Shawn Mendes’ decision to share the ‘truth’ about his sexuality was a ‘calculated move’ to ‘get people talking’ ahead of his new album, an insider says.
The singer, 26, gave an emotional speech to fans during a concert in Morrison, Colorado, earlier this week, where he admitted he still ‘thinks’ about his sexuality – after years of denying he was gay.
But according to sources, the Stitches crooner made a ‘big reveal’ on stage because he knew it would fuel ‘hype’ for his upcoming LP, Shawn, which is out on November 15.
‘Shawn’s big show was like a calculated move,’ said DailyMail.com. ‘He said he found out about his sexuality after repeatedly saying for the past 10 years “I’m not gay?”
‘Now everyone is talking about it. And all this Shawn hype comes out just a few weeks before he releases his new album, Shawn.
Shawn Mendes’ decision to share the ‘truth’ about his sexuality was a ‘calculated move’ to ‘get people talking’ ahead of new album, insider tells DailyMail.com
‘He’s not stupid and knows how to get people to talk.’
The insider said Shawn’s comments shouldn’t be taken as him ‘outing,’ but just a way to ‘keep everyone happy.’
‘Shawn didn’t come out on stage in the video,’ he said. ‘He just decided to figure out a way to make everyone happy by just announcing that he was thinking about his sexuality,’ she continued.
‘He knew what he was doing. He doesn’t want to lose fans and he wants to sell albums.’
But he added that the ‘move’ may backfire, as some people feel he is ‘freak-bait.’
Social media has been flooded with criticism.
‘Shawn is so weird and you’re going to love it,’ one user wrote.
‘You don’t get to Shawn Mendes’ age without realizing your sexuality,’ said another.
The singer, 26, gave an emotional speech to fans during a concert in Morrison, Colorado, earlier this week, where she admitted she was still ‘figuring out’ her sexuality.
But according to sources, the Stitches crooner (seen with ex Canila Cabello) made the ‘big reveal’ on stage because he knew it would fuel ‘hype’ for his upcoming LP, Shawn.
‘If he’s gay or bi, he should just say yes instead of “haha idk” every three years when public interest in him disappears. I don’t care it’s weird-baiting I’m BATE.’
“I don’t think Shawn Mendes is gay, bisexual, or related to the LGBTQ+ community, but since he failed, he will take advantage of all the rumors surrounding him since the beginning of his career,” said another user.
‘They will do queer-baiting and play with all the gays to get their money.’
Shawn spoke about his sexuality while introducing one of his new songs, The Mountain, during his show on Monday.
‘There is something about my sexuality, and people have been talking about it for a long time,’ he told the audience.
“It’s really stupid, because I think sexuality is a very complicated thing, and it’s very difficult to put it in a box.
‘The real truth about my life and my sexuality is, man, I’m just figuring it out like everybody else.’
He said people’s comments were ‘such an intrusion’ because it was ‘very personal to him.’
The insider said Shawn’s comments shouldn’t be taken as him ‘outing,’ but just a way to ‘keep everyone happy’
“It’s something that I’ve been looking for myself, that I haven’t found and still haven’t found,” he said.
‘And it’s scary because we live in a society where there’s a lot to say.
‘I try to be really brave and just allow myself to be human and feel things. And that’s all I have to say now.’
The hitmaker has previously dealt with speculation about his sexuality.
In a social media video shared in 2017, he said: ‘I’ve noticed a lot of people saying I give off “gay vibes.”
‘First of all, I’m not gay. Second, it shouldn’t make any difference if I’m there or not.’
When discussing his decision to share the clip with Rolling Stone a few months later, he explained: “I thought, ‘You’re lucky, I’m not gay and afraid to come out.’ That’s what kills people. So sensitive do you like me?
But the source insists it may backfire as some people accuse him of ‘freak-baiting’ on social media.
The musician also addressed ‘gay’ rumors during an appearance on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast in 2020.
And he admits that people ‘calling him gay’ makes him worry that he’s becoming too ‘feminine’.
‘Everyone has called me gay since I was 15. I’m not gay and I’m like, “What does that mean?”, he admitted.
‘I have a problem with the way my voice works. I was like, “How do I sit?” I am always the first to cross my legs and sit with this feminine style position and I really suffer with s**t.
“It’s very, very frustrating for me because there are some people in my life that I’m very close to who are gay and in the closet. And I feel so angry at them.’
At the beginning of 2023, he was rumored to be dating singer Sabrina Carpenter, but the romance was short-lived as he immediately got back with Camila.
Shawn added that the situation was ‘tough’ because he didn’t want to offend people who are gay.
‘It was really hard.’ said. ‘You want to say, “I’m not gay, but it’s better if I’m gay – but there’s nothing wrong with being gay, but I’m not,” he said. ‘You don’t know how to respond to the situation.’
Although he has been the object of speculation about his sexuality, Shawn has only ever dated a woman.
Perhaps his most famous relationship is with former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello, which he dated from 2019 to 2021.
In early 2023, it was rumored that he was dating the singer Sabrina Carpenter, but the romance did not last long because of her publicly returned with Camila shortly after.
He and Camila have since split up again, and that’s it it is now rumored that Sabrina’s hit song Taste was inspired by the ordeal.
