Is Shawn Mendes Gay? Answers straight from the man himself.
Shawn Mendes is the Canadian singer behind the hits “Treat You Better” and “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back.” These songs reached the top 10 in several countries, making Mendes a famous musician in the industry.
He was also in a long-term relationship with fellow artist Camilla Cabello, although their partnership wasn’t enough to quell the persistent rumors about Mendes’ alleged sexuality. He has aired his thoughts about these rumors, which we’ll discuss below.
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Shawn Mendes Frustrated Over Sexuality Rumors
Mendes has been dealing with gay rumors since he was 15 years old, saying that it was “frustrating” and caused him to suffer. It also didn’t help that he preferred to have his hair braided instead of wrestling with other boys, had “problems” with how soft his voice sounded, and was judged for how he sat.
“I’m like, ‘How do I sit?’ I’m always first to cross my legs and sit with a position of this feminine style, and I really suffered with that s**t,” the singer revealed on Dax Shepard’s podcast, Armchair Expert.
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Now that he’s a celebrity, he finds it tricky to respond properly to gay rumors. Mendes told Shepard that, at some point, he wanted to say: “I’m not gay, but it’d be fine if I was gay. But also, there’s nothing wrong with being gay, but I’m not.”
Moreover, he felt personally offended for other people who are genuinely gay.
“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. And I felt this real anger for those people,” Mendes explained. “There are just so many guys who are gay and in the closet and must be hearing s**t like that and being like, ‘I’m terrified to come out.'”
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Confirmation That Shawn Mendes Isn’t Gay
The straw that broke the camel’s back came in 2016 when Mendes’ fans pointed out the “gay man vibe” they were getting from him. To respond to the situation, he posted a Snapchat story, saying, “First of all, I’m not gay. Second of all, it shouldn’t make a difference if I was or if I wasn’t. The focus should be on the music and not my sexuality.”
Today, he continues to suffer from anxiety and sees a therapist to help him handle the stress. To quote from an interview with Rolling Stone, “I thought, ‘You f***ing guys are so lucky I’m not actually gay and terrified of coming out.’ That’s something that kills people. That’s how sensitive it is.”
“Do you like the songs? Do you like me? Who cares if I’m gay?” Mendes said.
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Shawn Mendes’ Relationship With Camilla Cabello
Meanwhile, his previous relationship with Cabello boggles the minds of suspecting fans.
The couple had propelled to mainstream fame with their song “Señorita” in 2019 and has an extensive array of songs they’ve written for each other, but many fans still doubt the sincerity of their relationship. One of the theories is that Mendes and Cabello’s relationship exists only to promote their collaborative song.
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Still, Shawn Mendes says that their relationship is not for mere publicity and told Shepard that he was “lucky” to be Cabello’s boyfriend. He then explains all the songs he has composed for his girlfriend, while Cabello would post about Mendes with loving captions. The couple also lived together during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The Breakup Of Shawn Mendes And Camilla Cabello
Unfortunately, Mendes and Cabello have recently announced that they are ending their relationship. This news shocked most fans and did nothing to extinguish the rumors about Mendes being more gay than straight.
There are now hundreds of posts on social media about him possibly being gay, where fans with different perspectives are airing their thoughts once more. Some gay people are joking that they’ll flock to the singer’s home now that he’s single, while others in the LGBTQ community are saying that these jokes are never okay.
Experts have also chimed in to say that questioning the identity of self-identified heterosexuals may be harmful, but the curiosity of die-hard fans is difficult to suppress.
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Shawn Mendes Addressing His Sexuality
Shawn Mendes has addressed his sexuality in a number of interviews over the years.
- In August 2018, he told Rolling Stone, “I’d like to say I don’t think about it, but that’s not true. This massive, massive thing for the LGBTQ+ community is happening, and I want to be a part of that in any way that I can. I just want to make sure I’m doing it the right way, and not like jumping on a bandwagon.”
- In October 2018, he told The Guardian, “I’m not gay, but even if I was, it would be OK. You don’t have to hide. It’s just about being honest.”
- In June 2019, he told The Sun, “I’m not gay, but even if I was, it wouldn’t be a problem. I’m an artist, and I have a platform, and I want to use it the right way.”
- In February 2021, he told The Guardian, “I have no problem with people knowing that I’m not gay, but I have a problem with people who have a problem with it.” It is important to note that an individual’s sexual orientation is private and personal information, and it is not up to others to disclose or speculate about it. It is up to each person to decide how and when they want to address their sexuality.
There have been ongoing speculations about Shawn Mendes’ sexuality, and it is unknown when or if these rumors will subside. Currently, the singer is single, and it is ultimately up to him to address any hearsay about his sexual orientation, as he previously stated in 2016. It is important to respect an individual’s privacy and allow them to disclose their own personal information in their own time and way.
