Article telling Demi Lovato to come out sparks a surprising reaction from the internet
(Getty)
HuffPost has managed to do the impossible: it has united the internet.
Today, the publication released an article discussing Demi Lovato’s sexuality – and people are not happy about its content.
(Getty)
While Demi has briefly mentioned her sexuality in the past, she has not confirmed her orientation.
And when recent photos of her holding hands with another woman during a trip to Disneyland went viral, people’s curiosity peaked – naturally.
But HuffPost seemed to take things a little too far, saying that the pop singer’s reason for not publicly talking about her sexuality is “total bullshit.”
(HuffPost)
When questioned about her sexuality during an interview with PrideSource.com, Demi replied: “I just feel like everyone’s always looking for a headline and they always want their magazine or TV show or whatever to be the one to break what my sexuality is.
“I feel like it’s irrelevant to what my music is all about.
“I stand up for the things that I believe in and the things that I’m passionate about, but I like to keep my personal life as private as possible when it comes to dating and sexuality and all that stuff just because it has nothing to do with my music.”
HuffPost’s Queer Voices executive editor, Noah Michelson, was not satisfied with this response.
In his article, he wrote: “I am respectfully going to call bullshit on Lovato’s answer”, before proceeding to list a number of reasons why he believes that “the longer she [Demi] refuses to talk about this one specific aspect of who she is ― while continually telling the queer community that we should be proud of who we are and simultaneously courting us to buy her albums and concert tickets ― the less I’m inclined to want her support… or to support her.”
It might be normal to expect some backlash from this – Michelson himself said that “there are probably already angry folks telling me that I’m ‘bullying’ Lovato and that someone’s sexuality is ‘no one else’s business.'”
But the actual reaction from the internet was even more passionate – as well as unexpectedly eloquent.
Facebook comment threads are often rife with homophobic responses, but this time, the space below the article was filled with support for Demi, while criticising Michelson for his harsh words.
(Facebook)
(Facebook)
One reader labelled the article “so gross”, adding: “a young queer person literally doesn’t need to openly come out, celebrity or not, if they don’t want to.”
Another said: “Reality check: no one, at any time or for any reason, owes another person any god damn thing when it comes to their sex life.”
(Facebook)
(Facebook)
Scrolling through the hundreds of comments, it was hard to find a single one in support of the article.
Readers seemed to share a similar viewpoint: no one is obliged to reveal their sexuality or come out, regardless of whether they are in the public eye or not.
One commenter even called for the article to be taken down, labelling it “utter bulls***.”
(Facebook)
Another reader quoted Michelson’s words back to him, replying to his use of the word “respectfully” with “You’re not being respectful at all. […] Right now you’re just being an asshole.”
Demi herself commented on the rumours of her sexuality in June last year, saying, ““It’s something I don’t think needs to have a label: As humans, it’s just about a connection with someone.”
And she responded to the recent drama on Twitter yesterday.
(Twitter/Demi Lovato)
Demi’s documentary ‘I Am: Demi Lovato” will be released next month.
It will feature a behind-the-scenes look at the making of her new album, as well as her personal journey of self-exploration and discovery.
