Shawn Mendes opens up about how rumors about his sexuality affected him

[Teletubby 143,712]

Sitting down with Dax Shepard for the Monday episode of the "Armchair Expert" podcast, the "Wonder" singer admitted he's wrestled with speculation about his sexuality since he was a young teen.

"Everyone's been calling me gay since I was 15 years old," said Mendes, recalling how he "didn't grow up wrestling" but instead "grew up getting my hair braided on New Year's Eve" with his female cousins.

Mendes explained how the speculation not only made him start policing his actions and closing himself off emotionally, it made him worry about his friends who were not ready to come out. "It was so, so frustrating for me because there were some people in my life that I was very, very close to who were gay and in the closet,"Shawn explained. "I felt this real anger for those people."

"I think a lot of guys go through that and, even worse than that, there are so many guys who are gay and in the closet and must be hearing s--- like that and being like, 'I'm terrified to come out,'" the "Stitches" singer said.

Moreover, Mendes feared that he'd accidentally say something offensive or dismissive when responding to rumors about his sexuality. "You don't really know how to respond to the situation,".

Mendes also said men need to give themselves permission to be vulnerable and not worry how others will interpret their emotions. "Guys need to just be vulnerable. We need to cry. Stop thinking this is being brave and strong and start thinking is the opposite, actually," he stressed. "We're holding in these emotions and not crying and being a-------. Nothing about that is nice."


https://www.yahoo.com/gma/shawn-mendes-opens-rumors-sexuality-163557686.html

48:50

 

[Oriane 20,502]

Watch the comments say he's actually gay and this is internalized homophobia, again, and again... 

[xoxo Craig 55,649]

I'm glad he's addressing this. Its disgusting that gay men in particular have been feeding this type of negativity... just because someone has a feminine side, or doesn't act more 'manly', doesn't make them gay. 

I hope he's feeling better

[SoSourCandy 348]

[Quartz 12,238]

Where the thirsty gays here at now. You people have to stop. It's not harmless fun, it's bullying.

You guys of all people should know that best.

[xoxo Craig 55,649]

Just now, SoSourCandy said:

someone say shut up to him and this isnt the reason why he flopped hard with his album 

No

[Julez 136]

I am so glad he finally spoke up about it and I am sorry for everyone who thinks that it is their right to conclude someone's sexuality by the behaviour of people they don't know **** about. 

[Mise en Scene 1,040]

4 hours ago, SoSourCandy said:

Not you trying to edit your post knowing it was unnecessary and flopping yourself. 

[LOVEDRUG 10,405]

i understand his pain and sympathise with him but i think it's disproportionately affecting him. all celebrities go through sexuality speculation, and many male celebrites are targeted with the same level of speculation (most notably people i find like tom holland and harry styles), but he's let it get to him in a way that i think is unhealthy.

[Eggs 2,690]

The speculation about Shawn's sexuality is obviously deeply problematic and rooted in harmful stereotypes and assumptions.

But I always take issue when Shawn comes out to talk about how difficult the speculation has been for him. Maybe I'm unempathetic, but there are worse things in the world than people thinking you're gay. To be so upset about it that you change your behaviour, mannerisms etc. does suggest to me a degree of deep-rooted homophobia that I think it would benefit Shawn to acknowledge.

[SHALLOW 16,167]

That seems to be the only thing he's worried about 

[bionic 48,182]

3 minutes ago, Autumn said:

i understand his pain and sympathise with him but i think it's disproportionately affecting him. all celebrities go through sexuality speculation, and many male celebrites are targeted with the same level of speculation (most notably people i find like tom holland and harry styles), but he's let it get to him in a way that i think is unhealthy.

Yeah he acts like it’s the cruellest thing in the world to say and is a career ending rumor. I hate to be all “some people have real problems” but... Why does this rumor out of all of them affect him so much, one might Wonder (available to stream now)?

Hope he gets all the support he needs rich his mental health 

[xoxo Craig 55,649]

2 minutes ago, Eggs said:

The speculation about Shawn's sexuality is obviously deeply problematic and rooted in harmful stereotypes and assumptions.

But I always take issue when Shawn comes out to talk about how difficult the speculation has been for him. Maybe I'm unsympathetic, but there are worse things in the world than people thinking you're gay. To be so upset about it that you change your behaviour, mannerisms etc. does suggest to me a degree of deep-rooted homophobia that I think it would benefit Shawn to acknowledge.

That's not it. Its the fact people are putting him in a box and TELLING him what he is based off his actions... imagine someone telling you you're something not, and you know you're not, everyday for the next 7 years? 

Its not the he thinks he's gay, or ever thought he was gay... its people telling him what he is without even knowing him or how he's feeling. 

[Jill 29,763]

5 minutes ago, Autumn said:

i understand his pain and sympathise with him but i think it's disproportionately affecting him. all celebrities go through sexuality speculation, and many male celebrites are targeted with the same level of speculation (most notably people i find like tom holland and harry styles), but he's let it get to him in a way that i think is unhealthy.

Yes but every celebrity is a different person and as such has different mechanisms to deal with all the problems associated with fame. The Kardashian family, for example, wouldn't struggle with fame as much as Gaga does, for example, because the former is more used to it and has different goals than the latter.

[Jill 29,763]

2 minutes ago, SHALLOW said:

That seems to be the only thing this forum's worried about 

Fixed it