Singer Khalid comes out after saying he was 'outted': 'I am not ...
The singer has never publicly disclosed his sexual identity, but noted in a series of social media posts that he "was never hiding."
The Grammy-nominated singer Khalid opened up about his sexuality in a series of X posts on Friday.
He first posted a rainbow flag emoji and wrote, "there yall go. next topic please lol." In response to one user's quote stating, "Wait hope Mr Khalid isn’t GEHHH," Khalid responded with his own quote - "I am! And that's okay."
????️????!!! there yall go. next topic please lol
— Khalid (@thegreatkhalid) November 22, 2024
"I got outted and the world still continues to turn," the singer explained in a third X post in the span of 30 minutes. "Let’s get this straight (lmao) I am not ashamed of my sexuality! In reality it ain’t nobodies business! But I am okay with me... love yall."
Matteo Rossetti/Archivio Matteo Rossetti/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty
Khalid at Milan Fashion Week in 2024The "Eastside" singer born Khalid Donnel Robinson has always embraced LGBTQ aesthetics in his artistry and championed queer causes, as when he recorded the song "Love Lies" with Normani for the Love, Simon soundtrack. But he's never publicly disclosed his own sexuality identity.
Before signing off with an "aight love yall thank yall I’m off this," Khalid insisted to a user who commented "the closet was glass" that he "wasn’t hiding anything! It’s just not any of your business." Another X user pointed out that beyond "Love Lies," Khalid released the "LGBTQ anthem" satellite in 2022, prompting the singer to reply, "thank you!!!! I was never hiding."
I got outted and the world still continues to turn. Let’s get this straight (lmao) I am not ashamed of my sexuality! In reality it ain’t nobodies business! But I am okay with me ???? love yall
— Khalid (@thegreatkhalid) November 23, 2024
Related: One Tree Hill actress Sophia Bush comes out as queer: 'Can't say it without smiling'
Khalid has not disclosed who apparently "outted" him, and his representatives did not immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly's request for comment.
The 26-year old singer made his debut in 2016 with the single "Location," a paean to young love that announced him as a major new voice in music. When artists like Lil Wayne and Kehlani made appearances on "Location" remixes, it was clear that it took Khalid only a single song to earn his rightful place in the current pop landscape.
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Noam Galai/Getty Images Khalid on stage
Related: Ariana Grande, Kristin Chenoweth hint at Wicked's Glinda being queer: 'Might be a little in the closet'
He won Best New Artist at the 2017 Video Music Awards, joining the ranks of past winners like Lady Gaga, Eminem, and Alicia Keys, all of whom went on to enjoy wildly succesful careers.
Khalid's third studio album, Sincere, was released in August.