August Alsina has revealed he’s gay, two years after Jada Pinkett Smith confirmed to the world that she and Alsina had an “entanglement.”
Alsina claimed that the program, whose filming had ended a year earlier, had transformed his life. The reality show experience "has taught me, love, in so many different forms and facets," he said, adding that his life has "changed drastically" in the past year and that it has "made my life even more surreal."
“Love showed up,” he said. “But in a new way. I want to share that and really honor the person that I love, and that loves me back and is teaching me so much about loving and healing. I want to do that in front of the world because it defies all of the constructs that one would say love is supposed to be or love is supposed to look like.”
When a man entered and sat down next to him, he was about to conclude. They then hugged.
Whether August Alsina, Jada Pinkett Smith's ex, came out as gay is up for debate among fans.
Given his history of dating women, most infamously Will Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith in 2020, this new turn of events has surprised many of Alsina’s fans. Many have offered their congratulations to the 30-year-old singer. However, not all of them are convinced he’s gay or bi or that the man in the video is actually his new boyfriend.
The man's identity has not been confirmed, but several believe him to be Zu, someone with whom Alsina has been spotted many times before and whom Alsina himself has referred to as a “brother.”
In his Instagram video from July 18, Alsina wished his mother a happy birthday, accompanied by the man fans assume to be Zu, who also called Alsina’s mother “Ma.”
Neither Alsina nor Zu has offered clarification on the matter, and some people are weary that his confessional was nothing but a rating ploy for The Surreal Life. If Alsina was referring to platonic love, then more power to him, but there’s no question that the video was edited to appear otherwise. If it was a rating ploy, it’s understandable why fans — especially members and allies of the LGBTQ community — would be upset.
Despite this, Twitter user @geeondruh summed up the situation succinctly when he wrote that regardless of whether Alsina is gay or has found love in another man, romantic or otherwise, he is undoubtedly on the road to emotional recovery—something fans of the singer are aware hasn't been simple. He should be applauded for that and given the freedom to explain if he decides.
The release date for The Surreal Life’s eighth season is unknown. Alsina's newfound love will undoubtedly command attention if or when that happens.
The singer’s love life has been a trending topic since he revealed in 2020 that he had an affair with Jada Pinkett Smith while she was married to Will Smith and that the latter approved of the relationship. The Smiths issued a statement denying the affair. Days later, in an episode of Red Table Talk, Pinkett Smith confirmed the affair, calling it an “entanglement” and sending everyone to Google the word. She clarified that her husband had not given his blessing.
Many fans rallied around the R&B singer on social media.
One person wrote, “August Alsina announces he has boyfriend.”
A second person stated, “August Alsina coming out was not on my 2022 Bingo Card! But, I’m proud!”
“So August Alsina got a boyfriend now?! This explains everything only a messy queen would spill tea about Will & Jada’s marriage.” A third critic commented.
Someone else wrote, “So if August Alsina is queer now, can we get his scuffle with Tory Lanez bumped up to a hate crime?”
Another tweeted, “I'm so happy for August alsina, but I really wanted his boyfriend to be will smith.”
Someone else commented, “August Alsina coming out was the classiest shìt I’ve seen you’re doing, great sweetie.”