Hayley Kiyoko was advised to ‘tone down’ her sexuality for her career

Lesbian singer Hayley Kiyoko has said she was encouraged to “tone down” her sexuality.

The artist spoke to i-D magazine about facing pressure to “tone down” her music after heavily referencing her sexuality on 2015 track “Girls Like Girls.”

She said the track was “too sexual for a lot of people to premiere.”

Hayley Kiyoko: I won’t tone down my sexuality

The singer added: “When you’re in the LGBTQ community and you’re open about your sexuality, it’s not common for you to hear your music played on the radio. It’s more common to be underground and left of centre with a selective core that listens to that music.

“My sexuality, loving myself and expressing my love for others is not something that’s negotiable.”

— Hayley Kiyoko

“That’s why this is an exciting time to really break those barriers of… I wouldn’t say judgement, but to break out of that box.”

The cover of Kiyoko’s March 2018 album Expectations featured the singer sat on a throne in front of a naked woman.

She explained: “I don’t like to play it safe. I like to make a statement.

The cover of Hayley Kiyoko album Expectations featured a naked woman

“My sexuality, loving myself and expressing my love for others is not something that’s negotiable. There’s no toning that down because this is who I am and this is what I experience. I can’t change that.