Former The Wanted singer Nathan Sykes has spoken about his autism diagnosis, saying it has helped him understand and accept himself. The 32-year-old, best known for hits like All Time Low and Glad You Came, opened up on ITV's Lorraine about his struggles with emotional cues and his ability to 'mask' his condition.
Sykes explained that the diagnosis was a 'massive help' in processing his feelings and accepting who he is. 'For so long I’ve always felt that there’s a part of me that I didn’t quite understand,' he said. 'I’ve said no to so many opportunities because I didn’t know how I work in certain situations.' He added that autism affects everyone differently, but for him, it means difficulty reading emotions and understanding social cues.
The singer described himself as 'absolutely amazing at masking', having lived behind a front to please others. 'I’ll go above and beyond to please people sometimes, to my own detriment,' he admitted. However, since his diagnosis, he has learned to make adjustments, such as creating safe spaces for work and performances, which he says allows him to operate at his best.
Sykes' comments come shortly after the release of his debut solo album, Ultraviolet. He rose to fame with The Wanted in 2009, achieving two UK number one singles and four top 10 albums before the group went on hiatus in 2014. The band briefly reunited in 2021 for a Stand Up To Cancer performance following bandmate Tom Parker's brain cancer diagnosis. Parker died in March 2022 at age 33.
