Ne-Yo has responded to a report alleging that he was recently inspired to come out as gay after learning about Caitlyn Jenner’s journey.
In an article published earlier this week, the site NewsBuzzDaily.com quoted the R&B singer as stating:
“Bruce [sic] Jenner really gave me the inner strength to admit to my kids, my family, my friends, my fans and ultimately to myself that I am gay. I’ve known I was gay since I was a young boy that I was attracted to the other boys. As a black man, we fear gayness instead of embracing it. Watching Bruce, well Caitlyn, sit down with Dianne Sawyer on ABC really inspired me. Bruce [sic] is very brave and beautiful. As soon as he [sic] came out as transgendered [sic], she freed herself and thats the freedom I want.”
Though the website offered no source for the quote and provides a disclaimer that reads, “NewsBuzzDaily.com is a combination of real shocking news and satire news. Please note that articles written on this site are for entertainment and satirical purposes only,” many took the quote at face value and believed it to be true.
Ne-Yo addressed the claim with a pair of tweets on Friday:
U should all know by now not to believe everything you read. Much luv to #CaitlynJenner but I’m not on that team.
Not gay folks. So sorry.
— NE-YO!! (@NeYoCompound) June 5, 2015
No disrespect to the gay community or to #CaitlynJenner by the way. Live your life and be proud. I’m just not gay. We’re still on this? #sad
— NE-YO!! (@NeYoCompound) June 5, 2015
Although the singer mistakenly labels Jenner as gay, rather than transgender, hopefully the tweets can put the faux controversy to rest.
Ne-Yo has long faced rumors about his sexuality. In a 2009 interview with Essence, he said:
“Honestly, when I first heard that there were rumors out there about me being gay I thought, Wow someone must really hate me. There’s nothing wrong with being gay, but I just couldn’t understand why someone would make up lies like that. I remember speaking to Jay-Z about it and he was like, ‘Look, man you haven’t made it until someone says you’re gay.’”
The singer is currently promoting his latest album, “Non-Fiction,” and will play a concert with Ludacris on June 14 in Brooklyn, New York, at the Barclays Center.
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