New Kid Jonathan Knight Publicly Acknowledges Gay Rumors

January 31, 2011 11:36 AM

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Gay, Jonathan Knight, New Kids On The Block, NKOTBSB

knight385 New Kid Jonathan Knight Publicly Acknowledges Gay Rumors

(Photo by Robert E. Klein/Getty Images)

Billboard.com is reporting that [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Jonathan Knight[/lastfm] of [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]New Kids On The Block[/lastfm] has confirmed to fans via the band’s members-only blog that he is indeed gay.

Knight, who had never directly addressed his sexuality with the public, recently had his sexuality inadvertently addressed by his friend and fellow 80′s pop icon [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Tiffany[/lastfm] in an interview on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live.

In his blog post titled “TO ALL MY FANS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN,” Knight said:

I have never been outed by anyone but myself! I did so almost twenty years ago, I never knew that I would have to do it all over again publicly just because I reunited with NKOTB!

Knight then added:

I have lived my life very openly and have never hidden the fact that I am gay! Apparently the pre requisite to being a gay public figure is to appear on the cover of a magazine with the caption ‘I am gay’. I apologize for not doing so if this is what was expected! My belief is that you live your life by example, and not by a caption on a magazine! If there ever has been any confusion about my sexuality, then you are someone that doesn’t even know me!

Compared to the publicity driven coming out sagas of [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Lance Bass[/lastfm] and [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Ricky Martin[/lastfm], Knight’s acknowledgement is a breath of fresh air!