"Towie Star Junaid Ahmed: My Parents Won't Accept My Fiancé, But I'll Keep Fighting for Their Love After 13 Years"

IT’S supposed to be a love-filled family time, but Junaid Ahmed won’t be welcome home this Father’s Day.

The Towie star, 31, was kicked out by his parents for being gay when he came out to them 13 years ago and hasn’t set foot inside their home since. In an exclusive chat with The Sun, he reveals his family heartbreak at never being accepted and why he’ll still invite his parents to his upcoming wedding.

Junaid Ahmed was exiled by his family after coming out as gay at the age of 18 Credit: Supplied He is engaged to Towie co-star Joe Blackman Credit: Supplied

With just three pounds in his bank account, he travelled alone from Peterborough to Essex to start a new life and spent years sofa-surfing before landing his big break on the reality show.

Now he’s close friends with Towie legend , , 27, and at the heart of juicy storylines worlds away from his humble, suppressed beginnings.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun, he says: “I am obviously Muslim and gay. That’s something they could never accept.

“Coming from where I’m from in Peterborough originally, my background, it’s just something that was never accepted, and in the community as well, it’s so hard.

“For me, is such a difficult time, especially being Month as well. I just find it so difficult with everyone posting all their Father’s Day posts on social media.

“It’s hard for me when I don’t have any relationship with my family, especially my father.”

says there was no conversation about his sexuality when he finally came out to his parents; rather, it was simply something they could not accept, and within minutes, he was out the door.

Despite his attempts to reach out over the years, including sending occasion cards, his growing celebrity and engagement, Junaid’s parents have yet to attempt to heal the divide.

“They see it all. They see everything I do. They see everything that comes out about me,” he says.

“I’ve spoken so honestly about it. But I’ll be honest, I think they’re more embarrassed that I’m so open about it. Because I think they would, in a weird sense, prefer me not speaking about it and not being as open as I am.”

Junaid will extend another olive branch ahead of his wedding to fiancé Joe, which he hopes will take place within the next year.

He confirmed he will be sending invites to his estranged family, who are more than welcome on the big day.

But should they decline, Junaid feels comforted that he can now call Joe’s family his own and knows there will be enough love for them both.

“I lost my own to gain a family that will accept me for me,” he says thoughtfully. “My own blood couldn’t accept me or be happy for me, whereas the love that I found has.”

Joe has a six-year-old son called Daice, and Junaid relishes the loving family dynamic they have, telling us: “It’s everything little Junaid, as a young boy, ever dreamed of, but I just never thought I’d find that with a man and the life I have.”

That’s not to say he’s immune to his parents’ absence in his life at big milestone moments, even after 13 years.

Junaid grew up in Peterborough before starting a new life in Essex Credit: Supplied He has a close friendship with Lauren Goodger Credit: ITV

He didn’t hear from them after getting engaged; the silence is a reminder of the heartache he’s worked hard to overcome.

“I know they know; a family member reached out, but no, which is heartbreaking because it’s all I’ve ever wanted,” says Junaid.

“I think even a little congratulations message would have meant the world to me, but it is what it is, and I think that’s just sadly how life pans out for me.

“That’s just something I can’t change, but I never would let that affect me now with who I am as a person because it’s never going to change me. I am who I am; I’ll continue doing what I’m doing.”

The wedding itself will be screened on Towie, and Junaid, who is very much in his engagement bubble, promises it will be the biggest spectacle, celebrating the heritage of both grooms.

Junaid is a practising Muslim and remains committed and proud of his faith despite the hurdles he’s faced in his life.

“I love my culture, I love a Bollywood party,” he says. “I love wearing my traditional clothes, that is who I am as a person, and that’s how I’ve been brought up, regardless of not having that relationship and that culture around me day in, day out, that will never change.

“I want the Bhangra drums there, I want to arrive on the biggest elephant there is in Chigwell; that’s just who I am, and that will never change,” he says.

Junaid said his parents were unwilling to have a conversation about his sexuality Credit: Supplied His parents will be invited to his wedding to Joe, which will take place within the next year Credit: Supplied

“I think I’ve incorporated a lot of that into what I do on Towie; we showcased for the first time, there’s no reality show that’s even shown Ramadan, and what it includes and what it consists of.

“So we’re breaking barriers every single day, and I think the longer I’ve been on Towie, the more I’ve been able to more of my , and especially our engagement, which you’re all going to see on Towie.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a gay couple have that moment on reality telly. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t feel like there’s ever been a pivotal moment like that, where there are two men getting engaged and having that showcase for the world to see.”

He wants to use his platform for good and help people who might be experiencing what he went through or those who are fearful of embracing their sexuality.

Citing the results of the most recent Census data, which shows roughly eight per cent of 2.6 million Muslim adults declined to answer the question on sexual orientation, Junaid said more work needs to be done to break down barriers and remove stigma around sexuality.

“It’s hard, but trust me, I’ve been through it all, every rollercoaster you can imagine – and I come out the other side the happiest I’ve ever been.

“Now I want to use my voice in the right way. And listen, I don’t want to sit there and say to every other Muslim out there, ‘be gay, be yourself and come out and be proud’. I want to just say, ‘be who you are, regardless of what you think may happen and how hard it may be, you will find happiness in the end’.”