Last year for the first ever time, the Wham! banger ‘Last Christmas’ achieved the UK Christmas number one song. But while it was joined by plenty of other bangers that typically dominate the charts, there was something major missing.
Love them or hate them, LadBaby made music history in recent years by achieving five consecutive UK number ones for Christmas.
So, plenty of people were shocked in 2023 when they announced they wouldn’t be releasing a new single. And they’ve now explained the heartbreaking reason why they stopped.
Mark and Roxanne Hoyle are the couple behind the social media brand, having collaborated on their songs with the likes of Elton John and Ed Sheeran over the years.
But despite the huge success, they have also faced backlash for the tracks that include ‘We Built This City’, ‘I Love Sausage Rolls’ and ‘Sausage Rolls for Everyone’.
Back in 2019, allegations first began that the couple had been pocketing the money from the songs despite it being said it would be going to food bank charity the Trussell Trust.
LadBaby was then hit with online abuse, apparently including threats and blackmail attempts. And this led to Mark experiencing panic attacks which he still suffers from now and thinks he ‘always will’.
Trussell also stepped in to say the claims weren’t true, but criticism carried on that they were using the charity efforts to boost their brand.
LadBaby made music history in the UK. (Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Hamleys)
“I think there were a lot of misconceptions around money,” Mark told The Guardian. “I really struggled with that, because it’s one thing people going, ‘We don’t like your teeth, we don’t like your voice.’ But when there’s this narrative going around that we stole the money and we profited from it, it was really difficult to take.”
With Trussell having seen its highest levels of need in recent years, it could be asked why LadBaby didn’t use its platform to criticise the reasons the food banks were needed, alongside raising awareness and cash.
But Mark said: “I’m not an expert to do that. For me, it was about helping families. That’s how we can make a difference. We can raise awareness and try to raise money.”
They faced a lot of backlash. (Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Hamleys)
Roxanne added that the abuse they were facing over allegations around the singles was extreme as she said ‘the police came to support us through that time’ with anti-terror officers advising them at home. So, on that note, she wouldn’t have had the confidence to then start sharing opinions on the government.
She does admit though: “I’m devastated we’re not doing another song, because those songs shouldn’t have been about trolling and controversy.”
However, while there’s no song again this year, there might be one in 2028 (whether everyone will be happy about that or not) as the 10-year anniversary of their first, if Roxanne manages to convince Mark.
“It needs to be a sausage roll megamix.”
