R.E.M. front man Michael Stipe officially came out of the closet today, saying that he wants to help guppies come to terms with their own tangled sexualities. Of his own proclivities, the long-coy Stipe told Spin via Us:
It was super complicated for me in the ’80s. I was totally open with the band and my family and my friends and certainly the people I was sleeping with. I thought it was pretty obvious.
…
I’d just never felt strongly enough about a particular relationship to say, ‘Yeah, he’s my boyfriend, that is what it is.’Now I recognize that to have public figures be very open about their sexuality helps some kid somewhere out there.
We never had any doubts. Meanwhile, we hear there’s an almost thirteen year old who needs some guidance.
todd
Remember when he “Dated” Natalie Merchant? When is she gonna come out? Times were different back then.
michael
um, didn’t he come out in butt magazine a few years back? is this news?
hells kitchen guy
I must be missing something. Stipe’s been happily out for years.
Kid A
Hasn’t he always been casually bi?
M Shane
While I grew up in the midwestern outback, and we were very isolated anyway, it would have made all the difference in the world if I had been able be able to access people who were gay; since I just had overbearing sexual impulses; and went to conservative private schools etc. I expect that If I hadn’t been agressive and gotten out I would have died or something. The thing that gay people need to get in touch with is that kids need to know that they are all right when the hormonal stuff is happening ; that they don’t have to be screwing girls to be ok. that they can screw someone else. Kids torture themselves over that stuff.
Ant
oh hurrah hurrah! Another has been with too much money comes out of the closet and the gay community celebrates. UGH!
Damion
Uh, how is this news? I’ve known he was gay since the 80s…he was in a “relationship” with Morrissey for god’s sake…duh!
KPB
He already came out several years ago on VH1’s Behind The Music.
schnaussmaus
I thought I read about Michael Stipe “officially” coming out a few years ago. I guess if you have a new cd to sell, you better produce something “shocking”.
Bitch Republic
That bitch was never IN the closet. He could never be in the closet, he was such a flamer.
I met him at a party once in NYC and he was a total asshole, too. I also met Larry Mullins of U2 at that party and he was SUPER friendly and CUTE!!
Mike
Way to go Mike!!! Although, I thought we had already been there done that? At any rate, it’s the music that’s important and not who you are sleeping with. I am and always will be a big R.E.M fan!
LogopolisMike
Love their music and like the man and think that everyone should come out in his own way at his own time but cynical me can’t help but R.E,M,ember that his new album COMES OUT April 1st.
But if anybody cared about me, I’d probably time my announcement to greatest financial benefit as well, so I won’t judge.
todd
I thought that’s why he “dated” Natalie Merchant – two pretentious asshole beasts.
potato head
now i can finally not care
oooold
oooooold
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1329994.stm
J Collins
Wow. Michael Stipe is gay. That’s the biggest surprise I’ve heard since Ronald Reagan announced he was running for a second term.
Mary Maynard
WOW!!! News!?!?!?!?!
Brooke
He’s still hotter than ever!!!!
Andrew Hardy
Michael, check out http://www.harttphoto.com.
Christopher Hartt is your own Midwest Soulmate who decided to be a photographer instead of a singer.
JT
All you negative bitches need to go jerk off to yourselves in the mirror. That Michael Stipes made it formal and official is a good thing. What precisely have you cunts done to improve the world, make someone’s day, let someone know that they’re not alone in life or a feeling they’re having?
Stipes has been himself at the very precarious position of being a superstar, in a band that made a difference to millions of people. I know that if someone like him had come out when I was a kid, it would have been a lot easier on me. He’s doing a good thing, so STFU.
SG
The BBC article is a total misinterpretation, concluding “queer necessarily means gay”, when in the context of Stipe’s actual usage of the term, it doesn’t.
He’s said in interviews how he’s bisexual and attracted to men and women.
chris
He’s always looked like a complete screamer