Gay pop star Stephen Gately has been dropped by his record label, Polydor, according to the British tabloid News of the World.

Without mentioning specifics, the company said that the ex-Boyzone member's career has not been going to plan. The Irish heartthrob will now pursue non-pop related projects, among them a guest spot on the new edition of Absolutely Fabulous.

Gately sang lead vocals for the wildly popular Boyzone since it's inception in late 1993. The band is also the first successful pop group to come from Ireland.

In June 1999, Gately announced that he was in love with his boyfriend Eloy deJong, days before a security person for Boyzone was about to sell the story that Stephen was gay.

Stephen and deJong, a member of the now defunct Dutch boyband Caught in the Act now live together in Amsterdam.