“I’ve never been good pretending,” croons recording artist and former American Idol contestant Rayvon Owen in the opening line of his new song, “Can’t Fight It.”
By the end of the accompanying video, released over the weekend on Valentine’s Day (d’aww), those words come into clearer focus as the object of Crone’s impassioned affection finally makes an appearance for a brief kiss before the scene cuts to black.
If you haven’t quite caught up, it’s a man. Mic drop.
But what would otherwise be an impactful way of coming out to fans is made more notable by the fact that Owen’s on-screen kissing partner, Shane Bitney Crone, is his real-life boo. (Double d’aww.)
Crone is known for his 2013 documentary Bridegroom, which chronicles his experience with love and loss after a tragic accident that claimed his partner Tom Bridegroom. Crone was kept away from Tom in the hospital because they weren’t married and from the funeral due to threats of violence from Tom’s family.
Related: The Love Story That Convinced Bill Clinton To Support Marriage Equality
Crone and Owen met at a 2015 World AIDS Day event, where Owen was performing and Crone was volunteering.
“I walked out the large revolving door of my hotel and bumped into a tall, attractive man with a big, bright smile. He said hello, I said hello, and we went our separate ways,” Crone writes in a lengthy Facebook post. “After a few paces I looked back to catch another glimpse of him and saw that he was doing the same. A curious feeling, one I hadn’t felt in over a decade, came over me.”
[Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article said Crone and Owen met in 2013. The two men actually met in December 2015.]
In the same post, Crone shares this photo of the couple:
By the end of the night, sparks were undeniably flying.
“This was how love was supposed to happen. No lies. No games. Just two people who could be themselves with each other,” Crone adds.
The director for the video originally wanted Owen to exit the club with a beautiful woman at the end, but the singer changed it last-minute. Good call!
Watch the video for Rayvon Owen’s “Can’t Fight It” below:
Michael Golden
Sexy….loving it
Timothy Rollings
I knew it!
Jon Michael
My most favorite contestant on American Idol … he should have won!
Michael Paul
Great song! Beautiful video.
Queer Comedy
Rayvon Owen
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CL Lassiter
I’m happy for both of them: RO that he’s finally free to be out and SBC that he’s open to love again. Congratulations, gentlemen!
Scribe38
*logs onto ITunes and looks for his music*
Kangol
Wonderful news. Rayvon Owen’s music is great too.
badpappy
loved it.
DrinkYourJuiceShelby
Oh gee. A kid on American Idol is gay. *YAWN*
Kody Wantland
Awesome, so nice to see this instead of some bs haters bashing us
joe1010
I want to congratulate the two of you.. and also wish you the best in everything you do. Just want to to know that I met my life partner in a similar way and 33 years later we are still very much in love and very much a family. All the best to you both! Blessings.
silveroracle
Beautiful song and fantastic video.
Congratulations guys.
dannysax
This makes my heart sing, so nice to see more musicians coming out with no fear or shame. What a handsome couple they make.
Sluggo2007
Pretty song. Pretty guy.