Former bankrupt singer Shane Filan has revealed he turned down a €1 million offer to cover his wedding.
The Westlife star was offered the huge-money offer by a celebrity magazine – thought to be OK! or Hello – just before the nuptials to childhood sweetheart Gillian in 2003.
But Shane, who was famously declared bankruptcy in 2012 after owing €23 million worth of debts from his failed property business decided against taking the offer when it was made to his agent.
Private: Shane and Gillian did not want to share big day with the world | VIPIRELAND.COM
He said: “The media were desperate to gain access, and [agent Joanne Byrne] had celebrity magazines like Hello! and OK! in her ear trying to weasel their way in.
“Gillian and I had never shown the slightest interest in selling our big day to a magazine but a bidding war somehow broke out regardless.
“The day before the wedding, Joanne called me to say that a celebrity magazine had offered us €1m for exclusive coverage.
“Even then we said no. I felt like the day should be private and not for sale and the thought of the world gawping at our wedding photos seemed weird.”
Author: Shane – unlike bandmates – chose not to take offer | VIPIRELAND.COM
The Westlife star was not always so financially secure and famously declared bankruptcy in 2012.
But Shane has no regrets about keeping his big day a private affair.
He said: “Afterwards Gillian and I went out for a few minutes to wave at fans and let the press get some shots. It kept them happy, and it meant that they left us in peace when we went off to enjoy the party.”
And Shane admitted in his autobiography that he doesn’t mind his former bandmates deciding to do that.
He said: “Over the years, all the other Westlife lads have sold their wedding days, and good luck to them; it’s entirely their business. But it wasn’t for us.”
