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Shawn Mendes has once again peeled back the curtain on his personal life, sharing an intimate and vulnerable moment with fans as he opened up about his sexuality.
The 26-year-old singer addressed long-standing rumors and the deeply personal journey he’s been on, as he performed songs from his new album, Shawn, at Colorado’s iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre on October 28.
Against the striking red rock backdrop, Mendes paused during the set to talk directly to his audience, letting them in on something he’s grappled with for years: his sexuality.
“The real truth about my life and my sexuality is, man, I’m just figuring it out like everyone. I don’t really know sometimes, and I know other times,” Mendes shared with a mix of honesty and hesitation.
It was a raw moment for the pop star, who’s been the subject of speculation since his teen years, when the music world first met him as the sweet, sensitive teen behind hits like “Stitches” and “Treat You Better.”
This concert was more than just a musical event; it was a therapeutic session.
Mendes took a breath and admitted, “It feels really scary because we live in a society that has a lot to say about that.”
It’s a sentiment many LGBTQ+ fans and allies can relate to, whether out and proud or still finding themselves.
His words seemed to resonate with a collective sigh of relief, as if Mendes was speaking directly to a community all too familiar with that dance between public perception and private exploration.
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The speculation around his sexuality is something Mendes has wrestled with publicly for years.
Back in 2018, he confided to Rolling Stone that he felt an odd pressure to “prove” he wasn’t gay, analyzing his own voice and body language after interviews.
“Even though in my heart I know that it’s not a bad thing,” he said at the time, “there’s still a piece of me that thinks that. And I hate that side of me.”
His discomfort with the scrutiny wasn’t simply a celebrity annoyance; it hit deeper, reflecting the insecurities and fears shared by many who feel judged or stereotyped based on how they speak or act.
Flash forward to 2024, and Mendes has clearly come a long way.
While he still doesn’t have all the answers, he’s embracing the ambiguity, declaring that sexuality is “beautifully complex” and shouldn’t be “put into boxes.”
His openness was a breath of fresh air, a reminder of the freedom to explore one’s identity without the need for rigid definitions.
During the performance, Mendes shared a piece of this journey through his new song, “The Mountain,” which he described as his way of channeling the emotions around the rumors and introspection.
The lyrics touch on themes of self-discovery and society’s obsession with labels, as he sings, “Some days, I have a change of heart / You can say what you need to say / You can say I’m too young / You can say I’m too old / You can say I like girls or boys / Whatever fits your mold.”
It’s a quiet yet powerful affirmation of how fluid and personal sexuality can be, and how the journey doesn’t always arrive at neat answers.
For those who’ve followed Mendes over the years, his willingness to be this open feels both refreshing and relatable.
He’s no stranger to expressing the difficulty of living under the public microscope, especially when people try to define such a private part of who you are.
Even back in 2020, Mendes told Armchair Expert how “tricky” it was to handle questions about his orientation, sharing that he felt protective anger on behalf of LGBTQ+ friends still in the closet.
This candid performance at Red Rocks was a beautiful evolution of that earlier frustration—an open door to the Shawn Mendes who’s “just trying to be really brave” and live in his truth.
His message for his fans and anyone tuning in: self-discovery isn’t always straightforward, and it’s okay to take the time to figure it out.
Whether or not Mendes ever chooses to define his sexuality is secondary; his journey is what matters.
In the meantime, he’s out here singing his truth, and in doing so, making space for fans to do the same.
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