Singer/songwriter Shaffer Chimere Smith, aka Ne-Yo, has been battling pesky gay rumors since the days when he wore lipstick and eyeliner to perform with his boy band on Showtime at the Apollo.

Now that he has 2 children with good pal Monyetta Shaw, the rumors continue to persist. There is no escaping the rumors for sensitive industry men like Ne-Yo who has learned to simply ignore them.

“There’s so many more important and positive things going on in my life, the last thing I’m going to do is focus on somebody that’s still on some ignorance with the whole gay rumor thing,” Ne-Yo told S2S Publisher Jamie Foster Brown. “If that’s what y’all want to feel about me, by all means do so. Pay no attention to the fact that I got two kids and a beautiful woman at my side. … Buy the album, though.”

Ne-Yo also commented on fellow singer/songwriter Frank Ocean’s announcement that he was gay:

“I definitely feel like it’s very brave for him to be able to go, ‘This is me; either love me or leave me alone.’ I dig that,” he told S2S.

Ne-Yo’s 5th studio album R.E.D. drops Nov. 5 on Universal/Motown Records.


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    • Photo: Sister2sister.com