US singer Khalid has publicly come out as gay, declaring his pride in his sexuality after being outed on social media.
The 26-year-old artist made the announcement on Friday, 22 November, through a series of posts on X, following a controversial revelation by fellow musician Hugo D Almonte.
Almonte shared a photo of himself with Khalid and disclosed explicit details about an alleged intimate encounter between them, prompting Khalid to address the situation publicly.
Using a rainbow flag emoji, Khalid initially posted: “there yall go. next topic please lol.” When a fan asked if he was gay, the Grammy-nominated artist replied simply, “I am! And that’s okay.”
“Never Hiding”
Khalid, known for hits like “Love Lies” with Normani and “Eastside” with Halsey and Benny Blanco, clarified his stance. He insisted that while he had not publicly discussed his sexuality before, it was not because of shame or fear.
“I got outted and the world still continues to turn [sic],” 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 praised the singer’s openness, with one referring to his 2022 track “Satellite” as an “LGBTQ+ anthem.” Khalid responded: “thank you!!!! I was never hiding.”
Backlash Against Outing
Almonte has faced criticism for his role in the outing, with queer British artist and producer MNEK leading the backlash. MNEK, who tagged Almonte on social media, described the act as “Loser Loser LOSER LOSER behaviour,” adding: “I don’t like that sh*t, that’s so WHACCCCCKKKKKKK.”
Despite the circumstances of the revelation, Khalid’s fans and fellow artists have rallied in support of his unapologetic response.
Born in Texas, Khalid has enjoyed significant success since his debut. His first studio album, American Teen, was released in 2017, and his third album, Sincere, dropped in August 2023. He has achieved five UK Top 40 hits, including the chart-topping “Eastside” in 2018.
