Was Prince gay or simply pushing boundaries in gender and style?

Was Prince gay? No, he was not. He may have blurred lines with his style and sound, but he dated women, famously and often. Also, he never publicly identified as anything other than heterosexual. Still, questions about Prince's sexual orientation didn't stop there.

Key takeaways

• Prince was not gay and never identified as anything other than heterosexual.
• He was romantically involved with several women and was married twice.
• In later years, Prince faced accusations of homophobia following comments linked to his religious beliefs.

Prince's profile summary

Was Prince gay?

Prince wasn't gay. He may have embraced androgyny and invited confusion in both his music and image, but he was romantically involved with women. In the early years of his career, people often confused his style with his sexuality. Back in the late '70s and early '80s, many assumed he was gay.

For instance, in 1981, Prince and The Revolution opened for The Rolling Stones at a concert in Los Angeles. Dressed in his trademark briefs and trench coat, he expected cheers. Instead, the mostly rock-heavy crowd turned hostile. They booed, shouted homophobic slurs, and threw bottles and trash at the stage. Prince attempted to win them over with a more rock-driven set, but it was unsuccessful. The backlash was swift and brutal.

Did Prince talk about the gay allegations?

Yes, he did. In a 1983 interview with Musician magazine, Prince addressed the rumours that had plagued his career since its inception. He said people thought he was gay, not because of anything he did behind the curtains, but because of his mannerisms. He mentioned that most of them profiled him because he liked the company of women, wore makeup and heels, and didn't fit the mould of a "real man."

Years later, in a 1997 VH1 interview, comedian Chris Rock finally asked what many had only speculated. He asked, 

"Was that (the androgynous persona) an act, or were you searching for your sexual identity?" 

Prince replied, 

"I don't suppose I was searching. I think I was just being myself. Being the true Gemini that I am. And there was a little acting going on, too."

In other words, it wasn't about being gay but expressing himself. Much of it appeared to be a deliberate act as well.

Was Prince homophobic?

Whether or not Prince was homophobic depends on the interpretation of his comments. In his later years, he joined the Jehovah's Witness faith. This led to some of his views on issues such as same-gender relationships and marriage becoming more conservative.

One such instance occurred in 2008. Prince faced backlash after a New Yorker interview in which he appeared to criticise LGBTQ+ rights. When asked about topics like marriages of the same gender, he was quoted as saying, 

"God came to earth and saw people sticking it wherever and doing it with whatever, and he just cleared it all out. He was, like, 'Enough.'"

The remarks drew sharp criticism. Many felt that Prince had turned his back on the LGBTQ+ community.

Prince's relationships

Prince had several well-known relationships and was married twice. His first marriage was to Mayte Garcia, a singer and dancer, in 1996. The two shared a deep bond publicly during the mid-1990s. However, the marriage ended in 2000.

In 2001, Prince married Manuela Testolini. She was a philanthropist whom he met through his work with charity organisations. They divorced in 2006.

Beyond marriage, Prince dated actress Kim Basinger in the late '80s. He also had a romantic relationship with Carmen Electra, with whom he collaborated on several projects. Additionally, Prince and Madonna were rumoured to have dated in the mid-1980s. They also worked together, with Prince contributing to her Like a Prayer album.

Did Prince have children?

Prince had one child in 1996, a son named Amiir Nelson. The child passed away just six days after birth. He was born to his first wife, Mayte Garcia, with a rare genetic disorder. 

At the time of the loss, Prince was promoting his Emancipation album. The album included songs about fatherhood. One track even used a recording of Amiir's heartbeat as part of the percussion. 

FAQs about Prince's sexual orientation

1. Was Prince bisexual? Prince was not bisexual. Prince never identified as bisexual and was romantically involved with women throughout his life.
2. Was Prince gay? Prince was not gay.
3. Why did people think Prince was gay? People thought Prince was gay because he wore makeup and high heels and had an androgynous image that blurred traditional gender roles.
4. Was Prince homophobic? Prince was considered homophobic by some due to comments made later in life, though those close to him claimed Prince was misquoted and misunderstood.
5. Did Prince support the LGBTQ+ community? Prince did support the LGBTQ+ community in his career.
6. What religion did Prince follow? Prince followed the Jehovah's Witness faith. Prince converted in the early 2000s and became more private and conservative in some of his views.
7. How many songs did Prince write or record? Prince is estimated to have written and/or recorded well over 1,000 songs.
8. Did Prince write songs for other artists? Yes. Prince wrote songs for other artists such as Sinead O'Connor and The Bangles.

Final word

So, was Prince gay? Prince defied convention in both sound and style. His flamboyant image and bold expression often raised speculation. However, he consistently identified as heterosexual. 

Tuko.co.ke also published an article about Tom Selleck's sexuality. The article addresses long-standing rumours and the truth behind them.

Want to know what really happened in the 1990s, how he responded to the false claims, and who he's been married to since 1987? Look into the whole story and uncover why fans are still asking these questions decades later.

Proofreading by Masolo Mabonga, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke