Louis Walsh says Ronan Keating's career is 'over' in The Big Interview
Boyzone's former manager Louis Walsh, 74, told Irish series The Big Interview that Ronan Keating is a 'karaoke artist' who will 'never have another hit'. He also said he is 'over' their 2009 split.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Louis Walsh, 74, said in an appearance on the Irish series The Big Interview that Ronan Keating's pop career is 'over' and that Keating will 'never have another hit'. Evening StandardN “Louis Walsh has claimed former Boyzone star Ronan Keating’s pop career is “over”, insisting the singer will “never have another hit”.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MailR “Louis Walsh has reignited his feud with Ronan Keating, insisting the singer's career is 'over' and he will 'never have another hit'.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2Walsh formed Boyzone in 1993 and later managed Keating's solo career until the two parted ways in 2009. The Daily Mail says Keating, 49, was fired over creative and career differences; the Evening Standard says they split over creative and professional differences. Daily MailR “Louis went on to manage Ronan's solo career until he was fired in 2009 due to creative and career differences.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Evening StandardN “He later managed Keating’s solo career before the pair parted ways in 2009 following creative and professional differences.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Walsh said Keating 'started believing his own publicity'. He recalled Keating telling him at the Four Seasons, 'I don't want to be a karaoke artist anymore', and replied, 'But that's what he is!' Daily MailR “He said to me one day in the Four Seasons, "I don't want to be a karaoke artist anymore." But that's what he is!” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Evening StandardN “He said: “Ronan started believing his own publicity then.”” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Mixed · 2He said he picked all the songs, that Keating has not had a hit since, is singing old songs and has no record deal, and that 'It's over - he's never going to be a pop star now.' He added, 'I'm happy.' Evening StandardN ““He’s singing all the old songs now, he doesn’t have a record deal.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MailR “'He's never going to have another hit. I'm happy.'” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2Walsh also said he did 'all the work on Boyzone' and called the group 'puppets for Westlife'. The band's other members were Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch, Mikey Graham and Stephen Gately, who died in 2009 aged 33. Daily MailR “'I did all the work on Boyzone, everybody knows that. They were the puppets for Westlife, and I picked all the songs.'” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Evening StandardN “Walsh formed Boyzone in 1993, helping to propel Keating, plus bandmates Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch, Mikey Graham and Stephen Gately, to fame.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1Walsh further claimed Keating wanted to be George Michael and 'was chasing around George Michael in London'. He alleged that Michael was only friendly with Keating because he 'fancied' Gately and wanted to get to know him. This is Walsh's own unverified assertion. Evening StandardN ““What he didn’t know is that George Michael fancied Stephen, and George Michael was only being friendly with him to get to know Stephen. That’s the real story,” Walsh claimed.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Mixed · 2Despite the criticism, Walsh said he is 'over it', describing the split as a 'bad divorce'. He said Keating is 'happy enough in his life' and will always be working, as a DJ, actor or dancer. Evening StandardN ““We had great times together, we had great fun, but it was a bad divorce, and it’s fine - I’m over it,” he said.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MailR “'He'll either be a DJ, or he'll act, or he'll dance. He can do anything.'” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2The Daily Mail links the remarks to Walsh's feud with Cheryl, which it says he reignited last month over her time as an X Factor judge. It also recalls Keating's 2025 Guardian remark that Boyzone were 'five young lads thrown to the wolves'. The Evening Standard says the interview airs at 9pm on Virgin Media PLAY and Virgin Media One. Neither article carries a response from Keating. Daily MailR “It comes after Louis reignited his feud with Cheryl last month as he weighed in on what he thought of her as a judge on The X Factor”“In 2025, Ronan said Boyzone were 'five young lads thrown to the wolves' in their early career.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Evening StandardN “The Big Interview with Louis Walsh airs tonight at 9pm on Virgin Media PLAY and Virgin Media One.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Reports the comments as quotes from the interview, attributed throughout ('claimed', 'said'), as part of a long-running disagreement.
- Emphasis
- The interview's quotes and broadcast details; notes Walsh's 'over it' remark.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out the Cheryl feud and Keating's earlier Guardian comments.
- Charged language
- “karaoke artist”“bad divorce”
- For example
-
“The comments mark another chapter in the pair’s long-running public disagreement, which dates back to their split in 2009.” — Evening Standard
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Presents the remarks as Walsh 'reigniting' a feud, with a headline built on his harshest phrases, and places them in a run of Walsh feuds.
- Emphasis
- Walsh's 'brutal opinions', the Cheryl feud and Keating's 2025 Guardian comments on Boyzone.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not say when or where the interview airs.
- Charged language
- “reignites his feud”“brutal opinions”“blasted”“slammed”
- For example
-
“Louis hasn't held back with his brutal opinions about Ronan, 49, since, and he has now blasted him as a 'karaoke artist'.” — Daily Mail
“Louis also slammed Boyzone” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- Walsh, 74, said on The Big Interview that Keating's career is 'over' and he will 'never have another hit'.
- Walsh formed Boyzone in 1993 and managed Keating's solo career until they split in 2009.
- Walsh called Keating a 'karaoke artist' and Boyzone 'puppets for Westlife'.
- Walsh said he is 'over it' and called the split a 'bad divorce'.
Louis Walsh person
Says Keating's career is over and credits himself with Boyzone's songs and success, while saying he is 'over' the split.
““We had great times together, we had great fun, but it was a bad divorce, and it’s fine - I’m over it,” he said.” — Evening Standard
Ronan Keating person
No response to Walsh's latest remarks appears in the coverage. The Daily Mail cites his 2025 Guardian comments that Boyzone were 'thrown to the wolves'.
“In 2025, Ronan said Boyzone were 'five young lads thrown to the wolves' in their early career.” — Daily Mail
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Louis Walsh brands Ronan Keating a ‘karaoke artist’ who will ‘never have another hit’
Neutral Attributed account of the interview quotes, with broadcast details.
Right1 article
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Mixed Feud-centred showbiz report using dramatic verbs and linking to Walsh's other feuds.
- 27 Oct 13:47 First Daily MailR Louis Walsh reignites his feud with Ronan Keating as he brands his music career 'over' and claims he will 'never have another hit'
- 27 Oct 16:02 +2h 15m Evening StandardN Louis Walsh brands Ronan Keating a ‘karaoke artist’ who will ‘never have another hit’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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