Tevin Campbell Publicly Comes Out as a Gay Man

Tevin Campbell is speaking out about his sexuality, as well as his life and career in the music business.

Widely recognized for his 1990s hits “Can We Talk” and “I’m Ready,” the former child star signed with Warner Brothers Music and released his debut album T.E.V.I.N. in 1991, followed by I’m Ready in 1993.

Campbell informs PEOPLE that he didn’t “hide anything” about himself when he was growing up in the heterosexist space of R&B at the high point of his profession. “I didn’t try to act in any particular way.” “You just couldn’t be [gay] back then,” he adds.

His personal journey with his sexuality began in the late 1990s, when the record company he was signed to made some adjustments and his songs had been put on hold after his 3rd studio album didn’t accomplish much.

“When I came out to my family and friends [at] about 19 or 20, that was it for me. And then I went on the road of discovering myself. I didn’t know who I was,” Campbell shares.

“Being around people who were like me, LGBTQ+ people that were living normal lives and had partners. I had never seen that,” he says. “That was a great time in my life.”

Years of speculation have surrounded how Campbell chooses to define himself, and while he has decided to keep his private life a secret, he decided to post a now-deleted tweet on Twitter to clarify matters.

“Tevin is…,” he tweeted with a rainbow emoji, OUT previously reported.

“It was a casual thing for me,” Campbell says in response to the buzz that followed his announcement that he was publicly coming out. “I love my fans, but what they think about my sexuality is of no importance to me.”

via