Ne-Yo apologises for insensitive remarks about the LGBTQI+ community
"I've always been an advocate for love and inclusivity in the LGBTQI+ community."
Singer Ne-Yo has come under fire for the comments he made about gender identity in children.
He has taken to Twitter to apologise for the insensitive comments he made on VladTV.
"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," the singer wrote on Twitter.
"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," Ne-Yo added.
READ: Five songs Ne-Yo wrote for the likes of Rihanna and Beyoncé
The singer said he plans to educate himself more about the LGBTQI+ community.
"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."
READ: Ne-Yo's wife accuses him of cheating: 'Eight years of lies and deception'
Ne-Yo explained that his upbringing influenced how he viewed the LGBTQI+ community.
"I just personally come from an era where a man was a man and a woman was a woman and there was two genders, and that's just how I rocked. You could identify as a goldfish if you feel like, I don't care - that ain't my business.
"It becomes my business when you try to make me play the game with you. I'm not gonna call you a goldfish; but if you wanna be a goldfish, you go be a goldfish."
He added that previously, parents wouldn't easily support their children who struggled with gender identity.
"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 said at the time.
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