On Monday (Oct. 28), Shawn Mendes addressed long-standing speculations about his sexuality during a heartfelt moment on his For Friends and Family tour at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver. Seated on a stool with his acoustic guitar, Mendes shared his thoughts with the crowd, acknowledging the rumors that have followed him throughout his career.
“I thought about this for a minute today, wondering if I should bring it up at this point in the set,” Mendes said, as fans responded with shouts of “We love you!” Mendes, now 26, went on to reflect on the challenges of growing up in the public eye.
“I was just 15 when all of this started,” he shared, referring to his rapid rise from high school student to global pop star. “The truth is, I missed out on a lot of things typical for a 15-year-old, including discovering different parts of myself.” Speaking candidly, Mendes noted that the rumors about his sexuality have been ongoing since he was young, saying, “I think it’s kind of silly because sexuality is so beautifully complex, and it’s difficult to fit into boxes.”
Mendes has largely kept his romantic life private, although his two-year relationship with Camila Cabello, which inspired songs like “Summer of Love” and their duet “Señorita,” was highly publicized. Reflecting on the intrusion he’s felt, Mendes said, “It always felt like such a violation of something personal to me—something I was still figuring out for myself.”
He introduced his new song, “The Mountain,” which directly addresses the rumors with lyrics like, “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.” The song, set to be included on his upcoming fifth studio album *Shawn* (due Nov. 15), explores his journey of self-discovery amidst constant speculation.
In 2018, Mendes spoke out in a *Rolling Stone* interview, revealing the pressure he felt to prove his heterosexuality by being seen with women publicly, a sentiment he later criticized for oversimplifying his personal experience. In 2019, he told *The Guardian* that such rumors were “hurtful,” especially because of the potential impact on LGBTQ fans. “I get mad when people assume things about me,” he said, emphasizing that while the rumors upset him, they could also hurt fans who might be facing their own struggles with identity and acceptance.