TOWIE star Junaid Ahmed says his parents disowned him when he came out as gay at 18 as he shares 'heartbreak' as they failed to reach out following his recent engagement to Joe Blackman

Junaid Ahmed has confessed he has no relationship with his family as he opened up about how they disowned him after he came out as gay at 18-years-old. 

The TOWIE star, 31, shared the happy news that he is engaged to his boyfriend of two years Joe Blackman earlier this month. 

However, despite it being a time of celebration for the couple, the milestone was also 'heartbreaking' for the reality star as his estranged parents failed to reach out. 

Reflecting this Father's Day he explained that due to being a Muslim, his family could not accept him being gay. 

Junaid recalled how after he came out to his parents there was no conversation about his sexuality. 

They could not accept it and so minutes later he left his family home in Peterborough and headed to Essex to start a new life and landing his big break on TOWIE. 

Despite his attempts to reach out over the years, his relationship with his family has never been rectified.

Confirming they know about his engagement but haven't been in touch, he told The Sun: 'I know they know; a family member reached out, but no, which is heartbreaking because it’s all I’ve ever wanted.

'That’s just something I can’t change, but I never would let that affect me now with who I am as a person because it’s never going to change me. I am who I am; I’ll continue doing what I’m doing.'

Junaid confirmed he will still invite them to his wedding, as he extends another olive branch. 

Yet the star has been welcomed into his fiancé Joe's family as he added: 'My own blood couldn’t accept me or be happy for me, whereas the love that I found has.'

The star also revealed his plans to embrace his culture on the couple's wedding day as he confirmed he loves wearing his traditional clothes and wants the Bhangra drums there and to arrive on an elephant. 

Junaid got down on one knee and proposed to Joe during the TOWIE cast's recent trip to Albania. 

Junaid said: 'Never in a million years did I think I was going to get my happily ever after. Being gay and Muslim this is the fairytale I've always wanted.

'I may not have my family's acceptance but I have my new family in Joe and his family. I'm the happiest I've ever been. I'm on cloud nine.

'I'm settled in who I am and the best version of me and Joe has shown me what real love feels like.'

Their engagement comes two years after Joe's bitter split from co-star Harry Derbridge.

The trio have finally made amends and on the latest series are seen hanging out together.

The former couple, who got together in 2023 and previously insisted their relationship was rock solid, split just weeks after vowing to get married in Las Vegas and discussing having children.