Shawn Mendes Says Rumors About His Sexuality Are 'Hurtful'

Shawn Mendes is speaking out again about rumors that have been swirling around about his sexuality for the past few years.

The 20-year-old singer explained why he finds the rumors to be “hurtful.”

“For me it’s hurtful,” Shawn told The Guardian. “I get mad when people assume things about me because I imagine the people who don’t have the support system I have and how that must affect them.”

“That was why I was so angry, and you can see I still get riled up, because I don’t think people understand that when you come at me about something that’s stupid you hurt so many other people. They might not be speaking, but they’re listening,” he added.

Shawn also brought up his 2018 Rolling Stone cover story, in which he said, “I feel like I need to go be seen with someone — like a girl — in public, to prove to people that I’m not gay.”

The singer previously criticized the article and now he says, “It made me seem so creepy. If anything, the article made me realize your career isn’t over if people think you’re not perfect.”