Khalid Talks Being Outed and Owning His Sexuality

Being outed publicly is something many people fear, and for Khalid, it was frustrating and exhausting.

The singer recently opened up about the experience on an interview with Scott Evans, recalling how his former partner shared posts on X last year revealing Khalid’s sexuality.

He admitted the situation caught him off guard. “It was annoying as fuck,” Khalid said. He explained that the events were years old, yet suddenly he had to respond to public speculation. “I didn’t want to write some long statement. I just tweeted the gay flag. Like, whatever. I’m gay. Let’s move on,” he added, showing how he chose a simple, straightforward response instead of letting the moment control him.

The singer also discussed the challenge of feeling vulnerable under public scrutiny. He initially wanted to defend himself, but quickly realized there was nothing to justify. “I thought, ‘What am I defending myself for or against?’ You can’t just tuck the gay back in the closet,” he said. Khalid’s honesty highlights how living authentically sometimes comes with unavoidable exposure.

On the Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast, Khalid shared that he had intended to reveal his sexuality privately on his own schedule. Once someone else put it online, there was no turning back. “You can’t just sweep it under the rug,” he said. “Life doesn’t stop. And I’m not stopping mine.”

He also reflected on the personal pain of feeling his vulnerability was used against him. “It’s hurtful,” Khalid said. “But I can’t be mad at myself for being genuine, for saying yes to someone I liked, or for being honest about who I am.” His words reveal a thoughtful approach to mistakes, learning, and self-acceptance.

Khalid admitted that sharing his sexuality publicly would have been complicated, explaining that he wanted to focus on his beat first.

“I didn’t want to spend energy showcasing my sexuality when I was putting so much effort into making and crafting my beat,” he said.