GQ: "There was a period of time when a lot of gossip sites—specifically black gossip sites—would constantly say that you were closeted. They'd call you “excited” in a hot-tub photo with your teammates or simply just say you're gay. How'd that make you feel?"
Odell Beckham Jr: "I've never had an opportunity to talk about this. Honestly wasn't offended. I've never once had no problem with anybody who has their own personal life that they live. I have friends who are gay. It was almost more funny to me. I almost messed with them even more. It's like when someone gives me an ultimatum, I'm usually always going to go to the opposite way of what you want me to go. So when they would say that, I would almost mess with them even more. I have no problem with anyone's sexual orientation."
GQ: "I feel like posts like that only contribute to homophobia in the black community. The idea that someone must be gay—or that being gay is in any way shameful—because they're dancing or have blond hair seems so small-minded."
Odell Beckham Jr: "Or because they're 'close with other men.' Even like little videos where they see me leaned back or something, they'll say that I'm looking at a guy's ass. And I'm like, 'Bro! You don't even know where my mind is at.' It was just a lose-lose. They'd see me with a white woman and be like, “Why don't you be with any sisters?” I have no problem with any race. Love is love. If you're attracted to somebody, you're attracted to somebody. There was such a stigma built up, as though I don't like my own women. It's like, no, I don't like anybody who annoys me."
Cleveland Browns superstar Odell Beckham Jr. recently partook in a profound tell-all interview with GQ Magazine that opened up about why he felt ‘disrespected’ by the Giants, his reasoning for skipping Browns OTAs, and even the tabloid rumors concerning his sexuality.
Beckham Jr. has long been considered arguably the most polarizing player in professional sports, but rumors of his sexuality were without a doubt the most bizarre and unfounded storylines that have followed Beckham ever since his rookie season of 2014.
Beckham is a fashion icon in sports’ circles and his flamboyant attires and close friendships with other male players have always drove story-starved celebrity gossip websites to offer groundless theories on why they believe Beckham is gay.
Controversy even arose in 2015 after Beckham’s infamous battle with former Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman, where Panthers players were allegedly using gay slurs on the field against Beckham (Panthers players deny these claims).
Beckham told GQ that he’s not offended by the rumors regarding his sexuality and says he would make jokes about it with his gay friends. Beckham says he has no problems with anyone’s sexual orientation and says it was a lose-lose on his end, considering if he was ever spotted with a women in public, the internet trolls would then just criticize him for being with a white woman if that were the case.