Rapper iLoveMakonnen thanks fans for ‘love and support’ after coming out as gay

A Grammy-nominated rapper who came out as gay last week has thanked fans for “real love and continued support.”

Makonnen Sheran, better known by his stage name iLoveMakonnen, is best known for his 2014 track with Drake, ‘Tuesday’.

The Grammy-nominated artist wrote on Instagram last week saying that he was gay, and then followed up on Twitter to open up to his fans.

Rapper iLoveMakonnen thanks fans for ‘love and support’ after coming out as gay

On Instagram he wrote: “Thank you for supporting me when I didn’t support myself! Now I’m here to support u all! Always and forever! Love love love!”

Adding: “I can’t tell u about everyone else, I can only tell you about myself! Be brave be free young world of today and old world of tomorrow!”

Then on Twitter, he wrote: “Someone said to me next time they see me, they was gonna f**k me, I said next time I see me, I’m gonna love me up

“As a fashion icon, I can’t tell u about everybody else’s closet, I can only tell u about mine, and it’s time I’ve come out.

“And since y’all love breaking news, here’s some old news to break, I’m gay. And now I’ve told u about my life, maybe u can go life yours”.

After a positive response from fans, he added: “Thank you for letting me be myself.”

Many fans reiterated their support responding to his latest message.

One wrote: “Respek brother. Keep shining”.

Hip-hop star Frank Ocean won praise previously after he referred to his relationship with a man on his debut album.

Ocean regularly speaks out on LGBT issues, penning a tribute to those lost in the Orlando Pulse mass shooting which left 49 dead.

Kanye West – who contributed to Boys Don’t Cry with a McDonald’s themed poem of his own – has spoken out in support of Ocean, praising the star for combatting homophobia in the music industry.