist has written for Beyoncé and been nominated for two Grammys, yet individual success has eluded him. Now he’s back with a new album that puts queer joy in the spotlight – and, he says, he’s finally ready to enjoy himself In a south-east London warehouse, Uzoechi Osisioma Emenike, more commonly known as MNEK, is sitting on a bench in a makeshift locker room surrounded by semi-naked men. One particularly muscular individual suggestively adjusts a jockstrap, while another, taller and toned, removes his vest before eyeing MNEK with a loaded gaze. It’s a lot of sexual tension for a Tuesday morning. But such is the life of a pop star on the set of a music video. “It is very gay, you’re not wrong there,” MNEK says, while getting his makeup done for the shoot. The video being filmed is for the fittingly titled Muscle Marys.., the third single from the 31-year-old south Londoner’s second
Context
The development sits in VINI’s Culture file for readers following arts, entertainment, fashion, film, music, celebrity, and the business of culture. The original report is linked so readers can check the source account, follow later updates, and compare new coverage against the first published record. The source item is dated 2026-09-25T12:00:48+00:00.
What to watch
Open questions include whether primary sources issue follow-up statements, whether local or market impacts become clearer, and whether additional reporting changes the timeline or adds material context.
Source
Primary source: MNEK on writing smash hits, battling self-doubt and his solo struggles: ‘I’m a fat Black gay man. Try selling that’ via The Guardian. VINI cites and links the source; it does not reproduce the publisher’s full article text without rights clearance.
Keep following
This file can keep developing
vininews.com uses reader tips, public records, right-of-reply requests, corrections, and follow-up reporting to keep important stories current.
Support and subscriptions never buy coverage, placement, suppression, or corrections.
This VINI report keeps the original publisher link available and does not republish third-party article bodies without rights clearance. 1 reference listed.
Source links
- MNEK on writing smash hits, battling self-doubt and his solo struggles: ‘I’m a fat Black gay man. Try selling that’The Guardian - 2026-09-25T12:00:48+00:00
Reader comments
Moderated discussion
Comments are open to authenticated approved accounts, screened for spam and abuse, and published only after newsroom moderation unless editors change the story control.
No approved comments yet.
Substantive, civil comments can be submitted by approved account holders.