Shawn Mendes says he hasn’t ‘explored’ his sexuality yet and doesn’t want to be labeled

Shawn Mendes lasted a moment during its For Friends and Family Tour at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado to address her evolving understanding of identity and love. He talked about this and even sang about it in his song “The Mountain”, which he debuted at recent shows and directly addresses these themes of introspection.

“Some days my mind changes / You can say what you need to say,” he sings. “You can say I’m too young / You can say I’m too old / You can say I like girls or boys / Whichever fits your mold.”

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The song’s lyrics resonated deeply with fans; Mendes, in particular, addressed the conversation around his sexuality, a persistent topic throughout his career. “There’s been something about my sexuality since I was really young, and people had been talking about it for a very long time,” she shared. “I think it’s kind of ridiculous because I think sexuality is such a beautiful and complex thing and it’s so hard to just fit it into a box.”

Mendes explained how these conversations felt aggressive and noted how his understanding of himself is still evolving. “It’s always felt like this intrusion into something very personal to me, something I’ve figured out within myself, something I haven’t yet discovered and still haven’t discovered,” he added. Mendes said he “speaks freely now” to connect with his audience.

Noting the difficulties of self-discovery, Mendes continued, “The real truth about my life and my sexuality is that I’m figuring it out like everyone else. Sometimes I don’t know, sometimes I know.” In a society that is often quick to label. “I’m trying to be really brave and allow myself to be a person and feel things. And that’s all I really want to say about it for now.”

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In addition to touching on his identity, Mendes also spoke candidly about his thoughts on relationships. Reflecting society’s expectation of finding “The One,” he noted: “When you’re single, there’s pressure to look for ‘The One,’ who’s ‘The One?’… Damn, that’s a lot of pressure when you first start dating someone.” It encouraged a more relaxed approach to romance, expressing the intention to enjoy love and connection without the weight of long-term expectations. “Man, we all need a little hug, a little hug,” he added before launching into his song “In Among.”

Mendes’ onstage vulnerability adds a new chapter to a conversation he first opened up about on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast in 2020, where he discussed his frustrations with rumors about his sexuality. Mendes explained the complexity of responding to such scrutiny, especially as close friends are still grappling with their identities. “This is a very difficult thing,” he told Shepard at the time. “You want to say, ‘I’m not gay, but it would be nice if I were, but at the same time there’s nothing wrong with being gay, but I’m not.’ You don’t really know how to react to this situation.”

‘Afraid’ to share his ‘truth’

He took to social media to confess in 2022 He had difficulty sharing his own truth. “Sometimes I ask myself what I should do with my life, and what I always hear in response is ‘tell the truth, be real.’ “But I think it’s a difficult thing to do,” he began.

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According to the singer, he is worried about people’s perception of him. “I’m afraid that if people know and see the truth, they will think less of me and get bored of me. That’s why I either demonstrate or hide when I feel down,” he added.

Camila Cabello’s ex-boyfriend He said he “constantly felt like he was flying or drowning.” Mendes also wonders if more people are experiencing the same thing. “The truth is, I really want to show up in the world as my 100% real, honest, unique self and not care what anyone thinks. I do that sometimes!!” wrote. Sometimes I really don’t care what people think and I feel free. But most of the time it’s a struggle.”

The singer said he was “fine” and hoped his words “resonated with some people.”