Mr Gay World takes on SA's Louw Breytenbach for defamation'

Mr Gay World takes on SA's Louw Breytenbach for defamation'The Mr Gay World organisation is taking on Louw Breytenbach and his publicist Gavin Prins over defamatory allegations'.

by Naledi de Wee

15-08-2022 11:50

in LGBTQIA

The Mr Gay World organisation is taking on Louw Breytenbach and his publicist, Gavin Prins in court. Image via Facebook: Louw Breytenbach

Human rights activist and theatre founder Louw Breytenbach resigned Mr Gay World 2021 in December 2021, just three months after he received the title. Breytenbach claims he resigned due to a back and forth legal battle . As per Sunday Times, the Mr Gay World organisation is now seeking a court order for Breytenbach to retract defamatory allegations made against them.

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ALSO READ: Joel Rey Carcasona replaces Louw Breytenbach as Mr Gay World 2021

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN In October 2021, Louw Breytenbach was the first South African to be crowned Mr Gay World 2021 since 2011 but it didn't take long before things turned sour. In December of the same year, Breytenbach refused to sign his new contract calling it unconstitutional and opaque .

According to The Citizen, the 31-year-old was given an agent to handle his upcoming bookings or acting roles, but he said he didn't need one. The contract also alleged that should he leave the pageant for any reason, he would be fined 5000 (approximately R83 000).

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My suggestion was that they manage me based on opportunities pertaining to the pageant and my role as Mr Gay World, he told the publication.

Breytenbach also claimed that organisers refused to divulge how funds are used for the Mr Gay World Foundation.

MY GAY WORLD TAKES ON LOUW BREYTENBACH Gay World Events, the organisers of Mr Gay World, have approached the Pretoria High Court for Breytenbach to retract the statements he made against them. According to Sunday Times, the organisation is also suing Breytenbach's publicist, Gavin Prins.

The relief sought against Mr Breytenbach and Mr Prins is to cease and desist from spreading false information about the Mr Gay World brand and its co-founders, said the organisation.

The rights of Gay World Events, Gay World Foundation and its co-founders remain strictly reserved not only in total but also to supplement the content of this statement at any time in the future, pending the outcome of the litigation.

LOUW BREYTENBACH WEIGHS IN Louw Breytenbach denied claims of an alleged smear campaign against the organisation.

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I think pageants have got away with letting young gay men buy into the hype of fame' without proving how they help the community. That they sue contestants who speak out rather than address their key issues is baffling.

I do not deem the statements defamatory. I have only spoken out for the sake of the LGBTQI community and could no longer serve in a role that did not reflect my morals and ethics.

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LINK:	https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/lgbtqia/louw-breytenbach-mr-ga...
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