Khalid has responded to “frustrating” allegations after being outed as gay on social media.
The Grammy-nominated R&B singer came out as gay earlier this week following a series of posts from X user Hugo Almonte, who took to the platform to outline his alleged experiences of being offered drugs by “one of your favourite gay R&B singers”, who “tried to set me up and lie that I broke into his house”. He later posted a photo of himself with Khalid.
Responding to the claims, Khalid posted an emoji of the LGBTQ+ rainbow flag and wrote: “There yall go, next topic please lol”.
A later reply to a fan further confirmed that he was coming out as gay, stating: “I am! And that’s okay”.
In another post, he added: “I got outted and the world still continues to turn. Let’s get this straight (lmao) I am not ashamed of my sexuality! In reality it ain’t nobodies business! But I am okay with me.”
I got outted and the world still continues to turn. Let’s get this straight (lmao) I am not ashamed of my sexuality! In reality it ain’t nobodies business! But I am okay with me 🖤 love yall
— Khalid (@thegreatkhalid) November 23, 2024
Now, he’s further addressed the posts in a video shared to X on Monday (November 25). “I feel like it’s important to speak my side of the situation,” he told followers. “All of this is definitely frustrating. I’m not gonna run around like I’m unbothered. I never said I was unbothered by anything. This is very bothering. I had to say something.”
He went on to deny the accusations of drug use, saying: “I’ve never done cocaine a day in my life,” and added that he “never paid anyone for sex” or to “be in a relationship”.
Regarding Almonte’s claims that he had been accused of breaking into Khalid’s house, the singer said he had never publicly commented on this, adding: “Nobody knew because I don’t want everybody in my business.”
“I’m trying to watch my tone now… The last time I talked to this guy was four years ago,” he continued. “This is all random, I don’t know why he did it, and I don’t know what’s going on with him. Mental health is real, but I haven’t even had a conversation or seen this dude in four years.”
“Seeing the few comments of people painting me as if I’m just some manipulative abuser, it’s just crazy to me… Regarding the stories of the abuse, it’s triggering because it’s the other way around, and that’s what hurts,” he said. “That’s what hurts the most.”
Watch his full statement below:
Shared this on Instagram so I’m gonna share this here too. Thank you pic.twitter.com/i8mJIZsfAn
— Khalid (@thegreatkhalid) November 25, 2024
Following the initial posts, Almonte spoke to Rolling Stone about his intentions, claiming he wanted to “share how he tried to use his power to silence me because I simply ended our relationship”.
Almonte said he had received death threats, adding: “It’s crazy that these people said I was chasing clout, when I was holding onto this for five years, and I finally had enough”.
Khalid had his breakthrough with the 2017 album ‘American Teen’, and has since followed that up with ‘Free Spirit’ in 2019 and this year’s ‘Sincere’. His track ‘Silver Platter’ also appeared on the highly acclaimed soundtrack album for 2023’s Barbie.