Troye Sivan has a blunt response to criticism that his gay identity has become his entire “brand.” After seeing the comment online, the singer answered with a joke rather than a lengthy defense. The exchange arrives as Sivan releases his fourth album, She’s the Best, and continues putting queer relationships and imagery at the center of his work.
Troye Sivan pokes fun at claims that being gay defines his public image
Sivan addressed the criticism in an Instagram Story. He reposted a comment claiming that his “entire brand is being gay” and answered, “I am gay,” before repeating the word several times.
The brief response also surfaced on Reddit, where users debated the criticism and Sivan’s willingness to make his sexuality visible in his work. Rather than offer a serious rebuttal, he turned the complaint into the punchline.
The timing makes the exchange especially relevant. Sivan released She’s the Best on Oct. 9, and the album continues to explore love, desire and relationships from his perspective as a gay man.
That approach is also visible in his latest music video. According to Pitchfork, Sivan described the visual for “FF” as the “gayest music video” of his career. The song focuses on longing for a future partner, while the video places a male romance at the center of the story.
Meanwhile, Sivan has been equally open about the influences shaping the rest of the album. His single “Party” samples Madonna’s “Music,” and he previously revealed how easily Madonna approved the request.
The singer has also been consistent about not reshaping his work to fit other people’s expectations. In a recent interview with The FADER, Sivan said he does not “hold myself back” when making music, videos or choreography.
That makes his latest social media response fit neatly with the way he has discussed his career. Sivan did not defend his public image at length. Instead, he treated the criticism as something that required only the most obvious answer.
