R&B singer Ne-Yo apologized for his comments regarding LGTBQIA+ during an interview with VLAD TV published on Saturday.

The “Mad” singer criticized parents who allowed their children to choose their gender identities, implying young children lacked the mental capacity to make significant decisions like their genders.

“Parents have almost forgotten what the role of a parent is,” he said. “If your little boy comes to you and says, ‘Daddy, I want to be a girl.’ And you just let him rock with that? You just let him…? He’s five. If you let this 5-year-old boy decide to eat candy all day, he’s going to do that.”

He continued, “When did it become a good idea to let a 5-year-old, let a 6-year-old, let a 12-year-old make a life-changing decision for (sic) they self? When did that happen? Like, I don’t understand that.”

Ne-Yo added, “He can’t drive a car yet, but he can decide his sex?”

The “Because of You” singer then brought up California’s bill, AB 957, which ensured a child’s safety and health during their parents’ custody battle in all aspects, including gender expression. It even enables state officials to remove children from their parent’s homes if they deny the child’s gender identity.

Ne-Yo suggested parents ask their children why they want to identify with the opposite gender instead of taking their word.

“He might want to play with dolls,” the singer said. “Alright, you want to play with dolls, play with dolls, but you’re a boy playing with dolls. ‘I want to wear pink.’ Alright, cool, wear pink, but you’re a boy wearing pink.”

He did express his respect for the LGBTQIA+ community but disagreed with children making big decisions at a young age before they experienced life.

Following the interview, Ne-Yo released an apology.

“After much reflection, I’d like to express my deepest apologies to anyone that may have hurt with my comments on parenting and gender identity,” Ne-Yo wrote in a Twitter post. “I’ve always been an advocate for love and inclusivity in the LGBTQIA+ community, so I understand how my comments could’ve been interpreted as insensitive and offensive. Gender identity is nuanced, and I can honestly admit that I plan to better educate myself on the topic, so I can approach future conversations with more empathy. At the end of the day, I lead with love and support everyone’s freedom of expression and pursuit of happiness.”

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