'I'm proud of who I am!' YouTube singing sensation Greyson Chance, signed by Ellen DeGeneres when he was just 12, comes out as gay
YouTube singing sensation Greyson Chance has come out as gay. The 19-year-old posted the LGBT pride rainbow flag on Instagram plus a long caption revealing the news to his fans on Wednesday.
'I came to fully recognize that I was gay when I was 16,' he wrote. 'I decided not to publicize my sexuality largely due to a matter of privacy, as I was still trying to find comfort and confidence within my own skin.'
Greyson is signed to Ellen DeGeneres' recording label eleveneleven. She invited him on her show on May 13, 2010, after seeing his YouTube video and was blown away by his live performance.
Out and proud: YouTube singing sensation Greyson Chance, who catapulted to fame as a 12-year-old, came out as gay on Instagram on Wednesday. He posted this snap a day before revealing that he's back in the studio
The teen catapulted to fame when he was just 12-years-old after his April 2010 performance of Lady Gaga's Paparazzi at a sixth-grade music festival went viral on YouTube, gaining some 59 million views as of May 2017.
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Greyson's post also explained his sexuality wasn't necessarily the most interesting topic of conversation, saying he found 'music, politics, art, books - and the greatness of Nas' catalog - to be far more interesting than what type of guy I was into. This is still true today.'
He continued: 'While this message is most definitely overdue, I encourage anyone who is navigating their sexuality to devote as much time as they need to the process of finding self-confidence, self-acceptance, and self-love.
'Hell, it took years to write this message': The 19-year-old posted the LGBT pride rainbow flag with a long caption revealing his news
'Hell, for me, it took years to write this message.
'Nevertheless, I figured now was the time to let a few more friends know that I am happy, I am here for you, and I am proud of who I am.'
Happy for him: Greyson has been signed to Ellen DeGeneres' eleveneleven label since he was 12 and she was swift to send a loving message on Twitter
Back in 2010: Ellen, who is herself gay, invited the talented tween on her show after seeing the video of him playing Lady Gaga's Paparazzi at a sixth-grade music festival
Ellen invited him back on May 26 when she announced she had signed him as the first artist on her new label.
And on learning his news, Ellen, who herself is gay, tweeted: 'I was proud of you when we met 7 years ago and I'm proud of you now,' along with one of her emojis showing her with hearts in her eyes.
Chance's star continues to rise. He released EP, Somewhere Over My Head, in May and a single, Seasons, in June.
Star still rising: Chance, seen at The Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show studio in New York on February 24, 2016, released EP, Somewhere Over My Head, in May and single, Seasons, in June
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