Hip hop artist Ne-Yo expressed his “deepest apologies” Sunday for remarks he made wondering why children are allowed to pick their gender.
The singer made the comments during a Friday appearance on VladTV with Gloria Velez. (RELATED: Ne-Yo Says He’s Willing To Date Fans)
“I just personally come from an era where a man was a man and a woman was a woman,” Ne-Yo said on the show. “And there was two genders, and that’s just how I rocked. 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.”
I’d like to express my deepest apologies… pic.twitter.com/M5aTFN40tn
— NE-YO (@NeYoCompound) August 7, 2023
Ne-Yo has since posted an apology on social media.
“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,” he said.
Ne-Yo blasts parents who let their children believe that they can pick whatever gender they want to be: “I feel like the parents have almost forgotten what the role of a parent is. If your little boy comes up to you and says, ‘Daddy I wanna be a girl,’ you just let him rock with… pic.twitter.com/JRdn7VGZDI
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 6, 2023
“‘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.”
VladTV host Gloria Velez had previously vocally supported Ne-Yo, as he initially defended his opinions following the interview’s release.
“Why should I care if my opinion upsets you when you don’t care if yours upsets anyone? Opinions aren’t special. We all have one,” Ne-Yo said in a post that appears to have since been deleted.
“Well said,” Velez commented on Twitter.
Macy Gray, an R&B singer, also backtracked on her opinions opposing transgenderism in 2022. Gray said on Piers Morgan’s “Uncensored” that changing one’s body parts “doesn’t make you a woman, sorry.” After backlash, Gray said, “Being a woman is a vibe.”