Is Frank Ocean gay? The rumors, explained

There is an entire lineup of artists who forget they’re musicians from time to time. Rihanna, Adele, Noname, and Frank Ocean are probably the headliners of what could be aptly named the “I make a comeback every 10 years,” festival. And yet, we’ll be there to greet them back every single time.

In fact, despite their occasional reluctance to gift fans with new music, all of these artists remain well-known and beloved figures in the industry. We can’t help but wonder what they’ve been up to, and what has kept them away from the stage – after all, artistic inspiration doesn’t just materialize out of thin air.

As for Ocean’s, we haven’t received a new album since 2016. Outrageous, I know; how dare he?! But what’s even more interesting is his tendency to shun public appearances and discuss his personal life. Yet, in good ol’ gossipy fashion, we’re here to uncover it all.

Is Frank Ocean gay or straight?

Ocean has never confirmed whether or not he is gay, but he sure isn’t straight. The singer has long explicitly stated his indifference to labels, rejecting every umbrella term society attempts to impose upon him. Nevertheless, he hasn’t been indifferent to acknowledging his attraction to both men and women, which was a particularly bold move by any artist at a time when being openly queer was especially stigmatized.

While many fans had speculated about Ocean’s sexual orientation, with only one album released at the time, the singer’s popularity was just beginning to surge. However, in 2012, in an emotional and candid letter on Tumblr, Ocean openly admitted to experiencing love with a man for the first time at the age of 19, shedding light on the time when he realized he was attracted to men.

“4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Every day almost, and on the day we were together, time would glide. Most of the day I’d see him, and his smile. By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless.”

The letter was published just before the singer released his second album, Channel Orange, which catapulted him to fame. In the album, he often alludes to an unrequited love that many fans speculated to be the boy referenced in the letter. In 2017, he released his hit single “Chanel,” which also hints at his relationship: “My guy pretty like a girl / And he got fight stories to tell/ I see both sides like Chanel/ See on both sides like Chanel.”

While it is never too late to remind people not to speculate on anyone’s sexual or romantic orientation, Ocean took it a step further, and, since 2012, he has proudly shown that he’s publicly dated both men and women over the years. Just keep in mind his disdain for self-labeling.