On the internet, hearing hot takes isn't at all uncommon, but when they come from a celebrity, a debate often ensues immediately after. The latest star to cause a stir with their words is Ne-Yo, who shared during an interview with VladTV that he's not in support of underage people changing their gender. "I feel like parents have almost forgotten what the role of a parent is," the "So Sick" singer said at the time. "If your little boy comes to you and says ‘Daddy I wanna be a girl,’ you just let him rock with that? When did it become a good idea to let a 12-year-old make a life-changing decision for themselves?"
When backlash for those comments came rolling in, Ne-Yo doubled down on his statements, making it clear that he isn't anti-trans. Unfortunately, that response only brought in more turmoil, resulting in the R&B icon sharing another message with fans – this time via 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," he began. "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."
Ne-Yo Responds to Backlash to Hot Take on the LGBTQ+ Community
Ne-Yo then went on to admit that gender identity is "nuanced," and he plans to "better educate [himself] on the topic, so [he] can approach future conversations with more empathy. The 43-year-old wrapped up by writing, "At the end of the day, I lead with love and support everyone's freedom of expression and pursuit of happiness."
He may not have been fully onboard with children making the decision to transition, but one thing Ne-Yo is progressive enough for is spending time with two women at once. Earlier this summer, he was with a duo of PYTs while casually enjoying some fun in the sun. See that video at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
[Via]