Jessie J pens defensive 1,082-word essay after admitting bisexuality was ‘a phase’: ‘I never lied about my sexuality’
Jessie J went to great lengths to defend her comments in a weighty piece posted online
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.She did warn us that her tweet, responding to the backlash she received from followers after labelling her bisexuality "a phase", was going to be more than 120 characters.
And indeed it was.
In fact, Jessie J went to great lengths to defend her comments, denying that she ever “lied” about her sexuality to her followers in a weighty, 1,082-word essay.
Her timeline was apparently flooded with responses after an interview she conducted with The Mirror earlier this week.
"For me, [bisexuality] was a phase," she said. "But I'm not saying bisexuality is a phase for everybody."
She went on to admit she wanted to "stop talking about it completely" and find herself "a husband.
"It's a true struggle. All the chick flicks that didn't make sense to me, I now understand - Sex and the City is real!"
The question is, can you make it through the verbal gauntlet and make it to the end without running face-first into an exclamation mark?
Read it in full below:
"Warning: This tweet is defo over 120 characters…. The hate on my TL is uncalled for and ridiculous! I never lied about my sexuality, I never labelled myself, the media and some of the public did. I said almost 5 years ago now. I have dated girls and boys. Quote me! Which I had! Am I denying that…?No! I was young and I experimented! Who hasn't? Not with just this topic, but anything! It's part of life! No lies there. So happened I was becoming famous at the very same time and felt pressure to tell everyone all my business that really looking back was really no ones to know. I fell for a person who happened to be a girl. Every other relationship I've had has been with a man. My record label didn't care and it wasn't part of my launch! Then I was asked in an interview back in the day about relationships, first time ever, and I was honest and then BAM it took over, the word bisexual before my name on almost every article I read? Like I had to say it when I introduced myself?
"It was crazy! Instantly I was boxed. But at the same time felt I was put forward as spokes person to break out of those same boxes? Weird. Who made it a big deal? Me? No. The media? Yes. I'm not looking for sympathy I am just being real. And yeah I have learnt to keep things private the hard way because of this exact reason. So I keep my relationships private now. To keep my sanity. I put it into songs not articles that can be edited. I apologise to anyone who is offended by me calling dating girls a ”phase“ but I have to be honest with me for me. And for me it was. What else do I call it if I no longer have a want for it anymore? I'm talking for me remember. Not you. I didn't generalise, I didn't say bisexuality isn't real. It is for some and some people grow up dating both men and woman forever. And that's ok. And some don't. Simple. And I don't have any reason to lie? Should I have lied and said I am bi, because I'm not, yet isn't that worse than telling the truth? How would of people have reacted then?
"Please tell me what I have done wrong here? I haven't spoken of being bi for years. All my songs are sung from me about "him". I didn't discuss my personal life in my autobiography. Which came out 2 years ago. Reading "Jessie J comes out as straight" today, even typing that feels absolutely ridiculous. What has the world come to? Lol! Seriously, this is crazy. The media of course are going to make this a HUGE thing. Which they are. for your originality. But I won't stand down and be made to feel like I have killed someone or said something that deserves the messages I am currently receiving. I did and still do stand for love who you love, whichever gender that is. And I will continue to stand for it and just not act on it because I don't want to. It isn't who I am. I see my fans becoming who they are and it's amazing! Whatever sexuality they chose, or have chosen, love is love.
"Everyone has their own journey and story, and mine can't go how you would rather it go. I have to live for me. Just to be clear this was NEVER a publicity stunt or for album sales. I won't even argue that point. Because it's just so silly and such a lazy accusation that I won't even go there. I will say this, the reason I decided to put it out there in a more direct way. Even though it isn't what I thought I would ever even do. Is because some people believed what they read instead of what I was/am saying and singing about then and now. I was getting increasingly frustrated with still feeling like sexuality was defining me as an artist. Behind close doors I am evolving into the woman I want to be forever, wanting a husband and kids one day and dreaming up my future just like everyone else. Yet I go to work and it was like people were 3 years behind and wanted me to be someone Im not.
"I soon realised unless I said it more in black and white it would continue. People accusing me of dating my female friends, yet when I was out with a man I was actually dating no one would say anything or even notice. Weird. People were seeing and noticing what they wanted and not looking at the truth. So I as I am writing my 3rd album I believe I owe it to myself and my fans to be me. Which I am doing tbh, just speaking on something to set the record straight. That wasn't supposed to be a joke. And at 26 I shouldn't be anything but. Whatever backlash and hurtful things I will incur. I am only singing about loving a man and being broken hearted by a man. Because I only date men. I want my music to come out and people understand where it's coming from, and for me not to feel guilty when people are painting a picture of me when the brush isn't in my hand. I took the brush back. I have always been true, and honest.
"Which is so rare in this industry. I will admit maybe not always gone about it the right way but hey I'm still new to all of this too remember. I ask that you support my music. As I did back in 2010 on YouTube. I ask that you respect that I don't judge you on every detail of your past as I will never know of your past. And you let mind stay as mine and let me continue to grow and change just like every other human being. I will not speak on this topic anymore. It's irrelevant to what this dream Is supposed to be about. Irrelevant to why people even know who I am if they do in the first place! The music! It needs to be about the music. Thank you to everyone who supports my music. Now to the studio I go to finish my 3rd album."
Congratulations - you've won... Absolutely nothing. But well done for getting this far. She lost us at the first 'Lol!'.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments