Stevie Wonder on Frank Ocean: 'Some people who think they're gay, they're confused'
theGRIO REPORT - Wonder's remarks may seem a little reactionary to some of his fans, who are used to his consistent message of universal love reflected in almost all of his musical output....
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Motown legend Stevie Wonder spoke about a variety of subjects, and had the chance to reflect on the many artists that he has influenced over the years. When the topic of current king of R&B Frank Ocean was brought up, Wonder made a colorful array of comments.
Wonder was quick to praise Frank as an artist; the 62-year-old singer-songwriter even sang the hook to “No Church In The Wild” for Ocean when he ran into him backstage at an event.
However, later in the interview, when he was asked if he’d be surprised to see an openly gay artist in 2012 have success in the soul genre, Wonder waded into potentially controversial territory.
“I think honestly, some people who think they’re gay, they’re confused,” said Wonder. “People can misconstrue closeness for love. People can feel connected, they bond. I’m not saying all [gay people are confused]. Some people have a desire to be with the same sex. But that’s them.”
theGrio: R&B singer Frank Ocean comes out: ‘My first love was a man’
Wonder’s remarks may seem a little reactionary to some of his fans, who are used to his consistent message of universal love reflected in almost all of his musical output.
Do you agree with Stevie’s statement, or is he making an unfortunate generalization of the LGBT community? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
For the latest music news, follow Kyle Harvey on Twitter at @HarveyWins.
