Words: Steve Brown
Shawn Mendes has addressed rumours about his sexuality.
Last year, a fake Twitter account that looked like it came from the singer’s account posted a tweet reading: “Guys my sexuality shouldn’t be anyone’s business. Yes, i’m gay and i’m proud”.
The tweet became the basis of many rumours based around his sexuality – despite him being romantically linked to the likes of Hailey Baldwin just this year.
And now, in a recent interview, the ‘Treat You Better’ singer has opened up about the stress these rumours have caused him over the last five years.
He told Rolling Stone’s December issue: “I’d like to say I don’t care about it, but that’s not true.
“This massive, massive thing for the last five years about me being gay.
“In the back of my heart, I feel like I need to go be seen with someone – like a girl – in public, to prove to people that I’m not gay.
“Even though in my heart, I know that it’s not a bad thing. There’s still a piece of me that thinks that.
“And I hate that side of me.”