Greyson Chance is gay.
The 19-year-old musician came out via his Instagram account on Wednesday.
Chance, who became an overnight sensation after a video of him performing Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” at a school talent show when he was 12 went viral, explained that he has known he’s gay since he was 16 but “decided not to publicize my sexuality largely due to a matter of privacy, as I was still trying to find comfort and confidence within my own skin.”
The singer noted that he was (and continues to be) less interested in talking about “what type of guy I was into” than discussing “music, politics, art, books – and the greatness of Nas’ catalog” but he “figured now was the time to let a few more friends know that I am happy, I am here for you, and I am proud of who I am.”
He also had a message for others grappling with their sexuality.
“While this message is most definitely overdue, I encourage anyone who is navigating their sexuality to devote as much time as they need to the process of finding self-confidence, self-acceptance, and self-love,” he wrote.
Chance, who was signed to Ellen DeGeneres’ ElevenEleven label shortly after his Gaga cover exploded, eleased an EP, “Somewhere Over My Head,” in May 2016 and a new single, “Seasons” in June.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified the release date of Greyson’s “Somewhere Over My Head” EP. This has been corrected.
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