Shawn Mendes opened up about his sexuality to fans at a concert in Colorado on Monday night.

The 26-year-old singer-songwriter began his speech by telling the audience at Morrison’s Red Rocks Amphitheater that he “thought for a minute today about whether I should say something at this point tonight.”

After a lengthy break, Mendes was cheered on by the crowd as he spoke about his early entry into the music industry and the impact it had on his personal life.

“I was very young when I started. I was 15 years old,” he said in his speech, footage of which was shared on social media. “The truth is that as a 15-year-old I didn’t get to do a lot of the things and explore parts of myself that you do when you’re 15.”

“There’s this thing about my sexuality, and people have been talking about it for so long,” he continued, adding that it’s “kind of silly” because I think sexuality is such a wonderfully complex thing and it’s like that It’s difficult to simply put them into words in boxes.

“It always felt to me like an intrusion into something very personal. Something I discovered within myself, something I hadn’t yet discovered and still have yet to discover,” he continued. “The real truth about my life and my sexuality is, man, I’m just figuring it out like everyone else. And it feels really scary because we live in a society that has a lot to say about it. And I’m trying to be really brave and just allow myself to be human and feel things. And that’s all I really want to say about it at the moment.

He then spoke about his unreleased track “The Mountain,” which includes the lyrics: “You can say I’m too young/You can say I’m too old/You can say I like girls or boys, whatever.” always suits you.” “

“Writing the song felt really important to me because it felt like a moment where I could address it in a way that was close to my heart,” he explained. “And I guess I just speak more freely now because I just want to be closer to everyone and just be in my truth.”

Mendes, who previously dated fellow singer Camila Cabello, has addressed speculation about his sexuality numerous times over the years.

In an interview with Rolling Stone Back in 2018, the Canadian-born star spoke about “this huge, huge thing for five years because I’m gay.” At the time, there were numerous social media posts speculating about his sexuality.

“Deep in my heart, I feel like I need to be seen in public with someone – like a girl – to prove to people that I’m not gay,” he said. “Even though I know in my heart it’s not a bad thing. There’s still a part of me that thinks that. And I hate that side of me.”

He told the publication that after reading YouTube comments from people continuing to discuss his sexuality, “I thought, ‘You damn guys are so lucky I’m not actually gay and I’m afraid to come out.’ come out.’” This is something that kills people. That’s how sensitive it is. Do you like me?

Mendes responded to those probing his personal life in 2016 by sharing a Snapchat story with his followers in which he said: “I don’t normally do this and raise issues, but I was just watching some of my interviews on YouTube and was at the end.” I saw the comments and I noticed a lot of people said I gave them a “gay vibe.” First of all, I’m not gay. Secondly, it shouldn’t make any difference whether I’m gay or not.

“The focus should be on the music, not my sexuality,” he added at the time.

“I just want you to think, before you judge someone based on the way they talk or act… I want you to think, Hey, maybe I shouldn’t judge someone or wait, it doesn’t really matter Role. They can do or be or feel whatever they want to feel,” he continued.

“I’m not frustrated at all about being gay,” he clarified. “I don’t have a problem with that because it wouldn’t make any difference to me. I’m frustrated because people these days have the audacity to write online that I’m gay like it’s a bad thing.” That’s all they really have to say about it. I just wish that one percent of people (who speculate) would grow up.

In conversation with The Guardian In 2019, Mendes discussed his Rolling Stone Interview and the long-standing focus on his sexuality.

“For me it’s hurtful,” he told the British newspaper. “I get angry when people assume things about me because I imagine the people who don’t have the support system that I have and how that must affect them.”

Update 10/29/24, 5:40 PM ET: This article has been updated with additional information.