The Canadian Singer Says He’s Still Figuring It Out
Rumors about Shawn Mendes’ sexuality have followed him since he was just 15. Over the years, Mendes has openly discussed the anxiety that comes from living under constant scrutiny, with people not only speculating but sometimes making jokes and insisting that he is gay. Despite his repeated reminders that this kind of speculation can be harmful—not just to him but to closeted queer individuals everywhere—it hasn’t stopped. After all this time, Mendes seems ready to speak more openly about it on his own terms.
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Shawn Mendes Advocates for Queer Privacy
Though there has been plenty of back and forth about Shawn Mendes’ sexuality, he has been consistent with his messaging throughout the years. Mendes maintained that even if he were gay, it wouldn’t make a difference. His art comes first, and he owes no one an explanation.
In an interview on Dax Shepard’s podcast Armchair Expert, Mendes explained that he felt personally offended by the rumors on behalf of other people who are genuinely gay and in the closet. “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.'”
A “Gay Man Vibe”
Another famous example came in 2016 when fans began commenting on the “gay man vibe” they sensed from Mendes. In response, he posted a Snapchat story saying, “First, I’m not gay. Second, it shouldn’t matter if I were. The focus should be on my music, not my sexuality.”
Mendes has since spoken openly about the anxiety this constant scrutiny causes and has sought therapy to cope. Reflecting in an interview with Rolling Stone, he said, “I thought, ‘You guys are so lucky I’m not actually gay and terrified of coming out.’ That kind of pressure can be life-threatening; it’s that sensitive.”
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Shawn Mendes Tackles Gay Rumors Head On
Everything came to a head this year when Mendes previewed his new song The Mountain during a performance in Woodstock, where he openly addressed the persistent rumors about his sexuality that had followed him since he rose to fame. In the lyrics, Mendes sang, “You can say I like girls or boys, whatever fits your mold,” directly confronting the speculation. Reflecting on how this scrutiny had once affected him deeply, he shared that he was now at peace, crediting self-exploration and personal growth.
Shawn Mendes Opens Up
It was during a performance of The Mountain that Mendes opened up to fans in a way he hadn’t before. At his For Friends and Family Tour concert on October 28 at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the 26-year-old singer candidly shared how the constant scrutiny of his sexuality had impacted him since he began his career at just 15. “The truth is that I didn’t get to do a lot of 15-year-old things and discover parts of myself,” Mendes admitted, noting how the public speculation had felt intrusive, especially as he was still figuring things out for himself.
Just Figuring It Out, Like Everyone
Reflecting on how sexuality is a “beautifully complex thing” that resists easy labels, Mendes said writing The Mountain was a meaningful way for him to address these personal experiences in a way that felt authentic. “The real truth about my life and my sexuality is that, man, I’m just figuring it out like everyone,” Mendes explained. “I don’t really know sometimes and I know other times,” he continued “and it feels really scary because we live in a society that has a lot to say about that.” Mendes finished by saying, “I’m trying to be really brave and just allow myself to be a human and feel things. And that’s all I really want to say about that for now.”
