Skip to main content

Home Culture Culture Film & TV

Carly Rae Jepsen says being a gay icon is the ‘gift’ of her career

The singer has been an outspoken supporter of the LGBTQ community since her debut single 'Call Me Maybe'

By Steve Brown

Words: Steve Brown

Carly Rae Jepsen said becoming a ‘gay icon’ has been the ‘gift’ of her career.

After shooting into the limelight with her debut song ‘Call Me Maybe’-  which hit more than 18 million sales worldwide – the singer has been a vocal supporter for the LGBTQ community and pulled out of performing at the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree back in 2013 because of the organisation’s exclusion of gay people.

Since her debut single – which also featured an LGBT twist at the end – she has performed at Brighton Pride and has been named a gay icon.

But while speaking to Jessie Ware on the Table Manners podcast, the singer never expected to be named a gay icon.

She said: “Honestly, that’s kinda been the gift of my career. I did not expect to have that come into my life.

“We’d been playing a few Pride shows and things, and I’m definitely passionate about any support I can give towards fighting the good fight, and love is love, and I’ve had friends since childhood who’ve gone through some pretty severe experiences that have enriched me enough to make it a calling of mine.”