Ne-Yo: ‘I do not apologize for having an opinion on this matter.’
This past weekend, R&B singer Ne-Yo, went viral after saying that children shouldn’t be allowed to decide their own gender, but shortly after the clip went viral, Ne-Yo, (whose legal name is Shaffer Chimere Smith) issued an apology on his X (formerly Twitter) account. He apologized for the “insensitive and hurtful” comments; however, has since come out and called out his publicist for issuing the apology and doubled down on his original statements.
His initial statements, found in a video clip from VLADTV, went viral after NE-YO began discussing the topic of child gender transition.
“When did it become okay to let a five-year-old, a six-year-old, [or] a 12-year-old make a life-changing decision for themself?” he questioned.
Following with a second question, he rhetorically asked, “he can’t drive a car yet, but he can decide his sex?” Ne-Yo also highlighted the legislation recently passed in California that would force parents to “affirm” their child’s selected gender or be held liable for child abuse.
“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,” Ne-Yo’s official apology read. The groveling statement went on to state that he understands how the comments could have been, “interpreted as insensitive and offensive.”
After receiving backlash from both sides on this issue, first for his comments regarding gender, then for his unwillingness to stand by his original comments, Ne-Yo eventually backtracked on his apology. He told his audience that it was issued by his publicist and that he stands by what he originally stated, explaining that it’s an issue he “feels very strongly on.”
“I need you to hear this from the horse’s mouth, not the publicist’s computer,” he began, “First and foremost, I do not apologize for having an opinion on this matter, I am a 43-year-old, heterosexual man raising five boys and two girls,” he continued.
He did, however, apologize to anyone who found his remarks offensive. Ne-Yo then firmly stated, “I’m entitled to feel how I feel,” adding, “I will never be okay with allowing a child to make a decision that detrimental to their life.”
He went on to say that he plans on “educating” himself more on the matter; however, he feels there is no opinion or research that will make him feel differently about allowing a child to “make a decision like that.”
He concluded by stating that if he gets “canceled” for doubling down on his claims, “maybe this is a world where they don’t need a NE-YO” anymore.
