Here we go again. Another day, another round of “Is Shawn Gay?” making the rounds on social media. This time, it’s because our favorite Canadian heartthrob dared to… checks notes… wear a crop top while having photos of attractive men saved on his phone.
Stop the presses, clearly this is breaking news.
Look, I get it. When a ridiculously attractive 26-year-old with abs carved by the gods keeps serving us thirst trap after thirst trap, we’re going to talk.
And when he dares to step even slightly outside traditional masculinity – whether it’s painting his nails or wearing jewelry or gasp appreciating other men’s looks – the internet loses its collective mind.
But maybe – just maybe – we need to have a different conversation.
A History of Harassment (Let’s Call It What It Is)
Since Shawn first emerged as a fresh-faced teen on Vine (remember Vine?), we’ve been playing this game.
Just this week, social media went into full meltdown mode after a video surfaced of Shawn scrolling through his camera roll while wearing a crop top.
The internet’s amateur detectives quickly spotted that his saved photos included shots of Brad Pitt, David Beckham, and – clutches pearls – rock climber Alex Honnold’s “thick fingers.”
@interviewmag “You’ve never seen fingers that thick in your life.” 📱 @Shawn Mendes shows us his screenshots at the Interview office during his Fall cover shoot. #shawnmendes
Every gesture, every friendship, every fashion choice has been dissected with the precision of a thousand amateur detectives armed with Twitter accounts and too much free time.
Remember when he had a panic attack during a Love, Simon screening? Gay! That time Taylor Swift put glitter on him for a backstage video? Obviously gay! His close friendship with Justin Bieber? OK, the fan-fiction writes itself with that one.
It’s exhausting just listing these examples. Imagine living them.
Now, let’s be real for a moment. Shawn and his PR team know exactly what they’re doing when they post those perfectly lit gym selfies or when he casually mentions his appreciation for male beauty.
It’s part of the celebrity game in 2024 – serving just enough ambiguity to keep everyone talking.
But here’s the thing: our response to that marketing strategy is still our responsibility. Just because someone leaves breadcrumbs doesn’t mean we have to follow them to problematic conclusions.
The Uncomfortable Truth
You want to know what’s really not giving ally? Us – the LGBTQ+ community – constantly trying to out someone who has repeatedly stated they’re straight.
How does that look? We’re essentially doing to Shawn what we fight against having done to ourselves.
“In my heart, I know that it’s not a bad thing,” Shawn told Rolling Stone back in 2018, discussing the is-he-gay speculation. “There’s still a piece of me that thinks that. And I hate that side of me.”
That quote should have been a wake-up call. Instead, we doubled down.
But We Need Role Models!
I hear you. We absolutely need more openly LGBTQ+ role models in mainstream entertainment. But forcing that role onto someone who doesn’t want it – and quite possibly isn’t even qualified for it – isn’t the answer.
Last week, Shawn previewed The Mountain, a new song that directly addresses this endless speculation. When he sings “You can say I like girls or boys, whatever fits your mold,” it’s not an invitation to keep guessing – it’s a plea to stop putting him in boxes.
Especially when we have actual LGBTQ+ artists absolutely crushing it right now. Troye Sivan is out here serving vocals and thirst traps while revolutionizing queer pop.
Adam Lambert went from American Idol to fronting Queen while living his truth. Olly Alexander is turning out banger after banger while being unapologetically queer.
And Lil Nas X is literally changing the game, turning conservative heads and breaking Billboard records while being gloriously, defiantly himself.
These artists chose to share their authentic selves with us. They wanted to be role models. They’re using their platforms to push boundaries and create change. That’s where our energy belongs.
The Plot Twist Nobody Wants to Accept
Here’s a wild theory: maybe – just maybe – Shawn Mendes is exactly who he says he is. A straight guy who’s comfortable enough with himself to wear crop tops, appreciate male beauty, and not conform to toxic masculinity standards.
Isn’t that actually something worth celebrating?
So yes, please continue thirsting over Shawn’s Instagram posts. Keep swooning when he hits those high notes. Appreciate every shirtless photo shoot.
But maybe we can do all that without the constant sexuality speculation? Maybe we can just let this particular mountain be one we don’t need to climb?
In the meantime, I’ll be here appreciating Shawn Mendes for exactly what he is: a talented artist who happens to look incredible in a crop top. No further analysis needed.
And if I’m wrong? If someday Shawn does come out? That’s his journey to take, on his terms, in his time. Not ours.