Sean Mendes discussed the “frustrating” rumors about his sexuality with Dax Shepard.
The singer told Shepard that people have been calling him “gay” since he was 15-years-old and he has struggled with how to respond.
He told the Armchair Expert podcast,” You want to say, 'I'm not gay but it'd be fine if I was gay. But also, there's nothing wrong with being gay but I'm not.' You don't really know how to respond to the situation.”
The “Wonder” singer says his upbringing is likely responsible for his image.
He said, “I didn't grow up wrestling. I grew up getting my hair braided on New Year's Eve. It just completely depends on the way you grew up in your life and your surroundings.”
However, Mendes thinks it’s important that men be able to embrace their softer sides.
“I think people are really quick to just say, 'Well, he's an artist so he gets a pass to be vulnerable and a pass to cry but most men shouldn't. Guys need to just be vulnerable. We need to cry. Stop thinking this is being brave and strong and start thinking is the opposite, actually.”
Mendes recently nabbed his fourth consecutive #1 album release with Wonder.
According to a press release, he joins Elvis Presley and Justin Bieber as the only male artists in the history of Billboard Top 200 to score four No. 1 albums by 22-year-old.
Wonder already has over 600 million global streams to add to Shawn’s more than 50 billion total combined career streams.
He wrote on Instagram Monday (December 14th), “Thank you so much for loving and supporting Wonder !!!”