Grammy-winning artist Ne-Yo, who recently apologized for insensitive comments about parents who affirm their children’s gender identity and that were transphobic in other ways, changed his mind and un-apologized on Monday.
After the singer’s Sunday evening apology became viral, Chaya Raichik’s anti-LGBTQ+ hate account Libs of TikTok on X, formerly Twitter, bullied him.
“Singer Ne-Yo has officially apologized just 1 day after footage of him speaking out against medically transitioning kids went viral. The woke mob came for him and he buckled under the pressure. Massive L Never be afraid to speak the truth and stand up for your beliefs,” Libs of TikTok posted.
His previous public apology indicated that he understood that “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.”
Yet, fewer than 24 hours later, his empathy and further education seem to have ended.
The singer said that he didn’t typically “give too much of a damn” about what people thought about what he had to say. However, he felt so strongly about this that he had to speak.
“I need y’all to hear this from the horse’s mouth, not the publicist’s computer,” he said.
“First and foremost, I do not apologize for having an opinion on this matter,” he began. “I’m a 43-year-old heterosexual man raising five boys and two girls, okay? That’s my reality.”
He said that if his opinion hurt people, “I apologize for you being offended.” He said that his intention was never to offend people. However, he insisted that he is entitled to “feel how I feel.”
“I have no beef with the LBGTQIA+ community whatsoever…Do whatever the hell it is you want to do,” Ne-Yo said. “Do what you want to do with your kids. However…I will never be okay with allowing a child to make a decision that detrimental to their life. I will never be okay with that. I don’t care.”
Every major medical association in the United States, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association, considers gender-affirming care necessary, life-saving care supported by scientific evidence, and safe under appropriate supervision.
Also, minors are not just given medical care without a thorough evaluation and the involvement of parents or guardians.
Ne-Yo continued his video, contradicting himself further while also demonstrating that more information on the subject would benefit the musician.
“I definitely plan to educate myself a little bit more on this matter,” he said. “However, I doubt that there’s any book anywhere or any opinion that somebody’s going to tell me that’s going to make me okay with letting a child make a decision like that.”
He said if he “get[s] canceled for this, then, you know what? Maybe this is a world where they don’t need a Ne-Yo no more.”
“So with that being said, y’all have a good day,” he said, wrapping up his un-apology. “I love everybody. Live how you want to live, love how you want to love, but your opinion is yours. Speak your opinion as much as you damn well feel like it…”
After he posted his un-apology on Instagram, Libs of TikTok and other right-wing extremists took notice.
“Interesting update! Ne-Yo is now saying he does stand by his original statements against medically transitioning kids and his apology on Twitter was made by his publicist,” Libs of TikTok commented.
Ne-Yo Takes Back His Apology for Transphobic Comments
Ne-Yo Takes Back His Apology for Transphobic Comments
The musician indicated that the written apology came from his publicist but his video came from the heart.