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Ne-Yo Apologizes For Offensive, Transphobic Remarks About Trans Youth
“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,” he wrote on Twitter.
Grammy-winning singer Ne-Yo has issued an apology after he made transphobic comments regarding children in an interview late last week.
“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,” he wrote on Twitter.
The trouble started last week when Ne-Yo was doing an interview with Gloria Velez for VladTV and the singer started talking about the role parents should play in society.
“I feel like the parents have almost forgotten what the role of a parent is,” he said. “If your little boy comes up to you and says, ‘Daddy I wanna be a girl,’ you just let him rock with that?”
“Where did he get that?” he continued. “If you let this 5-year-old little boy eat candy all day, he’s gonna do that. Like, when did it become a good idea to let a 5-year old, a 6-year-old, a 12-year-old make a life-changing decision? When did that happen? Like, I don’t understand that.”
He said that he grew up in an era where “a man was a man and a woman was a woman.”
“There was two genders and that’s just how I rocked,” he said. “You could identify as a goldfish you feel like, that ain’t my business. It becomes my business when you try to make me play the game. I’m not gonna call you a goldfish.”
Now, he’s stepping back from those comments.
I’d like to express my deepest apologies... pic.twitter.com/M5aTFN40tn
— NE-YO (@NeYoCompound) August 7, 2023
“I’ve always been an advocate for love and inclusivity in the LGBTQI+ community, so I understand how my comments could’ve been interpreted as insensitive and offensive,” he offered.
There’s no need for interpretation here. Ne-Yo was mocking trans children and the idea that individuals should have freedom to define their gender how they want to. Thankfully, though, Ne-Yo seems open to learning.
“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.”
Hopefully, Ne-Yo can take a lesson from fellow celebrity parents Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, who have been nothing but supportive and loving of their trans daughter Zaya.
Mey Rude is a journalist and cultural critic who has been covering queer news for a decade. The transgender, Latina lesbian lives in Los Angeles with her fiancée.
Mey Rude is a journalist and cultural critic who has been covering queer news for a decade. The transgender, Latina lesbian lives in Los Angeles with her fiancée.
