Kanye West isn’t Gay — He’s a Victim

Recently, Kanye West shared a deeply personal story involving an explicit experience he had with his cousin when they were both children. While I'm not particularly invested in Kanye himself, the topic he brought to light is one we all need to be talking about—because it's not just about him. It's about something much bigger and far more widespread.

When we strip away the celebrity context and focus on the core of the issue, what we’re left with is an uncomfortable truth: children are being exposed to things they shouldn’t be. And far too often, their experiences are met with silence, confusion, or shame—when what they really need is understanding, protection, and support. Let’s talk about it.

These Experiences Are More Common Than You Think

Kanye’s story might sound shocking on the surface, but for many people, it’s painfully familiar. Childhood experiences involving inappropriate behavior between peers or relatives happen more often than we want to admit. These moments are rarely driven by malice or intent; more often, they’re rooted in confusion, exposure, and trauma.

Here’s what we know:

• Many children engage in sexualized behavior not because they are “bad” or “predatory,” but because they’ve been exposed to explicit material or have experienced some form of abuse themselves.

• These moments are often brushed aside or never talked about, leaving children to process them in silence.

• And tragically, these experiences can create long-lasting shame and confusion that follow people well into adulthood.

The Role of Porn and Early Exposure

In the story Kanye shared, he mentioned discovering pornography at a young age. That detail matters—because it’s not uncommon. In fact, the average age for a boy to be exposed to pornography is just 8 years old. Let that sink in.

That statistic alone should be a wake-up call for all of us.

When children are introduced to explicit content—whether intentionally or accidentally—it can shape how they understand boundaries, bodies, and relationships. And without guidance, what they internalize can lead to harmful or confusing behaviors. This doesn’t make them bad. It makes them vulnerable. And it's our job to protect that vulnerability.

We Need to Do Better for Our Kids

If there’s one takeaway from this, it’s this: we’re not doing enough to protect children.

We need more conversations at home. We need better digital safeguards. We need schools, families, and communities to work together to ensure that kids are safe, informed, and emotionally supported. And we need to stop pretending that silence or shame will make these issues go away.

Shame Shouldn’t Have the Final Word

One of the most damaging outcomes of these childhood experiences is the shame they often create. People carry that shame for years, sometimes forever. They question their worth, their identity, and their goodness—all because of something that happened when they were too young to fully understand it.

But here’s the truth: children don’t fully understand what they’re doing.

Their brains are still developing. They don’t have the tools to make sense of what’s right or wrong when it comes to complex or adult situations. That’s why the adults in their lives must step up and create safe, judgment-free spaces where kids can ask questions, learn, and be guided with compassion.

Compassion Over Condemnation

This isn’t just about protecting kids in the present—it’s also about healing those who went through these experiences in the past.

We can’t keep labeling, shaming, or writing people off because of something they experienced or did when they were young and didn’t know better. Instead, we need to be asking:

• What were they exposed to?

• What support did they have?

• How can we help them heal?

The answer is never shame. It’s never condemnation. The answer is compassion.

Because when we lead with empathy and understanding, we create space for healing—not just for individuals, but for generations.

Kanye’s story might have sparked the conversation, but this issue goes far beyond him. And the story shouldn’t be about whether or not Kanye West is gay. It’s about every child who’s been left unprotected. Every adult still carrying confusion and shame. Every family that’s struggled to talk about the things no one wants to say out loud.

Let’s talk about it. Let’s do better. And most of all—let’s protect our kids.

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