During an intimate moment on stage in Colorado on Monday, singer Shawn Mendes shared with fans that he is “just figuring it out like everyone” when it comes to his sexuality.
Speaking openly at Morrison’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Mendes expressed vulnerability about navigating self-discovery in a society with strong opinions on sexuality.
“I don’t really know sometimes and I know other times,” he told the crowd, noting that these uncertainties can feel “really scary.”
Fan-captured footage from the concert shows Mendes making these heartfelt comments before performing an unreleased song, The Mountain, inspired by the challenges he’s faced due to speculation about his sexuality.
Over the years, Mendes has voiced frustration with public assumptions, describing them as intrusive.
Addressing fans, he said, “There’s this thing about my sexuality, and people have been talking about it for so long,” acknowledging that “it’s kind of silly, because I think sexuality is such a beautifully complex thing.”
He emphasized that it’s difficult to fit anyone’s identity into simple boxes, adding, “I’m just figuring it out like everyone.”
Before performing The Mountain, Mendes shared that the song includes lyrics addressing these assumptions directly: “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.”
He explained that writing the song helped him express a part of himself he’s still discovering.
Reflecting on his journey, Mendes shared that he missed out on the self-discovery many people experience in their teenage years, saying, “I didn’t get to do a lot of 15-year-old things.”
He expressed a desire to connect more deeply with his fans, adding, “I guess I’m just speaking freely now, because I just want to be able to be closer to everyone and just kind of be in my truth.”
In previous interviews, Mendes has discussed how speculation about his sexuality has impacted him.
In a 2018 Rolling Stone interview, he spoke about persistent rumors, describing them as a “massive, massive thing” over the past five years.
He later told The Guardian that such assumptions can be “hurtful,” especially for those without strong support systems.
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