Ne-Yo issues 'deepest apology' to those he hurt with 'insensitive comments'

Ne-Yo has taken to his social media to issue an apology for controversial comments he made in a recent interview, about gender identity and transgender children and their parents.

The music star made controversial comments about parents who supported their children’s decision to become transgender but has now “deeply apologized” for the comments, saying that he plans to ‘better educate himself’ in the future.

Ne-Yo makes controversial comments

Over the weekend, a video of the Closer singer interviewing for Vlad TV with Gloria Velez was posted. The celebrity hitmaker questioned parents who supported their children identifying as a different gender than the sex they were assigned at birth.

The 43-year-old said that he comes from “an era” where a “man was a man and a woman was a woman.”

“There were two genders and that’s just how I rocked,” he said. “You could identify as a goldfish if you feel like, that ain’t my business. It becomes my business when you try to make me play the game.

“I’m not gonna call you a goldfish,” he concluded.

Speaking on the parents role, he said: “I feel like parents have almost forgotten what the role of a parent is. If your little boy comes to you and says, ‘Daddy, I want to be a girl’ and you just let him rock with that?

“He’s 5. He can’t drive a car yet, but he can decide his sex?”

Taking to his Twitter account, Ne-Yo expressed his deepest apologies on the matter.

In a picture post, the star wrote: “After much reflection, I’d like to express my deepest apologies to anyone that I may have hurt with my comments on parenting and gender identity. I’ve always been an advocate for love and inclusivity in the LGBTQI+ community, so I understand how my comments could’ve been interpreted as insensitive and offensive.”

“Gender identity is nuanced and I can honestly admit that I plan to better educate myself on the topic, so I can approach future conversations with more empathy. At the end of the day, I lead with love and support everyone’s freedom of expression and pursuit of happiness,” he continued.

The Grammy Award winner says he ‘condemns no one’

As well as his apology to his millions of followers on Twitter, Ne-Yo has also posted an Instagram story, shutting down claims that he ‘condemns’ parents allowing their children to transition.

Commenting on a post claiming this, posted on his story, he wrote: “1st and foremost, I CONDEMN NO ONE. Who am I to condemn anybody? Your life, your kids, your choice. I was asked a question and I answered it. My opinion is mine.

“I’m not asking anybody to agree with me, nor am I telling you what you can and cannot do with your children. I stated my opinion on a matter and that’s that.

“Why should I care if my opinion upsets you when you don’t care if yours upsets anyone? Opinions aren’t special. We all have one. People voice them regularly, whether they’re asked or not. I was actually asked mine. Agreeing to disagree is not a declaration of war.”

“Y’all do whatever the hell y’all want to. But my feelings on the matter are mine. Same way yours are yours. Meanwhile, I love everybody. Don’t agree with some of y’all’s ideals….but love you no less,” he continued.