Khalid says he was ‘outed’ but tells fans: ‘I was never hiding’
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Singer Khalid has shared that he feels he was "outed" after revealing to his fans that he identifies as a member of the LGBT+ community.
The 26-year-old musician, who dropped his third album titled Sincere in August, addressed fans who seemed to be questioning his sexuality on social media.
He posted a rainbow flag and then said, “Alright, there you have it. Let’s move on to the next subject, haha.”
To clarify, he shared a tweet from a fan who expressed: "Wait, I really hope Mr. Khalid isn't GEHHH!"
"I am, and that's perfectly fine," Khalid replied.
He remarked, “I was publicly revealed, but life goes on. Just to clarify (laughing), I'm proud of who I am! Honestly, it's nobody else's concern! I’m comfortable with myself. Sending love to everyone.”
I was outed, yet life goes on. Just to clarify (laughs), I have no shame about my sexual orientation! Honestly, it’s nobody's concern. But I’m comfortable with who I am ???? Love you all!
The singer of "Young Dumb and Broke" also replied to a follower who suggested that his fans were already aware of his sexuality, saying, "the closet was transparent, baby."
“I wasn’t keeping anything from you,” Khalid shot back. “It’s simply not your concern.”
Some fans came to the singer's defense, highlighting that he had released an LGBTQ anthem titled "Satellite" in 2022. In response, he said, "Thank you!!! I was never hiding."
Putting an end to the discussion, he stated, “Alright, I appreciate all of you. I’m signing off now.”
Khalid has talked before about the stress he experiences from being in the spotlight, sharing that his social anxiety makes it difficult for him to build new connections.
"In a 2018 post on X/Twitter, he expressed, 'I feel like I've lost something. Making friends used to be effortless, but now it feels overwhelming, and I just want to go home.'"
In reply to a fan who inquired about his experience as a celebrity dealing with anxiety, he mentioned: “It's tough to be out in public; you're constantly being filmed, and everyone is watching you.”
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Growing up in Texas, he gained widespread recognition with his first single, "Location," released in 2016, which reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100.
He has scored additional successes with tracks like “Love Lies,” a collaboration with Normani, the former Fifth Harmony member now pursuing a solo career, and “Eastside,” featuring Benny Blanco and Halsey.
The song "Talk," which was the main single from his second album titled Free Spirit, earned him a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year.
Sincere, Khalid's third studio album, came out in August of this year and received a variety of responses from reviewers. The album includes a collaboration with Arlo Parks, the British artist who won the Mercury Prize, on the song "Breathe."
Throughout the years, he has worked alongside several other prominent artists such as Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, Kane Brown, and Ed Sheeran.
