Megan Barton-Hanson attends the EE British Academy Film Awards 2020 at Royal Albert Hall. (Getty/ Jeff Spicer)
Bisexual Love Island star Megan Barton-Hanson has revealed the “mortifying” homophobic comments she received from her brother’s girlfriend when she began dating women.
Barton-Hanson came out publicly as bisexual last year when she appeared on Celebs Go Dating, and went on a date with The Only Way is Essex star Demi Sims. The two reportedly had a brief relationship before breaking up.
But this month, Barton-Hanson invited Sims to be a guest on her podcast You Come First to discuss their journeys with coming out and reality TV.
In the 3 December episode, the 26-year-old Love Island star discussed the moment she finally found the courage to go on her first date with a woman.
She said: “I had no gay friends, and I didn’t know what it was like to even date a girl. There was nothing in Southend for a gay community or anyone I knew.
“I got this app called HER… and I matched with someone, set up a date.”
But on the day of the date, she said, she was faced with “mortifying” homophobia from her brother’s girlfriend.
Barton-Hanson continued: “Before I went out for the date my brother’s girlfriend, who lived with us, burst in the door and took a seat on my bed all serious.
“And she was like, ‘Turns out you are going out with a girl who works at my work, so can you just confirm you’re not a big, fat lesbian?’
“Imagine that, the first time I’d ever had the confidence to meet a girl this girl – who is quite close to me – comes in and is homophobic and rude about it. Mortifying.”
She said the experience put her off using dating apps completely, adding: “It was a disaster for me.”
Love Island star received abuse for having an OnlyFans account
Earlier this year, Megan Barton-Hanson said she had been receiving abuse online after she rejoined OnlyFans to cheer up her fans up during the coronavirus lockdown.
“Since the COVID-19 outbreak, everyone’s life has been turned upside down – it’s a really worrying time,” she told The Sun, adding that she believes people are feeling “frustrated and helpless” because they now have “much more time on their hands”.
Barton-Hanson, who has always been open about her previous work in the sex industry, added: “I’ve had a lot more negativity in my direct messages.
“It’s sad as most of it is based around my choice to reactivate my OnlyFans account. I’ve had so much abuse for it.”