13 Jul 2012

Frank Ocean performs "Bad Religion" after gay revelation

Frank Ocean, thought to be the first major hip-hop/R&B artist to reveal that he has had a gay relationship, performs "Bad Religion" with male pronouns on TV show.

This unrequited love
To me it's nothing but
A one-man cult
And cyanide in my styrofoam cup
I could never make him love me
Never make him love me

Earlier this month, American R&B singer-songwriter and Odd Future rapper Frank Ocean, 24, published an open letter on his Tumblr blog recounting unrequited feelings he had for a man when he was 19 years old, citing it as his first true love.

"4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Everyday almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide…by the time I realized I was in love it was malignant," the R&B crooner wrote. "It was my first love, it changed my life."

He thanked the people in his life who kept his "story" safe, and added, "I don't have any secrets I need to keep anymore…I feel like a free man."

The revelation led to an outpouring of support from Beyoncé, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and fellow Odd Future member Tyler, the Creator
. 

Simmons posted an open letter, "The Courage of Frank Ocean Just Changed the Game" on his website, Global Grind: "Today is a big day for hip-hop. It is a day that will define who we really are. How compassionate will we be? How loving can we be? How inclusive are we?

"I am profoundly moved by the courage and honesty of Frank Ocean. Your decision to go public about your sexual orientation gives hope and light to so many young people still living in fear. These types of secrets should not matter anymore, but we know they do, and because of that I decided to write this short statement of support for one of the greatest new artists we have."

Below, Ocean performs “Bad Religion,” from his new album Channel Orange, on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. Channel Orange is slated for a July 17 release.