Ne-Yo takes back apology for trans comments

Famed R&B singer Ne-Yo has now taken back the public apology he has made for comments that had been widely received as transphobic.

During an interview with Gloria Velez for VladTV, the singer had said: “I just personally come from an era where a man was a man and a woman was a woman. And there was [sic] two genders, and that’s just how I rocked.”

The 43-year-old had added: “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 gonna call you a goldfish. But if you wanna be a goldfish, you go be a goldfish. We live in a weird time, man. We do.”

Following the online criticism he received, the singer shared an apology on social media that read: “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.

“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.”

However, now the singer has since released a video saying he “did not apologize for having an opinion on this matter” and that his fans needed to hear his thoughts “from the horse’s mouth, not the publicist’s computer”.

He explained his stance saying: “‘I’m a 43 year old heterosexual man raising five boys and two girls, okay? 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.”

He continued to say that he has “no beef with the LGBTQIA+ community” and that they can lead the life they want to lead but added that he will “never be okay with allowing a child to make a decision” that is “detrimental to their life”.

The star concluded saying that while he is planning to further educate himself on the subject, there is nothing that is going to make him “okay with letting a child make a decision like that”.

The video’s caption also said: “‘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.”