Ne-Yo, whose real name is Shaffer Chimere Smith, raised a furore over his comments about gender identity and transgender kids.
The RnB crooner while speaking on VladTV with Gloria Velez slammed parents who allow their kids to make “life-changing decisions” through gender transitions.
Ne-Yo originally defended his comments on Instagram after facing pushback from LGBTQ+ activists but then his publicist wrote an apology which was posted on the singer’s social media accounts on Monday.
“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. 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,” the statement said in part.
However, hours later, Ne-Yo himself took to Instagram with a video to clarify his position from the horse’s mouth and not the publicist’s computer.
“Listen, I normally don’t give too much of a damn about what y’all think about what I do, what you have to say about what I say, whatever. I normally don’t care because, like I said, opinions ain’t special. Everybody got one. However, this is something I feel very strongly on, and I need y’all to hear it from the horse’s mouth, not the publicist’s computer,” Ne-Yo said.
He added; “First and foremost, I did not apologize for having an opinion on this matter. I am a 43-year-old heterosexual man raising five boys and two girls, okay? That’s my reality. 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 am absolutely entitled to feel how I feel the same way you are entitled to feel how you feel.”
Ne-Yo clarified that he had no issues with LGBTQ+ community but nonetheless stressed that he was entitled to his opinion.
“If I get canceled for this, then, you know what, maybe this is a world where they don’t need a Ne-Yo no more. And I ain’t got no problem with that. I’m a hustler, alright? I’ll figure it out. I love everybody. Live how you want to live. Love how you want to love, but your opinion is yours. Speak your opinion as much as you d— well feel like it, because as I said, they’re not special,” Ne-Yo said.
He went on, “My intention is never to offend anybody…but my opinion is MINE and I’m entitled to it. I don’t care what y’all do with yours. That’s YOURS. This is how I FEEL. If one of my 7 kids were to decide that he or she wanted to be something other than what they were born as, once they’re old enough and mature enough to make that decision…so be it. Not gonna love em’ any less. Daddy is still Daddy and he loves you regardless. But this isn’t even a discussion until they are MENTALLY MATURE ENOUGH to have such a discussion. Agree to disagree and coexist PEACEFULLY.”
