American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz Reveals Why He Didn’t Come Out Sooner, The ‘I’m Yours’ hitmaker Jason Mraz revealed in 2018 that he previously had sexual experiences with men, including during his relationship with Christina Carano – who he divorced in 2023 after eight years of marriage. Mraz is a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Explaining why he didn’t come out as a teenager, the 48-year-old singer told the ‘Dinner’s On Me’ podcast: “In the 90s, being gay was like [the] punchline of a joke and I didn’t want to be the punchline of a joke.” Instead, he kept his “nose down” and focused on finding ways to “see the world one day.”
Mraz’s upbringing in the conservative town of Virginia also played a significant role in his decision to stay closeted. “I still took with me the conservative street that I grew up on, and that was very hard to ignore or to break out of,” he explained. “I was very shy and scared of what my family would say, or what my hometown would think or just whatever.”
However, Mraz was quick to clarify that he doesn’t “want to throw anybody under the bus” as his “parents are very supportive” and he “loves them very much.”
Describing himself as a “late bloomer” sexually, Mraz acknowledged that his “experiences are few, whereas other people [his] age might be more experienced.” Yet, he expressed a sense of optimism about the future, stating: “Even to have been a late bloomer to where I am now, honestly, I feel like my life is just starting.”
Mraz’s journey to self-discovery and acceptance has been a gradual one. In 2018, he recalled figuring out his sexuality and how it aligns with the Native American phrase “two spirit,” which refers to someone who can love both men and women.
“I’ve had experiences with men, even while I was dating the woman who became my wife,” Mraz told Billboard magazine at the time. “It was like, ‘Wow, does that mean I am gay?’ And my wife laid it out for me. She calls it ‘two spirit,’ which is what the Native Americans call someone who can love both man and woman. I really like that.”
Mraz’s decision to come out later in life was influenced by the societal stigma and prejudice surrounding LGBTQ+ individuals in the 1990s. His desire to avoid being the “punchline of a joke” and the conservative environment he grew up in were significant factors in his delayed self-acceptance and public disclosure. However, Mraz’s journey has ultimately led him to a place of self-love and openness, paving the way for a more authentic and fulfilling future.
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