Ne-Yo on Gay Rumors: "You're Nobody Until They Say You're Gay"

R&B singer and songwriter Ne-Yo channels Gabrielle Union in a new "tell-all" interview with Vibe that actually tells very little that we already have not heard. Ne-Yo addresses the persistent gay rumors as the price of fame. (PDF of article HERE.) The songwriter behind Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable" never denies them per se, but, the writer goes out of her way to dismiss the rumors with some tired clichés:

Ne-Yo—who was briefly married and has a one-year-old son—was about to be accused of being gay.

Let's face it—if you're some kind of famous, rumors like this can fly fast and free. And you're particularly vulnerable if you're a good looking, little known, unattached star who's lived most of his life out of the public eye...

And while it would seem that the topic of his sexuality would be the last thing he would want to address, he's still game to talk about it. In fact, he's philosophical about his first taste of controversy. "For one," he says. "I'm an R&B singer, that's one strike against me, I've never been a thuggish dude. This is is the way I look at it now. For one, you're nobody 'til they think you're gay—that's the truth of the business."

Assuming you could get past that "accused of being gay" throwaway line, there is not much other substance to the story. You have to wait until the very end of the piece to read a half-sentence about those rath]er lame b/j photo (NSFW), described as "mysteriously leaked to the internet." In other news ...

Don't Stop Til You Get Enough [Vibe-PDF]

Some Background ...

Gabrielle Union: "You're Nobody Until Someone Says You're Gay" [R20]

Comments

[Luther]

Interesting young man, I've never heard of him before now, I have often wondered, just who starts these rumors and attempts at outing? Coming out is a very personal thing, and unless he has made some sort of derogatory comments about gays, leave him with the weird name alone I say, unless that tape can better identify him than the R Kelly one, LOL!

And, props to him for not falling into that foolish, thuggish caricature to sell a record.

[ca]

The Ne-Yo gay rumors weree very big last fall. Immediately afterwards, s staged sex tape was leaked to the media.

maybe he is gay, maybe he is straight. But the fact remains, it has been going on for so long that he staged that sex tape.

[derrick]

"Was about to be accused of being gay."

Accused? Sounds like a crime.

[Dex123ter]

"Ne-Yo—who was briefly married and has a one-year-old son—was about to be accused of being gay."

-----------------------------------

Okay, having been married and having a one-year-old son doesn't mean that you aren't gay (or you are gay, for that matter). I know someone who is in this situation, the second part of the above scenario (and is gay, but doesn't admit it). In any event, Ne-Yo's an outstanding singer.

[Lysa]

I know with all my heart that your not gay they just say stuff like that cause you`re making it and they aren`t and all they can do is sit around and hate cause their not makin the money you are, but I love and you keep shineing and taking care of yours.

[courtney]

Ne-Yo makes it pretty clear he doesn't care about this kind of stuff.. so u guys.. needa chill. make yourself prouder by doing this stuff? obviouslyy this doesn't make one bit of a change in his life so why keep trying? He's amazing no matter what.