Roman Kemp weighs in on claims dad Martin 'has no friends'
Roman Kemp has hit back after facing criticism for his comments about his dad, Martin Kemp, not having any friends. The television presenter caused quite a stir when he previously claimed that his father, the Spandau Ballet icon and actor Martin Kemp, "does not have one friend".
In an intimate chat with Radio Times, Roman, 31, painted a picture of his father's life as "lonely" and pointed out that Martin's "favourite person" is his wife, Shirlie Kemp. But now, Roman has come forward to clarify his statements.
"I've gotten a lot of stick because I ended up saying that my dad has no friends, which he doesn't. But it goes back to that thing of, 'What is your happiness in life?", clarified Roman while speaking to Closer magazine.
He had initially spoken about the isolation that can come with fame, but emphasized that his words were not intended as a "sob story for famous people."
Roman noted that his father made a conscious choice regarding his social circle after being disappointed by many he considered friends. As a mental health advocate, Roman has been transparent about his own challenges, including dealing with depression and ADD for 16 years, reports the Mirror.
His personal experiences were laid bare in the BBC documentary, Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency, and he openly shared how medication has "changed" his life during an appearance on The One Show.
He shared: "But I need to think, 'Has it positively changed my life, and does it continue to do so? ' And the answer is 'Yes', so why should I change?
"I have tried to come off Sertraline (an antidepressant), but I have realised that way of life is not for me. "The only time where I have had real suicidal and intrusive thoughts has been when I came off it cold turkey."
Roman, who remains hopeful about his future, sees ADD as a "great power" because it can make you "so determined" to conquer it.
Despite sometimes grappling with "imposter syndrome" and dealing with remarks about being a "nepo baby" due to his famous parents, the glitz and glamour of showbiz seem to suit him well.
Despite his worries about the ruthless nature of the entertainment industry, Roman's biggest fear is missing out on fatherhood, which he describes as the "biggest thing".
He confessed: "I even went to have a sperm check when I was 30. "I honestly think I'm such a family person. I'm so grateful for the life that I've been able to have growing up... I couldn't think of anything better."
