Shawn Mendes Addresses Sexuality Speculation in New Song ‘The Mountain’

Shawn Mendes has recently addressed long-standing speculation about his sexuality through his new song, ‘The Mountain‘. The Canadian singer-songwriter debuted the acoustic ballad at his ‘For Friends and Family Only‘ concert in New York, using the lyrics to confront the constant scrutiny he has faced regarding his personal life.

Since rising to fame, Mendes has been subjected to invasive speculation about his sexuality, despite his repeated assertions that he is not gay. In ‘The Mountain’, he sings about letting go of people’s false perceptions of him. The lyrics include lines such as: “You can say I like girls or boys / Whatever fits your mould / You can say I’m a fool / You can say I’m a dreamer / You can say I’m too far gone / But I’ve never felt better / So call it what you want.”

Mendes explained that the song was inspired by a period in his life when he was in Los Angeles and felt overwhelmed by false articles about him. He mentioned that he was exploring his identity and felt the need to express his feelings through music. The song reflects his current state of mind, where he is no longer bothered by mislabeling of his sexuality because he knows who he is.

In the past, Mendes has spoken about the negative impact of these speculations on his mental health. In an interview with Dax Shepard on the *Armchair Expert* podcast in 2020, he discussed how being called gay since he was 15 years old affected him and how it was particularly frustrating given his close relationships with people who were gay and in the closet.

This latest move by Mendes is seen as a powerful response to the ongoing speculation, using his music as a platform to assert his identity and personal freedom.