anyone sense mommy issues?

He was apparently a transvestite before his mother died, so, no. And he's blocked out a lot of memories of the time AFTER his mother died. But he's very clear about there being a very large mommy issue in his life. Did you even see the film? If so, try to pay a bit more attention.

as astream said, did you even watch the film?

In the first 20mins he talks about dressing up in his mothers close (when his mother was alive, and his father commenting he thought nothing of it)

Then about 5-10mins from the end he clearly says that performing, for him, is about getting the love of the audience, which was a trade for his mums love not being there. And then he says that everything he does in life is trying to get her back, and if he does enough things that maybe she'll come back.

It was the best and most poignant part of the movie.

His mother dieing when he was so young turned him into an brilliant entertainer, not a TV.