Polly Bayfield and
Pete AllisonBBC Newsbeat
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Manchester Pride was a four-day event in 2025
The Charity Commission says it’s looking into concerns about Manchester Pride after it emerged the event had failed to pay performers this year.
Several acts and businesses say their requests have been met with silence, and BBC Newsbeat understands one artist who topped the line-up has not been paid.
The commission, which is responsible for ensuring charities in England and Wales comply with the law, said it was working to determine whether it needed to take further action.
Manchester Pride organisers previously posted a statement on Instagram saying they were taking legal and financial advice to determine “the best way forward”.
Choke On My Pronouns
Mathu, a DJ who performs as Choke On My Pronouns says they received “generic” responses to their attempts to chase payment
Since that Insta post on Thursday, Newsbeat’s spoken to others who haven’t received their fees from Manchester Pride – which is a registered charity.
Mathu, who performs DJ sets as Choke On My Pronouns, was booked to perform a set at Depot Mayfield, a large capacity venue, on 23 August.
They tell Newsbeat they were told to expect payment by 5 September, but when that date passed they chased up the organisers.
According to Mathu, they received “generic” responses that said the event was experiencing delays with payment.
Mathu thinks headliners will be hit less hard than some of those lower down the bill.
“It’s not really affecting them that much if they don’t get paid because they’ll be getting money from other gigs, other shows, the fans and that kind of thing,” they say.
“So I think it affects us a lot more as smaller queer artists because we rely on this money to pay our bills.”
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Drag Race UK’s Saki Yew performed at Manchester Pride and has had no response from organisers about being paid
Saki Yew, who was on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2024, previously told Newsbeat she’d had “no communication and no answer” on her fee.
“It’s gone too far,” she said.
“As performers, we’re used to waiting for money but there’s no communication and no answer.
“A lot of performers are starting to give up hope of being paid.”
Other contractors have told Newsbeat they’re owed sums, ranging from £1,000 to £2,000, for providing services and supplies.
This year’s Manchester Pride took place across four days, featuring performances from dozens of household name artists and gay icons.
Headliners this year included former Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne, Nelly Furtado and Olly Alexander.
Only Pride events in London and Brighton typically draw bigger crowds than those in Manchester.
While marches, protests and rallies form a major part of Pride around the world, live music and performances are put on to draw even bigger crowds.
Parts of Manchester Pride are free to attend but ticket prices for others varied from £15 to over £200 for “VIP experiences”.
Newsbeat has approached Manchester Pride for comment on what the Charity Commission has said.
In its Instagram post, Manchester Pride said its board “takes responsibility for our decisions based on advice and guidance”, and hoped to provide more information by 22 October.
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