Janelle Monáe confirms she's queer
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Singer Janelle Monáe confirmed long-swirling rumors about her sexuality in a Rolling Stone interview published Thursday. Fans of the singer and actress have long suspected that she might not be straight, based on her presentation as an androgynous "cybergirl" in many of her performances, public appearances, and creative work. But the singer herself was "loath to say" anything definitive about her sexuality, Rolling Stone reported — until now.
In the interview, Monáe acknowledged "being a queer black woman in America, someone who has been in relationships with both men and women." She confirmed that she identifies with parts of the bisexual and pansexual identities, saying, "I'm open to learning more about who I am." Ultimately, she said, she feels like "a free-ass motherf---er."
Monáe stopped short of addressing rumors revolving around her relationship with fellow actress Tessa Thompson, but expressed broader support for the queer community. "Through my experiences, I hope people are seen and heard," she said.
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Monáe's third album, Dirty Computer, will be released Friday. Read more of her interview at Rolling Stone.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Shivani is the editorial assistant at TheWeek.com and has previously written for StreetEasy and Mic.com. A graduate of the physics and journalism departments at NYU, Shivani currently lives in Brooklyn and spends free time cooking, watching TV, and taking too many selfies.