Frank Ocean: R&B Singer and Rapper Reveals His First Love Was a Man

The R&B singer and Odd Future rapper addresses rumors over his sexuality in a blog post.

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Frank Ocean performs at the 2012 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., April 13, 2012.

Just a few days after Anderson Cooper confirmed his sexual orientation, R&B singer-songwriter and Odd Future rapper Frank Ocean revealed details of his own sexuality in a message posted to his Tumblr page. In a rambling but heartfelt note, Ocean outlined his first time falling in love — with a man.

“4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too,” wrote Ocean, who rose to stardom last year following his work with Kanye West and Jay-Z on their 2011 album Watch the Throne. “By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless. There was no escaping, no negotiating with the feeling. No choice.”

(MORE: Anderson Cooper and Frank Ocean: A Tale of Two Comings Out)

The crooner continues with details of this unrequited love — and the pain and personal revelations that accompanied it. The statement came shortly after a flurry of rumors buzzed through social media sites, speculating about the 24-year-old’s sexual orientation. “With all the rumors going round… I figured it’d be good to clarify,” he had written in a preface post.

Ocean is one of the first artists in the hip-hop world to speak out openly about his sexuality. Russell Simmons posted a statement of support on his website Global Grind, writing that he was “profoundly moved” by Ocean’s “courage and honesty.” The hip hop mogul continued, “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.”

Ocean’s message, which appears to be a screenshot of a Mac document, closes on a positive note. “I’ve never had more respect for life and living than I have right now … I feel like a free man.”

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