Singer Khalid has publicly confirmed he is gay, stating he was “never hiding” and is “not ashamed” of his sexuality.
The 26-year-old American artist addressed the topic on Friday, November 22, through posts on X, following an outing by fellow musician Hugo D Almonte. Almonte had shared a photo of the two alongside explicit claims of a personal encounter.
In response, Khalid posted a rainbow flag emoji with the caption, “There y’all go. Next topic please lol.” When a fan asked if he was gay, he replied simply, “I am! And that’s okay.”
Khalid, known for hits like “Love Lies” with Normani and “Eastside” with Halsey and Benny Blanco, emphasized that his sexuality was private and personal. “I got outed and the world still continues to turn,” he wrote, adding, “Let’s get this straight (lmao), I am not ashamed of my sexuality! In reality, it ain’t nobody’s business! But I am okay with me.”
Fans celebrated his openness, with one highlighting his 2022 track “Satellite” as an LGBTQ+ anthem, to which Khalid replied, “Thank you!!!! I was never hiding.”
Meanwhile, Almonte faced backlash for publicly outing Khalid. British singer and producer MNEK criticized Almonte on social media, calling his actions “loser behavior” and “WHACK.”
Texas-born Khalid has achieved global success, with five UK Top 40 hits and a Grammy nomination. His debut album, American Teen (2017), gained critical acclaim, and his latest album, Sincere, was released in August 2023.
