Where Is He Now? The Idol Who Came Out As Gay At A Fan Meeting
On July 26, 2023, an idol revealed his sexuality at his fan meeting. He told the over 2,000 fans who were present, “I am a gay man.”
AAA‘s Shinjiro Atae‘s fans reacted with overwhelming support, immediately applauding him and turning a nerve-wracking moment into a happy one.
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It has taken me a long time to be able to say I am gay. I could not even say it to myself. I feared that even if I could accept the truth, the world would never accept me as an artist.
— Shinjiro Atae
In addition to coming out to his fans, Atae also came out to his members. “I called some of the AAA members,” he said in an interview with Teen Vogue, “they’re very supportive.” He also revealed what it had been like to tell his loved ones.
I’ve been coming out for many years; two-and-a-half years ago to my mom, and five years ago to one of my best friends, which was my first time coming out in the Japanese language. It was easier for me to come out in English, because it’s not my first language. When I speak English, I have to act a little differently. It’s not 100 percent me. But when I talk in Japanese, I don’t even have to think about it, it just comes out naturally.
— Shinjiro Atae
What is Atae up to now, two years later? The star has been keeping fans up to date about his career and his life on social media, posting vlogs about his travels…
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…vacation photos…
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…professional photos…
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…and much more. He has also released new music, including the song “Kizuketa.” The music video for “Kizuketa” features a gay relationship. Check it out here:
