Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea says ‘it’s great to be gay’ before clarifying sexuality
Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers (Getty Images)
Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea has clarified his sexuality after posting ‘It’s great to be gay’ on social media.
The musician shared the message on X, prompting a fan to reply: “Never knew you were gay. But, then I don’t care either.”
Others questioned or criticised the post, with one user pushing back against the negativity, commenting: “It’s interesting people take the time to stop by here just to hate on you for this.”
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Flea responded: “I appreciate you. And for the record, I’m straight. I am expressing love, respect and joy for my gay brothers and sisters.”
The exchange quickly gained attention online, with many praising the bassist’s message of solidarity.
Flea has previously spoken about inclusivity and rejecting traditional ideas of masculinity, with the band long associated with a more fluid, expressive approach to identity.
Flea’s experience with men
While he is straight, Flea – real name Michael Peter Balzary – has had experiences with men before.
However he chose not to include them in his memoir, Acid for the Children, despite having them in an earlier version.
He told The Guardian in 2019: “I didn’t want it to be sensationalised.
“To me, it wasn’t a big deal. I was experimenting and it turns out, ‘Hey, I’m not gay.’ So, it’s not really my story.”
He and his bandmates also posed for an adult magazine during their early days.
Flea said: “I felt honoured that they wanted us in the magazine. The gay community in Los Angeles were the first ones to really embrace the Chili Peppers.”
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