Ne-Yo Apologizes for ‘Insensitive and Offensive’ Comments About Parenting Within the LGBTQ+ Community
usmagazine.comNe-Yo is apologizing to the LGBTQ+ community for his recent comments about children discovering their gender identity.“After much reflection, I’d like to express my deepest apologies to anyone that I may have hurt with my comments on parenting and gender identity,” Ne-Yo (real name Shaffer Chimere Smith), 43, wrote in a statement via X on Sunday, August 6. “I’ve always been an advocate for love and inclusivity in the LGBTQ+ community, so I understand how my comments could’ve been interpreted as insensitive and offensive.”He continued: “Gender identity is nuanced and I can honestly admit that I plan to better educate myself on the topic, so I can approach future conversations with more empathy.
At the end of the day, I lead with love and support everyone’s freedom of expression and pursuit of happiness.”One day prior, the singer raised eyebrows when he discussed whether parents should interfere with their kids exploring their gender identity, comparing the situation to a child wanting candy.“It’s like, OK, if your little boy comes to you and says, ‘Daddy, I want to be a girl,’ and you just let him rock with that, you just let … he’s 5.
If you let this 5-year-old boy decide to eat candy all day, he’s gonna do that,” he told VladTV on Saturday, August 5. “When did it become a good idea to let a 5-year-old, let a 6-year-old, let a 12-year-old make a life-changing decision for themselves?
When did that happen? Like, I don’t understand that.”Earlier in the interview, Ne-Yo noted that he came “from an era where a man was a man and a woman was a woman,” adding, “You could identify as a goldfish if you feel like, I don’t care.
