Manchester Pride owes hundreds in unpaid charges, performers say

At least certainly one of Manchester Pride’s headline acts hasn’t been paid for his or her efficiency, BBC Newsbeat has been advised.

The occasion, organised by an impartial charity, passed off on the finish of August.

Several performers and companies say their requests for cost have been met with silence, and Newsbeat understands one artist who topped the line-up has not been paid.

After being approached for a response, organisers posted a press release on Instagram saying they have been taking authorized and monetary recommendation to find out “the best way forward”.

Saki Yew, who was on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2024, is amongst those that say they’re but to be paid by Manchester Pride, which is among the nation’s largest LGBT occasions.

“It’s gone too far,” she tells Newsbeat.

“As performers, we’re used to waiting for money but there’s no communication and no answer.

“Loads of performers are beginning to surrender hope of being paid.”

Manchester Pride booked Saki as part of a collective which, the drag queen says, is owed a “massive sum of cash”.

“We put within the exhausting work with weeks and weeks of rehearsals,” she says.

“We put within the time so give us a solution.”

Saki says she’d typically expect payment for similar work to take two weeks but frustration built after “listening to nothing” from organisers.

Newsbeat’s also spoken to businesses waiting on payment after being hired by Manchester Pride.

Chris O’Connor, a sole trader who worked backstage at this year’s event, says he’s taking organisers to a small claims court over £2,050 he says he’s owed.

He tells Newsbeat he couldn’t afford a planned trip to visit his son in Ireland after Manchester Pride didn’t pay him promptly.

Another supplier, who wished to remain anonymous, said they have “no expectation” of receiving nearly £1,000 for signage their company provided.

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”.

Headliners this year included former Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne, Nelly Furtado and Olly Alexander.

Newsbeat contacted Manchester Pride to share Saki, Chris and other people’s experiences and offer the charity an opportunity to comment.

Its Instagram statement said it knew “moments like this could elevate questions and feelings”.

“We ask that individuals deal with our employees, from the CEO to the interns and volunteers, with kindness and respect,” it continued.

“It is the board that takes accountability for our choices primarily based on recommendation and steering, and never our employees.”

Manchester Pride added that it hopes to provide more information by 22 October.

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