John Mayer, whose full name is John Clayton Mayer, is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who started his music career by gaining a local following. He started by playing at local clubs after the two-man band he was a part of, Lo-Fi Masters, split.
He caught the attention of a major record label, Columbia Records, which released his first extended play, “Inside Wants Out”. That paved his way to stardom. Defying all boundaries as an artist, John Mayer is now known as one of the world’s greatest musicians of his generation — with 7 Grammy Awards and 17 million albums sold worldwide to back that claim up.
Fans have speculated about John Mayer’s sexuality due to his close friendships with many male celebrities and his open support for LGBTQ+ rights. Additionally, his introspective lyrics and sensitive demeanor have led to further assumptions and discussions about his sexual orientation. Well, is there any truth to these assumptions? Is John Mayer gay? Let’s find out.
VOTE: What is John Mayer’s Sexuality?
What Started the Rumors About His Sexuality
The rumors about John Mayer’s sexuality started when he posted a photo of him together with American radio and TV talk show host, Andy Cohen, in a rather cozy way. Cohen is open about being gay and fans started to assume that they were an item.
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Mayer was quick to deny the rumor, though. In an interview with “Watch What Happens Live”, the singer said that what he and Cohen have is plainly platonic and that the love they have for each other is nothing beyond friendship.
In another interview with CNN, Mayer also clarified that he was not dating Cohen. Although he said that he understands where all the assumptions are coming from, considering his closeness with the TV show host.
Andy Cohen, on the other hand, being aware of all the dating rumors that surround him and his friend, finds it entertaining to sometimes just play along. When asked in an interview a tricky question — What are you looking for in a partner? The TV personality was quick to answer:
Cohen, after clarifying that he was just joking, said that Mayer possesses all the characteristics a good friend should have. And that he doesn’t mind getting another best friend if he finds someone like Mayer.
John Mayer’s Relationships
Although the singer tried to keep his relationships private, it’s a hard task considering the industry that he’s working in. It seems like nothing truly escapes the prying eyes of the media.
So here are John Mayer’s relationships, as far as the public knows.
John Mayer and Jennifer Love Hewitt (2002)
Mayer dated American actress Jennifer Love Hewitt back in 2002. Rumor has it that the actress is the muse behind the singer’s hit single “Your Body Is A Wonderland”, but the fact that the song was released one year earlier than their relationship makes the rumor rather questionable.
John Mayer and Jessica Simpson (2006–2007)
The hitmaker also dated American singer Jessica Simpson from 2006 to 2007. Their relationship was somehow lowkey, so there was nothing much to share about what they had when they were still together. However, three years after they broke up, in an interview with Playboy in 2010, Mayer talked about the sexual chemistry he felt towards Simpson and even called her a “sexual napalm”. Simpson later revealed that she deleted his number right after she had seen that interview.
John Mayer and Minka Kelly (2007)
Mayer had a brief romance with American actress Minka Kelly. This was right after he and Simpson called it quits.
John Mayer and Jennifer Aniston (2008–2009)
Probably the most high-profile relationship John Mayer had was with Friends actress, Jennifer Aniston. The two were in an on-and-off relationship from 2008 to 2009. Mayer admitted in a Playboy interview a year after they broke up that he had slept with several women in between his on-and-off relationship with the actress. The two, however, remained friends after they went their own separate ways.
John Mayer and Taylor Swift (2009–2010)
Mayer had dated fellow hitmaker, Taylor Swift, for a brief period of time. Swift, who was known to write songs about her ex-boyfriends, was rumored to have written her hit single “Dear John” with him in mind.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, John Mayer said he knew that Swift was talking about him in the song and that it made him feel humiliated.
The Dear John hitmaker was tight-lipped about the matter. She neither denied nor confirmed that that song was actually about him.
John Mayer and Katy Perry (2012–2014)
John Mayer also dated another singer-songwriter, Katy Perry, and it was probably one of the longest relationships he had. In 2017, Mayer released his hit single “Still Feel Like Your Man”, which he admitted to being about Perry.
John Mayer and Kiernan Shipka (2020)
The hitmaker was linked to American actress, Kiernan Shipka, who is more than 20 years younger than him. There was no confirmation of their relationship. However, they were again spotted having a romantic dinner together in November 2022.
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John Mayer on Commitment and Sexuality
John Mayer said in his recent podcast appearance on “Call Her Daddy” that even though he was being branded as a womanizer and a serial dater, he was actually looking for a long-term relationship.
Although he said that he was single during the time of the interview, he also said that he was never afraid of commitment. And that he, too, wanted a relationship that would last long.
Is John Mayer Gay?
Although nothing has been directly said about his sexuality, it was pretty evident that the hitmaker is straight. His long list of dating history seems to confirm that. He even shared his dream of getting married someday and experiencing domestic bliss in the future. Thus, it is only safe to assume that John Mayer is NOT gay.