Shawn Mendes is a Canadian singer-songwriter who rose to fame after posting song covers on the now defunct video sharing platform, Vine. He was born on August 8, 1998, in Pickering, Ontario to parents with English and Portuguese ancestry. Growing up, Mendes dabbled in various sports but was also part of his high school glee club. The aspiring singer knew that he was bound for stardom so he took acting lessons to improve his stage presence and even went on countless auditions including a screening for Disney Channel.
In 2013, Mendes finally got his shot at fame after a video that he posted on Vine went viral. He quickly gained followers, catching the attention of artist manager, Andrew Gertler, from Island Records. The following year, Mendes won Ryan Seacrest’s “Best Cover Song” contest and was officially signed to his first record company. Within the same year, the emerging singer released his self-titled EP and his first studio album, “Handwritten,” in 2015. The album debuted at the top of the US Billboard 200 with his single “Stitches” leading the charts in three countries.
By 2016, Mendes continued to break records with his second studio album “Illuminate” and lead single “Treat You Better.” Aside from playing at sold-out shows on his world tour, the singer also appeared on “Saturday Night Live” as a musical guest. From 2018 to 2020, Mendes released two more records, another self-titled album and his fourth album, “Wonder” respectively. Later in October 2020, the singer released a documentary on Netflix about his life and creative process.
Since his debut on the international stage, Mendes is no stranger to the workings of the celebrity’s world. From dating rumors to intriguing speculations, everything is up for grabs. In this article, fans will finally learn the answer to the question: is Shawn Mendes gay? Let’s find out how the actor truly feels about his sexuality.
VOTE: What is Shawn Mendes’s Sexuality?
Shawn Mendes’ Dating History
With his model looks, amazing voice, and boyish charisma, Mendes is incredibly popular around the world. But despite making his dime by writing and singing romantic ballads, the singer’s own love life is still a shrouded mystery. It’s no surprise considering that Mendes is strictly private about his affairs. Here’s a quick summary of the previous women he’s been linked to and his only confirmed relationship.
Shawn Mendes and Hailey Baldwin (2017)
During the height of his second album, Mendes was finally linked to a well-known celebrity within his Hollywood circle. The woman was none other than Hailey Baldwin who was allegedly fresh off a breakup from rumored beau, Justin Bieber. They were first spotted getting cozy at a Halloween party that Baldwin co-hosted with her friends. The following month, the pair were snapped together at the singer’s hometown in Toronto, Canada.
Things started heating up when Mendes and Baldwin attended the 2018 Met Gala together. However, the singer remained vague about the status of their relationship. But when Baldwin deleted her photos with the “Stitches” singer, it didn’t take long for breakup rumors to start swirling again. In November of that same year, Mendes would indirectly confirm that he had parted ways with the model in an interview with Rolling Stone.
I don’t even wanna put a title on it. I think it was more of a zone of limbo. She’s still one of the f—king coolest people ever — she’s not just a beautiful person visually, but she’s one of the most beautiful hearts I’ve ever met. I think I’m an idiot to not, you know …. But you can’t control your heart.”
Shawn Mendes to Rolling Stone, 2018
Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello (2019-2021)
The singer’s only confirmed relationship is his very public affair with former Fifth Harmony member, Camila Cabello. Mendes and Cabello first met in 2014 when they both performed at one of Austine Mahone’s shows. The pair immediately bonded and became great friends, even penning a few hit songs together. Their friendship sparked dating rumors for years but the two always maintained that they were just friends.
In 2019, Mendes and Cabello’s relationship took an interesting turn when they were spotted holding hands in Los Angeles. Later in the year, the rumored couple was snapped kissing while out on a Fourth of July beach outing. At that point, the talks of blossoming romance were impossible to deny. The pair would later confirm that they officially started dating in July.
According to sources, Mendes and Cabello shared a special connection and were smitten with each other. In 2020, the new couple moved in together during quarantine and didn’t shy away from showing their affection online. In fact, they even got a slight backlash after posting an explicit video of the pair making out. Although the video was published as a sarcastic response, the couple didn’t escape criticism from the media.
Unfortunately, the honeymoon didn’t last long for Mendes and Cabello. In 2021, the singers shocked fans when they announced their breakup. The statement came as a total surprise considering that the couple recently made the serious decision of adopting a dog together. On the other hand, both singers maintained that the split was amicable and they were still good friends.
Hey guys, we’ve [decided] to end our romantic relationship but our love for one another as humans is stronger than ever. We started our relationship as best friends and will continue to be best friends. We so appreciate your support from the beginning and moving forward.”
Mendes and Cabello in a joint statement from Instagram, 2021
Although the breakup was devastating, fans are still holding on the the chance of reconciliation and it’s no surprise to see why. In April 2023, Mendes and Cabello seemingly rekindled their relationship when they were spotted kissing once again at Coachella. The romantic displays continued at Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and on the streets of New York City. Despite being papped together several times, both parties have yet to release a statement of their official status.
Shawn Mendes and Sabrina Carpenter (2023)
In the middle of his reconnection with Cabello, Mendes was also linked to another singer, Sabrina Carpenter. The alleged pair were first spotted at an album release party early in the year. Rumors started heating up when they both attended Vanity Fair’s Oscar party. It didn’t take long for Entertainment Tonight to release a report claiming that Mendes and Carpenter were together.
Surprisingly, Mendes denied the rumors during an interview for a brand collaboration. He stated that he wasn’t dating the “Nonsense” singer and would like the focus the interview on his work rather than his relationship status. On the other hand, Carpenter has neither confirmed nor denied the dating rumors.
Shawn Mendes Addresses Gay Rumors
Mendes is no stranger to speculations surrounding his sexuality. Since his debut on social media in 2013, many people have been wondering if the singer is actually gay. Mendes has been vocal about his frustrations regarding this issue. In a podcast interview with Armchair Expert, the singer didn’t hold back from sharing his thoughts.
It was so, so frustrating for me because there were some people in my life that I was very, very close to… who were gay and in the closet. And I felt this real anger for those people… You want to say, ‘I’m not gay but it’d be fine if I was gay. But also, there’s nothing wrong with being gay but I’m not.’ You don’t really know how to respond to the situation.”
Shawn Mendes on Armchair Expert, 2020
Is Shawn Mendes Gay?
No, Shawn Mendes is not gay. He has only been linked to women in his previous relationships. The singer also stated in an interview that he is not gay and that there’s nothing wrong with being gay. In fact, Mendes is extremely supportive and has plenty of close friends from the LGBTQ community.