Joe McElderry: Or Was He Pushed?

When Joe McElderry came out via The Daily Mirror and The Sun on Saturday, Fagburn wasn't alone in asking if he'd come out because he thought he was about to be outed.
If only because this is what had happened to other pop stars like Stephen Gately and Will Young.
Your correspondent wondered aloud why Joe had mentioned kissing "one boy" - yes, just the one - and asked if that "one boy" had kissed and told to a tabloid.
As if by magic, The Sun today has managed to track down a man who claims; "I was first boy Joe kissed."
"The boy who was the first to share a gay kiss with X Factor winner JOE McELDERRY said yesterday: "I really fancied him - he was exactly my type of guy."
"Sean Ryan told how he met Joe backstage at the 19-year-old Geordie singer's first live audition for the ITV1 talent show - and was instantly smitten."
Sean is a trainee hairdresser ("and model"). They met in July.
"...A week later they finally did kiss. The next day Joe texted Sean to invite him back to the flat that evening.
"Sean said: "Joe opened the door in pyjamas. His mum was out so we lay on the settee and kissed and cuddled. We didn't ever get any more intimate than that."
"A week or so later they kissed in public for the first time as they strolled in woods near Gateshead.
"Sean said: "Joe was getting quite well known by then and I suppose he was taking a bit of a risk."
"He later texted Joe to propose a proper relationship. He added: "Joe sent me a really nice text back. He said he didn't want to be in a serious relationship but if he had wanted to it would be with me.
"He said he couldn't commit to anything because he was so focused on the X Factor. I was disappointed but it was great that he was so honest about it."
The oddest line is this; "Joe confirmed it was Sean he was talking about when he told The Sun he kissed a boy for the first time last year."
But this seems to mean that Joe's spokesperson confirmed it; "His spokesperson added: "Joe was completely honest about this in Saturday's paper."" [Emphasis added].
Are we supposed to read between the lines and take from this that The Sun had informed Joe's spokesperson that they had at least one photo and some text messages that indicated some degree of intimacy between McElderry and Ryan, and the "interview" was hastily arranged as a spoiler?
Both The Mirror and The Sun claimed McElderry had talked to them, both used exactly the same quotes.
The Sun branded their story about Joe coming out an "Exclusive".
The Mirror headed their article; 'I'm gay - X Factor winner comes out in Daily Mirror interview.'
Eh?
Fagburn thinks he is correct in stating that neither paper had taken new photos of Joe to accompany their stories - rather unusual for such a big splash - The Sun had found time to take pictures of Sean for today's paper.
Nor do either journalist reveal any details about their "interview", such as where and when it took place.
Nor do they describe anything about how Joe was during it; did he look nervous, relieved?
Was there an actual interview, or just a hastily written press statement that was given to both the Mirror and The Sun?
Hmm...
Or to put it another way, are we living in a time when a young celebrity will just wake up one day and decide to tell the world he's gay - or are the tabloids still forcing gay people out of the closet?