Cousins! Ne-Yo is addressing backlash he’s received throughout social media following recently made comments surrounding his personal take on kids and gender identity!
In an interview with Gloria Veldez of Vlad TV, the Grammy award winning singer and songwriter expressed that he has no issues with the LGBTQ+ community, but does have questions in regard to gender identity when it comes down to children.
“I just personally come from an era where a man was a man and a woman was a woman and there wasn’t but two genders, and that’s just how I rocked,” said Ne-Yo.
“Now you could identify as a goldfish, if you feel like. I don’t care. That ain’t my business. It becomes my business when you try to make me play the game with you. I’m not going to call you a goldfish. But if you want to be a goldfish, you go be a goldfish. We live in a weird time.”
The father of seven further expressed that he feels parenting has changed drastically withi this current day and age surrounding certain topics.
“I feel like parents have almost forgotten what the role of a parent is. 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? He’s 5,” said Ne-Yo.
“If you let this 5-year-old boy decide to eat candy all day, he’s going to do that. 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 themself? When did that happen? I don’t understand that.”
“He can’t drive a car yet, but he can decide his sex?”
As Ne-Yo’s comments amplified debates across aocial media he issued a direct apology on Twitter. “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.”
The tweet continues, “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.”
“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,” he wrote. “At the end of the day, I lead with love and support everyone’s freedom of expression and pursuit of happiness.”
A few days later Ne-Yo further elaborated his stance on the topic at hand within a video shared to his Instagram.
“First and foremost, I do not apologize for having an opinion on this matter. I am a 43-year-old heterosexual man raising five boys and two girls, OK? That’s my reality. Now, if my opinion offended somebody? Yeah, sure. I apologize for you being offended because that wasn’t my intention. My intention is never to offend anybody.
“However, I’m entitled to feel how I feel. I’m absolutely entitled to feel how I feel, the same way you are entitled to feel how you feel. I ain’t ask nobody to follow me. I ain’t ask nobody to agree with me. I was asked a question and I answered the damn question, OK? I have no beef with the LBGTQIA+ community whatsoever.”