Young Thug sparks backlash over comments on gay men and 'man code'

American rapper Young Thug has ignited controversy following remarks made during a recent appearance on the Perspektives with Bank podcast, where he stated that he does not trust gay men who are not immediately open about their sexuality.

In the interview, Thug drew a provocative comparison between coming out as gay after presenting as straight and "ratting" to the police, suggesting both acts break a perceived "man code". “Once you rat, or once you turn gay… I don’t have nothing against gay people, there are gay people who work for me,” he said. “But when I look at you a certain way… if I meet you and you’re gay, it’s OK. If I meet you and you’re portraying that you’re a man and you’re not gay… I don’t look at you the same”.

Thug elaborated that his discomfort stems from feeling misled by men who later come out after forming friendships based on shared heterosexual experiences. “If I look at you like a man, and we’re f***king girls together and doing certain shit, and I find out you’re gay - there ain’t really nothing you can say to me,” he added.

Despite repeatedly insisting he is not homophobic and expressing support for LGBTQ+ individuals - including gay employees - critics have accused the rapper of perpetuating harmful stereotypes and reinforcing toxic masculinity. His comments have been widely condemned across social media, with many calling them offensive and dismissive of the complexities of coming out.

This is not the first time Young Thug has faced criticism over his views on LGBTQ+ issues. In previous years, he misgendered Dwyane Wade’s trans daughter and questioned fellow rapper Lil Nas X’s decision to publicly come out.

Following the backlash, Thug posted a cryptic message on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Chapter ended. To everyone involved in this situation I’m sorry this is happening and I hope u guys can forgive me, I’m moving forward with my life – thank you God”.