"I have never been outed by anyone but myself," New Kids on the Block's Jonathan Knight wrote in a statement on the boy band's official Website Friday. The singer, who was reportedly outed two weeks ago on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live by his ex-girlfriend, pop star Tiffany, says he's been out for 20 years.
Knight wrote on NKOTB's blog: "I have never been outed by anyone but myself! I did so almost twenty years ago. I never know that I would have to do it all over again publicly just because I reunited with NKOTB! I have lived my life very openly and have never hidden the fact that I am gay! Apparently the pre requiste 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!"
"I love living my life being open and honest, but at this time I choose not to discuss my private life any further! My fellow band members don't discuss their private lives with their loved ones and I don't feel that just because I am gay, I should have to discuss mine!"
Because Knight has never discussed his sexuality in an interview, numerous outlets including Advocate.com reported two weeks ago that Tiffany had outed the singer in her appearance on the Bravo show. After saying she and Jonathan had once dated, she said, "He's fabulous. But he became gay later."
Late-’80s pop icon Tiffany was appearing on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live Thursday night when she let slip that New Kids on the Block’s Jonathan Knight is gay.
The transcript is below.
Andy Cohen: Tiffany, New Kids on The Block opened for you. Did you have anything with any of the NKOTB ...
Tiffany: I did, with Jonathan Knight.
Andy: Oh, Jordan Knight.
Tiffany: No, the quiet one. The shy one. He's fabulous. But he became gay later.
Andy: Did you turn him?
Tiffany: No [laughs]. I had issues with that, I was thinking maybe I did. But no, now looking back when we were dating, he was so much fun — we used to do facials together, he was so easy to talk to.
In 2009 the National Enquirer ran an interview with a man claiming to be Knight's former partner. He told the tabloid Knight discovered he liked men shortly after dating Tiffany.
The New Kids on the Block are currently scheduled to hit the road this summer on a concert tour with the Backstreet Boys.
Tiffany was appearing on the show with fellow pop star Debbie Gibson, who followed it up by saying she has plenty of gay ex-boyfriends too.
