Shawn Mendes has revealed in a new interview that he struggles with rumours about his sexuality.
Mendes told Rolling Stone that speculation that he is gay a “massive, massive thing” in his mind.
“In the back of my heart, I feel like I need to go be seen with someone — like a girl — in public, to prove to people that I’m not gay,” he said. “Even though in my heart I know that it’s not a bad thing.
“There’s still a piece of me that thinks that. And I hate that side of me.”
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Mendes added: “Maybe I am a little more feminine — but that’s the way it is. That’s why I am me.”
He recalled how, earlier this year, Taylor Swift sought his permission to share a video clip of her putting glitter on his face. He gave her the thumbs-up but then worried that it would fuel the rumours.
“I felt sick,” he said. “I was like, ‘F**k, why did I let her post that?’ I just fed the fire that I’m terrified of.”
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Mendes also opened up to Rolling Stone about drug use.
“I love weed,” the 20-year-old singer admitted. “It’s really good for me. When I’m home, I’ll smoke and then play guitar for seven hours.”
Mendes admitted he’s curious about trying ‘shrooms. “I want to so badly. I think it would help me a lot,” he said.
On Monday, Mendes tweeted an image of the Rolling Stone cover but fell short of giving the feature story a ringing endorsement.
“Of course i have my insecurities and struggles but that’s just one part of me,” he wrote. "Sometimes the positive side of a story doesn’t always get fully told and I wish it had here.
“I love what i do and i love you guys so much.”